Bitter No More

Sometimes we can't help but to feel a bit sour.  Sometimes our outlook is pretty grim.  Sometimes all we need to cure our mood is a large dose of friendship.  I had the pleasure of spending almost the entire day with a dear friend.  As soon as I arrived at her house she confessed that she had such a miserable night she had considered uninviting me.  After an hour or so of our visit she told me that she was glad that I had come. Her outlook had changed and her mood had lifted.  We all have our moments of weakness and self-doubt.  But we should never ever forget that there are people who are in our corner...no matter what.  I actually enjoyed being able to simply sit and listen.  I had prayed earlier in the day to be able to offer whatever was needed and I felt that listening was best.  Sure I had plenty to say...but today was not about me.  I love having friends...friends who love me no matter what...and friends whom I love no matter what.  Life can be full of bitter lemons...but it's our friends along the way who help turn the bitterness into sweetness.

You Light Up My Life

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to get together with some dear friends of mine.  The way that we love each other despite the fact that some of us snort when we laugh (me), show up late (me), or bring their kids along to a girls' night out (me), is proof that our friendship is unconditional.  This circle of women that I am blessed to be a part of knows when to listen and when to speak up.  Each of us is an elixir for the other...a healing balm when needed.  Each of us has multiple irons in the fire.  Each of us longs for a chance to slow down and enjoy.  And that is exactly what we did the other evening.  As the sun set over the cedar filled hills we sauntered out of the kitchen and into the pool (our feet did at least).  The echoing calls of the resident peacock and the gobble of the pet turkeys served as our evening's soundtrack.  The farm cats lazily set the mood and we quickly followed suit.  It's so nice to be able to completely relax...to not give a flip about excess skin or sloppy posture.  Like the lounging cats, we flopped ourselves poolside and enjoyed the stories that are only funny to us.  Even though laughter was involved, some tears welled up as well.  As women, each of us has emotional strings that are alternately pulled and tugged.  For some of us the triggers are children getting ready to graduate from high school in a matter of weeks.  For others it is the fact that major decisions have to be made.  No matter the situation, the fact is we have each other with us as we plow through these moments.  As I become more and more who I was meant to be, I have noticed that God has lead me to be in the presence of people who make me better...people who build me up...people who I want to be like....people who love me.  I am grateful for the people whose light has made my path a little brighter.  I am thankful for the rainbow of love that has been reflected back to me via the prism of women I am happy to call my friends.

Friends Unearthed

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the home of a dear friend of mine.  This lady is just that...a lady...in every sense of the word.  Her home was a true reflection of the genuine and elegant nature she exudes in person.  Her private and personal world felt welcoming and real...and I love that in a person as well as in a home.  Through the years I've been blessed with a group of women to surround myself with.  It has been said that you become like the five people you hang around with the most...and if that proves itself true then I am in great company! 

My friend's home got me thinking about who we really are at our core.  Who we are when no one else is looking.  Home has always been a refuge for me...the place I long to be more than anywhere else.  I have a sign hanging in my house that says, "Surround Yourself With Things You Love," and to me, that includes our friends.  I am extremely fortunate in the fact that I get to work with and interract with these wonderful ladies every day.  This leads me to believe that these women were placed in my life for a reason.  Each of us has our own passions and quirks and each of us loves the other for them.  With each passing year our group learns more and more about the other; and as each layer of our persona is unearthed we becomre more and more exposed for who we truly are.  As both the years and the layers have passed by and peeled away we have only grown closer and loved deeper.  My dear friends...you are my home and I love you all.

"I Cry For Happy!"

This one's for all "my girls" out there!  (You know who you are!)  I miss the laughter...the "you had to be there" moments.  Being off work for the summer has its perks, don't get me wrong....but the women I work with...share my day to days with....well I miss them....terribly!  There is something to be said about comaradarie...especially among women.  Now that I am a part of the community of women who wet their pants everytime they sneeze I fell in love with this sign I saw in a shop window on the main street in Ruidoso, New Mexico during a recent road trip.  Even though the store was closed for the night that didn't stop me from taking a quick picture with my cell phone and sending it to all of my partners in crime.  It's moments like these that make me realize that life is all about our relationships with others.  It is about building memories out of moments that, at the time, don't seem that funny.....but.....later on down the road bring tears to your legs.

