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Monday, August 15, 2016

True Love & Woman on the Verge of Paradise

Kindly note: I am standing closer to the camera with knees slightly bent and less of a curly top. This is to say that I appear even shorter than I am. I swear, I'm slightly taller than him. Really, I am.
Last week, very special people visited Chico; my nephew and I had such a great time. Here we are in the Chico Plaza. A snippet from Woman on the Verge of Paradise follows. It takes the reader to 2010, when I'd just said "goodbye" to my then three year old love bug.  I've learned through J. that true love takes many forms and has no end.
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 They’d only been gone an hour when one lone tear trickled down my face. I didn’t expect or quite understand my emotional state. We had such a great, fun-loving time. I couldn’t get enough of my nephew, but I’d see him again soon.
   Why am I feeling this way? I wondered. It was as if I’d said “goodbye” to someone I loved dearly. That’s why; I had.
   But this was different than having said “goodbye” to Justin when I went away for a weekend, or having to continue to say “goodbye” to Justin every day for perhaps the rest of my life. It was a softer, warmer, much sweeter “goodbye.”
   It struck me that I had just said “goodbye” to the love of my life, the new one. Being Josiah's Auntie is pure heaven. His beautiful beaming smile, flavored with a heaping teaspoon of mischief, tickles my heart.  He adores me too. I can tell by the way he body-slams me with an elbow to my rib cage, a choke-hold taxing my windpipe, and a stinky foot pressed leisurely against my nostrils—all accompanied by ferocious laughter. 
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Please take care, my friends. 
I know that some of you are really struggling now, and my heart is with you.
Love yourself and know that you are loved. 

56 comments:

  1. He's growing up quickly, Robyn. What happened to that little fellow with Shirley Temple curls whose pictures you used to post? But you are still are still the fabulous redhead you always were. ;)

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    1. Thank you, GB. I was thinking that some of my long time followers remember all my posts about J. I scaled down, to be respectful of his privacy and because I don't get to see him often. He'll be looking down on me in no time.

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  2. And you share a love of chocolate!
    That's awesome you got a visit from him. And I do believe you when you say you're still taller.

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    1. Thank you for believing me, Alex. It's true, though not blatantly so and not for long. Smiles.
      Funny that we both go wild over chocolate too.

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  3. I'm glad you got to spend some time with your nephew. He sounds like a sweet kid who is a lot of fun to be around. :)

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    1. He's super fun, Connie. A few of my musician friends were playing music in the Plaza. He jumped in and danced up a storm (though few others were dancing). We rocked out to Rockin Robi(y)n. I should spell it correctly, actually, since it was dedicated to me.

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  4. I'll pretend to believe you're still taller? That help? lol Awesome you got to spend some time with him. Sounds lie a lot of fun, elbows and all.

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  5. That is true love, indeed. To me you are always at least six feet tall.

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    1. Ah, thank you, Jono. I have a very skewed concept of height. I see others as six feet tall when they're not much taller than me.

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  6. Sounds like your nephew has a crush on you?

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    1. We have mad crushes on each other, Stephen. He was singing to me about how "awesome" I am... "She's a writer and a poet and she's awesome..." I think I chimed in with a tune about his awesomeness.

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  7. aunts do shrink. Excellent post and your nephew is a lucky kid (and he'll always be a kid to you). Keep having fun and hope there are plenty of hellos to make up for the goodbyes. Hugs to you!

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    1. Thank you, Joanne. The best way for us to deal with goodbyes is to make plans for the next hello.
      Hugs to you too.

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  8. Such cute back views, both of you! And luscious
    heads of rich curls. It will be cool when he
    grows taller, and he can be the protective cavalier
    to his darling little aunt.

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    1. I would love that, Margaret. I never had an older brother for that. Thank you, sweet e-friend.

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  9. That's so sweet. Something I never got to experience since I was an only kid.

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  10. I am envious of both of your lovely curls! And height is important when you're vertically challenged, as I am as well. Petite sounds better. . .Sometimes a relative just bonds with an aunt or uncle. You can always keep in touch with the tech we have now. Like the excerpt too!

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    1. Thank you, DG. Aunts and Uncles always played a special role for me, so it's great being one now.

