Tag: help!

feelings

love (just beginning).

abby mumford

i’m a sucker for a love story. a good one. a cheesy one. a sappy one. a romantic one. a cute one. an old one. a new one. one that’s been a long time coming. it’s probably because i don’t have one of my own.

yet.

i especially like to hear the stories of how people met in case it gives me an idea of something new to try.

oh, you met in college? darn, i’ve already graduated. from undergrad AND grad school.

oh, you met at the laundromat? the only guy i see is the homeless man who offers to carry my laundry in. i’ve just carried it 3.5 blocks, sir, i can manage these last 15 feet. maybe i’ll try the one in your neighborhood?

oh, you met while you were abroad? i was just in italy! i didn’t meet any single men under the age of 40.

oh, you met at the bar? i went bar hopping last night/last weekend/last month. didn’t come across any winners. but did you know the octoberfest beers are out now? yeah, goodbye summer, hello fall.

oh, you met at work? everyone i work with is married. or is old enough to be my father.

oh, you met online? which site? yeah, tried that one. ok, i’ll try it again. maybe could you read my profile before i post?

oh, you met in the produce section of the grocery store? my friends are due back soon, so i’ll have a reason to go to that section of the store again.

oh, you met on the airplane? i have a few flights coming up, surely i’ll get a good seatmate. or at least one that will STOP CALLING ME, SHIRLEY.

but what i really adore are the stories of lasting love. and couples laughing together. and supporting one another. the latest story to melt my heart is here. it’s EXACTLY the type of story i want to cuddle up in bed with. it contains love. humor. sauciness. a couple just starting out. and how they entertained each other when they had nothing to rub together but their imaginations.

so while i continue to search for my love story, tell me yours.

travel

italian lessons

abby mumford

buongiorno!

so i’ve successfully traveled to italy and back. alone. (i can’t say i did it with confidence. and i can’t say i did it without tears and homesickness. but i can say that technology never ceases to amaze me. i had a few people step up to the plate and despite the time difference, email with me or reassure me or talk me off the ledge. and while i’m sure that i won’t be traveling abroad alone again, i can say i am a different person because of this trip.)

i’m still suffering from jet lag and because i have blog readers who aren’t on twitter and because i’m taking the easy way out and because i want to memorialize the trip and because (for me) a large part of traveling is sharing the experience, i’m going to cut and paste my #ItalianLessons from twitter.

(note to those NOT on twitter: a hashtag #, in its most general use, is a way of labeling a tweet. because i was on this crazy work/personal holiday trip, i decided to give my italian tweets a label. it made them easier to locate, plus it gave the readers a point of reference.) also, take note that, for whatever reason, the blackberry i rented from verizon was consistently on east coast time. it never switched over to italian time, so the timing of my tweets is going to look a bit bizarre. (if you really care, italy’s +6 hours ahead).

i’ve already unpacked my suitcase, let’s unpack the memories too. and away we go:

This is beyond bizarre. I’m here at the airport at my gate. I’m doing this. I’m going to italy alone. *butterflies flutter wildly* 7:32 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

TWITTER, I’m so glad you fit into my carry on bag. But now I must leave you. When you wake, ciao verona! 7:43 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

Locked in and loaded. See you on the other side, TWITTER. 8:06 PM Sep 4th via mobile web

Ciao, verona! You look beautiful even through my fuzzy, 2 hours of sleep eyes. 6:42 AM Sep 5th via mobile web

I’ve had my first italian espresso, met a bilingual dog named eva, and was dropped off in saint zeno with no clue where to go next. Ciao. 9:18 AM Sep 5th via mobile web

I totally stumbled upon juliet’s balcony by accident. Totally touristy yet completely irresistible. Ah, l’amoure! Sunday, September 05, 2010 11:57:10 AM via mobile web

Buongiorno, TWITTER. Sun isn’t up yet, but I am. While all you munchkins celebrate Labor Day. I’ll be working. Granted, I’m in italy… Monday, September 06, 2010 12:33:58 AM via mobile web

