What Begins With M?

I have willingly decided to play a game wherein I am given a letter and must list ten words beginning with that letter and what they mean to me. I happened upon the game on Steph's blog and she has given me the letter M. I will extend the same invitation to my readers as she did to hers...leave me a comment with a request for a letter if you'd like to play. Here's my list, in totally random order.

1. Margaritas - Tequila, Lime, and salt. What does this mean to me? Good times, good taste, and refreshing! I'll take them on the rocks, I'll take them frozen, and I'll take a lot of them in the right company and circumstances.

2. Mom - This is a BIG one. I could devote an entire blog to what this word means to me. My relationship with my mom has had many ups and downs over the years, but I think we've reached a place of mutual respect and understanding. She gave me the tools I needed to make it through life's bumps, and she was my best friend through childhood and the tumultuos adolescent years. I love her very much. Will I ever be a mom? I'd like to be, but we never really know what the future holds, do we? What is my relationship to The Good Guy's kids? Eventually I will probably be step-mom. I will continue to walk a fine line where I give maternal love while trying not to give anyone the impression that I'm attempting to replace mom. I realize that being a mother whose ex-spouse has a new mate must be threatening and extremely difficult. But rest assured, the other side of that dilemma is not easy either. I don't want overstep my bounds, but I also don't want to be distant and unapproachable. Ocassionally I feel like a tight-rope walker.

3. Music - I love music. Clint Black has a song (the title evades me at the moment), the chorus goes, "Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory, take you to another place in time, completely change your state of mind..." Oh, how true. My music tastes are as wide ranging as my moods (and for those of you that don't know me-it's a wide range). Just the other day, I was driving somewhere, and I was in a somewhat foul mood when a Bon Jovi song came on the radio. (Laugh if you will, but all music has a place, even Bon Jovi.) I started belting out the lyrics to the song and found myself smiling away. My mood shifted. I decided that I need to make a mixed CD of songs that elevate my mood for those times when rainy day blues take over. Just a few of my selections (there are LOTS more) would include; Sinatra's The Best is Yet to Come, Springsteen's Ain't got you, Sara Evans' Perfect, Nora Jones' Sunrise, Junior Brown's Highway Patrol or My Wife Thinks You're Dead, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd's Everything is Broken.

4. Mexican Food - Yes, not only do I enjoy imbibing that Mexican beverage, but I truly enjoy the food that goes along with it. It's wonderful that as a vegetarian I can go into a Mexican restaurant and pick any meal on the menu. Does it have meat? Yes? Well, I'll just substitute that meat with some vegetarian beans please! Just the other day I had a scrumptious chimichanga at a quaint little Mexican restaurant with my sister. And, it was so big that my leftovers became dinner for The Good Guy!

5. Movies - We don't have TV. We have a TV, but it is only used to watch movies. When I left my husband (who spent a large percentage of his life planted in front of the TV) I decided that I would not have cable again. But, we do watch a movie two or three nights a week. It's a wonderful way to keep our couch potato/brain rotting time to a minimum while still having quiet mind numbing evenings.

6. Money - The root of all evil? I don't think so. The root of many problems? Yeah, I'll agree with that. I don't want to be wealthy, just comfortable without a mountain of debt. I don't think I would ever be comfortable if I was wealthy, I would have a constant sense that others have suffered (and continue to) so that I may live in excess. However, I watched my parents struggle to make ends meet their entire lives, and I don't want that for myself. So, I'm going to school to be a therapist of sorts. I'll make a modest living while helping people. I'll stay away from Walmart, and I'll frequent as many locally owned non-corporate shops as I can. Then I'll be able to sleep at night.

7. Merlot - Generally not my favorite wine, but I like it just the same. I prefer Chianti and Shiraz. I've never been much of a white wine drinker. I stick to reds.

8. Memories - I love photographs. I love reminiscing with family and friends about good times we have experienced together. I love the idea that a loved one is always with you as long as you have memories of them.

9. Maybe - What a great word. It gives the speaker time to think before commiting to an answer one way or the other when unsure. I use it with the kids regularly. I'm somewhat new to this parenting thing, and I need time to think to myself; is that really a good idea?

10. Master's Degree - Ugh. I need a Master's degree to become a licensed Art Therapist. However, at the end of next semester I will only have a Bachelor's degree after two and a half years of schooling and I need a break. I'm burned-out. My plan (keep your fingers crossed for me) is to get a job, work for a couple of years, and return to school part time for my Master's if I can't find a job that makes me happy and accepts my current qualifications.

That was fun. Let me know if you want to play.