Sometimes, I smile inside or....

a few things that have made me amazingly happy recently.

On Friday (8/19), I worked late until about 6:45pm. That’s not something I usually like to do now that I have to ride the bus and train until my car is fixed. Working that late means that I would likely miss the last express bus home and would need to take an alternate route, instead of my preferred route. It’s not that big of a deal, but it kind of is. And to be truthful, I just don’t like to work late, but I did anyway. We’re gearing up for our new season and opening night for our first show is right around the corner, so invitations needed to get out. Well, as anticipated, I missed the last express bus to Hyde Park. I decided to take the 6 and would walk the 6 or so blocks the rest of the way home. Well, as I walked home, the strangest feeling came over me. For the first time my heart wasn’t beating in anticipation of something unknown and my mind wasn’t running the 3-minute mile. I felt almost like I was walking on a cloud, so I stopped for a second thinking that I was going to pass out or something. I wasn't quite lightheaded, but I felt light nonetheless. When I arrived home, the feeling immediately disappeared as reality set in that I had a million things to do. But, I smiled to myself anyway, because for the 15 minutes it took me to walk home, I was in a state of total peace with myself and it felt good!

On Saturday (8/20), I had brunch with two of my co-workers. The three of us are the only black employees in admin for the theater where we work; so, every now and then, we have to steal a few moments together to decompress. We ate at the original heaven on seven restaurant which was quaint and quite tasty. As we laughed and discussed everything from our jobs to gay adoptions, I realized just how cool they are. After brunch, two of us went shopping and then to see the Women at the Turning Point short films, which are apart of the Black Harvest Film Festival at the Gene Siskel Center. The three short films which included, The Missing Peace (based on the story of the same title by Edwidge Danticat), Dense (written & directed by actress Vanessa Williams) and The Message (a modest christian film) were three different, yet very engaging stories. I left the theater feeling inspired and hopeful. As I walked to the bus stop on that perfect Saturday afternoon, I stopped and got some popcorn from Garrett's (if you don't know about Garrett's, you better ask somebody). As I sat at the bus stop eating my popcorn, I thought about how the things that have always seemed unattainable to me, really aren't. it also became obvious to me that whether I think so or not, I'm not too far off my intended course. Instantly, I had smile on my face!

On Sunday (8/21), I borrowed my aunt's car to run some much needed errands. As I fumbled around the far northwest side of town for two hours trying to find my favorite Marshall's, I was also on the phone with my two best girls in L.A. (Maybe that was part of the reason why I couldn't find it?!?!) Our almost two hour conversation was just what I needed. Talking to them is one of the most exciting things ever. They always have a lot going on with much drama and entertainment worthy of their own reality series. At the end of every conversation, I'm always amazed by how much we've grown over the past 10 years, yet can still sit on three-way talking for hours about absolutely nothing and it be the best conversation ever. And though I miss being L.A. just because I miss hanging out with them, I love them for always making me feel like I never left. Anytime I think about talking to them, I can't help but smile.

This morning (8/23), while riding the bus to my subway stop, I noticed a man sitting across from me. He had actually gotten on the bus at my stop, but I didn’t really notice him until well into our ride. He was a standard YBPer (young black professional) working in some private sector in the illustrious downtown Chicago, I assumed. I only noticed him because he was listening to his ipod and the music was playing loudly, yet the artist, song and genre were all indistinct. All of sudden, the music stopped and a new song started and I heard…this is what, luchini pouring for the sky lets get rich what... I thought, oh my God, he’s listening to Luchini by Camp Lo…how perfect is that?!?! I smiled a big koolade smile inside and out. I’m sure the people around me on the bus thought that I was insane, but who cares. He was listening to Camp Lo!

Sometimes, the smallest and oddest things bring me the greatest joy!