#header-inner { margin: auto; text-align: center; }

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

Beach Babies This week Creative Therapy asked what we like most about being a woman, and my resounding answer is, "My girlfriends!" No doubt about it; I'm not one of those women that says, " I really just don't like other women." In fact, I'm ashamed that any woman says that. I, on the other hand, adore other women; I love their sensitivity, their courage, their emotionality, and their style, but, most of all, I love that other women are just great company. Maybe I've just been lucky, but, since the day my parents brought Ava home from the hospital, I've had a best friend. From Laurie Herzog, in third grade, who took me to Temple on Friday nights and helped me choreograph a dance routine for the school talent show to "Hello Dolly," to Nancy Slade, in junior high school, who chased boys with me and helped me get a fake id, to Rhonda and Melanie, in high school, who got me through my parent's divorce and may have shared the dubious distinction of being the only other two girls in the world who didn't smoke pot in the 70's. The things that all my friends had in common were loyalty and strenth, kindness and creativity, a sense of responsibility and code of honor. And, best of all, a really wicked sense of humor. This is the card I made for Wednesday Stamper's Rock and Roll Challenge and MY Crazy Amigo Susan's 50th birthday. We met 15 years ago at the baseball field and discovered through hours of bleacher chat that, besides both of us being big sisters and mothers of sons, we also shared an obsessive love of interior design, gardening,and anything at all English, as well as epic romantic movies, margaritas, and the beach. She became the person I called in the middle of the night when Mr. Al had cancer. I was there when she finally made the agonizing decision to end her 26 year marriage. She rejoiced with me when my husband tested "cancer free" and I with her when she fell in love again. We've weathered our wayward teenage sons, an evil boss, hysterectomies, a dying horse, and aging parents. We've shared color schemes, secrets, and 8 hours a day together in a classroom for a whole year. Susan is one in a long line of much-loved confidants, allies, and partners in crime. I'm looking forward to many more adventures with her as we watch our body parts go south. I'll be in New York on July 1, so I won't be with her when she turns 50, but, when I return, I promise to make it up to her and all the requisite, cliched abuse that entails!

And to all of you BBFF's (best blog friends forever) who visit here, feel free to post this on your blog, as a badge of sisterhood and a token of my gratitude for your steadfast encouragement, inspiration, and humor.









Love,
Alberta

30 comments:

Poetic Artist said...

Love it..The Big 50.. What a fun piece.

Sandy said...

Wow fantastic page again.
Love the beauties. Brilliant design.

Audrey said...

Gorgeous card1
Thanx for playing!

Terri Kahrs said...

Fabulously fun card! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Lisa said...

You are the awesome-est. :) I laughed out loud at the body parts going south. I am so there already!

Your real life friends sound wonderful and are very lucky to get to hang out with you (no matter how much cliched abuse that entails hehe) and I feel very lucky to be one of your BBFF's! xoxoxoxox

roc said...

love what you've created1 what a nice tribute to the women who have made a difference in your life. and just to let you know...you've made a difference in mine!

nancy said...

My dear, you are so eloquent! Is there really *anything* creative that you're not good at!!
I appreciate your considering me as one of your BBFFs and certainly return the sentiment.
Thanks, girlie!
Nancy

Sharon Tomlinson said...

I enjoyed that read. Made me wish I was your neighbor and could just hang out and share.

Luisa Migon said...

Oh, girls! I adore you two and all you make and write!!! Thanks once more!

NancyB said...

Great read! Your the bestest! Love you BBFF!!! I shall don my blog with this awesome badge of sisterhood on my blog with honor! Thank you very much! Big hugs, smoochies and cheers to you **clinks your margarita glass with the same** Take me away Margaritaville! hee hee xoxo

Janet said...

What a great post! And thank you for the truly wonderful comment you left for me today on my blog. We all get busy and miss out on blog visits once in awhile but you know I'll always make it around sooner or later!

Love the card! But then you already knew that. I love all your art!! You're the best!

Rosie said...

Ok, that's an awesome page and I'd expect nothing less from you! But what you wrote about women, GFs and BBFFs was wonderful to read. You are such a treasure! =)

Unknown said...

You are so creative. I love your work. I had a music teacher much like your kindergarten teacher who showered me with music at a young age. Please visit my blog sometime. I have a special song on there.

Luisa Migon said...

Alberta!!! Where is the badge, girl???!!!

DMG said...

oops! it's there now.

Love,
Al

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful and inspiring woman you are, Alberta. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Between your words and the George Harrison music I'm listening to, I need a box of tissues. xxx Mary Ann (W)

Cathy Spivey Mendola said...

what a wonderful post! Your friend Susan is a lucky girl to have you as a friend.
Thanks for the beautiful artwork!
hugs to you & have a fabulous time in NY!
xoxo
cathy

Anonymous said...

This looks great!

*jean* said...

aahhhh - i now count you in my inner circle of yaya's - girls bound by the secrets, delights and wonders of yayahood....the inner sactum of girliness, decorated with a paper umbrella, salty rims and getting out of a wet swimsuit, showered and refreshed to sit down and share again....my kind of fun....we are truly blessed....mecca lecca hi mecca hienie ho..

thanks, girlfriend....love your art

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

fabulous song/artist choice and your page rocks!

Anonymous said...

Dear Alberta, thank you for your message.

My blog :

http://glace-framboise.blogspot.com/

Good kisses. Framboisine Berry.

Belinda said...

cute page, joe cocker everywhere :)

Taluula said...

Alberta I am so honoured that you chose me as one of your BBFFs. Blogland, is a brilliant place to meet and make so many many wonderful friends. I love your creativity and warmth Alberta and am glad to call you friend.

Sandy said...

Thanks Alberta. I´m so honored.
I love your wondeful art.

Staci Danford said...

Where in the world would we be without our friends.. They are like the family that God forgot to give us. haha Thank you so much for your kind words about my BLOg. Coming from you... WOW that made me smile.
Staci

BlueRidgeLady said...

Thanks Alberta and Ava for stopping by and honoring me with this beautiful award my sweet friend! I enjoyed these last journal pages so much, and the stories behind them all!! Thank you both for letting me peer into them and escape for a little while. You touch our lives and our hearts everyday!! Hugs to ya BFFF!!!

peggy gatto said...

Fun card and wonderful words!
Thanks for this gift!!!!

Barbara Hagerty said...

Your artwork continues to amaze and inspire me, and I loved reading this post! Change the names and a couple of the circumstances, and it could have been my life and my feelings you were describing! I really cherish this connection we have here in blogland! XOXO

Giggles said...

So lovely thanks for the friendship and lovely comment on my blog!! I truly adore your blog and art, even though comments are less these days...I see it all!! Great post and so so true!! What would we do without our girls, on the blog and at home!!!

Bigs hugs and thanks again!!
Love Sherrie

Ozstuff said...

Thankyou so much for this gorgeous badge of sisterhood. I appreciate your gesture and I am greatly honoured! You are a legend, Alberta!!
(Jeff Buckley is singing Hallelujah which is one of my all time favourites. Thanks also for your great choice of music).