The Perfect Ingredients

I just returned home after watching the premiere of Julie & Julia and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it...though not necessarily for the reasons you might think. You see, I shared the movie experience with a dear colleague from work...a kindred soul. It was obvious to me the moment I saw the first preview several months ago whom I would want to see this movie with. K.E. is a woman extremely passionate about all things "food." I happen to be of the opinion (as are many others) that she is simply a natural in the kitchen blessed with culinary genes. She literally lights up whenever she talks food and I love her for it! I, on the other hand, love all things "writing/books." So there you have it...the perfect ingredients for movie-going with a friend!

One can't help but to fall in love with the exhuberant, life-embracing personality that is Julia Child. It is no wonder that Julie Powell chose her as her muse. The parallels are incredible and they are enough to give someone, as far-removed from the kitchen as I, hope.

My hope for this "year" (for those of us in education our "year" starts in August) is that my friend and I mix together and blend all of the ingredients needed to make our lives turn out well done. Bon Appetit!

Love

I've been thinking a lot about love. As a young girl I was very in love with the idea of being in love. When I was first in love I was very aware of what I was experiencing...I was always hovering over myself so as to be able to take it all in...store it up...and save it just in case I ever forgot what it felt like. When I had my first child those "in love" feelings came flooding back to me and, like before, I was aware of what I was feeling because I did not ever want to forget it.

To love somebody...unconditionally...it just feels so right. I appreciate all who love me-in their own way-and I love them for it. Some have shown love by scratching my back for what felt like hours, while others have shown love by hugging me tight. Some have loved by listening while I blab, while others have shown love by crying alongside me. I have family and I have friends...and I am so grateful for all of them.

A Permanent Solution

We all remember our first perm...the anticipation and excitement of looking exactly like "that girl" we see at school mixed in with a little nerves---fear of walking out of the salon looking like a clown instead. But, we stick it out and allow our heads to be tortured in the name of beauty.

A couple of days ago my daughter got her first perm. She is in the middle of her 6th grade year and, like her, I got my first perm in the 6th grade too. Of course, my hair had just grown out from a Dorothy Hamill cut--but not by much because I walked out of the salon on the clown end of the spectrum. Needless to say I kept perming my hair until the middle of high school. At least my daughter's hair is all one length and falls just below her shoulders.

As she sat in the chair, as giddy as ever, it all came flooding back to me: my mother nearby and circling my chair--a woman well-experienced in the perm world. The pungent odor of the perm solution wafting all around me and covering everyone else in the salon--much like the scent of a skunk...it does not leave you once you've become victim to it. The long strip of cotton the stylist would wedge between my hairline and the extra tight rods...as if sealing my head with an O ring...a rubber seal that never really worked. She would then vanish to who knew where (though I know now it was off to a sectioned off lair where all kinds of goodies were kept). I can still remember sitting in that chair looking hideous in my tight perm rods housed inside a clear plastic bubble of a cap...as if I were a walking green house; the cold, yet burning liquid sneaking out from underneath the now soaked through strip of cotton. Do I dab at it? Do I let it drip? Do I wave my hands and try to get somebody's attention? Just when I thought I couldn't take the punishment any longer the stylist would emerge like Glinda the Good Witch and replace the cotton strip...and then, like Glinda, she would float away. And, finally, the time would come for a good rinse...relief at last...or so I thought. I don't think my neck has ever hurt as badly as it did when I was kid, lying atop my perm rods, in the crook of that hard as hell sink. But then...it was all worth it...this girl had curls.

Fast forward to my own daughter, now sitting in the chair. Her hair is as straight as a board (like mine) and the time has finally come. After an hour and a half the rods were removed and ... nothing. NO CURLS!
Right then and there my daughter's stylist said, "I'm re-doing this perm right now" (it was 7:00 at night). I told her thanks, but we could reschedule for another day/time. She insisted, saying, "If I was a girl who thought she was going to wake up in the morning with curls...then I would want curls!" What a woman!! The owner, who was walking out the door, purse in hand, turned right back around, set her purse down on the floor and offered to help. The stylist and the owner began working on my daughter in tandem...one on the left; the other on the right. I left the three of them alone and drove on home (I live about 5 miles down the road). my daughter's stylist lives a mile from us so she offered to bring my daughter home with her when she was finished. When I got the call it was well after 8:00 and I was out checking a hog trap with my husband, son, and a friend of mine and her son. We all jumped into our old army jeep and took off. It was cold outside and the moonlight was enough to light our way. We picked up my daughter and saw her smile before we saw her curls. In this day and age it is so nice to know there are still people who go the extra mile...because they remember what it was like to be a young girl.

