Tag Archives: friend

Meet the Gilmans

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…so this is love… is one of my favorite Blogs. She’s also on twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook. We connect a lot.

We connected through BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo over a year ago. Since then, I’ve followed her touching stories of being a child therapist, her struggles with infertility, and her amazing adventures in life. Right now, she’s in the middle of a cross-country journey with her husband Casey, her mom Sandy, and their two dogs.

And yesterday, she drove through my part of the world. How awesome is that?! I may live in a little nowheresville-type place, but it’s on the direct connect from L.A. to Vegas. When I heard Jenn would be driving by, I insisted they detour off the freeway and we meet up for coffee!

Being calm and subdued as usual.

It was just like meeting up with an old friend. There was no awkwardness, no debilitating silence. Just a great hour spent with a great friend and her family.

Blog Family: Sandy (mom), Casey (husband), Jenn

We started by mixing up our Starbuck’s. At the appointed time, we both texted each other, “Here”, only to find “here” was about five miles apart. I quickly drove to their location and entered the store. I recognized them immediately, which was a great comfort. I was nervous there might be the pretense of a public persona vs. private, and I wasn’t sure which I’d be encountering.

On my way there, I thought to myself, “I should have warned her I’m a hugger.” But there was no need. I stepped in to the ‘Bucks and there they were. She rose immediately and embraced me like a long-lost friend. Hugs, handshakes, and how-do-you-do’s all around, and we sat down with our lattes and started talking.

There was no “get to know you” chatter. No deep questions. We already know so much. We’re connected nine ways to Sunday. Meeting in person was just the icing on the cake.

New Old Friends

What’s better than wonderful? Terrific? Heartfelt? When they left, there were hugs all around, and I felt a little sad. I was mentally scheming of ways to follow them to Las Vegas. Now that would be a fun pin in the map!

I loved hearing about their trip so far. Favorite moments? Too many to mention. Plans gone awry? They go with the flow. Expectations? Exceeded. Adventures? By the Bucket Load.

I love living vicariously through her posts: the visits to places I’ve been (The Henry Ford Museum). Photos of places I’ve yet to see (Hershey, PA). But my favorite so far is The Story of Road Warrior.

Abundant with photos, her Blog documents the little moments in her life as well as the big ones. Today she posted on Instagram: her dog Skeeter was checking out a picture of us on Facebook. Not to be outdone, Little Cat is now on Instagram, checking out Skeeter, checking out us.

Stalker

Because we do things thoroughly, me and Jenn. That’s why she’s such a great friend. And I’m pretty sure this meet-up was just the first drop in the bucket.

And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!

To B in October

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Welcome to October. What is it about this day each year that suddenly has people pulling out heavy sweaters and looking for leaves? Planning parties and sewing costumes?

I love October 1st. Always have. As kids, this is the day Matt and I were parentally authorized to start playing our Christmas music. Let me tell you, if you heard Alvin & The Chipmunks right after we got home, chances are it would snow within a week. We were just lucky that way.

It’s the time of the World Series. For most of my life, the Yanks are the team. That makes me happy. But I would still love them even if someone else took the pennant. (I’m okay with not testing that theory, though…).

October rustles in the vibrant, rich colors of fall. The Thank-God-the-heat-of-summer-is-over mentality. Which is weird, cuz it’s still just as hot and humid as it was yesterday, on the books. It just feels better, 24 hours later.

Most of my favorite movies (excluding Christmas-themed) are set in autumn. Field of Dreams opens to the colorful beauty. Breakfast at Tiffany’s finds Holly Golightly finding herself in October. Autumn in New York. October Sky. Even the Godfather has some great falling leaves.

There’s just something about this time of year that opens up the imagination to cozier moments, meaningful smiles, intriguing secrets, and community. Maybe it’s all the kids going back to school amid sports and plays and schedules and events. Maybe it’s the warmer homecooked foods in the kitchen. I can’t say. I think it’s a little bit of everything.

This year, this month, I’m again cheering loudly for the Boys in Brooklyn playing Baseball. (Way to go, Cano!). It’s the return of StarBuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s my turn to host Bunco. My theme is Breakfast at Tiffany’s/Autumn in New York.

And my goal for this month is to just Be. Be the best me I can be, in the roles I’m given: mother, daughter, sister, friend, mentor, writer, head of household, church-goer. Whatever it is I can do to fulfill those roles better, I’ll do it. I’ll stretch a little beyond my comfort zone if the only reason I’m standing still is fear.

I’ll spend less, budget more. I’ll speak up when I have to, keep quiet when I can. I’ll reach and let go. I’ll grab on and take hold. I’ll pray for others more than myself. I’ll act as if it all depends on me. I’ll write letters to mail and tell people I love them. I’ll do everything I can for the world. And expect nothing in return.

Except to Be. And continue Being. Me.

In October.

What will you B?