Another day, another milestone, and another reason to cry.

Dylan and best buddie, Dillon at graduation

Today I picked up Dylan from preschool for the last time. It feels like such a short time ago that I wrote about leaving her there for the first time. Like that day back in September ’05, I cried. I cried for how quickly time goes and I cried because I really loved her school and will miss the love and support she received from her teachers. Her school has prepared her well for kindergarten and I am eternally grateful for being able to send her to such a wonderful place. Now if there was just some way to ingrain every little moment in my mind so I will never forget them then maybe I wouldn’t feel so sad about the passing of time.

Teachers are not paid enough.

Today I ventured into hell. I worked in Dylan’s preschool class. The end.

Would you?

Last night I finished a book called Been There, Done That, about a 30-something woman who goes back to college as an undercover reporter. She realizes that she has a chance to do some of the things she wished she had done while actually in college. It was a fun, quick read that has me thinking about having a second chance to do things I wished had.

While in college I had the best internship ever. I interned with a public relations icon at I.Magnin in San Francisco. Her name was Shirley Wilson and she was tremendously well known and all powerful… but at the time, I did not really know who she was. My very first day she threw me right in the mix and made me follow Calvin Klein (yes, THAT Calvin Klein) around as he prepared for a media blitz promoting the Annual Valentine’s Ball held at the Museum of Modern Art. I had no idea what I was doing. I did not even know where the bathroom was in the store. I learned more in that one day than I had my entire four years of college!

After college I was offered a job as an assistant in that same office. The office was small with two event coordinators, one PR person, one fashion stylist, one manager and me. A total of six people and we handled the events for all 12 stores. I worked with so many wonderful and interesting people, but I couldn’t stand the fact that I never really had a specific job. Sometimes I would design invitations; sometimes I helped pick out place settings, other times I’d sit in on marketing meetings. I’d write press releases and stuff swag bags. I answered phones and helped decide our target market for events. I had to be a dresser during a huge fashion show because there wasn’t enough help. I hung out with San Francisco’s social elite. One time the fashion guru took me shopping and acted like my personal shopper. Every person in the office was a professional with flair, but my 21 year old self felt out of place. I had so many opportunities, these people took me under their wing and wanted to teach me… but I wasn’t ready to learn. I didn’t appreciate the fact that they let me be a part of every aspect of the events.

If I could, I would relive that opportunity now. I would absorb every aspect of the job. I would listen intently and ask questions. I’d smile and be happy when told I had to be Donna Karan’s assistant for the day because hers was sick, even knowing I was going to miss the other events planned for the day. I wouldn’t be hurt when told I had to man the phones while every one else had to be at an early morning TV talk show… because then I would be happy when Kate Moss showed up because she couldn’t remember where she was supposed to be. When the fashion guru takes me shopping, I would ask more questions as to why he picked certain colors and styles for me instead of feeling like he was putting down my current taste in clothing. When my boss, Brent, asks what I think about the many fashion models that come through our office I’d have an opinion instead of worrying about saying the wrong thing. When he tries to teach me how to walk on the catwalk, I’d do it instead of feeling embarrassed because I know I’ll never be a fashion model. I'd take advantage of all the freebies instead of felling like a fraud.

I missed out on so many learning opportunities because I was too young to appreciate the chance. Now I would welcome them, I would take notes; ask questions and be thankful for the kindness these people showed me even when I forgot to give them important phone messages.

I've been tagged

Carrie tagged me, asking me to share seven RANDOM facts/habits (aka: idiosyncrasies) about myself. Since I posted five facts a while back I thought I’d plagiarize my own work… Here goes:

1. I have never purposefully passed gas in front of my husband whom I have known for 16 years...

2. Putting sunscreen on anyone other than my children totally grosses me out. Please NEVER ask me to put it on your back.

3. Feet are scary. Well other people's feet are scary, mine are cute. But I don't like them to be touched. Pedicures are not fun or relaxing.

4. All cans/ bottles in the refridgerator and cabinets must face forward at exactly the same angle.

5. When making long car trips I refuse to stop more than once... during that stop I get gas for the car, food and use the bathroom. I feel REALLY annoyed when I have to stop more than that for restroom breaks. I have actually warned people who make the trek with me between So. Cal. and Nor Cal that I will not stop so they shouldn't drink anything before the trip. The first trip I took with Dylan after she was potty trained was payback for all the years I refused to stop for other people because I had to stop every 30 minutes...

6. When the sheets are tucked in all the way around a bed, I feel like I’m in a coffin and must undo all the tucking.

7. I refuse to actually enter a McDonald’s (or any fast food place) for fear that I will see the people preparing the food and will be unable to eat it.

Now, if you've read this, consider yourself tagged!