Happy Valentine’s Day!

Okay so I’m a day late. If you know me, you know this is how holidays run for me. In fact I just loaded Christmas presents into my car this morning to be mailed out.

So I spent the weekend in Kansas. Yes, Kansas. In February. Only for a good friend would I go to a mid-western or plains state in February. A truly great friend got married this weekend.

She asked me to be her “enforcer.” New wedding party position! Actually it was to run interference between her and her family on the big day. She and I have a lot in common when it comes to family. We have been the “fixers” for years. Our families count on it. And we get frustrated and resentful when they don’t take our suggestions. Isn’t that why they called after all?

Well, no it isn’t. Or it isn’t if we don’t let it be. Okay, a double negative, but you know what I mean. “I’m really sorry you are dealing with this again” has become her mantra. What a lifesaver that statement is!

Her family is perpetually late. No family photos before they wedding. It just simply didn’t happen. The family was supposed to be at the church by 11:30 a.m. and the earliest one of them arrived was noon. So you can picture how it went. Flowers and ribbons for the pews were still being put together at 1:40 for the 2:00 pm ceremony.

Anyway, my job was to keep her calm, and answer all their questions and prod them into completing their assigned tasks, getting to where they were supposed to go, etc. I can only hope I have a friend who does the same for me one day.

After the ceremony, the two friends I was traveling with and I decided to get silly. We showed up at the reception, before the family (gasp!), in dollar store tablecloths tied on as our capes and glow stick weapons calling ourselves the bride’s superheroes! It was fantastic. A chance to be silly and ridiculous. To play. To not worry what other people thought. We played several rowdy rounds of Uno at our table, I hollered at the groom while he was dancing, and then generally danced like a goofball myself.

I have forgotten how to play to be honest. To not worry what others will think of me. To not worry about what I look like. To play, dance, and be slightly rowdy was out of my comfort zone. But I remember that comfort zone vaguely. I think I knew that zone until I was about 10 and then for a brief time in my early to mid-twenties.

What happened to those in-between times? Well, at age 10 some events happened in my family that started a lot of the loss of feeling safe and secure in my family situation. Although my mom and stepdad #1 didn’t divorce until I was 13, the family situation had changed due to some other circumstances. Then I was in teenage angst mode for years.

In my early to mid-twenties I probably weighed the least I have weighed as an adult and I’m sure that had something to do with the whole thing of not worrying about people looking at me.

Well time to dig into work.

Yours in service, and with hugs,

Angela B.

Winter Round Up

Just a quick news tidbit type post.  Winter Round Up, held on January 22, was a resounding success.  186 attendees!  Great job to Maggie and all her volunteers for pulling this together.  The silent auction was fantastic as well with over $1500 raised for our District!

I'm entering my second year of service as your District Representative.  My how the time flies!  I'm pretty sure I held my first District meeting just a week or two ago - but no that was my 5th District meeting.  Seven to go!

Thanks to all of you for your service - leading meetings, sponsoring, welcoming newcomers, helping with Winter Round Up, serving as GR for your Group, serving at the District level.  We are a powerful group when we put our heads together always looking to carry our message of serenity to the next person needing our help.  We know how we felt when we came into these rooms and I'm proud of all of you for turning around and sharing what you found.

Hugs,
Angela