In Memory of Mona

Well, the friend that I was talking about in my earlier post passed away this afternoon. I met her at an online forum in 2005 and she was like a ray of sunshine, always cheerful, encouraging, and full of life. I met her in person a few times and she was the same sweet, friendly person that I thought she would be. She has been fighting cancer for a few years now, and today lost her battle. Rest in peace, Mona. You were a special person and made everyone's life a brighter place.

Wednesday evening in the 'ville

I'm at home alone with Jimmy and it's quiet, very quiet. All I can hear are the sounds of the dryer and the bell ringing in the parrot's cage. This is heaven to me. No TV, no music, no talking, just quiet.

Times like these are rare. Growing up I was used to the quiet. I was an only child living with my mother and various pets. I enjoyed my solitude and I was very rarely lonely.

After I married and had three children, it seemed that life was always at full throttle. From Sesame Street to Backstreet Boys to Ninja Turtles to Nascar, there was always something going on. Kids were in and out of the house constantly, slamming doors, playing guitars, giggling, and fussing. There were times when I wanted to scream or just run away!

Nowdays I still have two grown boys at home. It's still not quiet here. There is always an episode of Scrubs playing on the DVD player or music going or phones ringing or computers clacking. Seth does wear earphones all the time to listen to his music. I'm concerned that he's going to be deaf, but he just pooh-poohs me and keeps on wearing them and listening LOUD!

Nobody is home except Jimmy and me tonight and he's in the other room looking up blues songs on the internet. My eyes are closed as I type this and I can feel my breathing, all steady and slow. What bliss this is!

Sad news today though. The wife of a doctor who used to live here died this morning from injuries she sustained from a lightning strike Monday. How weird is that? She was taking out the trash. I remember them well. They visited our home on numerous occasions. She taught me how to make homemade sloppy joes and I fed them chili. At their home was no television-they were Mennonites- but the Mr. always rented one to watch certain football games! Their kids were little aliens, they had to be! I've never seen a 4 year old keep everything in his room spotless and every toy piece and game together organized on a shelf! Man, did my kids wreak havoc over there!

I can't remember the last time I saw her. It's funny how you say you're going to keep in touch when someone moves, then time ticks by and you never do. I'm sorry I didn't keep our friendship going throughout the years. Rest in peace, Dawn; may God comfort Jon and the kids as they cope with your passing.

Woozy Wednesday

That's how I feel today. Woozy. Stomach kinda hurts, head hurts, I'm freezing. Blech. I'd much rather be at home.

Last night I was banished to the bedroom while the boys and Jimmy watched Mall Cop. I watched American Idol, piddled a little bit on the internet and read. Speaking of read, I am reading the best book! It's called The Help and it set in Mississippi back in the late 50s/early 60s. The story is told from the perspective of a white woman and two black maids. Well worth the read if you're so inclined.

American Idol makes me tired. They have two very different individuals competing and one is an amazing vocalist-probably the best AI has ever had-and then there's the little humble, shy guy who is America's sweet thang. Can't wait to see who wins.

My Bo is back out there in LA this week attending finale festivities. Notice I said "my" when referring to Bo. He is mine. I have supported, voted, traveled thousands and thousands of miles to attend concerts, purchased CDs, prayed diligently, laughed and cried for this man. He has become an extension of my life in a weird kind of way. I tell people he's my hobby, for lack of a better word. Through him I've made lifelong friends. Heck, my BEST friends are friends I've made because of him. He's always been so kind to us, and he knows us "repeat offenders" by now. He calls me by my name or my screen name every time I see him. He always expresses his gratitude to us and I just love the man. It's so good to see him healthy at last, and happy with a wonderful wife and two adorable kids. So that's just a taste of why I call him "my" Bo.

Changing the subject completely, but this morning I thought I would put a glaze on my hair, one that is supposed to make it shiny and the color more vivid. Oh yeah. My hair looks like I have poured lard on it. It's as limp as a dishrag and is so greasy it looks dirty. It will be washed during my lunch hour. I can't stand it! There just wasn't time to rewash it before I came to work. That crap is going into the garbage can. Do not buy John Freida gloss. It's terrible.

I made an appointment to get my hair trimmed tomorrow. I've been letting it grow and I don't want it cut off; I just want it shaped up some. I have three weeks before CMAs so I figure if he does get scissor-happy it will have time to grow some before then.

My son is supposed to be bringing me a coke for my stomach. He's taking Seth to get his hair cut at 11:00, so maybe he'll be here before long. Coke is a miracle drug for me. It soothes my stomach like nothing else will.

Speaking of medicine, that reminds me of pharmacy, which reminds me of the little boy who got killed at our local pharmacy Monday. He was walking out of the store and was on the sidewalk when a Cadillac SUV jumped the curb and hit him. The 77-year-old driver apparently was trying to park the SUV and hit her accelerator instead of the brake. I do not know the family of the child, but it is just a horrible tragedy. And it's also tragic for the driver; I cannot imagine how she feels. I've harped at my mother about being careful driving. She actually has called me on her cell phone while she's driving!! Frankly, I wish she would just chill about driving places. She has gotten better about it; she lets Rachel take her to Huntsville and Birmingham now. It just drives Layke up a wall. She has these "spells" sometimes after she eats and feels like she's going to pass out. Sunday, after we all had breakfast together at the Food Basket, Layke insisted on driving her. He would NOT let her drive because she has passed out on him several times! Once she broke her ankle. They were staying at The Wynfrey in Birmingham when that happened. Then she did it at Los Arcos here in town. They cannot find one thing wrong with her! They call it neurocardiogenic syncope. So...how do you tie down a stubborn 76 year old????