Karen.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. FBDO came out 20 years ago but, thanks to the magic of Saturday afternoon cable TV, I don't know anyone on the planet who hasn't seen it. I'll skip the summary--but if you haven't checked it out, in the words of Ferris, I highly recommend it, it's so choice.

It's not my favorite because John Hughes, the writer and director, happened to go to my high school. It's also not my favorite because it single-handedly revived the tradition of Senior Skip Day (woo hoo!). It's not even my favorite because it included such kernels of wisdom as the key to faking sickness: "... clammy hands, it's a good, non-specific symptom.... You fake a stomach cramp. Then, when you're bent ever, moaning and wailing, you lick your palms. It's a little childish and stupid, but then so is high school." No, it's my favorite because it reminds all of us that "life moves pretty fast," and "if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I was reminded of this the other day when I went into the bank to sign some papers. A couple months ago, I bought this magazine. Yep, I am the one who started GL over 14 years ago (time flies), but I didn't own it. Now, thanks to the incredible people who got me started way back when and the amazing crew (including the bank associates and our staffers) who believe in GL so much that they are willing to help this magazine become an even bigger success, GL is now totally on its own.

Anyway, while I was in the bank, signing my life away to secure the funds to keep the magazine healthy and happy, a woman came up to me and said hello. "It's so great to see you," she said. "I heard you bought the magazine, and I just think that's amazing. You have worked so hard." It took me a minute to place her. Then I remembered she was the person who used to work the drive-through window 10 years ago when J frequented that branch. I couldn't even believe she recognized me, no less knew what I had been up to.

When the whole me-buying-the-magazine thing happened, I was so tired from the process of it that the very night I should have been celebrating, I actually went home and collapsed on the couch by myself. No friends, no celebrating, not even ice cream. Then I got up the next day and went back to work.

Maybe this sounds weird, but that comment from the woman in the bank really hit home. This magazine, the girls who read it and the people who create it mean the world to me. Life does move pretty fast. And if you don't take a look around, you really can miss it.

KB