This morning, when I walked into my son’s classroom, Matthew came up to me smiling and said “Wow Ms. Michele, you look very pretty today.” As I thanked him, Wesley (another classmate) joined us while I helped my son get his gear into his cubby, “Ms. Michele… Ms Michele... I want to show you my new Matchbox Race car.” Taking it from him, I held it in my hand long enough to admire the color, lines and design of the car. It was a model from their new racing series. After making a few positive comments I tried handing it back to him only to notice he was staring at my face. “Is there something else Wesley,” I asked curiously. Wesley swallowed hard and with a great big smile said, “You look very beautiful today, Ms Michele.” Caught off guard, all I could do was smile even wider and say thank you. Not wanting to be left behind, Matthew said as he twirled his pencil in his hand, “Yes, very, VERY beautiful.”

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Posted by: Michele at 10:00 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 "And I'd have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those meddling kids!" LOL!! Nice setup.

Posted by: _Jon at April 07, 2005 11:56 PM (RZ4Hy)

2 Ok, so I *really* need to see some "hot Ms. Michele" pictures now :-)

Posted by: Harvey at April 08, 2005 11:11 AM (tJfh1)

3 I love it, just love it! Well told.

Posted by: Christina at April 08, 2005 11:40 PM (zJsUT)

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There are voices which come to me at the oddest moments. Voices from the past and of people IÂ’ve known. IÂ’ve heard reassuring voices of some of my friends who have past on. MikeÂ’s voice has always been the loudest and strongest, and thatÂ’s probably because heÂ’s the one IÂ’ve known the longest.

His voice was there, as it had been many times before, affirming, assuring, nagging and promising me things would turn out alright. When I had no hope or faith, it was his faith that always carried me through whatever challenge I was facing. Overtime, I began to develop a faith and a hope of my own. His guarantees, were the reassurance I needed in order for patience to take hold and wait for the miracles to happen in my life.

It was MikeÂ’s voice who hounded me every day for months, to get off my ass, start walking and get back in shape. He was a guy who could not stand flab in his loved ones. He knew that if he said it to me enough times IÂ’d get tired of his nagging voice and IÂ’d do something just to shut him up. It worked.
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Posted by: Michele at 02:23 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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1 Beautiful writing, wonderful message, similar experiences.

Posted by: _Jon at April 06, 2005 11:27 PM (RZ4Hy)

2 The beautiful part is you will always have that beloved voice with you. To me, when I've reached the point you describe I think of it as moving. Now, instead of meeting for coffee or drinks at the drop of a hat - it's a phone call. Still treasured, still vital, but with distance. Dang, having trouble putting it in writing, but I hope you see what I'm trying to say.

Posted by: Tammi at April 07, 2005 09:32 AM (7K6EQ)

3 This is probably a dumb question, but did Mike tell you submit that one entry to the New Blog Showcase: http://lettersfromnyc.blogspot.com/2004/06/jaccuse.html or did he just help you write it? Funny thing is, I almost didn't read that post, since it started out in French. Good thing I scrolled down a bit :-)

Posted by: Harvey at April 07, 2005 11:12 AM (tJfh1)

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I started to write a post about lessons IÂ’ve learned from my Bad Example Family this past year. But really what they have been are lessons in life. More specifically, how they live and the lessons theyÂ’ve culled from their daily living experience. These have helped me enormously as both a woman and a mother. What do I learn from the men in my family? More than words could ever say. They have simply taught me more about a species that until now were quite foreign to me.

HereÂ’s what IÂ’ve learned from each so far:
Blog Dad - from this post youÂ’d understand the amazing dadÂ’s heÂ’s been.
_Jon – words cannot describe my gratitude for the gift of learning about true friendship.
Tammi – she’s the most incredible woman I know - who’s taught me about grace under pressure and rudeness. Thank you for teaching me about survival and joy.
Madfish – he’s the big brother that even though he’s very busy making sure things run smoothly for everyone in Munu-land, he’s always there for his siblings when we need him.
Teresa – for helping me learn to love that techno-geek part of me that I sometimes tried to hide. It’s very liberating to accept it’s part of my duality.
Mike – and his wonderful wife for teaching me about letting go, bravery and an unfailing dedication to our country…oh, and for sharing my love of Calvin and Hobbes.
Bou & Val – for how to celebrate the joys and mishaps of parenting and family life without guilt, but most especially doing so without second-guessing myself as mom.

Shoot! There’s more and I’ll post it, but right now I gotta leave ‘cause I’m late for an appointment.

Posted by: Michele at 11:01 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Taking a little break from fun and games with my son, while he enjoys snack time. He's finally feeling better, which means mom is working double time.

So I decided to do a quick walkabout through the blogosphere for some intellectual simulation and humor. I came across this tasty treat from the witty butcher's at Llamabutchers. I think what got me was "Margaret Thatcher's Naughty Bits." Hope you find him funny too.

Posted by: Michele at 02:38 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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This is a letter thatÂ’s been long overdue! I just had to write to you, to thank you for doing something so incredible that has truly changed my life. ItÂ’s still hard for me to believe, all these many months later, how our lives were thrown together, when I lived in that outer hinterland called blogspot.

Sometimes people come into our lives and we think nothing of it. As my blog brother _Jon says: "we're often not aware of the reason for the 'convergence of events that happen in our lives and that bring people together.'" Who would have thought my blog bro was so deep. He's probably going to be upset with me for writing this, but I think I'm a pretty lucky girl to have him in my family.

