Day 31: Nauru? NauWho?

Today is NAURU Awareness Day!  So…. in an effort to be painfully aware of Nauru I did a little research.  Nauru is an island in Micronesia in the South Pacific… and speaking of South Pacific.  I have decided that I am going to force my offspring to watch “South Pacific” with me this weekend and teach her to sing “Wash That Man…” a la Mitzi Gaynor in the shower.  I can’t really think of a better way to celebrate the island of Nauru.  Come to think of it… I just might be a sailor for Halloween….

The second part of this ridiculous segue is I believe I will hunt down some “Cherries in the Snow”  Revlon nail polish.  The lovely lady that played Mitzi’s part in my high school production of South Pacific would not have been caught dead without bright red nails.

And then she was five….

Ems,
You make my heart sing. Thank you for being such a strong little girl. In you I see the strength that has always been in me.

In the last year you have grown like a weed. You have gotten taller, smarter, stronger, sassier, kinder… and more compassionate. The toddler you were last year that said hilarious things and likely had no idea why they were funny is gone. She has been replaced by a little girl that knows exactly why her clever comments are so hilarious. But she also knows what it means when she says “Come here, Mom, I’ll give you a hug.”

You still hold me tight. But I hold you even tighter. Because I see in you the little girl you are becoming. And I know that the woman is right around the corner. I’d slow the earth’s rotation to make the day’s longer, just to make now go on forever. You are a pleasure, you are still my big, bright star, Em. There’s still no other way to describe you.

This year your dance parties have continued to be a highlight. I think it’s time to teach you how to spin around a room like Molly Ringwald. This is the song that comes to mind right now…

I’ll stop the world and melt with you
You’ve seen the difference and it’s getting better all the time
There’s nothing you and I won’t do
I’ll stop the world and melt with you
The future’s open wide!!!!

I’ll stop the world and melt with you
I’ve seen some changes but it’s getting better all the time
There’s nothing you and I won’t do
I’ll stop the world and melt with you

The future’s open wide!!

I love you, baby girl.
Mom

Engagement: He Said, She Said

So I posted my take on our engagement… I asked MQD to write down what he recalls from the evening.  Funny all the details that I forgot to write down…

Excuse my poor grammar and sentence structure.I wanted to do something nice but Kelly and I didn’t have too many places that were specifically ours.  We had our first date, our first blind date, at Glass Half Full in Carrboro, NC.  We went to the bar across the street afterwards to hang out.  That sounds like a good as any plan for a proposal.  New beginnings and all that.I woke up that morning and put on khakis and my usual work shoes and a blue dress shirt.  I hoped Jenny would be there early this particular evening, so I brought the tie with me to work; it was the only one I was satisfied with.  I opened my white sock drawer and picked up the box that I had been checking on daily for a week.  I opened the box and looked inside the box in the box to make sure it was still there.  It was.  I left for work.

I knew Kelly was getting off early from work, so I jumped early too since I had to go to two banks to run errands and pick up Emily.  I saw a black Versa with a Virginia plate driving up Mt Ephesus.  The driver looked crazed.  I waved at Kelly.  I felt like we just caught each other playing hooky.

I came home and we took some pictures, and had some drinks before heading off to glass half full.  I think I tried to tie my tie 7 times.  It never looked right.  We drove to Glass Half Full and talked about our days at work.  We got there and they seated us in the booth we sat in on our first date.  We ordered beers instead of wine.  We had two appetizers: The cheese plate and the Fried Calamari.  I was not as hesitant to eat the Bleu cheese this time around.  Kelly still laughs just as loud.  Kelly ran to the bathroom for a second.  I figured that this is something to do between Kelly & I alone.  We don’t need to be gawked at like circus freaks.  I asked the waitress for a check.   There was an error on it.  I wouldn’t have noticed.  She brings another one while Kelly and I are at the table.  I keep making sure the box is in my pocket.

We decide to move the car in case we are unable to move it later and don’t want it towed.  The first lot is full.  We end up getting a sweet parking space next to Elmo’s in Carr Mill, next to the handicapped parking space.  We walk through Carr Mill because I think it’s faster from our pleasant location.  We’re holding hands.  We begin walking through Weaver Street Market. Kelly seems tense.  I have butterflies.  I’ve had them the whole night.  I don’t know how people do this and just ask.

We cross the street from Weaver Street to a fountain.  There was no one there.  I say to here, “Let’s do this thing.”  I tell her that I love her and I tell her that she makes me cry and I hope we’re very happy for a long time.  I get down on my right knee and and ask her, “Kelly, will you marry me.” Just like the movies.  She says yes and we hug and we kiss and she’s bouncing all around.  I think she forgot about the ring.  She spins around and I put it on her and it fits and I’m relieved.  There is a flowy-dressed, brown ponytail typical Carrboro woman walking by, Kelly tells her that I proposed to her and she said yes.  The girl says,”Great”, like she couldn’t have meant it less without missing a step.  We laugh alot at that.

We send pictures to the family.  Scott blows up our spot on Facebook. We go to Speak Easy to meet up with Tricia, Amy, Nate & Brian.  Brian brings Chia.  Brian didn’t have a clue.  I order us Jager.  Kelly likes Jager.  I can live without it.  We have a fun night.  I become juvenile and immature later in the night.  I shouldn’t drink shots.

MQD looks at me like this at least once in the course of every meal… tonight was unique in many ways… but he didn’t fail to give me the “eye.”

DSCN0012

 

A Question…..

On October 27, 2008 I went to dinner at Glasshalfull in Carrboro.   MQD picked me up for a blind date and about ten minutes in I was smitten and nervous.

On September 10, 2010 I went to dinner at Glasshalfull again.  This time MQD met me at home, at our home, and I hurried to change my clothes so we could get out the door by 6ish.  Jenny was watching Emily and she took our picture in the front yard like we were going to prom.

