These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Post-it Note to Nancy (um, a Hello Kitty one, k?): This is SO not a tear-jerker blog, so read on, girl. No Kleenex needed. :-)

I just wanted to thank you all for your birthday cards, birthday phone calls, birthday emails, and birthday presents.

And, kudos to the one who left this in my driveway.



Okay, okay, okay…pants on fire.
I didn’t get that, but I might as well starting hinting now.
I would like an old Alfa Romeo spider convertible (red, black leather interior, 5-speed) for my 50th.
Start saving now, people! :-)
By the way, its license plate will be NRVOUS.
Anyone see “Ferris Buehler’s Day Off”?
I know Suze and Skip did. :-)
Anyway, there's a VERY nice Ferrari in it with the license plate “NRVOUS”.
Rent the movie, people!



Tangent Ferrari story: On Sunday, I was driving Nathan home from his soccer game.
I was grumbling at someone who was merging but not really merging onto Route 495.
When I say “not really” I mean that this driver just drove straight onto the highway, expecting all traffic to yield to him; that’s my pet peeve...people who merge without yielding like they're supposed to!
Another one of my pet peeves is individuals who throw their socks in the laundry inside out and all balled up.
And yet another is people who throw dog poop in their neighbor’s yards; that’s just SO unforgiveable, especially when they admit it on camera! :-)
But, I digress.
Anyway, I cursed the driver in front of Nathan.
No, I didn’t swear; I just said, “Nana-nana, nana-nana, boo-boo, Poopiehead!”
Really, that’s it!
So, Nathan said, “Mom, you’re so bad ass!”
Um, yeah, k, Nate.
And then, as I usually do after he makes fun of me, I said, “That’s it, Mr. Wise Guy, you’re SO not going to college.”
If you totaled it all up over the last two years, Nathan’s probably not going to college 137 times. :-)
Then Nathan thought a second and said, “Hey, Mom. You know, you and Dad could take that 200K you were going to use to send me to college and buy a Ferrari!”
I then asked stupidly, “So, Nathan, which would you rather have a college education or a Ferrari?”
He said, “A Ferrari!”
Hey, at least, he was honest. :-)

Anyway, my 47th (ow, ow, ow, ouch!) birthday was on Monday.
And, here's what 47 looked like in case you were wondering. :-)



And, I wanted to thank you all for remembering me the way you did.
Presents are always nice to receive, and most of my life, I have really enjoyed giving to people more than receiving from them.

Maybe I'm odd this way, but to me, giving someone a present and then seeing the look on their face is like receiving a gift.
Anyway, I preface the rest of this by sharing this quote with you by Helen Keller:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.”

I got some lovely things for my birthday, but I think first and foremost, they were felt in my heart; that is, I love you all for caring so much about me.

Kinda sorta tangent story: I remember my last year of college, I ran out of money near Christmas.
My mother told me I was not to buy her anything; I was to “make” something.
I stood there and thought, “Make something? What, am I five years old again? Where's that little clay pot I made her in 4th grade? Maybe I can regift that...hmmmm.”
I had a think, and I finally presented her with a little coupon book on Xmas morning.
When she opened the book, she said, “Wow, 10 foot rubs!”
And I tell you, she loved and used everyone of those coupons.
The minute I walked in the door, it wasn’t “Oh, Jean, I’m so glad to see you!”
She greeted me, waving a coupon, and asked, “Can I get a foot rub now!”

Thank you, Jeff (a.k.a. Nantucket, Alaska Feed & Grain), for Spike and Daisy. <3 src="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z53/Jean_Sizzlechick/IMG_6578.jpg">

Meet Spike:



Thank you, Brenda, for my post-it notes and for my ONE HUNDRED (yes, folks, that’s right!) GEL PENS! <3 src="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z53/Jean_Sizzlechick/IMG_6642.jpg">

Hey, Brenda!
I have 100 gel pens now, and you only have 64!
Nah-nah-nah! :-)
Actually, Brenda is one of the few people who shares my love of office supplies (pens, pencils, post-its, and the like).
Is this a girl thing or what?
Anyway, um, here’s my basket of post-it notes.
Doesn’t everyone have a basket of post-it notes?
Oh, it’s just me?
Hmmm. :-)



Thank you, George, for the Hello Kitty rubix cube. <3 src="http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z53/Jean_Sizzlechick/IMG_6643.jpg">

As George said to me in email, “I wasn’t sure what Hello Kitty things you might *not* have…”
I don’t have these!



Yes, the rubix cube was a safe bet, George. :-)
Though it shall remain exactly as is, in its perfectly solved state, because like Calculus, the Electric Slide, and changing a bike tire, the rubix cube is a one thing I never mastered!

Anyway, my 47th was lovely.
And thanks to everyone for your birthday wishes on Monday and mostly for loving me as you do, unconditionally, the other 364 days a year.

