box o' happiness.

it's quite late/early to be blogging, I know. but otto's flight arrives in thirtyish minutes and I want to be awake when he comes home.

I spent the evening watching Gilmore Girls, eating PeiWei and making a study guide for my test. I totally need to re-read like half the stuff. And if I only I could grasp this moving-the-origin thing. Eh, we'll see.

So, earlier this week I got out this funny green box--it's maybe 7 x 10 x 7, I guess? And it has a lid. And in it are things from years and years or months and months or just a few days ago. Ones that make me happy, or remind me of something important.

Clearly, and as it should be, there are a bazillion letters/cards/coloring book pages from Renee and Jessica--and a few more from Jessica, but we've been friends longer. There are Sterling letters and drawings, a very long and important letter from David and the laminated card from the yellow V-Day roses he sent me in college, cards from when my college trauma happened, LOTS of cards from my incredible! Kappa Delta Sisters, some photos of my dad, my family and my kitties Rainbow and Bluey, birthday wishes, programs from the Ring Dance and Graduation and from when I was featured in TU's Engineering Recruitment stuff, stuff from Dee Wakely and the girl I tutored in college and even something from my miserable apartment-mate. And Del, don't you worry, my shot list--complete with signatures--is in there too. There's even professional things in there--two from when I recieved the Corre Anding Stegall (which is still, on paper and personally, one of my very greatest achievements), a letter thanking me for eating dinner with the Delphi scholarship recipient at the SWE conference, my you-may-sit-for-the-FE letter AND my you passed! letter, church things, Tulsa Youth Leadership stuff, Girl Scout info, you name it. It's some of the highs and lows of the past, oh, gosh, ten years--all in a box. Some are sappy and some are funny and some are wonderful.

and it's so strange to me, because looking at the physical representation of all these memories makes me feel really, really good. like, in a let out a big sigh of contentment kind of way. and, as luck would have it, pictures also have this affect on me. perhaps that's part of why I enjoy taking them.

I also found this--I'm not sure where I got it, but I like it and I want to share. (and, it will lead me to another post soon, that will include a very good point made about Mother Teresa--I think you will like it. Maybe some time next week when I'm done studying. you're all holding your breath in anticipation, I know.....)

written by Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between God and you;
It was never between them and you anyway.

and now that I've read this again, perhaps I understand part of what makes looking at all of the things in that box so wonderful...the things in that are in that box are from people who love(d) me and who care(d) about me, who at one time or another lifted me up, encouraged me and supported me, if only with their presence in my life. and a lot of them are still doing it today. and I appreciate it. and I hope that in some way, some how, I can return the favor.