One of Those Weeks

Hey guys! Did everyone have a fun 4th of July? I don't know about y'all, but I am definitely missing the relaxation and the whole "not doing anything for four days straight" thing. It might be summer, but for most of us, that hasn't slowed down the daily grind! We had Driver's Ed last week (cringe), and, after being scarred for life thanks to some emotionally traumatizing videos, our darling mother has come to the conclusion that this week must be spent cleaning, organizing, and sorting through every inch of every room in our house. Of course, we do get to turn our music on as loud as it will go and turn a clean-up into a dance party, so it's not all bad!

For Beau and me, our music has been almost exclusively Glee while we mourn the untimely loss of Cory Monteith. We woke up to the news on Sunday morning, and I have to say that I didn't believe it at first. I thought it was a joke, a la RIP Justin Bieber and RIP Zayn Malik. Twitter loves to kill people off, and I've gotten so used to seeing the death wars between the fandoms that it hardly even registered. But then I found out that it was real, and it felt like I got punched in the gut by the fifty pound swinging pendulum in one of our Driver's Ed videos. (It was supposed to show the strength of the human rib cage, but I think this reference put it to much better use.)I didn't know him personally, which is something I will always regret, but I did know that oddly large, goofy, awkward tenor from Canada who had a bad habit of forgetting his girlfriend was Jewish (though she did have the tendency to do so as well), who took on the responsibility of leading not only the ragtag group of goths, cheerleaders, goths, jocks, and divas to the top, but also an even more eclectic group of fans who loved him dearly. He gave us hope. He encouraged us. He made us smile when it wasn't easy and laugh when we didn't want to. He taught us that it was okay to stand out and to follow your heart, no matter where it leads you. He might have been an awful dancer and completely oblivious sometimes, but he was our fearless leader, and he will live on in the heart of ever Gleek who absolutely loved it when he punched Brody right in the middle of his Ken-doll face.

Cory probably never know the impact he would have, or the amount of people he would reach through his awkward Canadian charm and everlasting optimism. He believed in us so thoroughly we couldn't help but believe in ourselves too. He had the world at his feet, but then it was gone in the blink of an eye. I wish I'd gotten to meet him, to thank him, and to tell him how much I loved him, but I didn't and now I can't. Instead, I'm making a point to remember how short life is and how stupid it is to live like I've got all the time in the world. Make the most of every moment. Appreciate the people, the things, and the circumstances in your life, no matter how aggravating they may be. Say "I love you" while you can. Show gratitude and kindness, tell your mom how thankful you are for her just being around, and always smile, laugh, and remember that life, despite its flaws, is a beautiful thing, and there is always something to live for.

Rest in peace, Cory. We love you.

Xx, Luci

Happy (Early!) Independence Day

While it might not be the 4th yet, today feels like Independence Day to me! School is officially done, I survived Economics, and the rest of the summer awaits. Our family will be spending the 4th at my great-aunt and uncle's lake house in South Carolina, where we will eat entirely too much, race go-karts (if you think Monopoly tears families apart, you obviously haven't seen us on a go-kart track!), and make things explode...erm, I mean, set off fireworks.

We'd like to know: what are your Fourth of July traditions? What was the most memorable Fourth of July celebration for you? We've come to the unanimous decision that last year's Independence Day was the most memorable; we spent the day at Long Beach and a hamburger stand exploded. It really gave the night a new excitement.

Anyways, have fun, be careful, and always remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so we can live in the Land of the Free. 'Murica.