VernetteOutLoud

My Favourite Things

There will be hearts all over the world this week and I’m joining in some of the fun and sharing the stuff that made my heart smile this week.

Need some HAPPY in your life?

Some people feel the rain; others just get wet. — Roger Miller. This baby captures the wonder I feel about the rain.

Because it’s Super Grover.In.A.Towel. That is all.

Having a hard day? This should make you chuckle.

Life is short. When your heart says “it’s time”…make the move.

This is one of my favourite episodes from Friends. Happy lobster hunting!

It’s Chocolate Hangover Week my lovelies!!! So here’s to dark chocolate, Tiramisu cupcakes, kissing moles and celebrating my scarred but still open and ever-expanding heart!

How do you know?

So apparently I was on the naughty list. Again.

I truly prided myself on being an okay adult this year (honesty counts right?)…worked my ass off for an organization that does not even provide the padded seating for spin bikes when you’ve worked said “ass” to the bone…! But hey, they pay me just enough to make sure I keep coming back every day so you know how that goes.

I filed my taxes on time. I tithed and I stuck with the gym thing ALL year…ok for most of the year but I did manage to lose 18lbs and change how and what I eat, that has to count for something right? RIGHT!? I made it through a whole year and did not commit homicide or bomb any office buildings, strangle any co-workers or even give in to the rage that only seems to manifest itself as road-venom.

WAAAH! WAAAH!

WAAAH! WAAAH!

Thus, it was pretty fair for me to expect the following presents under my tree:

    1. Keurig B70 Single Brew Coffee machine, Crockpot, Ice cream maker and a convection oven.

    2. Padding for my spin bike.

    3. No more bloodshed in Trinidad & Tobago except for like a splinter in your finger.

    4. A disciplined Football (read soccer for some of you) team (Real Madrid, CBTT, QRC, SOCA Warriors etal…)

    5. A never-ending supply of mini hand sanitizers preferably of the Bath & Body Works variety.

    6. A pen that appears exactly when I need it.

    7. No more vampires…masquerading as politicians, I deserve to have leadership I can be proud of.

    8. A beam-me-up-scotty-thingee (these can come in handy like you wont believe)

    9. A complete Apartment Make-over.

    10. Some chunky double chocolate chip cookies that are all you can eat with none of the fat. (This one was supposed to be a one-off, one time thing.)

I got none of the above.
Nada. Zip. Zero.
Not even a hand sanitizer!

Instead what I got was something totally different.

Instead of presents this year, I got presence.

Santa...? Is that you?

I got time spent with my family and friends. The full, undivided attention of my beloveds, filled with belly laughs and good food.

There was a popular advertisement on TV that asked over the holiday shopping rush: “How do you know when you’re loved?”

I know…because TIME is actually spelt like LOVE

…and today…that is all I gave and received.

Your presence is a present to the world.

Day 22 – Real Friends

“What will I do without a best friend?” – Beaches (one of my all time favourite movies)

Today’s affirmation:

Today I’m grateful for my real friends.

In the movie Friends With Benefits Jamie’s mother advises her to “update her fairytale” pretty much saying that your prince charming or soul mate doesn’t necessarily mean an actual Prince on a white steed, come to rescue you from a life without love.

This rang home to me, because I’ve known for a long time that this romanticized version of a soul mate may exist somewhere out there but for me and my reality, I have been blessed to have more than one soul mate and they have nothing to do with romance.

The only way to have a friend is to be one. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you ever met someone and just clicked? It’s like you’ve known each other all your lives. A kinda love at first sight thing? Have you had that happen with someone you had absolutely no romantic interest in whatsoever? This is how it was for me when I met my friend Laquetha. It was love at first sight, the first day of our 6th form orientation. We just clicked. And have been clicking for more than 15 years. Wow 15 years. 15 years of loving, caring, growing and strengthening a bond that time and distance has not shaken.

My gift today was calling and wishing Laquetha a happy birthday and reminiscing a bit about the years. We’ve been through a lot together. We survived 6th Form in a Boy’s School, the birth or her son and my godson who by the way was born on my birthday (yaay me!), her move to the US, my mother’s death and the various heart-breaks in between. The good times, the great times, the sad times, she’s been there.

Laquetha is my ride-or-die-sister-from-another-mother-will-always-love-and-cherish-her soul mate. I feel blessed to have her in my life. She inspires me to continue to move in the direction of my dreams no matter what. She’s a single mom and recently graduated from University. So proud of her and all she has accomplished. Happy Birthday, love.