A Smattering of Favorite Moments

I jumped out of an airplane for my 30th birthday. This was an experience, make no mistake, especially since I’m completely phobic about flying. How then do I fly all over you ask? Simple. XANAX! Anyway I was just Facebook chatting with an old high school friend (shout out Jimmy). I was saying that as I exited the plane I thought “this was not a good idea.” And he said, “yea, but I bet you count it as one of your best moments.” Which got me thinking . . . I’ve had such a spectacular life. I mean really! I have a gorgeous family and the most amazing friends that I think anyone has ever had, and I’m not trying to be hyperbolic, it's really true.

I started thinking "what do I count as my greatest moments," and this is what started popping into my head:

Making Minnie Driver uncomfortable at a play in London. (I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Bryan, when you said it was her!) – 2000

Successfully saddling a horse (thank you Rachel!!). –2009

Playing a British version of Monopoly with the Nigerians we were staying with in Logos, Nigeria (that was the point we finally looked at each other and thought, “oh, we all are the same here,” up to that moment we had been eyeing each other uncertainly). –1995

FINALLY hearing my name called at graduation [from Etövös Loránd in Hungary] (I wasn’t sure until I heard it if they were really going to let me graduate) after barely surviving 16 linguistics classes, the writing of a master’s thesis, and that little business of extortion the secretary to the foreign students pulled on me at the LAST minute. –2002

Thinking and crying, "well, I'll never graduate since they want me to pay them a bribe" (to get them to accept all my general credits and to not have to take a foreign language exam, which for the entire 4 years I was there, every semester they had said they would accept and that I didn't have to take) and then hearing my dad on the phone say, "How much? I'm putting it in your account." –2002

Unexpectedly coming upon Anne Brontë’s grave with Jen while roaming around the Yorkshire Dales (it would have been even more sublime if it had been Charlotte’s grave—but I’m not complaining, much). –2000

Landing in Europe for the first time, granted it was only a layover in Brussels on the way to Africa, but still it was Europe and I was there. –1995

Singing, completely abandondly, with Jeni, Julie, and Karen, while Karen's parents played dulcimers. –2005

Being hopelessly lost on the streets of Venice—that’s seriously Magical! –2005

At a birthday party for a Hungarian friend, looking around, and realizing I was the only American among Hungarians, Nigerians, Cypriots, South Africans, and Australians. (kind of a sequel to the monopoly one. I absolutely love when tons of cultures all come together and form a new community!) –hmmm 2003, maybe

Meeting Alida, Jason, and Andi at the train station, as they passed through Budapest, to pass off a video and then being convinced (correction: dared!) by Alida and Andi to jump on the train (I was moneyless, phoneless, id-less), skip class the next day, and go back to Miskolc (2 hours away) to watch the Sting: Behind the Music tape Jason’s parents had just sent them. (It’s a very dangerous feeling [the next day-riding back] to be in a foreign land, where your ability to communicate is basically nil, riding a train without anything to help you should you miss your stop.) –hmmm, 2000 or 2001

Landing in Australia the first time and feeling that overwhelming sense of camaraderie from everyone I met. We were all on the same team, I didn't know what we were playing, life perhaps, but we were winning. –2005

Trying, with Julie, to read a Midsummer Night’s Dream with British accents by the River Avon in Stratford Upon Avon, laughing hysterically, and switching to southern accents. “Ill met by moonlight fair Titania.” “What, jealous Oberon?” –1995

At the opera house in Hungary watching a completely inexplicable opera by Wagner, while Jen “translated” the German for me. Oh did the other boxes cast us disapproving glances! It was the entrance of the dinosaur while the Klingons in big boots were belting out their song that really pushed things over the top. –1999, maybe

Standing at the rail of the boat with Katrina on the way from Athens to Kos as we prayed over our ouzo bottle containing our pact, and then tossing it out into the Agean Sea (not anywhere near enough of our pact has come to pass, but it was a marvelous moment). –2004

Hiking up to the top of that “mountain” in Norway with Katrina and Stian, and cooking out on the little grill Stian had lugged up there, while listening to the tinkling of the bells on the sheep that were even higher up. –2004

Going in the back door, and bypassing all the security, at Versailles with Alida and Ildi. (the memory of you guys flashing your entrance passes at the other tourist who was trying to get out is CLASSIC). –1998

Sitting outside in Newcastle with Katrina and Stian drinking mint tea from her tea set from Jordan and enjoying other Jordanian treats, and talking and talking. –2009

Sitting, exhausted, in the marble, chandelier decorated McDonalds in Budapest after bussing back from Romania, while Edo and Krisztina got our food. When they came, laughing, back to the table, I was so keenly aware of how much I loved my life at that moment. –2003

The way Krisztina would plop down on my bed, very late at night, as I would be trying to fall asleep, in spite of my constant insomnia, and say, “Wait, don’t go to sleep yet, we haven’t even chatted. What happened today?”

