reality leaves much to the imagination

If you've been on Google in the past two days, you probably already know that today would've been John Lennon's 70th birthday. It's nearly impossible to think of the other event today--the 30th anniversary of his murder.


I was born fifteen years ago. This means, everything I say on this subject is one part things-I-know and one part things-I-think-I-know. I wasn't alive when the Beatles were together; I wasn't there when the fab four changed the world--or when John went on to turn giving peace a chance into a global movement. But I grew up singing, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand." This is the music I love, these are the stories I wish I had seen unfold.

That's what I love about John Lennon. You don't have to be smart or old or deep to appreciate his music. His message. His love and his passion. You just have to be.

If you're in Canada, have a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend.
If you're somewhere else, have a fabulous Tuxedo Day (tomorrow) and Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day (October 11th).

Love,

Erika

I remember...

Today, October 6th, is the birthday of a very good friend of mine. Scratch that--it's the birthday of someone who was my very good friend.

I don't mean this in a five-year-old, you're not my friend anymore! kind of way. We're neighbors, and when we were four years old, we were really close. Okay, so my memory of four-year-old-me isn't super clear, but I do know that we spent a lot of time together. But, over the last few years, we've grown apart.

He (the nameless-friend, of course) is very sporty. I... Well, I'm kind of not. I don't think it was us growing up that drove us apart, I think it was inevitable. Even if we stayed perpetually four-years-old, we were always really different people.

The point of all this? Well, today as we walked into English, I wished him a happy birthday. He seemed a little confused--he said thanks, but more in a, you remembered? kind of way.

I've always remembered his birthday, because it's the same day as mine (nine months difference, but whatever). Sure, it might be a little strange, but oh well.

Some days, I remember more than I feel I should. The way someone picks at their nails, an stranger's phone number, the color of someone's shoelaces. It can be weird. But there are sometimes things about a person that stand out to me.

What do you remember?

Erika

flight of the fifteen-year-old

Hello Saturday,

It's been a busy day. I worked for seven hours, all the while with a massive inferiority complex hovering over my head. Then I did stuff. Not sure what, but it took two hours. How do I know that? I didn't eat dinner till 8:00. I do not operate well on an empty stomach.

Earlier in the week, my science teacher was discussing study habits. He mentioned making goals, and, even though you could practically hear the class rolling their eyes, he had some interesting things to say.

According to my teacher, all sorts of studies have been done on written goals--not just goals in general, they have to be written down. If you have specific, detailed goals and you write them down, you're way more likely to achieve them.

That got my thinking.

Counting September, I have four months until I turn 16. I've decided there are a few things I want to do in these four months--I know sixteen isn't very old, but it's old to me. Which means that 800 years old is like, unimaginable ;)

While I am Fifteen, I will:

1. Attend a new yoga class
2. Complete at least two PE by correspondence assignments (out of five, I think)
3. Have the rough draft of my wip COMPLETE
4. Have an A average in all my classes
5. Practice cello and trumpet every other day
6. Go swimming

There. They're little things, but now that they're written down, there's nothing to stop me from achieving my goals :D

Oooh, I just love tagging things.

Erika