There are many people in professional sports that wore the #3, but in my world, there was only one. And in my world, there will never be another.
I have always been a sports fan, and there are many teams in each sport that I will follow this year, but not next, and vice versa. But in the MLB, I was, and always have been, a Braves fan. Some of my earliest memories are of driving from my home in Lawrenceville, GA, to Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, and sitting in the outfield, eyes glued to the jersey that read: Murphy 3. I really knew nothing about the sport, but I knew who I liked. I liked Dale Murphy. It didn't matter how many of the games I went to that resulted in losses by the Braves, as long as I got to see Dale Murphy. I remember him hitting, running, making amazing catches. Funny enough, one of my strongest memories is the game in which he went to the wall to catch a fly ball, put his hand out to brace himself....and came out of the game b/c he had to have his palm stitched up. I'm pretty sure I cried. That man, he was my hero.
And then came the day when he really DID become my hero.
For Mr. Murphy, this was probably one of many, many things he did that day. I was one of many faceless fans. But that day, someone in the Braves organization gave him a message about a little girl, a mere 8 years old, who was having major surgery soon. She was having a kidney removed, and while things were expected to go well, and her life was not in imminent danger, her father wanted something to put a smile on her face. And Mr. Murphy signed a photo. He wrote, "Laura, Good luck on your surgery. Dale Murphy." That photo came to me, in a box with several other Braves momentos. It had a padded Braves headband. A Braves pencill with a baseball eraser. A 1987 team photo. I'm sure there were a few more things, but they are all currently stored away as I prepare to move, and that is all I can remember right now.
Truthfully, it wouldn't have mattered if a solid gold bar had been included. That wouldn't have made a difference in my mind. In my mind, the world would be ok, because MR. MURPHY CARED THAT I WAS GOING TO BE OK!!!
From the viewpoint of an adult in my 30s, I realize that Mr. Murphy didn't know me then, doesn't know me now. Someone asked him to sign a photo for me, and he did that. But from the viewpoint of that 8-year-old girl, he was a hero. I knew everything would be ok, because Mr. Murphy cared.
Later that summer, the medical staff removed my infected kidney, and after a week in the hospital, I went home to heal. And heal I did. And before the end of the baseball season, I got one more baseball game in.
I don't know who the Braves played. I don't know who won. Because the first thing that happened wiped the rest of the night out of my mind. When we arrived at the stadium, my father led our family to an office, and then we were taken down to the bowels of the stadium. Truthfully, this meant nothing to me. My father was a batboy when he lived in Jacksonville, FL, and I have an uncle who was a scout for the Yankees. My father and uncle also lived in Indianapolis, near the minor stadium where the Cleveland Indians club played, and would hang out and harrass the players. I've grown up meeting players from a time that I don't remember. Claude Raymond, longtime announcer for the now defunct Montreal Expos, used to leave us tickets each time they came to Atlanta. We were constantly meeting these people I cared little about (at the time - I have a lot more respect for them now that I'm aware of who they are). And sure enough, a few minutes later, my dad was in deep conversation with Russ Nixon, someone he'd known from the Indians organization. I stood against the wall, biding my time until I could go out and watch Mr. Murphy.
And then this man came out in the hall. He was a giant. Eight feet tall. Broad as an ox. I'm fairly certain he had a halo, and maybe some wings. At least, that's how he looked to me.
Obviously, he was not 8 feet tall, though to me, he WAS a giant. And he wasn't an angel.
But he WAS Dale Murphy. And he was in uniform. His jersey said Murphy 3 on the back!!! And for about 5 minutes, he talked to my dad, my mom, my younger brother and me. And then he signed autographs for each of us, and told us to enjoy the game.
And from that day forward, there has never been an athlete that I respected more than I do Mr. Dale Murphy. I became Phillies fan when he was traded to Philly, and then a Rockies fan went he went to Colorado. And when he retired, I wondered how the MLB could survive.
