It all starts with the permission slip.
Yes, when teachers send them home before the bell rings so parents can rubber stamp the bumpy yellow bus trip to the museum, then it’s on, my friends, it’s on.
Soon the days count down and the buzz builds up as the class gets ready for the day away from school. The middle-ages unit wraps up at Medieval Times, paintings are handed in before the art gallery, and everyone mails a friend a letter before the tour of the post office.
On the morning of the big day you wake up with some extra pep in your step because you know we’re all going far away. It’s time to skip the portables, soggy sandwiches, and long afternoons with the Spanish teacher.
It’s time to do something different.
It’s time … to go for a ride.
Yes, whether it’s the petting zoo, chocolate factory, or a long hike in the woods, it’s time to enjoy the school vacation with some of the following perks:
1. Subs in the house. Taking thirty screaming seven-year-olds to the planetarium is a bit much, so most teachers call in backups in the form of parent chaperones. These subs act like a sweet and sweatered army of substitutes and don’t know enough names or have enough power to mess up the fun. Of course, that’s assuming they’re not your mom or dad. If that happens, your day is done.
2. Wheels on the bus. They go round and round on the way there and back. Yeah, we all gang rush into the slippery seatbelt-free seats and enjoy a loud, laughing party on wheels. There are loud screechy songs, secret makeout sessions, and some friendly gestures at passing motorists. This is also when the classroom’s social structure is on display too — from the cool kids at the back to the nerds sitting with the teacher up front. I really did love sitting up front though. I mean, how about that view?
3. Sealing it in. A friend and I were strolling quickly through an art gallery a couple years back when we stumbled on a group of kindergartners holding a rope and looking at splotchy art paintings. I’ll never remember the jaw-dropping look of pure head-tilting amazement from the little boy at the end of the group — eyes twinkling, mittens hanging out his winter coat, and his whirring brain soaking and swallowing up something beautiful on the wall. And it’s true: field trips often help seal in the learning. Chalk one up for school.
So… let’s enjoy the memories, let’s enjoy the moments, and let’s enjoy the parking lot speed bumps. Yes, let’s all love those special days when dusty chalkboards fade away and buses wheel us down the freeway, far away, far away, far away.
AWESOME!
Pre-order The Book of Awesome
When you take a really good and hot shower after you have spent the day with your socks and jeans pants wet from the rain you got in the morning.
Awesome!
The thrill of wondering if you are going to win a contest
Cause we’ve all been there sometime (or many times). And although you know you are most likely not going to win those tickets to your favorite band, that poster with the autograph of your favorite actor, that plasma tv, or a personalized copy of an awesome book, you always wonder. Because there is always a first time for everything and maybe this is your shot to be that lucky winner.
When your baby’s first words are DADA, instead of MAMA even though she does all the work!!
When it is cloudy and drizzly all day until you come home from work. As you are going home, the clouds lift and the sun comes out. Blue skies and sunshine are ready for you to enjoy at your liesure. Awesome!
I thought I sumbitted this one already, but can’t seem to find it …
“Fortune Cookie Money”
Fortune Cookie Money is when you reach into your wallet to grab a bill to pay for something and you realize there is writing on it. After reading it you realize this was the perfect phase for you to read at the perfect time, like the perfect fortune cookie. So instead you grab a differnt bill to pay with, and hold on tightly to the fortune for a little while longer. Great example of Fortune Cookie Money; “Don’t worry about finding inspiration, it comes eventually.”
AWESOME!
Learning another keyboard short cut. It just makes life a little easier!
I remember the times I learned “Apple- C”… it was life changing! Truly.
The free roll of promotional toilet paper attached to the Korean mandu (dumpling) in the frozen food aisle.
Being told you look good by a random person on a day when you feel “not so pretty”
Having a friend who reassures you, and believes in you, when you don’t think you can do it.
Breakfast in bed.
Running into an old friend you lost contact with in the store and telling each other what’s been going on the past few years.
Post-it notes are awesome…without them I would end up writing all over my hands.
Cupcakes. That’s all…just…cupcakes.
I concur. How can your own personal no-sharing-necessary-’cause-its-the-perfect-size-for-you cake not awesome?!
*that “can” should be “is”.
oops.
The first day you realize “spring has sprung.” You wake up, get dressed all winter-bundle-y, step outside and bam. The sun is shinning in your eyes, the birds are chirping, and a warm breeze hits you as you realize: this is it. Spring. Finally. So you take off a layer or two, stuff it in your backpack, and walk to class feeling pretty darn awesome.
When you are driving at night and the road’s not busy – you pull up to a red light and right as you stop at the line, the sensor recognizes you and changes the light green JUST FOR YOU! AWESOME!
No School
There is no school today, we all slept in, we had smoothies for breakfast and we have no intentions of changing out of our pajamas for at least another hour. Today is all about Mom and the kids. I get to choose what we do….. IF we do anything. Today will consist of movies and cuddles. Today will consist of treats for kids. Today we will all relax, kick back and have fun. Today we will SMILE!
