I even have a theme song that runs through my mind most days. One of these things is not like the other one of these things doesn’t belong. Today wasn’t one of those days. I really do love our ladies who bunch group. Great food, wonderful conversation, laughter, and a delightful day of fitting in. Debbie Laffin, Sandra Dennis, Angela Miller, and Estela Iturriaga-Mulloy you are all a rejoice to rejoice. We missed Estela today but next month we’ll be back together. It’s wonderful to fit without faking.

Hope can come from the weirdest places. A Facebook memory popped up today from exactly three years ago. That day I was dealing with the winter blues. The grayness and gloom and the whole no sun thing was really getting to me. COVID was still very much in our lives. 2020 saw Gary in the hospital for prostate removal followed by hip replacement surgery. Money was tight with him not working and I was worried and tired. You get the picture. And 2021 didn't look like it was shaping up to be a good year. That morning I walked out of the YMCA after a much needed session in the pool and I saw a man walking by and I told him hi. We were both masked. The conversation went like this. Him: How you doing? Me: I'm fine! Him: You sure are fine. You got some pep in your [...]

The only time I ever heard my first and middle named together was when I did something wrong. My mother would never see me walking into the room the first thing in the morning and say, "Good morning Carmen Theresa." Nope, when I was in trouble I'd hear her call, "Get in here right now, Carmen Theresa!" But my mom always called her best friend Betty Mae. And Betty Mae always called my mom Barbara Jean. I don't remember anyone else calling my mom by her first and middle name. Maybe my dad did. Betty Mae Glenn and Barbara Jean Leal were best friends for probably as long as I have been alive. Between them they had 14 kids and we were all in and out of both houses. Betty Mae was tall and glamorous and Barbara Jean was short. I have so many adjectives to describe my mom. Both [...]