But survive, the League has, and I've found other players to root for. Chipper Jones, Josh Hamilton, Brian McCann, Matt Wieters. Not all Braves, but most. I'm still a die-hard Braves fan, and I don't see anything ever changing that. And I will always consider Dale Murphy my favorite player, and the best man I ever saw on a baseball field.
To Mr. Murphy - you did something, one day, in one quick span of time, that people do each and every day. You probably never had another thought about it. But you brought a thousand rays of light into the life of a little girl who was going through one of the toughest, scariest things of her life. Your act of kindness, that tiny bit of time that you gave to me, has stuck with me for 25 years. If there was one thing I've always wanted to do, it was to look you in the eye and say, "Thank you." That will probably never happen, but with the connections this world makes through social media these days, I hope that one day, you read this. I hope one day, you will know how you touched my life.
Thank you, Mr. Murphy
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Day 1 - When were you born?
The short answer is March 4, 1978. Most awesome day on the planet, ever!
I feel the "where" in this story is much more interesting than the "when." So, where was I born? Wauchula, FL. Phonetically, that's What-CHU-La. Don't know where it is? It's located right next to Zolfo Springs and Bowling Green, and just north of Arcadia. Yep, right there, in that sprawling metropolitan of citrus groves.
The last census estimates have Wauchula housing just under 4,500 residents, in an area of just over 2.5 square miles. The entire county (Hardee) has some 28,000 residents in 238 square miles. Wauchula is a part of the Florida Everglades, and is located an easy drive from both Orlando and the Tampa Bay area, two of my favorite places in Florida.
Wauchula is home of the famous "Baby Swap" case of 1978 (thank God I wasn't born in the hospital!). However, in my family, it is more famous for the direct hit from Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. The city was declared a federal disaster area, and several of the houses destroyed belonged to either friends or family of mine. When I went down to salvage what I could from my grandmother's house two weeks after the storm, there was still no power anywhere outside of the city square.
On September 5, 2004, the city took another direct hit from Hurricane Frances, followed in quick succession by Hurricane Jeanne on September 24, 2004. It was the most devastating thing I've ever seen with my own eyes.
I have not lived in Wauchula since the 70's, but I still visit often, and will always consider it my home.
I feel the "where" in this story is much more interesting than the "when." So, where was I born? Wauchula, FL. Phonetically, that's What-CHU-La. Don't know where it is? It's located right next to Zolfo Springs and Bowling Green, and just north of Arcadia. Yep, right there, in that sprawling metropolitan of citrus groves.
The last census estimates have Wauchula housing just under 4,500 residents, in an area of just over 2.5 square miles. The entire county (Hardee) has some 28,000 residents in 238 square miles. Wauchula is a part of the Florida Everglades, and is located an easy drive from both Orlando and the Tampa Bay area, two of my favorite places in Florida.
Wauchula is home of the famous "Baby Swap" case of 1978 (thank God I wasn't born in the hospital!). However, in my family, it is more famous for the direct hit from Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. The city was declared a federal disaster area, and several of the houses destroyed belonged to either friends or family of mine. When I went down to salvage what I could from my grandmother's house two weeks after the storm, there was still no power anywhere outside of the city square.
On September 5, 2004, the city took another direct hit from Hurricane Frances, followed in quick succession by Hurricane Jeanne on September 24, 2004. It was the most devastating thing I've ever seen with my own eyes.
I have not lived in Wauchula since the 70's, but I still visit often, and will always consider it my home.
20-day Childhood Blog Challenge
I haven't been a very good blogger recently, so to get me back in the mood, I've found another blog challenge. So, here we go.
Day 1 – When were you born?
Day 2 – Did you have a happy childhood?
Day 3 – Post a picture of yourself from your childhood.
Day 4 – How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle?
Day 5 – Who was your favorite teacher?
Day 6 – What was your favorite subject?
Day 7 – What was your favorite game?
