Nona

I met a woman this week and she has been stuck in my thoughts ever since. Her name is Nona and she is in her 60's. She wore a florescent yellow t-shirt and had the best "live life to the fullest and don't worry what other people think" mentality. What started out as a friendly conversation outside of Dairy Queen, bantering back and forth about jazz music, with my friends turned into a tearful conversation as she shared about her estranged son. He had spoken harsh words to her and she was crushed. I was struck by how heavy of a burden she carried for the damaged relationships in her life and how it affected her so profoundly that her words and tears spilled out to total strangers. She really just needed someone else to hear how heavy her heart was and to share the burden for even just a brief conversation. It makes me wonder how many people I come across are carrying those heavy burdens but they just haven't spilled out yet. How much are we willing to carry and what is it that brings us to that point where we let it all spill out?

What a Croc!

Over the past few years American culture has been inundated by a fashion disaster, otherwise referred to as "Crocs". These rubbery where-it-everywhere shoes have made their way from the appropriate settings of the beach and garden and have found themselves sporting through shopping malls, churches, and dare I say, businesses. Since when did beach attire become socially acceptable at work? Maybe I was born in the wrong generation but I continue to question the blurring lines between casual and work attire. This leads to the fundamental question of footwear: "Is it ever appropriate to wear a sock with a shoe intended for water sports?". I mean, isn't the essence of the Croc that it can get wet and yet provide the foot protection needed in beach and gardening situations? So, how then does the white athletic sock fit into the picture I ask. Like wearing a t-shirt and underwear under a bathing suit, it is just not right. I would like to propose a return of society back to its intended use for Crocs.

I would like to apologize to any inappropriate-wearing Croc-lovers who are offended by this blog.

** The exception to this blog is for children under the age of 6 where Crocs in most circumstances are appropriate due to the fact that little itty bitty feet in jelly shoes are just too darn cute.

Summer Recap

Blogging is sort of like exercising. When you get out of the habit it is hard to get back into a routine. That is where I find myself. So I decided on a quick summer recap followed by ignoring my two month lapse in blogs. :) Summer had some great highlights including visits from both family and friends, a trip to Tahoe with my mom, the Angels clenching the American League West, and making my first apple pie. The downfall of the summer is the recent passing of my cousin Chris. With so many events it is hard to jump in and have anything to say.

As I mentioned I spent some time at the end of summer in Lake Tahoe with my mom (hence the photo above). I decided that everyone has a place in this world that brings them peace and restores their soul. Tahoe is this place for me. Whether it is childhood nostalgia, God's beautiful creation surrounding me, escaping the city lifestyle, or a combination of them all something about the lake is good for me. I hope you each have a chance to visit the place that brings you peace and restores your soul.