Take Me Back

I bought a new bottle of hairspray today. I know, nothing extrodinary. Except it was, when later in the day I opened the sprayer to get a whiff of its scent. Rather then getting a sense of the fragrance that would surround my head as I fix my hair tomorrow morning, I was immediately transported back in time.

The year was 1989 -- I know that seems like forever ago. And in my poor-memory mind it is. That was my freshman year of high school. And like something out of a movie, as soon as I inhaled that Pantene ProV, I time warped to a time when I was standing in Chantel Clifton's bathroom getting ready to go to a football game. She was one of my first high school friends that did not go to the same grade school as I. Growing up in a somewhat small area in a limited Catholic school setting, most of my friends were people I had known since first grade. Chantel, though I did know her a little from 8th grade dances our schools would jointly have, was one of the first people I got to know outside my click.

Though the memories of us getting ready to go to football games had not crept into my mind in almost a decade, it so quickly hit me when I sniffed the spray. Though I cannot remember all the details of her home, I do recall using a gallon of Aussie Scrunch Spray and too much make up to primp. I remember that she had a huge bedroom, or what seemed like a big room to me (I shared a small room with my sister, so anything was a huge bedroom if it had only one kid in it). The coolest part was that we were at her home alone - no parental supervision. We were listening to Poison, and I felt like a grown-up though I was only about to be 15.

Maybe my blast from the past moment was a compilation of many weekends spent at her house that year, I am not sure. What I am sure of was how powerful that memory flooded my mind. For a few brief seconds I was there again. I was young and carefree. Everything was exciting because it was a time of building life long experience, a time before we become jaded and bitter. It was a great feeling.

It is funny how things are connected in your memory and that the slightest action can trigger the most awesome effect. It was nice to have that memory again, to recapture a long forgotten feeling that really can only happen once in a life. Had I sniffed the hairspray at the store, like I usually do before buying, I do not think I would have had the same reaction. I think because I was slowing down for the day, putting the hairspray away in my bathroom, that the connection was made.

It is nice that those memories are still there. Sometimes it is hard to think back or recall anything because we are so bogged down with everyday life, which so far seems to be getting boggier as I get older. Maybe those memories are buried deep so that we appreciate them more when they are triggered. I know that tonight, the rarity of the feeling that trip back in time brought will make me laugh long into the night.

I'm Too Funny!

I think it is best to always be able to laugh at yourself.

My whole life I have tried making every situation humorous. Partly so I do not have to deal with anything bad (who really wants to cry) and partly because it is just done right fun. I mean, who doesn't love to laugh.

Yesterday was a day of laughter for me. After working way too many overtime hours, I have become giddy and cannot stop joking about everything - no matter how inappropriate the timing may be. While in a 2-hour meet and greet meeting, I spend most of it cracking up my co-workers. I was laughing so hard that when it came time for me to introduce myself, I could barely get the words out of my mouth. Part of our introductions had to be an "unusual fact about ourselves." Well, why not just show me Pandora's Box and tell me not to open it. Not only did I "rip" on everyone else's "unusual fact", but I made up several of my own prior to my turn. Though everyone around me was practically in tears, I think I cracked myself up more.

Then in the afternoon I had the perfect idea for a joke. If WVU lost to Louisville, I would send sympathy cards out to all of my WVU friends. I know not too humorous. I had planned out what the cards would say "Sorry for your loss. It is best it happen now rather than loose a BCS bid to Notre Dame later in the season." I did not think I could amuse myself more than with that. All I needed was for WVU to actually loose.

Well answer my prayers, they did and in such a glorious fashion. I was absolutely giddy over the anticipation of sending out these "sympathy cards." Honestly at the time, I did not think it could get any funnier. That was until this morning. I had an epiphany! Bud Light used to have this Talking Faces gag site where you upload a pic of someone and make that picture "talk." How awesome would it be to have Coach Rod himself deliver my message.

Again, I though it was the most hilarious thing ever. I was literally so proud of myself. I completed the task, added my verbiage and sent it out to all of my WVU friends. I have yet to hear back from any of them, though. I hope they find it as entertaining as I did. If not, at least I got a good laugh out of it.