People. Change.

The five year old sports a 'fro full of hair, a VERY gummy smile, and a fear of the dark.

The Mom still remains a Diva, still has long-flowing Sista locs, and still sports sunglasses twice the size of her face.

The husband learned that "having style" isn't a challenge to masculinity. 

I am almost 30. And I am locked in a passionate love affair with self. I don't feel guilty 'bout that.

My people. They change. I may not get a chance to take three hundred and sixty five photos a year. But I see the changes. And I love them!

Shh, It's Quiet.

Here I sit in our living room with television on a Top Chef Masters rerun. I like to keep the sound on mute to give my ears a break and my eyes a feast. The cat is knocked out beside me keeping my toes warm. The little one is curled up next to her Daddy. Both are sleeping soundly with occasional snore mixed in between. I am drinking their tranquility.

It was the complete opposite some hours ago. Hubby and I watched Transfomers 2 this morning. It was stellar, a genuine throwback to the series orgins. Hubs and I may be from different backgrounds but we are connected through our cartoons. And watching Transformers -- much like Voltron, GI Joe, Jem, Peanuts, The Simpsons shoot even My Little Pony -- is like an finding an old relic in the upstairs attic, dusting it off, and immersing yourself in an old familiar, but vastly different, world.

My only two "beefs" with the movie would be a. IT'S LOUD. It's louder than typing all caps on a web page. It over-stimulated the sense. The ears tried to use my ear lobes to close themselves up. It was ... intense.

The b. beef? Chick in high heels. Chick with strings for clothes. Chick who sit on motorcycle with buttock showing. I think it's cute when a grown woman with a little meat on 'dem bones struts her stuff. Shoot, I am hot stuff and not ashamed to show off femininity in all the right places. But when the chick is supposed to be a recent high school graduate at or around age 17 ... it darn near makes me gag. And I cringe when a young girl sees it ... and imitates it outside of the box office.

I digress. And I really sound like my Grandma. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and wish I could stage a mini-robot fight fest on my balcony.

So, I started the day full of anticipation, moved through excitability to agitation and a small peek of discontent to fulfillment, calm and finally stillness. I am happy to recognize the tranquility in this moment because of the exposure to its opposite.

p.s. I've been sending a "heads-up" to parents in my circles about the PG13 rating of Transfomers 2. In my opinion, this movie has significant language and some scenes made me blush. You know me! I DON'T blush. The PG13 is a good rating! Holla at me if you'd like my un-ladylike report -- momma to momma style.