General musings on the ups and downs and ins and outs in the life of a 30 something, unmarried, life loving, some times interesting and sometimes not, mostly happy girl just trying to figure it all out!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Southern Fabulous

I’m reading “Traveling with Pomegranates,” a book by a mother and daughter. It’s about their life changes, how they affect each other and mother-daughter relationships. Ann, the daughter, was making some observations about her mother, and it got me to thinking about my Mama.

My Mama is a big haired, stuck in the 80s/90s, fru-fru, shabby chic, yard sale-ing, junkin’, crazy, Southern fairy. She’s Southern Fabulous, to be exact.

I will never forget the first time Shannon met my Mama. We were headed for lunch and Mama was meeting us to drop something off for me. I was talking to S and paying attention to a million different things. Then I hear Shannon say, “THAT’S your mother, isn’t it? That’s her!”I looked up to see this tiny person in black spandex stretch-pants (where do you buy those anyway??), and a huge, billowing turquoise top lined with frills skipping down the sidewalk carrying a purse made of some combination of vintage handkerchiefs, lace, taffeta and sparkles. Yep, THAT was her! Later that afternoon, amid some since of awe I don’t think she quite grasped, Shannon pronounced Mama “Southern Fabulous.”


I don’t remember her ever embarrassing me. I know she embarrassed Amanda. But I think I was just so enchanted by her that it never occurred to me to be embarrassed. I was proud. Looking back, my desired to imitate her is probably the reason I was less than popular in middle and high school. What a look!


Mama loves perms. She loves big hair. And I was subjected to this from the time I was five until I went to college. I grew out of liking them around the age of 10 and cried each time (every 4 months like clockwork) she took me to get a new perm. It’s the only thing I can think of that I hold against her. Nope, nope- I lied! I hold the matching Christmas pinafores that looked like a copy of the Von Traps’ matching outfits made from curtains, but in a holly pattern and ruffles added. They were bad. And we all had them. And daddy had a matching vest. Awful.

I have no idea where this post is going. My mother is crazy. Yep, point made. My mother is adorable. Pont also made.

Let’s just end with a quote from the book: “I’m filled with love for my mother. The best gift she has given me is the constancy of her belief. Whatever I become, she loves me. To her, I am enough.”

That should clear it up… or not…. What can I say? I take after my mother!

Is it Bad?

Is it bad...
...that I have full conversations in my head, with outward hand gestures?
...that when the PPD habitually tells people to call MY number about parking tickets and someone says, "I'm calling because I got a parking ticket," I answer with "And?"
...that I show up at work with chicken poo on my shoes at least 3 days a week?
...that I constantly speak to inanimate objects?
...that I adore my gynecologist?
...that at the age of 27 (almost 28) I immediately call my Mama when something goes wrong?
...that I purposefully send things out even though my boss told me to hold them because he didn't meet my deadline!
...that I often prefer curling up in my bed with a good book and a glass of wine to going out?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Technology

Technology gets a really bad rap for ruining the world. The video games are teaching kids to kill each other on the street. Cell phones and PDAs make us in constant contact and force us to lead hurried, hectic lives with no down time. Computers make porn mass-consumable and allow predators to stalk so much more easily. All of a sudden identity theft is rampant… Technology is evil. Right?
I’m not so sure. Right now, my brother-in-law is in Iraq. Basra, Iraq. Flying helicopters to Medivac injured people out of battle areas and to a hospital. And I’m chatting with him. He’s in Iraq, I’m in my office in Pensacola, Florida, and we can chat. In real time. Now, that is just amazing folks!
Not that many years ago, just two or three generations, the family left at home has to wait for the lag of weeks or months to get letters from the war zones. And there is absolutely something romantic about those hand-written letters. But how romantic is it for a wife to get to tell her husband good night and that she loves him? For a daughter to get to email her mom on her birthday? For a husband to get to see his child on Skype?
Technology certainly makes life different. And it can be invasive and scary. But I think we should remember to count our blessings as well. I can talk to my best friends and get photos of my nieces and nephew. Doctors can see problem so much earlier and save lives. T just emailed me pictures of her honeymoon! Technology is wonderful.
And later, when you’re thanking God for your blessings (including technology), say a little prayer for Justin too.

All About Ashley

My photo
Spring, TX, Southern, United States
Playing with and keeping up with my nephew and niece take up a lot of my time. Van Geaux takes up the rest of it. Work is an afterthought most days! I like to be outside- but not when it's too hot. I get bored at my desk all day. Niki keeps my world spinning and without her and AC I'd lose it. My work ethic crashes at 4 p.m. daily and I live my sweet puppy and my hedgehog whenever I am not at Niki's. I truly believe naps are quality pass-time events, and sometimes I say bad words at work. I'm pretty sure I'm insane on multiple levels and I believe rules don't apply to me.
It seems that my life is quite entertaining. I didn't realize this myself, but was informed of it by my friends- who are rather entertained by tales of my life occurrences.

I'm far from a professional writer. These are just stories, comments, and other items for simple amusement. Hopefully it's a fun read, as Shannon plans to edit it into a book one day! Maybe we'll become famous, and maybe we'll just have some good laughs at my expense (and some other characters in my life). Either way, happy reading!