When I was growing up, my mom always used to say, “I have a new lease on life,” any time something exciting was on the horizon.

Naturally, as with anything cool my parents taught me as a kid, I do the same.

So, readers, I would like to announce today that I have a new lease on life.  This used to happen to me a lot—any time something came up that I was excited about, or looking forward to, it would give me a new lease on life.  I suppose for a suicidal person, this might be too literal a sentiment, but I’m not suicidal.  (And if you are, please don’t do it.  Seriously.  Email me.  I’ll be your friend.)

Anyway, yes.  I have a new lease on life.  For awhile there I was feeling a bit blue, but I am over it 100% as of today.  Here’s why:

1.  The weather has finally cut me a break:

Would you look at that?  Would you? You know what that is?  I’ll tell you—it’s amazing.  And wonderful.  And tomorrow I just might go rollerblading like a dork-fish to celebrate.

2.  I have a friend. A neighbor girl who’s young, married, and kidless (just like me), dropped in to visit me tonight.  It was kind of random, and at first I was scared because, well…I’m sort of awkward around other human beings…but I really did enjoy chatting with her.  Who knows?  Maybe she left and vowed never to come back because I’m too weird, but at least I had a friend for one night.  (Hello, Mesa.  I know I have some wonderful friends down there—I have not forsaken you.  But it’s just sort of nice to have a friend that maybe I could borrow a cup of sugar from if my mother-in-law is out of town and I break into her house anyway, but her sugar jar is empty.  You know?)

3.  This eight-page paper I received back, graded, today:

And, by the same token, this:

That’s an A+.  On a paper worth 35% of my final grade.  An A+…as in, 100%…as in, 35 out of 35…as in, take that, other mean professor—you don’t know everything, do you?  {I suspected as much.}  Potential? Fulfilled.  At least for now.

I still have to write two more final exams, and get one more paper graded, but do you want to know the truth?  I could FAIL every other class and still be floating on air, because this means I’m not a flop of a writer, like I once thought.

(Okay, I actually would care if I failed my other two classes, because that would be a waste of 2,000 international student tuition dollars, and I hate wasted money.  But I could pass with a low C in each class and still be happy…  Okay, okay…a high B.  Final offer.)

I feel like a celebrity. I’d like to thank “Anonymous My Sister,” for editing all my papers this semester, including this 100% award-winning blue ribbon one (it got a blue ribbon in my head).  Also, thank you to my mom and dad, who taught me to read and write—I wouldn’t be here today without you guys!  I’d like to thank Poor Kyle, for reading everything I write even though he doesn’t really like to read.  And finally, a huge thank-you goes out to the professor who gave me 100%.  I know some professors believe that NO paper can EVER be 100% perfect, because there’s always room for improvement.  Thank you, American Lit. Professor, for not being one of those.

***I threw that last bit in to see if it would qualify me for Jen’s weekly Spin Cycle, the topic of which is “celebrity” this week.  I realise it is more than just a stretch—it’s not even logical.  I thought I’d give it a shot anyway.  Jen, don’t link to me if it goes against the nature of the Spin.  I will understand.***

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