A Little Me Time

 

 BAM Podium Pre-Sedaris by Finijo

I took a spontaneous trip to NYC last week and had a fantastic time. My friend, John, contacted me to say that David Sedaris would be playing near where he lived. I told him he must see him, if he got the chance and he responded by saying that he would buy the tickets for both of us if I would catch a flight to New York. It was an offer too good to pass up. I bought the ticket and then he found out the show as sold out already. I realized that I wanted to go anyway, so I went for a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, just for fun - and it was. We decided to keep trying to get tickets and to go see another show or two instead, if he couldn't. 

Kinky Boots Set by Finijo

On his way home from work he messaged me and said he got us box seats for David Sedaris and orchestra seats for Kinky Boots. Both shows were fantastic and my face hurt from laughing so hard. We had Chinese dumplings and watched movies. He made his traditional welcome banana bread and movie night brownies, and some great asparagus egg scrambles for breakfast. I brought Home for the Holidays and Saved and we watched Terrible Bosses 2 and Birdman. It was a wonderful way to spend the middle of the week. There is still a long list of things I want to do in NYC, so I will have to make it back up there again, soon...maybe in the Autumn. Central Park in October sounds beautiful to me. 

Patty Gay Toothman

I found out just now that while I was laying in bed last night composing a letter to you in my head, you died. I have missed your physical presence in my life for more than 20 years, but you were always a phone call or letter away. You were one of the best people I have known in my life and you gave me unconditional love when I needed it most. You were my second Mom. I am glad that your struggles are over, and all that is wicked and wretched in the world can no longer hurt you. You took care of me when I needed it, and I hope knowing that you had one more person in the world unconditionally loving you was a source of comfort for you at the end. You will always have a place in my heart and your voice will be in my head telling me that everything will be alright and I should do the thing that makes me happy. 

Dear Patty,

Thank you for loving me unconditionally and with your whole heart.  Thank you for looking after me, and holding me when I needed to cry or just needed a hug. Thank you for all of the laughter over all of these years. You were one of the funniest and most gracious people I have ever known. Thank you for all of those late night talks sitting on the balcony in our nightgowns, drinking iced tea, and eating your homemade chocolate chip cookies. Thank you for trusting me with your secrets and for holding on to mine. I would love to get a peek at the journals I gave you over the years, just to see what I missed by not seeing you everyday. You deserved better than you got in life. You deserved to not have to struggle and fight just to hang on to your family, but even in that struggle, you were an amazing, strong, wonderful woman. I cannot begin to express how much you are going to be missed. 

Rest in peace,  Mom.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. 

With an abundance of affection,

Karen