Friday, April 29, 2011

Princess in the Making


When I was a little girl I dreamed of being a Princess. I remember seeing Cinderella on TV as some type of musical, of course it was in Black and White but I just knew her gown was baby blue and I wanted that dress so bad. I wanted my hair piled on top of my head in ringlets and I wanted a tiara full of diamonds, but even then most of all I wanted those sparkling slippers.....guess a shoe thing starts early. Funny, I never gave much thought to the Prince, I was more fascinated with the pumpkin shaped carriage. I can pretty much say as a child I thought I was a princess; well at least till princess junior game along, somehow my tiara got a little crooked as she was the glory child, good grief they even called her Precious. So, I became a peasant, a commoner. Precious was the cute one with her blue eyes and her tan skin, her adorable foreign language. I was tiny and covered with freckles. It seems like I was missing my two front teeth for half my life. Precious and I did not have a whole lot in common, she went on to be cheerleader, beauty queen, perfect student, while I was pretty much the carefree , fiddle de dee, Scarlett. Watching Kate this morning walking down the aisle with her sister behind her, made me laugh and think of my sister. What parents name one sister Kate Elizabeth and the other Pippa?? Did they know Kate would be a princess? Was Kate always the "precious" and Pippa the "Scarlett"? I could tell by the admiration and love in her eyes that Pippa adores her sister. When I was younger, there was always that little sting of jealousy when my Dad refereed to my sister as 'Precious" but as the years went by, I must say that is exactly what she is to me...Precious. A sisters bond is like no other. Precious and I can tell each other anything, and we can also be the one to point out when the other is wrong. It was she and I who held my Dad's hand as he took his last breath on this earth, and I honestly believe he went as soon as my sister told him it was ok, we would take care of Mom and Brother. It was Precious who has had to deliver difficult news to me on more than one occasion, and she knows how to keep me calm. My sister literally delivered my daughter and I like to claim I delivered hers. If they were not 10 years apart I would swear we got them mixed up, because hers is a Diva like me and mine is a Precious like her. As much as I wanted to be a Princess, I am always honored to walk behind... Beside my Precious. After all, I really just wanted the tiara and the shoes, and lucky me, I got the Prince anyway!!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A spoonful of Sugar

It has been awhile since I have written. Not that I don't have a thousand Sugarbytes running through my mind, I just have had "cold fingers". Seems some of my work hurt and/or offended a few people and others thought my words were too personal. I have never been one to take criticism well, after all I am, in my own, mind a Diva. I say in my own mind because lately when I pass my reflection it scares the holy crap out of me. Who is that person? Do I really know her? Would I want to hang out with her?
I do know one thing for certain about her, she is so much stronger than she ever dreamed she could be. She has survived the deepest of pain, and came out the other side with a new understanding of love. She has been knocked down and blown away and came back to stand even taller in her three inch heels. She did learn that sometimes the pain will rear its ugly head again, but that is ok, after two children and 27 years of marriage you should feel a little pang when your ex re-marrys, of course it doesn't help much in our new "facebook" age when people are very insensitive. Yes, she has shown emotions that she was surprised by, but you know what, she thinks that is ok. She thinks it makes her even more thankful than before.
So, enough said on that. Back to the latest from Sugarville.
I have really started to learn my way around here pretty well. I hardly ever use "betty", the bitchy GPS, any longer. I can get to every major shopping area with my eyes closed, of course that would not be wise. I have figured out which is my favorite Kroger and I consider the owners of the laundry my new friends. GT man has introduced me to sushi, and although for my first bite I had to close my eyes, I will say that I do love it! I guess the Saki kind of helps. Learning to use chopsticks was a whole other matter.....yes, I know what you are thinking; there is just no way a GRIT girl is going to pick up tiny bits of food with two sticks and make it look natural. Then again, when asking for a fork in a Sushi joint, expect to be sneered at. Anywhoo, life was going along, with a few bumps here and there, when my military boy, my oldest child, calls and tells me that I am going to be a GRANDMOTHER. Now, lets understand completely, I could not be happier, I can't wait for this little baby to arrive, even though it is clear across the country. My dilemma is the name.... no not the baby name, my name. I am like everyone else in the south these days and I have to have my own name.... I refuse Granny, Grandmother, Nana. All great names but in my case these are women I know already, and great women at that. My Granny is 89 years young, still drives and will tell you what you need to hear whether you want to hear it or not, and one of the best dressers in Fayette County. The Nana in my life was really a Helen, and there should be a book written about that little feisty Italian woman. She could make a grown man run circles. My children still have their Grandmother, who is a fine sweet, southern woman, and of course there is my Mom also known as, Ooh Mom., there will never be another ooh mom, my Mom is the greatest Grandmother ever, my two think of her as a second Mother. So, what to name me.....my sister says I should go with Lady Ga Ga, I like KK (my initials) too many options but so important. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking that the greatest gift of a Grandchild is you have already made all your mistakes with your child, now with the Grandchild it is just love, love, love and sit back with a smile watching your own do the raising.....My son and Daughter in law will be very entertaining to watch, in fact they should have a reality show, but one thing is for sure, this baby will be loved and cherished.
So, in closing, my path has taught me, there will be hurt and pain when you least expect it, and when you think it will last forever, God sends another miracle your way... life is sweet as sugar..........