Want to hear a Story??

Telling a good story. Highlighting important details. Creating a buildup. Drawing the listener in with anticipation. Then knocking their socks off with the ending punchline. I LOVE it! As a kid, I always enjoyed listening to stories. At bedtime, Jason and I would beg my dad to tell us a story, about anything. He would tell us stories of his adventures in the Marines, and other nights, he would make stories up. I couldn't get enough of it. I still can't. I love hearing good stories, and I love telling stories. It's an art, rooted in history, which is why it's should be no surprise that history and storytelling are two fascinations of mine. After all, isn't history one big story?!

In college, I seriously entertained the idea of majoring in History. (But what can you do with a History major? So, Communication studies was the degree of choice.) I have always been fascinated by it, and a few passionate history teachers had me intrigued. I love the cause and effect of it. This happened, which effected this change. History is the ability to analyze why things are the way they are. And up until recently, I hadn't ever put the idea of history into the context of my own life. I have always thought about history as something that has already been made, not something that is currently being made. But lately, I've been thinking, about how each day, my history, my story is being written and added to. It kinda creates some pressure to make each moment, decision, and day count!

And when I think about creating my history, I envision it as the bedtime story I will tell my grandchildren. About my travels, about my adventures, about moving to Nebraska, about my hardships, and about how I wouldn't change it for anything. And when I think about telling my own story, I want it to be good! I don't want it to be chalked up with bad decisions and regrettable mistakes. I want to be proud of my history. Because all of these things will effect the grandmother I will (hopefully) be. All my little moments of history added up will explain who I am.

In looking back on my brief history thus far, thoughts and memories abound of important people in my life and how they too contributed to my history. But even beyond being thankful for their role in my life, I have started to realize how I am now in a position to make an impact in others' lives. How my actions, or inaction's, could be part of someone else's history. I have fond memories of 'big kids' driving me places, and feeling special because I was getting attention from a 'big kid.' Well, now I am that big kid, and it is up to me now to return the favor to someone else's childhood memory.

Gosh, what will the future hold?? What will be included in my history? I don't know. But I'm pretty sure, there will be some good stories to tell! I have a feeling it is going to be legen....wait for it....dary!!!