Thoughts...

I'm feeling more than just a little ADD, and I can't straighten my brain out enough to do government, so I will write a few things to focus my mind and then start goving.

I volunteered before work today, so my dearest mother had to take off at 3 and drive me all the way from CDC/Emory to Gwinnett Place Mall, go home, and pick me back up at 9:30. To tell you the truth, I've never appreciated my parents so much. Ever since I was little, I always took it for granted that they would always be there for me -- emotionally, financially, mentally, whatever ways possible there existed to support someone. I remember my dad used to call my cell phone when I was in middle school just to ask if I had something to eat nearby or if I had taken an extra jacket in case it was cold. And how my mom always backseat drives whenever I'm at the wheel. It's hard to believe that these little things like driving me to work and calling me to check up on me used to (even just last week) annoy me more than anything. But now, I finally realize that I will miss all of the nagging and poking when I go off to college, no matter how far away or near I will be to home. Isn't it ironic how the more independent we become the more we appreciate our family? It's as if most of the time we are under the care of our parents we never really understand or take it for what it is until it is almost gone? I think I've learned that this last year, senior year, is not only going to be one where I must cherish those moments with my friends but also one where I must try harder than ever to give back to my parents and learn not to snap at them when they do something so full of love like backseat driving.

A cute little story about tonight:
I was driving home from work with my mom next to me (again, backseat driving). She was telling me how I jerk to a stop most of the times and that I really should be careful or my passengers would all get sick and die... well, maybe not that dramatic. I wasn't really annoyed at her this time because I started thinking about all that I wrote in the previous paragraph, so I just nodded and told her I wouldn't do it next time expecting her to stop her comments there. But she didn't. She went on to compare my stops to music. She said that when I brake the car I need to put my foot down gently and release a little before we actually stop. She said it was like in a piece of music when the symphony orchestra plays the last, morendo-ing (okay, so I'm ad-libbing vocabulary) note of a tune -- how it just fades away as oppose to chops off. Tapered. I just.. was pretty surprised as I was driving... and really touched at the same time that she would go to those limits to point something out to me. Thank you mom. I truly love you.

Well enough of my sappy thoughts. It's time for government.
--Emily

P.S. I will be going to WashU and Vanderbilt tomorrow afternoon, so if I do not post for 5 days, then you (whoever actually reads) will know why. And just for you Timmy, I don't and won't have music on this for a while. =P