Cinderella's Shoes

I wonder if I'll ever run out of things to write about..

New year, didn't even think to make a new years resolution, last years resolution will do.. focus on what you WANT not what you need.. lets hope if we all have a roof still over our heads, and food on the table, then are needs are met, but if we give up on what it is we want out of our lives, then we give in to survival and we start on the tread mill to hell..

so that resolution is what i'm sticking to.. and hows that working you ask? well, if this new years weekend were to be a any example, i'd say in many ways quite well.. I imagined how i wanted the weekend to go, in a variety of ways, some personal, and of course business wise, well the personal was just great, even might say met my every fantasy, more reunions, with many respected artisans, i've known a life time now, were there in fort myers.

I arrived friday after a lovely drive through alligator alley and up I-75 on such a nice sunny day.. met Willy, my earring partner, for 19 years, on the way, and we stood in a parking lot together for the first time in months, in person, and after a long heartfelt embrace, out came the paper and a search for a pen, to draw ideas, discuss the future of Up Your Ear, and on was i once again, the road under the tires of my rented chevy cargo, enterprise van. The radio, playing hits of today loudly, as i sang, pathetically to them, one romantic song after another.. I wonder if one ever gives up on that aspect of life, the romance part. It just seemed never to be in my script.. but like every fairy tale, ever written, i still believe..I can remember clearly at about 14-15 sitting in the stair well at Bancroft junior high silently crying, about just that, if my prince would come.. life was so hard then, maybe because i was 14 or so, and my dad and step mother were so truly awful, i was grounded at one point, 6 months straight for a variety of infractions, like not washing a coffee cup, or arriving from our neighbors house preciously 60 seconds late, that will be a month, that became consecutive months of restriction, over board to say the least..

at this stage I'm satisfied with brief moments of extreme joy, and for sure never take it for granted..

and so my weekend began, i arrived early to fort myers, and registered at the hotel, nearest the show, a one night reservation as i was on the wait list for this show also, no guarantee i would work..had a bowl of soup, onion, at TGI fridays, and a beer at the bar, met and befriended the beautiful bartender, Shane, and then went to the hotel, to change my clothes, my gray skinny jeans, a gray fitting sweater, and my magnificent shoes, from nine west, a treat, i gave myself for my birthday, Today, :)

Had dinner with my second family Gail and Greg, and their grown children Guy and Grant, whom i hadn't seen in so long.. it was great to see them, like cousins i've never had, now i do..

after dinner, i went back to my palace of a room, looked at my divine shoes and decided not to waste such great shoes, so off i went to the hotel bar, down the hall, to the lobby, where i went to the checkin counter and asked where the bar was, after directions, i thanked the young woman, and asked her name, as i always do, Her name was Ella. Huh.. i thought as i stood there, listening to the universe speak to me.. on new years eve.. sat in the only empty seat at the bar, next to as it turns out a pilot, yet another pilot, private.. flew a client in for the weekend.. and as the clock struck midnight my heart felt calls to my children, across the state, and off i was to my room, with both shoes in tact!!, couldn't sleep, or shut off my brain.. dozed off around 2am, fully dressed, so i wouldn't be crazy the next morn at 5am, three hours later, up and ready for my day of sales, which i did end up selling, if u call selling $150. worth of earrings selling.. dam

I did how ever have the delight of seeing the Royal family, the Prince, the Knight, oh and this weekend the King was there too.. and so royal are they, Marcy, i can only say, you must be the queen. how nice.. and as i bounced thoughts off of them, listened intently, to their thoughts, and take them seriously to heart, as i try not to fall into a tailspin of confusion, as to what to do with my life, business, and art.. on sunday after packing up what was slightly more successful a day, not much, but.. i went back to them to say good bye, for now, i brought a portfolio of photos Gleb took of me, many years ago, and as i was thinking to leave, as the knight and prince were packing, i felt i just couldn't leave them, i wanted to. but like cement, in my shoes, my feet would not move. and then something happened.. the king in his thrown, took from between my legs my portfolio, and placed it between his, as we continued to talk, now he was in possession of my time, holding me there, one more moment, and then i watched him put it, intently, on his lap, as our conversation continued. held there by his Majesty, willingly, as i felt, he too did not want to say good bye too soon.. what a warm feeling.. i can not express, no words in any language. till it was sadly time to go, the dusk far behind, now dark, our drives ahead, me 2 hours to ft lauderdale, they 2 hours to clearwater, or there abouts.(and on a side note, Peter suggested a school their in clearwater or sarasota, Booker high, as it turns out it is a performing arts school, highly accredited, the play they are putting on right now, Cinderella)

driving home, i got a call, continued from one earlier in the day, from my bookkeeper Rene's son Freddie, Dick her husband, the love of her life passed, suddenly to a long time illness, they never knew he had. and in a flash, he was gone.. my dear friend, i am so sorry for your loss. so yesterday, Madelines birthday also, i went to the grocery store, picked up supplies for making crepes for madeline and spaghetti sauce for them. with all my love i put in each ingredient, for crepes for my beloved madeline and oregano, basil garlic, onions and tomatoes, while cooking the pasta, and crepes.. i multi task!!

as i put it all together, ready to leave to visit, i'd called Freddie, a little earlier to ask if i should come by, and he said he'd speak to Rene, and as i got into the truck to go there i called again, and to his amazement, he'd just mentioned it to Rene, and she said have her come, in exactly that moment.. can u believe that.. and so i arrived, to be the only client, or person that wasn't family, and i held her tightly as she cried just a little..met the the family, i had heard all about, stayed a while, after she showed me around her lovely home which she and Dick had lived in, 45 years.

so again i am reminded, we r not promised tomorrow, each and everyday is precious, and i'm glad through toil and troubles to have each one.. to a lingering kiss, a warm embrace, to the courage we muster each day as we arise to meet and greet the day head on, mine today, my birthday. may this be the half way point between now and the end of my life on earth, continued, in good health surrounded by the love of friends, who have included me in their lives, like Rene.. Gail and Greg, Willy, the Royal family,nancy and bill, sheri, and her girls, and so many others, thank you..i am a better person for it.. and ever happier.. I smile as i see what the day unfolds for me. the one day i can say is mine and mine alone.. Thanks mom where ever u r on this fine day.. i love u

and to my crew, my devotion,

andrea