Are You My Mother?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there.

BabelySuze
Brenda (Momcat)
Nancy (Mom to Kelly)
Sarah (Momcat)
Esme (Sarah’s Mom)
Liz (Momcat)
KimB
RonnieF
TomS (Mr. Mom!)

And a huge thinking about you to those who didn’t get to send a card on this “holiday” but so wanted to.

As I said in my previous blog, my Mom died over 15 years ago.
The first Mother’s Day without her brought a HUGE sadness, because I had just become a mother myself after she died.

I think I spent many years after trying to find a woman to take her place, and I never did.
I often felt like I was the main character in this book. :-)



I guess you can never really replace your mother.
Over the years, I’ve found many people who have been just like family to me.
K, maybe even better than my own family.
And, you all know who you are, cuz you are all reading this blog right now.

Anyway, this is my Mom.
I want you all to meet her.
So, friends, meet Ruth Evelyn (Smith) Szymcak.



My Mom was a nurse – Boston Children’s Hospital School of Nursing.
She was compassionate, intelligent, a very good listener, serious, artistic, absolutely beautiful, and she loved Bridge Mix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_mix

I remember going to Maine one Summer, and she made this beautiful Egyptian woman out of sand and adorned her with sea glass.
And, when I mean serious, well, her sense of humor lacked a tad.
I got my Dad’s sense of humor definitely.
We were going out to the mall one night to window shop, and my Mom asked me if I was ready, and I said, "Ready, Freddie", and then she said, 'Oh, you're always calling me names!"
Um, hello, Mom, that's just an expression, hello, hello, hello, Planet Earth to Mom!

She was a major cat lady.
Both my Mom and Dad adored cats.
K, yeah, so it’s in the genes. :-)
There are SO many other things I wanted to say about her, but this would be an endless blog.

Here she is with “Little Red” and “Jerry”.



As I said, I’ve often searched for my Mom since her death, and in the vein of friends filling in typical “family” places, I want to tell this story about Sarah’s Mom.
Sarah is one of the loveliest women I’ve ever met.
Like Suze, a beautiful soul.
I remember being at work one day, a day where I had six releases going out.
And at one point, I said out loud, “Gawd, I want my Mommy!”
Sarah’s cube was right across from mine, and as usual, Sarah responded with her always sympathetic, “Oh, Jean. Is there anything I can do to help?”
And, I said, “Can I call your Mom?”
She laughed and said, "Sure!"
On those days, when I was still waiting on engineers to approve notes, people to review the notes, Sarah would always stop by my cube on her way out and say, “Oh, are you here for much longer?”
I usually was, but it was SO NICE to have Sarah stop by and say that.
Because on those days, I really wanted to pick up the phone, call my Mom, and bitch to her.
Not that my Mom would fix my problems, but she’d be there to listen.

Anyway, the next day, I got in and saw that I had a voicemail message.
I started to listen to it and heard the voice of an older woman with a Brit accent.
I thought, “Who is this? It must be a joke.”
The message went:
"Hello, Jean. This is Esme, Sarah's Mum. Sarah told me that you had a bad day yesterday, and I just wanted to let you know that you can call me anytime you like."
I almost cried right then and there.
How sweet was that?
Thank you, Esme.
Happy Mother’s Day to you, first and foremost. <3

I was 7 months pregnant with Nathan with my Mom died.
I guess when every woman has her first child, she wants her Mom to be there…to give her support, advice, and take care of the baby so she can sleep for 5 minutes. :-)

At my baby shower, my cousin, Laura, who had a boy, Joshua, when she was only 18 gave me the letter my Mom had sent her when Joshua was born.
When my sister became pregnant, I gave her the original letter, and now I have a copy.

It’s dated September 19, 1980.
“Dear Laura,
I can’t think of anything that Joshua needs so please accept this money gift for him and use it for something special that you would like him to have. You have a beautiful son.
If an old Auntie can give any advice – let me say – talk to him constantly. Even at his tender age, he will respond in his own way. Whenever he is awake and you are nearby, keep a little one-sided conversation going. As the weeks go by observe his development – how he changes in his response and how his personality grows week by week. Love him, (don’t be surprised that you won’t always like him).
Be patient and never compare him with any other baby. He is unique and very special and will grow in his own way and in his own time. Accept him as he is and love him because he is himself.
How I wish someone had told me this and made me understand its truth. Alas much of wisdom is gained in retrospect.
God bless you both.
Love, Aunt Ruth.”

When I had Nathan, I didn’t have my Mom, but I had this letter filled with sage advice.
And this is why I have the two beautiful children that I have today.

IddyB:



Nathan:



And, I carry it in my heart as I do her to this day.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.
I love you.

The Goddess of All Things Babely

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I decided to dedicate this blog to someone very special in my life.
She’s not my mother.
But, she is a mother.

