The Parrothead Life

In case you didn't already know, I have been pretty obsessed with the idea of having a bucket list. I like the idea of constantly challenging yourself to do things you never thought you could or you simply never would do. I have come up with a list of 100 things that I would like to accomplish. Some of them help to make me a better person like going on pilgrimage during holy week to the Santuario, running a 5k, getting my Masters degree, giving up pop for a year, or reading every book in my personal library. Some of my bucket list items just make me happy like visiting every state in the U.S., creating a blog, or packing my bags and going on a random vacation with absolutely no plan. 

Recently I was able to cross off two BIG items from my bucket list. The first was to go on the Ultimate Vegas Vacation and the second was to see Jimmy Buffett in concert with my daddy. Well, thanks to some work from my family both of those became a reality on October 26th. 

Jimmy Buffett has always had great memories for me and my childhood. I remember as a kid my dad would play Buffett on repeat any time we were in the car. Three kids and our parents would sit there and sing Cheeseburger In Paradise at the top of our lungs and let me say that this vacation was no different. One of my very fond memories was while my dad, mom, and I were in the car stopped at a red light with one Uncle in the car in front of us and another Uncle in the car behind us. We were blasting Fins and dancing around like crazy people. We were excited for the concert, but more importantly we were excited to be with family. See Jimmy Buffett isn't one of my favorites because of his great musical talent or his multitude of songs. He is one of my favorites because every memory that I have with his music in it reminds me of the closeness of my family. A family that can go through the things designed to break us apart and come out of that stronger than ever. A family who is there to support each other, but also there to correct each other when the time comes for it. A family who is far in distance, but never far from my heart and my thoughts. 

The concert was the most incredible concert I have ever been too. I sat next to my daddy, while we were both dressed in traditional "parrothead" fashion, and I sang at the top of my lungs and danced around like a crazy person. As the concert ended my daddy and I just sat in our chairs after the rest of our group had left. We said hello to other random "parrotheads" and talked to total strangers about such a fun time. In that moment I realized that this particular bucket list item was complete, I reflected on how much fun we had and knew without hesitation that the reason that concert was so much fun was because I was surrounded by my incredible family!

The Ladies of 1823

A few weeks ago one of my friends posted a link to a blog she had read on facebook. She tagged myself and all of our friends in it so that we could all have a read. As I read this blog all about best friends and how you know you've found them all I could do was laugh and think of my "rooms". These girls got me through some of the most difficult and some of the most rewarding times during college. They have continued to be my support system as I have ventured out into "real life". They have been there to dry my tears, share my laughs, and knock some sense into me when I needed it most. The most simple way to put this is that these ladies are my sisters. God blessed me with a group of girls who were also striving for holiness and who loved me enough to never give up on me. With any group of friends like that you are bound to share countless inside jokes. This past weekend one of those girls and one of my best friends Amy Deibert came out to support the Youth Group in our 5th Annual Nun Too Fast 5k. This meant that she would spend the weekend with me and during our weekend of many adventures we would come up with our own list of inside jokes and great memories. 

To the Ladies of 1823, I hope you enjoy Amy and my rendition of all the ways in which we just seem to "get" each other.

When you ask them why you're still wearing real pants and they're not at all scandalized.

You have each others romantic histories memorized  and you know which ones are all clear to joke about.

You all randomly burst into song, despite the fat that you're in a public place, on a regular basis.

You have nicknames for complete strangers and when used you all know who is being referenced.

You all know that room refers to a person not a place.

You know that certain types of stories should always be told on a set of stairs.

It is totally okay for one room to take out another room's contact lenses.

Storing your cans in your closet or random places in the house is totally normal.

You know that the most serious bonding you'll have is when you're both trying to work in the kitchen.

The argument over whether the microwave is a health hazard or vintage.

When you get dirty looks in class because you are "those girls". 

The only girls who well tell you that you look like an idiot before going out in public, but say it in the most loving way.

You know not to serve weird looking foods because your roommates won't eat them.

A normal Friday night consists of sitting around knitting, while watching Gilmore Girls, and drinking Fanta...and loving every minute of it!

The only people who wills it on the couch and jam to 90's throwbacks with you.

You know who your room is talking to on the phone based on their accent or which gangsta greeting they use.

You know not to talk to certain rooms before 10am.

You know when you refer to butt hole coffee you aren't always referring to a drink.

Bagels for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is totally common. Like all the time.

Wine bottles are great decorations and your rooms won't judge you for the quantity of bottles in the house.

Youtube and movie quotes comprise 60% of all conversations and your rooms can understand everything through these quotes.

When you're about to miss a holiday with your family and at the last minute your rooms pitch in to buy you a plane ticket and arrange transportation to the airport so you don't have to be alone on Thanksgiving.

When you call each other room even when you no longer live in the same house.