Monday, July 27, 2009

Thank You and a Belated Thank You

Blog soundtrack (Sing it, Ella!):



There were two different blogs I thought about writing today. One of which was a belated thank you for a birthday present, which did not make it into my birthday thank-you blog (http://goddessofallthingslovely.blogspot.com/2009/05/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html), and the other which was a rather more involved story about a trip I took in March.

As a “writer” (and I’m putting quotes around that because I still don’t believe I am one, well, a “real” one…oh, again with the quotes!), you come up with many ideas for stories, some of which get written and some of which don’t. I wrote about some of my story ideas that never got written about in a previous blog (http://goddessofallthingslovely.blogspot.com/2009/07/write-stuff.html).

For example, the story, “Picking up the Lipsticks of My Life” was a story I thought about writing over ten years ago. And, I just got around to writing it last Friday.*** Funny, but I remember thinking back then that when I submitted my finished masterpiece, editors would read it, and I would then have the likes of Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Allure all breaking down my front door saying, “This is brilliant! Please let us publish this!” Well, some of you have your Fantasy Baseball; I have my Fantasy Publishing.

***I think I was able to write "Picking Up the Lipsticks of My Life" and wanted to write it, quite simply, because of all of you. Every one of you has said lovely things to me about my writing, given me encouragement, and it has meant so much to me, especially in the last few months. I know I’ve said this previously, but sentiments like this bear repeating.

So, I wanted to thank you 12 brave readers who have owned up to “following” (i.e., supporting) my blog and all of you stealth “internet voyeurs”. One of my friends asked me recently, “So, if you read someone's blog and you don't comment often, is that internet voyeurism?” To answer the question: No. That’s just reading my blog, which is most appreciated, and me subsequently reveling in the fact that I am such a good writer I have left you positively and utterly speechless!

Again, as a writer (Oh, look, no quotes! I am this close to believing I am one -- envision me with my thumb and index finger about five inches apart!), I think you a) feel strongly about a story and go ahead and write it b) you like the idea, but for some reason, never get motivated to write it, or c) sometimes the story is just too emotional to write at that particular point in time; that story gets shelved entirely or a certain amount of time must pass before you feel you can write about it.

The story I attempted to write today definitely fell into the last category, and I felt I wanted to spend more time on it, as it is an important story to me. So, today I post tomorrow’s blog, and tomorrow I post today’s blog.
Got it?!
Good!

I read this quote a while ago, cut it out, and it’s been on the bulletin board over my desk for a few years now, because as far as gifts go, I think this says it all; it also says a lot about the friend that I am belatedly thanking.

“The best gifts are not those that cost the most money but those that show how well you know the person you’re giving the present to. That’s the real gift – showing someone you’ve paid attention. Attention is, after all, a much rarer and more precious commodity than money in our wealthy, multitasking society.”

In June, I got together with a very good friend at the local pub. We had a lovely lunch, caught up, and at the end of the lunch, I was told there was a present for me in the car. I was presented with a small wrapped box. I began to unwrap the paper from the box, and once all the paper had been ripped away, I saw...

_insert_present_ suspense_here_

The story below, which was published in an online magazine last year, is part of this story, which currently only comprises the paragraph above. :-)
Yes, this a story within a story, or a story that resulted because of a story; thus, you have to read the story below in order to understand the whole story and nothing but the whole story, so help you, Great Cat Goddess.
Sound confusing?
No, it really isn’t! :-)

I know some of you have already read this story, but there’s nothing like reading a story a second or a third time, especially one of mine!

Of course, upon rereading this story now, which was written in 2005, I think that perhaps my blog should be renamed TMI (Too Much Information)! In this story, I mention that I was so frazzled when employed that I unknowingly put on my underwear inside out some days; although, I think this only complements the fact that in this blog I have revealed my boring middle name (no offense to anyone named Marie reading this blog), that I have Morton’s Toe, my fondness for shoes, and that I’ve have unintentionally eaten bugs, err, among lots of other personal details. :-)

Okay, you may read the story now.
You can certainly scroll down to find out what my present was, but that would be cheating.
That was my attempt at "Catholic guilt", which I hope will prevent you from cheating, even if you're not Catholic. :-)

How My Scented Italian Straw Basket Made Someone’s Christmas

This story unfolded just around Christmas last year; it was oddly due to my beautiful rhinestone vintage pin, which was shaped like a bow, that I purchased at a vintage clothing show in the Spring.

After wearing the pin once, it decided to fall apart as all good vintage pieces do. A few of the rhinestones fell out, so what was I to do? Bring it to some chic jeweler and say, "Um, these aren't really amethysts, emeralds, or rubies, but could you replace them with rhinestones?" Err, I don't think so.

Like any red-blooded American woman, I ask my husband what to do? No. I don't think so.

Of course, I went to Google, and I typed in "rhinestone replacement." That's what any red-blooded American woman does these days; she searches the Internet. Like I always say, "Who needs a man when you've got the Internet?"

