A night of nostalgia...

Somehow I ended up spending my evening reminiscing about high school, specifically choir.

I ended up watching old videos, listening to recordings, and looking at pictures from the four years I spent in high school dedicating my life to that choir room, room M5, I believe it was? :)

I wrote a blog post about it three or so years ago, which can be found here.

But this time, I was thinking about how I wished I would have cherished those experiences so much more than I did.

Realistically, I know it's hard to get a teenager to cherish anything and realize that those years will be gone before they know it...

but I long to be able to go back to 15-year-old Melissa and tell her to write down every single performance, journal about every experience, record and save every song, and realize that those would be some of the highlights of my adolescent and young-adult life!

As I was thinking about all of this it dawned on me that I didn't really emphasize collecting those moments because I wasn't confident enough in myself to think they were worth it.

I knew I was doing great things, from State Solo & Ensemble to WMEA All-State Jazz Choir, but I didn't think that it was really my voice that got me there.

To make a long blog post short, I have definitely realized over the last couple of years that I have to make a conscious effort to realize the novelty of a moment and bookmark it in my mind.

That, along with journaling and instagram, and I think I'm golden :)

Anyway, these are just late night ramblings of a reminiscent and nostalgic 22-year-old who wishes she could just go back for one day. 

If you'd like, click here to watch me solo on a practice performance of Where Do You Start/One Less Bell to Answer from WMEA All-State Jazz Choir my senior year :)

Don't mind my voice cracking two times... 

This was after three days of straight singing, so give me a break!

May 21: Favorite Posts

Day 21: A list of links to your favorite posts in your archives.

Easy peasy!

Understanding Grace: If you need a little inspiration :) I read this one often. I reminds me how far I've come, but also just how far I have to go (or have the privilege of going).

Daddy-daughter Vacation: One of my favorite days from my vacation with my dad last summer. It was hard to pick a favorite post from this trip!

Girl Scout Cookies: Freshman year memories with two of my favorite girls! I still find this post absolutely hilarious, though I'm probably the only one in the world that does :)

What we want the most, but use the worst: All about time. I'm not sure why I like this one so much.

Balloons, Blankets and BFF's: More memories. This was definitely one of my favorite semesters ever!

Project 365: I loved doing this project and this post is a really good summary of my favorite pictures as well as what the project meant to me. I need to do another one!

So there ya have it :)

May 17: Favorite Picture

Day 17: A favorite photo of yourself and why

I feel kind of vain doing this blog post... :)

Instead of finding a favorite (because we all know I'm terrible at picking favorites...) I decided to find one that was candid, random, or just a fun photo of myself.

This was taken in our limo to dinner for my Senior Prom.

I love this picture because it was almost a completely candid shot, but at the last minute I looked up and smiled.

My senior prom was by far my favorite high school dance.

The group was great, my date was great, dinner was great, the dance was great, and our little after party was great.

I'm glad I got this fun picture out of it :)

If I still had Myspace...

...my mood status would say "nostalgic."

I woke up to rain and a gloomy but beautiful sky this morning.

I walked outside and the air was warm with just a tinge of a chill.

I felt a longing for Washington.

Days of rain and tall, vibrant, fresh green trees.

I think I might be figuring out that I consider Washington home.

And boy, do I miss home.

Miss Bonney Carter

So Facebook has this kinda neat feature where you can see your friendship with one of your Facebook Friends.

I got to thinkin, "Hm, I wonder how many random posts my best friend Bonney and I have posted on each other's walls..."

So I headed on over to our "friendship" page, and holy guacamole, I forgot how much I love that girl.

We're kind of the coolest people I've ever known.

 I'm also incredibly homesick for my best friend!

So, BCarter, it's time for a serious kypse session.

Maybe a girls night complete with ice cream and watching Bride Wars at the same time :)

 It's been way too long since we saw each other, and that is totally unacceptable!

Here's the plan.... we drop out of school and open a bakery/wedding planning business.

Our big promotion could be free cupcakes for your wedding if you choose us as your wedding planners!

 Oooh, I like it.

Miss you, girl.