| I believe in potluck Christmases with more family than I can count, talking and laughing together; the serenity of an old magnolia by the river; the magic of cardboard boxes built into playhouses and rocket ships and ancient Egyptian tombs; the sense of camaraderie a blanket fort brings, especially when big brother thinks it's dopey and childish but hangs around anyway in hopes of being invited to join in the fun; the joy of shopping with friends and trying to best each other with thrift-store finds; seven hour car trips just to hear a few friends sing; attending conventions in costume just to see people smile and lending my letter jacket to my little sister so she can be cool, too. But I'm not above blackmailing a friend into signing out of his stupid MMO to talk to me for a few minutes. I believe in romance, even if I can't express it in words. I believe in the dreams of every kitten that wants to one day be a lion, or a tiger, or a panther. I believe in long Sunday drives; gifts that are "just because"; leaving Homecoming early to build a death violin; cracking open a nice, cold can of Coke on a hot summer day. And I believe in following distant music back to its source, sitting down to lunch with the musicians and joining in on the joy of making music together. |