I thought I had the jet lag beat. HA says my delirious brain. NOT SO. Monday, September 06, 2010 1:47:16 AM via mobile web

Just when you thought the day was ending, you find out they’re starting the other volume RIGHT NOW. #HowDoYouSayLongDayInItalian Monday, September 06, 2010 11:14:49 AM via mobile web

In case anyone’s keeping track besides me, yes, I’m still at the plant, still okaying press sheets. #twelvehoursandcounting Monday, September 06, 2010 3:06:50 PM via mobile web

Actually, it’s 14 hours and counting. Apparently my math skills aren’t any better over here. Monday, September 06, 2010 3:21:29 PM via mobile web

(editor’s note: i was at the plant until 12:30am. i had gotten there at 7:30am. yeah. happy labor day.)

And those little hairs on my forehead still stick up. Come on, italian air, can’t you help a girl out? Monday, September 06, 2010 3:22:50 PM via mobile web

(see above. me = delirious. that is also the point at which the blackberry stopped working. and i had to call in reinforcements. for future reference, if you have computer problems, restarting the computer will fix the problem. usually. but if you have cell phone connectivity problems, turning it off isn’t enough. you have to TAKE THE BATTERY OUT. don’t ever forget that. fortunately, it [first] crapped out while i was at the plant, so i had access to a computer. there is a lot of down time while on press. in case you were curious.)

TWITTER, my blackberry is not liking the italian air. i cannot connect to email or to YOU. how do you say lonely in italian? Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:28:49 AM via web

if you work for VZW, send help. my blackberry world is internet deficient and i have no way to call to troubleshoot. Tuesday, September 07, 2010 4:25:49 AM via web

so does my blackberry, per favore. @veschwab Twitter, I need good juju for this week. Tuesday, September 07, 2010 4:46:55 AM via web

OMG. i was a muse. and it’s better than i ever imagined. @kmcriddle http://bit.ly/9wATcy Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:33:06 AM via web

(no, that tweet is NOT italian related, but come on. i was a muse. it still makes me giggle in wonder.)

being a muse, that’s totally italian. maybe italy is agreeing with me…? now, if only my blackberry would work… Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:35:08 AM via web

uh oh. i signed into google and all instructions are in italian. not sure if i’m signing out or signing over my 1st born. *clicks* Tuesday, September 07, 2010 5:45:57 AM via web

OMG. What a whirlwind of time, emotions, and logic. I’m back in action thanks to G. #GratefulToG Tuesday, September 07, 2010 9:56:05 AM via mobile web

(see the mobile web tag? that’s how you know the blackberry was back in action.)

I’m learning that the timing of a statement is as effective as the words spoken. #IUnderstoodItalian Tuesday, September 07, 2010 10:17:44 AM via mobile web

(ha. that’s a story for another time.)

Strigoli is a type of pasta. Strigori is a type of vampire from VAMPIRE ACADEMY series. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:42:42 PM via mobile web

(and that was the first tweet i labeled as an #italianlesson. i guess you could say my creative mojo had been jet lagged until that point.)

You won’t say “non capisco” as much as you thought but you will have it said TO you. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:44:24 PM via mobile web

Lacrosse is not popular in italy, but drinking vino is. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 07, 2010 3:47:31 PM via mobile web

Travel packs of nutella are as amazing as they seem and should go everywhere with you. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:59:23 AM via mobile web

Infomercials are as ludicrous and outlandish as they are in the States. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 3:25:16 AM via mobile web

Thunder cracks and rolls with an accent. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 5:38:40 AM via mobile web

RT @aquinnm If you’re going to get caught in the rain, it might as well be in Italy. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 5:40:47 AM via mobile web

(that was allison. she is friends with kristen, who is a friend of mine. they were randomly in italy at the same time as me. they were so kind as to allow me to join up with them and their vacation. they had just arrived in milan. i was still doing the work thing in verona…)

When visiting L’Arena other tourists will try out the natural acoustics by yelling TEXAS or CHRISTINE or BUONGIORNO. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 8:21:48 AM via mobile web

The sun will break through the storm clouds, temp will raise by 15 degrees, and you’ll wish you weren’t wearing a sweater. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:16:13 AM via mobile web

Don’t buy the 300 euro sunglasses even if they look really really cute on. #unexpectedsunshine #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 9:32:27 AM via mobile web

(i didn’t buy them. though it did instill a craving for a nice pair of sunglasses. i do wear sunglasses a lot. perhaps it’s time to invest in something other than $12 pairs from aldo.)

