Life Is Still A Tire Swing

It only took a few moments, and a margarita, for 30 years to melt away.
And we we all girls again, older and wiser, more stories to tell than there was time for, but still young at heart.

Within minutes we were re-capturing cherished memories from our youth and trying to share great lessons learned in the years since. 
An impossible task to accomplish in just a few hours. Yet somehow we walked away satisfied.

It is a surreal experience to share a moment in time with good friends ~ a lifetime apart yet dear to your heart.
These are some of the people who made me. I could not have the trust and faith in humanity I have now if I had not had some of these friends then.

I feel blessed to hear of their children, their parents, their heartaches, their losses. Their lives, so similar and so different from my own. I wanted to jump into the photographs and be a part of the moments... to dance at the wedding, to sit at the dinner, to be at graduation. Yet through the stories and smiles, I saw the joy in those moments and shared in a way that only girlfriends can do.

It's been a long and winding road, and I have faith that life will lead us back to each other, but until until it does, I hope this evening was able to wash away the years for my friends as it did for me.

You've Got a Friend in Me

This weekend I found out about the passing of a colleague from my past.  And though I didn't know about it when he died; I have found myself reminiscing about conversations we had and being sad that such a good man died too young. 

Coupled with this loss is the closing of the Casa runaway and homeless youth shelter where I spent the majority of my working career.  I initially worked the overnight shift there when I was working on my Bachelor's Degree then later after I had my Master's Degree I returned as Case Manager and Shelter Director. It was the first program of its kind in Dallas and marking its closure is also a kind of death.  Many of those who worked there over the years from the first Program Director to the last came to the "closing ceremony".  And, as I walked through that empty building, the memories came flooding back.  Some may say, it's only brick and mortar, but those walls were talking to me. The laughter and the tears all came flooding out.  Good works were done inside those walls. Friendships were made and lives were changed. When I left that building I embarked on a new career - to raise my son.  For many years I didn't look back.  I built a new life and let too much time and space come between myself and the people at the Shelter. I regret this now.  For those of you that read this, I am sorry. 

While I am happy for my friend who has found his eternal reward and trust that all my colleagues have found satisfaction in their lives; my experience this weekend causes me to miss the days when we were in each other's lives every day.  And though I know that is no longer possible, I would like to have the opportunity to reconnect with you whenever possible.  You've got a friend in me.  Let's get together. 

You've Got A Friend In Me - Randy Newman
(Toy Story Edition)

Netiquette

After a recent experience on a beloved internet community where the banstick was inappropriately and spitefully administered in an appalling abuse of power to many productive and non-controversal members of that community, I think it might be useful to review some basic Netiquette tips:

• Remember, on the other side of that screen are real humans with real feelings.
• Everything you write is stored on the internet for anyone to see. Even Private Messages could come back to haunt you. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
• Follow the same standards of behavior on-line that you follow & expect in real life.
• Lurk before you leap. In other words, get to know what's acceptable at the community your at. Don't make assumptions.
• Respect other people's time by NOT posting/sending superflurous messages or expecting immediate replies to your pet project.
• Spelling and grammar matter, but don't point out other people's spelling/grammar errors.
• Make sure what you post is clear and accurate.
• Be pleasant and polite. Don't use offensive language, and don't be confrontational for the sake of confrontation.
  (I realize many forums allow swearing, but I don't swear at home, I don't like to hear people swearing in real life, so I don't swear on the net.)
• Share what you know - that's why were here! I'm looking for answers to questions that bother me so!
• Don't feed a flame war.
• Respect other people's privacy. I have been at two sites where the Admin's publically shared information that they only could have gained by reading Private Messages. Lot's of people got their feelings hurt, including the Admin's.
• Don't abuse your power. Admin's and Moderators have to separate any personal feelings from their job. If they are unable to stay objective, they need to turn control over to someone who can.
• Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.
  
  Here's a fun little video about "How To Behave On An Internet Forum".
  
  
  
  

I've made many friends on the internet, quite a few who I've met IRL and have become more than virtual friends. I've seen the power of people pulling together in times of illness, death, birth and marriage...not to mention some amazing JB tailgates. All these in addition to the common interests that may have brought us together in the first place (in my case Jimmy Buffett, LOST and Star Wars).
There are many wonderful experiences to be shared in cyberspace; and, as in real life...remember to PLAY NICE!

