This Twisted Game of Fetch

Posted March 10, 2016

This is Miss Sophie. Miss Sophie and her “baby.” She has several–the blue lion, the monkey, the little squirrels in their tree, but this–THIS ONE–is her favorite. I know they say dogs can’t see color, but my girl is very partial to pink. There’s no explaining it, it just is. She loves her pink baby, which is actually her second pink baby. The first one I have tucked away in a special place because I JUST COULDN’T, y’all–it was her precious “I’m so tiny and I love this thing” first pink baby. But she loved its stuffing out. And so, this is number two.

It looks nasty. Even after I wash it. And sometimes it’s doesn’t smell so good. But still, Miss Sophie loves her baby. When I invite her to jump up on the couch and curl up with me, she looks and then runs off and gets her baby and comes back to snuggle.

She loves her babies.

She also loves for us to throw her baby for her to fetch sometimes. You’ll know this is what is going on when she comes over with it in her mouth, bumping it against my leg, causing the squeaker to go off constantly. Yes, she definitely wants me to throw it.

However.

She won’t let go of it, y’all. It’s something of a game for her. “Please throw this for me so I can run like mad to get it and bring it back to you for you to throw again.” The only thing is that when I reach to take the baby from her, she won’t let go. Sometimes she will drop it, and when I go to pick it up, turns out that is part of the game too, and she snaps it back up.

Ahh. I see what you did there, Miss Sophie.

Please take this from me, but don’t make me let go of it.

But–

I do this too.

I whisper this to the universe–please, please take this away…..only don’t. I can’t let it go. Not just yet. But please…..really. Take it.

So it turns out this life of mine is a version of Miss Sophie’s twisted game of Fetch.

No wonder she and I get each other. This life is hard sometimes.

And that’s when a nap on the couch curled up with someone who understands is definitely called for.

BYOB.

(bring you own baby)

Wishing you all someone who gets you and will keep on hanging out with you. Even when you can’t let go.

Especially then.

Love to all.

The Sweet Sound of Lighter Notes

Posted August 25, 2015

Filed under Uncategorized

So one evening after a long day of discussing hard things over the phone and through messaging, Aub, away at college, sent me this message, referring to some specialty lemonade I’d picked up on sale recently and sent up for her to try:

That made me smile. Yes. Lemonade. Sweet and sour. A perfect balance between the two. And one of her favorites.

And then this exchange followed–

Wow. That is truth. Sometimes the simple things, the little things, even those we might call petty can be beautiful. In the moments they give us to breathe. To step away from the hard things we face every day. To simply, if only for a minute, be.

Lighter notes. Filled with grace. A sweet, sweet melody.

As we were closing our conversation, I thanked Aub for that thought, because I felt pretty sure that the next day and all it entailed would “stink.” And then I followed with, “Sorry, God.”

I mean, if each day is a gift from the Creator, I’m sure the last thing the One who is giving wants to hear from the one who is receiving is, “I’m sure this is going to stink.”

And then my girl gave me even more grace.

“The Holy Spirit is present even in the little stuff and the stinky stuff so I’m sure God forgives you.”

When did this little one whom I brought into the world almost twenty years ago become so wise? How did THAT even happen?

Tonight I’m thankful for those words that I so needed to hear that came from the mouth of one I love so much. I’m thankful that things like lemonade can bring joy and light in the midst of turmoil and change and hard stuff. It makes me happy that I can go from discussing real and serious things to sharing happy thoughts with this one who makes my heart glad.

May you all have someone to share “lighter notes” with and to remind you of the beauty in the pettiness and that God is always there, even in the hard stuff. That’s so easy to forget, y’all.

Love and light to all.

The Change

Posted August 21, 2015

Filed under Uncategorized

“But, if I change it…..it could be upsetting to some people. I don’t want to be remembered as the one who changed everything and messed it all up.”

Oh my heart. When I heard this bright and vibrant, creative, and smart young woman say these words a few days ago, it hurt my heart.

Which probably is surprising to those who know me well.

I’m all about traditions. It’s kind of my thing.

Change not so much.

My Daddy used to say be careful of doing something around me–if I liked it, it would become tradition, and then there was no getting out of it.

He was pretty much right. I love the traditions of watching the Macy’s parade all the way through Santa waving, our Easter Egg and Turkey Egg Hunts each year, and doing things the same year after year in honor of the way it’s always been done.

However, and I’m pretty sure I can remember my Mama saying this, “Just because it’s always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it always should be done that way.”

In other words, the world needs change.

From time to time anyway.

I think about how things would be very, very different in our world if no one ever looked at changing anything. I mean, all of the best inventions and ideas came from folks thinking of how to change something…..for the better.

Yes. I just said that.

I love traditions. I love the old ways of doing things sometimes. But you also won’t see me out washing our clothes “by the crick” or on a washboard. Neither will you see me sit down and longhand all of the stories I want to leave behind. Or do my own butchering or bathe just on Saturday nights.

Some changes are really, really good. Like cars and airplanes and cancer research centers and museums and new ways to eat healthy. Or learning how to educate children with learning barriers. Or how to help people who have lost limbs walk again. Or opening doors to people which have always been closed before. Or loving others who were thought unlovable.

Change can do wonderful things.

And yes, I said that too.

So, my young friend, think it through and make your changes. Some will be well received, some not so much. Some will work well, and some might not. But the thinking and dreaming and trying to change things–those are so important for us all to grow and learn and become better and better.

May we all be able to open our hearts to dreaming and changing what we can. What do you feel like changing? May you find the courage and strength to make it so.

Love to all.