The Best Day... (cue the Taylor Swift music)

The Best Day...

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Now, it's become a common idea that most children at some point in their life have made the emotional decision that they like one or the other of their parents more (even if they love both parents very much). Some it's their Mom they adore. Some it's their dad that they wanna be just like, but either way that person can often be the most important person to that child. I can't count the numbers of times new teachers would assign us a "Get to Know You" paper, including the infamous "Who's your hero" line or "Who do you look up to most," only to be answered with "My mom" or "My dad."

For me, both parents mean the world to me for different reasons, but I've always gotten along the best with my mom. My dad and I are so similar in personality that sometimes we conflict and repel each other like magnets. But my mom, while seemingly my polar opposite in appearance, was always the person I could tell anything to. So that being said, today was no different from one of those beloved days where I was able to spend the day with one of my best friends, my mom.

We started it out by going to a movie. Having just moved to Tennessee, we were happy to discover there was one theater in the town which we were now calling home. So with a tub of buttered popcorn in hand (Yum ^-^) and a bottled water, we watched "Disney Pixar's Brave." And since this isn't a review, I will just sum it up that the movie was very cute and humorous with a tear-jerking moment towards the end (a task Pixar has magically seemed to achieve with each new CGI motion picture that hits the screen). Mom liked it, as did I, and we left the theater with something new to talk about.

Following our cinematic adventure, we went to Sonic's for a burger, fries, slushies, and Sonic Blasts. I also had an experience I'd never had before; the cashier over the intercom, heard me wrong when I asked for a cheeseburger, no tomatoes, no sauce. I was greeted with a burger with no tomatoes and no bun O_o. But it made me giggle as I reminisced about Inn-n-out's protein-styled burgers (aka, a burger wrapped in lettuce, no buns). We talked, ate the food, and drove to the library to apply for a library card. Mom was so comical how she was eyeing my Reese's Sonic Blast, but wouldn't ask for some. Halfway through the dessert, I got full, and upon stating this, the frozen treat was gone from my hands within a millisecond. We both burst into laughter at Mom's sweet tooth tendencies.

Things at the library went well. We explored the two story library complete with a used bookstore, cafe, dvd library which took up four full walls, a young adult section that practically took up half a floor, and more. I ended up buying a couple books at the bookstore and checked out a non-fiction cat-themed audiobook called, "Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat," which I then proceeded to listen to as soon as we were in the car.

Finally after a full day, we drove home, listening to the tales of Homer the Blind Wonder Cat, and trying to figure out which road was Miller and which road was Main (the signs here are so hard to find). It's days like this that I thank the Lord that not only do I have both parents in my life, but that we love each other so much. We may not always like each other, but just having someone to hug and kiss each night "goodnight" and talk to when I'm down is such a blessing. So teens who have both parents around in your life, don't neglect them. We may not always agree with what they do or tell us to do, but we have something that so many children in the world never got the chance to have. You don't need it to be Mother's or Father's Day to show them that you care and are grateful for all they do. So show them your love, and thank them the next time they make you dinner, clean up a mess you made, or just take the time to help you through a tough time. I love you, Mom! And thanks for The Best Day ;)

The Great Move...

The Great Move...

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"Tennessee (The Volunteer State) Welcomes You" said the sign as we drove past the state border. Being as California has been my home for the past 18 years, aka my whole life, it was a shocking spectacle to see the sign. We had been driving for a week from our home in Sun City, California and seeing the sign after staying in cramped hotel rooms, driving for 8 hours, and dealing with Texas's "relative humidity" (Texans, I promise I'm not messing with you or your state), it was a bittersweet blessing. 

It had been seven days at this point after parting with some of the people who made my life so much more worth living. Saying bye to my friends, my relatives, my own brother, my childhood cat of 12 years (I love you, Cypress) and even my boyfriend of a year and one month (but who is counting) was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Still, for other Cali gals and dude, you probably understand why living by yourself with no job and a desire to attend college just doesn't work. 

It does still amaze me the difference of the cost of living out here in the so-called "Volunteer State." When I left the state of Disneyland, Inn-n-out (I will miss you so much, Double-Double T-T), and Starbucks on every street corner, I soon was greeted with gas prices under three dollars. I know, unthinkable, right, Cali fans? I saw apartments with full one bed, one bath, kitchen, living room, and what-not under 500 dollars. You can't find a studio apartment where I was from for less than 700 dollars. And renting a house there... You could rent 3 room, 2 bathrooms for 700-800 dollars. In California, the same house would go for $1500 a month if you were lucky. Plus, these houses come with some actual land (as in acres) instead of the millimeter from your neighbor residential tracks we had were I was from. And while Tennessee has a slightly higher sales tax (9.75% on everything from groceries to gas), it doesn't have state income tax. It does however also have no state minimum wage law, only federal, making the minimum wage out here $7.25 per hour, noticeably lower than California's $8.50 average. So like all things in life, there are pros and cons to the area. (Don't even get me started on college costs. -_-)

However, as most of you do realize, there is more to life than money. It's now been two weeks since I saw the desert scenery (basically dirt and brush) of California, but how I miss it. I've tried to keep a smile throughout all of it, but it is starting to take it's toll. I want stability again, and if any of you readers are from Tennessee (esp. Cumberland County) please suggest some teenage hangout spots around here. I would so greatly appreciate it. And to my friends, I miss you and can't wait till I get to see you guys again. Till then, eat tons of Thrifty's ice cream and Double-Doubles in my place, okay?

With Love,

Brushfire1412