Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend the day with my Most Fabulous Magical Fleaing Fairy GodMother, Estefania, a/k/a Her Most Serene Highness Queen of the Macedonian Faeries, that title being a tad long, I call her Miss S. She moved into a new nest recently and I had been promising to visit, but something always came up or, if truth be told, I backed out because I just could not bring myself to leave the Cocoon on the weekend. Now, I have been particularly blessed in the Fairy GodMother department. I have three, once I had four, but that is a story for another day. The three in my life now are Miss M., Miss R. and Miss S. and they are wonderful. They feed my heart, my brain and my soul. Sometimes my tummy, Jamaican patties come to my mind. Best of all, they encourage and inspire me, make me see that one must treat one's dreams like treasures, guarding them safe within one's heart, while at the same time working towards making those dreams come true. They put up with my hermit crab moods and always make me feel safe and loved "as is."
So, anyway, woke up and after a bit of to and fro, off I went. Upon reaching Miss S.'s new nest, I was greeted with hugs, really good coffee and a delicious warm and toasty bagel. Then I got the Grand Tour. Oh, it is a lovely nest. Full of her fleaing and garage sale treasures. It is a warm, peaceful, welcoming, happy place. Just like her. We sat and chatted for a bit and then we were off to meet Miss B. at what is affectionately known as "the pub" for lunch. Miss S. went off to get her nails done, Miss B. and I would wait for her at the pub. There was a slight change in Glitterina's plan, however, when, upon parking, she spied a beautiful little gem of a store Miss S. had spoken about, a few doors down from the pub. It's called "Hey, Cupcake!" and it is just like visiting a dear friend's home. Decorated in Romantic Homes/shabby chic style, full of beautiful, comfortable, whimsical delights and best of all the yummiest cupcakes EVER. With glittery frosting, really! I was enchanted. The owner's name is Stacey, she reminded me so much of my beautiful Mom. I asked her to pick out 1/2 a dozen cupcakes for me and chatted with her, until a red-faced, sweating bullets, Miss B. popped through the door asking "Where did you go? Why don't you answer your cell?" I had been sitting in air-conditioned comfort on a cushy-comfy sofa while poor Miss B. tromped about looking for me in what felt like 100 plus heat. Bad, bad Glitterina!
Finally at the pub, we noshed (I particularly recommend their mushroom cheeseburger and fries, oh, and their wings, their wings, oh my!), chatted, ate cupcakes. I had two. In my defense, they are two-bites size, perfect little dollops of delicious yumminess. We took some photos to email to friends as actual proof that yes, I really did leave my lair on a weekend, no less, and then it was off to Harry Potter. In 3D! Oh, my. I am afraid I will never settle for anything less at the movies. It was wonderful, like being INSIDE the movie, actually quite dizzying at times, remind me to never open an account at Gringott's. I do not want to spoil the movie for anyone, suffice it to say I absolutely LOVED it. Although it was a bittersweet experience, the kids are all grown up now. But it was wonderful. Ron and Hermione finally smooch (the entire theater cheered), ditto Harry and Ginny (another cheer!) and Neville, at long last, declares his love for Luna (even more cheers!). Snape, well! Snape is a huge surprise. And there is a white dragon in the movie whose main scene is sheer, pure, undiluted magic. That's all I'm saying. After the movie, we took some photos (more proof), there were hugs and promises to visit again soon and then I headed home.
Driving home I pondered when did I become so insular, unwilling to leave my nest? Mind you, I have always been a homebody, but long ago and far away, in what now seems like a different life, different world actually, I enjoyed socializing, going out with friends, going to the movies, out to dinner, shopping. Then, gradually, that changed to the point where I actually resent leaving my nest on weekends. I am okay driving to work during the week, mainly because if I don't work, I don't get paid and if I don't get paid, well, you get the idea. I do, actually, like my job, my boss (a rare and wonderful thing). But when it comes to socializing, it is a major battle within myself to actually do it. The odd thing is I know I have to push my comfort zone, broaden it. I also know once I actually go, I enjoy it. So, then, why is it so difficult for me to actually do this? I don't know. There is a whole world out there, begging to be explored, full of friends, laughter, joy and adventures. It also seems to be a big, scary world, full of strangers. Then, again, we are all strangers, aren't we? Until we meet and (sometimes) become friends. All of my friemily were strangers to me at one point. This is something I have to remind myself of when I start getting into a hermit crab mood.
Got home, changed into my comfiest pajamas and checked my email. I was saddened to learn the feline baby of two very dear friends passed away. The beautiful Lumen. She had been ill for a bit, we thought she was rallying. Her spirit was strong, but her little body just gave out. I am heartbroken for my friends. It is always so sad when one of our furry (or feathered) babies leaves us. They are such blessings in our lives, giving us pure, sweet unconditional love. My two girls picked up on my mood and have been sticking to me like glue. Where would we be without our furry, feathered progeny? Always there for us, comforting, welcoming us home with purrs and quivering whiskers, barks and wagging tails. In the case of our feathered babies, squawks and flapping of wings. Another friend also recently lost her furry babies. We are blessed, blessed, blessed by the time we have them in our lives, be it years or months, sometimes days. I know all of mine hold a special place in my heart. They have been there for me through thick and thin. In my most difficult moments, they have comforted me.
I wish I could drive over to my friends' home with an offering of brownies and hugs, but they live in another state. I tried sending brownies by mail once, but by the time they got to the homes of two friends, they had turned into brownie-scented doorstops. Next time I used FedEx. But today, today I will bake for my neighbors, my coworkers and nearby friends. There will be pound cake and white chocolate chip/macadamia cookies. Their scent will fill my nest, mingling with the sweet perfume of my ever-present rose-scented Yankee candle, which I light promptly upon arriving home from work and first thing when I wake up on weekends and days I am home. My two girls are snoozing curled up next to me as I type this. Through my window I see a beautiful, bright blue sky with puffy white clouds floating by. Earlier today when I walked out to my teeny tiny porch to water my plumbagos and ferns, I was happy to see a little yellow butterfly fluttering happily along the ferns. I love butterflies, they are such beautiful, delicate creatures full of joy, hope. Delicate, yet resilient. I know somewhere in Heaven there is a little cat napping on a silken pillow and when she wakes up, she will scamper out to a beautiful garden where other little furry friends wait for her and they will chase butterflies to their hearts' content. I know my DivaBoy is in that garden, along with my other furry loves, and their friends including Neo, Roz and Misty. Tonight the moon will be full again and the stars will shine. I know they were shining extra-brightly last night, welcoming sweet Lumen home. We are comforted by memories of time shared and are grateful for those memories. As the saying on one of my favorite websites goes "All is well, we are loved." We take them into our hearts, knowing it is temporary, but welcoming the chance, the ability to love and, oh, how they love us back. When they leave us, sometimes we are lucky enough to be chosen by new loves, always remembering the ones that were there before.
So, hug your friends, hug your children, be they human, furry, feathered, two legged or four legged, just hug them, let those around you know they are loved. Hugs are a wonderful, wonderful gift. Get out there, see the movie, meet a stranger, make a friend, have a cheeseburger or a cupcake (or both!), appreciate your life, your world. Open your heart, widen that comfort zone, difficult as that may be. As for me, I am off to bake and maybe paint a chair or two.
Until next post, be safe. Be grateful. Be blessed.
I love it and you!
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