A glass of Amarone vino is a happy hour indeed. And yes, it is 5pm here. #ItalianLessons Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:04:19 AM via mobile web

(amarone is a wine that’s made locally and man alive, delicious! if you ever have the opportunity, you should order some. it basically pulls up a chair and sits down with you. that’s how full bodied it is.)

Rush hour is at 9am, so I’m guessing they are all fashionably late to work. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 3:43:35 AM via mobile web

You’re supposed to buy souveniers not leave them behind. Goodbye trench coat belt. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 4:33:00 AM via mobile web

(yes, sadly enough, the fabric belt to my trench coat is gone. i had it on the plane to italy, but i didn’t have it when i left the hotel room.)

Does constant anxiety burn a crapton of calories like breastfeeding? #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 6:18:17 AM via mobile web

Have reached lake como. The sun is finally shining, both literally and metaphorically and emotionally. Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:11:17 AM via mobile web

See @aquinnm for pics because this blackberry is sans camera. Grazie. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:00:40 AM via mobile web

San Franciso doesn’t get rainstorms. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:04:02 AM via mobile web

(isn’t that weird? both kristen and alison were LOVING the crazy thunderstorms because they don’t get such eclectic weather there. me, on the other hand, i was a bit more hesitant in liking the storms. the rain came down in buckets and the thunder was wicked. though, if you asked them, it was like an opera.)

Seriously, the thunder here is intense. Deeper. Louder. Clearer. Accented. #ItalianLessons Thursday, September 09, 2010 12:30:53 PM via mobile web

They do two things fast: driving and drinking espresso. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 1:25:13 AM via mobile web

Bellaggio and Menaggio are molto bene. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:37:06 AM via mobile web

The lake on the shore is more of a lapping than a wave crashing. So soothing. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:49:55 AM via mobile web

Mini golf is called crazy golf. And it’s played on a hard and fast surface, not turf. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 8:11:19 AM via mobile web

I think @kbreakey‘s bad boy MC drives a motorcycle like an Italian – fast, furious, semi-reckless. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 8:49:45 AM via mobile web

Italy brings out the technological side of you…cameras, smartphones, iPads. #ItalianLessons (@kbreakey) Friday, September 10, 2010 9:01:59 AM via mobile web

Have two scoops of gelato and call me in the morning. #fauxdoctorsorders #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 9:06:03 AM via mobile web

Skipping stones on the lake is a great pre-dinner activity. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 1:09:37 PM via mobile web

They won’t bring you the check, even if they are closing the whole restaurant around you. You must ask for that bill. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 5:43:56 PM via mobile web

(it was totally unintentional. i promise! we were just giggling and enjoying one another’s company. we realized our mistake, though, when our waiter [no longer in his work clothes] zoomed out the door. the manager happily stayed until we were ready. in fact, we had a bit of a difficult time trying to get her attention to get her to bring us the “il conto, per favore.”)

To quote Kristen: “The stars! They effing twinkle!” (And she didn’t say effing). #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 6:07:21 PM via mobile web

It’s true, they are sparkling up a storm for us tonight. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 6:13:33 PM via mobile web

Texts and phone calls are not cheap on a rented global plan. Good thing late night chats with Kristen are free. #ItalianLessons Friday, September 10, 2010 7:05:31 PM via mobile web

Adventures await today. Not sure of the specifics, just that they are going to be grand. #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 2:31:59 AM via mobile web

(and by adventure, i mean to the emergency room. kristen had chest pains, which, you know, you don’t mess around with. the x-rays revealed: pneumonia.)