Day 8 – Do you remember anything about your personality when you were a child?
Day 9 – Were you good at making friends?
Day 10 – Were you a good student?
Day 11 – Who was your childhood best friend?
Day 12 – Did you play outside? What did you like to play? How long did you play outside per day? Could you play outside all year long?
Day 13 – Did you play on the streets? Was it dangerous to play in the streets? What kind of things did you do in the streets?
Day 14 – When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Day 15 – Can you remember specific things from your childhood clearly?
Day 16 – What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
Day 17 – What was your worst punishment as a child?
Day 18 – Where did you grow up? Did you move frequently? If so, why?
Day 19 – How are you similar to your parents? How are you different?
Day 20 – Did you have any nicknames? Tell us about them.
Day 2 – Did you have a happy childhood?
Day 3 – Post a picture of yourself from your childhood.
Day 4 – How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle?
Day 5 – Who was your favorite teacher?
Day 6 – What was your favorite subject?
Day 7 – What was your favorite game?
Day 8 – Do you remember anything about your personality when you were a child?
Day 9 – Were you good at making friends?
Day 10 – Were you a good student?
Day 11 – Who was your childhood best friend?
Day 12 – Did you play outside? What did you like to play? How long did you play outside per day? Could you play outside all year long?
Day 13 – Did you play on the streets? Was it dangerous to play in the streets? What kind of things did you do in the streets?
Day 14 – When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Day 15 – Can you remember specific things from your childhood clearly?
Day 16 – What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
Day 17 – What was your worst punishment as a child?
Day 18 – Where did you grow up? Did you move frequently? If so, why?
Day 19 – How are you similar to your parents? How are you different?
Day 20 – Did you have any nicknames? Tell us about them.
Friday, May 11, 2012
What Gets Me Through The Day
Some people have to use all their energy to get through the day. I don't envy them. Even in my darkest days, I always knew that something better was just over the horizon. Now, those dark days are few and far between.
But when they hit (and even then they don't), I've learned that there are things I can think about that make my entire outlook on life brighter. Two things in particular. Two things that, as I go through each day, I am one day closer to seeing again.
I love these boys. So very, very much. I really didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as I love each of them.
But when they hit (and even then they don't), I've learned that there are things I can think about that make my entire outlook on life brighter. Two things in particular. Two things that, as I go through each day, I am one day closer to seeing again.
 |
| My Bug |
 |
| Peanut |
Follow Friday - The Hob
I find it very interesting that I started this post several weeks ago, and am only just now finalizing and posting it. (It's been a VERY busy few weeks!)
This is where you ask, "Why is it interesting?" You'll have to read to find out.
Over the years, there have been a handful of movies, television programs, musicians or athletes/sports teams that I have just LOVED. LOVED enough to become enthralled (read: obsessed) with them. Those that know me well are, at this moment, saying quietly to themselves, "Dawson's Creek." Yes, I was one of those. I was a Creeker.
Part of being a Creeker was being active on fansites, which were still a fairly new phenomena in the late 1990s. Fansites are exactly what they sounds like: a site for fans to come andstalk keep tabs on their favorites actors. A fansite can be about a person, a character, a book, a movie, a television show, a musician, basically anything someone is a fan of. Depending on the site, you can find out just about anything about that subject, from new projects to personal relationships to off-screen hijinks to arrest records. Some are very well-done, mature sites. Others are....not. I admit, as a young fan of Dawson's Creek, I looked for any and all information that I could find.
As I've grown older (and hopefully, more mature), I've found that I have little patience for sites that stray too far into the personal lives of my favorite actors. That has led me to be quite a bit more picky when searching for fansites to help me keep track of projects/actors I'm interested in.
Now those that know me well are, at this moment, saying quietly to themselves, "She's about to start talking about The Hunger Games, isn't she?"
