What’s My Story?

Today’s Photo Challenge: Endurance

Nothing says endurance like age. Every time I visit my mother-in-law I’m reminded that the importance of youth isn’t who we are, or what we are, but the fact that we are. Life is a beautiful thing.

How many of you played “Getting Married” as a kid? I did. I had two sisters, one as the bride, one as the groom, and one as the officiator. And we lived….miserably ever after?

Oh my gosh. It sounds like I beheaded one of them. I still have two sisters, just so you know.

Ten Reasons Kid Marriage is Phony Boloney (Yes, I meant to misspell that because phogna bologna doesn’t really work.) Starring my daughters as models.

1. Marrying your sister (or dog) is never an option.
2. Real flowers are expensive. Even the most successful lemonade stand couldn’t pay the florist.
3. Cooking dinner every night is not romantic.
4. Your wedding dress shouldn’t reek like moth balls and old pee.
5. You don’t play “Hide and Seek” on your wedding night. Or maybe you do.
6. Cleaning up after your spouse isn’t fun.
7. Wedding celebrants aren’t matted stuffed animals.
8. Dog poop that looks like chocolate cake is not a wedding cake.
9. “Here comes the bride, all fat and wide” would never fly.
10. “She looks so beautiful when she’s passed out” said no one, ever.

Hi Swamp People,

I don’t know how you’re feeling but I’m a little soggy. I have not been sleeping well this past week which includes last night and I said to my tired little brain “What is going on with you lately?”

My brain answered. It said back to me, “I’m scared.”

My brain has a way of jumping light-years ahead of physical time and imagining the worst of results for my current situation. So I have to keep my imagination in check and make sure it minds its P’s and Q’s.

My brain is scared of entering an unknown frontier. I’ve announced to the world that I’m writing my childhood memoir, and it is a terrifying prospect on many levels.

• What if I don’t finish it?
• What if my family will be angry at me?
• What if it is a failure?
• What if it is a success?
• What if it is the most heart felt, honest story anyone has ever read and I change their perspective on life?
• What if I die before I finish it and someone who needs to hear my words doesn’t have the opportunity?

So I said, “Little brain, we’re all scared about something. Every single one of us.”

I answered all the “What if’s…” with a “Well then…” My brain then curled up and went to sleep. zzzzzz…..

Lo and Behold!

When I woke up this morning I discovered I’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award by Jenny at readsbyredriverbanks. What an honor to be nominated for another blogger award! Thank you so much Jenny!

This happened to coincide with this weekend’s Beaton Family Awards.

My daughters rolled out the red carpet (which is actually a swath of red velvet fabric) and presented the 2014 Beaton Family Awards.

I won in three different categories:
Best Director
Best Cleaner
And sorry ladies, I also won Best Mom.

So I’m all swampy but I accept these awards to spread the joy of my children onto you.

I’ll complete the Liebster Award after I’ve had my beauty sleep.

Thank you everyone for your supporting role.

Love, Barbie

 

Hi Friends,

Just so you know, everything’s fine. I didn’t have an accident or ingest the wrong berry. My head is OK, or at least as OK as it can be.

I signed up for Blogging 101.

Yes, I’ve been blogging for a while. BUT, because the last Blogging 101 happened right before I began my blog I thought I could learn something and fix my blogging boo-boos.

Introduce Myself

My name is Barbie. I’m a goofball and kind of the opposite of an M&M-my hard shell is on the inside. I am in the process of writing my childhood memoir that I would love to see on the New York Times Bestseller’s list. The problem lies in the fact that I’ve had no training in writing. OK, I did take one workshop in memoir writing and I’m starting the follow-up course in a few weeks. Minimal, but it will do for now. I am, however, enjoying the challenge.

Now for the real problem: As in any good memoir, the depths of your soul need to be revealed. This is not easy because of my M&M shell on the inside. I need some support here people. Warm hands will melt that shell.

All in all it’s as grimy a goal as an oil change and I will need a lot of Goop to clean up the mess. If you don’t hear from me it’s because I’m washing my hands. 

My Goals for Blogging 101

Well that’s a little personal isn’t it?

• Write because I enjoy it.
• Practice putting personality on paper – I seriously didn’t intend to make alliteration here, but now that it’s there I’ll keep it.
• Learn something from about WordPress.
• Attract an audience And here’s more alliteration. I’m beginning to see a bad writing habit. Just ignore that and join my blog.
• Pretend that sharing personal info is no big deal.

Easy right?

My Blog 

• Life, Family, Travel, Nonsense, Quotes, Pictures of faces

Wait a sec. Pictures of faces?

Yes. Pictures of faces.

Like children with big eyes? Women weaving baskets? Men looking macho?

No. Pictures of faces I find in random places, like in the knot of a tree or a sewer drain.

Huh?

Because I see faces everywhere and they all have a distinct character. I also fear for the loss of creativity in mankind so I’m doing my part to keep it going. It’s good for the brain, and the soul.

Oh. Ok. Whatever.

One More Thing

My blog is light-hearted and silly. I aim to keep it a happy place to visit when writing my memoir brings me to the low-down hoe-down. (I live in Montana. I do believe they still have hoe-downs here.) If I have a deep moment please don’t drop me on the tile. That’s when I’m the most fragile.

C’est tout. (Yes, I speak French.) Thanks for visiting.

Love, Barbie