A Perfect Ending

My wonderful neighbor and most of all-dear friend- left me a gift on the porch this evening! (Eric just brought it in after taking Alice out for her nightly poo!)

Thank you, Carrie, for the autographed book "Boobs, a guide to your girls"(how appropriate) the bottle of syrah (how decadent) and the giant pink bag filled with my favorite candy -- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Snickers (how fabulous). oxox to you~ k

Happy Birthday to Me

I am blessed. I am eternally grateful for the many wonderful people in my world. I am glad I was born!

My day started with my dear Eric and my little loves calling me down to the kitchen fresh out of the shower and presenting me with my fav dessert---coconut cream pie (for breakfast~yum!).

This is not any pie--this is from Dahlia Bakery and was created by Tom Douglas (local big name chef who has gained a great deal of national exposure the past couple of years). The pie is heavenly and loaded with cream, coconut, and goodness!

My sweet little family also gave me handwritten notes and a fabulous "day at the spa" certificate which I have chosen to save for a Friday when I can play hooky and ease into a nice long weekend...

I vowed to take the time today to treat myself to all my calls and revel in my many emails.
Thank you to so many of you who wrote, phoned, and sang to me today!

I am so grateful to all my friends who celebrated my big day with me a few weeks ago when we went to see a Neil Diamond cover band! Thanks for partying like rock stars. Even if the rock star is Neil Diamond who is 66 yrs. old. Here we are!

OK, those aren't my friends. They were just some young, hip guys dressed in 70's attire and Eric told me to pose with them...

Audrey regifted a couple things for me~ a glass paper weight with a unicorn inside that she got from a magical fairy at her 4th bday party and a $100 bill from my mother-in-law that she has been holding on to for the needies. I thanked her profusely and tucked them back in her special drawer explaining that they were gifts for her. I just found them on my bureau.

The tail end of the day was spent dancing to Hannah Montana's "Girls Night" with my pop star and martyr.


Then Audrey and I set off for a soak in the tub with our respective drinks--beer and warm milk. She challenged me to a drinking contest. No joke. I won. Appears 38 is the new 21....

What About Papa?

After reading some excerpts from my postings about the girls to little Audrey she inquired, "What about Papa?"

"He might be sad that you didn't write about all the reasons you love him." She continued. So I told her.

I told her how he was not like any one I've ever met. I told her how how he looked the day he told me he loved me...seven days after we started dating!

I told her how he makes life fun.

And fulfilling.

I told her he makes me want to bound out of bed each morning. And how wonderful he is for happily rushing home to us each day...

And that because of him we sleep soundly each night.

I told her how he is the most loyal person I know. How no one else makes me laugh as hard. How he makes sure there is a dry towel hanging outside the shower for when I get out. How he buys me my own stash of Reese's peanut butter cups on Halloween (knowing that I would otherwise swipe the girls candy). How he makes me tea (in the cups he had her and Olivia paint) when I am working late into the night.

I told her how he sent the Michigan State marching band the music to "our song" Fly Me to the Moon and had them play it for me and then he proposed (he was allegedly in Belize working on a story and showed up and surprised me).

I told her how he booked the Old North Church in Boston (the church I'd dreamed to be married in since I was a little girl) for our wedding (and he did it an entire year before he even proposed)!

I told her how he buys me mead on our anniversaries because it's the drink of the honeymooners and we first drank it in a castle on our honeymoon in Ireland. I told her that he even serves it to me in the pottery mugs that he "obtained" from the castle.

I told her how he has surprised me on so many birthdays and anniversaries with trips (New Orleans, Disney, Boston, San Francisco, etc.)

And how he has treated me to dozens and dozens of surprise plays and concerts (Death Cab for Cutie, Counting Crows, Steely Dan, Five for Fighting, and on & on).

I told her how he planned my 35th b.day as a bowling & karaoke party with all my friends (and how for years he'd vowed to never wear rented bowling shoes ---but he did. Just for me).

I told her he how even "obtained" a pin for me to bring home.

I told her how he once used Fribble the dog as a messenger to deliver a ring I'd longed for.

And how even though it was just our 10th wedding anniversary in Oct. he insists the 6 years of dating count as well so he bought me a tin tea kettle from Ireland where we'd honeymooned(aluminum is apparently the gift of year 16).




I told her how when we went on an Alaskan cruise we blended wines and named mine "k Syrah" since syrahs are my favorite. And then this year on our anniversary he gave me a bottle of actual K Syrah wine he'd found.


