I first met Casey at a meetup in Indianapolis, in 2008.  It was April 24, 2008…almost exactly three years ago.  Funny, but it feels like I’ve known her my entire life.

She was just how I had pictured her; kind, intelligent, funny, red-headed and adorable.  She, however, was shocked that the Momo Fali she met that night wasn’t a 300 lb. Samoan.

That trip to Indianapolis turned out to be one I will never forget.  And, not in a good way.  I spent most of the evening in tears, worried sick about my son.  I will never forget getting off the phone with my husband and falling against the wall in a sloppy, sobbing heap then looking up to see Casey standing there.  The hug that she gave me, from one stranger to another, got me through the night.

I came to find out that the hug was indicative of how much Casey gives of herself.  She embodies strength, honesty and friendship and since that first meeting, I have hugged her when she cried, she hugged me when I cried AGAIN, she has seen me in my bathing suit and I have arranged the marriage of my son and her first-born child.  For real.

She has openly shared her battle with depression and has probably saved some people in the process.  I respect Casey for that and for so much more.

As she prepares for the birth of her second child, I want her to know that I’m thinking of her, I’m proud of her and I’m so glad that she’s my friend.  Pregnancy has not been easy for Casey, but she has managed to endure.

But, still…I hate her a little because next to her, I really do look like a 300 lb. Samoan.

Follow

Email

Yesterday afternoon, I drove to Indianapolis with a new friend to meet the lovely Bossy. As I do every time I’m away, I left instructions for the babysitter, a list of things to do for my daughter, and a note to my husband to read when he got home from work.

I made dinner and put it in the Crock Pot and straightened up the house. All my ducks were in a row. Until the moment we got to our hotel.

I barely had time to put my bag down, when my cell phone rang. On the other end was my nine year old daughter, screaming hysterically, “Mommy!!! Mommy!!! MOMMY!!!” When she finally took a breath, she was able to tell me her brother was badly hurt. I didn’t know what happened, but I did know that my daughter would not have such a reaction if it wasn’t serious.

There I was, three hours from home and my kids needed their Mommy. “Hello guilt? It’s me, Momo.” All I could do was urgently tell her to call her Dad (who luckily was on his way home from work). I hung up and phoned the sitter’s parents, who live two doors away. Then I freaked out sat and waited a few minutes before calling back to find out my son’s finger had been slammed in a door, and that the tip of it was gone.

All of these wonderful bloggers had to watch me sit with clenched teeth and buttcheeks, in anticipation of my husband’s report from the hospital. Once I drank four Coronas talked to my son on the phone, after his skin and fingernail had been stitched back on, I was able to relax…just a little.

I intentionally left this out of focus to hide my swollen, puffy eyes, and mascara which had dripped onto my shirt. That’s me in the middle, with the fake smile.

After two hours of sleep, we got up at 4:45 this morning, to get home to my son. And, even though my neighbors and my husband cleaned up most of the blood. I found this where they peeled his skin from the door jamb.

And lots of splatter marks on the wall…

…and this on my son’s broken finger.

I’m never leaving home again.

Follow

Email

–
After that, we’ll do a shot sip some cognac…

–

–
But, then what? There are so many things to see! Where to start?!

–

Most likely, I’ll just show her where I live…

–

No, I’m at Target a lot, but this is my stinking rich neighbor’s house.

–

Though, if Bossy doesn’t come soon, we may be living here…

–

…which someone recently redecorated with this lovely dent.

Oh, I just can’t wait! We’ll laugh, and talk, and not talk, and eat soup and snow peas. And, when she leaves I think Bossy will say, “I wouldn’t want to live there, but it’s a lovely place to visit”.

Follow

Email