October Joy

I cannot remember a happier time in my life. People are my inspiration and reason for living. What an empty world it would be without the saints and angels and colorful people that inhabit my reality and my imagination. They fill up all the space in my head not devoted to dithering.

Lemon Drops and Indian food at the Bombay Cricket Club with (OMG!!!!!!!) MARY ANN! You know! The stencil queen from LA. My first internet "date". Holy guacamole is she ever the coolest. We had a marvelous time sharing, laughing, cussing, eating and drinking. Now I can picture her better when I go to her blog and read about what she is doing with her hours and days. She is the champagne of human beings; bubbly, dizzifying, constantly in motion and generating new fun. I was charmed.

Oh, gosh, I love this picture of us together. I am lucky girl, happy girl, thinking about the awesomeness of Mary Ann. Love you, girlfriend!

As if that wasn't enough, there's more. Yesterday was somebody's birthday. I and a pack of other admirers gathered in the lounge of the Embassy Suites where Art & Soul is in full swing to celebrate another beautiful light-filled being. katie. Ah, katie. Happy Birthday, honored soul. Long may your days be; the world needs more just like you.

Mary Stanley came to add her love to the party.

Look what she gave to katie. A hand hooked pillow with a little person in the design that so resembles katie's spirit - light generating from her head and heart.

katie gave every person at the table a silk kimono. On HER birthday. Oh, my. Here is miss ham-i-am modelling hers. Too much.

Carla and Michael. Yup. They got kimonos too.

Lisa and Shari. Most of these teachers had put in a day of work and yet had the energy to celebrate. And some of them will be teaching again in the morning. I know how exhausting it is and I commend them for it.

Cindy and D J.

Carla, Tracie Lyn and katie. A good time was had by all.

On the more-good-news-front, I'm sending a shout out to my friends in Bellevue whose daughter has become engaged to her sweetheart and friend. I've known this young woman since she was a baby and it is lovely to trace her journey into adulthood. Her parents have guided her well and her future is promising. I love it when life is like a fairy tale.

Wishing everyone a beautiful month. Spring for the Aussies, Fall for us northerners. Make the moments good ones.