There is something to be said about big hearted people working in a small town salon. A mother's thank you goes out to our stylist Karmia and owner Pam!

Life is Good

With the boys out of the house our home turned into an all girls' retreat last night. I was surrounded by my daughter, a friend, my sister-in-law, and my niece. I love being around women who love you back. After a day spent with my daughter at the movies, in the stores, and in a restaurant I ended up at my sister-in-law's house eating a delicious pizza she made just for us. After our meal we all walked over to my house--homemade brownies and Blue Bell's Coffee Ice Cream in tow. Our flashlights led the way as Snickers dashed in and out of our path. I threw down as many comforters as I could find and we all changed into our comfy-cozy pajamas and settled in to watch Mama Mia. After we had our fill of laughter and tears we headed to the kitchen and scooped balls of ice cream into our brownie-filled bowls and poured on the syrup...Life is Good!

Horsing Around

Thanks to an invite from a friend my kids and I were able to enjoy being outdoors atop Raider-a beautiful thoroughbred. Just being able to sit in the saddle listening to the give of the leather beneath you makes one believe she is capable. Knowing that you have got to love and respect an animal enough to surrender to it while at the same time trying to convince it that you are in charge can be quite humbling. The power beneath you combined with the power within you makes for both an exhilerating and contented day. Being able to watch your children-so small and fragile-straddle such a large animal and trot off into the sunset stirred nothing but pleasant feelings inside of me. I did not have any feelings of fear as I watched them learn to assert themselves. I did not feel dread when the pace quickened. Both my son and daughter have a deep love and respect for animals and I am grateful for the opportunity that they had today thanks to the invite of a friend.

5 Golden Rings...

On the first day of Christmas vacation

I simply gave to me

The opportunity to visit with friends.

Tonight I am going down the road to a neighbor's home to spend some time with some dear friends who have been living out of the country. They are in town en route to visit their family for the holidays so a party is in order. Several people whom I enjoy being around will be there and I am looking forward to kicking off the start of my Christmas vacation in this manner.

In the photo above the inscription on my ring reads: "Live Each Day To The Fullest" and that is what I am trying to do. However, my idea of "fullest" is often quite different from what many would expect. Dare devil I am not, but I do enjoy witnessing a miracle. My notion of a full life involves opening my eyes to see the beauty in the world around me. I love capturing moments throughout the day and if humor is a part of it I'm all for that to. I like to keep God in the forefront of my thoughts as I think through and plan my next step. I believe in family and friendships. I honor stillness and welcome silence. I have learned that the salt in my tears reminds me that I am made of something more than just water--that I am a substantial person. I am a happy soul who believes in smiling. I care not whether my rings are made from the finest gold in the land or whether they will turn black in the morning...I simply cherish them for the memory attached.

Weird Weather Friends

Earlier I wrote about how unseasonably warm it has been and then-WHAM!-it starts to snow on the very day the temperatures were in the low to mid 70's! The wind was whirring and the flurries were twirling...it had me grinning from ear to ear as if this were the best moment in my life...and in some ways I guess you could say that it was. I have decided that best moments can happen anytime and every day. I have decided not to let the fear of lack of sleep or the worries of unfinished tasks deprive me of my today.

This afternoon I enjoyed an impromtu visit with a friend. We shared stories and merlot. We laughed and we ate. And then it snowed. I choose to see this unpredicted visit of majestic snowflakes as a symbol of all that is creative. I choose to embrace the wonder of new friendships that feel like old friends. I believe that when things fall into place the way they are meant to we are blessed by the one of a kind moments that take our breath away.

Breaking Free

The other evening I sat and visited with a good friend. When I could have easily spilled forth with accolades neverending in her direction she patted me on the back over and over again. Her talents branch out and reach upward...she is like a vase housing a bouquet of wildflowers. She has a beauty about her that enters the room before she does. She has a kind soul coupled with a wild streak. Her genuine core keeps her grounded even while her aspirations have her floating upward. When a woman such as she is kept under glass the fog of her dreams does not block out the light--instead it creates the matte canvas upon which she paints her future. After years of etching her dreams upon the glass the moment finally comes when the glass breaks...whether by her neverending devotion to her calling or by the casting of a stone...it almost does not matter for all she knows is that the air is fresher, the view is clearer, and the boundaries are gone. The world she has been watching from a distance rushes upon her with a force unlike anything she has ever felt. The winds of change sting her face and tousle her hair and she only wants to open her mouth wide as if to swallow it and keep it so that it can continue to churn within.

