Friday Flotsam

Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr………. . . . . .. … ?

This isn’t going to be a heavy post, I promise, but I cannot, simply cannot go today without mentioning Heather Armstrong and the gutted blogging community this week. What a tragedy. I remembering discovering Heather (and Ree at the same time!) waaaaay back around 2008 or 2009 and being completely swallowed by her rawness, her hilarity, her brilliant way of storytelling that she somehow got away with without being banned or cancelled. What a writer. What a woman.

I ache for Jon, Marlo and Leta. And everyone in her day-to-day orbit.

I was on a walk with my friend Lisa the other night, the day the news broke, and it got us talking about death and suicide that has touched our own lives, (just some calorie-burning, lighthearted chit chat, ya know!) and I was telling her about my friend Sage who took his own life five years and just a handful of days ago. I have his ashes in a little jar on my chest of drawers. And sometimes I talk to him. I talk to the jar. Lisa was telling me about a close friend of hers who died a while back (it’s a total mystery and it was a pretty big story). She has a flannel shirt that he often wore. She talks to the shirt. Death, it stains us all.

If you were in Heather’s personal life, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. She touched everyone. Millions. Truly millions. I know she struggled. She felt so much pain. If you’re in a similar situation, please stay. Please know you are not at all alone in this. I’ve never been good with serious messages like this, but know I ache for your pain. Please talk to someone.

Rest well, Heather.

Okay, I’m turning this around quick before you all leave to renew your Xanax.

I’m not even fifty pages into Wish You Were Here and WHOA. What it’s like to relive those early Covid days is eerie.

I was thinking about this other day, how our language with the virus has changed over the course of three years. In the early days we called it the Coronavirus. And it was contracted. One contracted the Coronavirus.

Then later on it was Covid-19. And one tested positive for Covid-19. (we still say tested positive but hang on with me.)

Then it was just shortened to Covid. And you got it. You got Covid. Bahahaha.

I know there’s also ‘Rona. The ‘Vid. What else? What am I missing?

But in the book she’s on the island and she’s totally and completely alone. Everyone is gone. Everything is closed. And I’m trying to figure out how she’ll navigate these next two weeks with garbage wi-fi and only a toothbrush.

Oh yeah, and remember when we thought The Coronavirus would be over in 14 days? Bahahahaha.

This next sentence will stun you to silence.

Lately I’ve been drawn to the color purple.

The Color Purple, ha! That made me giggle. I need a life.

But really, purple. PURPLE. Not all purples, though. But various shades of deep purples and pale purples and vintage purples and pinkish purples. They’re apparently my color of the season. (and only in the garden. Only flowers!)

I guess we could say I’m in my LAVENDER HAZE ERA. (don’t delete me from your life.)

The other morning I was running with my friend Mindy and I said to her, “Yesterday I pulled a Mindy and . . . “

She interrupted, “HOLD ON. That makes me nervous. What do I do that you did that I do that you normally don’t do but I normally do that you did?” <–something like that.

And it got me wondering, Carrie Bradshaw style, what would it mean for YOU if someone pulled a you? What would that look like? Has someone ever said to you, “I pulled a Rebecca and….” or “I pulled a Susan and . . .” or “I pulled a Laura and . . .” – what is that. What specifically is a YOU?

I’m trying to think what mine would be. Said bro too much? Bought yet another plant? Wore some ’80s grandma-looking high-waisted trousers?

You know what, I’m better left in a blissful state of oblivion.

(but tell me yours. pronto.)

And no I’m not going to tell you what “pulling a Mindy” is. Girl would have my hide.

Weekend plans?

It’s (almost) Mother’s Day! I’m helping with Field Day at school today. (wearing my best visor for it, you bettah believe), helping host a slew of birthdays in our momosphere tonight (please don’t rain!), an EARLY soccer game tomorrow morning (remind me to take ibuprofen tonight), and the rest is yard maintenance and outside chill time. I need a blanket. A mimosa. Some good tunes. And my book. That is it. (okay and maybe a hair serum)

From this weeeeeek! Two light yet comforting dinner or lunch ideas. Kale Salad with Smoked Salmon for ya. Plus the video! And then a Sheet Pan dinner involving chicken, potatoes and peppers. SO SO GOOD. Here’s the video for that one.

Mothers, have yourself a wonderful weekend. Eat the good cheese. Sip the good wine. Put on sunscreen. Look at flowers for a while. Light a candle. Listen to this.

okay bye!