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  11. I'm sure you're the best auntie in the world! An auntie who always has an endless supply of chocolate . . . .

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    1. Well, yeah, I admit that I am and I do. I gave him a special Chicolate bar (made in Chico). It was divine. This I know because he gave me a tiny sliver. Smiles.

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  12. I love being an aunt! I have 4 nieces that i adore and try to spoil them rotten. I have so much fun when my oldest nieces come to visit. Shopping and cupcakes and more shopping and ice cream are always involved. My oldest is taller than me.

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    1. Sounds great, Holli. Being an Auntie is the best, isn't it? And that's still true when they're taller than you. At least, I'm counting on it.

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  13. Ah I know that unconditional love. Nice, huh? :)

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  14. I try that sock thing with Laurie, but she can beat my ass.

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    1. I should've warned you not to try that one at home, Chris.

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  15. I am so glad that you got to share more precious moments with each other. Moments to store in your memory banks.

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  16. I bet you are an awesome aunt, Robyn! How wonderful that you got to spend time together.

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  17. These times with him you will always cherish and I bet he will too. Nothing is more joyful the laughter

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  18. Aw, my heart.
    Much needed those last words. Thank you. You take care too!

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    1. Thank you, Lux. We'll keep looking out for each other.

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  19. I'm glad you put that disclaimer in about the picture cause my first thought was, 'holy cow that kid got tall'. haha Hang in there too Robyn. As Red Green says, 'I'm pullin for ya, we're all in this together.'

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    1. That we are, JoJo. Thanks for your lovingness and loyalty. We shall get through to better times. We always do. Hugs.

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  20. Since I'm an only child, I'll never get the experience of being an auntie. Also, I guess, because I'm a guy. But still, though. Cherish that awesome little dude!

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    1. Thanks Bryan. I can't say that I'm sorry I don't get to be an uncle. I am sad that I don't get to be a grandma, though. A parent? Phew, thank goodness, but it would be nice to be a grandma. Maybe I'll get to be a great auntie, though, which doesn't sound so dang old.

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  21. Photo of you two with your heads synchronized says it all. Beautiful!

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    1. It is a great photo, Geo. Thanks. I didn't even know that my sis-in-law took this one. I love it.

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  22. Let me start this comment by saying that you TOWER over him!
    Love this post Robyn! It is so nice to have that kind of relationship with people in your family. You've met my granddaughter Tay (in a virtual sense), we are the same way. I love the other grandkids also, but she was the first, and I don't know, it's just different.

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    1. Yes, I feel like I've had the pleasure and honor of watching your granddaughter grow up too, Pat.
      Virtual hugs.

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  23. Don't sweat it! As one who is "vertically-challenged," I've been told that good things come in small packages.
    Well, in YOUR case, anyway.
    As for me, I come in...well, I've said too much already.

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  24. Aunts (or older cousins or friends) can be a joy to a young boy. I remember my neighbor (she was in Jr. High) taking me to the pool when I was 8 and introducing me as her boyfriend.

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    1. Those are cherished memories, Sage. It's an honor to create those for my nephew and self. Smiles.

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  25. Even when we know that a goodbye is temporary...it is still extraordinarily hard sometimes

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    1. It really is, Optimistic. I was walking through our local park the next day, wishing he was with me.

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  26. Lovely to see you together again, and that he came to see you. Wonderful!
    Nice of you to think of others but I also hope that you're doing well dear. xo

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  27. I feel very out of everyone's loop... I think it's wonderful that your nephew (and family) came to visit. There really is nothing like the love of a child (as you know). I'm so glad you have that in your life:)

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  28. Hi Robyn,

    How wonderful you had some precious moments with your nephew. Fleeting moments that get absorbed in the memory of further moments to come when you see him again. You are a wonderful aunt and he's obviously a wonderful nephew.

    You have no idea how much I needed to read this post. I must now do some positive visualisation that I will be actually be seeing my family in one month's time.

    A peaceful, positive weekend to you, Robyn. Please, look after YOU!

    Gary :) x

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  29. How heartbreaking. :( I hated having to say goodbye to my nieces and nephews when Hubby and I moved to Iowa. It was the worst thing ever.

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