oh, hey.

see this picture?

its from our girls trip to the beach in july.
and it makes my heart do jumps and leaps and somersaults
like crazy.
i can't help but smile and get this certain little 
feeling
every time i look at it.

that's me. and kathleen.
dancing in the ocean with a boombox on my shoulder.
we were the only ones who could hear the words
or even knew them
and the cd player was skipping more than playing.
but in that moment was:
relief
conententment
gratitude
and love.

talk about a doozie of emotions, right? 
promise, it's true. all that in one slice of time.
and under a late summer appalach sunset, nonetheless.

mom, pallie, bonnie, mary tyler, alex + kat 
were all there
celebrating.
just. plain. celebrating.
and for nothing
{so} in particular......

it was a night and a feeling we'll bring up in a few months, 
next year and surely many from now...
...and we'll grin and laugh and catch a sparkle in each other's eye.
it was a sweet moment we
shared.
and, sure it may or may not have been aided by 
a sweet girl named tequila 
and her sister, triple sec...

but at the root of it all,
we were filled with 
pure love, compassionate intention and an untouchable bond.
we were filled with
goodness.

and it's been flowing through me ever since...

it's been nearly a month since i've posted a thing. 
what a shame.
cause life's been exciting and busy and challenging and heartbreaking
but mostly
just. plain. good.

work events have tangled most of my time, with a healthy mix of traveling to see old friends, 
late nights and weekday soirees with my friends family here 
and soaking up the beginnings of a Tennessee fall, 
that three month slice of perfection that's our Tennessee treasure.
all the while i learn from every emotion. deal with each situation. 
measure quality, quantity, gratitude, attitude and karma. 
living to constantly move forward 
with a new and revived
focus on
me. 
laurel.

it feels good, it feels right.
and rest assured, she's alright.

my largest work loads are over and i'm excited and anxious for 
new possibilities,
exciting opportunities on the horizon.

i'm inspired to write.
my journal is overflowing.
thoughts never ending
creativity bursting at the seams.

tomorrow starts a personal challenge... 
to keep that fancy ole camera of mine within reach of my 
fingertips 
to start capturing 
this crazy cool, this every day,
this good life i've been livin.

stay tuned, friends. 
...wishing you a "dancing in the surf with boombox" kinda day.