Passages

There are a few significant passages in life--some we long for and some that just creep up on us unaware.

In my day, I couldn't wait for the time when I could get my ears pierced and shave my legs. For some reason, my parents deemed that 13 was the magic age for that right of passage. I was so giddy the day I could get my ears pierced--I remember it well. Until I passed out. In those days we had to go to a jeweler in town to select your earrings and have them do the deed. I remember picking out the gold balls and sitting on the stool, the click of the piercing gun, then the thud of hitting the floor! I got up to have them finish the task and have lived with those same holes for almost 40 years.

I don't remember when the leg shaving began but I still wonder why I thought this was such a grand thing to be able to do. These days I scrutinize my weekly wardrobe to determine if I really need to shave them at all.

And then there's that other womanly right of passage. I wasn't especially eager to enter that stage and it's proven to be nothing more than an interruption to my life on a regular basis. This too shall pass...and anytime soon would be okay with me.

But there's a passage that I've recently found myself in that kind of snuck up on me. It has marked me as a grown up person, a mature woman, the "older" woman in that Titus 2 passage. I think it started with the weddings of my nephew and niece then the birth of my great nephew. It was the realization that a new generation of family was coming into adulthood and it was only a short time ago that we were the ones getting married and having babies. This weekend was another mark in that passage. In my circle of friends, we are having children who are getting married and having babies. I hosted a bridal shower for one of those daughters this past Saturday. We were the ladies with the punch bowls, the brunch recipes, and the traditions passed down from generations before us about shower games and ribbon bouquets. It was an awesome day--friends banding together, collaborating our gifts and talents and walking hand in hand into the next phase of life together!

Ode to A Royal Wedding

We gathered, we dined, we may have even wined.

We snacked and we yakked

Then out came the books--photos from our weddings way back in time

Before we were friends...and when we had waistlines

We decorated hats or at least we tried

and left little doubt why a tradition has died

Some left, some stayed

Some dozed--a few snored

And then the alarms implored.

We oohed, we ahhhed

We poked a little fun

We smiled

And remembered the day of our own wedding fun

They smiled and they promised

but obey was omitted

Prayers were read and songs were sung

They processed and we waited for the anticipated kiss (would it be short or would it be long?)

A first, then a second

Then the party inside beckoned

We sighed as we gathered our thoughts and our things

Back to our castles and our own would-be kings

A Royal Wedding Sleepover

As I recall, an idea started several months ago when one of my lunch ladies/peeps asked if anyone was interested in watching the royal wedding on a Friday in April...at 3:00 AM.

I think I responded that I would love to watch Will & Kate tie the knot but I'd probably need to stay up all night so I would be awake...at 3:00 AM for the broadcast.

And so the Royal Wedding Sleepover was born in our romantic hearts. Since I love a party and my nest is empty, my house was the logical choice. So now here we are on eve of the Royal Wedding. The table is set, decorations are in place, and festivities have been planned to keep us awake all night and beds have been freshened for those who decide they must sleep. There will be no silly string or bras in the freezer on my watch but you can never be certain what this lively group might have up their sleeves!

Cheers!

Those Peeps Again

You know those Peeps I went on about here? They were at it again. I love the ones that will tell you how you really look in that outfit before you buy it, that you have lipstick on your teeth or toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe, or that tells you the truth about your situation when you'd rather hear something else. Thank Goodness for Thursdays.

I Miss My Peeps

I miss my peeps.

According to my daughter, I am not cool enough to use the word "peeps" in any form--written or verbal. But I shall. And I am not referring to the marshmallow treats that adorn the store shelves this time of year--although I like them too.

There's a random group of us that gather on Thursdays for lunch and occasionally for a girls night out. We are a very eclectic mix of personalities and the cast of characters fluctuates with part time jobs and life demands but anytime we are together, we pick up right where we left off. I am the oldest of the group but have learned so much from them. We've helped each other through our children's teenage drama, aging parents, marital ups and downs, and a broad range of woman issues too delicate to mention here.

Varying Spring break trips and busy lives have gotten us off schedule now for nearly a month. I'm ready for life to settle down and get the next lunch date scheduled!