Unlike Dawson's Creek, it took me awhile to start trolling fansites for The Hunger Games. I read the books long before ever hearing about a movie, and I've never been one to follow fansites for books (however, I must say: Divergent, by Veronica Roth. Yeah, they got me, hook, line and sinker). So it wasn't until filming began that I really started searching to see what I could find out about the cast, crew, production schedule, etc. Once I started, however, there was no going back.
There are numerous fansites out there for The Hunger Games, as well as for the people involved in the film. After several days of reading and searching, I quickly realized that there were only a small handful that were a) up-to-date, b) run by responsible journalists, c) well-organized, and d) for true fans (by which, I mean, fans of the story, fans who can break down a movie sequence, fans who can analyze a book passage for the unspoken message).
Of those small few that made my cut, there was one, in particular, that continued to draw me in. The news is current and applicable, but stayed away from the "who's-dating-whom, who-impregnated-whom, who-got-arrested-last-night" tabloid journalism. The writing is great, they have fun contests, they run a great forum, and they found a way to use the fandom to do something more than just promote a book/movie. They partnered with WhyHunger to help raise money in support of hunger and poverty awareness. But I think the part I like the best is that these women who run the site are adults. They have lives and families and responsibilities, and yet, they still find time to have fun and be fans! And that is not meant to insult the younger fans who run sites. Remember, I was a teenager and twenty-something who worked on a fansite once. It takes people of all kinds to fill out a fandom! But as an adult, I appreciate the adult voice brought forth on this site.
For awhile now, I've considered dropping them an email to say "Thanks!" Just a note to let them know that I have an idea of the time and work they put in, all because they truly love The Hunger Games. And maybe while I'm at it, slip in a little plug on my background, you know, just in case they ever need any help.... But I haven't, and I probably won't. I'll simply continue to check for news and updates as we get closer and closer to the casting and filming (and release) of Catching Fire.
If you are a fan of The Hunger Games franchise, or even if you are just a fan of any of the people involved in the movie, visit The Hob. Say hello in the forum, enter a contest, take some time to look into the charity they support, and have fun!
Roughly two weeks ago, The Hob posted an announcement that they were on the lookout for a new blogger to join their staff. Despite being in a daylong conference with several coworkers, I managed to find time that very day to pull out my laptop and type out my application. Following that, with my usual pessimism, I waited. And waited. And checked my email. Until, only a matter of days later, I gave up. Which was stupid, because there was no deadline for applications, I had (and still have) no idea how many people applied, and anyway, why do I always assume that I suck at everything I do? Welcome to my life....
But then, one day, I logged into my email, and saw this message: "We...want to invite you to join our team." Wait. What? I had to read it three or four times, because I was SURE I'd read it wrong, that it really said, "Thanks, but we've decided to invite someone else." Sorry, I just have absolutely no self-confidence, unless we're talking about me with my trumpet. And we aren't. So.
So.
So, I emailed back, and they replied, and I replied, and...well, you get the idea. And I'm now one of their bloggers - that is, I WILL be, if any news ever happens again. It has been a S..L..O..W.. news week.
This is where you ask, "Why is it interesting?" You'll have to read to find out.
Over the years, there have been a handful of movies, television programs, musicians or athletes/sports teams that I have just LOVED. LOVED enough to become enthralled (read: obsessed) with them. Those that know me well are, at this moment, saying quietly to themselves, "Dawson's Creek." Yes, I was one of those. I was a Creeker.
Part of being a Creeker was being active on fansites, which were still a fairly new phenomena in the late 1990s. Fansites are exactly what they sounds like: a site for fans to come and
As I've grown older (and hopefully, more mature), I've found that I have little patience for sites that stray too far into the personal lives of my favorite actors. That has led me to be quite a bit more picky when searching for fansites to help me keep track of projects/actors I'm interested in.
Now those that know me well are, at this moment, saying quietly to themselves, "She's about to start talking about The Hunger Games, isn't she?"
