Merry Christmakwanzakah!

...Family, friends, and folks I don't get to see nearly enough...

In case you forgot, I am the dreamer of dreams and the wisher of wishes.  And of course, this is my favorite time of year, the time of year when wishes do come true and everything is tinged with a hint of magic.  My three ideals in life—love, peace, and joy—are the foundation of the entire season.
May you and yours find peace and hope, love and laughter during this holiday season, no matter what holiday you choose to celebrate, whether you celebrate a holiday or not.  Believe in the magic of Santa.  Drink lots of eggnog, kiss a sweetheart under the mistletoe (even if that sweetheart is your 80 year old aunt), and dance around to the songs you know by heart.  Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while and wish them a happy holiday.  Get your picture taken with Santa—no, you're never too old to do it.  Better yet, grab a friend and both of you do it.  Read the Polar Express, and always strive to hear the Christmas bells.  Play with a dreidel.  And if you don't know what I'm talking about, learn. Make a gingerbread house, and know that I will always find the gumdrops that you try to hide from me.  Wish for snow.  Enjoy the smell of a Christmas tree.  Eat too much and be thankful that you have plenty to eat.  Start a new tradition and revel in the old ones.  Play dirty Santa…and may you get the best number.  Help put together the "some assembly required" presents and take the opportunity to create a lasting memory. Make snow angels.  Decorate like Tim Allen and don't be afraid to short out the neighborhood.  Wear fun holiday socks.  Make candy.  Go caroling.  Take a stroll through Christmas lights with someone special.  Visit your family. Remember that hugs and smiles can be one of the best gifts that you can give or receive.  Go to a kids' Christmas play.  Don't be a Scrooge.  Watch the Charlie Brown Christmas movie. Surprise the unexpecting. Give of yourself.
After the stockings are hung and the Night Before Christmas read and the kids are asleep, remind yourself of the true meaning of Christmas.  Smile to yourself and know that you are loved and remember those that you love.    
This is my wish for you: Comfort on the hard days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the rain, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits are low, beauty in all that surrounds you, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, and love to fill your life.
All the best to you and yours,
Caitlin

i've been keeping up with the drama that seems to invade SHC this time of year.  and all i can keep thinking to myself is that history repeats itself.  this tme last year, one of  my roommates had moved out, i was hardly ever there, when i was i was hardly on speaking terms with a third roommate,  and the last roommate and i just kind of shrugged and said, "eh." 
and now, a year after graduation, it saddens me.  2 of those girls were 2 of my absolute closest friends.  and now i never talk to them, i have no idea what's going on in their lives.  i regret it.  and if i could somehow convey the message to the people who know who they are, i wish, with all of my heart, that they can at least reconcile their differences.  not only are you friends, you're also sisters.  and in the end, that tie is hard to break. 
think back over the last 4 years at SHC, and i can guarantee that some of your best memories have each other in them.  some of the most random, some of the most hilarious adventurous things i got myself into were with alisha, nicole, anna and tereasa. 
history repeats itself.  but don't go down the same road we did.  you've got less than 30 days before you leave the Hill.  make the best of it.  make things right again.

So, Joe's funeral was today.  It was bittersweet in a lot of ways.  He's been in a lot of pain, and he's suffered so much that I know that he's in a better place now.  But it's still hard, because so many of my memories from high school have him in it.  At the service, this girl got up before the cerermony and played a song on her flute.  It nearly broke me to hear it, b/c anyone who was a part of the flute section at Fairhope knew that song by heart, as it was the All-State music, as well as the song that Joe played over and over and over again.  They also played music from Five Iron Frenzy, his favorite band.  And to be quite honest, to quote his pastor, I don't know of anyone else who could be buried in his Batman t-shirt and still make it look cool. 
Joe touched so many lives, and he was only 21 years old.  He never failed to make me laugh, to be there when I needed someone, to be a shoulder to cry on.  For someone so young, he was far wiser than his years.  Even in the face of surgery after surgery, pain after pain, he still kept smiling.  I am a better person for having known Joe. 
And at the wake, Laura and I joked that, once again, this was Joe's unique way of doing things.  He loved his friends and family, and didn't want to wait until our 10 year reunion.  So, in true Joe style, he brought everyone together one last time.  It was like a FHS  reunion, Joe Waldrop style. 
Joe, you were an inspiration to all who knew you.  Your faith in Jesus and your love of all things beautiful touched everyone around you.  You will be missed.

I get a big kick out of weather around here.  I left my house in a rainstorm, went to Gulf Shores, and there was nary a cloud to be seen.  I came back, and by the time I reached Robertsdale it was storming again.  Fabulous.
And it seems that trying to go to the beach is never uneventful.  This time, Emily and I ran into Bruno's to pick up some beer and munchies, and when I came back out to the parking lot, my door decided that it never wanted to shut again.  The latch had broken.  So, being the redneck and ingenious women that we are, we were able to close it using a bungee cord, and took our happy butts to the beach.  (heck, we thought about using duct tape, but the cords were cheaper...)
Hope all is well in everyone else's universe...ciao til later!

I feel like I will be recovering from this weekend forever. 
My 21st birthday was, quite possibly, the most memorable I've ever had.  I got to party with all of my favorite people...all weekend.
Friday night, Emily, Anna and Tereasa took me out, and Adam (bless his heart) played designated driver for the Baldwin County girls.  I think he now understands what a "girl's night out" is really all about.  We went to Picklefish for dinner (gotta love it...)and Insomnia (yeah, it's a crappy club, but it was ladies night, so no cover, and $1 sex on the beach).  Tereasa had gotten this...glowy thing....in St. Louis, and Anna had gotten me a birthday shot glass necklace, so it didn't take long before I was g-o-n-e.  But whatever- we had a great time.  Have you hugged your kayak today?  (Don't ask).  Needless to say, Adam and Emily had to help me home, b/c I would have been content to never move again.
Saturday...I don't know if I can adequately describe Saturday.  It was my 21st fiesta, and ALL of my fave people were in the same place.  Shout outs to all of my fellow xanga users!  We danced, swam, skiied, kneeboarded, ate (we had enough food to feed a small country!), drank, chatted, and ultimately had a great time.  I have a nasty little bruise from falling off the deck (ha. ha. ha.  Next time, the chair shouldn't be that close to the edge...), have acquired 6 new watches and 4 new pairs of sunglasses (yes Amy, I found your watch).  And watching my Spring Hill friends meet my Fairhope friends, and both sets of those friends meet my river friends...it was interesting, to say the least. 
I love everyone, and thanks so much to everyone who helped make my "golden birthday (21 on the 21st of May!!) extra special.  And kudos to those of you who understand and appreciate my addiction to Care Bears!
I'll have some pics up later today, and more up in the next few days.  If you have some, please send them to me!

Well, I'm home.  And I have to say, it feels good.  I miss everyone already, but it really doesn't feel like it's over- graduation is Sunday, so I'm still going to see everyone.
I do miss everyone...badly.  I love all of you guys...