To Mimi

A few weeks ago, I found out that my bestest female friend and her husband, are moving to St. Louis. In fact, they are moving in 2 weeks. To most people, that isn't a big deal. But as long as I can remember, Amy was always just right down the road.

Last weekend, we had a going away party for Amy and Adam. It all happened so suddenly. If you had told me at the beginning of July that this was happening, I would've told you that you were making it up!!! Amy & I have been best friends since 1986, when my family moved to Birmingham. I can't ever remember a time in my life when she wasn't just 10 minutes down the road. For whatever reason, we were the last 2 to get married and seemed to be the only girls out of our friends to never have a boyfriend. At one point, I was convinced that we would be the crazy cat ladies living down the street. While I am so thrilled for her new job, because her current job SUCKS, I am going to miss her something terrible. Amy is such a one in a million person that nobody could ever replace her. We have always just been able to entertain each other and for whatever reason, we turn into 13 year olds when we are together. When we are apart, we can act like mature adults. Put us together and we laugh at anything!! I mean, having known her since 4th grade, I can't really put into words the kind of relationship that we have! Her family is like a second family to me. My husband says to me "She's only going to be 8 hours away" and that is true. However, I'll miss her more than she'll know. I can't imagine what it will be like for her away from her friends and family. But the good news is that technology these days are amazing. There is phone, e-mail and instant chatting. I really think I'll miss calling her & Adam up and seeing if they want to meet us for Mexican. I find it very very very very ironic that the one restaurant we would always meet at, is relocating. Amy, don't you think that's kind of weird?! I really don't think I can go there without them, but I think we just might do it and pretend they are there. :) Again, how do you explain a relationship that lasted 22 years? I don't think I'd care to exploit that here!! I'm going to keep those memories in my heart and between us. Who else in the world would still giggle at the Trash Tornado (or was it hurricane?) or the fact that our parents would sit at separate tables when we all went out to eat. Sometimes I think our husbands want to do the same thing. Amy, since you actually read this, I promise I'll call you every weekend so it's like you are down the street. I love you more than you could ever imagine and I cherish our friendship more than anything in the world. I have always thought of you as a sister. God has truly blessed me by putting you in my life. When we moved here, I was determined NOT to make friends with anybody. I mean, we moved so much, that I thought we would move again. Believe it or not, being in Troup 551 was the best thing ever. Even though we were scared to death that one night (that seemed like 10 years) at Girl Scout Camp and how dang excited I was to see the tan van that day, I cherish that more than anything in the world. I only hope one day, that our kids will be just as close as we are. Nobody will ever take your place in my heart and for that I love you Manygirl!!!! We will come visit as often as possible. Even if it means that we eat Ramen noodles forever to afford a plane ticket. I look forward to many more years of friendship. God bless you!!

Here are some pictures from the going away party:

Mr. P, Mason, Adam and sweet Hallie

Amy (trying not to cry) and Adam when we presented them with a memory book of old pictures & notes from friends



Amy, Adam, and her family (Parrish & White family- my second family)


Me, Amy and Sarah

Chris & Adam (The On Tap Brothers)


The Nooney's and Alvis' (thanks for holding my arm Amy)

Amy and I at the chocolate fountain - best picture ever!!

OH SNAP!!!!

I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!! I have been so obsessed with the age of the Chinese gymnasts at the Olympic games. I never once believed they were 16-20. NO WAY!!! Well, I stumbled on this interesting article!!!!

Click on the link below for proof:
CHINESE LIARS

1990 called...it wants its lunch back

Every Saturday morning, I go to the grocery store. Chris & I used to go together every 2 weeks. However, we decided it was best for me to go once a week. That way, things wouldn't go bad and we could get what we need for the week. Well, I got our usual items for the week. I bring my lunch 4 days a week. Working downtown, there aren't too many options. There are a few locally owned restaurants, but for the most part, it's more cost effective to bring my lunch.

Well when I was at the grocery store, looking for lunchmeat, I ran into Lunchables. I used to eat them ALL the time when I was in 7th grade. I mean that's about all that I ate in school. There are tons of Lunchables now. I mean they have pizza and even hamburgers. They even have ones with a drink & dessert. Whenever I have kids, they are going to eat these!!! Well as I was looking, I found an "old school" Lunchable with just turkey, cheese & crackers. I decided to buy one and I ate it for lunch. It actually was really good. I think I might get some next week and pair it with a salad for work. It's weird because I was just laughing at how I felt like I was in middle school. Oh and no, I'm not going to "tightroll" my pants or write notes to Sarah about how in love I am with Justin Shores. That's so 7th grade.

Ehh..

This week was just ok. Some good things happened & some not so good things happened. Sometimes you get hit below the belt and try to act like an adult. I'm not good at that during emotional situations. I'm very blessed to have a wonderful husband that can try to bring me to a rational point. Bless his heart, he tried hard, but for a few hours, I had to be left alone. I really would love to divulge in what's going on, but I'm afraid that what I put here, may hurt feelings. Especially since that isn't what it's intended to do. Words are powerful. Sometimes you can word something on an e-mail or website and you don't mean it the way the person reads it. It is very black and white. So it's best to not put them down but say them when the time is right. Right now, it isn't.

My mom and I were talking the other day about ways they would tell us that we were moving. I had been in 4 elementary schools by the time I was in 4th grade. I was hesitant to make friends because I was afraid we would move. She said one time, she got mad at my dad because he told us while she wasn't at home. She wanted them to tell us together. Mom doesn't remember this story but I do. When we lived in Marietta, she told me that I had to go and clean my room. I go into my room, after fussing, and on my bed was a Care Bear. In fact, it was Good Night Bear. I couldn't believe it!! I had been wanting that Care Bear forever. As I am sitting on my bed with my new stuffed animal, mom comes in & tells me not to clean my room and that we are moving at the end of the week. How dirty. Here's a gift, we're moving away from everybody we know. Nice. I cried and hated the car ride to Pittsburgh. For a while, I hated that Care Bear. It was a reminder of what I left behind. It actually was the last stuffed animal that I gave away several years ago.

Nonetheless, I got over it. I made friends with Susan Gross (her real name) and Beth Raines. You move on. You don't forget people & they don't forget you. It's live and that's that. It's not the end of the world and it's amazing how you can make yourself so busy that you forget how upset you once were.

For those of you who don't care, the NKOTB album comes out a month from today. The concert is October 29th. I can't wait!!!!!

Oh & go see Stepbrothers (rated R). That movie cracked me up. Watch for the sleep walking bit. That was my favorite. So many one-liners, it's crazy. Ok I'm off to catch up on Thursday's Big Brother. I don't have DVR but a VCR. I like to keep it old school.