My mother, Ruth, died in 1992.
And, I miss her every day.
A few years after she died, I began to send Mother’s Day cards to all my girlfriends, even those who weren’t mothers.
It just seemed like the right thing to do, even though it was a bit, well, different than the norm.
But then again "different than the norm" is my middle name. :-)

Anyway, I was thinking about Mother’s Day a lot this year.
Well, who can’t without all the advertising?
Last chance to give iPod for Mother's Day.
Book your dinner reservations now for Mother’s Day.
Show Mom how much you care by sending a lovely Mother’s Day bouquet.
Six Days left before Mother's Day Free Shipping Offer!
You know, I think most Mom’s would like to see this sign:
Dad, take the family out for the day and leave Mom home alone with the TV remote and a bottle of champagne!

Anyway, this Mother’s Day, I was thinking about the woman in my life who I admire and love the most.
I have known her now for 24 years give or take a few months.
She is my best girlfriend, a super Mom, and a wonderful wife.
She is compassionate, beautiful, thoughtful, lovely, intelligent, giving, funny, and pretty much everything else.
Her name is Suze.

Err, here we are in 1986.



No, we didn’t dress like this in the 80s; this was a Halloween party, okay?
But, I’m sure we had dresses with shoulder pads, and you can see I have the ridiculous 80s perm!

Anyway, Suze is the woman I look up to and admire most in my life.
Well, technically, in the physical sense, I look down upon her.
Of course, being the Amazon I am, I pretty much look down on most my friends.
She is 5’ and maybe three inches.
She has to hem all her pants, and I have to buy "talls". :-)

Suze and I have been through a lot together.
Cruddy times, good times, and my favorite, champagne times!

Oh, here’s Suze’s husband, Skip.
This was before they were married.
Crazy kids!



I love Skip, too.
Actually, his real name is not Skip; it’s Furwood.
K, his REAL name is Arthur when it’s not Skip when it’s not Furwood.
My Mom loved Skip, and she began calling him Furwood when I first met him.
Yeah, I have no idea why and how she came up with that name, but she always said Skip was like a big teddy bear and she thought him a sweetheart.
And he is, well, most of the time, right Suze? :-)

I remember one Patriot’s Day (a holiday that only Massachusetts celebrates and on which the Boston Marathon is run) when we were all in Boston.
We weren’t running the marathon, oh, heavens no!
Our gang of friends just used the holiday as an excuse to go into Boston and drink way too many Margaritas at Frog Lane.
Anyway, Suze and I were at a party at Skip’s sister’s place, and it was there that Suze confessed to me that she liked Skip.
Of course, I had had the above mentioned “too many Margaritas” and said in a not too quiet voice in the middle of the party, “You’ve got the hots for Skip?!”
Um, I was never what you call a quiet talker anyway.
Anyway, Skip, while I adore you, this blog is not about you, k?
So, back to Suze!

I remember in 1986 saying to her, “Gawd, I’d really like to go somewhere. Maybe Hawaii!”
And she said, “I’m in!”
And off we went. We had a great time.
Um, I fell on the rocks, skinned my knee, and Suze kept me from passing out and falling into the Pacific Ocean.
Then, I saw a barracuda when swimming, and I told her.
To THIS DAY, she still doesn’t believe me.
Did too, did too, Suze!
True Confession: I went to the aquarium with Iz during the past school vacation, and I saw a barracuda in the big tank, um, only it wasn’t a barracuda.
It was some other fish, because when this big brown ugly fish swam by what I thought was the barracuda, the woman from the aquarium said, “And, there’s the barracuda!” when pointing to the big brown ugly fish.
Um, so Suze, I didn’t see a barracuda.
After 22 years, you were right, k? :-)

Anyway, one of the reasons (there are MANY) why I love being friends with Suze is that even with all the stupid mistakes I’ve made (k, let me be positive and call them “learning experiences” instead), she’s NEVER said, “Boy, that was stupid, Jean”.
No matter what, she’s always been there supportive and true.
The best advice that Suze ever gave me was “Always go with your gut”, and she was always right about that.
Whenever I’ve not gone with my gut, I’ve been sorry.
When I go quiet, she hounds me via emails, because she knows when I go “quiet”, there’s something wrong.
I guess in some ways, friends already see the person you long to be in your heart.
And Suze has always seen me and loved me exactly for who I am.
Suze, you are a thoughtful, sincere, absolutely wonderful friend, and you mean more to me than you’ll ever know.

So, this blog is for you.
Oh, and let me make it official...

I, the Goddess of All Things Lovely deem you, Suze, The Goddess of All Things Babely by the power vested in me by the Goddess Society of Massachusetts – our motto being “In Shoes We Trust”.

Thanks for being you, Suze.
You are a beautiful soul, and on this Mother’s Day, I wanted you to know that you are the woman I admire most for all your wonderful qualities.
I love you, BabelySuze.