BETTY FOR PRESIDENT

Not too long ago Betty and I were on our usual evening walk home from dinner at Poppy and B's. We passed a couple I did not recognize on a walk with their baby and Betty gave them a wave and a huge smile. They returned with HEY BETTY! HOW ARE YOU? I meekly waved still having no clue who they were. I thought my child knows more people in this town than I do.

This week I took her for an afternoon snow cone. I sent her up to the stand with a couple of bucks and she marched right back, snow cone and couple of bucks in hand. I didn't recognize the car but knew it must have been someone WE know to be so sweet. The following afternoon we went again and I decided to pay closer attention this time. The high school girl, who I have never seen in my life, opened the window and she talked to Betty as if she'd known her for years. I could see her lips moving and her head bobbling...Oh hi Betty. How are you? You look so cute today. Betty just smiled and ordered her snow cone, tried to pay and marched back to the car money in hand. I had to chuckle. Once again someone quite smitten by her who knows me as Betty's mom.

She knows not a stranger. It's a bit of a scary thing. I feel as if I have to have an extra watchful eye in some situations but in Spearman it is easy to let her be free. She rolls down the window and yells HELLLOOOOOO to people walking down the street. She runs outside to tell Dr. and Mrs. Latta she likes their outfits and do they have any daugthers. She talks to EVERY.SINGLE.PERSON. at the grocery store. She tells Verna Lee she loves her nail polish. She stands on top of her playhouse and yells over the fence. HEY LADD AND KATHY, WHEN'S YOUR POOL GONNA BE READY? She just has a way with people.

I've always said she is an old soul and has this special light about her but as she gets older it has begun to bubble over. She is spirited and capable of really connecting on some plane especially for a four year old. As my friend Elaine says, "Shakin' hands and kissin' babies."

I told my mom last night I think Betty for President 2050 t-shirts are totally in order....

CHEERS TO THE CLASS OF 2024

She told me the night before her graduation she was nervous about singing songs in front of everyone but sang she did and LOUDLY too. Her little hands were nervous as she marched out but she relaxed and sang her little heart out. Sigh. Such a precious little soul. I try not to brag too much on this magnificent little individual but let me tell you what. She does have the sweetest personality and the kindest heart. She is loving and warm and caring. She is tender and polite and thinks of others. She is a million things but kindess is certainly in the Top 5. I adore her and could not possibly be more proud. She is good. She is kind. We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams.

ANOTHER ONE TOO GOOD NOT TO STEAL FROM I HEART GALVESTON

Thursday, May 17, 2012


PUSHING THE MOWER



When you accomplish the extraordinary, every day, will you ever be....satisfied?



This question was rolled over and over again by two best friends last night, two girls who juggle and balance and run a race every single day. Girls who make dinners and pack school bags and read books 14,567 times at night to little ears...oh, and single-handedly plan town festivals and book bands and schedule media interviews and press releases.



We are subjected to these stories of Cinderellas - EFFING CINDERELLAS - and their Prince Charmings and how the only way a story ends well is when the boy gets the girl and they live happily ever after.



Prince Charming = Happy Ever After.



Always the same.



Can Happy Ever After happen for girls who are strong, strong beyond their own comprehension, busy that challenges any to-do lists imaginable, who strive and stretch and grow and stress and push mowers all by themselves and lug trashcans to the curb because, hell, who else is going to take out the trash?



We sit in the same boat, she and I, together. We wouldn't have it any other way and it happens silently, without us even realizing it.



Promises of the easy, the simple, the comfortable and the secure. And shouldn't we be JUMPING ALL OVER THAT? I mean, seriously, why would we not want to unyoke ourselves from the burdens we carry right now? (Our parents want to punch us both in the face right now.)



Maybe because those burdens are what makes us who we are.



And without those burdens and the strife, we might lose a little bit of our sense of self.



Burdens = Identity.



And we have these sets of eyes - these small people who watch us, absorb us, depend on us, live through us. And we never want to disappoint them.



We want them to know that they are capable - just like we are.



They can push the mower.



They can take out the trash.



They are empowered. And amazing and perfect and wonderful and loved.



And it doesn't take a Prince Charming to do that. Or a Cinderella.



It takes YOU. Loving you.



Oh, onions.

MY BETTY

LADYBUG RELEASE 2012