BFFs!

I brought my 11 year old daughter along for an all girls' weekend with my two best friends from elementary school. We spent the night in Dana's lake cabin and it felt every bit like the quintessential pre-teen slumber party that it truly was! Being the only one with a daughter I wanted to include my daughter in the plans because she loves all things "girl." She adores my girlfriends and they return the love. I am so fortunate to be able to share her with them.

We massaged our feet, painted our toenails, played the flute, and flipped through magazines. We ate coconut meringue pie for breakfast and had Mike &Ike's candies for dinner. We laughed until we peed in our matching froggy pajamas!

We exchanged fun gifts the likes of peppermint hand sanitizers, vanilla creme lotions from Bath & Body Works, fun candles, and old copies of Judy Blume books as tokens of our lasting friendships! Per my daughter's request she and I picked up some cozy fleece pjs and stuffed animals for all the girls.

At one point in the night someone gave my daughter a Sharpie Marker with the instructions to "Mark the 1st person to fall asleep"...guess who dozed off first? Yup....'twas I.

Dana built us a roaring fire in the wood burning stove that sustained us all through the night. She and my daughter stood their ground and defended the cabin against the angry mob of hornets that once lived inside the pipe of the stove. We all played M.A.S.H. (mansion, apartment, shack, house), and we popped each other's backs. We fed the stray cats that hung out near the front door (though they looked as if they hung out at every cabin door--no ribs showing on these felines). As it turned out we were more than warm and slept, as I had earlier predicted, with the doors open. We had prepared for freezing temperatures and had the electric blankets to prove it. We discussed our favorite authors and we wend on a nature walk.

All in all it was a great getaway...it was great in the fact that I could have my daughter along with me while "out with the girls." It was great in the notion that good old fashioned corny silly fun is still great fun! It was a strong reminder that girls are girls no matter their age...we all just want to belong to a group of people who love us and accept us. We all need someone who we can confide in, tell our secrets to, share a ped egg with. I pray that my daughter will surround herself with some truly great girlfriends who will embrace her and encourage her the way my BFFs have done for me...and thank heaven...who do so for her too! Thanks, girls!!!!

A Bird in the Bag Is Worth More Than a Warm One In The Freezer

I have two best friends. One of them meets me for after hour book signings with famous people...the other invites me up to her lake cabin where we fling dead birds into plastic bags and chip away at a frosty freezer.

Allow me to explain:

In preparation for another girls' weekend at the lake cabin, Dana and I decided that it would be wise if we visited the cabin just to check things out before we arrive next weekend. Good thing we did because our first mission was to inspect the wood burning stove. Inside we found some leftover newspaper ashes, the metal tools we would need, and a dead cardinal. Our speculations ran wild with images of bird suicide and bird pranks gone bad. After putting many layers of plastic bags between her skin and the lifeless bird, Dana mournfully dumped the bird into a used Dick's Sporting Goods plastic bag. Since there is no such thing as trash pick up out at the lake Dana had no choice but to haul her bagged bird back into S.A. with her (While driving away I had Pet Semetary visuals flooding my thoughts).

It was significantly cooler inside the cabin than it was outside...so much so that I was secretly starting to have doubts about pulling an all-nighter here. I lived in an uninsulated house without heat (or air conditioning) for over 20 years and was painfully reminded of just how miserable it was. The very thought of having to sleep in three layers of clothes, a ski parka, ear muffs, a scarf, and woolen socks-underneath an electric blanket underneath a down comforter...not really tops on my list any longer. But there was a side of me that wanted to prove (to whom I have absolutely no idea!!!???) that us three women could survive a weekend in the cold. (Of course I had delusions of us sitting around the wood stove, wearing cute ,wintery socks and flannel pajamas, all sipping hot chocolate, looking fabulous, and laughing the night away).

Unfortunately I have come to accept the truth that scenarios like the one I painted above never happen to me. My real scenarios tend to have dead birds and frostbite in them (though not necessarily in that order). And so, speaking of frostbite, Dana spent the good part of an hour chipping away at the frosty freezer. While it looked pretty inside...very much like the gateway to Narnia, it did nothing to warm up the room. It did, however, make an excellent cooler!

