Charlyn’s Web

It’s finally here!  I’ve been saying “Ah April!” for months now and it’s hard to believe that it’s here!

Last fall my friend Boo Boo and I talked of our long friendship and realized that we have known each other for 20 years!  We thought that was something to celebrate.  She offered to buy me a plane ticket for my birthday and Christmas.  I hemmed and hawed, couldn’t make up my mind (really unusual that, I am such a decisive person. )  Did I really want to leave the kids and Big Guy for that long?  I wasn’t sure how the Big Guy would feel about being left for that long too.  One day he came home with a bunch of boxes of Hamburger Helper.  I was thinking that was rather strange as I hardly ever use those anymore and they get old sitting in the cupboard.  He announced that they would be good for him to make while I was gone!  Yipee!

Then came the hard part- finding a “good” time.  I decided that the fall was not good as there were many events happening- between birthdays and holidays.  So we decided on March- which is closer to Boo Boo’s birthday.  So we could celebrate my birthday, hers, and 20 years of each other. But we forgot about Spring Break and what it would do for ticket prices so it got pushed past that time and it was set for April.

Whenever we are feeling low, which it has been a long haul for my good Friend, we would tell each other- April!  And we would smile and things would look better.   Just hang in there, April is almost here.

And now it is here!  I leave on Saturday.  It hardly seems possible.

The hardest part will be the actual LEAVING of my dear family.  Parting is hard.  BUT once that is over, I am sure they will be fine… and so will I.

My Dear Friend has a hair appointment set up for me.  I have been under strict instructions to not mess with my hair until then.  I have been good and not snipped my bangs.  Brownie points for me!  Also set up is a pedicure and a manicure.  I’ve not had the pleasure of either one so I am excited.

And Shopping.  I am NOT a shopper.  For clothes especially.  I like looking at things, like kitchen gadgets and books.  But finding fun in clothes shopping has always eluded me.  Probably because I am supposed to actually PART with money.   Saying that, I am inexplicably excited about going clothes shopping on this trip.  Probably because of the company.  Probably because she will boss me around and I will have limited decision making to do (another thing I am SO good at).  I will wear comfy shoes and make sure I am well fed before we start out.  That always makes things more bearable.

Coffee.  I plan on having morning coffee with her like we did when we were young (er).  Relax.  Do some cooking.

I will not have to share the bathroom stall with two other bums.  I will not have to remind those said Bums to stay off the floor, that it is not polite to try to see under the wall into the next stall.  I will not have six hands to wash.  I can eat whatever  I want without sharing.   Maybe, just maybe I can have a complete thought without interruptions.   I will not have to count heads every five minutes.  I doubt there will be anyone who looks at the food I just worked hard to make and say  “EWWWW! What is it!?!”  but I could be wrong about that.  I can sleep in.  (Down side- no Big Guy waking me up.)  There will not be anyone climbing the walls (literally) or screaming “There’s a Monster!” as they run through the house.  No whining, no squabbling, no fighting over seats at the table, no having to remind people to get dressed (well, I don’t think most of these things will be issues).

I will not know what to do with myself.