Getting Old

In this blog I will present the supporting evidence of my latest hypothesis, which is I'm getting old.  Allow me to present exhibit A, incurring an injury while performing a seemingly harmless activity.  For example, I was doing handstands with my nephews up against a wall.  The next day I had what felt like a rotator cuff injury.  It hurt to raise my arm and change the radio station in the car.  To add insult to injury, literally, my nephews remained unfazed by previous day's contortionism.  The idea of getting injured probably never even occurred to them.  

Moving on to further proof, random lower back aches.  I never used to understand why people complained about back pain when getting out of a car.  I mean, you're just sitting there, right?  What could possibly be so traumatizing to your back while you're sitting for half an hour, listening to music?  Maybe it's the music.  The worst is waking up with a back ache.  I swear someone must have been doing yoga to me in my sleep.  One of these nights I'm going to just pretend to be asleep and catch the culprit red-handed!

Lastly, I hear myself complaining about music and I know I'm getting old.  I love to listen to anything I can dance to which is usually pop music or hip-hop/R&B.  I have become so disenchanted with hip-hop lately because I don't enjoy hearing about explicit sexual encounters on my way to the grocery store.  As I've aged, I think I've become a little more prudish when it comes to music.  I remember what a scandal "Push it" by Salt 'n Pepper created when I was in elementary school, but I loved it.  These days I just don't want to hear it, which is qualitative proof that I need to reserve my spot in a nursing home.  Just hand me a cane or walker and I'll commit myself because the last thing I need is to go around saying "I can't believe what the kids listen to these days!"  I feel like I have been forced into rock, easy listening and country music.  It's a tragic tale, really.

It's cold in here. . .  What time is it?

North Carolina, First in Flight

Since I was whining about Maui in my last post, allow me to extol the virtues of North Carolina for a brief moment. My North Carolina top five are as follows:

5) On the interstate islands separating lanes they plant bunches of beautiful flowers. Most of the time they are of one color and lately it has been yellow. So picture yourself driving on a bright and sunny day and your eyes are assaulted with a sea of brilliant yellow flowers on the side of the road. Given the right moment, day and time it is a stunning sight or at the very least a cheery one. This picture was taken as I was driving so it really doesn't do the flowers justice, but this is kinda what it looks like.

4) It is so green here. I realize that having lived in Utah for the longest time I am used to a different type of vegetation (albeit breathtaking in its own right), but I feel like the neighborhoods in this state are cut directly out of a forest. If humans were to suddenly disappear in North Carolina all signs of civilization would be gone in 2 weeks, overrun by wildlife and vegetation. This state is so thickly wooded and that lushness is so close it's right behind you and just over your shoulder. It's really refreshing to think that Mother Nature is not so far away. This next picture I took 2 blocks from my house and I love it. I feel like the woods are beckoning.

3) Diversity. I am currently taking a class at an all Black university and let's just say it is a far cry from anything I've ever experienced before and I'm loving it. I also like that I can go to a Malaysian restaurant and eat authentic, not to mention delicious, food. It's just nice. There is even some other adorable little interracial kids in our neighborhood, but none as cute as my nephews.

2) The confederate flag--Oh wait, I hate that. However, I do think there's something to Southern hospitality. People aren't usually just plain rude here. It's almost like courtesy is mandatory, which is a good thing. Being originally from New York I haven't completely lost my suspiciousness of strangers being nice to me, but since I have lived in North Carolina I've learned to drop my guard a bit.

DRUMROLL PLEASE . . .

1) Fried chicken. Let's be honest, the South don't play when it comes to fried chicken and barbeque. I actually think BBQing is a competitive sport around here, but I digress. Seriously, I have tasted some of the best fried chicken I have ever had right here in Dixie folks and I ain't lyin'. AND I have yet to taste Bojangles fried chicken which I hear is off the hook!

Well, there you have it. I might miss Maui but the flowers, having mother nature so close (I almost ran over a jackrabbit on the way to the gym the other day), diversity and good ol' fried chicken tend to ease my nostalgia a bit. This one's for you North Carolina!