Alive and Well

My last post was the night I left for a Caribbean cruise last year. I haven't blogged in twelve months. I just haven't felt like it and I really don't know why. Maybe I'm just busy being a mom, girlfriend, employee, friend...and now a student. Maybe I'm too lazy to choose one of the thousands of thoughts I have on any given day and write it out. Maybe I feel like I don't have anything important to say or that I don't make a difference. Maybe it was my friend Roseanna's death.

So here I am twelve months later, wondering how last December feels like yesterday. I have a 2007 photo album full of travels, thrills, joys, parties, and friendships. One wouldn't see pictures of the troubles, pain and losses, but they're definitely lingering there between birthdays and holidays behind the smiles in the pictures. I reflect but do not dwell. I learn and carry on. Some hits are harder than others, like a loved one dying, but that kind of sadness makes the good things even sweeter. It feels simply amazing. I look at this past year and feel so fortunate, bad stuff and all.

Looking forward to all that 2008 will bring. How about that Hillary, eh?

Jamaica Me Crazy

My Love: "Stop worrying, you're driving me nuts."
Me: "I'll stop worrying once we and our luggage arrive safely."

Just hours until our first cruise! I totally have pre-trip jitters on this one. I am typically a tree-huggin', bonfire lovin', lake swimmin', white water river raftin', outdoor grillin', tent campin' kind of gal. I am all about getting away from it all, but this is a very different trip for me. My Love never took a vacation before he met me. I still can't beleive that...and he is doing just fine.

I've never been on any watercraft bigger than a pontoon, so I still cannot even imagine the magnitude of this ship.

Passengers injured as cruise ship liner almost capsizes

I do not like getting into the ocean where I am bait, but I will enjoy seeing it and listening to the waves.

Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin killed by stingray

I do love visiting foreign countries, though I'd rather stay out of the touristy areas as I hate being pestered to buy trinkets.

Pirates shoot at Briton's cruise liner

I do love meeting new people though, and I'm not too old to dance all night long. Flying is okay for me once we're off the ground, but they do lose luggage all the time. I'm really worried about that.

My Love: "Do you really need five pairs of shoes?"
Me: "Yes, and be grateful I cut it down to five, it was a difficult selection."

35-year old Ohio woman missing, assumed overboard

I thought I would be more excited than nervous as I am, we've been looking forward to this trip since we booked it back in May. I made sure there was no balcony in our room.

My Love: "And 10 tubes of Airborne...seriously?"
Me: "Hey, put that back next to the hand sanitizer and Lysol!"

Norovirus transmission on cruise ship

My Love pops in the Carribbean music we downloaded as I pack, repack, check, and double-check. I hear from another room:

"Let's get together and feel all right..."

I find myself swept up in his excitement while he swirls me about the living room, dancing away my worries. As we get into bed...

Me: "Did you set the alarm for 3am?
My Love: "Yep."
Me: "Are you sure?"
My Love: "Yep."
Me: "Double-check. We can't miss the flight."
My Love: "Grrrrr..."

Happy Chrismahanukkwanzakuhsolsticemas!

There are many, many celebrations during this time of year. Historically, December marked the end of the hard-working harvest season and everyone got together to share the fruits of their labor. Those in the community whose crops didn't do so well were included in these celebrations...the sharing within the community sustained families that weren't so fortunate throughout the winter. Eventually religions incorporated these celebrations into their traditions...so not only do we have Christmas, we have Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, etc. The gift-giving, tithing, donating and sharing good fortunes are still a major part of the season.

What this time of year means to me now is ...a time for reflection and to celebrate achievements, a time to look forward to a prosperous new year and make plans, a time to celebrate diversity and practice tolerance, a time to be thankful, and a time to share and be happy for one another. I really, really strive to do this on a daily basis, but this time of year more than ever brings it out.

Here is a website full of December traditions from around the world:

Wishing you a very wonderful (insert holiday here)!
Celebrate diversity!

Finding Prince Charming: Part 1

Azzwypio The First

Once upon a time, seemingly eons ago, a young and beautiful maiden fell in love with a pair of sky blue eyes, a head of thick jet black hair, and a charming smile whence bore a nice set of choppers belonging to a soldier named Azzwypio. The fair-haired maiden had become desperate to break free of her childhood home shortly after having graduated from twelve years in the public education system. Knowing much about much now that she had become of age, and against her parents' stupid protests and pathetic cries of reason, she accepted a proposal of marriage to the young lad of whom made her heart pitter-patter.

What a whirlwind romantic time they indeed had! The handsome, bold and brazen soldier wisked the young maiden, now a blushing bride, off to a far away land called Germany. Residing in cozy military housing and meager military pay, they lived mostly on their love and wonderfully sustaining lager and wienerschnitzels. The Princess rarely thought of the home she had left behind, as she was having the time of her life and feeling much free, having also forgotten about the promise to her parents to attend a college.

Then one day the handsome Azzwypio announced that within the fortnight they were to be transported to a magical land called Kansas! The Princess was overcome with excitement and anticipation of their next adventure. There, they took residence in a wonderful metallic home with wheels and a beautiful wooden porch. The modest Princess did not once sigh, nor did she hesitate to make her tiny place a happy loving one, having quickly made acquaintances within the crafter's club to fill her home with good cheer and an assortment of pottery and wicker.

The Prince was sent to war and the bride went back to her home town. She worked and worked to keep herself occupied, and spent every spare moment writing her soldier letters and filling care packages and missing him terribly. Her heart was aching so. A year later her soldier returned to her, safe and sound. The young bride encouraged her Prince to leave the military, and hence he did so with honors, to live life among civilians and obtain normal employment and reside in a house built on solid foundation. How the couple enjoyed their newfound time together, for a good while.

Some behaviors became noticably amiss when the young bride became engorged with child. There were strange smells on the Prince's clothing, oft accompanied by an eve out with his henchmen. The young Princess would plead for answers but to no avail, and she became despondent and empty inside. Prince Azzwypio had little interest in matters pertaining to the home and was oft spotted by townsfolk prancing to pubs with wenches on his arm. When she gave birth to the fruit of their love, she focused on mothering and it was fulfilling. The Princess, now a young matron, had come to know what the only true and unconditional love was, and came upon a realization that she had been dutily duped.

A disease riddled laughingstock she vowed not to be, the Princess swooped up baby and headed to the place where funding is kept and cleaned it out and started her life anew. She was granted a divorce, full custody and child support. She was a very busy lady, mothering single-handedly and working hard, and holding her proud head up high. Her cozy two-bedroom condo was the perfect place to take much time in healing her very broken heart, and she began to fill her life and home once again with good cheer (minus the wicker). The Princess knew she would find love again.

to be continued...