121 Days Until Spring...

What does a summer girl do in the winter? I'm the weirdo you see wearing a sweater when it goes below 70 degrees. It doesn't matter how much I workout, or move around...I don't tolerate cold (or even chilly) weather well. You might be thinking, "Michele, you live in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! It's not really COLD there!" And to some you might sound right...but considering the average high temps for this time of year are 66 but it's been closer to 56, I'm throwing a hissy fit - and even THAT'S not heating me up! BooHoo! So, my friends (and my sister) -- teach me. Teach me how to appreciate the hideousness of a bleak gray sky, the sharp bite of cold on my tender flesh, the bone-chilling drizzle of a cold day driving rain. I'm a sponge (a sponge that prefers to be in warm water) but nonetheless, a sponge, ready to soak up your wisdom. Love & Hugs to all! ♥ Michele

There's A Lobster In My Lunchbox!

Hi there! Yes, it's been forever and two days since I've posted, but I'm still alive! You know how life is...one day you're a young mom up to your elbows in diapers, and you turn around and that same little pampered one is in college! All's well here. Husband and I are coming up on 15 years together and contemplating having a little ceremony this coming April to celebrate.

I'm actually posting to help a very good friend of mine who's written a delightfully FUN book called "There's A Lobster In My Lunchbox!" An award-winning collection of poems for children that see the world from a different angle, this book is loaded with hours of smiles & giggles!
She's published several books in the past, but this time she's using Kickstarter.com - a very cool site that helps people network and promote their creativity!
Please take a moment to visit this link and share it as well if you can!!
Kickstarter.com - Sherry Baldwin
Hope everyone out there in BlogLand is doing wonderfully!

Love & hugs, Michele

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. February 7, 1941...she would have been 71. I can't picture my mom being 71.

Her name was (or should I say is?) Christine...but everyone called her "Chris" -- I really miss her more and more every year. She's been gone since 2003, and of course, life goes on and time waits for no one. Shortly after she died I had a dream where she came to me, and I immediately recognized her, although she was a younger version of who she was when she passed. We embraced and then sat down on a park bench to talk when I noticed her skin looked so loose, like it was just something she'd put on. I asked her why her skin was so loose and she replied, "I just put this on so you'd know me...so we could say goodbye." She went on about the skin, "I don't need this anymore...I'm free from the weight of it all. I'm ok."

Of course I don't know how much of that dream came from my own head or an actual post-life visit from my mom, but it was beautiful, and I hold onto it...I cherish it.
She seemed finally, for the first time in her life, to not be lost.

My mom was what I refer to as a delicate person. She had delicate hands, delicate features with soft grey/blue eyes and light brown/blond hair. I always used to look at her and wish I'd inherited her soft beauty and fair coloring. She was pretty, and when she smiled, she was beautiful. My mom had a soft, ladylike way about her...the down side of being delicate (like the daffodils and yellow roses she loved so much) is that they're easily crushed and wilted...people see their beauty and want it...so they pick the flower but the flower can only live so long without being in the ground. I don't think my mom ever felt grounded. She was lost. She never seemed to know where it was she was supposed to be...where she fit in...where she could finally be safe and loved...cherished.

I won't go into the tragic way my mom left this world...suffice to say it was too soon, with too much left unsaid and undone. Regardless, I truly believe now she is at peace, and has found her place in this universe. Every now and then she'll peek into my dreams and smile at me. I want to hold onto her, but she always slips away in the blink of an eye.
I hope the angels sing you a beautiful "Happy Birthday" song today. I will be thinking of you, and sending my love to you. Happy Birthday, Mom!! ♥ I love you!

My Mom on left of photo and my Grandma wearing a balloon hat!

***About a year and a half ago I wrote this blog post about my mom: Christine Frances -- check it out if you feel to and have the time.