Justin Two and December, Who Invited You?

Dear Sillies,
   I'm shocked, shocked I tell ya, that December arrived. Who invited December? That cheery, fat alcoholic on the North Pole? I mean, it wasn't me.   
   Needless to say, I hope that you're faring well, staying as warm as possible (and/or as cool as possible for our friends in Australia), and feeling reasonably good about the approaching festivities. 
   It's not all easy-peasy here --with health worries and procedures, with the passing of friends/acquaintaneces, with the general strife of life, work, ecsetera. I say this so as to NOT be one of those annoying people who pubicizes their "perfect" life and "world's best" relationship. 
   Justin Two and I, however, are doing alright. We do occasionally snicker and bicker. But he's a good one. I'm a good one. Mostly sometimes on occasion. Smiles.
   We've made it to 18 months. We're 1.5 years old! I know. I can't believe it. To celebrate, we went to the Sierra Nevada foothills this past weekend (Grass Valley). It was raining hard, but that was okay. It meant we "had to" stay in a cozy room and relax. Or go out for food and warm drinks.

   Oh and note what finger this ring is on. Yeah, but you know how I don't conform to societal expectations.  

   I found this cheapie ring in a store there. Justin Two purchased it and put it on my (wedding) ring finger. He then declared us Permanently Engaged. Woohoo! (We've both been burned by marriage. CA divorce settlement laws are twisted and antiquated, too. Thus, we plan to never marry.) 

   I'm loving my pretty P.E. ring. 

Be well, Sillies.

Let's Hear It for the Boy, Love!?

My Dear Sillies,

How's November treating you?

I'm at a Grecian airport in this photo. A book that's been providing cozy, delightful comfort these days, I Love You / Now Go Away, was also a big hit among my travel buddies. They took photos and/or jotted down the title. This one's a jewel, my friends. Dawn Weber, national-award-winning humorist, and my friend at Lighten Up, wrote it on her Smartphone. The whole book! Written on a Smartphone! That takes more smarts and savvy than I'll ever have. It's a hearty, human and hysterical quick read that'll keep you laughing throughout. (This recommendation is completely unsolicited, needless to say. Read it and you'll be grateful, needless to say.)

On the topic of love...

A recap: Dude Three had explained and apologized for his previous case of cold feet. He'd been trying to get over an ex, he told me. Yeah, whatever. Dude, man up or leave me alone. (Right?) Chicken sh*titude does not intrigue me. But that cute smile of his - sigh.

Then came a message a few days later: "I'm wondering if sometime this weekend you'd like to go for a picnic at Bidwell? I think that would be fun."

He did it! I felt a strong urge to provide immediate, positive reinforcement. Plus, relative to the other chicken sh*ts I'd been meeting, this one was clearly a winner and a champ. Did I mention my weakness for a man with a charming smile?  I was also drawn in by his apparent honesty mixed with a dash of vulnerability.

"Why yes, I'll gladly accept the invite," I responded.

We proceeded to make plans.

Let's hear it for the boy! Would he be my Romeo? My lovin' one man show? You've gotta understand. Oh, oh, oh, oh...Sorry. To be continued.

Be well, my friends. 

Take care of yourselves, and have a good week.

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.

---

 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.