Epiphanies, Magic and Ricky Ricardos

WoW! Almost a year to the day when one of us last posted. Do y'all know we started this in 2011??!! We are hilarious!! So much has changed since we started. I am not even sure if we are Candy Girl, Blondie and Gypsy anymore. What do you guys think? She we have new names? And if so, what should they be? I try to think about who we are now. Although I think maybe we are still deciding. And I think that's ok. Because if we weren't changing, weren't growing we would be in a constant state of rutted. My Jews would not like that, and I want my adopted people happy. So here I am for all intent and purposes in New York City...ok in Westchester...home of the rich and richer. I am a National and International Writer, I co-own a business that is growing quickly and I love a Ricky Ricardo who loves me back. But you know what? I still feel like a chubby teen who still doesn't know what in the HELL she is doing. Time passes so quickly and lessons learned become more poignant and more refined/defined. Love is a tricky think for me. I'm still not sure if I trust it or not. And my Ricky is a constant surprise. New love in middle years brings a whole new perspective. I am learning to let myself be loved...which is not easy! I am the nurture-er, not the nurtured. And all My Ricky wants to do is take care of me and make sure I am happy. My BIGGEST issue is appreciating the day IN the day and not over thinking things. I am REALLY bad at over thinking things--much to my detriment. My Ricky said something to me, and I don't know if it will resonate with you guys, but growing up with an alcoholic parent these words were a huge epiphany to me. Ricky said, " I have bad days, I have bad moods, you drive me crazy but I am NOT going to stop loving you." And I thought to myself, "WoW"! I have spent my whole entire life trying to gauge other people's moods and putting it on myself to make them happy. It was my job to anticipate how things were going by watching people...watching their faces. I realized I don't have to do that, I just have to be me. And although it's hard to let that go, a huge weight was lifted. So, my dear girls, here's to a new year and here's to epiphanies. Here's to growing more in love...with ourselves. Here's to finding things that not only pay the bills but nourishes our spirit. We bring magic because we are filled with magic...don't ever forget that. Love you both so much! #3 (Until I find a better name)

What Happens On The Front Porch, Stays On The Front Porch!

Hello My Lovely's! Yes, can you believe I finally found time to blog???!!! I know Gypsy, about time, huh? :-) Well my Girls, here we are again, separated by oceans & millions of miles, but as always connected by heart. Life here in Oz is hot as blue blazes at the moment & busier than a one armed paper hanger! I've become a master house painter, who would have thunk it, me painting houses. Can I just say, never in my life have I been so tired! It's a good tired, but tired non the less. CT and I are just thankful for the work, because this is what will get us back home, and drum roll please... It's what helped us to pay off the house! Yes, the Kiwi Byrd's Nest is officially ours!!!! Thanks be to Jehovah for all His blessings! Now, the next step is to get us moved across the pond! How are you two & the Families? Not a day passes that you're not in my thoughts and prayers and of course every time I have a cup of tea, coffee, or glass of wine you're right there, sharing it with me. <3 We really do need to set up Skype time, it would wonderful to see you both and talk. I know trying to get the timing right for all of three of us is not easy, but think about when would be good for you and let me know. The coming few weeks will be really busy for us, we've got three new homes to paint so, no rest for weary, but hopefully I'll have a bit more time after that. We manage to squeeze in a date with our Little Love & Kiddos each week, such a special time, and Little Love is so into it, he smiles & talks and this week shared his duck call! Yes, he tries to mimic his Daddy's duck calls! Too funny! The picture I posted with my blog has special meaning, it made me think about all of those precious hours on the front porch that I'm looking forward to spending with you both in the near future and just a reminder, what happens on the front porch, stays on the front porch! ;-) I love you both so much and miss you something fierce! Take care & we'll talk soon! TOWFL <3

One and Forty Two Years of Day Dreams and Midnight Moonlight Bubbles...

