Yum!

Food is the "central activity" of all our family traditions. The common theme is baked goods: pastries, cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, etc. Oddly enough, my mother makes homemade cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning my entire life. This was so normal and expected that when I did not spend Christmas day with my family, I was confused why the family I was with did not have cinnamon rolls. For the longest time I thought that it was what everyone did. When I was a teenager, I finally asked my mom why she made cinnamon rolls on Christmas day every year. And why in the world could she not make them more than once out of 365 days. Her response was, "I don't know...I suppose it is because my mom made them every year, so when after she died I took over." She never even questioned her own mother. She just continued it because it was a tradition.

The other weird tradition my family has had is making doughnuts on Halloween. Who does that? My mom is a teacher and we lived in the school district she taught at, so every Halloween we would have like twenty random students in my house eating doughnuts. My mom baked amazing treats and we were not allowed to unhealthy food when I was growing up...ever. To the extreme, that all growing up and even now, I will hide junk food in my underwear draw. Her baking and me helping, or mainly just eating, has not only kept our traditions alive, it has become a neighborhood connection.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a Community

Yes, you read it right, Alcoholics Anonymous, also known as AA. This particular group is one of the largest growing communities in the world. It has helped millions of struggling humans with addiction since it was founded in 1935. More and more people are introduced to AA everyday, and the only thing you need to join is the desire to stop drinking. The willingness of the members is what has kept this group together for 75+ years. Typically, the way most people stumble upon this community is not by choice. They have run out of options and don't know what else to do. It's not a place where people want to go, but most of the time people will always return. Almost everyone in AA or NA just wants to find a way to live their life without relying on alcohol or drugs to get through the day. Of course, this community also gets a ton of people in the room's that are court-ordered to be there. That causes tension between the people who are serious about recovery and the ones who are just there to get their court slipped signed.

As for me, I am a part of this community even though sometimes I wish I wasn't. I have struggled with addiction since I was an early teen, and AA has been the only thing that has kept me sober. I was introduced to it eight years ago and just finally achieved a year of sobriety. That being said, I will always appreciate AA and continue to participate. The fellowship doesn't give up on you, even if you give up yourself. This community gave me my life back.

What's That?

Is the question one person would ask if they found my wallet. It is so old and worn that the only thing holding it together is duct tape. This may have one thinking I am cheap, or possibly, thrifty. Although, if they knew what this wallet has been through they would be thoroughly impressed. Multiple moves various states and not to mention, a few run-ins with my car tires. In order to realize it was someone's wallet, they would have to open it by taking off the rubber bands holding it shut. Classy, right? They would immediately see two pictures of a small child (my son) and a ton of various cards. Sifting through these cards, they will not find my ID, cash or a debit card like most normal people. However, they will find membership cards to The Woodland Park Zoo and The Everett Children's Museum, an Aveda employee card, an insurance card and a ton of receipts. Digging deeper into various pockets and zippers they will eventually find my ID in one place, a debit card in another and possibly one folded up $20 bill.

 I would hope the person who stumbled upon this realized that I am a mother and enjoy taking my son places. My age on my ID would maybe suggest I am a nanny or an aunt though, plus I still look like I am in High School. The employee card will let them know I am employed at Aveda, and having no money to steal will suggest I don't get paid well. Overall, based on the outside and inside appearance, I would be labeled as a person who cares deeply enough about a small boy, whether it's a son or nephew, to have two pictures of him and two expensive membership cards. As well as a cheap, young adult, paranoid of having things stolen due to the fact of the important cards/cash are hidden in different places. Lastly, a weirdo who has a ridiculously large, worn, duct tape "thing" she uses as a wallet. 

To sum it up, no one would really be able to figure out much about who I really was or even what I really looked like by looking through my wallet. If their assumptions are like anything I predicted above, it is true, I do love my son and I am quite thrifty, but that's about it.

Testing

Testing...1,2,3