Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey

It’s a good look for me…

Author: thenicknick

Not so long ago, I would open my email and it would be all spam.  And while there’s the excitement of mail at all, it’s the equivalent of getting bills or flyers in the snail mailbox.  I opened my email a few minutes ago and it made me laugh and marvel over what an incredible life I have.

I am truly blessed.  Everything is different these days.  See, I still have the same amazing, wonderful, endearing kids.  And I still have the same wonderful bubble buddies.  And I’m still in the apartment, sleeping in the not-so-magical cupboard under the bed.  At the same time, my life is taking on a life of its own.  I’m finally closing in on the life I’ve always dreamed of, worked for, wanted.

When I opened my email, there was a message from Travis about what a great team we are.  I’ll let you decide after you read the post.  (I think it’s a rich blend of my words and his special touches.)  And I’m really looking forward to doing it again.  You know, next time he has a horrible lapse in judgment.

And there was a message from Jolene.  We’re cooking up a little something special.  More to follow.  Suffice it to say, we’re planners and minglers and celebrators.

There were also messages from Single Mommyhood, reminding me of the bigger community I’m a part of.  And there were comments on the blog that needed my approval.  And there were business related emails, writing related emails, networking emails.

So, I was feeling really good.  I mention frequently that I have a rich life.  And I really do.  Somehow, it all comes together.  It all works.  And I’ve truly never been happier.

That’s what I saw when I looked in the mirror.  I was getting ready to go to Kimberly’s surprise party…the one I very nearly ruined with my Facebook status.  David really should have let me know sooner.  (He can’t see it, but I’m shaking my fist at him.)  Anyway…it’s that digression thing again.  I wonder if there’s a pill I can take.  Hmmm.

Well, I was studying my reflection extra hard.  I had walked through Sears and the guys in electronics were joking around and all happy to see me.  (I work around the corner so we get to talk and bond during the week.)  And the manager of the department pulled me aside.

EM: I hope I don’t offend you when I say this.

So, I braced myself.  Let’s face it.  It’s rare that anything nice ever follows that opening.

me: Go on.

He leans in conspiratorially.

EM: You look really hot today.

And I was beaming and blushing and trying to be all easy breezy.  We’re all working on taking compliments better, right?

me: Why thank you.

And so as I studied my reflection, I was trying to figure out what it was.  What was it that made him say that?  I mean, I’m not looking particularly thin today.  I despair of ever reaching my goal weight.  (Could be the Boursin and Tomato Basil Wheat Thins.  Such a misnomer.  No one has ever gotten thin eating those crackers.)  My hair wasn’t particularly different from the rest of the week.   (Although, the fact that it finally resembles hair has made a vast improvement on my self-esteem.)  Sure, I had on some make-up.  I was in street clothes.

Then I saw it.  I’m radiating happiness these days.

I have plans.  Good plans.  And I have goals.  Exciting goals.  And I’m even achieving some of them already.  Most importantly…I have so many wonderful people in my life.  And it’s no accident.  Somehow, I manage to attract the best people.  (Okay, let the record show that I have also managed to attract some ummm unsavory people…but I do know how to get rid of them.)

Now, back to my happier thoughts.

The night was everything I thought it would be.  Oh, except for the dinner, which was so much more.  There were nine of us.  Yup.  And I was the only non-relative.  It was an honor.  (And just a little bit nerve wracking.)  And then after dinner was her version of birthday cake.  Ummm.  I still haven’t had cake since that fateful day.  So, I was thrilled that David bought cheesecake, which was just my speed.

We ended up at Sports Connection after eating.  The plan was to go bowling.  To suggest that I am not a bowler would be a gross understatement.  In fact, Carrie, their seven year old daughter, beat me by fifteen pins.  I have a few explanations for how that was possible.  The first being that she dropped a bowling ball on not one, but square on top of both of my feet before we even began, thereby eliminating me as competition.  And the second, even more plausible, is that she had the benefit of bumpers blocking her gutters.  That would have made a world of difference.

It isn’t that Carrie is this amazing phenom.  Trust me.  Her ball went rocketing down the lane at a whopping 3.5 miles per hour.  And most of the time it looked more like she was playing pinball than bowling the way it ricocheted off the bumpers.  There’s a distinct possibility that had the need arisen, I could probably have gone to the restroom, peed, washed my hands, grabbed a fresh soda, and taken a seat in the time it took her ball to leave her hand and make contact with any pins.

So, yeah.  We had a blast.  And I’m going to savor what little weekend is left before returning to work on Monday.  Yup.  I’m making every second count.  Hope you do, too.

Quick Karma:

• frolic
  

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 11:16 pm and is filed under Reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.