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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Choosing happiness
My best friend has been given the gift of another Christmas with her family. My son goes to a wonderful preschool full of teachers who love him and immerse him in the arts. My husband works tirelessly to provide for us, and my stepdaughter is loving and kind and helpful.
I don't have to look far for things that make me happy. I just have to remember to do it.
Although it's not full-time, I do work. I teach piano and composition and I get to play with Bill Leslie in all of his live shows and record backing vocals on his albums. It's a great gig, and I couldn't play with nicer people. Christmas in Mitford is his new album, and it was number five on the world music charts for November. I'm proud to play with him.
Last weekend, we had a show in Holly Springs at their terrific auditorium. Bill lent part of the set to Linda and I to do one of my favorite Christmas carols. Performing with wonderful musicians? Makes me really happy.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Guppy love
Today, those guppies kept me company on the ride home from a whirlwind visit to see my dear friend. We had Christmas to celebrate, but pneumonia (her) and strep throat (me) had delayed and shortened my trip considerably.
Still, Kevin sent me on my way this past Sunday. He and one of our fabulous neighbors made sure that the boys were well cared for, and today, their favorite sitter came to play. When I walked in the door, having picked up Mallory on my way home, they were more excited to see her than they were me.
I'm happy they have so many people in their lives to love.
And now we've added some guppies. Guppy love.
I'm so happy I got to spend time with Susan and her family, and I'm so happy that I had my own family to come home to.
This being happy thing isn't so bad.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Nutcracker. Preschool style.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Coming out of the dark
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
She'll be coming around the mountain
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Colin hates everything
This is Colin's class for Mother's Morning Out. You will find Colin in the bottom lefthand corner. In the red Beatles shirt, because I forgot it was picture day.
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
P.S. Mississippi
Monday, November 07, 2011
Dear Mississippi,
Be it Enacted by the People of the State of Mississippi: SECTION 1. Article III of the constitution of the state of Mississippi is hereby amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION TO READ: Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, "The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." This initiative shall not require any additional revenue for implementation.Y'all. Come on. You know better than this, Mississippi. I know you do.
Friday, November 04, 2011
Terrifying
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tiny tyrant
But here are the pictures I will post on Facebook. Here are the smiles and the cuteness that I captured with the camera before I had to put it back in the car because I couldn't hold it and defend myself against my horridly violent toddler at the same time.
Saturday, October 08, 2011
Penis
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Mirror mirror
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Flapjack Jam for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Friday, September 23, 2011
All in a name
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Boot Camp
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
Small victories
Monday, August 29, 2011
Baby G
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Laryngitis
Monday, July 18, 2011
Nut butter granola bars
Friday, July 08, 2011
A night out with winners
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Mama models
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
I am from
I am from peanut butter, from Nilla Wafers and powdered milk.
I am from the southern part of the South, dripping with humidity and hypocrisy, balancing redemption and restitution, forever pushing people away all while calling them to come back home.
I am from the chaise lounge in the forked branches, the climbable magnolia.
I am from Sunday dinners and slow talking, from a line of Tom's and Henry's and Suttle's without being it at all.
I am from love felt deeply, loud laughter, fiery anger, long grudges, and stubborn pride.
I am from how you get to Hell and how you get to Heaven.
I am from Presbyterians, serious and regimented. I am from the Book of Order. I am from committees, liturgy, and sacraments. From preachers and elders. From Sunday School teachers. I am from tight knit youth groups where friendships remain even after time unraveled the rest.
I am from Mississippi. I am from buttermilk biscuits and pound cake. BBQ ribs and vegetables fresh from the garden that grew in town behind my grandparents' house. From the busy road, you could catch a glimpse of country in a part of the city that had been so very developed. I am from the country stuck within the city.
I am from boxes stuffed with photographs, unordered and smudged. From CD's I won't listen to anymore. From songs I won't sing again.
I am from five sets of china and antiques battling for space within my home. I am from a wedding dress boxed up and passed down, a wedding dress worn and then forgotten, and a wedding dress still new, hanging clean in the bag, overlooked for eloping. I am from dress gloves and costume jewelry that I will never wear, but yet never let go.
I am from a pipe that stills smells a little like my grandfather. I know this because I still pull it out of the drawer and expectantly smell it every now and then. I am from cardigan sweaters that used to warm my Daddy when he stayed so very cold all of the time.
I am from joy and pain. Pride and shame. I am from all of this and so much more.
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Jennifer at Playgroups Are No Place for Children was the first place I saw this. Then today, Maggie at Magpie Musings wrote one as well. They are both beautiful writers, and I hesitated to join in - but the template (from the Campbell Folk School in North Carolina) is lovely and the results all so different. Schmutzie has also done it and is making a link-up. Come join in.