Welcome to Class Writers!

I have been breathing in and out for 32 years, sometimes with great ease and appreciation for the blessings I have in life and other times I have struggled to catch my breathe because I felt life was nearly unbearable. This past Saturday was my Adoption Day, marking my arrival in the US from Korea when I was 5 months old. But, I digress.

I've been journaling and writing for as long as I can remember and if there's one thing I've carried with me from apartment to apartment, it has been those old journals. I don't know what lessons Quinn might learn from them if he should ever read them later in life, but it seems shameful to trash the records of my emotions and experiences. With technology the way it is, I save emails for far too long. I have thousands of emails- some of them worthless- but I haven't taken the time to sort through that which was cathartic and monumental and that which was lame.

I love having the time to write. I love having good books to read and a belly that is pleasantly full. I love having the time to cook and the money to shop for the obscure item on the recipe. I love that Luke will try anything new that I make- at least once- and won't complain. I love my son and I love my partner. I love my mother and brothers. I love teaching.

I used to knit a good deal, but the needles are stored away for a new era in knitting and life. They're too lethal to have out around Quinn and I imagine he'd disassemble anything I tried to make in quick order. I wish I volunteered more because I love the idea of making a difference in my community and the world at large.

My pet peeves include lazy and ineffectual use of language, ignorant or ill-informed speech, hateful behavior, a refusal to learn or unwillingness to change, and peas. I also dislike feeling like I can't speak my mind, not having enough money to feel safe and secure, and my abysmal relationship with my father.

Obama is my hope for the world realized. I know it's not that simple, but in some ways... it is. The fact that Quinn will grow up in a country that can elect a person of color to office is a big deal. I hope that Quinn and his children and grandchildren will have clean air to breathe.

I wish I could say that my quote for my life is "Carpe Diem", to seize the day, but I don't think I do this enough. I would like to though. There are too many books that I like and movies I enjoy to name, but I'll try to list a smattering:

Books: Anne of Green Gables series, Harry Potter series, The Sparrow, The Kite Runner and on and on the list goes
Movies: When Harry Met Sally, French Kiss, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Count of Monte Cristo and on and on
TV Shows: Sex and the City, Sopranos, Deadwood... anything on HBO, Weeds and so on...
Music: I have no taste or collection whatsoever. I did, however, recently attend a NKOTB concert and that was wicked fun.