Ice, Water, Steam.

Going to the PM's wedding last weekend has made me reflect on my own life a little bit. The changes we go through, the things we wish for ourselves and how those two intertwine.

I've been to 4 weddings. Two family, two friends.
I've been to 4 funerals. Two family, two to support friends.

So it's an even draw there. Not really much to say about them now that I sit and think about it. Just that the two funerals I went to were for grandparents that when I was younger I didn't feel as close to as the other set. Whose funerals I did not attend. Odd.

Ruminating in the shower about how I might interestingly write about the above topics my thoughts drifted to all the things I wanted to do or be when I was a young child.

Things I Dreamed of Doing of Being Ages 5 to 9.

1. Being an astronaut. Going into space.
2. Being a fighter pilot. Flying planes.
3. Being and icthyologist, specializing in sharks. Seeing sharks in real life.
4. Being a soldier. Shooting guns and fighting.
5. Going to exotic countries. Learning new languages. Seeing new things.
6. Be a ninja. Know a martial art.
7. Race cars or motorcycles.

Thinking about all those I feel I exceeded my childhood dreams completely in all but #1. And that just really can't be helped.
#2. I've got to sit in an f-16 and f-4 flight simulator. I've seen the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. Been to 5 airplane museums. Flown in different aircraft while in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Seen MiGs on the ground in my world travels. Flown in many private planes, sometimes with me at the controls for a bit.
#3. I've got to cage dive and free swim with sharks in the wild. I've touched sharks in real life. I've been to the best aquariums on the west coast.
#4. I worked in Iraq for 3 months in 2007. I've owned at least 20 guns and had tons of fun shooting. Medical reasons kept me out the 3 times I tried to enlist.
#5. I've been to at least 13 foreign countries. Wow. I can speak 3 languages and am able to get around fairly competently in exotic locales. The things I've seen... I can't even begin to list. Standing on ruins looking out on only jungle. Wondering how to escape from people in Morocco. Playing badminton in a park in Hanoi. The Coloseo. And on and on.
#6. I like sushi. Hmm, years studying Brazilian jiu jitsu. Fighting and competing, even at the state and national level. Sometimes taking home medals. Meeting the modern greats in BJJ. My physical fitness, my confidence and everything has been made better by a martial spirit and life.
#7. I've got to ride and own almost every motorcycle I've ever dreamed of except a RC30. Track days dirt and street. Two wheels and I click on a cellular level. Cars, from the basic Miata to the exotic Porsches and Lotuses. Driven as fast as I could around Laguna Seca. MotoGP race trips here and abroad. Even a few trophies here and there.

I'm soooo happy right now that my guts seem to be healthy and it makes me think of some of the other things I've been happy about. Reflecting on the good things in life. People do change, things do happen. But I can only control myself and my reactions to them.

Right now I'm only happy about how life has been for me, in the whole. So thank you to all who've been/are a part of it. Love!