You have singlehandedly created this wonderful family which has been a true blessing, not only in my life, but in that of my wonderful blog brothers and sisters. Although, our family chart is quirkier that the Greek or Roman Mythology charts of old, the empathy, laughter, intelligence that is shared by all, makes this a very unique and wonderful family to be "a part of". In truth, without all of them, but especially you, my life would be a very empty and dull one.

I want to say thank you for being like a true dad to me: always being supportive no matter what was going on with self-centered me; always being very patient, especially when I wasnÂ’t back home when IÂ’d said IÂ’d be; never taking my rebelliousness or my melancholy too seriously; always knowing what to say and in what tone to say it in to help me get through the day; but most importantly, for always just being there, close enough to give me a hug, far enough to let me learn from my own skinned knees. DonÂ’t know if youÂ’ve realized it, but youÂ’ve truly changed my life by creating this family and making a concerted effort to make me be a part of it even when I was so steeped in my grief I didn't want to be a part of anything or anyone.

Thanks for being such a silly, funny, caring, loyal blog dad. And I want to say a special thanks to blog mom for inspiring you and helping to make you such a special man. ((((((((((Hugs))))))))))

Your ever grateful and loving blog daughter,
M/

Posted by: Michele at 09:10 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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My post yesterday brought me back to a time when I first began to witness the first of many deaths in my life. The first being the relationship of my parents. By the time I was 14 the death of their marriage had turned into a festering cesspool of animosity, resentment and anger that made it a living hell to be exposed to and live with, let alone be caught in the crossfires. In retrospect, I now see that my parents had too much pain and anger from their own relationship, to realize they were hurting those around them.

Their behaviour caused me such unhappines that I just chose to withdraw from the world. I was only present in body, while my heart and soul were cloistered in the sadness of watching the self-destruction around me. My diary was my only and constant companion, my confidante and friend.

Shortly after the start of a new school year I found my saving grace, it was a new classmate named Myrna, who had the face of an angel, and the most kind and loving heart I have ever known. We first met when she was assigned a seat in front of me during World Lit Class. She was funny, witty, and irreverent, and had such a great spirit that it was very hard not to be immediately drawn to her. We had 5 out of 7 classes together in which I always sat behind her. As she used to say in those days to coax me out of my shell, ‘it was futile to resist her charm, as we were destined to be great friends, so I might as well give into it and start talking to her because otherwise she would spread vicious gossip about me and make my life a living hell for the remainder of the year’.

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Posted by: Michele at 12:01 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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1 *sniff, sniff* {{HUG}} You madame are one hell of a person and I am better for having you as a blogsister.

Posted by: Machelle at April 01, 2005 08:14 AM (ZAyoW)

2 That's quite a post. I know a couple of people that have to read it. It's too bad we don't have any kind of VOIP software, it would be helpful for people to be able to talk with each other....

Posted by: _Jon at April 01, 2005 10:54 AM (R6yie)

3 I had to stop reading this halfway through and take a break before I could finish it, because I'm at work and I started misting up really bad and I have no kleenex. {hug} Have I ever told you how much I love happy endings? :-)

Posted by: Harvey at April 01, 2005 11:19 AM (tJfh1)

4 Though I come to visit, I seldom leave comments. I will today. I am a stay at home mom and usually have time to talk. If you ever need to talk, just call me. Send me an email and I'll send you my phone numbers. Or we can talk via _Jon's teamspeak or via Skype (you can also chat via Skype). I wish you the best. Harvey, Tammi, _Jon and all the rest are a wonderful, wonderful family.

Posted by: vw bug at April 01, 2005 12:06 PM (rhlNH)

5 That was a very nice post Michele. I can totally relate to keeping people at bay. I don't have any friends to speak of and I'm to blame for keeping it that way. I have numerous acquaintances but not really any friends. The last friend I had moved about 3 years ago and the one before that was about 10 years ago, so you can see I don't make much of an effort to "find a new buddy". Well, I'll start taking up your comment section if I keep talking about it...anyway thanks for the post, it reflects a lot of feelings I have.

Posted by: neonangel at April 01, 2005 02:29 PM (fJqkl)

6 Oh, that was beautiful. Sad, but beautiful. {HUG}

Posted by: Sally at April 02, 2005 09:14 AM (8Ef3q)

7 Wow. You have a true talent for writing. Please try and make it to the next family reunion. We would love to meet Michelle in the flesh! And I am sure the guys would love to "bare" with you.

Posted by: TNT at April 03, 2005 10:23 AM (ubhj8)

8 I don't know if I could have survived, emotionally or spiritually, everything that you've gone through. I know that it took an event a lot less traumatic to put me in my own shell for a time. I also have a hard time keeping friends, (everyone always seems to move a way) so I understand how hard it can be to reach out to the next person. Any time you need a virtual hug, just ask. Anything more... well, I'm on the other side of the state, so it might take a little while to get to you. ;-)

Posted by: GEBIV at April 03, 2005 12:34 PM (vI2yr)

9 Doh! I forgot this! {HUG}

Posted by: GEBIV at April 03, 2005 01:05 PM (vI2yr)

10 I'm glad you are feeling like you can start to move forward...that's so tough! Your blog family is here for you....for any reason!! {Hug}

Posted by: Sissy at April 03, 2005 06:33 PM (PjqiK)

11 That was exceptionally moving and touching and a very sweet epitath to your friend, Michele.

Posted by: RP at April 07, 2005 09:40 AM (LlPKh)

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