Free Spirit

Free Spirit

They can't chain my Spirit! My Spirit runs free! Walls can't contain it! Laws can't restrain it! Authority has no power over it!

--Bill Watterson (author of Calvin and Hobbs)

I love these pictures and quote of my very unique daughter, Markelle. Last night she came into the living room where I was reading "Eclipse" (I finally succombed to the "Twilight Mania") in her latest get-up: white pants, white tee-shirt w/mock tie and lapel screen-printed on, white oxford shirt over that, dark black long mangy wig, punked out with a white bandana. She was modelling this for me, as it was to be her costume for a upcoming play (A Midsummer's Night Dream) when she remembered that she left something out in her car that she needed. She donned on a pair of fuzzy pink slippers and went out to get it, and when she came back in, she was chuckling to herself. She proceeded to say, "Our neighbors cannot figure me out. They are constantly seeing me in the weirdest get-ups (very true)." I guess our across-the-street neighbor, Heath, had just arrived home as Markelle was walking out to the car, and he just looked over at her in amazement. All of my girls have an offish sense of humor, which I love, but Markelle is very comfortable to take it to a whole new level. During her first year of high school, she began dressing to celebrate different holidays. It got to be so common and expected that the yearbook teacher would send his photographers out to find Markelle on the days there was a holiday to see what crazy outfit she had on. When Woods Cross played the cross town rival, she talked a group of her friends to dress up, and they went above and beyond outrageous. Recently, Steve and I had to jump start Markelle's car. When we opened up the trunk, it was stuffed full of her props and outfits for any occasion. We just shook our heads, rolled our eyes up heavenward and said to ourselves, "That Markelle!"

Thankfulness....

I have much to be thankful for...a husband that I admire, love and adore, my kids who are well on their way of becoming the people that they want to be, friends that are loyal, understanding, compassionate, kind, funny and extended family that is there when you need them. I am grateful that we made it through this past political season...it seemed very touch and go there for a while. I had to stop reading the newspaper and watching the news and listening to the radio. But, for better or for worse, we have a new president and life will go on. I will still love who I love, still strive to be nice and helpful and tolerant and understanding. I will still work on strengthening my self spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally. I will still continue living my life the way I want to live it. So what was I so worked up about?

Ahhh, Mr. Darcy!

I just spent the last few nights watching installments of "Pride and Prejudice" (the Colin Firth version) with my daughter, Madi. When I first read this book, it was not my favorite Jane Austen, but over time it has grown on me. In all honesty, it is probably all of the different movie versions of this story that has piqued my interest again. The other day, while searching for my copy of "The Scarlet Letter" for Markelle to use in her Honors English class, I came across a paperback of "Pride and Prejudice." I decided to give it another go, and I LOVED IT! A part of the reason is because it has such pure intentions, I get a kick out of the different characters: the vexing and highly excitable mother, the silly sisters--especially Lydia--the loathsome and smarmy Collins, the tyrannical Catherine De Burgh, the smooth talking Wickham and the ever cheerful and sweet natured Bingley and Jane (how did Bingley remain so charmingly sweet with such horrifying sisters?) But greatest of all are the two main characters, Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy. He is so uncomfortable at the country assembly (it's so beneath what he is used to) yet he is fairly quickly intrigued by the openness and honesty of Elizabeth. I love that he finds her eyes so appealing...The book proved a very satisfying read, which lead me to another delightful series with connections to the whole Bennet/Darcy/Bingley clan. It is the "Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman" trilogy by Pamela Aidan, and it is the Pride and Prejudice story from Darcy's point of view. All those times that he was so insufferable and proud? Now we know what he was thinking and why he did what he did. We also learn that he was quite smitten with Elizabeth from the very start against his better judgement. I am loving it. I am only on the first book, but am looking forward to the other two.