FRIENDSHIP
Oh, the comfort — the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words — but pouring them
All right out — just as they are —
Chaff and grain together —
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them —
Keep what is worth keeping —
And with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.
PHOTO: Azaleas, Tampa, Florida © DMBR
Had lunch at a wine bar with a wonderful friend.
I took Marie. We had the tortellini with alfredo sauce. Yum!
How about a little wine, Marie? (That’s the floor under our table … a view to where they keep the wine.) We just need a little music, eh? ;)
I know some smart and funny people. My friend Bob, who lives in Washington, D.C., wrote this delightful ode to snow. Thanks, Bob! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Oh, the weather outside is flaky,
And my nerves are kinda shaky,
And since I’ve no place to go,
I am so sick and tired of the snow!
It doesn’t show signs of warming,
And the drifts are slowly forming,
The temperature’s way down low,
And I’m so sick and tired of the snow!
When I’ve shoveled it all at last,
And the driveway is finally clear,
The plow once again comes past,
Piling it all up to here!
It’s certainly not too pleasing
When melted snow’s refreezing,
And I really want you to know:
I am so @&#^ sick of the snow!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You think you’re driving anywhere tonight? Ha!
Crazy snow drift from the last storm.
… a friend who gives you zucchini bread, still warm from the oven.
Hey. Still grateful here.
Just a little more than a year ago, we decided at the last minute to go to Norway for the holidays. My husband’s grandmother was gravely ill, and we hoped to see her one more time. (She died just a few days before we got there.)
I put out a desperate call to a bunch of blogfriends, asking if they would be willing to guest post in my absence. I was humbled with the response. I had guest posts for almost every day I was away.
So I’m still grateful.
For …
For …
Linda Jones for letting me blog at You’ve Got Your Hands Full.
Linda also gave me free rein to redesign the blog, which I did over my crazy summer. I had some hits and misses. A photographer promised the use of an image then wouldn’t return e-mails or telephone calls. So I scrambled for a suitable replacement, and I got something even better. I called on someone I knew, Kristine Freed.
With the help of Kristine and Sherilyn Brinker of Brinker-Freed Photographyand new mother-of-twins Kerrin Laari and her 5-week-old babies, Elise and Ian, I had a fabulous image to use on the blog.
None of it would have happened, though, without Jo-Lynne at DCR Design. She made the header and buttons, arranged and rearranged everything and even called me to give me a crash course in making my own changes. (Though I’m still fairly hopeless in that department.) I would have made a big announcement on the blog by now, but I’m having technical difficulties with Typepad, and I haven’t been able to sign on. As soon as I get it figured out, though, I’ll get something posted.
For …
For …
Citizen of the Month for a great experience, The Interview Experiment, and meeting two new blogfriends at A Juicy Life (now Notre Vie Juteuse since she moved to France) and The Would-Be Writers Guild.
For …
For …
Bob for his review of Final Salute.
For …
For …
Happy New Year.
I’ve heard so many people say about last year, “Good riddance!” and “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.” Yeah, 2008 sucked in many ways. Even so, I’m … grateful.
Don’t worry. I’m not going permanently smarmy. I have plenty of complaints and pessimism to last the rest of the year. But for now, I’m grateful.
In a year where losses piled on losses, I have so much. I have a wonderful husband who still loves me after all these years. I have three beautiful children. I live closer to the rest of my family than I ever have before. I have shelter, warmth, companionship and love.
Wishing you all of this and more … happy New Year.
According to Adventures of an Awesome (Sometimes) Mother, it’s CHD (Congenital Heart Defect) Awareness Week, Feb. 7-14, 2008.
The CHD Awareness Blog has a “7 for 7 Challenge” that asks for “7 things listed for 7 days” to increase awareness of CHD. I’m late to the party, so this is a belated announcement and an early Valentine’s Day wish. Karen, who started Broken Hearts of the Big Bend Inc., a “circle of support for families affected by congenital heart disease,” sent me these links. (I’m having trouble embedding the video, so here’s the link.)
Her son William’s story
Broken Hearts on MySpace
University of Florida Pediatrics Congenital Heart Center
American Heart Heroes
Children’s Heart Foundation
Children’s Heart Foundation It’s My Heart resource book
A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up. — Broken Hearts of the Big Bend Inc.
