Thursday, May 7, 2015

Remembering My Mother's Mother's Mother


Easter Jane Sullivan was my great-grandmother. She had one daughter, who had one daughter, who had one daughter - each of us twenty years apart.

She was born on a prairie farm in Texas and grew up working with her sisters to feed the hands that came to work there. Her teenage boyfriend died tragically, beginning a melancholy that would follow her through her years.

She met my great-grandfather when he came to the farm to work the land. After they married, they moved to a small boomtown in the Texas panhandle where she worked to start the church. Easter was known for her pies and Parker House rolls, tatting and crochet. She made my mother's clothes, all ruffles and lace and sashes for her tom-boy granddaughter.

She kept vegetable and flower gardens, raising irises that she fashioned into corsages that she wore to Sunday service. She loved the bible and her family. Easter Jane was Irish and good and true. She is part of the women she made, her delicate, gloved hand guiding us. How lucky we were to have her.














Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Sharing the Knowledge


"You guys? You guys!"

"What, Felix?"

"You know if you have a friend that pants really hard like this haa haa haa? You know what it means?'

"That he's going to pass out?"

"No, Bob. It means he's turning into a dog."

"Haa haa haa."

"Felix, I think Desmond is turning into a dog!"

"No. He's just pretending to be a dog. That's totally different."





Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Today This Guy is Nine

Bob on his second birthday

I know. Everyone says, "It goes so fast," but really. Our boy is nine years-old today. This doesn't make sense because he was only two years-old a minute ago. Seriously, just one minute. 

We will celebrate. There will be pizza and soccer and a cake with gum balls on it. 

There will be a few tears from me because time is tricky. 

And it will be a happy birthday. 




Monday, May 4, 2015

39 Ways My Girlfriends Have Saved My Life

Chrissy, Barbara, and Me. 1968

I am blessed with the most wonderful girlfriends. They have shaped me into the woman I am today. They save my life all the time.  Here are only 39 of the ways.

She calls me every morning.

She talked me into joining the PTA and then made me glad I did.

She got me to leave the country, when I was too depressed to leave the house.

She is my son's Godmother.

She convinced me I can do anything I want with this life.

She introduced me to a network of other girlfriends online that live all across the country.

She remembers my personal history better than I do.

She got sent to the assistant principal's office with me in seventh grade for bringing a suggestive Judy Blume book to school. (Forever, 1975)

She filled my freezer with homemade soup for when we brought the baby home.

She got me published.

She sends me sweet gifts for no reason and all the reasons.

She sang Captain and Tennille songs into a hairbrush/microphone with me in her childhood bedroom.

She always remembers my birthday.

She let me use her brown Pinto to take my driver's test.

She convinced me to try online dating, and there I met my husband.

She loves me like her own daughter.

She will add my son to her busy day, no sweat.

She shared an office with me for seven years.

She will tell me if my lipstick color isn't quite right.

She gave me her dog.

She jumped out of an airplane with me. (Literally and figuratively.)

She was the perfect roommate.

She calls on every holiday to tell me how much I mean to her.

She showed me how to give to those who need it and expect nothing in return.

She told me I could write.

She introduced me to her boyfriend who gave me my first (non-waitressing) job.

She gives me clothes she knows will look good on me.

She showed me how to be a mom.

She made prank phone calls with me to Scott Feldenheimer in fifth grade.

She is interested in all of my details.

She went on lunch dates with me that would turn into impromptu road trips.

She asked me to be in the room for the birth of her son.

She tells me about what my husband was like as a kid.

She cries when sad things happen to me.

She showed me how she got sober and how I could get sober too.

She takes me on adventures.

She introduced me to The Clash, The Cure, and The Smiths.

She packed up our house and helped me move when our son was three months-old.

She makes me laugh every time. Every time.













Sunday, May 3, 2015

Smacksy Sunday Links


Peaceful simplicity.

This 92 year-old woman dancing a tango is beautiful.

And starlings form a spectacular murmuration.

Happy Sunday.







Friday, May 1, 2015

Tarot Day


Day two in the desert. I had my Tarot cards read by a wonderful woman named Cindy. I'm no Tarot expert but I do enjoy any practice that turns my thoughts inward, giving me a moment to pause and reflect on my goals and character. The expanse of this desert feels like a good place for that. I'll take that home with me.