BE CALM

This past weekend as Blair and I were driving up to Wintergreen, VA, I noticed the personalized license plate on the car in front of us. 

"BE CALM," I read aloud.

"Advised the people driving the Lexus LX Suv," added Blair, eyeing the upscale black vehicle the plate hung on. 

We had a chuckle over it, passed them (that's what you get for being calm) and continued on our way. 

Flash forward to our drive home from Wintergreen.

"Look over there," said Blair, motioning to the lane next to us. 

Guess who? That's right, BE CALM was back beside us, returning from wherever they'd been at the exact same hour that we were. 

"No way," I said. "What are the odds? Obviously the Universe wants us to BE CALM." 

"I'm calm," said Blair. "Are you calm?"

"I was calm until I saw the BE CALM plate," 'I said. "Now, honestly, I'm a little freaked out." 

Nothing else to add. Just one of those asides that makes you think a bit and wonder if life is random or are things planned. What's your take on it?

Cheers,

Dena

Why Is Dena Being... Nice???

One of the "back of my mind" goals for 2012 is to be nicer to people. Not people I know and love and interact with on a regular basis like my mom and Blair and friends--let's not get crazy. No, instead I'm focusing more attention on being nice to complete strangers. 

Why? Too often I go through life head down, so focused on getting to the next place or achieving the next goal I just blow by the people the Universe has placed in my path. What would happen if I actually stopped and paid attention to them?

Yesterday I was working in a local coffeehouse and an older gentleman came in. We exchanged hello's and he asked me if I had "one of those iPhones." I said I did and he pulled out a brand new model and asked if I knew how to check and see if he had a voicemail. 

I showed him how to access his voicemail and he explained his wife usually showed him how to work these things. I smiled, picturing a sweet gray-haired woman leaning over an instruction manual and then he said, "She used to be a programmer with the FBI." 

Uh, hello--you have my attention. It gets better. Then he says, "I used to work command missions for the CIA." 

Pull up a chair! I sat and talked with this fascinating individual for almost 40 minutes. He told stories of past missions (he and his team pushing over a downed helicopter so they could use one of the guns on it to fire at attacking enemies) and how he and his wife met and eventually how they came to settle in this area. 

The amazing part to me is that this guy was totally non-descript. Nothing about him, including the fact that he had to ask me how to access his voicemail, hinted at the rich and exciting life he'd led. But isn't that true for most people? We have no idea the fascinating ideas, dreams, or travels of so many people around us because we assume that what we observe on the surface is all that's there. 

I'm probably more guilty of this type of assuming behavior than most people. Hence the resolve to do a better job of "seeing" people for who they really are, and maybe taking just a bit of time to listen to their stories. 

It's asking a lot from someone who is not naturally a "people-person." That's why I'm using this year to focus on strangers. I can't be expected to do that AND up my game with friends and loved ones.

Being nice to them will have to wait for 2013. 

If they're lucky. ;)

Cheers,

Dena

Facebook Scores Me Ski Attire

Facebook hooked a girl up. I put out a post that I was going on a ski-trip and had nothing to wear. Perhaps, maybe, someone could loan me some ski clothes?

I have clothes offers coming out of the woodwork. I don't know what Blair is going to do - ski in thermal underwear for all I know - but girlfriend here is going to be stylin'. I've got 2 ski jackets (one dressy, one casual), 4 pairs of ski pants (for cold and warm weather), one bib overall thing for REALLY cold weather, base layers, neck warmer and gloves. 

I'm never buying clothes again. Formal dinner? I'm putting a post on FB for evening wear. Beach trip? Who has a beach umbrella I can borrow? 

I feel I should offer something in return but all I really have to offer are way too many running clothes and two full length formal gowns from a cruise we took years ago. Oh--and I think I may still have the hoop skirt I wore under my wedding dress because you just know those things are going to come back in style again someday. 

Got a Gone With The Wind party to attend? Facebook me. I'm your girl. 

Cheers,

Dena