Wild Bougainvilliea

My mom came out to visit me for a week. Mom's like to buy you things. I explained to her that I was doing this whole not buying new things for a year thing and her response was, "well I can buy you new things". Not the point Mom. God Bless her. We went thrift store shopping together, certainly  not out of the ordinary for her, but she does love that Ikea, and she went without, for my sake. They don't have Ikea in Iowa, where she lives. The point is, she helped me see the possibilities around me! Wild Bougainvillea's grow all over my neighborhood. The day my dad was flying in to join us at the Emmy's... this is what I awoke to...

even in my bathroom

They grow wild everywhere around here! I totally took them for granted. People plant them and only get to enjoy them for a few months in the midwest, and I get them all year long... and yet I hadn't appreciated them, until then. 

Instead of feeling as though not being able to buy fresh flowers is a sacrifice - I'm now more aware of the world right outside my backyard. Something I think we all forget sometimes. 

Thanks mom. 

Target, until next year...

Oh the times I've walked through your doors to pick up toothpaste and a card, and walked out $60 later with a cute new clutch, a dress from the clearance aisle, 2 boxes of Velveeta Shells and Cheese for $5 (even though they're normally $2 each... ) and that revolutionary new mascara that swears it will lengthen AND volumize, and not smear or run... If that is what the test market proved... then I'm the .5% they stipulate just can't be helped.

Well, farewell Target. It's been a good run. I have to imagine you've gotten enough out of me for the last 15 years, you probably won't even notice I'm gone. It took a lot to keep driving past that new facade and the cherry red signs beckoning me to try out your new produce department, after I've successfully perused through your always tempting clothing section, housewares, and .99 section...

In this case, it really is me, not you.  Maybe in a few months I'll test my willpower and walk through without buying anything, but for now, it's just too hard. 

Sincerely,

Annie's $60

...and into the first turn

In my inbox. From my Dad. Totally Free. Totally Awesome.

I told her hello on a great fall day 

You’re Ann you know 

And you’ve come to stay

I know I’m Ann she said with a grin

I’d love to stay if you'll have me in 

I promise to please and I’ll be prim

I’ve a lot to do shall we begin? 

We walked together she and I 

We shared a big Montana sky

A favorite book and a passage too 

We laughed I cried ..and both of us knew

a lot of years but way to few

A mind so quick a heart so strong 

Like a thorough bred winning its first furlong

She chomped at the bit raring to go 

Now dad she said… “you gotta let go.”

I dried my eyes as this wonder went

Out the gate just hell bent

I can’t forget that last fall day

I just remember what she had to say

“I promise to please and I’ll be prim

I’ve a lot to do….gotta begin…bye dad”