Moments D547: I'll Sleep when I'm dead

Tonight I stopped at a Shoppers Drug Mart on my way home from (a new) volleyball outing.  It's a Shoppers  that I've never been to before, so I wasn't familiar with their staff. 

In the cosmetics area, there was a very cool esthetician.  She had this amazing updo that was bright blue on top/front and the back of it was short and as black as night.  It reminded me of my own hair 10 years ago.  Black, with blue & purple streaks.  For me it was a fun, silly way to incorporate that silly "something blue" nonsense into my then wedding day.  Today, I had a moment where I appreciated her commitment to being different and out there.  It made me pause and remember a time when I was as outwardly committed to marching to my own beat.  

I loved that she owned her look and she made me smile without even saying hello.  

As I paid for my toiletries, I complimented her on her hairdo.  She was polite and reserved and said thank you.  I thought it an odd response for a woman walking around with such a big personality outwardly showing.

It was late at night.  As we waited for my credit card to be processed for payment, she brightened up a bit more and made some small talk with me.  She asked me if I had to get up early tomorrow.  I simply laughed and nodded and admitted that I would and then I quickly quipped that "...that's okay I don't need a lot of sleep.  I'll sleep when I'm dead!"   Followed by a big laugh.

HA!  Then, I had her! 

Her laugh was deep and genuine at that point.  With a belly laugh that she couldn't hold back, she told me I was adorable.  As I walked out of the store, she called after me to have a great night.  I could still hear the smile in her voice.

I'm glad I could make her smile.  I love those moments.

Moments being silly.

Moment appreciating a stranger and finding a way to make them smile.

Moments D374: Saved Coffee

Today was an incredible day. It was jam packed with productivity, information, and weather graced us with our first 25 degree, full of sunshine day. AND top all that off with my volleyball team winning the first round of playoffs to hold on to first place for the season. Next week, we’ll take it all! But my special moment happened early this morning.

I didn’t sleep well last night. I woke mid-night and had a hard time falling back to sleep. I re-set my alarm knowing that I’d have to skip my morning workout with the lack of sleep (for the second night in a row!)…..

When I woke, I didn’t feel rushed, and yet I was buzzing around quickly to get off to work quickly. Time seemed to be moving slowly and I was moving quickly. Given my lack of sleep, that’s a good way to start the day.

And then my moment happened. I was out the door, heading to the car with many bags (volleyball gear, lunch, purse) and my coffee travel mug in hand. I quickly realized I didn’t have enough hands to open my passenger door. I mindfully put my travel mug on the roof of my car, thinking to myself “Do not forget your coffee!”. I fussed with my bags, placing everything just so and then I climbed into the car.

As I started the car an adorable elderly gentlemen quickened his very slow pace to reach me before I pulled away. He was pointing, of course, at my roof. I had a good laugh at myself, pulled up my parking brake and jumped out of the car. As I opened my door, the lovely gentleman said “You don’t want to lose your coffee - glad we could save it.” I laughed and agreed quite heartily. I thanked him and we parted ways.

I giggle to myself for being so “mindful” of and then promptly forgetting my coffee.

A good, silly moment and apparently a good way to start the day.

Moments appreciating the kindness of a stranger.

Moments D309: Concerts and Cameras oh my!

This evening I spent at a concert with my 17 year old niece.  I found myself in a sea of young adults, some of which were most certainly still going through the last stages of puberty.

It was an amazing moment to share with my niece.  We laughed at the pushing crowd (pushier than my hardcore rocking Soundgarden concert goers) and we conspired about flying elbows and gum being dropped in hair.  Of course none of that happened!  But we giggled about it in whispers.

And as the concert progressed to the most popular of songs by Imagine Dragons, the sea swarmed with cameras and smartphones recording the songs in their entirety.  For me, that’s a disconnect between the “here and now” and “capturing a moment”.  A moment isn’t the entire concert - it’s snippets of it.  I realized years ago that being caught behind a lens all the time takes you out of the moment.  A moment that becomes a memory in and of itself.  Is it nice to have a couple of pictures to jog your memory?  Definitely, but I don’t want to relive entire moments through image.  I want them to be deep within me.

The disconnect between self and the world around you.

Are we now more interested in being connected with others through image instead of absorbing the moment within?  Hmmm.  A question that puzzles me.

Instead of being annoyed or upset that I could no longer see the stage and band through the sea of arms and cameras I closed my eyes and listened.  I listened to the intricacies of the band.  I listened to the people around me and their reactions to the music. And, I danced.  Quietly.  By myself.  For me, that’s absorbing a moment.  Taking it all in.  And for me, I will always fondly remember this night, not because of the band, but because it was such a treasured time to spend with my niece.

Moments connecting.

Moments going deeper than the world outside.