Changes In Friendships

My friendships mean the world to me.  As a child I didn't have very many friends.  We moved a lot, and it was hard for me to sustain long term relationships with kids.

As an adult I've been blessed to love and lose friendships.  I say blessed because I've known the pain of a lost friendship, which means I've had friendships that when they were no longer, it broke my heart.

A week ago, my best girl from college, came and stayed the night with me.  She lives in California and I hadn't seen her in 8 years.  We had such a great time together.  Time seemed to fly by.  There's nothing better than yacking it up with your best girls.  I call it Women Time.  Talking about anything and everything, stop, take a breath, and talk some more.   Best thing ever.

And then one of my dear friends let me know I was doing something she didn't like.  "OW".  Its hard for me to say, I'm glad she told me, cause it hurt when she said it, and knocked me back a pace, but I am glad she told me.
I'm glad she valued our friendship enough to say something and not let my actions sit and seethe inside her, something I find we as women are very good at doing.  I'm also glad she told me because I would be so hurt to have learned a behavior that could be easily corrected, was never addressed, and she just left me in  a huff.  You know how we can be.  One moment we're there and then your girl is gone.  No explanation, nothing. Just a big ball of hurt where your friend used to be.

So, I'm humbled and having growing pains, but it's a good thing.  The journey continues to unfold.

End Trans 2/15/10

Me and The Chinese Food Lady

We've been getting delivery from the same Chinese food place for years.  It's great Chinese food.  It's just what you want - it's fast, hot, sweet, sticky and delicious.  But what really makes it stand out is the relationship between me and the Chinese food lady who takes my order, over the phone.  I've never met her and I've been ordering from China Dragon for 13 years.  The same woman always answers the phone.

We have a code.  She answers the phone in a way that you know you be better ready to order.  However when I give my address, it's our "hello".  I can hear the recognition and the smile in her voice.  I place my order with a smiling voice, and I know she knows we're one of her loyal customers.

End Trans 2/12/10

Stink, Stank, Stunk

Those are the feelings I'm left with after seeing the "Lovely Bones" at Harkins Northfield Theatres.  I won't be a movie spoiler, let's just say I give it a thumbs down.  I really wanted to like it, it was directed by Peter Jackson, and had some of my favorite actors in it - Susan Sarandon, Raschel Weisz.  But it just never came together, for us.

But the real reason for the stink, stank, stunk, was the group of little bitches that laughed out loud, talked out loud, got and up and down from their seats, god knows how many times, and sat in the very front row of the theatre.  In addition there was the woman who answered her cell phone, who sat next to me, then there was the theatre staff that tried to quietly assert their presence in the theatre, by standing obnoxiously next to the wall.  Add to that the other theatre staffer who came in with a clipboard and appeared to be taking some type of stats, and oh yeah, the baby that coughed and sputtered throughout the entire film.  All this for the glorious price of $9.50 per person!

As fate would have it, I walked out next to the little bitches, and one of them said "I want my money back".  Well, that was it, and I told them how much I had enjoyed being in the movie with them.  That conversation led to a confrontation in the hallway, and I recall the word "mama' being thrown around.

Its sad that an adult can't go to the movies anymore and not be submitted to the rude behavior of somebody else's kids.  Its awful people can't leave their cell phones in their pocket or purse for the duration of a film.
I continue to go to the theatre because I like the big screen and the popcorn, and the experience of going out to the movies.  But after tonight it will probably be a while before I plop down 10 bucks again for a movie.

End Trans 2/6/10

"Under the Milky Way" - Sia

Blessed Imbolc.

We gathered over the weekend.  It was a lovely Circle.  Just the four of us and we touched our divinity and felt the breath of the Goddess.

Tonight I'm alone.  Listening to "Under the Milky Way" by Sia.  I lit all my candles and cast a spell, a prayer to Brigid.  I felt calm and lifted.

I stepped outside and looked up to the cloudy sky and blew my kisses upward.  I know She hears me and feels me.

Today was a rough day.  Drama after drama unfolding in the online communities I belong to.  I am thankful that tonight I had a reason to pause, reflect and remember my foundation, and that which gives me strength and peace.

On a daily basis I say a prayer that begins with "In the face of adversity, uncertainty and conflicting sensory information, I hereby pledge to remain ever mindful of the magickal, mystical, mystical, loving reality in which I live....."  Although I've changed some of the words I can't take credit for the words.  They come from Mike Dooley and his TUT website.  "Conflicting sensory information", now thats a mouthful.  Pretty much sums up everything of living in the everyday world, while flitting back and forth between the worlds of Hoodoo and the Craft.  Oy vey.

I remain grateful for the simple ritual of lighting a candle and saying a prayer.

End Trans - 2/2/10