I hate Comcast

The title has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but had to get it out. I hate them. I don't use that word often as I believe it is a terribly ugly and usually unnecessary word, however, Comcast deserves that word directed at them. Not only are their services beyond expensive and we don't have a choice because there is no competition, but their service sucks. There. I've said it. Its out and now I feel better (okay, I don't really feel better, but I kind of feel better... I'd really feel better if I had another option.)

On to nicer, mushier things. Another mushy post (for explanation please see this).

"Our different homes perhaps a continent apart. All my dear friends.

Known only for a brief time and sometimes so long ago,

but alive forever in my mind and heart."

- Helen Thomson. B.1943

Jug and Apaya

You thought I was special at a time that I really, really needed to be special. You guys treated me like a princess and thought I could do no wrong. You liked me. You were 28 & 25. I was 19, but you enjoyed hanging out with me. You called me. You helped me become the person I am. You helped me, unknowingly, develop a confidence that I'd never had before. I have no idea where you are or what happened to you... For 18-24 months you were in my life. You changed me and I thank you.

What do you call yours?

We were in Michigan last weekend. Dave, Nora and Ryann went camping with Dave's dad. Georgia and I hung with my mom at my grandparents cottage. Very nice. I read. Did you see that? I R.E.A.D. A book - well, not the entire book, but words in a book. And I read the words in the book on the deck by the lake and I had nothing else to do. I didn't have laundry to fold. I didn't have dishes to wash (okay, so I did... but I did them when I wanted to), I didn't have anything else to do. It was very enjoyable - and so is my book.


The dog stayed with my grandparents for the weekend (they weren't at the cottage). Yes, I had one child and no dog for a full 24 hours. No barking. No woofing. No scratching. No dirty looks. It was blissful. H-anyway... when we were pulling out of my grandparents driveway to go home I told the girls to wave (because Gram and Gramp always stand on the doorstep and wave as we drive away) and said, "I love my Gram and Gramp." To which Nora responded, "Why do you call them Gram and Gramp?" We had a pretty lengthy "conversation" in which I tried to explain that that is just what I call my Grandma and Grandpa. She didn't quite understand. I told her that they are my Grandma and Grandpa and I just call them Gram and Gramp. She didn't get it. So I asked her, "Why do you call Grandpa and Grandma Dykstra Papa and Nana?" Response: "Because they're my Papa and Nana!" DUH! How stupid am I?

Our girls call Dave's parents Papa and Nana and they call my parents Grandpa and Grandma. My nephews call my parents Pa and Mimi (they used to - don't know if they still do). They call Gram and Gramp, Mimo and BoatPa. They call their other grandma, Grammy. They call my other grandma, Grandma Great. Did you follow that?? (you don't need to). I had a friend in high school who called one of his grandpa's Bumpa because there was a sign on the way to his house that said "Bump". Even at 18 he called him Bumpa. My best friend in high school called her grandparents Oma and Opa (the dutch words for grandma and grandpa). What do you call your grandparents - and why?

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Pocket inventory - 4:45pm:
4 ponytail holders - 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 purple
3 quarters, 1 penny
1 backgammon piece (white)
1 red button from Ryann's pants
11 barretts - 2 large (1 black & 1 pink polka dots), 1 medium (orange butterfly), 6 small (2aqua, 1 red, 1 orange, 1 pink sparkles, 1 purple), & 2 bug barettes (1 purple & 1 green)
1 bookshelf peg

Sometimes I'm mushy

When Georgia was in the hospital for pneumonia (remember - she was 6 weeks old? Just thought I'd remind you of the terrifying situation;) a friend of mine gave me this book. The book has maybe 100 pages (they aren't numbered) and each page or every other page has a quote about friendship on it. To be honest, when she first gave it to me, I kind of looked at it and thought, "This is nice" and figured I'd look at it in more depth later. I kind of tucked it away and didn't do anything with it until I found it two weeks ago while doing my secret project. Since finding it, I have read and re-read every page many times. I've thought and thought and thought while holding the book. Finally I decided that I wanted to think of a friend that I'm reminded of by each quote and write something about him or her.

I'm hoping that in my lifetime God will bless me with enough friends to fill every page. I'm hoping that at some point I will be able to share my thoughts with each of these friends personally, if I haven't already. I find it is difficult to stumble upon a conversation or a situation that lends itself to sharing my true feelings about someone to that person (sorry - I think that was a pretty bad sentence, but I don't know how else to say that). Having this book has helped me be intentional about thinking about how I feel about my friends and putting my feelings into words. My words may not be incredibly eloquent or articulate (see sentence above LOL!), but actually putting my feelings about my friends onto paper has been incredibly cathartic for me. Taking the time to really - I mean really - think about what my friends mean to me has been intensely gratifying.

I'd like to offer you a glimpse into my friendships every so often (okay, basically when I feel a need to blog, but my life is too boring to have something to blog about). I'm not going to do these in order of how much I love these people or in any particular order whatsoever, so please don't be offended if I don't start with you:)

"How life catches up with us and teaches us to love and forgive each other."

-Judy Collins. B.1939

Cara

Why did it take so long for us to get along and like each other? It took 22 years for us to get along and 3 more years for us to really like each other. I love you. Out of everyone, you are truly my best friend. You know me, you understand me, you allow me to be myself completely. You laugh with me and at me and you make me laugh like no one else in my life. No one.

I love you and I know I don't tell you often enough. I am honored to be able to call you my best friend and to have a lifetime of memories of you and with you.

I wish we lived closer. I'm not just saying that - I really, really long to have you closer, geographically. I want to have coffee once a week, to work on our houses together, to babysit each others kids, to go out for drinks, to do everything together. I want to share our lives - for real, not just over the phone. I miss you and I love you.

Side note: Cara - do NOT call me and get all mushy on the phone with me;) You know how I don't like to talk about these things. I'm dutch and I have no feelings whatsoever so don't try to talk to me about them - I'm fine.