Author: Melanie

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life – music and cats.
— Albert Schweitzer

Does that scare you?
I’ll let you run away
But your heart will not oblige you
You’ll remember me like a melody
Yeah, I’ll haunt the world inside you
— Fiona Apple, Slow Like Honey

I’ve been thinking about love a lot lately, and I want to know:

How do you know you’re in love? When was the last time you fell in love? Was it requited or not? Did you tell the person who inspired the feeling? Have you ever fallen out of love? How did you explain that to the other person? What do you do when you love a person you know you can’t have? Have you ever fallen in love unexpectedly?

You don’t have to answer all of those questions, but I’m interested in whatever you’re willing to share.

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.
— Ansel Adams

In an effort to be less drama-oriented around here (though, trust me, there’s still a bit of drama going on at the moment), I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite photographs that I’ve taken over the last several years. I hope you enjoy them!

This is part of an arbor in Central Park. I took several rolls of film there after I got my SLR a couple years ago.

This is the waterfall at Coline du Chateau in Nice, France. To reach it, you have to climb about a billion steps (or take a cab – we climbed), but it, and the whole park, are totally worth it.

This is a little cove off the coast of Villefranche sur Mer, just south of Nice. The kids were locals, and they were climbing the rock and then jumping off into the pool below.

I’ve posted this one before, in a Happy Things post, but it’s one of my favorites that I took in France. I read once that “love is what makes two people sit together in the middle of a bench when there is plenty of room at each end,” and this photo is the perfect illustration of that.

A sand dune at Jones Beach on Long Island. I took several rolls of film there too, in the weeks after I got my SLR.

This is also at Jones Beach – I think I got the composition just right on this one. If you’ve been around a while, you might remember that it used to be my header when I was on Blogger:

Here’s an interesting juxtaposition for you – this was the Umbrella shack in April 2005:

And here’s the Snack Shack in April 2008:

And here’s my favorite photo from Jones Beach:

It’s a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word.
— Andrew Jackson

This sign sits alongside Route 15 somewhere between Harrisburg and the northern border of Pennsylvania. I see it whenever I go visit my parents, and it makes me smile every time.

Old men are fond of giving good advice, to console themselves for no longer being in a position to give bad examples.
— Francois la Rochefoucauld

I’ve been holding on to this for a little while now, since Lyrically first did it back in April, and I thought I’d go ahead and share it with you now. Remember this spoken word “song” that was popular about 10 years ago (maybe longer)? The words are taken from an imagined commencement address written by a Chicago Tribune writer. Lyrically gave her take on it, and commenters offered some suggestions as well, and I started my own list with the intent to share it here. And here we are.

Never leave home without Chapstick. When the world gets to be too much, spend time with people under the age of 5. Try to laugh at something every day. Sing, whenever, wherever, even if it’s only to yourself. Life is too short to eat fat-free cheese. Read for pleasure – it’s the best way to learn new things and expand your vocabulary. Own a cat, especially if you live alone; it helps to have something to take care of. Always buy what kids are selling at card tables on their front lawns. Smile at strangers – it doesn’t cost anything and it might brighten someone’s day. Always bring socks or stockings with you when you go shoe shopping (otherwise, you’ll end up like me, with multiple pairs of shoes that are *just* too big). Diet Dr. Pepper is the only diet soda that really does taste like the original. When you move to a new neighborhood, find the local public library and get a card as soon as you can. Learn to drive stick. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – how else are you supposed to get the answers? Get unlimited text messaging on your cell phone.

Never wear open-toed shoes without painting your toenails. When making macaroni and cheese from a box, mix the milk with the cheese powder first, and then add it to the macaroni. Floss – your dentist is right (and my dentist is hot!). Be friends with your siblings. Always try to be fair, even when fighting. Don’t let kind things go unsaid. Get to know your grandparents. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Send thank you notes; especially these days, you’ll stand out from the rest, and it’s just the right thing to do. You are never alone, even when you feel like you are. Study abroad in college – you won’t be sorry. Read the newspaper. Learn to love a sport, it’s a great way to connect with strangers. Don’t play games with people’s hearts – be honest about your feelings. Go places by yourself; you don’t always need a wingman. Make your bed every day – it takes 2 minutes and makes a huge difference. Credit cards are not worth the trouble; avoid them if you can. Exercise is good for your body and your mind – make it a habit, but find something you love to do.

Go to therapy – where else can you find someone who’ll listen to you for an hour and not expect to talk about themselves in return? When someone asks you to be in their wedding, only say yes if you can honestly stand up for the relationship. Take lots of pictures. Shave your underarms in both directions; you’ll get a closer, longer lasting shave. The only way you won’t get what you want is if you stop trying to get it. Eat breakfast every day. Never stay with someone who doesn’t believe in you. Follow through when you say you’re going to do something. Share what you have with others, whether it’s money, time, talent, wisdom, or friendship. Be someone’s secret admirer.

So there you go. What’s your advice?