You Just Never Know

It's funny how things sometimes work out...

I have a new friend Bonnie who contacted me about help with her book she's writing. She overheard me telling someone about finally publishing my book "Wet Mittens"  and decided to contact me. (Yep, now that I'm an author I've apparently got skills!---- wellllll, some tiny small  itty bit of knowledge anyhow. haha) I'm so happy to encourage and help a fellow author find her way through this journey of writing and publishing. I found myself  TOTALLY "getting her" when she explained some thoughts and challenges she was facing. I realized that all the time, energy, sweat, tears, discouragement, joys, money & drama I experienced writing my own book was worth it all today as I conversed with my young friend. I've grown up a ton. I've matured in many ways.The refining process sharpened me as a person. I suddenly was quite thankful for the growth (and the completion of my book!) Listening to her it's evident she has so much together already. She's miles ahead and organized far more than I ever was! Her topic is going to be so helpful to many. The excerpt I read was just delightful and on point.She's going to nail it!  I see the same passion I have as a fledgling writer. I tingled with excitement a bit because I know what's ahead for her when she endures this process of writing, creating and reaches the finish line! She told me that she prayed for someone to come along side and help her. Bonnie told me I was an answer to her prayers...gulp. That is just sinking in a bit to me now this afternoon. That is not something I hear everyday. It has humbled me to the center of my soul. Never saw that coming when I agreed to meet. Just linking arms with another woman author and BAM- I'm the one encouraged!
Go Bonnie! Remember it's marathon, not a sprint race and your medal and prize is at the end.
 Yes, It's funny how things sometimes work out in your life...

I cried in Paris

   My husband John and I have been planning a 2 week trip to France for quite awhile.We visited Paris, Loire Valley and Bordeaux regions. I still can't believe we actually pulled it off and have returned safely to home sweet home this week! Now that the jet lag is wearing off and my head is clearing from a head cold I picked up, I thought i'd tell you a few things I learned, enjoyed and observed.
~Paris is much bigger than I realized it would be! 14 million...that is a lot of baguettes my friends.
~I don't know what your experience has been... but the French were very friendly and helpful.
~ The Queen of England came to town for D-Day and our tour guide was quite "miffed" that the only flags they had on the main boulevard was for England. We learned later her motorcade traveled that route so I'm sure they had American flags out for President Obama on his route too! The French are very grateful to the Americans for rescuing them. Normandy is hallowed ground.  They have streets in Paris there named after our presidents!
~We went to church at Notre Dame Cathedral. Didn't understand a word but loved it. Wow is that place jaw dropping.
~The French countryside is simply lovely. Half of the population of France lives there. I did not see one Target or Walmart.
~ The cheese in France is really good. Really good. REALLY good.
~Everyone drives little black cars
~We tasted a lot of different kinds of wine, but again came home to California and said the best is right here where we live. It's not bad wine, it's just different!
~The Louvre Museum will simply boggle your mind. We could of gotten lost in there for months.
~No matter what we did, we still looked like Americans. haha
~the French don't eat broccoli.
~The Chateaus in the countryside are stunning. The French revolution thankfully didn't destroy everything.
~My French history is better now than before I left!
~It is a wildly romantic city...

I was not prepared for how impressive the Eiffel Tower was going to be. It is a sight to behold. I must of taken 100 photos of it alone. Not caring for heights, I saved John loads of $$ by not desiring to take the lift up there.  Everyone told us to take a night cruise or evening dinner cruise on the Seine River to enjoy Paris "lit up". So our last night in Paris we did just that. Champagne to toast as we set sail for 2 hours of dining and viewing! Many others couples snuggled near us. I wondered what their "story" might be!? One couple was celebrating their 2nd anniversary and they were older than us! We chatted about how a few months from now our son Grant  and his new bride would be enjoying their honeymoon there. xoxox It was a special magical evening as we visually drank in the sights of this lovely place. I could not wipe the smile off my face. At the top of every hour in the evening, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 5 minutes. We were so excited to view this from the river boat. We passed by this famous structure and it was lit up golden and full of beauty. Soon it began to sparkle...then the music from Whitney Houston... "I'll Always Love You" came on. John held me close and I rested my head on his shoulder. I began to cry. The moment was just too special for me. My soul was bursting with thankfulness to be sharing it with my sweetheart of 34 years. I don't think I can capture all the emotion in that moment in words for you.  Ah, Paris you captured a bit of our hearts!