Well, well, well, my Girlies. Blondie, Candy Girl and me,still the Gypsy. Two years since we posted. We were only 136 years of day dreams then. So, I guess the question is...who are we now? Are our passions the same? How much has changed in 2 years? I can't even remember the "Prince Charming" I was last talking about. LoL!! And while it's true, I have mellowed, I still haven't settled. I am a little further down the road with my writing...an INTERNATIONAL BONAFIDE sort. Blondie is a Gammy and Candy Girl may need to find a new name. We have had empty nests, babies, epiphanies, and closed chapters. We have loved, learned, faced challenges with others and ourselves...and we have made progress. And as we all know in our 142 years of wisdom...we are always, always learning. I think it's true what "they" say. It isn't about the destination. It IS about the journey. I like who we have become. I like that fact that after 142 years we still need each other. We need to stay connected, and we need to keep our hearts full of youthful exuberance, It is very easy to give in to just existing and not really living these beautiful lives we have been given. My one true wish for us collectively is that we always revel in Midnight, Moonlight Bubbles. Even if we can't be together,,, we can still dance under the moon and send our love into the skies. All our intention wrapped inside a rainbowed bubble. I love you girlies...and after all these years, maybe MY biggest change, is that I FINALLY love me too. Prince Charming is out there, but so is a world of possibility, Year one hundred and forty two never looked so good.

My Dearest Girl's Well, it's another year beginning and all manner of infinite possibilities await each of us. I always find myself very reflective at the beginning of a new year, I wonder... What will the next 365 days brings, what new adventures, what changes, what hardships, or heartaches. I like being the optimist and thinking only of the good things, but realty inevitably brings a measure of the unknown. I hope that before this year is over we'll be back home and these conversations can be at one of our houses, over endless cups of coffee, tea, or our favorite red wine! Right now I know that the next 6-9 months here in Oz will be filled with planning, hard work and the sadness of saying good-bye to those we love here. CT and I always knew that one of us would have to make a sacrifice regardless of where we lived. It would always mean that one of us would be away from home & family. Although I've already made that sacrifice for the last 5 an a half years, my heart still aches for him & the children. It's never easy leaving those you love, but I know that it's just temporary and that there will be many opportunities for us to all be together. So, My Love's, I begin this year with hope, hope for a return to those I hold dear, hope for the start of something wonderful and new. I hope that the coming year bring both of you much joy and happiness. I love you both so much and look forward to being together again soon. Take care of yourselves. All My Love, TOWFL

A lil something happened on the way to fabulous...

Well, I am NOT GOING to scold you girls. EVEN though I should. Gather your thoughts and SHARE. It is important and I am about to attack a subject that has been on my mind as of late... Got your coffee??... Ok, my subject is WEIGHT... WHY? WHY can't we get in shape? WHY can't we seem to stay on a diet and exercise plan for more than a few days at a time? I have REALLY been pondering this a lot ladies. HERE we are 3 gorgeous women in our middle years. We have wonderful grown children. We have navigated the pitfuls "sometime gracefully at other times stumbling and bumbling" of life... so why can't we get a grip on this for ourselves. We ALL know how much better we would feel. How much better the quality of our life would be. Mid 40's is not old.. it is NOT the Autumn... so, Oh Dear what can the matter be? I just had the most fabulous guy in the world tell me straight up to my face that he wanted a life with me but I would have to commit myself to being fit. In his opinion it adds to the quality of life, health, sex drive and good mental health. Did it make me mad? Offend me? It seems like on some level it should... but in the back of my mind, I know that he is right. Now I have made strides the past couple of years to eat healthier, I think we all have. But until we make regular exercise a part of our daily routine... it is NEVER going to work. I know we aren't lazy, Candygirl, I know for a fact that you work sun up (or before) to sundown. Do we not love ourselves enough? Do we spend so much time taking care of others we don't have time for ourselves? Or maybe it's just because life takes SO much out of us we simply don't have the energy to do this for ourselves? I don't know the answers to the very difficult questions but I WANT to bring it to the proverbial table :) I want energy and vibrancy.. I WANT a good sex life ( OMG do I want that) I want to feel good and dare I say it.... I want to LOOK good. Do I think that worth is defined by numbers on a scale? NO! Do I think that we would all have a better life if we could do this.. YES... with all my heart, yes. I have this picture in my head of Aimee R taking our photo - the blond, red head and brunette... each dressed in various forms of black and white... and shining with health and energy. I am committing myself to doing this... FOR ME... it's time. When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me. And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter. I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth. I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick flowers in other people's gardens And learn to spit. You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes. But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children. We must have friends to dinner and read the papers. But maybe I ought to practice a little now? So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple... don't know why I felt like posting that... ANYHOW... LOVE LOVE LOVE you 2 so so much! The Gypsy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhYL3-xLfK4 WATCH IT

