some things are beyond words
but i’m going to try.
the daughter turned one and of course, it forced me to evaluate life as i have known it.
there’s been the predictable, lack of sleep and reconfiguring of priorities…the intense love and protectiveness i’ve felt for my little bear cub…the evolution of my relationship with mark…the sense of being a part of something bigger than myself in an almost familiar pattern of “life cycle”
then there’s been the underside of new parenthood; how terrible those first three months were and the self-allowance to shop at wal-mart (!) because its cheap and open 24-hours. the fact that i’ve become that person refusing to read the news because if i hear of one more child being raped or murdered, i’m going to never let kit have contact with others and what a host of problems THAT would bring.
i’ve witnessed the transformation of each of us as individuals and as a collective unit. we’ve had generous people near and far offer to and give help. and the level of love we’ve been on the receiving end this year…well, really words just can’t do it justice. we may have had a difficult year financially, but when i think of the amount of love, support and humor our friends and family have bestowed upon us, i can honestly say, we are wealthy beyond belief.
thank you for making this first year all that it has been.
best trip ever
this weekend, mark and i enjoyed a lovely dinner at jacques-imo’s, drinks at the maple leaf bar, a fancy-pants breakfast in the french quater, found these AWESOME masks, got tattooed, oogled the goods in marie lavaux’s voodoo shop, found treats for friends—mostly at leah’s praline’s 
, had a ruckus time at krewe du vieux parade, had an even more rukus time after the parade, met the most conflicted dulcimer musician, snarfed down beignets and au laits in cafe du monde, coffeeshopped in cafe rose nicaud, sipped sazeracs, found club decatur, slurped oysters, listened to the many talented street bluesmen, slept well, found dreamland, had safe journeys to and fro and walked into a house full of friends and good food.
whew.
luvin’
so i’m in a rather loving mood as of late….
i love my roommates who have decorated our house with a lovely tree,
i love my dog who loves snow as much as i do,
i love the kitties because they are trying their best not to tear down the tree, even though they desperately want to destroy it,
i love the folks i work with because they make me laugh,
i love our regulars who make eye contact and smile back and engage in conversations instead of treating us like robots,
i love my brother because he keeps the family connected,
i love my little brother because he’s just cute and funny and kind of snarky,
i love red beans and rice night,
i love being friends with some super fantastic people,
i love a certain feller who refuses to read blogs, watches ‘tom goes to the mayor’ all the time, hates the cold, gets bossy in the kitchen, makes fun of the gemini nature, and has put up with all of my particulars.
strong women
eleanor roosevelt had it right about women…”You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
i have gained strength by witnessing the dynamic forces of some exceptional women lately. to endure through the rough patches with the grace of royality and the resolve of keeping those chins from quivering – amazing women surround us all. i send out a giant hug to the women in my life who make me proud to stand tall with them in solidarity.
