When my son Kosmo was born, I had really big boobs. Not like porn star big, but “Walmart After Hours” big. I didn’t wear bras, I wore scaffolding. During that time I was late everywhere, but…my boobs were on time…you see what I’m saying…they were – enter a doorway several minutes before the rest of me BIG. And they almost killed my child. I am so thankful my baby didn’t get lost under my boob and I have one person to thank for that. My neighbor Danielle.
My neighbor Danielle lived around the corner from my old house. No my boobs, didn’t stretch across the street or anything…but they did interrupt her life while I was nursing. Everyday for about 2 weeks I would call her up and just kind of make small talk until she said ” Do you need umm…help?” And then she would drop whatever she was “organizing”…rush over and hold my boob up for me. This was a feat of strength, as my boobs were in fact larger then my entire friend Danielle.
I refer to her as my tiny mommy friend. Everything about her life is so adorable to me. She has tiny little chairs and tiny little children and tiny little bagels upon which she spreads the tiniest pat of peanut butter. She drinks from tiny little wine glasses in direct contrast to the goblets that I drink from that each hold a personal bottle of wine. Once she sat on an empty cardboard box. SHE USED AN EMPTY BOX AS A CHAIR! She is my tiniest friend but has had a supremely large influence on my life the past 6 years.
For instance If you know me you know how organized I am …about .07 percent organized, well .05 percent of that is because of her. She taught me to take my socks out of the food pantry, to label containers and then put into said container that which appears on the label, This is why I know where my stamps are ( office supplies) …before Danielle , without exaggeration my stamps were pasted all over my washing machine….( Ogden thought they were stickers ) She taught me to make lists…sure I spent most of my time mocking her lists but it is really a good idea. She HAS A LIST OF LISTS….I saw it! It is a book, with organized lists in it…Sometimes when I wander about aimlessly feeling listless, I realize it is because I am…so I make a list and feel better…she is so right. I feel calm just walking into her world because I know everything has a place. I have no idea how she keeps everything clean, in her head and her fridge and her car. But it is an inspiration and it gives me hope.
Today my friend left Georgia for a new adventure. All the way across the country. Who is gonna take care of me now? I am so happy for her move to Oregon is absolutely right, she will find more like minded people who don’t abuse paper goods or live off processed foods. She will find a perfect home for her creative talents and more practical ways to raise and nourish her family. She is quirky and particular and an absolute joy. She has given me insight into what it would be like if I was completely opposite of myself. And not having her around the corner is a new kind of sad. It’s just going to be so inconvenient for her to travel all the way across the country every time I need her. I mean she can’t skype organize my linen closet.
As an expert in goodbyes, new starts, clean slates, I fully believe that people come in and out of your life for a reason. I have drawn the conclusion that aside from saving my baby from my own boob, Danielle came in to my life because this giant perfect cosmic puzzle of a world wanted me to have a healthy hero, seeing her be a mom, helped me know how to be a mom. Be strict, but loving, consistent and calm. Safe travels to one of the most creative, interesting, motherly, wonderful women I know. Oregon has no idea how lucky a state it is about to become.
*In the above picture, we are laughing because I accidently rested my hand on her knee…Danielle is not a big toucher. ( See POLAR opposites ) She also won’t be too keen on being on a public blog post, or being so closely associated with my boobs…but she moved away and can’t really retaliate…so hee hee!
