Looking for 2009

It's hard to believe it's New Year's Eve. I say that every year! I wonder where 2008 went. It went so fast! It is true ... the older you get the faster it goes. I want to reflect on this past year in some ways and in other ways, I say good riddance!

2008 was wonderful because I was blessed to be able to watch my two handsome boys grow up. They continue to amaze me on a daily basis. I love and adore them with all my heart.

2008 was awful because I had a falling out with two friends! A good friend of mine said to me once that your really good, bestest, bff's you can only count on one hand. When she first said that to me, I thought she was incorrect. However, if this year was an indication, I have to agree with her. Sadly, I won't be friends with either of these women again. I am flexible in giving my friends third, fourth, fifth, even bazillionth chances - none of us is perfect. However, even with my high tolerance, both chose not to maintain the friendship. Given that, I am thankful for the five women that have stayed in my inner circle. They are tried and true, and I wouldn't trade them for the world.

I welcome 2009 with open arms. Cannot wait to see what the New Year brings!

A Random Thought

What about Bob? Did you ever see that movie? It's great! Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray starred in this movie. My hubby and I liked it so much that we often use the phrase "What about Bob?" - or whomever. Kind of an inside joke, but funny nonetheless.

My random thought was: "What about Tom?" My friend, Lynn, and I met Tom at one of our local watering holes here in "fly over country" (thanks, Rush). He was pleasant enough. Kind of flirty but in a boyish way. Definitely nothing over the top. We chatted for about an hour. That was that. Days later, Lynn and I were working out and low and behold, there was Tom on the Smith machine doing a chest exercise! I exclaimed my surprise at seeing him, ... sweating ... in shorts ... grunting at the strain of pushing so much weight. He pretended not to know us. How droll! Of course, I reminded him of our stimulating conversation from the other night. Tom smiled an easy smile acknowledging the aforementioned meeting. Moments later, ol' Tom hightailed it out of there. That was that. Lastly, my son and I bumped in to Tom yesterday at the dentist's office. Jeez, what is it with Tom? He caught my eye, smiled, but didn't really seem to remember me. Strange feller there, that Tom! After the dentist visit, I called my friend, Lynn, to share the story with her. Lynn thinks that Tom thinks that I'm stalking him! I cannot imagine! Funny about running in to him twice since our initial meeting. Next time, he'll probably run! And, that was that.

Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone, Gone

As I was driving home from my early morning workout, the John Mayer song "Dreaming with a Broken Heart" came over my satellite radio. " When you're dreaming with a broken heart/The waking up is the hardest part/You roll outta bed and down on your knees/And for the moment you can hardly breathe/Wondering was he really here?/Is he standing in my room?/No he's not, 'cause he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone...." (I took the liberty of changing the she's to he's) The words from this song really hit home. It's been ages since I had a broken heart so I really didn't get that I had a broken heart until this song came on. So, trying to buck up and take a stand against this depressing song and my sadness, I changed the station. By doing so, I managed to find the Katy Perry song "Hot n Cold"! Another roller coaster relationship song. It must have been my lucky day, because every channel I switched to was playing some type of break up, mushy, oozing with sadness song! Why can't I escape this situation with dignity and grace? I have to have John Mayer singing to me about falling on his knees and not being able to breathe! With tears in my eyes, I navigated my car toward home. Love is a funny thing. My twelve year old son complains that every song on the radio is about relationships. He's right, of course. And, so is life. My melancholy will evaporate soon enough, and my world will spin on it's merry way. I think I will compose a song for John, and he can sing my very own lovesick song to me as well as all the other folks with broken hearts.

Ohhhhh Luvy ...

Just where did "Luvy" come from? A person I had never met before decided that I was Lovey incarnate. Can you imagine? It was a scrapbooking weekend with the girls. I was all revved up to catch up on scrapbooking the minutia of my boys' lives. I walked in to the scrapbooking hall - more like an army mess hall - carrying a small truckload of necessary scrapbooking paraphernalia. Stumbling through the narrow pathways carrying my "necessities", probably whining at nauseum, I could not locate MY spot at one of the tables. Upon finding my revered spot, I noticed a woman eye-balling me. She certainly wasn't admiring all my stuff, nor was she smiling. I believe there was venom spewing from her various orifices ... towards me. Ignoring her obvious distaste for me (really? distaste?), I said hello as I moved into my spot for the weekend. She may have been snorting as she shoved her chair away from the table. She ran to one of the her friends, fuming mad! Expletives were foaming from her lips! "Why me?", she exclaimed. "She's Lovey!". I was aghast at the accusation. Lovey ... from Gilligan's Island? Was she serious? My God! The only thing I had in common with Lovey was my glorious feaux hair color - blonde. Now, it was my turn to protest! Well, maybe it was a silent protest. First, I wanted to get settled before I said my peace. After all, I was here to scrapbook several masterpieces! I unpacked my many suitcases, placed my chair cushion on the hard, bent-out-of-shape chair, organized my scrapbooking space, and settled my type-A self in to my personal 3' x 3' space. Lovey! Just who did she think she was? The evening progressed with her twisted back snarling at me. Ugh! But, then something happened. My comments about various and sundry things ... all important of course! ... started sifting through her hard core. My snide analogies, silly quips, and idiotic observations started infiltrating her 3' x 3' space. Soon, her humphs turned in to giggles, then guffaws. I was amusing her. Finally, a break through! I won her over. We became fast friends, but alas, the nickname has remained. I have embraced the Lovey moniker ... although changing the spelling was a 21st century must! At each scrapbooking event since that fateful trip, I have worn the Lovey swept up hair, a hot pink, sexy boa, and pearls. Forever ... Luvy.