"Say What You Need to Say"

I've always experienced cognitive dissonance when I hear those words because it makes me think of the song. And while I am not a fan of John Mayer's music, I'm a communications major so I have to be a fan of the message. (side note: both blogs are titled with musical inspiration today due to what's been on repeat all weekend).

I recently had a conversation with a new friend (my first actual friend in Portland--go me) about her in-laws. She and her husband are recently married and are absolutely an amazing young couple. I won't go into detail about the situation with her in-laws, but I laughed and told her we will be good friends. I said, 'Trust me when I say I can beat any in-law story you have. And I would bet a lot of money on that.' And she, sweetly and unassumingly laughed and said something like, 'I know, right? Hopefully, you're kidding though." And I threw my head back and laughed and said, 'No. I'm serious.'

And then, I was practically knocked over by a wave of enlightenment and I wanted to yell out, 'I HAD in-law stories that could beat yours. HAD. HAD. That's past tense. It's past tense. PAST TENSE."

UNDERLINE. EXCLAMATION POINT.

But I couldn't yell it out because she was talking and we were outside in public and there's security people roaming around Bridgeport Mall.

This conversation was also on Friday night though, before my movie so by the time I started thinking during the movie, I had had no caffeine and hardly eaten anything all day and was like ready to scream or yell or tell some complete stranger these two huge revelations. Because let's face it, I'm a communications major and I like talking to people. The disadvantage of living in a city where you're not close to anyone is that there isn't anybody for a couple hundred miles in any direction who I can go see last minute and who will actually understand my rants. And of course, after the movie, the two people I texted back home were sleeping. (Thanks, guys. You know who you are. :)

So that's why I basically screamed along with my Once soundtrack on my drive home and luckily the drive is quick so I wasn't too hoarse. All these huge revelations and no one to talk to about them!!!! Argh!!!

I don't have them anymore. Is this news? Kind of. I'm done. It's past tense.

What's even more amazing is the future tense--I won't ever have in-law stories like those again. Nope. I'll be hanging up my crazy in-law stories just like outlaws in rehab hung up their pistols back in the old days.

What's even more fabulous is what lies ahead for me. Just thinking about it makes me smile and think sweet, happy thoughts.

*kicks heels up