Food always tastes better outside, but when you add italian air, perfecto! #italianlessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 6:11:40 AM via mobile web

Tipping in restaurants is different, not done, really. Service reflects that… #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 7:11:27 AM via mobile web

X-rays are a unique souvenir of your time abroad. Just ask Kristen. #pneumonia #ItalianLessons Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:50:04 PM via mobile web

The moon fell out of the sky. This is not an #ItalianLesson, this is merely an observation. The MOON fell out of the SKY. Saturday, September 11, 2010 5:03:26 PM via mobile web

(seriously. that was so weird.)

You can get on a train or boat and GO ANYWHERE. Adventures are abound. #ItalianLessons Sunday, September 12, 2010 3:23:43 AM via mobile web

Spending the majority of the day on a boat on the lake will leave your body rockin’ hours after you’ve landed ashore. #ItalianLessons Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:55:16 PM via mobile web

Everybody eats gelato. Everybody. Me? I taste test the chocolate at each separate store. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 2:36:09 AM via mobile web

If they like what they see, the men will slow their cars to 85mph so they can honk and holler. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:17:11 AM via mobile web

It sure can. #ItalianLessons RT @maureenjohnson “The work can wait,” I said, quoting our business motto. Monday, September 13, 2010 5:38:31 AM via mobile web

The ferry is the best form of public transportation ever. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 9:33:47 AM via mobile web

Prego is an all purpose word, like the British English version of Cheers. #italianlessons Monday, September 13, 2010 11:29:57 AM via mobile web

The natural lighting that occurs in the 5-6pm time frame is stunning. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 12:25:29 PM via mobile web

Lemoncello. I had it. I feel italian. I probably won’t have it ever again, but I can cross it off my #ItalianLessons list. Monday, September 13, 2010 4:01:36 PM via mobile web

The temperature swings wildly based on the position of the sun. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:05:54 PM via mobile web

And THAT was a proper Italian sendoff: gnocchi, amarone vino, convos in italian, giggles in english. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:13:46 PM via mobile web

AND lemoncello AND tiramsu AND procuitto + melon AND sunset over bellaggio. #ItalianLessons Monday, September 13, 2010 4:15:51 PM via mobile web

My last lakeside morning. Sunrises are really gorgeous in Italy. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:11:47 AM via mobile web

The sun does everything fast here: rises, sets, heats up, cools. I’m going to miss that Italian way. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1:28:20 AM via mobile web

Traveling back east means my day will be 30 hours long. But my suitcase is filled w/memories. All worth it. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 3:08:59 AM via mobile web

When the 1st portion of a flight is delayed, panic attacks ensue while waiting to see if you’ll make the connecting flight. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 8:17:07 AM via mobile web

(i did make it. with 2 minutes to spare before boarding began.)

I have never been so happy to board an 8 hour flight before. It means I made my connecting flight in frankfurt to boston. #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:29:52 AM via mobile web

I am on board. For the next 8+ hours. You behave, twitter. And this is me signing off for #ItalianLessons Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:41:08 AM via mobile web

(and then we sat on the plane for an hour. and then the pilot came on and said (first in german, than in english), “we’ve received word that the french air traffic controllers are on strike. we have to sit here for 2 more hours until we can get a new route.” WTF? before the shock had time to settle in, the pilot came back on and said, “we are cleared for take off.” umm, AWESOME, but what the heck was that? an elaborate practical joke?)

Home Sweet Bed. about 14 hours ago via twidroid

Woke up disoriented and wondering why which hotel room I was in. So much to do to re-integrate back to life… about 6 hours ago via twidroid

and that’s a wrap. more thoughts and stories to come. i’m sure.

oh wait, if you’ve made it this far, click here for pictorial documentation of the trip.