Old friends

Remember this song?  "Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold".

   I chatted on line with an old friend from high school today. It's just amazing to me that we have found each other after 35 + years of no contact and are enjoying picking up where we left off back then, today. He saw a post I made on a mutual friend's Facebook page several years ago and discovered I was still alive!  We are slowly reconnecting. So sweet to find an old friend isn't it? There is nothing like that feeling.
    He was a polite shy guy back then. He always made me laugh. He had a big huge smile I will never forget. He was so kind. I recall he was tall and skinny.(I'm glad he didn't say he remembered me as short and skinny!) He is now towering at 6'2 and served in our military. He is exactly the kind of guy you want protecting our nation. He had a strong faith in God then and it encouraged me during those turbulent high school years. I will never forget the day in high school when he told me he had a crush on me. I thought he was so brave to admit it and tell me! We were only meant to "just be friends" though, but I probably broke his heart. That part makes me sad.  As we chatted today, I told him he will always be my friend and brother. I never forgot him and often wondered where life took him. Life has taken him on many painful journeys I'm learning. Maybe now it's my turn to be the strong helpful friend he once was to me. My turn to pray for him and tell him how grateful I am to have him in my life again. My turn to be a silver and gold kind of friend.
   Pick up that phone and call an old friend today. It sure did my heart some good.

Closing out a chapter

   We've spent this past week celebrating 2 loved ones finishing college (Yeah Ashley and Sean!) and relaxing at a condo with John's elderly parents. It's been interesting watching various individuals reach the finish line and close out chapters of their lives. My nephew graduated with honors, is starting a new job, has an adorable new girlfriend and is embracing a bright future. He closed out a remarkable college career and is finishing this chapter with much joy and accomplishment. Ashley, (daughter of our best friends) finished her degree in 3 years! Talk about being proud as punch to hug and celebrate her short amazing journey! We were very proud and thrilled to be there to see them receive their diplomas. Sean's mother Robin and I shed a tear of pride too. Years ago I promised to be there when he graduated and I delivered! My dear friend Laurie just could not hold back the tears as I snapped pictures of their ecstatic family. Their arms were wrapped around Ashley with wide grins displayed.. I love graduations. Maybe I just love endings. So many hugs, kisses, smiles, tears and CAMERAS! Parents were just bursting forth in pride for their graduate. You know...I have a great quote I'm quite proud of I'm going to share with you ..."There are no sad parents at college graduation." It's sooooo true. I saw it on the faces of so many parents. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.You can quote me if you'd like... (insert smile icon here)
   John's parents bought a vacation condo in 1980 the year we were married. Now in their 80's.They have decided it's time for them to hang up their condo exchange vacations after 34 years of enjoyment. So we are helping them experience closing out that chapter of their lives this week. Lots of memories of great family gatherings were shared all week. Golf scores from condo adventures long ago had to be bragged about too! It was a different kind of celebration with less fanfare as we ushered out many joys we had as a family during condo week. Chapters closing for our loved ones. It's all a little bitter sweet as I realize this is our last time with them here. Our special times with them will one day run out like it did this week with the condo.  Ahhhhh maybe I don't like endings like I thought I did. I did enjoy all the memories, hugs, tears though! Be sure and cherish those you love every single day.