I read this phrase in an "inspirational" booklet the other day and it made me think of them:

There's no problem

that friends cannot

confront,

combat,

plot against,

ignore,

make fun of,

drown in chocolate sauce

or run over with the car.

Smile. Is it Thursday yet?

Save Yo Drama for Yo Mama

There were things that I was looking forward to forgetting when my daughter graduated from high school. Like drama--girl drama, that is.

So when a friend mentioned that her 8th grade daughter had high school cheer try-outs last week, I experienced a little post traumatic stress syndrome.

Four years of

cheer try-outs,

dance captain selections,

show choir try-outs,

musical try-outs,

solo try-outs.

Not that girl drama was confined to sports and performing arts.

Lunch table selection

Student council elections

Sleep overs

Homecoming dance, Women Pay All dance, Prom (pretty much anything that involved a date)

I was thinking that it went away with graduation. Apparently not.

College Roommates

Sorority recruitment

Spring Break

Old friends vs. New friends

And if you watch the Real Wives of OrangeCountyNewYorkAtlantaDCBeverlyHillsNewJersey

(none of which are HOUSEwives or REAL), it does not appear to be something one outgrows.

But we can. And we should.

Forgive often

Love One Another

Practice Grace

Turn the other cheek

Do not repay evil for evil

And that is a lifetime pursuit.

She's Somebody's Daughter

Her eyebrows and lips were heavily pierced. She had a fuschia streak dyed into her brunette hair.

I wanted to roll my eyes at her appearance but I thought...

She's somebody's daughter.

The sales clerk engaged her in a conversation regarding what she was looking for.

"Green, sexy panties" was her reply as she held up a tiny thong that could hardly be considered underwear. She appeared to be young--maybe just 18 or 19, the age of my own daughter. "Hmpf" I thought.

Then I remembered....

She's somebody's daughter.

"It's St. Patrick's Day and I dance at Woody's tonight", she said.

My heart sank

and tears came to my eyes.

Woody's is the local "gentlemen's" club.

"She's somebody's daughter", I grieved.

Somebody who probably never envisioned that her lovely child would have multiple piercings and pink hair.

Somebody who never thought her little girl would grow up to dance half nude.

Somebody who may be on her knees praying this very moment for her daughter.

And because I'm HIS daughter and He is the only one who can redeem any of us from the pit (no matter what that looks like), I will pray for somebody's daughter.

Lord, give me a heart of compassion and not judgement when I see those who's outsides reflect pain on the inside and give me sensitivity to those who's pains are all hidden on the inside.

Priceless

559 miles one way

$3.30 per gallon of gas

1 lane of interstate partially covered in snow

2 wrong turns (with GPS)

1 box of Krispy Kremes doughnuts and Beth Moore CDs for company

Weekend spent with college girl...clearly worth it!

Sweet Tweets

I'm headed out for a few days to visit with college girl. Her sorority is having mom's weekend and they've got a few girl things planned and we will fill in all the other times in between with more of our favorite things (shopping and eating). I was never in a sorority so I've been a little stressed about what to wear. It doesn't help that I have some new spring clothes to wear but someone didn't tell the weather to cooperate! My daughter thinks I am stressing out over the whole what- are- we- doing- so- I- will- know- what- to- wear thing. I know this because she told me in a text: "quit stressing about this". This was 1 week ago when I started packing.
okay, so i need to relax, pack my entire closet, 10 pairs of shoes, get in the car, drive 8.5 hours, and have a good time. And lest you think I'm kidding, I may or may not post a picture of my suitcase.
While I'm away, here's a funny website to go to called Postcards from Yo Mamma. Nobody really writes postcards anymore but these are actual texts or emails young adults have received from their mothers:
http://www.postcardsfromyomomma.com

See you on the flip side,
Gina

Hello, It's Me

It's been some time since I've last posted. The holidays and a little post holiday funk left me thinking that I had nothing to say. But I've missed it so I've been evaluating why I write, what do I have to say and I think I've got some direction. So bear with me and check back every now and then and see what's new and hopefully it will be worth your time.

Gina

P.S. I can assure you my new direction has little to do with gardening or flower arranging--I just wanted to show you my first successful attempt at paperwhites.