for auld lang syne

i spent the day wandering through antique stores with two of my sisters. i enjoy poking through the finds, but the real fun of the day was just getting to spend the time together; the one sister lives in colorado and was only here because she decided to surprise everyone by driving over for christmas!

but i also found myself occasionally being amused by some item or another that made me think of blogbelieve, with the attendant thought: "i can't wait to tell them about this tonight...!"

we were never alone then. we walked with each other through all our days, even though we were spread across the globe. it was such a wonderful feeling, and i smiled today at the nostalgic return of it. there truly is a part of me that will always be tj, and i'm glad for it.

today i walked through antique stores, and i saw a little scuffed-up stormtrooper sitting on a shelf. it made me think of mayo, and imaginary parties where we knocked imaginary star wars figurines off imaginary glass shelves, and i had to grin.

i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas, and will carry the bright warmth of it into the new year. you were in my thoughts, with smiles.

ho ho hum.

remind me to never work retail during the holiday season again. it's astonishing how little holiday spirit there is on display (not to mention intelligence, patience, and courtesy). "stressful" doesn't even begin to cover it.

i have an escape plan, though, a little adventure that, the closer it gets, keeps me filled with a fizzy anticipation and a rising energy. tuesday's my first mcr show in two and a half years, my first opportunity to see them since madison square garden, and nothing can faze me when i think of that. my very first concert was a christmas show, and my chemical romance, and four years later here it is again, full circle but not the same place at all.

i'll most likely be at this show by myself, but it won't be the first time, and truly, you're never alone for long in line for mcr. there's always a camaraderie that makes waiting in line a party, a fellowship that turns a group of strangers into a tribe.

i'm ready, just throw me in the crowd and watch me smile. no amount of rude customers can take the joy out of my holiday season, not when it includes a gift like this.

after all, 'tis the season...

for rock 'n' roll! :)