Memories-Inspired Musings

Harkness played both Beauty and the Beast AND the Super Mario Theme 20 minutes ago. It was one of those, "What more could I possibly ask for?" moments, haha.

And that, coupled with the fact that I was having a discussion with Liz about Autism (it was a much broader topic, but one of the components was Autism) and therefore came back to look at this sadly forgotten blog, got me thinking.

A few days ago, someone who I had not spoken to in roughly 4 or 5 years facebook messaged me. He used to go to my dojo (karate school), and I think I taught him at one point, too. He's is now a freshman at BU and loves it. He messaged me to ask how I was and how Yale was treating me, which is standard I-haven't-spoken-to-this-person-in-years-so-I-will-ask-general-questions-about-their-life. But then he added something else.

"have an interesting q for you, what do you feel is close to your heart?"

...Ummm, what? Whoa there, that's totally deviating from social norms for what you can or can't ask/say to people after a prolonged silence like that. Notttttt okay. Hmm. He must be being really deep. It would be rude to ignore the question, since he clearly thought it out. So now I must think about it.

I answered him and our conversation has continued accordingly.

"the people that make my life what it is"

I know, I know! You're probably saying *cough*COP-OUT*cough*. But so many other things ran through my head as a possible response to that out-of-the-blue question, and none of them clicked. They seemed contrived, as if I were to be a good girl and reply with "my family". But that's not entirely true for me because I don't have much of one (can I just insert the phrase "decent-sized family" here?? thanks. LOL).

I tried thinking of things. Karate? Yeah, karate! ...Wait...You mean the sport and way of life that was my life until Yale? Where it no longer is my life anymore? That doesn't seem right. That one little spot closest to your heart, surrounded by veins and arteries pumping your blood, your escence of life, has to be filled with something good. I love karate, and I enjoyed doing it for so many years. I met some of the greatest people I ever have met, and made friends all over. I loved every second of it while I was focused on it. And I miss it now, even as I do so much with my life that it prompts others to routinely remark, "Hey Allie, why don't you try getting into this, it'd be rea-...oh wait, like you don't have enough to do already," haha.

So then how do I answer?? Maybe if I close my eyes, something will come to me. I also run the risk of Liz sneaking up on me and reprimanding good-naturedly me for writing in my blog instead of studying for Japanese (I have a Kanji Test tomorrow that will test me on 115 chararcters...o meu deu...), lol. Wait! That's it! Isn't that what I always say: I love our suite, I love RB, I love prefrosh, I love my Junta, I love you??

I love people.

More specifically, I love the people who make my life what it is. Because the people in my life make me think, challenge me, oppose my views, support me, cheer me on, wait for me, pull me up, make me laugh, make me laugh so hard I cry, make me cry, hug me, care about me, care enough to confide in me, love me.

They have shaped this Allie figure into someone who strives to make all these people proud, becoming a better person in many aspects in the process.

And in return, they make me happy =]

So I guess Harkness's renditions of Beauty and the Beast + the Super Mario Theme + someone to tell this to = happyness.