Belly lauging with Jen and Lídia in the tiny back portion of the school café that was semi smoke free.

Thirsty Thursdays with Rachel and Michelle.

Riding horses with my dad.

Taco Casa stops on the way to SawGrass.

The many delightful cups of coffee and pastries with Alida, Andi, Ildi, and Jen.

Hearing all the latest fascinating things Jen, Heather, and Katrina have discovered.

All the moments involving twinkly fairy lights.

All the glorious dance floor, backyard, lounge room dancing that has been danced around the world.

Being overwhelmed to the point of tears when I was little over how lucky I was to have such a great family. I couldn't figure out what I had done to deserve that from God.

Fifteen billion little, seemingly inconsequential moments when, surrounded by brilliant family-friends and/or brilliant scenery, I thought, “I’m really happy right now.”

This doesn’t even come close to all the great moments, which means, basically, I’ve been the luckiest girl to ever live. It’s good to remember that, because I may also be the most spoiled girl to ever live, meaning I often forget my luckiest girl status.

Memories of a Five Speed

So I recently test drove a 5-speed for Rachel and Jared. There was quite a mishap with one of her dad's ATV's a few weeks ago at SawGrass, involving a very spectacular fire: Until... so to replace the ATV they got him a Suzuki Sidekick: A Sidekick for a Four-Wheeler. On our way to test drive it I gave my brother a quick call, "So can you just remind me how to drive a standard." His reply, "Lord help them if you're the pro at this!" Anyway, all this got me to reminiscing....

It was a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon, January 2003. I was living in Sugarland, Texas with the delightful Copelins and working with Karen. I had exactly one evening to learn to drive a standard before I was to be let loose on the roads of Sugarland, with its stoplights and stop signs every .2 cm. There are really no words to adequately describe this period in my life so I’ll just give snippets of memories.

This is kind of what Jane-with-a-Y looked like.

Lurching (literally, lurching) my way to work. I rode with my hazards on at all times and basically just whacked my head over and over again against the head rest as I tried to navigate all the stops between me and my destination. I was frequently stalled beneath a stoplight; hazards flashing, hands clutching the steering wheel, screaming in furry and frustration at the top of my lungs.

Lurching my way into a parking spot outside Julie’s apartment, and then upon going in, seeing her doubled over laughing, “I could hear you coming!”

Stalling out about ten times as I tried to exit the Copelin’s driveway, and then Wayne coming out the front door holding a set of keys saying, “ Stop, stop. Take my car.”

Going with Wayne to pick up the car from Bravo’s (a fine Mexican establishment we frequented) to jumper cable the car after I had left the lights on the night before. And after getting back to the house him saying, “Just wait here and I’ll have you follow me to drop off my car to be washed.” I got out and thought to myself, “Do I have to pull the emergency break or is it fine in neutral...no I think I can just leave it in neutral.” Then watching as the car rolled down the driveway towards the trees and mailbox of the house opposite, seeing out of the corner of my eye as Karen came out of the house, took in what was happening, and immediately went back in as Wayne ran after the car. (Luckily, surprisingly, thankfully, nothing was hurt: man, car, tree, or mailbox!)

Ah Jayne (pronounced Jane-with-a-Y) we had some grand times!

(sidenote: As an ex-editor and fill-in copyeditor, I am aware that my tenses and voice are all over the map up there. It annoys me, but the work of sorting it all out would annoy me even more! So to those who know about these things or notice these things, I am profoundly sorry!)

I don't have any actual pictures of me driving the car so I'll just put up some of the Copelin girls that I have on my computer here. They crack me up.

Me (age 18) Julie (age 17) On a bus, who knows where!

Jeni and me, totally winning at cards!

(Jeni, Julie, Me) My 3oth birthday skydive!