Unlike Dawson's Creek, it took me awhile to start trolling fansites for The Hunger Games. I read the books long before ever hearing about a movie, and I've never been one to follow fansites for books (however, I must say: Divergent, by Veronica Roth. Yeah, they got me, hook, line and sinker). So it wasn't until filming began that I really started searching to see what I could find out about the cast, crew, production schedule, etc. Once I started, however, there was no going back.
There are numerous fansites out there for The Hunger Games, as well as for the people involved in the film. After several days of reading and searching, I quickly realized that there were only a small handful that were a) up-to-date, b) run by responsible journalists, c) well-organized, and d) for true fans (by which, I mean, fans of the story, fans who can break down a movie sequence, fans who can analyze a book passage for the unspoken message).
Of those small few that made my cut, there was one, in particular, that continued to draw me in. The news is current and applicable, but stayed away from the "who's-dating-whom, who-impregnated-whom, who-got-arrested-last-night" tabloid journalism. The writing is great, they have fun contests, they run a great forum, and they found a way to use the fandom to do something more than just promote a book/movie. They partnered with WhyHunger to help raise money in support of hunger and poverty awareness. But I think the part I like the best is that these women who run the site are adults. They have lives and families and responsibilities, and yet, they still find time to have fun and be fans! And that is not meant to insult the younger fans who run sites. Remember, I was a teenager and twenty-something who worked on a fansite once. It takes people of all kinds to fill out a fandom! But as an adult, I appreciate the adult voice brought forth on this site.
For awhile now, I've considered dropping them an email to say "Thanks!" Just a note to let them know that I have an idea of the time and work they put in, all because they truly love The Hunger Games. And maybe while I'm at it, slip in a little plug on my background, you know, just in case they ever need any help.... But I haven't, and I probably won't. I'll simply continue to check for news and updates as we get closer and closer to the casting and filming (and release) of Catching Fire.
If you are a fan of The Hunger Games franchise, or even if you are just a fan of any of the people involved in the movie, visit The Hob. Say hello in the forum, enter a contest, take some time to look into the charity they support, and have fun!
Roughly two weeks ago, The Hob posted an announcement that they were on the lookout for a new blogger to join their staff. Despite being in a daylong conference with several coworkers, I managed to find time that very day to pull out my laptop and type out my application. Following that, with my usual pessimism, I waited. And waited. And checked my email. Until, only a matter of days later, I gave up. Which was stupid, because there was no deadline for applications, I had (and still have) no idea how many people applied, and anyway, why do I always assume that I suck at everything I do? Welcome to my life....
But then, one day, I logged into my email, and saw this message: "We...want to invite you to join our team." Wait. What? I had to read it three or four times, because I was SURE I'd read it wrong, that it really said, "Thanks, but we've decided to invite someone else." Sorry, I just have absolutely no self-confidence, unless we're talking about me with my trumpet. And we aren't. So.
So.
So, I emailed back, and they replied, and I replied, and...well, you get the idea. And I'm now one of their bloggers - that is, I WILL be, if any news ever happens again. It has been a S..L..O..W.. news week.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Follow Friday - Disney Tourist Blog
For those of you that so faithfully follow my blogs (come on, you know you do), you may have discovered a few things about me:
1. I love my Bug.
2. I love all things Disney.
3. I love photography.
For my first Follow Friday, I reference my Bug while introducing you to his mama. For my second, we're going to look at the next two items on the above list: Disney and photography.
I made my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1979. I don't remember the trip (I was a year old), but my family says I've been obsessed and in love ever since. Even after moving away from Florida, my family continued to make yearly visits to WDW until 1999-2000. There was a small gap between trips, as I fully entered adulthood, and was responsible for paying for my own trips, but by the mid-2000s, my yearly trips were back on (or, as in the case of 2011, thrice-yearly visits).
