Bittersweet

Today is Jan's birthday! I hope she listens to Lynrd Skynrd. I hope she knows that she is one of the most treasured people in my life.

On her birthday eve, I was listening to music and the husband was trying to figure out chords on the piano. Time flew by and the next thing I knew, it was 11:15 or so. At night! (I am the Queen of early to bed, early to rise.) Then it became a mission -- I will stay awake until midnight so I can call Jan.

I have my own special ring tone on her phone. She always knows it's me. Here I'm thinking I'll just leave her a sweet birthday message but SHE SLEEPS WITH THE PHONE AT HER EAR! Instead of voicemail, I hear, "Hi Sheri, What's wrong? You never call me at midnight." I felt kind of stupid saying, "I just wanted to be the first one to wish you a happy birthday."

The bittersweet part is that today is also Patsy's birthday. I still miss her. It's one of those aches that will never go away, although the pain has changed from stabbing to a dull throb.

The photo above was taken at the beginning of my sophomore year of college. We're not discussing how many years ago that was. We're upbeat. It's our birthday week.

Ring Tones

When I call my girlfriend, her cell phone ring is REO Speedwagon's "Time For Me to Fly." (We were listening to it on 8 track in high school.) That was one of our favorite groups and one of our favorite songs. Her phone could be buried in the bottom of her handbag but she knows instantly that it's me. I'm impressed and jealous. She programmed my phone so when Big Daddy calls, instead of his phone number, it says, "Husband."

The baby has different ring tones for different people. I have no idea what mine is but we've joked that maybe it should be that old song, "The Bitch is Back." Yet, he still answers.

Big Daddy and the daughter text each other. Learning text messaging is next on my technology agenda but I'm not sure I have the dexterity. How did I get so far behind?

The REO Speedwagon New Year's Eve

It was 1980 or 1981. I'm fudging this a bit because I honestly can't remember. Here's what I do remember:

We went to an REO Speedwagon concert on New Year's Eve. Waiving your bic lighter was huge. The drunk woman behind me caught my hair on fire. My friend (J) put it out.

Someone put me in a gigantic trash can. Then, he put the lid on it. (My boyfriend rescued me.)

Later we wound up at some hotel. One person ran through the halls and pulled all of the fire alarms. Hello Policemen! They took all of our keys away and put us through the sobriety tests. I'm proud that I was totally sober. No one went to jail. The nice Officer Friendly gave the keys to the sober people and we were allowed to drive the other people home.

There's a lot of REO on my iPod. It reminds me of high school and college. It reminds me of my girlfriends. It reminds me of the time I spent in the trash can.

Sometimes I call (J) and say, "Just listen." It's usually
Time For Me to Fly. She humors me and sings along.