Hey Sista, I've been planning this blog for a couple of weeks now. Finally in the frame of mind to sit down and write it. I know I'll leave things out, it's just who I am :) but let me just say that I miss you beyond words and oh how I wish I could physically share with you all that is going on! Life is good, it really is! Do you remember lying in bed at night when we were young ( I know it's all relative, but for those of you that don't know we shared a double bed until Cindy went off to college which means I would've been 13 and she 18.) and you would ask me things about your wedding dress, kids names, OMG the list could go on forever, and we'd talk about life when we were actually adults?? We didn't think of it in those terms but it's what we talked about. All the while, "Christopher Robin" played on the record player by Loggins and Messina helping me go to sleep. It seems weird now to look back on those days and know that you had a plan, a vision. You taught me from the day I was born and I tried really hard to listen and learn but looking back, it was a little overload for me. You had so much to give, it was hard to keep up. Guess who got it??? Anna and Addie!! They are so you it is really hard to believe. They think like you, they love like you and they give like you. Could you really ask for more? I know, you were proud of them no matter what...same here! But, honestly, you can't craft more loving, responsible and respectful girls. Anna is the mom you could've only imagined her to be. Finn is a lucky girl and I believe she knows it. Anna and Ryan work so well as a team and Finn relishes in the fact that she is loved. She is a blessing beyond blessings, there are no words that express the joy she has brought into all of our lives! The Evans family are true love and devotion and it's wonderful to sit back and watch that unfold. Finn knows that her Bon Bon loves her and they have a special bond. Addie is thriving as a college student (I know, how does that work in our family but she has CERTAINLY figured it out!) and Finn couldn't possibly ask for a better aunt. I love her to the moon and back!!!
So, last week I went to Seattle to present at the National PE Conference "ShapeAmerica" with Sabrina. It was a wonderful experience and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to share with my colleagues. Sabrina and I work really well together (remember when the 3 of us presented at the SC PE Conference. It was a blast!!) The convention was powerful, uplifting, inspirational...but I missed you so! I found myself wanting to call you to ask a question or call to say how great it is. You would have been right there with me and I felt you throughout the week.
One of the things we used to talk about was how Mammaw and Grandaddy were ahead of their time and so were Mom and Dad. They were inclusive people, ALL were welcome at their house. Nowadays that is more of the norm than the exception but we still aren't there. Society still doesn't get it, they want everyone to fit inside of the same box. How did you understand so early on that not everyone had to fit inside that box? I spent 2 hours yesterday afternoon at my church having a discussion about same-sex marriage and whether it should be allowed in our sanctuary. I'm empowered by the conversation and I feel that I'm able to listen to others and share my own thoughts because of those late night talks in the double bed and listening to Loggins/Messina! Back in the early 1970's I bet you had no idea that this would be a topic at a church. I'm proud of our church for coming to the table to talk, I wish everyone is as open to ALL people being God's people as you were but all I can say is thank you for loving unconditionally all those years ago. I don't fit inside a box, and I'm proud that my family doesn't expect everyone to be the same.
Last night was "Faith and Film" at church. We gather to watch a movie and then discuss it afterwards. We watched a movie called "About Time" which gave one of the actors the chance to go back in time and change how things turned out. Not typically my style of movie but I highly recommend it! Moral of the movie was to live life fully each and every day! It wasn't a huge revelation for me, I do try to think of others and make choices based on how I feel and how it affects others. But powerful for sure!
I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and left it as a draft. I have since taken a trip to Manchester, Vermont to join Sally and her Converse friends at the beautiful Manchester Inn B & B. Julie (a Converse friend) and Frank Hanes opened their B & B to our crew of 16 and it was wonderful. To sit and listen to them reminisce was a treat. To see love and respect float around everyone was invigorating. What a wonderful group of people, most I met for the first time and a few I've met only once. But I felt like a part of their family, I was included, I was loved...
Thanks Sista, for teaching me to include, to love...
Love ya Sista
