My Friends, My Everyday Heroes

I've been absent from Blogland for weeks now. I've missed you, Family. Yes, I've been busy - sick kids, a fabulous vacation, a school carnival and more sick kids. I've also been a little depressed. Silly stuff mostly, old stuff, stuff that gets in my way and should have been handled and properly grieved about forever ago. Whatever.

Boy did I choose a big day to come home to Blogland! I'm sure that I've missed tons of stuff, and it will take me a year of Sundays to catch up. But I did want to take a moment to highlight a few beautiful women doing beautiful things with their beautiful souls and energies.

And I guess it's time to reveal the source of my quirky wisdom. The Persistence of Yellow by Monique Duval. You've seen me and Dawn and Amy quote it. It's fabulous. Everyone of you, Sweet Friends, needs this book. I wish I could send one to all of you.

Camlin - Once upon a time, a girl prayed for true love. Her prayer was answered. She learned to love herself.

Rocket - As she was singing her own special rendition of 'I Did It My Way,' an angel appeared to her and threw finely chopped colored paper about her head in celebration.

Amy - Once upon a time, she decided to follow her heart. She flung off her pinstriped suit and gave birth to herself. A new self. Her true self.

I love you guys! You're inspiring.

I'm in the middle. You guys can row.

"They are inseparable. Yesterday, the three of them decided to have a hot peppermint tea party in the middle of the lake while sitting in a canoe and worried that their lives were becoming predictable."

#141

San Diego: Love, Love, Love

Love on a String

Love Reflected

The Love of Family

Sweet Love

True Love

Love that Stands the Test of Time

Refocksa Love

Silly Love

Young Love

I miss you already, Sweet Friends.

How about Christmas on the Beach?

.

21 Hours in the Car and I Didn't Shake Anyone or Things that I Like

We do a good bit of traveling around to people's houses. It's always better for us to go to a house that has kids already. Our hosts know what to expect. A random throw-up, toilets left unflushed, 127 questions about nothing. I guess the plethora of dogs warmed in Rocket and G, because neither of them flinched when our crew got out and ran in and explored. Rocket and Amy both spoke to our children like they are real people instead of some mutant breed of alien that only understands monosyllabic words spoken at a deafening volume. We like that.

We like people that like to hang out at home, that don't need constant entertainment, that can sit around and carry on a conversation. We especially like it when they like to sit around a fire. Amy and I built the fire, by the way. Dawn just swooped in at the end and made it look special. It was like the nurse that sits by a laboring woman all day. She turns her, encourages her, keeps her from killing her husband only to have the doctor rush in at the last minute, catch the baby and sign his name to the birth certificate claiming to have been the "birth attendant."

We also like people that cook good food. G had that covered. Burgers, hotdogs, brats, shrimp, crablegs. For real.

We like folks that share our basic outlook on life. Live and let live. Love the lonely and helpless. Laugh. Laugh. Laugh. There was plenty of that. Amy the husband, Ray and his mustache, the welcoming maxi pad, the brother who gets tattoos and applause. What was remarkable about all the hilarity is that it should have been embarrassing in front of people that you've only known for a few hours. But we have known each other for much longer, haven't we?

These girls are just who they are in Blogland. No alter egos. No smoke blowing. No bullshit. What you see is what you get. And it is all awesome. You'll never meet a bigger heart than Amy's. You'll never meet a purer soul than Rocket's.

And you all know how I adore Dawn, but I have to go on and on. I can't help myself. I love to watch her in a group of people. She has a calming nature, made more incredible considering her ADD. People like her. She asks good questions and cares enough about the answer to listen, but not enough to judge or second-guess. She's funny. Magnetic. And she looks at me and sees me and likes me the most. And I like that.

Amy, my dear husband - the kids are planning your move to Florida. They can be very persuasive. It's probably better to cease resisting. You play Legos and you're good at it, according to Storm. That's high praise.

Rocket/Lightning/Roxanne - the kids want to come back when it snows. Got a sled? And Storm wants to see your tattoos. He said he didn't notice. (!?!)

