Bert and Bro

Another pix of my broseph and my BFF Bertie. Bert just found out she was selected to attend the Aveda Congress (their big annual hair and fashion extravaganza) in Minneapolis next month. She had to write an essay and submit a portfolio of her work. Aveda picks one student from each Institute and pays airfare and hotel for the 4 day event. She'll be taking advanced classes and then helping out behind the scenes doing the hair for the runway models. It's quite an honor. She is so excited. We're very proud of her. Although in all honesty, we'd be proud of her no matter what she did. We were a little reticent about this cosmetology thing in the beginning, but she has been great. What a terrific kid. And the best part--I'm now sure she'll be able to support her parents in their old age!

My BRO

My little brohan, my broseph...Mr. T...was in town for a couple of days. I met him for lunch before he headed back home to Virginia. He's the one who got the brains and most of the looks in this family for sure. Although he is considerably younger than I...by 6 years. So, just wait, in a few years he'll be just as haggardly and wretched as the rest of us 50 somethings. He is working on his Ph.D. right now in atmospheric sciences, whereas I was lucky to get out of the 6th grade. So, I'll have to hand that one to him...he's definitely the whiz kid. It was wonderful to see him. We all have these crazy busy lives so we never see each other as much as as we probably should.

Reunion

From the mid to the late 90s I was working at Home Health of Chapel Hill, as a home health nurse, doing visits mostly in the Durham area. I worked there about 4 years, then the company was bought out and I moved on to other things...eventually getting to my current job. Some of us got together for lunch last Saturday. It was such fun to see people I had not seen since I left Home Health 10 years ago and to find out what they had been doing in the past decade. It was particularly interesting to hear about the different directions we had all gone in. Although I have not gotten my PhD in nursing, or started my own business, or married a rich guy, or talked any of my kids into making me a grandma...I came away feeling very happy for all of them and pretty satisfied with my own lot in life. I didn't really plan the way it all worked, but it did work out. You know, stuff happens...but when all is said and done...happiness is a choice.

Happy Feet

Well, it happened again...about this time, every single year, I officially get older. So, I'm up to 51 now, but who's counting?? I had breakfast with Dad this morning, then went to the Aveda salon where my darling Bertie treated me to a pedicure. It was relaxing, even though the room was kind of cold and there was a fire drill right in the middle of the proceedings. Yeah, that's about how my life works these days. We stopped in at Carrburritos (a burrito joint in Carrboro--I mean, how clever is that for a name!) for my birthday taco. They make the BEST salsa in the world. Miquel is playing a gig today...an outdoor festival type thing way out in the middle of nowhere. I decided to pass on this one. I prefer to enjoy music in the comfort of my own air-conditioned home, close to a bathroom and the refrigerator. I'm getting kind of spoiled in my old age. Well, I guess I better close for now...that TV isn't going to watch itself.