Stay the course

--Friends, please don't read this if you're not registered to vote. Use this time now to go through the simple process of registering to vote online instead of reading my blog. I'm only going to tell you how important it is to vote this year anyway.

SERIOUSLY! Every day, there's a new dismal report about our economy and how thousands of Americans are losing their jobs and pensions, while millions lose their homes. It saddens me to see how unstable this country has become.

I don't believe that either presidential candidate will be able to get into office and change things right away. So don't expect to find a savior in a public servant. The economy will get worse before it gets better. Our housing market will hit rock bottom, and maybe during, say, Obama's second term we will start to see some true improvement.

A girl, who is a few years my junior, was asking me if I thought there would be another Great Depression. I said, "For some Americans, it already is. For others, it soon will be. For the precious few, it never will be. And for the rest of us, it will just be shitty for a while." We shared what we knew of the Great Depression, stories passed down, generation to generation. Then she said, "You think I'd have to sell my purse?" Referring to her choice of designer handbags, cell phone skins, sunglasses and footwear, I said, "You do realize you're a complete douchebag? If it got to the point where you had to sell that thing, it would have no value."

But I do love that girl because she's very kind, just simply and genuinely kind. She's all labeled out because she feels like she has to be. It's a matter of competition and attraction. And I can appreciate our differences.

Our differences, by the way, are vast. I've been known to leave authentic Gucci bags on a garage floor, while Target and TJ Maxx couture were nestled safely in my closet. And those Gucci bags? All gifts. Gifts from someone who gave that kind of stuff away at Christmastime like they were candy canes. I'd never buy something like that for myself. I'm not sure I would want it.

And that was before I had kids.

--The eternal optimist in me has high hopes for my children--and yours. Take a look at history, and you'll see why. Each generation has its tragedy, its turning point, its pivotal moment. One day, I believe we'll look back to see that 9/11 really did change everything for us--most of us were just upperclassmen in college. Innocence and naivity were lost.

But a lot of beauty was gained:

I remember sitting in my PR class, next to Incorvati, watching the second plane crash, after hearing the first one on my walkman during my short trip to Academic Hall. We were casual friends, class friends. That day we held hands.

Later, in my dorm room, among my best friends, I watched CNN and network news stations repeat horrible truths and replay horrifying images. That evening we walked the Boulevard of the Allies, as allies, and made it to The Point, looking back at our city, reflecting on the day, praying for our countrymen, silently thankful that it wasn't our skyline.

We all grew up a little that day--and so much more since then. We've suffered irreplacable losses in our families, we've become husbands and wives, moms and dads, full-time employees and homeowners. We've done it all during "trying times."

And I really do believe that if we stay the course, refuse to lose hope, work hard and treat each other well, we will live to see our children and loved ones live out their dreams without the challenge of doing it during "trying times."

--I've enjoyed that my life has been such a way that I can have an incredible phone conversation with my best friend while picking up a pizza, and 10 minutes later I can be meeting two incredible people for the first time.

--Color matching is so much fun. I've found some very interesting shades that are unbelievably beautiful with teal. Teal! It's also true that if you mismatch a color with teal, it's a huge disaster.

--Cienna is doing so well with school. I'm so incredibly proud of her and constantly wonder where her life's journey will lead.

--You already know how beyond thrilled I am for fall, so I won't go into that.

--Planning Cienna's 5th birthday is a lot of fun.

--Talking about Cienna in The Nutcracker is also fun.

--I'm looking forward to a certain new beginning. More to come...