If We Can't Go to China.....

Because I have never owned the apartment or house I live in and, therefore, can't write on the walls to my hearts content, I have a large poster board I tack up where ever I move. This large blank canvas has, over the years, been the place I write all those little sayings you love and don't want to forget. It has lines from obituaries of the famous, not so famous and the infamous. It has quotes from books and movies that moved me, made me laugh or just remind me of how much I enjoyed the experience. Song lyrics also have made the cut.

My favorite sayings, however, are the off handed comments that people make at dinner parties or in passing. Statements that have stopped conversation, made me think or made me laugh so hard I cried. I write the line completely out of context on my board but that small collection of letters instantly brings up the entire situation that produced them and returns me to family, friends and situations that make me smile and remind me of the amazing people who have crossed my path.

Like Adam and Trina and their courtship: Adam, "Are you a crier?" Trina, "Yes." Adam, "OK." They were married 5 months later.

Like Auggie (my nephew) who, after a life jacket demonstration on Papa's boat, asked the group, "Does everyone have an exit buddy?"

Like my roommate Debbie who clarified relationships for me with, "There is a reason they call them Perfect Strangers!"

Today I added a new one to the board. My niece Phoebe is seven and could give the energizer bunny a run for his money. She likes to spend time at Nana and Papa's house after school and on weekends. The other day she declared she wanted to go to a local pub, The British Beer Company, for dinner. Mom and Dad said maybe some other time. Later in the conversation they talked about the fact that I lived in California and there was a time change so I was still having lunch when they were thinking about dinner. Phoebe took it in stride and casually asked if they could go to France. Then, for no apparent reason, Phoebe declared she would rather go to China. Phoebe looked at the world map on my parents wall (although Nana isn't sure she could locate the actual country) and declared, "If we can't go to China when can't we go to The British Beer Company?"

That question goes on the board because:
1. It made me laugh when Mom related the story to me.
2. It made me wish I'd been there.
3. It made me smile and reminded me that Phoebe has it right - dream big but keep your options open at all times. You don't have to go half way around the world to be happy. Sometimes just a trip to the local pub for a hamburger does the trick!