After convincing ourselves that we'll only shower before we come to the cabin and after we leave the cabin we started to believe that we could handle anything. We made lists of items we'll need to bring. Items such as:

*a fire extinguisher

*electric blankets

*coffee

*ear muffs

*food

That should just about cover it! Stay tuned to learn just how next weekend turns out.

Straight Up

The stage was set: I rushed home after work, deposited my kids in the house,
touched up my makeup and then backed out of the driveway...I was on my way to San Antonio...by myself! I had waited all day long for the work day to end so that my living could begin. I was going to listen to Stephanie Klein, author of Straight Up and Dirty and Moose, speak at the Jewish Community Center for and hour and a half.

Imagine my surprise when one of my best friends in the whole wide world walks through the front doors! How cool was this night going to be?! This was THE friend who introduced me to all things inappropriate...all things taboo...ALL THINGS PERIOD!!!How perfect that she and I would be sitting in the front row listening to a woman use the f-word when describing her mother-in-law!!!

Even though my friend and I are within walking distance of our forties (me more so than her...dammit!) we can't help but to revert back to prepubescent girls whenever we get together. She shares my love of books, reading, writing, and movies, and we have always been there for each other. There is another "one of us" who was not present that evening, but who would have loved it just the same. There is something to be said about girls, womanhood, friendships, and bonds. We are so fortunate to have been able to have been in each other's lives, in one way or another, for over 30 years (gulp).

We are in the process of planning a girls' weekend at the lake cabin again so that we can shake loose the heavy hats that we wear. Each of us needs a safe place where we can let down our guard and just be. In each other's presence we did not have to hold in our stomachs and we can sit cross-legged without fear of comment. We are able to be who we are.

Stephanie Klein was very emphatic when she insisted that we are not our past or our mothers...we are who WE are. She drove home the fact that it is better to be not so perfect as long as we are happy with who we are. When she and I talked after she was finished speaking she looked me in the eye the entire time I was speaking---despite the fact that there was a line snaking around the corner. She listened and she laughed. She even suggested that, perhaps, she and I could get together for coffee...can you imagine?! You heard it here first folks!

Living It Up on the Day of the Dead

I spent the weekend at the Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas. I went with one of my best friends (we met when we were in the 2nd grade!). She and I have always shared a deep passion for all things literary. This being the case, I invited her to tag along with me on my mission to immerse myself in things that bring me joy.

I was determined to get out of Dodge and relish being 'free' and alive in my own skin. While I seriously contemplated going solo I knew that I desperately needed someone who knew their way around Austin-enter Lucy.
Lucy is my very own Auntie Mame and I love her dearly. She has always been there for me and I know she will always be. I knew that she would allow me to linger over book tables without judgement...she would understand it when I insisted we wait in line to get a book signed. In other words-I knew that she would let me be me.

Just a couple of years away (literally) from turning 40 I have never just taken off on my own and spent the night away if for no other reason than I wanted to. I must say it was totally liberating--things like buying a sausage on a stick and a Coke brought me a priceless thrill. I thought nothing of leaving our hotel room at night to attend a function across town AFTER 9:00 PM! And then eating LATE at night on a roof top on 6th Street. The air was crisp and I was content. There was a part of me who wanted to check in and never check out.

I found myself trying to live in the moment but I kept getting caught up in observing. I could not help but to wonder about each and every person I saw: Were they in college? Were they visitors? Would their parents keel over if they knew what was going on? I found myself very aware that I was a parent of children heading for this type of lifestyle. While I tried to push all of the hats I wear off of my head I could never really get rid of them...nor did I really want to. It was comforting to know that I was capable of not thinking a single thought (and I was never interrupted during this time) and I actually took notice of the way that the air felt. It was a crisp and clear night and nothing stuck to me.

Lucy and I visited "The Library" and enjoyed sitting and watching. It was very nerdy of me, but I felt a little giddy knowing that I really am a librarian--though Brenden Frasier was nowhere near! We saw all kinds of interesting sights--especially considering the fact that it was Halloween Weekend. I found it quite ironic that I tried to live a little on the Day of the Dead.

