You Can't Always Get What You Want

This weekend included every single thing that I love in this world.  Family, A three hour road trip in the car by myself (with my random music collection to keep me company), late night laughs,  snuggles with my youngest niece and delicious food.

I overheard my younger sister talking to one of my cousins last night. She was talking about how fortunate my life is, and said something to the effect of - "She is single, she has no kids, she has no house (this was where I butt in to remind everyone that I'm NOT homeless... I just don't own a home currently) ... she can do whatever she wants whenever she wants to do it!"  And these are all completely true statements.. but isn't it funny how people always want what they don't have? My younger sister is a work at home mom (She runs a fabulous skin-care empire with Rodan + Fields. If I haven't gushed to you about how fabulous my skin is, then I probably haven't seen you lately. Let's talk. I'll tell you all about it, and get you in touch with my sister.) she has a wonderful husband, three amazingly adorable children who I love, and the cutest little house... and I would trade places with her any day of the week!  (Ok... maybe not all the days... but most of them, I totally would.)

My random music selection is widely recognized by my family. Before I set out on my three hour road trip to Massachusetts yesterday (for my great uncles 90th birthday party!) I created a new, 11 hour playlist in my Amazon Music account.  During the six hours I spent in my car during the past two days, I listened to a vast array of music. Several songs struck me, but it was this lyric from I Wrote My Way Out (from the Hamilton Mixtape) that really hit me the hardest.

"This hurricane in my brain is the burden I bear
I can do without, I'm here (I'm here)
Cause I wrote my way out."

This week marks 14 weeks that I have been writing this blog. Subsequently, it's also the 14th week of early morning running- which I haven't talked about much here.. but between the writing, and the running, and the whole getting my life back thing... I have to say... I'm content. I've done my best with what I have had... and it's been good enough. I don't have everything that I want, but who of us does? You pick away at it, piece by piece until you do.. and then your list of wants changes.. and you start all over again. 

On my way back from Massachusetts today, the sisters and I (and the kids, and the husbands) all stopped at Harrison's Roast Beef in North Andover, Mass. We would have normally driven to Beverly to go to Nick's.. but cousin Brandon insisted that Harrison's was better than Nick's... and I have to say, he wasn't wrong. 

Also, cousin Brandon made himself some amazing new friends this weekend. Three of them.. all under the age of 8. 

We also all fell in love with this hammock at my cousin's house, and took turns relaxing in it. 

And honestly, despite the fact that my niece punched me in the face no less than three times, and spent the rest of her time asleep kicking me... I was happy to share a bed with her last night.  Especially when she sleepily rolled over this morning at 6:30 and whispered "Dauntie AA, can I have your phone to play a game on?" Of course you can, E... but I'm totally putting this picture in your yearbook senior year.