Let It Go

I know - you want to break out in song. Nope, today is not about snow. It's about letting go of stuff that you need to let go of. In my case, it's these boxes.

I have been saving them for a few months - you know, just in case I need to mail something. But today the tower just got a little too high. And they started to look stupid in my dining room. And so today I flattened them and put them out for the recycle dudes.

Yes, I will probably need to mail something tomorrow. And I will wish that I had kept the correct box. But I hear that if I need to mail something, there are places that will sell me a box. I know - the world is just a wonder.

The best part is now, when you come over (like I know you've been waiting to do), there's a chair just for you!

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Thankful today for: clean dining room chairs and less clutter; going with Maribeth to her appointment

Some Days LaLa Doesn't Cook ...

... and for those days, we are thankful for Krispey Kreme!!

Not saying who got the gigantic apple fritter ...

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Thankful today for: taking Everley to school and a stop at KK

Changes

Okay, so maybe that's a little harsh. But maybe that's what being 58 is going to be all about - making changes.

Hopefully you've noticed that the look of this blog has changed. That's one thing I do on my birthday - change the look. I also consider the whole blog thing in general. Am I going to continue it? Am I going to change the content? Am I going to keep it current? So far the answers to those questions are yes, maybe, and hopefully.

I read one blog where the writer has what she calls "Transparent Tuesday." On Tuesdays she bares her soul and tells something about herself, holding nothing back. Could I do that? Could I be brutally honest and not have some of my family members sending the men in little white coats to my side? I don't know either.

Then there's the idea of Wordless Wednesday where I would just post a photo. But does that mean that the photo has to be taken on that very Wednesday? What if I have a photo that I took on Saturday that is just too fabulous not to share? I know, it gets complicated.

I guess I could do Thoughtful Thursday, but who knows if I could even muster a thought on Thursday. I have to corral my thoughts as they trickle through my brain before the thought disappears into nothing, and nobody knows when a thought may trickle.

In other words, I could actually have a plan for this blog. And maybe even follow through with it. But in all reality (is this being transparent), you and I both know that such a plan would probably not work for me. So instead, I shall change how it looks and let that be it. For now, anyway.

I have a friend who was taking photos of her newly decorated bathroom, and didn't realize her photo was showing herself in the mirror. And she had just jumped out of the shower. And decided to snap a photo before she mussed up the towel hanging on the towel bar. Which would have been before she got dressed. My only question is, would that be Transparent Tuesday or Wordless Wednesday??

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Thankful today for: family birthday party and nifty gifties; dinner from CPK and Adam and Molly picking it up

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Yup. That's me. I know - totes adorbs. Sporting a bracelet. Don't know the chick who's holding me - probably my Aunt Ruby who would later traumatize me by giving me inoculations. A note on the back of this photo says I was 3-4 hours old, which meant my mom was still probably sleeping off the "having a baby" drugs. Looks like I was sleeping it off, too!

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Thankful today for: safe, smooth plane ride home; sleeping in my own bed; birthday cards and gifts

Letters

Back in the old days, people got out paper, wrote a letter, put it in an envelope, stuck on a stamp, and mailed it. A few days later, the recipient would receive the letter and read it. I believe now the kids call this snail mail. Back then it was a paper delight. Since long distance charges were exorbitant, a letter was the cheapest way to stay in touch. There was nothing better than looking in the mailbox and finding letters from friends and family. This week during our Bridesmaids Reunion cruise, letters took on a new meaning.

We were having such a great, fun time. We were laughing and staying up until 2am laughing and yakking. And then one late night, Laura brought out the letters.

Before we all left our homes, Laura had mentioned that she had some letters we had written back in the day. I had forgotten about them until Laura brought them out (she is obviously the saver in this bunch). There were letters written from us to her, probably around the time Pam and I were married and Laura and Elizabeth were away at college. Apparently we were planning parties and get-togethers. We had a great moment of reading them and laughing (because we hadn't laughed enough).

It was a moment that brought this whole trip together for me. Sure, I knew we were friends, but after 38+ years, the memories of why we were friends and close enough to be in Pam's wedding were fading. I did remember that we did everything in church together, but had that been enough to maintain a close friendship when all our other interests were so varied?

And then we read the letters. And suddenly the years faded away as we read how four young women, although separated by distance, were still great friends. Even though those young women were pursuing vastly different paths, we were still bound together as friends. And as we read those letters, I realized why we were having such a unbelievable great time on this cruise.

There are some friendships that never die. Friendships that are wrapped up in memories and love. Friendships that can pick up, even after 30+ years of being apart. Friendships that are bound by the hearts of little girls brought together by one thing - the love of God. He brought us together and kept us together all these years. Even though we are separated by circumstances and location, we are still bound together by the love that God put in each of us. In fact, now that I think of it, I think our friendship as God's love letter to each of us. A letter that we can open whenever we want, and remember the love that binds us all together.

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Today is a gift because: quiet Sunday at the Animal Kingdom Lodge; Le Cellier with Molly