Some days I wish I could go back to high school.
It's not a lingering feeling, high school was not my best moment.
I played the tuba.
I wouldn't be going back to relive the glory days... they were a bit scarce.
I would go back to change things.
Playing the tuba wouldn't be one of them though.
So what would I change? Not everything. Probably not much. Maybe a few big things, but mostly little ones.
I would have tried harder. I would be the straight A student I am now, instead of the one that graduated by the skin of her teeth.
I would have taken a few more AP classes.
When I was tardy and my teachers said "Mortensen, you're late." I would have had one response- and one only:
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
I would have enjoyed the Great Gatsby.
I would have steered far away from my junior year boyfriend.
I would have met Kiri Case long before I did.
I would have cared less about dances.
I would have spent more time with my friends, and less time worrying about what boys thought of me.
I guess I would have been a different person.
I look at the things that happened, everything that I would change if I had that chance and I have to wonder...
If I did have the chance, would I really change it?
I'm where I am because of the choices I made. It's not one of those "maybe it would have been different..." things. I can actually SEE that my life is the way it is now because of what I did. Almost not graduating, dating that boy that destroyed my self worth, meeting Kiri Case when I did, not taking as many AP classes as I could have... they all put me here. Would I trade any of it?
No.
Except for the wizard part, I totally wish I would have done that.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
This Strange Man...
Everyone ready for Part 2 of the "I Love My Family" Series?
Fasten your seatbelts, because this next featured family member is wild behind the wheel.
Sorry, I'll stop being stupid now.
When I was three years old my mom married my dad. (Quick back story. My mom was divorced with two kids- me and my older brother. Cary (Dad!) was divorced with a daughter- now my older sister.) Our little family of three and his little family of two quickly became a rather interesting family of five.
And he just ran with it.
I cannot even imagine what my life would be like if not for him.
He gave me the most amazing, successful life I could have. And he cares more than I'll ever know.
When I was a senior in high school I was pretty sure that I was going to amount to nothing.
All of my friends were getting offer letters and acceptance letters from great colleges, and I hadn't even applied anywhere yet.
Teenage impulsive Kirsten decided to make an announcement:
I hate school. I don't even want to go to college! Everyone just expects me to go but no one ever bothered to ask about how I feel about it!!
And proceeded to break out in tears.
Dad just looked at me and said "Look. I don't care if you go to college. If you want a good job that's what I recommend. But if working at Quiznos (my high school job) is what is going to make you happy then that's all I care about."
I'm sure he doesn't remember that conversation.
But it honestly changed my life.
Because I knew Quiznos wasn't going to make me happy.
I hated coming home smelling like sandwiches.
And that's when I decided that college was important, even if it didn't sound like the most fun.
So here I am. Working full-time, going to school at Utah State University, living 50 miles away figuring out how to be an adult.
All because my dad told me he wanted me to be happy.
Just like my Mom, this man has put up with all sorts of crazy because of me. As shown by the story above. We've been the most fascinating of people to watch interact. Because we're so different, and yet so similar it's scary.
Somehow it works out.
He got thrown into a wild ride with a crazy three year old that wanted to wear pink shorts every day of her life.
I still get teased about that, by the way.
And somehow he managed to figure me out.
That I'm emotional.
Stubborn.
Hypoglycemic.
Angry.
A bit strange and a little bit manic.
He's my hero, for everything he does. For his love of Red Sox baseball, second only to his love for his family. For his weird little dance moves, for his crazy 80's music. Because he has to start every road trip with Rush music, and it drives my mom insane. Because he loves Disneyland almost as much as this girl. Because he will drop everything to help anyone that is in need. He's the best Dad in the world.
I got pretty darn lucky.
No, we don't get along all the time.
He believes in the principle of tough love, which usually means I end up in tears because I'm a big baby. But at the end of the day, he is my dad, and no one will be able to fill his shoes.
Love you, Dad.
Oh, and he really is a crazy driver. I was serious.
Fasten your seatbelts, because this next featured family member is wild behind the wheel.
Sorry, I'll stop being stupid now.
When I was three years old my mom married my dad. (Quick back story. My mom was divorced with two kids- me and my older brother. Cary (Dad!) was divorced with a daughter- now my older sister.) Our little family of three and his little family of two quickly became a rather interesting family of five.
And he just ran with it.
I cannot even imagine what my life would be like if not for him.
He gave me the most amazing, successful life I could have. And he cares more than I'll ever know.
When I was a senior in high school I was pretty sure that I was going to amount to nothing.
All of my friends were getting offer letters and acceptance letters from great colleges, and I hadn't even applied anywhere yet.
Teenage impulsive Kirsten decided to make an announcement:
I hate school. I don't even want to go to college! Everyone just expects me to go but no one ever bothered to ask about how I feel about it!!
And proceeded to break out in tears.
Dad just looked at me and said "Look. I don't care if you go to college. If you want a good job that's what I recommend. But if working at Quiznos (my high school job) is what is going to make you happy then that's all I care about."
I'm sure he doesn't remember that conversation.
But it honestly changed my life.
Because I knew Quiznos wasn't going to make me happy.
I hated coming home smelling like sandwiches.
And that's when I decided that college was important, even if it didn't sound like the most fun.
So here I am. Working full-time, going to school at Utah State University, living 50 miles away figuring out how to be an adult.
All because my dad told me he wanted me to be happy.
Just like my Mom, this man has put up with all sorts of crazy because of me. As shown by the story above. We've been the most fascinating of people to watch interact. Because we're so different, and yet so similar it's scary.
Somehow it works out.
He got thrown into a wild ride with a crazy three year old that wanted to wear pink shorts every day of her life.
I still get teased about that, by the way.
And somehow he managed to figure me out.
That I'm emotional.
Stubborn.
Hypoglycemic.
Angry.
A bit strange and a little bit manic.
He's my hero, for everything he does. For his love of Red Sox baseball, second only to his love for his family. For his weird little dance moves, for his crazy 80's music. Because he has to start every road trip with Rush music, and it drives my mom insane. Because he loves Disneyland almost as much as this girl. Because he will drop everything to help anyone that is in need. He's the best Dad in the world.
No, we don't get along all the time.
He believes in the principle of tough love, which usually means I end up in tears because I'm a big baby. But at the end of the day, he is my dad, and no one will be able to fill his shoes.
Love you, Dad.
Oh, and he really is a crazy driver. I was serious.
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