We were on the way there in the car and I remarked that I was not particularly hungry, much like the first time we went there.  So we had a couple of beers and shared two appetizers.  We laughed a lot.  And both of us were misty-eyed more than  a few times.  We sat in the same booth that we were seated in the first time we were there.  MQD put his hand in his pocket twice.  I almost choked both times.

I went to the bathroom, thinking he needed a minute.  I came back to see he’d gotten the check.  I stole my napkin.  Because I thought I might cry all over myself shortly. We walked out the door.  Giddy.  I asked him if we should move the car.  Very confidently he answered “Yes.”  Naturally I assumed he must have a plan.

We moved the car.  We walked through Weaver Street Market, a spot we frequent.  MQD smiled a lot.  He held my hand.  He said very little.

We crossed the street.  And he said “Well, let’s do this thing.”  And in front of the Century Center he stopped me.

He looked nervous.  My heart was pounding and he said “Kelly, I love you with all my heart.  Because you make me cry.”  From anyone else this would be a funny statement but I absolutely know the gift that I have given him, the safety that he feels with me allows him to… feel.  It was an awfully sweet thing for him to say.

And then he did it…. he bent down on his knee like in the movies and he said “Kelly, will you marry me?”  And I smiled and I said “Yes, absolutely yes.”  And we kissed and laughed and I realized I’d not put the ring on.  And he put it on my finger and it fit, perfectly!

And we laughed some more and we hugged on the corner for a bit.  And then a classic Carrboro gal walked by, sandals, long silver hair, organic cotton long skirt… and I said “He just asked me to marry him.  Right now!  And I said “Yes!” and she barely slowed down… and she turned her head and said “Great.”  And kept walking.

We laughed some more.  We went over to the Speakeasy to catch up with our friends.

I wish this picture wasn’t blurry…. because it is so very, very “us.”

MQD, thank you for a very wonderful evening.  It was equal parts romantic and silly.  You are everything I could have ever asked for in a man.  You make me smile… every day.  I love you, babe.

 

She woke from a dream
Her head was on fire
Why was he so nervous?

He took her to the park
She crossed her arms
And lowered her eyelids

Some day somebody’s gonna ask you
A question that you should say yes to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight I’ve got a question for you

She’d had no idea
Started to cry
She said in a good way

He took her by the hand
Walked her back home
They took the long way

Some day somebody’s gonna ask you
A question that you should say yes to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight I’ve got a question for you
I’ve got a question for you

~Old 97’s

Day 30: Ignore Today

Well… a timely challenge.  I think I will ignore today’s challenge.  Because I am kinda busy anyway.  Because I kinda need to hurry up and get outta the office so I can go home and GET ENGAGED!

Day 28: Death Row? Seating Death Row, Party of One!

Bass! How low can you go?
Death row what a brother knows!!

~Public Enemy

I haven’t had a chance to make my death row meal but I absolutely know what it would be.   I’d eat lasagna.  With tons of Italian sausage.  And Caeasar Salad.  And tiramisu. And a glass of red wine.  And a shot of Tuaca.  It just needs to get a little colder out and I will be returning to Lasagna Town.  Yum.  Can’t wait!

Day 27: Yes? No? Huh?

Todays’ challenge was to not say yes or no all day.

I flunked.  To begin with I have a child.  Really?  Was I gonna not say “No” all day?

I gave it a good hour or so, and then I forgot.  Whoops!

Today was a bust.

Day 29: Wherein I Burn in Hell

Today’s challenge was to call a number at random and read a lengthy dissertation on God in a deep Southern accent.  I called two different numbers and got hung up on immediately.  So I decided to record it for you here.  Enjoy!

Family

Em fell out of bed last night. I woke up to hear her crying and MQD woke at the same time. She hasn’t woken up crying in ages, at least six months… but when he was first spending the night he’d wake me when she cried. Last night? His feet hit the floor faster than mine. I ran up the stairs behind him. I got to her bedroom a millisecond behind him to see her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs around his torso and he was swaying back and forth, the way only parents do… She cried. He “Shhh”ed. I waited for the arms outstretched, for the “Moooommmm…” It didn’t come. Bittersweet.

Day 26: The next time…

If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it. ~ Dalai Lama

Today’s challenge was to determine what you’d like to come back as in your next life and send a note to the Dalai Lama.  To begin with I am, as my daughter would say “a fan” of the Dalai Lama.  Any religious leader that seems to understand that “religion” is a vague term at best is an admirable creature.

If I could come back again as an animal…  I think I’d like to be a dog.  But only if I could pick my family.  I’d love to be a dog in a house with children.  I’d like very much if my primary responsibilities were doling out love and making funny faces.  That sounds like a helluva way to live.

Long before I was a mother, I had a baby.  Here he is the week we brought him home.

Dear Fisher,

I miss you every damn day.  I know you’re happy at the beach.  And I know you’re where you belong.  But I know the smiles that you’d have brought to Emily’s life would have just grown exponentially.

The last time I was at your house I snapped this picture really quickly and it makes me smile.  You’re smiling.

You are always smiling.  I look at your face now and I think “where the hell did you get those gray hairs?”  This is much the same way I feel when I look at my own face.  So many nights I held your sweet face in my hands and wept.  Did you know that everyone thinks you stink like “dog” but I think you smell like Fritos.  Perhaps that salty smell is all the tears you absorbed in your youth.  Or maybe it is the ocean that is so deep in your mangy ass that it will never come clean, no matter how many times you’re sprayed with a hose in the driveway.  Either way, I think you smell delicious.  Just like Fritos.

Love,

Kel

Yeah… if I can come back…  I wanna be a dog.  My dog, to be exact.