Great contest idea!
Brand new socks, the elastic has been stretched out so it completely hugs your foot, and they’re still thick and plush and soft. You don’t have to worry whether or not your brothers or dad has worn them already, so you know they’re clean. You have all of the pairs matching perfectly without missing one or hoping that they match. Greatest feeling out there.
The elastic *Hasn’t* been stretched out
March Madness.
That sweet spot on Friday afternoon when the whole work week is behind you and the whole weekend is ahead of you.
Life.
There are downers, but there are also those great moments. It has it’s ups and downs, but in the end, we find that these have happened for reasons, and they usually help us when a situation just about repeats itself. Yes, there are tragic deaths we didn’t see coming; however, there are also births we’ve been waiting for.
Regardless if we are loving it or not, life is pretty Awesome.
The smell of wood burning in the fireplace. Especially an outside fire on a crisp cold night
Ah glorious…
It’s awesome when your idea/comment is selected to be shared with a group. Whether it’s a comment on the local news station that is selected during the broadcast or an idea put in the suggestion box that ends up being implemented, etc. Sometimes, if your comment is anonymous, that is an extra thrill of its own. It’s even better when it is anonymous and someone you really respect or care about agrees or references what you said without knowing you said it. I love that brief feeling of importance.
The whole “plate tectonics” thing.
We’re standing on massive chunks of rock that are moving around and banging into each other while they float on top of a big gooey ocean of magma.
Say what?!
Awesome!
Getting a text message. Awesome!
Finding good pens, especially if they’re good ones.
I’m pretty passionate about a good pen. What’s extra special though, is when you’re using one that you magically found in the school hall, the bank (they expect you to take those… right?), the parking lot, etc.- then the pleasure is ten-fold.
Starting a fresh notebook.
Whether it’s for writing a collection of short stories or geology notes, those clean white sheets and still-crisp-and-clean-cover means the possibilities are endless!
Knowing people who hate talking on the phone as much as you do so they don’t try to call you and “chat” all the time, but instead leave it for face to face meetings.
Why is it that if I can’t see you, talking to you suddenly because weird and awkward and I don’t know what to say as if you’ve become a stranger?
Eating messy food that gets on your fingers and drips on your chin! Dunk that tortilla chip in that chili, cause your mom made it especially for you! And let’s not forget sloppy joes, like hamburgers but more free.
Having the house to yourself and knowing how long you are queen of the castle
Hiding behind doors and scaring your roommate when they walk into the room. Because let’s face it, maybe it takes a half an hour, but finally scaring someone so badly they jump into a sink is totally worth it.
A warm stack of paper from the printer. Nothing feels better than a big stack when you can leave it on your desk then go through them and the center pages are still warm.
When you’re expecting someone to complain at work and they don’t.
Whether you fail someone at swimming lessons and the parents say, “They’re a little bit young to go on, anyhow, aren’t they?”
Or if you tell someone waiting in line that they’ll have to wait a bit longer, and they say, “That’s fine; I understand.”
You square your shoulders, ready to face the complaint square on with a “Sorry, but…” but before you can go on, you are met with a smile, and understanding, and you just relax and feel
AWESOME!
Arriving at an intersection just as it turns green
especially advanced left turn signals!
AWESOME!
That wonderful time of year for…….
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!!
I’ll take 40 boxes, please……
Saying something at the same exact time as your friend.
Getting a really good letter in the mail. What’s better than seeing your name on an envelope and its contents NOT being a bill? Well, I suppose if the envelope is sealed with a red lipstick kiss imprint or Lisa Frank stickers. That’s even better.
The ocean water after running across the hot sand on a sunny day.
That super cooling sensation that your feet finally gets after rushing all the way to the waves when the sand is scorching your toes. Then, the refreshing water covering up to your ankles, and the sun sparkling off of it! That’s AWESEOME.
That one song that you could never get tired of and when ever you hear it reminds you of a time, place or memory.
AWESOME
That tiny “cuh-shaaah” you hear when opening a can of soda. Simple, but awesome.
Taking that perfect bite out of a perfect burger after working hard to eat up the bites around it… you get the perfect ratio of lettuce:meat:tomato:special sauce:bun:whatever else is in your favorite burger. Awesome.
Putting on socks right out of the dryer!
AWESOME THING: Stop in an old-fashioned hardware store and find your favorite old-school candy from back in the day, e.g. wax soda bottles with the mystery liquid; Bottle Caps; Sky Bar.
New york city in the springtime!
Listening to the Archies’ “Sugar Sugar” in NYC in the springtime!
-Freshly done laundry
-Pudding cups
Winning contests :)
tie-dye
that one point in a night when you realize you’re going to be up late :)
kissing someone somewhere cliche
(in the rain, under the stars, in a field, etc.)
so cliche, but so adorable. you can’t help but smile when you think about it.