I've been taking photos since I was a child, as well. I remember, at an early age, getting ahold of my dad's old 110 camera to take pictures while on vacation. By the time I was a teenager, I had a fancy 35mm. It was just a point-and-shoot, but at $235, it was fancy for me. Packed away in boxes, I have 1000s of images from various trips and events in my life.
In March of 2003, I was out of work, and stumbled into a job working in a private photo lab. That temporary position filling photo orders turned into an extended job printing orders, which turned into photography lessons, which turned into time behind the camera at real photo shoots, which turned into several shoots of my own, which turned into money to start buying my own professional photography equipment. I now do freelance work for a local newspaper, I still shoot for the company that taught me all I know, and I've started my own photography business.
One thing I've always wanted to do more of is take pictures at amusement parks, specifically Disney parks. I'm usually so enthralled in the aspect of just BEING there that I forget about the large, overly-packed camera bag on my back (I tend to bring everything. Including the kitchen sink. Actually, two of them). Then I get back to the house, and realize that I've got 30 photos to cover 10-12 hours spent at the park. A few months ago, I tried spending a day at the Magic Kingdom with nothing but my point-and-shoot. I definitely had more photos at the end of the day, but none of them were what I really wanted.
What to do.....?
Then, it happened.
In the course of browsing some of the many (and I do mean MANY) Disney websites, podcasts and blogs that I frequent, I stumbled across one I'd never seen before. A blog on Disney....and photography!
Tom Bricker is an amazing photographer who puts his talent strictly into the art of capturing moments at Disney theme parks (and all that go with them). He's also very good at explaining why he took that shot, how he took it, and whether it turned out the way he wanted. He gives tips, hints, advice and warnings with both knowledge and humor. He has, in the short space of about 2 weeks, become my photography hero.
Please check Tom out at Disney Tourist Blog. If all you do is look at the photos, you will have given yourself a gift.
1. I love my Bug.
2. I love all things Disney.
3. I love photography.
For my first Follow Friday, I reference my Bug while introducing you to his mama. For my second, we're going to look at the next two items on the above list: Disney and photography.
I made my first trip to Walt Disney World in 1979. I don't remember the trip (I was a year old), but my family says I've been obsessed and in love ever since. Even after moving away from Florida, my family continued to make yearly visits to WDW until 1999-2000. There was a small gap between trips, as I fully entered adulthood, and was responsible for paying for my own trips, but by the mid-2000s, my yearly trips were back on (or, as in the case of 2011, thrice-yearly visits).
I've been taking photos since I was a child, as well. I remember, at an early age, getting ahold of my dad's old 110 camera to take pictures while on vacation. By the time I was a teenager, I had a fancy 35mm. It was just a point-and-shoot, but at $235, it was fancy for me. Packed away in boxes, I have 1000s of images from various trips and events in my life.
In March of 2003, I was out of work, and stumbled into a job working in a private photo lab. That temporary position filling photo orders turned into an extended job printing orders, which turned into photography lessons, which turned into time behind the camera at real photo shoots, which turned into several shoots of my own, which turned into money to start buying my own professional photography equipment. I now do freelance work for a local newspaper, I still shoot for the company that taught me all I know, and I've started my own photography business.
One thing I've always wanted to do more of is take pictures at amusement parks, specifically Disney parks. I'm usually so enthralled in the aspect of just BEING there that I forget about the large, overly-packed camera bag on my back (I tend to bring everything. Including the kitchen sink. Actually, two of them). Then I get back to the house, and realize that I've got 30 photos to cover 10-12 hours spent at the park. A few months ago, I tried spending a day at the Magic Kingdom with nothing but my point-and-shoot. I definitely had more photos at the end of the day, but none of them were what I really wanted.
What to do.....?
Then, it happened.
In the course of browsing some of the many (and I do mean MANY) Disney websites, podcasts and blogs that I frequent, I stumbled across one I'd never seen before. A blog on Disney....and photography!
