One week till my road test...

... and some how I'm still mixing up the gas pedal and the brake? (eek!) I'm not sure how this is going to go. But, in general, I think it is probably a good sign that my driving instructor (still the most supportive person in the world) has started allowing for off-topic conversation. She's been playing music, asking me for restaurant suggestions, and giving me tips about speed dating. I'm going to take that I'm doing better than I think I am... as long as I can stay calm and keep track of my brake and gas!

Things I love today

People who say “bless you” when strangers sneeze
Sunny days
Rainbow sprinkles
Kids who speak two languages and use them interchangeably
Real Housewives reunions

On Facing Fears, and The Nicest Person Ever

My driving instructor is seriously the nicest person I’ve ever met, and thank goodness for that.

Driving lessons started last weekend. I wanted to be upfront, so I started off by explaining exactly how old and exactly how nervous I am.  I’m sure my instructor, Wendy, must have thought I was a crazy person, but she was super sweet and patient. She kept reassuring me that I was doing great, and that she couldn’t even tell I was nervous at all. (Definitely lies, but lies that made me feel good.) I didn’t expect to be out on the streets so quickly, but after just a few minutes of going over some basic instructions, we hit the road! Since it was early in the morning, there weren’t many cars out at all, and soon I was (somewhat) confidently breezing along the empty streets.

The lesson this week was not quite so breezy.  I had an evening class this time, and there were tons of cars on the road. I freaked out. All my nerves came back. I was shaking every time I had to make a turn, and kept stopping the car way before the stop signs. I pretty much forgot everything poor Wendy had been telling me.

A big part of me wanted to jump out of the car and run to the nearest subway stop to renew my unlimited Metrocard. But I really want to do this, and I can’t spend my life running away from things just because they make me uncomfortable.  So I kept telling myself to take a deep, centering breath and listen to Wendy’s pep talks. And I managed to keep myself in the car.

I was still feeling pretty shaky by end of the hour, but my driving was much smoother. Wendy had me drive straight for a while, and I was feeling good about ending the lesson without killing anyone. Then all of a sudden she told me to make another left… onto Cross Bay Boulevard! My inner monologue was going nuts – sounding something like OMG I CAN’T DO IT WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE I’VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW!

But, there was nowhere to go, so I listened to Wendy’s instructions, made the turn, and then there I was, driving with six lanes of traffic on the Boulevard.

I only drove for a few blocks until we ended up at my drop off point, which, perfectly enough, is the Starbucks. I know I have lots of work in front of me – I need much more practice, have to memorize my stop signs, and need to build my own confidence up instead of relying solely on Wendy’s positivity. But at least for now, I can say that I faced some fears, and I definitely earned myself my frappuccino.

#flashmob

Here's the video of our flash mob, released today by UrtheCAST and Flash Mob America. Clearly I'm watching it again... and again... and again... reliving all the fun! Best time ever!

And here's a picture of our I <3 NY formation from the helicopter. So cool... so happy!

Some things I'm thankful for today

Pineapples
Slow sailboats
The randomness of my ipod on shuffle
People who have found a job that’s the absolute right fit for them
Brightly colored beach umbrella
Patriotic sing-along songs

People All Over the World, Join Hands

People from all over the world (joining hands)

"A flash mob isn’t about dancing well. It’s about spreading joy.” – a comment on the Flash Mob America website

I danced in a flash mob yesterday with my sister Katie, and it was every bit as joyous as promised.  There’s no real reason for a flash mob - it's just about having fun. And it absolutely WAS.

The moves were pretty easy to learn, and a lot of fun to dance. Lots of shimmys, boogying, and my new favorite, a move called “monkey arms.” The theme of this flash mob was social media, so we also danced our way into giant formations including an @ sign and a hashtag.

The absolute best part was definitely the crowd. It was a total cross-section of NYC, with people of all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, and dance abilities. A little girl in a long sundress and a giant bow along with her friend wearing a pink sequined beret. A lady who drove all the way from Pennsylvania by herself because “it’s on my bucket list.” And of course, there has to be at least one man who knows everything about everything. In total there ended up being almost 500 people there, and it seemed like every single one of them was upbeat, exuberant, just plain happy.

The flash mob itself took place at Pier 84, on West 44^th Street.  It was 11 minutes of pure joy.  Tourists were gaping from the Circle Line, a helicopter was filming above, and hundreds of dancers were boogying away.

The final formation included joining hands to spell out “I <3 NY.” Perfect. I really do. And now, I <3 flash mobs, too!

Video coming Thursday, but for now, here are some pictures of the funnest day ever:

Flash mobbing begins!

World-record-breaking hash tag

Cue sound effects. Whoooooooooooooooo!

Where's Waldo(s)?

Here we are! Thanks for a great day Katie!