The Way You Move.

Do you remember what you were hooked on freshman year of high school (other than Mountain Dew or Chewy Sprees)? Listening to it every single day of study hall? Pretty confused and more awkward than ever? Eyebrows running wild and hair at it's most natural? (Third Eye Blind). What about by junior year- cruisin' around with friends. Windows down. Bass up. Young hearts free, hair blowin'. Pure naivete? (Nelly). Backtracking. What about that summer after 4th grade. When you became absolutely obsessed with MTV. Having just discovered the magic, power, and wonder of music videos. (Snoop, Dre, Nirvana).

Little Aha! moments.

Honors English, sophomore year. Margaret Miller, our beloved sassy Texan teacher. True southern belle, even had a sister named Scarlett. Tagged herself as 'Menopausal Margaret' and was as candid a character as we had ever seen. Vivacious. Passionate. Dripping with southern charm. Introduced us to Anthem and the world of Ayn Rand. We were blown away. We thought we never even knew this was even an option. We didn't know people could write, read, and think like this- and that it was okay to do so. How wonderful! We knew what Ayn was saying, and we loved it. It was published in 1939, but it resonated within our fifteen year-old-self. And stuck with us. And thank God/Oprah that that was what stuck. And not those baggy cargo pants. Or The Eyeshadow from The Eyeshadow Phase. Or the no-good-cheatin' boyfriend (Come on! We were only 15 and a late bloomer. So not ready to round 2nd base. So, he found someone to round 3rd with).

In our more recent past, we have been just as moved. Uplifted. Eyes opened, heart lurching. We watch Jason Mraz's 'You and I Both' vid and we are just mesmerized by his lyrical poetry and total word art. And for some reason it makes us feel like yeah, love is out there. Has to be. We move across the country, relocate to a new place. Listening to Imogen's 'Hide and Seek,' tears welling. Scared of the unknown. Thrilled with the risk of a new adventure. Or maybe you hear some piano chords pieced together just brilliantly or a dramatic emotion-filled rich and heartbreaking melody (Cornflake Girl/Jesusland) and it just catches your breath. Ever happen to you?

It can give ya hope. Make ya sad. Fill your heart instantly and mysteriously with joy. Sometimes even illustrate the poignant points in your life, when you look back. We look back in gratitude for people like Margaret Miller. Who returned to Texas the following year, to teach. She tearfully hugged us goodbye on the last day of class. Said she'd 'see us on Miss America' someday. And while we were thoroughly confused by that comment, we felt inspired by what we had learned from her.

Have you been moved? What has made ya think? Made ya dance? Love? Take a chance? Make a change? Let's hear it.

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