Those funny things we say

   Today I told someone "Blessings on your head" for some kind comments she made about my book. I have been saying that for years. This kind reader said that someone she really liked said that a lot. This reader didn't know me, but I bet she reallllllly likes me now since I remind her of that special someone who says that unique phrase!  wink wink
   We have a large number of those funny little phrases in our family. We call them Bridges-isms. Before I was married we called them Marks-isms. "Californicated" is what my Montana brother Ken calls me. Cheap little gifts you pick up are called "gee-jaws" at my house. (That one comes from John's dad who grew up in North Carolina.) My husband calls underwear, "shorts". Shorts are called..."shorts".  I don't know how he keeps the names apart but that is clearly his very own Bridges-ism. (yes, it makes me a bit nutty but I love him and usually check his wardrobe of "shorts" before heading out the door...just in case!)  My older sister used to respond to "have a nice day", by saying, "I always do!". I liked that and still use it. People ask me how I'm doing and I usually answer with the comeback "Dandy!". It almost regularly gets a response and a smile. My family could easily weigh in with dozens of others that make the ism list!  Let me know some of your favorite little isms so I can put it in my arsenal when I head out the door each day.
   Life is certainly not dull at our house. My husband said being married to me is anything but dull. :)

Emerald green

   A few years ago my husband John and I were strolling through our favorite local antique mall and I paused at the jewelry counter. I spied a lovely older marquee cut emerald ring in the case. Just a lovely piece with extra emeralds surrounding the main stone. I had broken a similar one several years before and inquired about the ring with the clerk. It was about a month before my 50th birthday so John said why don't you try it on? I told him right then and there that if it fits... then we have to buy it! With a wink he said okay! Wellllllllllll you just know that the ring fit and I'm staring at it right now as I type! Happy birthday to me. So, today I put the ring on again and remembered that it is Earth Day. The "green" emeralds helped me make the connection! They never celebrated Earth Day when I was a kid. Growing up in Montana as a child, EVERYDAY was Earth Day! In my family we were taught not to litter and to pick up litter even if it isn't yours. My sister Cheryl wouldn't even let me spit my sunflower seed shells onto the trail when hiking cause others would see them later who passed by the same trail! She was teaching me to not leave a footprint of any kind!  We had a garden and mulched too. We recycled long before it was the chic and popular thing to do. Ask anyone who came to my house about how we slid the pop cans down the basement banister railing into a box for recycling!  We were "green" back then. Our local paper said the best modeling for children on Earth Day comes from their parents. Our oldest daughter called most plants broccoli bushes when she was little. I always tried to learn and teach them names of plants.  Middle child Whitney cared for the snails in our yard with deep passion. She loved those first radishes we harvested too. Son Grant spent the most time in the garden with me weeding and mowing. He loved the dirt.  I love that all my children have a garden of some size and plant vegetables! I must of passed good conservation thinking along without even knowing I was! As the old Crosby Stills Nash and Young song says...Teach your children well. Recently I started carrying a latex glove in my pocket when we walk our dog in the mornings so I can pick up trash along our gorgeous scenic coast. My husband teased me about it at first but now he's joined in. I believe he knows the latex glove is protecting that lovely emerald  ring he bought me. I'm the one winking at him now!

Big day!

Big day for me. I feel kind of numb. I have wondered what this day would feel like. I have logged hours of writing, not writing, re-writing, and endless editing.  My book Wet Mittens was released today on Amazon. My husband hugged me as I choked back the tears when the proof copy arrived in the mail for final edits about 2 weeks ago. He whispered, "Your dad would be proud of you". As I talked to my father during his final week of life, I was so determined to do something remarkable and achieve a goal I didn't think possible. I will never forget his hand reaching for mine as I sat at his bedside and his blue eyes locked mine and said, "Write that book". That vote of confidence is what drove me to finish. Thanks Daddy. I have champagne chilling in the frig and I will toast to you and celebrate!

 You can find 2 links below for the paperback and the Kindle.
Being honest here...I think I've logged on to Amazon about a dozen times just staring at the page listing my book! I keep thinking it's just not real. It's just so cool. I'm putting "author" down on all my forms from now on where they ask you your occupation! Thanks for sharing my joy with me. I hope you enjoy the book.

Lorrie- author.   :)


http://www.amazon.com/Wet-Mittens-Lorrie-Bridges/dp/1496103807/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396974502&sr=1-1&keywords=Wet+Mittens

http://www.amazon.com/Wet-Mittens-Lorrie-Bridges-ebook/dp/B00JGVZ1KI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1396975229&sr=1-1&keywords=Wet+Mittens