Tom Bricker is an amazing photographer who puts his talent strictly into the art of capturing moments at Disney theme parks (and all that go with them). He's also very good at explaining why he took that shot, how he took it, and whether it turned out the way he wanted. He gives tips, hints, advice and warnings with both knowledge and humor. He has, in the short space of about 2 weeks, become my photography hero.
Please check Tom out at Disney Tourist Blog. If all you do is look at the photos, you will have given yourself a gift.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Follow Friday - Thriftstorehoppin
A popular occurrence on Twitter is what we call Follow Friday. Or #follow #friday. Or #ff. It's a specific day when Tweeters suggest to the Twitter world some profiles they believe we should follow. It really is neat, especially when you're new to Twitter, and several people give you a #ff shout out. It can get you followers. It can give you people to follow.
I want to start doing my own version of the #ff right here on this blog.
If you follow any of my blogs, you've probably discovered that I am completely in love with a little boy named Bug. Well, Bug actually has a family, even though they don't get talked about as much - a little brother named Peanut, a mom (Bug's mama), a dad (Bug's daddy), and a dog named Tessa (or, in early Bug-speak, "good girl"). I truly love the entire family. Bug's daddy is my cousin. We've known each of each other since he was a small child, but have only really known each other since early 2003. We quickly became very close friends, and for several years, I spent as much time with him and his family as I did with my own (we only live an hour or so apart). In 2005, he rocked my world by expressing interest in - gasp! - a girl.
I know. Rude.
I tried really hard not to like her (ok, I really didn't try that hard). But I could see that she was around for the duration, so I slowly...slowly......slowly.....got to know her. They got married the next year. For the first year(ish), I visited other cousins in the area, but never specifically visit the newly married couple. In fact, I never saw their first apartment. I admit, I was having trouble adjusting to the new dynamic in my relationship with them. And then, one day, a Bug was born. And my cousins became Bug's mama and Bug's daddy.
I met Bug when he was just 9 days old, and knew my life would never be the same. I visited again several months later, and again a few months after that. And then, suddenly, I was seeing them every month or so. As I fell more in love with my boy, I discovered that I'd never really gotten to know Bug's mama. What a waste of the past 2+ years!!
As the next 2 years went by, I began spending as much (or more) time with Bug and Bug's mama than I did with Bug's daddy (not intentionally, but we no longer based my visits strictly on his work schedule). And Bug's mama became one of my best friends, and probably the one person that I am the closest to in this world (outside of my own mama).
The relationship was cemented that winter day when Peanut came into the world.
In the 14 months that Peanut has been on this earth, I have visited them 13 times. Bug now knows (and calls me by) my name. On my last visit, just two short weeks ago, Peanut was trying to say my name. When I visit, the boys know that we WILL watch Disney movies. We WILL wrestle and tickle. We WILL go out to eat somewhere. Cameras WILL come out, and pictures of anything and everything will be taken. And maybe the best part of all (well, maybe not better than the Disney movies, but close enough), thrift stores WILL be visited.
I come from a thrifty family. The women in my family LOVE shopping at thrift stores. I have never liked them. I don't know why, b/c someone one else can shop at a thrift store for me, and I'm fine with it. But I just can't shop there myself. However, in friendship, I tag along when visitiing Bug and his family. And over the weeks and months, I've discovered that I really like thrift stores.
In the past few visits, I've gotten several books (for pennies), unopened wallpaper border (enough rolls to decorate a bathroom, once I get my new house - for a few quarters), an argyle sweater vest ($3 - AND it's argyle!), and along with my own finds, I've helped in finding toys and argyle sweater vests for Bug and Peanut.
FYI, I love argyle sweater vests almost as much as I love Bug and Peanut.
And now, I'm sure you're asking, "She started out talking about Follow Friday, and went off on a tangent about the kid - he's cute, and all, but what does he have to do with Follow Friday?" Well, you see, as I've just explained, Bug's mama is the one that introduced me - REALLY introduced me - to thrift stores. She finds all kinds of treasures when she shops, and she comes up with all these great ideas just by looking at something on one of the store shelves.
