Tiana has pale skin and bright red hair. She’s eccentric, fun and French. She comes to the bar I work at occasionally on Sundays to have a drink or two and see what band is playing. The first time I met her I didn’t recognize her accent until she asked me for a lemon (“a lee-mon please”). “Oh! Of course!” I say. “Merci Beaucoup” she says as she puts her hands in prayer position, nods her head and walks away. I was intrigued by her. The next time she came down it was pretty much the same thing, but this time I saw her dancing in front of the stage. She reminds me of Phoebe from Friends, but short, read headed and, well, French. She was just dancing all over the place like no one was watching and if they were who cares! I loved it. This past Sunday she came to the bar, got her Long Island Ice Tea as normal (“lee-mon s’il vous plait!”). This time I asked her what her name was. “Tiana dahling. And yours?” “My name is Leah,” I said. “What a gorgeous name!!” So then she dropped a few of the greatest lines on me that I will never forget. We started chatting about God only knows what, and she says to me, “Do you know why angels fly?” “Je ne sais pas?” I reply. “Because they take themselves so lightly!” Then she twirled around. She was just so carefree, and I was in awe of her. I thought I was laid back, but she was so breezy it made me realize I’m still kind of tightly wound. Then she says, “Americans take things so seriously!” Well, yeah, we do. Compared to the French especially. Then before walking back to the band she says to me, “Life’s too mysterious don’t take it so serious.” That phrase has been on my mind since she said it to me. Why do any of us take things, especially trivial things so serious? Why all the drama? Tiana then walked back towards the front of the stage and went back to dancing like there wasn’t a care in the world. And with all that she said to me I’m guessing she doesn’t have a care in the world. She was twirling and shaking her body all over the place. She was just so fun and inspiring to watch. And thanks to Tiana, for reminding me not to take things so seriously. Cause the fun in life is the mystery! There is no need to over analyze or freak out. Here’s to taking things more lightly!