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Kindred Spirits, Strawberry Shortcake and Frozen Lemonade

Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Dana, Tara, Beth, & Anna for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers. 

I left school today to meet a friend for a "grandma dinner".  It's the 4:30 dinner...you know, when grandmas eat. I totally splurged on a yummy steak for dinner and an even yummier strawberry shortcake for dessert! (By the way, strawberry shortcake is the only acceptable dessert with a fruit in it!) 

This friend and I talked and talked and talked. We shared stories about family and work and teaching. There's something about getting to know a new friend over good food. Making new friends can be hard...being vulnerable, feeling insecure, wondering if I'm talking too much, not enough. It can be nerve-wracking. I felt very little, no I felt NONE, of that tonight! Feeling trust like that is such a gift! I thought I'd get home for a bit before my next friend meet...but our dinner took hours!


Back in the car to Panera to meet another friend. TWO friends "dates" on a school night?!?! (I'm living on the edge.) Yummy frozen lemonade and sitting outside in the warm spring air made this visit...perfect. Do you know those people who make you feel happy? Those people who seem to have sunshine radiating from their smiles? That's this friend. We got a long, overdue chance to catch up. This moment in our lives, we are...Content. Happy. Grateful. Joy-filled. We shared about our lives. This friend knows how to ask good questions. And oh, how she listens!
As we were leaving, my friend asked about FLY, my word of the year. I confess that I've been struggling with my explanation for my word this year, but tonight the words came flowing out of me... FLY...I want to stop making decisions from fear. (I am working through an extreme fear of anything that flies.) FLY...when a bird is about to FLY, it has to let go of the branch and go. I am also working on letting go of control...working on believing that there's something BIGGER that controls my life and by FLYing, I will believe that my "wings" will carry me there.

Friends. I am grateful for friends. I feel so FULL tonight...so grate-FULL for these amazing women I call my friends.

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Comments

  1. Jennifer LaffinMay 5, 2015 at 6:12 AM

    Beautiful post, Michelle. You sound so happy. I love your definition of FLY and how you have made it work for you. You are definitely on your way!

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  2. Margaret SimonMay 5, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    You are good at kindling your friendships. Keep flying!

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  3. BernadetteMay 5, 2015 at 6:58 AM

    Your writing just exudes with joy. Such a pleasure to read. I always think in song lyrics...your post reminded me of the song "I believe I can fly".

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beth S.May 5, 2015 at 7:58 AM

    Ha! I love that you had TWO friend dates on a school night! I so get what you mean by living on the edge. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulieanneMay 5, 2015 at 8:18 AM

    It's as if your friends released you into a of flight of joy -- off the edge! The wind beneath my wings...What is it about fly and songs?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dana MurphyMay 5, 2015 at 11:43 AM

    What a great evening, Michelle. You are really blessed to have such wonderful friends in your life. I know exactly how you feel; I have a couple true friends in my life just like that. Yep, you are full. (and not on Strawberry Shortcake!)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Leigh Anne EckMay 5, 2015 at 5:09 PM

    Frozen lemonade AND shortcake! Your lucky night. Good friends are such a blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. TaraMay 5, 2015 at 6:30 PM

    Kindred spirits make our lives special - as do yummy desserts and iced lemonade on a warm Spring night.

    ReplyDelete
  9. RaeilyMay 5, 2015 at 6:50 PM

    Love this post. I really like your "Word of the Year"! Is that something do every year? I'd love to know more about it! Also, I think FLY sounds like a perfect one. I think I might steal that from you. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Erin KirklandMay 16, 2015 at 4:15 PM

    I had a BLAST at dinner, enjoying every minute of it! I can't wait until we have another "Grandma Dinner" (perfect title and concept!)! I have been pondering your blog post and I think your word FLY has another dimension. "FLY" is in reference to how you make people feel when they are with you. By this I mean that you are one of the most positive, spiritually energetic people I know. EVERY time we interact - in the hallway, my office, at dinner - when we part, I, too, am energized and feel like I can do anything. It is a feeling that lasts for quite a while and never completely dissipates. My life is increasingly blessed because you are in it, because you are my friend. Thank you, Michelle, for making me feel like I can FLY!!

    ReplyDelete

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