And best of all, she has now started blogging about her thrift store adventures.
So, do yourself a favor. Check out Thrift Store Hoppin', and tell her I said, "Hi, Bug!" She'll laugh, and know exactly who sent you.
I want to start doing my own version of the #ff right here on this blog.
If you follow any of my blogs, you've probably discovered that I am completely in love with a little boy named Bug. Well, Bug actually has a family, even though they don't get talked about as much - a little brother named Peanut, a mom (Bug's mama), a dad (Bug's daddy), and a dog named Tessa (or, in early Bug-speak, "good girl"). I truly love the entire family. Bug's daddy is my cousin. We've known each of each other since he was a small child, but have only really known each other since early 2003. We quickly became very close friends, and for several years, I spent as much time with him and his family as I did with my own (we only live an hour or so apart). In 2005, he rocked my world by expressing interest in - gasp! - a girl.
I know. Rude.
I tried really hard not to like her (ok, I really didn't try that hard). But I could see that she was around for the duration, so I slowly...slowly......slowly.....got to know her. They got married the next year. For the first year(ish), I visited other cousins in the area, but never specifically visit the newly married couple. In fact, I never saw their first apartment. I admit, I was having trouble adjusting to the new dynamic in my relationship with them. And then, one day, a Bug was born. And my cousins became Bug's mama and Bug's daddy.
I met Bug when he was just 9 days old, and knew my life would never be the same. I visited again several months later, and again a few months after that. And then, suddenly, I was seeing them every month or so. As I fell more in love with my boy, I discovered that I'd never really gotten to know Bug's mama. What a waste of the past 2+ years!!
As the next 2 years went by, I began spending as much (or more) time with Bug and Bug's mama than I did with Bug's daddy (not intentionally, but we no longer based my visits strictly on his work schedule). And Bug's mama became one of my best friends, and probably the one person that I am the closest to in this world (outside of my own mama).
The relationship was cemented that winter day when Peanut came into the world.
In the 14 months that Peanut has been on this earth, I have visited them 13 times. Bug now knows (and calls me by) my name. On my last visit, just two short weeks ago, Peanut was trying to say my name. When I visit, the boys know that we WILL watch Disney movies. We WILL wrestle and tickle. We WILL go out to eat somewhere. Cameras WILL come out, and pictures of anything and everything will be taken. And maybe the best part of all (well, maybe not better than the Disney movies, but close enough), thrift stores WILL be visited.
I come from a thrifty family. The women in my family LOVE shopping at thrift stores. I have never liked them. I don't know why, b/c someone one else can shop at a thrift store for me, and I'm fine with it. But I just can't shop there myself. However, in friendship, I tag along when visitiing Bug and his family. And over the weeks and months, I've discovered that I really like thrift stores.
In the past few visits, I've gotten several books (for pennies), unopened wallpaper border (enough rolls to decorate a bathroom, once I get my new house - for a few quarters), an argyle sweater vest ($3 - AND it's argyle!), and along with my own finds, I've helped in finding toys and argyle sweater vests for Bug and Peanut.
FYI, I love argyle sweater vests almost as much as I love Bug and Peanut.
And now, I'm sure you're asking, "She started out talking about Follow Friday, and went off on a tangent about the kid - he's cute, and all, but what does he have to do with Follow Friday?" Well, you see, as I've just explained, Bug's mama is the one that introduced me - REALLY introduced me - to thrift stores. She finds all kinds of treasures when she shops, and she comes up with all these great ideas just by looking at something on one of the store shelves.
And best of all, she has now started blogging about her thrift store adventures.
So, do yourself a favor. Check out Thrift Store Hoppin', and tell her I said, "Hi, Bug!" She'll laugh, and know exactly who sent you.
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