Circa 2006

Where I Was

I have been thinking about what I want to do with myself. In life, that is. Realistically, what are my boundaries, if any? I have lived hand-to-mouth since I was 18, occasionally spending too much, digging a hole only to get us out again. And here I am now, five years later, with the prospect of rising above and having something substantial to show for all of the sacrifice, on my part, my family's part, Shaelyn's part. It's not something that can be fully absorbed in one sitting. I have been savoring the flavor for a few weeks now, unwilling to let it sink in, relenting to comprehend what I once labeled internally as a pipe dream. Is this what security feels like? Am I standing on solid ground? I skeptically stomp my foot and wait for an echo. Nothing......

I have seen enough of this world to know that "Over the Rainbow" is only a song that Judy Garland sang and not an attainable state of being that persists. Oh, but there are moments...tiny, precious moments, in which that song blares unforgivably in my head...piercing my woebegone world with happiness and gratitude...shaking me into consciousness and out of complacency. Bless those moments. Shame on me for being so easily discouraged, so quickly pessimistic. After all, I have not led a charmed life in any sense of the phrase; But I certainly haven't led a life lacking excitement, passion, love, intensity, laughter, humor, or enlightenment.

Sometimes it's just nice to know where you stand...solid or shaky...at least your feet are on the ground.

Yellow Brick Road Trip

Part 1
Planning and Development

Have you ever taken on a project that just assumed a life of its own? I am currently being swept away by such a project. The Yellow Brick Road Trip began  as a gleaming, perfect idea in my mind. My daughter, Shaelyn will turn 7 in just a matter of days. I decided that I wanted to give her an experience rather than a standard off-the-shelf present. So, I decided to throw her a surprise party. Simple, right? The problem with that is this: her whole extended family, her best friends.... her heart is still in Memphis. We live in Asheville, NC. We all love it here, including Shaelyn, but she wouldn't be truly happy unless she were spending time with her favorite people. In addition to this fact, she and I get to spend less and less girl time together, so I proposed a road trip -  an all-girls road trip! It sounds fun, right? We were to head to Nashville to hang with my sister Kelsey Friday night and most of Saturday. Then from there, we would go to Memphis and arrive at the surprise party destination, where all of her beloveds: Mel and Dewey, Tom and DeeAnn, Dad and Libbye, her Dad, her best (best  best) friend Quinlan and her favorite cousin Emma, would be. She could spend Saturday night with her Dad at her Memaw and Grandpas house, spend the morning with my Dad, and then we would head back East. I didn't obsess over details, but I definately covered all of my bases, or so I thought. Tune in for Part 2: Launch and Execution.