SHE

My sweet friend J, who I will sadly refer to as "Early Bird" from now on, gave me SHE after I posted about the quote in the locket my sister gave me. It's chock full of similar quotes in handwritten cursive on peppy colors like dirty lime, salmon pink, and orange. J mentioned buying the book to frame individual pages for her daughter's wall. Genius! I am bonkers for this book. It is a whimsical way to empower someone who might otherwise be fighting the battle of their life. I think every girl, little and up, needs to have this book read to her. I read it to RE and she loved it. Greg was in the background and he loved it too. Greg likes girl books! Maybe they remind him of meat...

These pages plucked at my heartstrings:

SHE decided to enjoy more and endure less.

SHE pursued big dreams instead of small realities.

SHE turned her can'ts into cans, and her dreams into plans.

SHE decided to start living the life she'd imagined.

SHE loved life and it loved her back.

SHE designed a life she loved. (I'm a designer! I'm a designer!)

The one I put in the picture up top was my favorite. I read that sentence and saw the fast motion replay of my past two years. It helped me realize that I did it. I made it through with my dream intact and my life enlarged! The world chewed me up, spit me out and left me for dead but somehow I ended up prettier with a bonus pair of wings.

Other things about J: square pincushions, salted chocolate, label maker, Sharpie marker pen, math whiz who actually knows what kind of fractals Idina Menzel is singing about, orzo salad, turquoise and lime, Diet Coke, book inhaler, the back-up Becky Higgins, owls, pears, and Mickey Mouse on her old vantennae.

*Illustration by Jenica Wilkie & Steve Potter, quote written by Kobi Yamada