Milking It

When a coworker is willing to sop up the chocolate milk that is pooling in your lap...well...you know you've got a true friend! Today, during our lunch-give-me-a-break! I managed to dump the contents of my tiny carton of chocolate milk completely into my lap...brrrr! Fortunately the majority of it was absorbed into my nether region and not, God forbid, on my new carpet! Leave it to me to be one of the first to soil it (that is if you don't count accident #1 (and I do mean "number 1") at the circulation desk, or accident #2 (and, yes, I do mean "number 2"). In one week's time somebody has accidentally "leaked" onto my brand new carpet, somebody else brought in a token from the playground on the bottom of their shoe, and somebody (moi) spilt a carton of milk. I guess it's time to take down the "Please do not eat or drink in the library" sign.

Because of my determination to keep said carpet as clean as possible I simply froze when my own accident happened. All of my dear teammates jumped to their feet and threw napkins and applied pressure to my...lap area. Grateful that I had on one of my typical black skirts I was able to go about the rest of my day without anyone else none the wiser.

I tip my hat to the women in my life who do their best to keep me at my best. Most days this is quite a chore, I know, but I so sincerely appreciate it.

Falling for My Friends

Today being the first day of fall I took it upon myself to call one of my best friends to wish her a "Happy 1st Day of Fall!" Before I could shout out the words she spit them out to me as her initial greeting. Loving all things fall, my friend's voice was laced with giddiness. She thrives on brown and orange and celebrates her wedding anniversary during this delightful season. I think of her every time the seasons change. While I don't want to associate my friend with a pumpkin I will say this: she would be the first to change the word into plumpkin as she is the queen of self-deprecation.

There is nothing like good friends to make you smile. Who else can you call at 6:45 IN THE MORNING and share a few laughs with...knowing full well that they are not only up but en route the same as you? I love my girlfriends--I love them because we know so much about each other's lives and we never have to apologize for anything. We go way back...as far back as fall nights underneath the Friday Night Lights of our high school youth.

With the anticipation of crisper leaves and blustery days I can't help but to be anxious for a little nip in the air. I want to melt some queso and pop a cork. I want to sit with my girlfriends and giggle and snort. I want to listen and hug and listen some more. Our lives are busy and they are full, but thank God they are intertwined. Each of us have been a part of the other's lives since we were in elementary school and I am a better person because of my girlfriends. While we no longer meet on the playground to crush grub worms or make rock houses, we do call, text, and email whenever we can. We know and appreciate each other's schedules and complicated lives. And so, on this the first day of fall, I want you two to know that you are the best part about the ending of summer. I fall for you every year.

Food for Thought

My team met for lunch at the home of one of our own. We were treated like queens and our palates were delighted. We knew in advance that the meal would be delicious and we could hardly wait for today to arrive. Knowing that our meal was lovingly prepared by someone who knows her way around a kitchen and who truly cares about us made the meal all the more perfect.

We enjoyed a fantastic lunch of perogis with homemade sauce, garlic bread, salad, olives, pickled okra, and Italian pomegranite soda. Our dessert was a decadent chocolate and vanilla ice cream cake with peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and a granola crust. We dined in a warm and inviting house and we shared stories and laughter.

We are a team and we are a family. We know how to laugh at ourselves and each other without anyone being offended. We know how to relax and we know how to work hard. We know how to listen to each other and we know when to speak up. We applaud each other's successes and we cry for each other when life doesn't quite go according to plan. We are the Enrichment Team and while it is our "job" to enrich the curriculum and students at the school where we work, it is truly the lives of each other that we enrich the most. I love you guys!

Going it Alone...Together

There is something to be said about how three women can alternate their time between overlapping sentences interpersed with a fit of giggles so intense they can only find their way out via a loosened bladder...and pure, unadulterated SOLITUDE. That just about sums up our girls' weekend at the lake. We had so much catching up to do but at the same time each of us needed our own personal getaway. It was so nice to not have our every thought or action questioned. If we wanted to eat...we ate. If we wanted to nap...we napped. At one point my daughter called and when I told her that each of us was sitting in our own chair, reading our own books, and that no one was talking to the other she simply replied, "That sounds boring." Ah...quite the contrary. There was so much going on within that words fail. But if you are a woman reading this you will no doubt "get it" when I say this: time stopped even though the shallow creek we were in babbled on. Heart rates slowed and blood pressures dropped even though cardinals flitted hither and yon and minnows darted left and right. I am sure that channels were changed and voices were raised all around the world that weekend, but not where we were. A remote control was no where to be found and our three voices threaded into one soft note of eternal friendship. Secrets were shared, memories were recalled, and hearts were filled. I love my friends and I love that they love me back.