Magical Moment 36, "Goose"

She plays piano, sings, and taught herself how to strum chords on the guitar. Not me, my cousin-in-law, Sarah. We call her Goose. I still have no idea why. She, her sister, and her parents were the nearest family to Eddie and I for three years. On weekends, we drove up to stay with them and many holidays were spent together as well. It was nice having such wonderful people so close, able to just hop in the car and be there in a few short hours.

Over the years, Goose and I have discovered we are super-naturally alike. We haven’t quite figured out the cause yet, but we think it has something to do with the star's alignment when we were born. She and I were strangers only 3 short years ago, yet continue to discover that we have the same unique taste in music, movies, clothes, food, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

Our favorite song is Sentimental Journey. First of all, who under the age of 50 even knows that song? We have the same in depth discussion about the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Is Mrs. Threadgood Idgy Threadgood? Or did she just marry into the family? Then what about her mysterious smile at the end? Most people haven't even seen that movie, let alone care so passionately about the family tree of the fictional characters. The movie, “Only You” inspired us both to visit Italy one day. We’re both on a “clear liquid” kick because we have some hang up that it’s healthier. And at a small town craft show, we both reached for a single pair of hand-knitted wrist warmers. Wrist warmers?! I let her have them because I was just so happy that someone else in the universe had my odd taste.

We used to be surprised when we discovered a new, outrageously random similarity between us. A few years ago, when Goose had long, luscious, red Julia Roberts hair and I finally managed to grow mine out just past my shoulders (an incredible feat for me considering I haven’t had my hair that long since 2^nd grade), she came for a visit. Just before she arrived, I had the urge to chop my hair off completely. When she knocked on our front door, I prepared to defend myself once she saw that I had irrationally destroyed all my hard work for the past year. I opened the door, shocked to see her long hair cut to her ears as well. Come to find out that we probably hacked our hair off the same day.

We’re no longer surprised when we show up wearing the same shoes or adorable big buttoned denim jacket. We don’t blink anymore when we order the same thing off the menu. It doesn’t phase us when we break out in the exact same song in the exact same key. The shock wore off quickly when we found out that I ordered a “Teach yourself Tap Dance” video and she ordered a “Teach yourself Ballet” video online, again probably the same day. We're alike right down the brand of heat defense hair products we use.

Lately I’ve decided maybe it’s not so complicated as the cosmic galaxy aligned at birth or the moon and the tides in tune with us. It just may be that she is my friend away from my friends. My family away from my family. My sister away from my sisters.

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-...

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