In the age of texting, Facebook and all sorts of other apps/programs I have no idea about, I still love the idea of a real letter or card. It's a sure sign of my age, that's for sure. I have this friend that would send me a birthday card every year (even when we lived in the same town), and she would always have it timed perfectly to arrive the day before my birthday. I'd purposely not check the mail that day, so that the morning of my birthday I could grab it out of my mailbox. Those things happen less and less, the older we get. We get busy with life. We get so busy, we can't see straight sometimes. So, we find it equally as nice in our busy lives, when we turn on the phone the morning of our birthday or some other event, and there's a text from those same people who were card people before. I too, have turned into one of those text people, but there's still this girl inside me that desperately wants to be the card person. I have to make notes to myself to remind myself to do it, but when it happens, I'm so glad I took the time to do it. It also reminds me of just how awful my handwriting has become. The cards I wrote this week, look like that of a ransom note.
The mother of a childhood friend passed away recently. I haven't seen her in ages, but there's this connection and bond between those of us that grew up on the rock. She reached out to a mutual friend, who let several of us girls know what had happened. We had a group message going, and it was so very sweet. We all have so much love for one another. We were all given our childhood friend's address, so that we might send a condolence card. I thought about it for a couple of days. I can't imagine losing my mother. Like, I really can't even put the thought in my head. So, when that tragedy happens to someone, I never know what words to say. I knew the only day I'd have to get a card out was Thursday, as the boys schedules were brutal this week. Brian was off that day, so he could get Cal to the game, which bought me a little time. I ran to Walmart to pick up a few things and grab a birthday card for my sister and a card for my old friend. I got to the post office just before it was to close, so I had to write out my friend's card pretty quickly. I had been thinking of what I wanted to say for a couple of days, so it just poured out of me. I was lucky enough to buy some stamps and get it mailed off, even as the post office closed while I was in there. The night continued to be hurried until I got home late that night. Yesterday morning, I grabbed my sister's card so I could fill it out (she hadn't gotten back to me with her new address yet). I picked up the card....Which read on the front, "With Deepest Sympathy...." Yes, I mailed a fucking birthday card to my friend who just lost her mother. WTF?! The cards must've looked similar on the front, but honestly I don't know how in the fuck that could've happened. I've never felt so small, as when I realized what I'd done. I'll message her to let her know there had been a mistake and to give her a heads up and apology. Idk. But as I told the story at lunch yesterday, my friend said, "only you could do that." And she's right. Only I could do that... I really, really need to work on taking my time on things. The work week just seems so busy all the time. I simply can't have things like that happen. I just can't. I've got to relax a bit during the week. I really do.
The card snafu brought a lot of well deserved ribbing from my lunch cohorts. Someone asked if I were going to send balloons to the funeral instead of flowers. The conversation turned into what my funeral will look like. Now, it will look like a birthday party, which thrills me to death (no pun intended). I've always hoped that when the time happens it can really just be some celebration of life. The celebration of someone who really tried to see the good, the humor in everything. I told them in lieu of a will, I will just start wrapping my belongings, and they can open them like birthday gifts. One friend called my fancy slippers. I love it, since I have giant feet, and I refer to her as "the little one." So, if I ever end up murdered, check her closet. They are nice slippers. Of course, I push her buttons so much, that one day it might be just that, that puts her over the edge. haha.
After a hectic week, it's been great to sit here and write this morning. Caleb spent the night out, Brian is at work, and Ryne is sleeping. I made a chocolate smoothie this morning (I think I have the recipe on here-so good), am listening to some Air Supply right now, have a candle going, and the windows open. It's a great morning. It's the kind of morning one needs, after they are so hurried
they send a birthday card to someone who is in mourning.
I have nearly 5 hours before we leave for the Air Supply concert. I plan on enjoying every last minute of the quiet (before the older boy gets up and the other returns). It should be a fun night with a good friend, listening to great music. Also, Jesse gets to have her bff over while we are gone. I so love watching those dogs play together. It just might be my favorite thing. I hope the day finds you well and able to appreciate everything about it. Right now, the sun is out here in the middle of nowhere, and the birds are singing. I'll take it.
Have a wonderful weekend
~Jen