Apparently I only write here on Fridays now.

There’s a part of my choir of voices that are rising up singing about how that is such a failure, that I should be writing here regularly, and it’s not for lack of want. I think about things as I’m driving to work that I would like to write about. But apparently, I only give myself the time to do it on Friday.

I think this week I’m just too wrung out not to write. I don’t want to carry this over into the long weekend we have planned.

This week has been gut wrentching. Beginning on Sunday when we gathered officially for final time with Audra and Joe before they departed to DC. It wasn’t exactly as we had planned, we didn’t get the whole day together but it was ok. Just the thought of us doing that, hearing each other’s voice SAY that was what we were going to do was enough. As we are frantically running around here this morning gathering and packing and checking off lists, I know how nuts it is trying to get out the door. I refused to cave though, refused to crack because this is a great opportunity for them. Traveling to a far away place, unexplored and ripe with advenures for them, who could deny that to someone you love, right? GO! Leap! LIVE! This world is much tinier than it was back in the 90’s when I left and we stayed in touch really well back then. Today we have the internets and the texting and it’s a daily communication that will likely be stronger.

But still. I really hate goodbyes. So longs. See ya laters. I hate them.

Sunday night was the series finale of Mad Men. And yeah, I’m putting it in the box of goodbyes because I loved this show. It choked me with nostalgia at times, for a time that I don’t really remember even but that’s what it did. And it ended. And I read the entire internet about the finale. But still. It’s over.

We have had five goodbyes at work this week. Some were planned, some were announced some were a surprise. And I do believe everyone is all the better for it. People are chasing dreams, the organization will move forward. But it is a loss. It is a loss of collective memory and information. And it is a change in the every day normal at the office. Faces gone. Offices empty.

Thursday night David Letterman signed off for the final time and I have to say, that was something else I was nostalgic about. I remember talking to Scott Hill on the phone one night when we were in high school, late. Way later than I was allowed to be on my phone, I’m sure. And I distinctly remember him telling me about David Letterman. “You really should watch it. You would like it”

And because I would do most anything for the attention of a boy back then, I did. And I did like it. And I remember the bru ha ha over the Tonight Show. And I moved with him to CBS. And I went to the theatre and took photos my first trip to NYC, and I went to the Hello Deli and without meaning to, David Letterman became a central thread to many of my life’s memories. He signed off with grace and kind words and while I haven’t watched him in years mostly because I’m asleep by that time but if I am awake I’m watching Jimmy, it felt like a goodbye to *my youth, to *my memories as well.

Our neighbors have sold their house and are moving to Bend, Oregon. I remember Julie telling me last summer that they had made the decision. It was going to happen. And I am never one to say, DO NOT DO IT. Because I have done it, I have taken the leap and it brought me wild joy and lifelong friends. This is the first neighborhood that I’ve lived in where we are a community. Neighbors gather, we visit, we play and laugh together. It’s like the movies. It is wonderful.

Last night was Julie and Farrel’s last night in their house. They will depart for Bend tomorrow but will be back in a few weeks for some medical procedures. It really is just a see you in a few weeks but for the house, and knowing that it holds our friends Julie Farrel and their dog Daisy Droke as we walk by on our Winnie Walks…that is over.

YOU GUYS I CANNOT STAND ONE MORE FUCKING ENDING OR GOODBYE THIS WEEK.

The way I am with goodbyes, just ask my family. Sobbing, snot oozing mess. Stories are told that when I was a wee child, 3 years old, I would cry everytime we left someplace and I would tell EVERYTHING good bye. “goodbye trees! goodbye mountains!”

drama.

But I haven’t sobbed this week. I’ve held strong. (I’m crying now a little but man, I kind of need to) and in just a few hours we will set out for our first weekend of camping this summer. We will meet my sis and brother in law and nephews and we shall camp. No teardrop for us this time as Taryn and Brett got themselves a fancy awesome camper and there’s only one allowed per site. Winnie is going with us.

We always took our dogs camping when I was little, so we’ll see how this works out!

It has been one helluva week.

SO many new beginnings for these people in my life! For that I am excited.

I know that we have trips to DC and to Oregon in our future. For that I am excited.

I have four days off from work, to soak up and breathe in and to live this life.

For that I am excited.

and so grateful.

Cheers to new beginnings!

It’s been a soggy few weeks here in The Plains.

Everyone’s looking on Craigslist and Ebay to buy passage on the Ark, which is surely what’s coming next if the rains keep coming down. Our lakes have filled up. From drought to FULL in 5 days.

We are lucky here, only some basement flooding and some a/c issues and Mark is working to resolve both of those.

In other news, we have managed to keep this house super clean ALL WEEK!!!

I’m not even kidding as to how that needs a celebration on it’s own.

Last week I got things planted and it’s been fun to watch them grow. The seeds have sprouted. All except for my sunflower garden, which were eaten by birds as the seeds washed to the top of the ground. It’s okay. I’ve got more.

The weekend is full of fun. Time spent with friends, celebrating big moments in life, birthdays, new adventures.

Summer Breeze concert series starts Sunday, and while that means Mark will be booked I’ll get to spend my day with Audra and enjoy some last moments before she and Joe head to DC on Monday.

Memorial Day weekend is just ahead and that means time with my sisser and her family and camping. It’ll be a short week and a long weekend and I cannot wait.

Cheers to you and yours this Friday.

Week one navigating a life with zero major events to produce has been lovely. Really. Lovely.

Home cooked meals in the evening, and that isn’t much of a shift, I do try to plan and cook at least 4 nights out of the 7, but lately it was more like 1 night and we would get take out or walk across to the Mont. So that was nice.

We spent time together, my husband and I and we were PRESENT. Neither of us were working on something else, answering emails, head in the phones (*that’s always me btw) we were present. We took Winnie Walks, we watched The Voice (save your disdain. I have no patience for it) and laughed and did our own critiquing. Mark’s go-to? “That’s a horrible song. Just horrible. Why did they pick that song.” Mine is: “Awwww they look so pretty!”

We went to see David Sedaris with Trish and laughed and laughed. We saw many friends in the audience, saying hello and being part of this world where great stuff happens. Participating.

I Love These Things.

Work has been great as well. Maybe because it’s the only thing I have to worry about, now. But I love that I laugh at work. I laugh a lot. There is stress, and deadlines and some prickly moments that come with working in any kind of office environment. But seriously. I laugh with my co-workers a great deal and the fact that that is a precious and rare thing isn’t lost on me.

I love that.

The sun has been shining and the weather is perfect. That goes a long way for my mental health and I love being able to get home and take long walks in our neighborhood.

I love that even though this weekend is chock full of events and some work, I will be around friends, I get to officiate a wedding tomorrow, I get to sit in a theatre on Sunday and watch my favorite kiddos perform.

We have our Girl Awards Ceremony tomorrow in OKC, and while it *is work, I’ll get to watch as over 200 of our girls are acknowledged for projects that they have finished, projects that directly give back and make an impact on their communities. They will receive their Bronze, Silver and Gold awards and that is quite a thing to celebrate.

Tomorrow night we get to be couples with another couple and have dinner and play cards against humanity and laugh and be silly.

I love this weekend.

Today is a semi-flex day for me. I get to finish up some writing, working from Norman which means no traffic-laden commute. Fridays are early days for us so I plan to go buy some of my flowers and things for the garden and finally get that planted Sunday after the showcase.

I love the anticipation of finally getting to plant.

It’s May. It’s a brand new month and at the end of it we get a long weekend camping with my Sis and her family.

Lot’s of things to love about that.

 

Happy May Day ya’ll.