My very dearest darling girls, The light is changing... our light as we get a firm toe-hold on our middle years as well as the light of the seasons. I love FALL... every little thing about it. We haven't blogged in so long maybe we can get back on track. I LONG to sit with you guys and share a cup of coffee and talk about things. Isn't it amazing how quickly time is moving... it's like you can't get a grip on today before tomorrow is already up and over :) my baby is about to turn 21. I can't believe it! I haven't seen him in 0ver 9 months and I miss him SO much but he is doing well... Although this past 15 months since I have been back home has been hard in so many ways, it has been a wonderful time. FINALLY about to start reeping some of the benefits of long days of work, being constantly broke and traveling through, "My Wilderness" Sarah Ban Breathnach has a chapter devoted to traveling in the wilderness in her book, Something More. It is one of my favorite reads. But everything happened so fast when Nic moved and this tunnel vision turned in to this sprawling freedom. Coupled that with the tornadoes and getting so sick... I literally have been trying to build something solid and figure out who I am all by my lonesome... One exciting thing that has happened recently in the singer/songwriter Kirsty Almeida- you will have to youtube her.. ESPECIALLY her soundtrack from the movie Alabatros.. anyhow we paired together and she took a couple of my poems as lyrics and recorded a couple of songs for her new CD. THAT was exciting... I have also started working with the small historical towns along the Alabama RIVER... I can NOT tell you what this is like! The history and stories have my mind ina whirl! Life is really just on big process isnt it? Hope this finds you well and happy my lovelies! Miss you both more than words can say!... All my love, here is the link to one of Kirsty's songs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Q0WIDdkW4 The Gypsy!

Another Bend In The Road

Well My Sweet Southern Kindred's, I found this picture today and thought what an appropriate way to start a new chapter in our blog. I entitled it, "Another Bend In The Road." It made feel very reflective about what the future holds for us all. First I thought about the familiar... The things in life that will always be constants... Our unending Friendship, our love for each Other, for Family, for the South and all things Southern, our love for the change of seasons, especially the Fall... And then it hit me, we're in the Fall our lives, the most beautiful Season of all. Where the richness of life truly begins, the warmth and depth of color permeates everything, it brings to life those things from the previous Seasons and gives you a genuine appreciation for them. And while there is more of our life behind us than there is ahead, that doesn't make me sad. Because i finally understand that the appreciation I have for life now doesn't compare to when I was younger. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we haven't always appreciated life, but when you're young and life is just starting, you're raising a family, and busy is the order of the day, there is so much that you miss, so much you never fully understand, or appreciate, until you're older. In a sense I feel like life has truly just began. We've all stepped outside our comfort zones and reached for the things our younger selves couldn't... And so, as I look down that beautiful Fall road, with all it's bends, and uncertainties, I know that whatever the future holds for these "Three Coins In A Fountain" it will be embraced, appreciated and lived with all of the beautiful color of the season! Missing You Both, TOWFL