Nice Things

 I've been away from blogging for a little while (probably because I'm going to be at college in less than a week [!!!], and I don't want to blog about it because I will channel all that nervous energy into a blog post, which probably won't make for the best reading. I've decided to focus on happy things instead.

Over the last few weeks of my last month at home, many nice things have happened:

• I swam full laps in the pool for the first time last week. I didn't know how to swim a month ago, and now the pool looks like a welcoming place as opposed to a watery death-trap.  One of the lifeguards even congratulated me on my progress -- it also happened to be the one that looked particularly worried as I flailed my arms about in the water during my first few stints in the pool. I realize now that I bordered on becoming a  classic "distressed swimmer."  Now I'm a de-stressed swimmer!
• My family and I visited the most beautiful botanical garden in Missouri, and I took ~50,000 photos. Here are some:

A mosaic plant.

Cacti looking at their floral friends.

A golden barrel cactus.

Mystery leaves journeying on a brick path.

 

Here's what happens to artichokes when you don't eat them!

 

Two girls running from lanterns.



• We went to the Field Museum in Chicago, and in addition to finally seeing the entirety of the animal exhibits, I took a very artsy/obscure photo of an exhibit that I am inordinately proud of:

I don't know why I like this photo so much -- I think it's because of the lines and reflections on the glass. The photo is of a rhinoceros skeleton exhibit. 

• I cleaned off my desk and it looks nice and shiny. I feel accomplished.
• Our documentary  on marriage equality is COMPLETE! COMPLETE! I really love that word right now. After months of "touch-ups" and "minor edits",  it feels wonderful to say that the project is complete before I head off to college.
•  My little brother started 4th grade -- he's not so little anymore, and is on his way to becoming the picture of organizational excellence. He was one of the only students in his Spanish class who studied everyday, and he earned quite a reward: 200 "pesos" (pretend money to buy treats)
• I talked with my roommate over e-mail. She is the sweetest, and I am so excited to meet her! We have favorite colors, movie genres, and foods in common :) 

Right now, the sun is streaming through my kitchen window, and I'm looking at the rug -- piled high with Lego creations courtesy of my brother (and my younger self, of course). It feels surreal. In less than a week, I won't walk downstairs to a landmine of pointy Legos. I'll walk downstairs and see a bustling campus filled with new people. I can't wait to meet them, but for now, I'm still appreciating the niceness of home.