December 29th, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6PAqnhIK9s

Sad Brad Smith

I never want to get away from approaching

complete strangers and letting them know that

they are adding to my happiness--that is my main

objective in keeping this blog.

But I so loved this imperfect song as soon as I heard it

during a movie last night. I've been singing it all

day. All day.

Take the time to take apart each brick that sits outside your heart

And look around you

There's people everywhere

No they don't know, in short they're just as scared

and we'd be more prepared if we just hold on through

December 27th, 2009

Decisive People in Battery Park, Richmond

While on a self-guided walking tour of Richmond's Northside,

we came across this sign.

There were even spotlights to illuminate it after dark.

At first, I thought it seemed very negative.

I mean, hey, it's a pretty big flat-out NO.

But then I started to think about how it is not always bad to say NO. And stick to it. Stick to it in the kind of erecting-a-lit-up-sign-kind of-way. I'm not talking about being stubborn, or mean, or selfish. I'm not talking about passing up a trip down the hill on the sled,
or a trip to the beach in your bathing suit.

I'm thinking about saying no to making promises you can't keep.

Say no to counting how many Christmas cookies you ate

(or will eat today and tomorrow).

Decline to engage in the latest gossip.

Pass up comparing what you create against what someone else created.

Say no to being defined by that dent in your car, or that scuff in your shoe.

Refuse to be small.

Withhold judgement until you know the whole story--or even after you know the whole story.

Reject the voice that tells you to give up.

Say no to setting your alarm for Saturday morning.

Turn down an offer from someone who will expect too much in return.

Avoid foie gras.

Resist taking yourself for granted.

Don't stay at work past 5:00 if you have fresh vegetables waiting for you at home.

Fight every insecurity.

Challenge every fear.

Put your NO sign up. With lights.

.

December 25th, 2009

Elvis

Merry Christmas!

December 21st-December 24th

Paul

For the first time in my life, I got to take a road trip

with the greatest traveler I know, my brother Paul.

We drove to Ohio and West Virginia to visit family for the holidays.

We listened to stories.

We told stories.

He told some pretty tall tales.

We played games.

And we wept.

It was an amazing journey. I will never forget it.

Merry Christmas, Paul.

December 20th

Alice and Grandma

My sweet Aunt Alice was my home base this trip.

She had great food, plenty of wine, a thoughtful husband,

her usual laugh,

two great daughters, old family videos,

warm blankets, fluffy towels, and all the

air I wanted for my mattress.

My grandmother will be 92 years old in January and

was very, very happy to have everyone together

if only for a day.

December 19th, 2009

The Ferrell Pack!

Greg, Carrie, Jasmine, Becky

The whirlwind of family visits started here.

With bearclaws and bagels.

These people confirmed for me that it might be

fine to never figure out what you want to do for work.

I also learned that my Aunt Becky used to drive a

Leggs Pantyhose truck around for a living.

That was before she taught at the prison.

Carrie and I concur that we might not want to work at all.

We talked about my grandfather (who would have been

celebrating his birthday on this day).

We cut through the ridiculousness of

having only one pastry.

And Carrie kept bringing me coffee.

Jasmine just listened to all of us. I think she's probably

the only 13-year-old in the world who knows

exactly what she wants to do. She's smart like that.

December 18th, 2009

These

I drove from Richmond, VA to Columbus, OH for these.

December 17th, 2009

Brendan

Here is Brendan handing me my old

canvas tote bag that goes everywhere with me.

In it is my journal that contains a few lines from

everyday life, everyday, over the last 8 years.

I left it in a rental car yesterday and cried myself

to sleep last night thinking about where it might be.

On the phone this morning Brendan said, "Well, it's right here."

It's right here. Whew.

December 16th, 2009

THE TOWN OF MECHANICSVILLE!

Very LONG story kind of short..

Little girl (Alyssa) is eligible for a Make-a-Wish.
Wishes for 4 years in a row that Ty Pennington
will come right on over and re-do her family's home.

Make-a-Wish can't really promise Ty.
"Is there anything else?"
"No."

But after seeing the SpectroMagic parade and
lit up princesses at
Disney, Alyssa decides that going
BACK
to that magic might be worth everything.

And, after four years, she gives up on Ty and the home makeover.

Her family starts planning a trip to Disney.
Then Alyssa gets admitted into the hospital.
Again.
But she gets better.
Her mom and dad ache from sleeping in chairs.

Her dad in particular.
If fact, he feels awful.

It's because he has appendicitis!
Alyssa on one floor, her dad on the other.
The trip to Disney up in the air.

After a couple of their vehicles break down,
and it rains for three days,
and Alyssa's IV lines blow
several times,
everyone gets better!

And then they leave for Disney.

Right on time.

Happy ending!

Not so fast.

While all of this was going on,
the town of Mechanicsville, VA
was planning the sneakiest, fastest
extreme home makeover ever.

Before the Orlando-bound plane ever left the ground,
PODS were delivered, the house was emptied,
movers, plumbers, tilers, painters, and carpenters
flocked from near and far.

Old carpet was torn out, new tile layed.
Shiny new appliances. Check.
Pretty, pretty paint. Check.
New furniture. Check.
Deck built in 1/2 day? Check.
Vehicles repaired. Check.
Box of tissues placed in every room
so that the family can cry their way
through the house when they get home tonight.
Check.

This project moved me to tears. I started crying as soon as
I rounded the corner
yesterday to deliver some small things to the house
and saw the street FULL of work trucks. I cried again when I
saw people in every single room of Alyssa's house, busy, busy, busy
making her wish come true.

The masterminds behind this don't want to be
highlighted here. I already asked them.
They said that they don't deserve the praise.

I'll tell you this, though. In Mechanicsville, this is what Ty Pennington looks like:

December 15th

Ms. Flugelhorn

The Salvation Army bell ringers

are stepping it up.

This lady (and I am really embarrassed

that I introduced myself to her but did

NOT ask her name) made going to Kroger

tonight a delightful stop on my way home.