A Six-Word Memoir

Have you heard about the six-word autobiography? Fabulous concept - let's give it a try.

Some people do a few six-word memoirs, perhaps one each for childhood, adolesence, college, and everything after. I'll try to get it to just one six-word sentence. Below are my first attempts:

First attempts:
Newlywed. Never better but still dreaming.
Planned intensely, scrapped plans, never happier.
Two degrees. Friends teach me more.
Notes in mailbox are long-distance kisses.
Faith, Bradley, family, Blue, shopping, sleep.
Met, befriended, stalked a bit, married.
Glad college preceded digital camera boom.
Excited to wed; glad wedding's over.
Paid to talk. Seriously. Someone listen!
Peachy childhood, awkward teen, relieved adult.
Summered in France before dollar dove.
Beach, burger, boat, wine, friends - perfection.
Columbia-raised but grew up in Clemson.

(Instead of deleting each iteration, I'm just going to make the latest bold. Be warned that this is quite an addictive little challenge.)

You can read more here. Now let's see yours!

Quotable

Best thing I've heard today:
"You eat; I'll talk."

From my friend Rowe at lunch, after I had unloaded to her and was more than ready for her wise-as-always response. So I stuffed myself with soft tacos, as instructed, and listened to her for a while.

Worst thing I've heard today:
"Today is even worse than yesterday. It just hasn't stopped coming at us."

From Bradley, who's already worked 45 hours this week as of lunchtime Wednesday. He's hoping he'll be able to come home for a few hours before heading back to the project site in North Carolina at midnight to work until tomorrow at dinner-time. (Yes, you read that correctly.) Is it Friday yet?

The sweetest thing

Morning, ladies! I'm a little off today and it's feeling like it will be a long, yucky Tuesday - too little sleep, Bradley worked all night, Friday can't come soon enough. Just general Anne crankiness.

So let's think some happy thoughts, shall we? What's the best compliment you've ever been given? The sweetest thing anyone's ever said to you? Reading those should perk me up. (Selfish, I know.) Hopefully you'll enjoy them too.

I'll start:

1. A teacher told me in the 9th grade, when my arms were too long and my gawkiness was at its peak, that I was very elegant-looking. Couldn't have come at a better time.

2. Bradley asked me to marry him. That's a pretty big compliment, having someone want to spend their whole life with you. I couldn't tell you exactly what I said - he lost me the moment a ring box appeared. But I feel convinced that the question was in there somewhere.

(I'm leaving out compliments from my parents, because I truly believe they're bordering insanity in their biased-ness. But they've said some pretty sweet things!)

Share!

A day at the beach

I am so in love with the scent of my new Organix coconut milk conditioner that now I'm looking for a summer-time, beachy perfume. I'd use the conditioner as perfume if I could figure out how to do it.

Any suggestions? I've scoured Sephora and their only suggestion was Michael Kors' Island. At this point I'm tempted to slather on Coppertone, in all its deliciousness, to get me through another cubicly-confined fluorescent-filled day. I'll be ready for some sand and real sunshine very soon!

(I get my SPF from Oil of Olay and Bare Minerals each day, btw. Must protect the pale.)

Thoughts?

Thought of the moment

For a fabulous coworker of mine. A wonderful thought for Mondays, and any day we need a reminder.

Catching up

Due to a mystery virus that had me out of commission from mid-Thursday on, I haven't gotten to chat much since April wrapped up. I made no social phone calls from Thursday to Sunday - wow. Skipping meals and staying quiet are both surefire signs that I'm under the weather.

Hope you're all enjoying your day and starting your week off happily. As for me, a bit to report:

There are few things more inherently sweet, simple or Southern than the love of a girl for her dad. Since this blog was created to spotlight such things, here's a tidbit that fits the bill. On Thursday, May 1st, my dad got some great news - his test results have returned with an all-clear. Looks like his cancer has been chased away!! (I'm sure there are more technical terms for it, but I'll go with what I can wrap my head around.) After his surgery before Christmas, this is just what our family has been praying for.

I called him to share my tale of virus-induced woe, not realizing that it was May yet and thus follow-up appointment time. After ten minutes of chatting, Dad finally got to squeeze in his fabulous news.

That being said, I had mentally written something remarkable and moving (no doubt) to share with y'all on Thursday, the National Day of Prayer. I'm sure it was a quick list of the many handfuls of things I have to be grateful for, friends I was remembering, and wonderful ways I was celebrating the holiday in my own little life. And then I found out that the most pressing of my prayer requests, that my amazing dad would continue on his road to recovery, had been answered in full. (And fever kicked in, erasing all traces of such deep thoughts from my mind.)

Feverish or not, I was overjoyed. Please know that, if you're reading this, you were no doubt one of the fantastic women (or men, Dad!) I was remembering that day - and every day. I try my hardest not to breeze through life, taking things or, even worse, people for granted.

So I'm celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a giant, heartfelt thank-you prayer, and lots of gratitude for all of the people who've prayed for me and my family lately. (Or anytime, actually.) We've had a crazy 18 months or so, but I can absolutely say that things have never been better. None of us have ever been better taken care of, and I for one have never been happier.

I don't know if I have been doing back handsprings of happiness during the longer days, but Jeremiah 29:11 has never rung truer - and I'm grateful for the friends who reminded me of it. Or just listened or prayed or sent Diet Cokes and hugs and cards my way.

Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. ~Victor Hugo

P.S. Just a virtual high-five to Bradley, who'll never read this, for making me feel so much better by letting me sleep excessively, eat breakfast for dinner and watch all of the Thursday night shows on DVR that I was too comatose to catch the first time around.

Can't wait to return phone calls and emails this week! Enough about me. Fill me in on what you've been up to, already!

Sparing your inbox - one forward at a time

Maybe I should try a little harder to focus on Mondays.

I love the smell of the beach, Bradley, Cotton after a bath.

People would say that I’m a chatterbox.

I don’t understand why I chatter even more when I get nervous. Deep breaths, Anne!

When I wake up in the morning I wonder what day it is.

I lost my willpower to try and look perfect all the time. Or anytime.

Life is an amazing, amazing gift.

My past was part of God's plan to get me right where I am at this very moment.

I get annoyed when I'm hungry or sleep-deprived.

Parties are a great reason to dress up.

Dogs are fabulous, especially mine.

Cats make me sneeze.

Tomorrow is another chance. Always fresh, with no mistakes in it.

I have low tolerance for pain - in myself or others.

I’m totally terrified of snakes.

I wonder why I can't get fully excited about something until I've shared the news.

Never in my life have I been a tomboy.

High school was fun, but not the be-all end-all that 80s movies make it out to be.

College was even better.

When I’m nervous I get palpitations. And chatter. (See above.)

One time at a family gathering I took a nap in a back bedroom. Typical.

Take my advice: When you have the urge, be the dork who writes the sweet note, shares a compliment, leaves the voice mail. It's probably more necessary and appreciated than you know.

Making my bed happens sometimes in everyday life, but always when company is coming.

I'm almost always talking, typing, laughing, eating or sleeping.

I’m addicted to online shopping, lip balm and moisturizer.

I want someone to come clean my house each week. Or at least take care of the laundry.

(Copy, paste, and change the answers. Y'all know the drill!)