Girl Stuff

One day when I was growing up, I wandered into the kitchen just after my mom returned home from a trip to the grocery store. As she was unpacking, she reached into one of the bags and pulled out a disposable razor, which she handed it to me without a word.

I was an astute fourteen year old, so no words were needed, and I was thrilled to join the exciting world of People Who Shave.

I managed to get through my first session without any cuts. Clearly I was a total natural.

Weeks passed, I kept shaving, and life marched on. Then one day, when I was admittedly a bit stubbly and overdue for some quality Bic time, the girl with the gym locker next to mine looked at me as we were changing into our track and field uniforms.

Looking me over, she suddenly said “You shave your ARMS?”, in an incredulous voice intended for the girls around us.

I glanced at her hairy, unshaved arms. Clearly she wasn’t as mature as me yet, so I proudly replied, “Yeah, you DON’T?!”

The girls around us burst out laughing, and shortly they headed out of the locker room still cracking jokes about me.

This was the first moment that it ever crossed my mind that I didn’t actually know what body parts females typically shave. I’d guessed it was arms that day when my mom handed me the razor. But I’d guessed wrong.

Alas, that wasn’t the last coming of age experience I thought I was on top of but was, in actuality, rather clueless about. Oh the jubilation of growing up.

But that's not going to happen around here. Because tomorrow night, Bunch and I are going to have our first shaving party! (Que music and confetti).

She’s starting junior high in a couple weeks, and apparently EVERYONE already shaves their legs. ("if all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too!?") I've told her that it's not fun, a hassle, and whatnot, but she is fixed in her mind.

So we will sit on the edge of the bath, and after a demonstration from her VERY wise and experienced mother, she’ll join the ranks of Those Who Use a Razor. I’ll have the tourniquets handy.

Then we shall paint our toes pretty, and celebrate this milestone in her life by wearing summer skirts and walking over for a.... Shave Ice, naturally. I think this also means she’s old enough to assume tub-cleaning responsibilities, too. Glory Hallelujah and Amen.

Seems like the Golden Age Of Childhood (ages 8 - 12 ) is the season of parenting that has flown by the fastest. For just a little while longer, both kids are in this delightful phase. I've loved every age of their lives so far, and I don't expect that to change as they move into the teen years. But far too quickly for my preferences they'll be off on their own adventures.

Grateful for:

1) A fantastic, daughter that I have a great relationship with.
2) My fabulous Gator and his recent growth and personal development.
3) A husband who works hard and is trustworthy.
4) Friends you fall in love with from the moment you meet them.
5) Support. And I’m not talking about the hose kind.

These I Love

It's been almost five years since we had a family picture taken, which is really odd since we have two professional and quite a few amateur photographers in the family, to say nothing of all our friends who do photography. But we finally got around to it and had a shot done at my in-laws house a week ago. I ♥ these people!

Finding My Inner Creativity

Thursday night, some girlfriends hosted "studio night" for anyone who was interested in coming to paint. We each pitched in five bucks for supplies, and the gifted artist Leslie Graff White brought paints, boards and brushes, and the inspiration to help us tap into our creative sides.

As I'd recently written about my wish to create some paintings, I was very excited about this opportunity. My only fear was that my efforts would be completely unsatisfying, owing to my distinct lack of artistic ability with a paintbrush. So you can imagine my excitement as I discussed my desires with Leslie, and she made some suggestions about what I could do that would be meaningful and rewarding.

I printed out some of the digital images I've created which carry significance to me, and cut them up into small squares of varying size. After painting my board with a wash, I glued my little cut up images onto it in an abstract pattern. Using Modge Podge, I applied tissue paper over the images which gives it texture and visual interest, and then I dove in with the paintbrush and finished it off with acrylic paints.

The final result quite pleased me, and has personal meaning to boot. I just may have found a new creative outlet for myself!

Here's my first piece. I'm calling it Aspects of Blue, which is (not coincidentally) the name of my current header image.
(11x14 mixed media.)

I l♥ve the message of this YouTube clip. It's well-worth the less-than-two-minutes of your time it lasts to have a look.

And if you have an extra 19 minutes, this TedTalk by Sir Ken Robinson is very good too.

Thanks to Shelah for her generosity in hosting Studio Night, and to the lovely Leslie for coming out from New England and inspiring us with her talents. It was a delight to spend an evening with you and the other ladies who came. There are so many great people in this world!

Grateful for:
1) Discovering something new and enjoyable
2) Creating something satisfying, whether it be on the piano, in the kitchen, art, a friendship or any beautiful thing.
3) The fact that ALL my tomato plants are currently engaged in growing fresh tomatoes for me. Can't wait till they're ripe!

Blue Whisperer

I've had a lot going on in my head lately. Alas, most of it isn't anything I can possibly blog about. In between family vacationing and family reunioning, there hasn't been much extra time for me to write or process the things going on in my life, but I have been meeting regularly with my very talented therapist, which continues to be a good experience.

I've had a number of different therapists over the years. For the most part they were timesinks; well-intentioned people who listened sympathetically to me but with whom I experienced no significant personal progress, insight, or growth.

But this time it's different. I seem to have stumbled upon a Blue Whisperer*. And this fact alone is changing the landscape of my life. It's quite humbling and remarkable to me, actually. It's bringing me hope, and moments of happy anticipation at the thought of healing and surmounting the abuse and trauma of the past.

The sky is not the limit, nor the stars above.

*I haven't seen the movie or read the book, but the term "horse whisperer" goes back to the early nineteenth century when an Irish horseman, Daniel Sullivan, made a name for himself in England by rehabilitating horses that had become vicious and intractable due to abuse or accidental trauma. While I am neither equine nor vicious (in my opinion), I liked the comparison.

Grateful for:
1) A new friend, who is going to help me create a painting tomorrow.
2) Important "ahh haa" moments
3) People who love my kids