UPDATE: and here’s a link to allison’s photos.  and here’s one to kristen’s. more dreaminess!

feelings

an international quickie

abby mumford

due to the enormity of yesterday’s post, today’s is going to be a little blip. a quick note to say i’ve gotten the go ahead to travel to italy for work. on one hand, i’m really excited, thrilled, ecstatic, happy. on the other hand, i’m terrified, petrified, and potentially about to pee my pants. why? i’m horrible at directions. i get lost in my own neighborhood. daily. i don’t speak italian. i look american. and i am traveling alone.

the alone part is what freaks me out the most. if i had a traveling companion, this wouldn’t even be an issue. but, as is my lot in life of late, i’m going it alone. i don’t mean to sound whiny, i’m just stating the facts.

which is where YOU come in. basically, i’m using this post to serve as a sounding board for solo international travel advice. please offer up any thoughts, tips, tricks, things to do, say,  avoid, etc. etc.  because while there, i’d love to look like this:

rather than this:

because i will be alone (and therefore can’t accept any ACTIONS of support [in the form of hugs, a partner in crime or you sitting next to me on the plane, in the coffee shop, drinking the vino with me]), i need you to supply the WORDS of support. dear readers, will you help?

feelings

emergency! is there a doctor in the hou…you mean me?

abby mumford

despite the fact i’m a very calm person on a day to day basis, i’m the one who comes unglued in an emergency situation. maybe that’s one of the reasons i love katniss from HUNGER GAMES or katsa from THE GRACELING. they’re both super strong, lead the way, take charge kind of gals. they rise during an emergency while i? i slink behind the nearest tree.

except for sunday. my friend C was in town this weekend for a conference. the conference was in providence, but due to its proximity to boston (and her 3 friends who live up here), she opted for the free hotel room, aka my apartment. she called on sunday to let me know she was heading back from the conference. when she called again not even 15 minutes later, i jokingly answered the phone “leave a message at the beep.”

i flung the silliness aside when her voice, near tears, said, “my car is smoking and i’m pulled over on the side of the road.”

gulp.

and then, i spewed every calm and rational thought i had/could have had about what to do when you and your car are broken on the side of the road. because i had to. because she was freaking out. because i wasn’t allowed to. because two girls freaking out is about an constructive as eating soup with a fork. after she calmed down and after i promised to come get her if need be, we hung up since there wasn’t much else for me to do/say while she waited for the AAA tow truck to come and tow and assess the damage. plus, i’m sure she wanted to call her dad (or BF) for more soothing thoughts on what to do when it looks like your car has suddenly developed a smoking habit.

she called back 10 minutes later to say that yes, her car was kaput and she needed me to come get her. i got some vague directions from her (via the tow truck guy) that i should take 95 to this exit to 2 lights to a left turn to look for the mobil station. i was 100 % calm as i said “sure thing. i’m leaving now. sit tight.” i hung up the phone, took a deep breath, my towel fell and i properly freaked out (what? i had just gotten out of the shower) about how i was supposed to get to her. i scrambled into some clothes, swiped on mascara, and called another friend to confirm that to get to 95, i have to take 93 first.

i hop in my car, eye the 1/4 full tank of gas and begin the battle with Rudy*, my GPS. i had the directions from the tow truck guy which, albeit a bit vague, seemed easy. except for the part where i didn’t know how to get there (95) from here (my apartment). i didn’t have an address for where C was, except that it’s a mobil station in between boston and providence. Rudy wanted me to go this way and then recalculating and then take take exit and then recalculating about 53 times. i only had a wisp of a notion of where 93 and 95 met up, but i suspected those highways were my best bet rather than the circular side streets the GPS wanted me to take. and then began the battle with myself. hello?! i have a GPS, follow it. but really? can i trust Rudy? or should i trust mr. tow truck? i decided to go for the latter even though it meant i had to listen to “recalculating” every 5 minutes.

did i mention my car was basically on fumes at that point? this is really rare for me because i’m paranoid about running out of gas. if my car is under 1/2 full, i fill it. i don’t drive that much and with both coaching and playing lacrosse seasons over, i’ve been driving even less. the last time i was in the car, i was only going .5 miles down the road to pick up heavy groceries and thought, hmm, i should fill up. “next time” i thought. and you see? see what happens when i procrastinate?

i have to don my savior cape and rescue C.