.

Propane's Warm and Fuzzy Award

And there are 3 rules.... Link back to the person who gave it to you, give the award to 10 people, and tell 10 things about yourself. So typical . . . I get an "award" with strings attached :) I'll take it . . . you knew I would. Thanks, Moonshine.





10 people? I'd have to get out more. And since I was not on the 1st tier of recipients, some of the people I would award have already been awarded. So I'm going to disregard that fact and re-bestow the award.

1) Jude - Loves me some Jude! Who doesn't? Honestly, is there a single one of you who doesn't want to dry hump Jude? I dare you to show your face.

2) Ms. Moon - I know, I know. You're all all done with the forced voyeurism on my intense adoration of Ms. Moon. But seriously, y'all, she is wise. If you have resisted her thus far, be done. Relinquinsh your soul-care to Ms. Moon. You'll feel better soon.

3) Downtown Guy - She has offspring. Yes, he's Ms. Moon's kid in Real Life. He's eloquent and brilliant and loves some biscuits and gravy. AND he knows the worst name you could name a child without naming them something overtly obscene. Interesting, very interesting.

4) Solo - She lets me call her Maureen. She coaches all of us to be better and stronger. And she's in love - as if she couldn't get more adorable. I'm so happy for you, Maureen.

5) Rocket - I believe she's gotten this award from everyone that I've seen give it out, and who am I to buck tradition? She had the fortitude and heart of a true friend strong enough to pull her into her dear friend's estate sale. And then had the courage and clarity to share it with us. Did I mention how phenomenally talented she is?

6) G - Her posts are less than regular here recently, but worth the wait - I promise. She has a way with self-reflection that makes you run for a mirror.

7) Dena - She's the coolest straight girl I know, and she's threatening to come and visit me. Lord, I hope she does. This lady is funnier than all of us combined. And that's something.

So that's it. Go forth and multiply.


I suppose that since I only gave the award to 7 people that I only get to tell you 7 things about myself. God knows how I love to talk about myself, so this is taking true restraint.

1) My fingernails are remarkably strong. I can't cut them myself - Dawn does it for me while I cringe.


2) I have an unhealthy obsession with The Real Housewives of Anywhere. I especially love NeNe.

3) In our den, we have a vintage travel poster from every state that allows same-sex marriage. There's plenty of room left.


4) I know a very lengthy poem, The Shooting of Dan McGrew, by heart. There's hardly any way that the San Diego crew is getting out of hearing it - I do it best with several drinks in me.

5) I have an eyelash on my left eye that grows in totally white. I have no idea why.

6) I had New Year's Eve twice one year because I flew to Hawaii from Australia and crossed the International Dateline.

7) I was almost killed by a home-run. Brian Jordan hit one out while I was just settling myself and my brand new 32 oz. beer onto the green green grass in the outfield of the Braves Spring Training facility in Orlando. Instead of being struck in the head, I was tackled by a 300+ lb man who caught the ball. My beer spilled. I was pissed. The man next to me helped me up and bought me a new cup of frothy deliciousness. I was NOT on ESPN.


.

My Friend Propane

So what had happened was . . . I commented on Propane's post about her 4th. I asked her how hot it is up there. A few minutes later my phone rang. The Caller ID said "Cell Phone MN." I expected it to be our friend Hannah. When I answered a robotic voice said, "You have a text to land line message. Press 1 to hear your message." I got a little panicky. I had mental images of Hannah trapped under something heavy, unable to breathe or speak, her thumbs her only chance of survival. What I heard instead was the same robotic voice saying something like,

"Contrary to popular belief, it does get pretty hot up here. Up to 85 in the day and only down to 65 at night so walking around town last night was really nice." There was more but I was laughing so hard by this point that I didn't hear anything else until the she-robot, in perfect monotone said, "Laughing out loud."

I was still hysterical when Propane called just a few seconds later also laughing hysterically. She had no idea that I had given her my home number.

By the way, anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of hearing her sweet voice should pass your digits along.

Can't wait to talk to you again, Amy. AND I really can't wait to see you!