Two Legit

My Ruby, from the start, has always been a present kind-of-kid.  I mean this in the namaste kind-of-way.  While laboring with her, I would hee-hee-hee, crack a mediocre joke,  whoo-whoo, bound angle pose, hee-hee, say lyrics along with Jay-Z, whoo-whoo and threw out some pretty impressive groans.  After a wee bit-o-time, she leisurely came into the world.  And, to be totally in the moment, we did not know her gender until 2:42 that spring afternoon.  Nurse Sarah handed her to me, and she was like, "Hey parents.  I'm here.  Let's hang."  It was freakin' awesome and kinda chill all at the same time.

Since that day, Ruby is just a kid that is content with "just being".  She is happiest picking up little things and holding them:  rocks, lids to water bottles, scraps of paper, roly-polys (may they all rest in bug-peace).  She also has the most endearing kid-voice I've heard.  I know I am her mother.  Bias is in full force, and I don't care. Then, you add the fact that she adds an "a" to end of words.  It's a bit strange and pretty darn cute.  "I don't-a want to-a brush my teeth-a!"   (Fact:  I do not recall engaging in concentual adult activities with any Italians nine months prior.)  Sometimes, I look at her, and I feel like I finally have a Cabbage Patch doll.  A little human that sprung from a vegetable (let's call it a uterus) and just happy to exist in the world. 

 

She's two-years-old now and has important things to say.  After giving it some thought, I really think this kid gets it.  Sure, I am her Mama.  But, she sure as hell is teaching me tons more.

Listen closely: 

1.  "You can be amazing.  You can be a sheep, Mama."

Hand out words of kindness and grace.  Thinking the impossible is great, too.  Be whatever you want.  This sentiment is pretty spot on.  So, baaaaaaaaa, y'all. 

2.  "You hurt my feelings-a."

Hey, you gotta let someone know when your heart is a bit bruised.  Whether the recipient responds tactfully and accordingly, indifferently or nastily, it does not matter.  You do your part, and speak your heart.  Remember, tears are okay, too.  They just mean something is important.

3.  "Go with me.  I too scary-a."

Being scared is okay.  It's good for the spirit.  It's a catalyst for potential awesomeness.  And, if you feel a bit reticent, bring a friend.  You know, the kind of friend who will not ask questions when you ask her to stash a large chunk of benjamins (stored in a non-descript reusable bag, of course). 

4.  "Come join me, Mama."

Ask the person to join you.  You only have friendship and love to lose.  If you like him, talk to him.  If she's awesome, make plans to frolick in a field somewhere without cedar.  Chat with the guy with the awesome tattoos reading the book you want to buy.  Be vunerable and ask them to join in your world. 

5.  Silence and Grit. 

Sometimes, we just need to bear it and stay quiet.  This week Ruby tried to tie a balloon on Mimi Pug's tail.  This did not end well.  No one was at fault, Mimi felt guilty and Ruby was left with two teeth punctures on her face.  While at the ER, they cleaned the wound.  She laid there as directed, did not budge and let Hector clean the shit out of the punctures.  Alligator tears dripped down both sides of her face, and she was silent.  Pure grit.   So, shut up and do what you need to do. 

 

Photo by Awesome E. Danner

 

I mean, really.  I am lucky to be her Mama.  

 

 

365 in Words

The new year subtly stumbled into our home as I munched on some melted cheese and chips. Nothing says “Fab, a whole new slew of 365 days!” like nachos.   Looking at the myriad of social media forums this evening, I notice folks lamenting forfeited goals, acknowledging achievements and advancements and displaying platters of meat and fruit to be consumed during the swan song of 2013.  As I sit here, I am intrigued by how I should measure the previous dozen months.  Good stuff happened.  Then, there was the crappy crap, too.  I would round out the year by throwing in some silly, pissed-off, honest, calm and lots of heart matters. 

Tonight I am driven by words.  I love words, and words are crowding my frontal lobe as I think about this past year.  As I muck through the brain-verbage to eloquently commemorate the last 26 fortnights (1 fortnight = 2 weeks), I chortle at the flexibility and severity of words.  They are these tangible things that always have a recipient.  Oftentimes, I feel that since we cannot see what is coming out of our mouths, we do not give emphasis to the guttural impact they make.  You use them singularly or put them together, and, dear friends, we have our Superpower.  Of course, with power comes restraint, and I hope I use my words concisely and kindly.

There are good (awesome, stellar, profound) words.  Then, there are the reckless and audacious members of the word family that are stakeholders for some impactful, colorful language.  F-yeah.  The best part of words--I can put together whatever I want, and meaning takes place.  Here are some examples from this past year:

#1:  Two words placed adjacently

Occupational spooning:  Spooning, as defined by the Urban Dictionary, is a form of affection between a couple where the man or woman lays front to back with his/her partner resembling the fine fit of two spoons.  Occupational spooning, then, is when you observe those at your place of work in positions that resemble spooning.  These were great, and utterly entertaining, moments (notice the plural form of the aforementioned word) for me professionally.

Bawdy Bristle:  Facial bristle is merely the hair that sprouts from the oral region of a face.  Bawdy, according to Ms. English Oxford Dictionary, means dealing with sexual matters in a comical way.  You put the two together, and it’s how I feel about some good stubble.  I love my husband.  I lust my husband with salacious stubble (for those needing another synonymous speciman of alliteration).

 #2:  Parts of words to form one word

Excermisery:  There is exercise.  Then, there is misery.  Combine the two words, and this is the doom that used to fill every cell of my torso and limbs when I demanded and balked at myself until I worked- out.  Thank goodness those days no longer demand my attention.

Adultantrum:  We have seen adults, and we have seen tantrums.  The ultimate sight is seeing a grown- ass person throw a fit like a wee toddler.  It is a bit entertaining, loads awkward and rarely justified. 

Graticry:  Gratitude + Cry = Practically every day for me.  This is the moment when you become swallowed up by the small and big sentiments in life, and a good cry is the unrivaled form of respect to be bestowed upon the moment. 

I would say the words that best round out 2013 for me would be gratitude and humor.  This year, I swallowed many words spoken by those around me.  Some colloquy was simply stated without purpose and received indifferently.  Other verbage revealed egocentric needs.  Then, there were words that filled my soul a thousand times over.  Through it all, I am most grateful for the residual ability, at the end of the day, the month, the year, to chortle about all of the not-so-good, great, and uber-thrilling hullabaloo.  I will ride the wave of high spirits into the inaugural month of a brand new year.  Welcome and much love to you.