OHMAGAWD

You know there are just handful of days in your life that are beyond your wildest imagination; most of them you know beforehand that they are going to be great like your graduation, wedding, having babies, playing Pebble Beach, etc. And most of those days or occasions are made sweeter by the wait and anticipation for maybe even most of your life. This was one of those days that I'd been waiting 25 years for. My oldest son, Lucas, is turning 25 next month and when I was pregnant I decorated his nursery with framed Mary Engelbreit cards. I have loved her art and through her books and magazine and time, have loved her for that long. Today I got not only to see her, sit at the table next to hers at the luncheon, but afterwards she signed things that all of her fans brought with them and took photos with them. Here's one of mine.

Of course the normal folks showed proper respect and reverence toward her and knelt next to her and calmly had their photos taken. You know that's not either my category or style. I leaned my head on her shoulder which was tame as I had threatened my friends with kissing her on the mouth (like I did Clint Eastwood).

I did on a whim however, follow through with my threat to kiss her on the cheek then, here I am whispering in her ear my heartfelt thanks for the blessing of her wonderful art and the beauty she had brought to my life for 25 years. She was very sweet; I think the fact that she could see the tears in my eyes showed her that I was completely sincere and my words had come from deep in my heart.

I know that I am way behind on my trip blogging but I had to post this right away while it's still so fresh and wonderful and amazing. There are many other great stories and photos I'll have to share from the last almost two weeks so stay tuned...this might have been the cherry on top but there are many, many cup cake stories and pics to share as soon as I can.

Heading west again

Just in case y'all don't hear from me for a little while it's 'cause I'm headed to Stromsburg today. And, just in case the FBI or the SLA are looking for me that would be a good place to go; it's kinda hard to get lost in a town of 1200. But that's also the point. Tomorrow morning I'll be attending church services at Swede Home where my grandmother, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents attended church and are buried in the cemetery across the road (road not street). I don't know what time the services are so you FBI guys will just have to find out same way I will-by asking when you get there. I'll be posting while there if able, if not I'll be back here in Omaha next week and back on my Hilton connection. Pour Hobby Lobby had to close early last night to restock so it's just as well I go where I can't let the dough out my pockets so easily. But swaps shall be completed follow that HL visit, and none too soon. More soul less spending...yee haw!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!

Who does a body need to talk with to find out exactly how long it takes to get from Maryland to Omaha, Nebraska? I guess there is some sort of intervention going on because I might never crank the truck engine if I knew exactly how long it takes. Last year my mom was with me and we kept up somewhat but did a lot of side trips when we left Omaha (in case you've been living under a rock for a year) so we weren't right on top of it. MapQuest says 16 hours, Google said 18 hours. Wednesday I drove 11 hours (actual drive time) and yesterday I drove at least 12 (actual drive time). I'm not Stephen Hawking but that's doesn't add up to 16 or 18. Okay, than was then, this is now. I'm here, and having had a good night's sleep, I'm headed out into the world they call Omaha; some known some unknown. Hobby Lobby, check, numero uno, it's what kept me going in the dark and tired last night not the Metallica concert across the street at the QWest Center. I know, totally uncool, but for me HL rocks way more than Metallica. Again, sorry to offend some folks' sensibilities. Tomorrow is onto Stromsburg for five days-yahooooooooooooo. This trip also marks the start of a deep spiritual journey I've decided to undertake. More on that later...gotta get to you-know-where.

Leaving Las Vegas, I mean Maryland

Photo courtesy of Teresa McFayden; used with permission.

Off I go tomorrow at dark-thirty to Nebraska!!!! And on my 51st birthday no less and the morning after the election no less and by myself no less. Sooooooooooo much still left to do but sitting here doing this and chillin' with Andre', my oldest adopted son, with piles of clothes ready to levitate themselves into suitcases, still gotta vote and have birthday lunch with Janine (we have the same birthday, remember). So I'll wrap it here and update when I can, probably the first chance will be in Omaha on Thursday or Friday before I get to Stromsburg where I hope they have something I can plug into since I'll be there five days playing with all my ancestors and recharging my soul-oh boy!!!!

Still looking for a new adjective...

Plethora, gravitas, portacaches, existentialism, ubiquitous. I've learned some new words in the last few years but I can't come up with a single adjective that can come close to describing my time with Stacy in McLean. Amazing, surreal, deeply spiritual, intensely private, hilarious, soul cleansing, and loving and healing. Stacy has always been an amazing person but just grows more amazing with time. She's never ceased to have a life-altering effect on me and this visit was no different. Above, I wanted to snap a photo of a very moving moment between us and, like trying to get a photo of a deer in the forest, my movements were slow and quiet so I could stay in the moment but also capture it. If you would like to click onto it to enlarge it you will see her tears; she had just revealed something very personal and moving to me. But seconds later is below...

...we were back to reliving 1976 in our dorm room and that's just how our time was together...we laughed, we cried, we loved being together. She POURED love on me like it's never been poured before and I let her. I needed it but it took some effort to not think about whether I deserve it or her and why me and all that but I let her in the end. I'm still working on not questioning why I get my own personal angel to sweep in and give, give, give, love, love, love, and help me clean up my act and, and, and. I'm just going to try to live as she does-through love, gratitude, and compassion-in the moment, only the moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, just now. She's my angel and my Oprah (she has no idea what that compliment means). I thank all the higher powers and Freddy Mac for her visit here and for her friendship always. When I posted that Stacy was coming, it was under, "How Lucky can One Girl Get?". Well it's not at all about luck it's nothing short of a miraculous blessing. I love you to the sky.