The [Cherry] Rides off into the sunset*, but is forever in my heart (and on my speed dial)

Surely you all remember my Boo**, The [Cherry] Ride. If you somehow need reminding, perhaps my 2nd favorite picture of all time will jog your memory:

I know you want to be best friends with him, but back off. I called dibs first!


He has left Chicago behind for the further pursuance of his dreams; which take him--for now--to Washington, D.C.

It is truly a gift to find people in this world who "get" you completely. It is a rare and beautiful thing when that happens, or maybe it's beautiful because it's rare. Either way, Chicago has lost some of it's magic now that he's out East. Our loss is D.C.'s gain. Somehow I've become jealous of our nation's capital. This must be a first. 

Anyway, I wanted to find him something that would accurately express how I was feeling, but it turns out the only 4-letter word that Hallmark carries is "card". Even a Google search was fruitless:

How is it possible there are no card or gift items with the, "Holy F**k, I miss you already!" sentiment?


I don't know what I was thinking. What card company could even begin to encapsulate how much I love that he understands me in ways few people do? 

Like the time I sent him a text message that told how someone spilled a beer all over me, which I summed up by saying, "I smell like college." and just like that, he got it. He gets it!

Like I said, it's a beautiful thing. Much like my #1 favorite picture of all time, as seen in the following screen capture of his flickr page:




If you know me at all, you will know that this seems to have only been created for my happiness (it wasn't, but the universe has a way of making these kinds of things happen). From his photo title, "Me on the Ding Dong", to the fact that it was taken during one of his last hurrahs at Smiths Night... (Ugh, SMITHS NIGHT! Don't even get me started on the greatness of Danny's Smiths Night)! 

And need I even mention his pose? The pose! I giggled so hard at this whole thing that I had tears coming down my face. This one screen capture brings me almost too much joy. 

If only screen captures could hug back! Aww, cue the Sad Trombone.

Alright, Cherry, you know I love you and wish you the very best. You are so deserving of all good things. Kisses and love, sibling! Now, go get 'em, tiger... and while you're at it, find out if he has a brother for me. 


*That's a little dramatic, but this occasion calls for it. Don't argue with me, you know I'm right.
**One of the most adorable moments on TV ever: See THIS video, starting at :30. "I wanna be your boo!"

Ain't nothing gonna break her stride!

If you've surrounded yourself with the right people, the line between friends and family blurs until you no longer see it. I guess if there has to be a name for it, I'd use "framily".

Speaking of framily, here's a note from Seestor Amy:

To my wonderful friends & family~
I wanted to let you know that with your amazing generosity in giving for the MS Walk 2009, I was able to raise almost $3500!  I am unbelievably touched by your support. I've attached a picture from the walk...as you'll see, it wasn't the most ideal day for it, but I think we all still had fun! Hopefully next year the weather will be more cooperative!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Take care of yourselves!

Love,
Amy

Here she is... the woman of the hour. You can really see our framily resemblance here (our standard photo pose is very similar):

Do you think a little rain stopped this woman from doing her thang? OF COURSE IT DIDN'T! Her only complaint was that her jeans were too rain-soaked for her leg to get higher.


Team Seestor Amy, after being rained on all day! Go Team!

I'm thrilled to say that other people in my extended framily (who aren't lucky enough to know my seestors personally) contributed over $700 to Team Seestor Amy and Walk MS 2009. Love you all and love to my Seestors Amy & Nancy!

Go on, take a wild guess... Lurkers, this means you, too!

Later today I'm leaving Chicago to visit my heart and the city it has always lived in. The specific reason for this trip has been in the works for over a year, and I invite you to try & guess what's going on.

If you're one of the people already "in the know", feel free to leave comments but don't spoil the fun by spilling the details... let other people's guesses roll in and we'll see if anyone actually figures it out.


Here are a few hints for what's happening tonight:

1) There will be a crowd of well-dressed and fabulous people from all over who have all come together for one reason.

2) I'll be gazing into my favorite man's eyes.

3) Specific words will be spoken.

4) Something will be signed; not unlike a certificate that bonds two people together forever.


In the meantime, I'm going to try not to get overcome with emotion just thinking about how the all the months of anticipation and planning have finally brought us to this point. We've worked hard to get here, and I'm very excited!