Seuss, Smiles and Smells

Last night I took Aiden and Brody to the library to see Seussical the Musical. It was fabulous! And I'm not just saying that cuz it was free. Which it was. Have I mentioned I love free? But I have paid to see this before and last night's version was every bit as enjoyable. Plus, it was edited a bit to fit into a one hour production with no intermission, and I think that works better for the kids. And me.

As I was watching these teenagers perform, my heart hurt a little that I didn't do more of this kind of stuff when I was their age. There was always a part of me that wanted to perform, but there was also, unfortunately, a bigger part of me that was more concerned about looking like a dork. Which is so illogical, cuz I was queen dork in high school. Apparently I was just unaware of that, then. If there is one thing I hope to teach my kids, it's to just forget what others think. It doesn't matter now, it really won't matter later, and it only holds you back. The older I've gotten, the more I realize that the people I love being around the most might be considered "dorks". They are those people who have learned to totally be themselves. Not in an obnoxious, "look at me" kind of way, but in that, "life is short and I can't waste it worrying about being cool" kind of way. And these aren't all grownups I'm talking about. I know a lot of youth who have figured this out, and they are the kind of people others are really drawn to. Including me. They are the ones that always make me laugh. I love hanging around anyone who can make me gut laugh. You make me gut laugh and I'll be your friend for life! I love to laugh. I just don't think I do it often enough. I think a great sense of humor is the most attractive trait a person can have. If we have a "sixth" sense, humor is definitely it. We all have certain senses that are more heightened than others. For me, it's my sense of smell. I, for one, have a nose like a bloodhound. I can smell a dirty dish rag from a mile away. Unfortunately, this heightened olfactory sense has also led to me not being able to tolerate perfume or cologne. On me or anyone else. Or really any manner of strong smell. I have to really gear up to cook bacon, cuz I swear I can smell it in the house for a solid week.

Have I ever mentioned that people that smell like their food is one of my peeves? I know this is not a very tolerable trait of mine. I remember a boy who used to get on the bus every morning in elementary school just reeking of eggs, bacon and syrup. I always threw up a little in my mouth when he got on. The poor guy. He was a very sweet boy and I considered him a friend, and it wasn't his fault he had a loving mother who made him a home cooked breakfast every morning. But it was just more than I could take and I would do a little chant in my head every day as he boarded, "Please don't sit by me! Please don't sit by me!" If he sat near me, I'd have to breathe through my mouth for the rest of the bus ride. We lived way out in the country and our bus ride took half the school day. Needless to say, I would arrive a little lightheaded on the days he would sit near me.

Just another reason I'm not into cooking, I guess.

So I've determined to lighten up this year, to seek out those things that make me smile, make me laugh. Especially here at home. Let me say that again. Especially here at home. And, really, is there anything funnier than hearing that crash down the hall, followed quickly by your six year old yelling, "I'm OK!"

Like Dr. Seuss said, "From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere." I'm on it. Doctor's orders!