I told her how he packed me a picnic filled with my favorite foods (cheetos, snickers, baguette and extra sharp cheddar) and we ate it next to the seals (my fav animal) at the New England Aquarium. I told her what it was like the first time I saw him on TV in 1991 reporting from some hippiefest in Amherst, Mass. How he was tan and young wearing a tye dye t-shirt. I told her how I used to set my alarm clock to 7 a.m. and listen to the stories he'd file on WFCR (NPR). I told her how he cries at movies and commericals (Disney and Hallmark even ;). And when our dear friends and neighbors move away...oh, the puffy eyes...

I told her how he loves teaching them new things.

And how he can seem so strict but he's doing it to make them stronger. And smarter.

And more responsible.

And to eventually help them soar.

I told her how he swore letting them sleep in a treehouse 50 feet off the ground was a truly awesome idea.

And how when he plays his guitar I fall in love with him all over again. I told her how much I love that he teaches them all about music.



And about the time he wrote a song just for me. And a story for me, too. And how he did it after they were born and money was tight and how they were the best presents he's ever surprised me with. I told her that I love that he uses a conch shell to call the girls home. And to celebrate major Red Sox and Michigan State wins.I told her that I loved that he created the "potty bell" and let them ring it when they mastered going potty. I told her how good he is to his mother. And mine.

I told her how madly he loves all his girls.

Her. And Liv.

And me.

So, there is but a glimspe of what Papa is, I said to Audrey. He is a prince. The kind that is made especially for someone. The kind that comes around once in a lifetime. The kind you dream will pick you.

And then I told her that one day I hope she can live such a fairy tale.

Happy Trails

"My best friend is moving to Texas Saturday at 5 a.m." Liv wrote in her journal last night.
So is mine.

"She knows everything about me." Olivia said while snacking on apples earlier this week.

I can totally relate.

"She is like a sister to me." she states daily.

Ditto.

"We like all the same things--music, movies, clothes."

We do, too.

"I've known her for 5 years--that's longer than I've known Audrey."

Me too actually.

Liv and I are saying goodbye to our dearest friends. Together.

I can still feel the air on the late winter grey day when we met.
Liv was 2 and a half. I had a giant belly filled with Audrey.
We were at the neighborhood park. The kids were playing. Life was filled with the excitement of new friendships taking shape.

I can smell the fresh bread Scott makes for our annual holiday gatherings. The buttery almond danish that he hand delivers on Christmas Eve. The fluffy, round rolls he crafts at Easter.

I can taste the Jubelale. And Mac & Jacks. And Snowcap beers that Mary and I both love.

I know the feel of the antique glass on our matching drinking vessels that I fill with our favorite sparkling waters. Anytime I find glasses I love, I always buy 2. One for me. One for Mary.

I can hear the laughter of the kids packed into the mini-van as we drive through the dark winter night hunting for Christmas lights. Or on the way to Nutcracker brunch. Or when we're off to Libby Lu for Halloween hairstyles. Or sitting in the bow of their boat as Scott cut through the water. Or when they came running out of the fun house at the local fair. I can even remember the 4 of them running together on a long ago trip to the zoo.

I can see Justin pulling Audrey in the wagon...entertaining on his guitar at Christmas

and shooting hoops outside our front window, roaring down the street on his scooter. I can picture the girls riding bikes at the many Fourth of July celebrations...and sitting on the front porch bench waiting for their nails to dry. Eric painted them!

sharing lollipops, apples, gogurts, crackers, cookies, and on & on!

I can smell the extinguished candles from Baby Jesus Birthday cake on Christmas & from the kids many birthday parties
Amanda and Olivia's voices are clear as bells as they perform for us.

Whenever.

Wherever.I know all the words from their cheers at cheerleading camp songs from bible camp

scriptures from Sunday school, lyrics from High School Musical 2, Hannah Montana, and Hairspray.

I hear the sounds of the cheerios hitting the cereal bowl after a late night sleepover. I can see Amanda coat her cereal with honey and then lean over and do the same for Audrey. I can relive the handfuls of Halloween carving parties (and our pumpkin hunting journey) ...and the moment when all the pumpkins are lit.
I feel the steaming, soothing water of their backyard hot tub. I can name all the songs that play on our favorite CD that we listen to as we soak. And laugh.

I can easily recall all the talks. The walks. The phone calls. The nights out. The dinners in. The snow days. The beach days. The ball games watched. The Sunday lunches after church. And none of it feels like enough. I still have so much I want to do with them. So many things to say. So many hugs to share. So many memories to make. But instead we have to say goodbye.

I told Eric it is going to be hard for Olivia. That she may have some very rough days. That she may not understand all her emotions. That we need to be patient. Today. Tomorrow. For a while. For as long as it takes. Because there is nothing like saying goodbye to a best friend. I know.