Up came a listing for some guy named Richard Ribarich living in Reston, Virginia, who did stone replacement on costume and antique jewelry. So, I printed out his order form and information, and I stuffed it into my favorite bag, which is one I got in Italy for, like, next to nothing. It's straw with leather handles; gosh, I love that bag. I have carried it to and from work every day since I got it, which is going on over four years now.

Anyway, in this bag, I usually carry things like my lunch, my workout clothes, my sneakers, my toiletries, and on one particular day, when I was extremely frazzled, I even mistakenly carried my daughter's "blankie" into work in it instead of my sneakers. No doubt about it, with six software releases going out that day, I knew I was going to need the blankie more than the sneakers.

On one other day, I had my perfume in my straw basket, and when I got home, I noticed that the nozzle on the perfume sprayer had somehow gotten squeezed in transit; thus, my Italian straw basket now reeked of Samsara perfume, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just a tad bit overwhelming. A few days later, I packed up my pin, and I went looking for Richard's order form. At that point, I really didn't think about the fact that the order form had been marinating in Samsara for a week in my bag, so I mindlessly threw it in with the pin and shipped it.

A few weeks later, Richard, the rhinestone replacement guy, called me to say he received my pin and to verify the rhinestones I wanted replaced.

The rhinestone replacement guy—do you think this is what he writes on his tax form under occupation? I have to write technical writer on that line, but how cool would it be to write "rhinestone replacement guy" on that line instead?

After he went over his rhinestone replacement process with me, he said he would call when he mailed the pin. And so, a week later, he called to say the rhinestone replacement process was complete, and it only cost me $12.
A few days later, when I got home one night, my husband said, "Hey, the pin guy called again and left a message for you."

"The pin guy?" I said. "Oh, no. He's the rhinestone replacement guy. There's a big difference between a pin guy and a rhinestone replacement guy, you know."

I listened to his message which went something like, "Oh, Hi, Jean. It's Richard R. I sent your pin, but I have a question for you. What was that perfume that scented the tissue paper in which you sent the pin? My wife loves it, and I love it. I'd like to get her some for Christmas. Seeing as Christmas is so close, I'd really appreciate it if you could call me back as soon as you can."

By that point, I had totally forgotten about his question in regard to the perfume, and I was standing there with jaw dropped, thinking to myself, "Wow, a guy who actually shops before December 24th."

Then I was pummeled back to reality by my husband, who said, "Perfume? What about perfume? I thought you sent him a pin." I assured him that I didn't know what Richard was talking about, and I thought, "What tissue paper, and what perfume was he talking about? I didn't scent any tissue paper. I think this guy has been sniffing way too much rhinestone glue."

For the next hour or so, I wracked my brain trying to remember the tissue paper, trying to remember why it would be scented, and then, it hit me. "Oh," I said, "The perfume spill of October in the Italian straw basket; that must be it!"

I wrote him an email that night and told him how I'm a full-time working Mom with two kids, three cats, a dog, and a husband who travels 2-3 days each week, so I can't remember what I did yesterday, let alone how I mailed a package to him a few weeks ago. (I didn't tell him I'm so frazzled that I frequently put on my underwear inside out; those are details I save only for my family and close friends.)

So, I told him that I thought that the scent in question might be Samsara, and then I went on to describe the perfume spill of October in the Italian straw basket. He replied that he had mailed my pin back in its scented tissue paper, so I could smell it
for perfume scent verification purposes when I received my pin in the mail.

By the time the tissue came back, it smelled like, well, tissue paper. And I was thinking that what had really scented the tissue paper were Richard's forms that sat around in my bag for a week or so.

So, I emailed Richard back, and I said I was pretty sure the scent was Samsara, but if he wanted, I would send him a tissue with more Samsara on it to verify. He said that would be wonderful if I was willing to do it. Thus, the next day, I was searching through my perfume bin to see if I could find a small sample perfume vial in which to squirt some Samsara to send to his wife, and lo and behold, I found a small teeny tiny sample bottle of Samsara. It was as if the Perfume Goddess was shining over the whole endeavor.

I shipped it off to Richard's wife, Evelyn the next day, and then a few days later, he sent me an email telling me how that Samsara was the perfume, and his wife adored it.

So, Evelyn Ribarich of Reston, Virginia was very happily going to get Samsara perfume (and body lotion) for Christmas. (In my email, I told him that it was always a smart move to buy the scented body lotion along with the scent, because 1) it makes the scent last longer, and 2) we women love to moisturize.) And, a most thankful Richard sent me an e-mail telling me that I was entitled to free shipping on my next rhinestone replacement order (probably because he was most delighted that he would not be out shopping on the 24th).

Anyway, I thought the whole encounter was worth noting, especially in the online world we live in. You "meet" someone, well, not really, and it's just amazing how much of a difference you can make in a person's life, even if you're not technically in it, but only virtually passing through it.
.
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...a box that contained a bottle of Samsara perfume!!!!!!

So, tonight, many belated thanks for my birthday gift. I love the perfume, but I think the fact that you read my story and paid attention was by far the greater gift.

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