Remember Me

I'm proud of you.
I'm lucky and grateful to have you in my life.
I love you.
I miss you.
Come home safe.

Even though the DOD won't let you see this.

O The Stories We Can Tell...

So the Jimmy Buffett traveling circus pulled in to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas last Saturday and over 600 of my closest friends showed up for a hellova tailgate party.
The pictures don’t do it justice…

A Parrothead “Phlocking” is something that must be experienced in person…the sounds, smells and weather; yes, Jimmy brought the weather with him.

You gotta understand, that some people dabble into Buffett music for the “fun” songs then find that it goes a lot deeper…there’s some good stuff in the man’s treasure chest. I’ve found pearls of wisdom in those lyrics that have inspired me through good times and bad; and on the road have found some amazing friends and genuinely good people.

Jimmy, you’ve while you may not sit with us in person, you’ve brought a lot of kindred spirits together and forged what some of us old hippie types would call a “movement”.

It’s a good thing.

This weekend I watched Parrotheads unite to raise $2,300 for breast cancer research…that’s what’s called partying with a purpose folks.

Jimmy's setlist was fabulous for long-time Jimmy fans ... he covered Texas songwriters/friends Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett and Willis Allen Ramsey. He ended the show with North East Texas Women giving a shout out to the NETWomen he met a long time ago ...

I can't say enough about how Jimmy's final encore of Tonight I Just Need My Guitar with him sitting alone in the spotlight is a perfect tribute for long time fans who can remember him before the big shows.

As Jimmy said before the lights went out, thank you for tonight and every night for the past 40 years, it's been an amazing run.

Is there something (else) we'd be doin' if we could?

Not a chance.

And if you ever wonder why we ride this carrousel,

We do it for the stories we can tell.

(Love those Texas Women)

On The Road Again...

Ok..I’ve been negligent. But I’ve been whooping off with friends in Houston where we celebrated the inaugural concert of Jimmy Buffett’s 2007 Bama Breeze summer tour last Saturday night.

Before the actual concert, my husband son & I met about 150 friends for a weekend of eating, drinking, dancing, a live band, and cooler racing? Yes, cooler racing. There was a rooftop pool party, and jello shots in the parking lot (warning…jello shots go down waaay too easy and pack a big punch).

By the time the Head Parrot hit the stage in Minute Maid Park the Parrothead faithful were in a tumultuous uproar. Jimmy didn’t disappoint. He revved the crowd up early with favorites like Fins, Son of A Son of A Sailor, and One Particular Harbor, I was thrilled that he dug into the old treasure chest and played two songs by Texas singer songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey, The Ballad of Spider John and Northeast Texas Women. There were also new favorites, Cinco de Mayo in Memphis, Bama Breeze and Regabilly Hill. The show ended with a lovely harmony of the Beach Boys cover In My Room and finally a Jimmy acoustic solo to a near silent stadium while he sang Tonight I Just Need My Guitar. The man knows how to work a room…no matter the size.

So, like a band of gypsies we'll go down that highway makin' music with our parrothead friends.
We'll be doing it all again Saturday when this travelin' carnival stops in Frisco, TX. Until then...I'll be hanging out at the Bama Breeze.

We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About…

Last night there was a phlocking of a few phriends from high school. We reminisced about old times and caught up about our current lives.


The occasion was because the daughter of one of us is getting married this weekend. Both she, her intended and her sister were there. That didn’t stop any of us “older” folks from cutting loose about who was “hot” or not, who was a gold digger or black widow, who was (un)ethical in business and what we thought about it.

One of us even had the foresight to bring our old school “yearbook” so we could gossip about the indiscretions of those who were unfortunate enough not to be in our good graces or intelligent enough to have hung out with us in our younger days… or stood the test of time with us.

Sigh…time.

Somewhere I took a right instead of a left, and I’m thankful of the phriends that persist in keeping up with me in spite of my windward ways. You are special to me…life is a hellova ride, let’s do it together.

And for AED and AI, I have only one word of advice for your marriage. Patience.