what a nightmare that would have been if i had run out of gas. and i had to say to my tow guy, “could you drag me to the mobil off route 160? cause that’s where my friend is and i need to get her.” a classic comedy of errors that was narrowly avoided. *phew*

but what’s my point about all of this? (besides reinforcing to myself that i should never, ever, ever procrastinate again). my point is that when i HAD to be calm, cool, collected, i was. i was still able to freak out (after talking to C and before driving to get her) because she wasn’t able to see that (well, except for when i told her). which translates to my next writing project. i’ve been so scared to start it because, well, i don’t know where to start. i don’t have a plot. i don’t have a firm character in mind. i’ve been frozen. hiding in the bushes. like i usually do when emergencies come calling. but sunday’s adventures showed me that i can do it. i can find 95 without the help of Rudy. i can be calm enough to convince C that everything is going to be alright. because it is. and that’s this next project will go because i’m the only one who can write it. i need to stop being scared and start driving, err, writing.

another lesson learned during all this? it’s really nice to be able to call your mom and/or dad and say “help. what do i do?” and let them do their mom/dad thing and hug you through the phone. because as grown up as we have to be sometimes, there’s still nothing better than allowing yourself a moment of adolescent wallowing to mom/dad when the adult world is too scary to deal with.

*why’s my GPS called Rudy? that’s thanks to my roommate. during one long, delirious drive, she starting laughing to herself. in between giggles she asked if i had named my GPS. i said no. she pointed to it and said you should call her Rudy because she gives you the ROUTE. (so technically, the spelling should be ROUTEY). and that’s that.

general

did i run away and join the circus without my consent?

abby mumford

these past few months, but specially these last two weeks, have been an extreme test of my ability to handle stress. to keep my head from popping off. to maintain a professional demeanor and not glare at anyone and everyone who emails, calls, walks into my office. to get it all done and explain to the next person how it works while wearing a smile on my face. to balance on the thin wire of work and life outside the office.

being at work lately has felt like i’m the ringmaster, the lion tamer, the girl riding bareback and doing back flips through hoops while still landing on the back of the horse, the tight rope walker, the elephant trainer, the driver of the clown car, the 57th clown that gets out of the car, the juggler who’s just switched from bowling pins to fiery batons, the person hawking popcorn and cotton candy and those blinking light souvenirs, the parent watching over their child, AND the person who has to clean up and pack up the big top tent.

which leaves me with ZERO energy for anything outside of work. and putting in no effort with your life and hobbies and friends and health and family? that leaves me with a very flat existence. much like the big top tent after the support poles and bleachers and equipment and people and animals and air has been pulled out.

i’ve learned that me + stress = one big grumpypuss. i know this, but now i REALLY know this. it’s lodged at the forefront of my brain. (it’s probably making my forehead look a little lumpy.) but i don’t know how to stop. i want to do a good, complete job. there is a reason (i can’t think of it at the moment) that my boss chose to give me oh so very much work and i don’t want to disappoint him. but what about when i disappoint my family and friends? it’s a little like this, i suppose. where work is the “new friend” and everything else is the “old friend”. i need to make sure i pick up my undies for both my old and new friends. they deserve to be treated equally. but how do you do that when one demands so much more attention?

when do you draw the line? when you reach your breaking point? right before you crack? right after your head’s exploded? when your TO DO list reaches 100 items? when you arrive at work early, don’t take lunch, and still have to stay late? when your roommate wonders why she hasn’t seen you all week? when your friends are shocked by the lack of emails from you? when your family wonders why you don’t call? when you seriously consider early retirement? when you don’t smile a true smile all day? when you can’t remember the last time you heard good news? when your stress levels rocket because you have no outlet (working out, hanging out, writing) of release?

where do you put it? and how do you draw it? a stick in the sand? masking tape down the middle of the room? with a closed door? with tears down your cheeks? with hershey’s kisses?

what do you do when you give too much to one thing and not enough to another?

and so, to all those (online and off, in real life and digital life, in my manuscript) who have been neglected by the recent rush of work i’ve been doing, these are for you. they’re forget me not’s.

please accept them with my sincerest apologies for disappearing. and please, FORGET ME NOT while i’m gone.