Life on the (funny) farm

I was born at lunchtime on women's day. I'd like to say that the date and time of my birth would say something about my personality; I'm a strong decisive independent woman, who always takes charge. That rumor is not so.
I grew up in a neighborhood with no children. Halloween was great because every house would buy a bag of candy for me and my siblings and our pillowcases would be full before we made it halfway down the street. Frankly, I loved my neighborhood. I learned compassion and how to be grateful (plus there was always a captive audience). I really only had 3 friends til I was 9 (and we moved): Cory, Laura, and Rebecca.
I sat in the back of the class at school. I fell for peer pressure on a contagious basis; What I mean by that is that I would do what one person would ask me to, and then I felt that I needed to oblige everyone, so no one's feelings would be hurt. I think I did this because I never really learned how to relate to other kids. I was raised around adults (and my brother and sister who beat me up). I watched shows like Murder She Wrote and Columbo. The person I wanted to be like was Jessica Tandy (and was devastated when she passed away).
This has affected me as a 30 year old. I've changed my ways. I'm learning how to say No!. God has helped me stop running through those endless hypotheticals that start when someone doesn't call or is late. I'm searching for a best friend.
Now I take charge when the situation calls for it (because I can't stand wasting time), but by no means am I a take-charge kinda girl. I'm a little outspoken, but I lied for years (another story for another time). And i look to my daughters and I cringe. Why? Well, I have no idea what is a normal amount of time to spend with neighborhood kids (I didn't), I don't know what is an age appropriate arguement for a child is (never had em). Will they ever find thier best friend as a kid? I don't know if they're missing out on something ,but I'm going to take my hypothetical's word for it. That voice keeps telling me that I didn't miss out on anything, so neither are they. It tells me that my caring will one day be acknowledged by my girls and appreciated. It tells me , "ali, suck it up, you're 30, not 13". So, now I'm going to go out there and live like the girl born at 12:11 on March 8... maybe, if that's ok with you.

Vacation

When I was growing up, we went on vacation atleast twice a year. Vacation was always the same. We went to The Florida Keys once a year and we went to Okeefenokee swamp every fall. Now, vacations were about family. we spent 16 hours in a car together on the way to the keys. For you youngun's, back then vacations in a car weren't the same as today. we didn't have airconditioning all the time. we didn't have DVD players and game boys (oh wait, even that reference is old: I mean PS3's), we had little cars that didn't have all it's working seatbelts, and books. we had sisters and brothers that forced you to sit on the floor of the car so they could stretch out and take a nap. Luckily, I learned to fight off motion sickness and read while we drove and sleep on the floor of the car (thank God that Florida is flat and straight). Okeefenokee is a SWAMP. and all the excitement that comes with that. What? you dont know what can be exciting about a swamp? Living in a cabin for a week, riding a boat with alligators and indian burial grounds. and well, swamp creatures. The great thing about that vacation was that there were about 20-30 other people who came with us ,and as a kid, you met new kids to play with each year. We ate donuts on a string, scavenger hunts and misquito counting.
Now I'm 30 and I have kids of my own. What vacations do we do? I have to laugh. We go to the beach (not the keys) every year for the 4th, and we go to okeefenokee every fall. And for some reason, it's more exciting for me now than it ever was as a kid. People know I'm going and ask about it; they ask if I've gone yet and what it's like. I force my children to eat donuts on a string and scavenger hunts. I found myself this past week at the beach, having a contest who could fill up a grocery bag with trash the quickest to get a prize... and they did it! Happily! Forget DVD's kids. Forget TV and ipods. give my kids a book and NATURE and maybe they'll grow up as well-rounded and happy as I am.
Thanks mom for forcing me to sit through all the okeefenokee lectures in the educational hall.
oh and p.s.: Zoe will be celebrating her 4th birthday with the alligators this year. I plan on taking advantage of that! For all my peeps who join me on vacation, we will be the envy of all my friends.