i could write a book

i love the "when harry met sally" soundtrack. both the music and the movie are the only two things that make me think new year's eve is even a worthwhile holiday.

i digress.

this afternoon, i went to a colleague's baby shower. seventeen women gathered by the fireplace in a flawlessly lit sitting room, drinking bellinis and eating pumpkin cheesecake. i hadn't wanted to go simply out of the sheer desire not to let my day's schedule be imposed on by someone else's will. but that desire was no more than a bratty 10% of me and was eventually drowned out by both the felt obligation to go and the promise that it would be a casual, no-string-around-the-belly-game event.

it was wonderful. i love going to a party where the lighting is already perfect, so all anyone needs me for is to set the music (which i did happily). miles davis, harry connick, and frank sinatra accompanied us for the afternoon. and while it poured outside, i sat contentedly near the mom-to-be and passed presents. once the oohing and ahhing was over, i relaxed in a recliner near one of my favorite colleagues and enjoyed an intimate conversation about parenting, falling in love, choosing to love, and seeing yourself in your children.

my friend laura just changed the title of her blog to "one step closer to knowing nothing at all," and i wonder if that's what i feel in moments like today - discovering MORE yet that i don't know. but no, i don't think that's fully it. i feel like i've been in plane that's been driving around the airport waiting for take off, and i've gotten a really good look at the lay of the land. and i feel like only now am i taking off and beginning to see how much MORE there is. i'm overwhelmed. and still so thankful that there are people in the world who take time to share with me what their worlds look like. i learn so much from you.

maybe i should retitle my blog "ten feet higher in the air."