Players

William Shakespeare

All the world’s a stage (from As You Like It )
All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,

The Players:

J: affectionately known as ‘the one I can’t get rid of’
My ex-husband after fifteen years of marriage. He works in sales and often as a server. We currently work for the same company in different capacities. He is father to our two amazing children.

Sam: affectionately known as ‘the one I can’t get over’
He is the man I believed to be my soul mate. He made a huge impression in a very short period of time. We keep breaking up, but can’t stay away from each other. The fact that we live four houses apart might have a small role in that. He has recently started his own remodeling company and wants to focus on that. And now we’re living together with my kids at his house. After sending me and the kids packing, he moved on and is dating a surgially enhanced sometimes Maxim model from his past. He came to his senses and now we’re living together and engaged to be married. Huh.

Rachel, the teenage daughter
She’s everything I wanted in a daughter. She’s smart and intelligent, beautiful, witty, sarcastic. She’s artistic and creative. She’s independent and confident. She’s into drama and creates drama. We have a unique relationship.

Keenan, son, affectionately known as ‘the boy’
I often called him ‘the little boy I never knew I always wanted.’ He’s the first boy born in our family in…forever. A former premie, he has constant health issues. We recently discovered he’s allergic to everything, including air. And I recently discovered that the boy is coming into his own, personality-wise. Who knew sarcasm was genetic?

Jennie, the bff and ever (wife of George, mother of Sam and Sydni)
Jennie and I became friends the first day of sixth grade when we were eleven years old. We have been inseparable ever since. She’s part of the reason that I moved to Charlotte. (A thousand miles apart was too far.) She’s the kind of friend who would drop her life and come to me in a moment of need. I know this for a fact, since I put it to the test. Jennie time is good for my soul.

Lisa, former neighbor and constant friend
Like me, Lisa is a single mom. Her son is one of Keenan’s friends. We met while living in the same apartment complex, became pool buddies, then workout buddies… She’s since moved back to Wilmington to be closer to ailing relatives and we’ve kept in touch and visited.

Donna, friend
We met through work, bonded over dog sitting, and became true friends over Candy Land. (Long story.) Our daughters are sometimes friends. We take girl trips and have girl nights. She’s incredibly beautiful…a thoroughbred. Donna has recently moved to Sumter, SC to live with Don back to Charlotte. And I miss her terribly. It just gives me an excuse for more road trips. With any luck, and a lot of planning, we will be spending much more time together.

Spring, relatively new bff (mother to Breanna, Lala, and Lena)
Spring and I met because her boyfriend was Sam’s roommate. We had so much in common, between dating, divorce, child rearing, and all the drama that entails that we became instant confidantes.

Jay, Spring’s boyfriend, Sam’s former roommate
Jay is funny and sweet, always welcoming and supportive.

Cris, J’s former boss, our friend
We’ve known each other for years. He’s fun and high maintenance. Love him anyway.

Mom, self-explanatory
She and my father adopted me at birth. (I prefer to refer to my condition as being ‘imported,’ since it sounds much more exotic.) We have a good relationship, for the most part. You decide.

Allison, sister, their biological offspring
Unfortunately, we’ve never been close, but I have always hoped that might change as we aged. I’m still waiting. Thanks to this blog, we’re getting closer. Yay! She’s on her second marriage. She has a great career as an EMT and a degree in Radiology Technology. Her two daughters, Kayleigh and Rhylee, (one from each marriage) are beautiful and intelligent and full of personality. And I miss them terribly.

Ed, Laura, and Bailey, the mayor, first lady and first daughter of The Bubble
Ed owns a lawn care company, she works as a cafeteria manager. Rachel sometimes baby-sits Bailey. These are good people who would do anything to help someone they care about. And they have proven it to me on more than one occasion. Thank you both for all you do to help me and the kids out.

Kelly, co-worker and distant bubble resident
Kelly is part of the management team for the company I work for. She’s also part friend, part family, part neighbor, all heart.

Joe, bubble resident
He’s another lawn care guy who taught Ed everything he knows and inspired him to start his own business. Now, of course, the student has surpassed the teacher. (Go, Ed!) Good man, currently dating older bubble resident, Deb.

Deb, bubble resident
She’s my hero. Currently raising her granddaughters with some assistance from her son, Tony, and coping with the loss of her husband several years ago to a massive coronary after he mowed the lawn. She’s absolutely gorgeous, never looking her age. Great for conversation over a hot mug or a wine glass.

Dave, Kimberly, and Carrie, bubble residents
He is the firefighter who lives down the street, by day he works as a mechanic. Kimberly works at the hospital. We’ve become good friends for all the right reasons. She’s funny, intelligent, open and honest. My daughter sometimes baby-sits their daughter, Carrie.

David, owner of the house J lives in
He’s always loved the kids and misses being part of our family. He’s been wonderful as far as letting J stay with him and having the kids several weekends a month.

Michael, Co-worker
He’s the consultant I’ve worked with for the last four years, with the exception of a brief ten month breather. He’s become a true friend and confidant.

Dan, the boss
He’s the best boss I’ve ever worked for, part friend. He’s the reason I’ve stayed as long as I have. And I’m sure he knows it.

Justin, Rachel’s friend

We call him Justin, the red headed tennis playing vegan. It was one of those things, trying to keep all of Rachel’s new high school friends straight. Just kind of stuck. And luckily he has embraced it.

Ashley, Rachel’s Jennie

Ashley has been around for years, but only in that past year or so has set herself apart from the rest to win the title of ‘Rachel’s Jennie.’ In her, Rachel has found a BFF for life. And I have gained another daughter.

Doug, Sam’s oldest and dearest friend

Since Doug had nowhere to live when I moved in with the kids, and since neither of us could think about making him homeless, we refered to Doug as our garage monkey. Although given his proclivity to sleep in the house he often became our living room love seat monkey or simply our couch potato. Doug moved back home over Labor Day weekend.

Vicki, Sam’s step-mom

Vicki owns a cake shop. She makes THE BEST cakes. (She even made my divorce cake.) If you live in Charlotte or surrounding areas, let me know and I’ll hook you up with her contact info. Your belly will thank me, even if your thighs don’t.

Cakes by Victoria Moore

Danny and Makenzie (Ryan and Julia)

If anything happens to me, Rachel is determined that she and Keenan go live with them. They are the friends I thought I lost in the divorce. It’s funny how tragedy can bring people together. And they have definitely been here for me in my time of need.

Please note: I reserve the right to add to this list as my life grows.

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