i'm sorry i've been so slack, lately y'all. i promise it isn't intentional. not only have i been psycho-busy (sallie's wedding, getting geared up to host state library workshop, getting ready for little trip, working extra, worrying about health and trying to squeeze in some semblance of a social-life*) but i've been pre-occupied with thinking really hard about life.
don't worry, i won't subject you to all of those observations right now... but i will warn you that i am taking notes.

sallie's wedding was SO wonderful. it was a golden day, and sallie and bryon made so many people happy by throwing this great bash and allowing us to help celebrate such a happy event.
i got invited to the rehearsal dinner on friday night, mm, bigfatnice steak dinner (at a restaurant where i used to work, nonetheless) and we all had a ball. THANK YOU FOR THE DINNER, PHILLIPS' AND FAMILIES OF!
then on sat. a.m. i got up and got my act together, went and collected TONS of wildflowers and flowers from helen's garden and greens. i got to the camp (camp pinnacle, near carl sandberg's home) where the wedding and reception were to be held at about 1:00. there were already people there setting up, and lots of people brought lots of flowers, so we had plenty of beautiful stuff to work with.
sallie's crew was SO tight, we got the old gym decorated to the hilt with wildflowers, tulle, xmas lights, and LOTS of love, and we had fun doing it. we finished just in time for me to get dressed and get ready to help the ladies get dressed. i got to powder sallie and all the maids with shimmer dust and then do sallie's make-up and put the flowers in her hair. we were done precisely on time, and i got my seat - between the handsome and gentlemanly X? and my own gorgeous girl, ms. luna.**
the wedding was unbelievably simple, sweet and lovely. my favorite thing was all the dogs running around sallie and bryon while the sun glinted off of the lake and made all of our eyes water... yeah, right. UBER-moo!
the reception was wonderful, too. good food, and again, the dog pack circling the tables and making the most of their good time. lester, the photographer's plot-hound, howled when the dj played bluegrass, people danced and conga'd and felt very very happy and alive. i know, i was there.
after the reception, the bonfire, and the SERIOUS partay began. we all crossed the rope-bridge over the cold lake in the middle of the night, drank much red-wine and then wound our way to cold cabins and warm arms.
it was so wonderful, thank you again, phillips'. you are a blessing, and you are blessed.

now, i am off to join lisa and pack for OUR TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS TOMORROW!!!
!@#$-A!!! oh god, i really hope teddy doesn't read this and spoil the surprise...
:) oh well, if he does, then he'll be ready and waiting - TAKE YOUR HAIR DOWN, TEDDY!
I'M BRINGIN' MY THONG!!!***
and if i DID spoil the surprise, DON'T TELL JENNIFER!
wish us luck. hell, wish NEW ORLEANS luck! ah, there's only so much damage we can do in one day.
back on wednesday, with stories to tell (and back to the !@#$ doctor on thursday).
much love,
sambolina, queena the geeks


*ie: trying to get buffy to feed me and chasing/running from boys.
**YES, NOT ONLY WAS I WELCOME AT THIS WEDDING (AND rehearsal dinner) BUT SO WAS MY DOG. hmph.
***don't ask. it's a long-running joke... at least, i THINK it's a joke... hm...

"When we hold each other, in the darkness, it doesn't make the darkness go away. The bad things are still out there. The nightmares are still walking.
When we hold each other, we feel -- not safe, but better. "It's all right," we whisper. "I'm here. I love you." And we lie, "I'll never leave you."
For just a moment or two the darkness doesn't seem so bad. When we hold each other."

from "Hold Me", a short story by Neil Gaiman.

this quote swam up from the text of a comic collection (Midnight Days) last night and shook me hard. One of my library kids - and friend 12-year-old Abe Thomas also sent me a poem - the day that i was to get the results of my MRI - last week, and i thought that the echo was more than a coincidence. abe said i could share his poem here.
he wrote:

"this is a short one that i thought up in like 4 seconds but any way it's not about any one just for fun:
'i need some one to hold someone who wants to be held to somebody like you as long as this is true i will always thy who wants to be held too'
it's okay i think it's not one of my best but who care's don't worry be happy
FROM. HONEST ABE"

we all want to be held when it's dark and things are scary, whether we can admit it or not. we all want someone to hold. puppies, babies, old folks, and even us big tough orc kings and queens. i've saved all my concerned and loving phone messages and e-mails. it's definitely the next-best thing.
i love you all. i wish i had a thousand sam-sweatshirts so i could cut off the sleeves and mail them to you in a package with instructions on how to put the sleeves on your arms and then wrap them around yourself and squeeze, so you could have a hug from me, like someone most dear did for me many many moons ago when i really needed to be held...
as my heatherita says:
"Muchas Skwooches"!
ooxooxooxooxooxoox (extra hugs)
-sambolina-wise

p.s. expect Tales from Sallie and Bryon's Wedding soon!