A Fairly-True Fairy Tale, Part 2

For part 1 of this story, click here.

A special holiday, one that the princess would have spent with her family in the southern kingdom, and surely the prince would have spent with his family in Wisconsin, the two took a picnic to a beautiful sunny spot called Golden and Clear Creek park. The pair traipsed around the old pioneer town and enjoyed wine and hors d’ouevres on the flat rocks by the water. They adjourned to the Indian Springs where they got a little loopy from the over 100 degree water. The prince and Princess, although far from family and ones they loved, were with Mother Nature…and each other on the Easter holiday.

A few short days later, the Princess noticed that the tickets to a wonderful madrigal ensemble would be in the realm of Denver that week. The Arcade Fire band requested that guests of their musical event would dress in appropriate attire, so the prince and the princess followed their command. They danced and swayed and again, watched the commoners jumping and dancing with delight of the sounds and lights of the music. It was an amazing concert…one that the Princess wouldn’t have attended without a prince to escort her—she was relieved and happy that he was the prince who’d accompanied her. When they adjourned to her castle, her sidekick Petey barked, but ultimately approved of the prince.

The prince and the Princess shared their culinary talents and the prince even joined the Princess and some of her colleague ladies-in-waiting (although they were princesses, they were servants to a very fierce Queen), and their children to an amateur hockey game and dinner. The prince waited patiently and took many photographic remembrances for the princess…he was very conversational and good with the ladies-in-waiting and the small princes and princess. The Princess could hardly believe it. Did this prince possess the charm, intelligence, wit, and ability to be around different sorts of people from the different circles of her life? The prince made many bold and chivalrous statements to the princess, making those butterflies in her stomach flutter.

The prince and the Princess were very, very happy when they were together. Unfortunately, they both had to attend the needs of their kingdoms (and their respective Queen and King bosses). When one night, the princess felt unwell, the prince brought her soup and flowers and a pair of listening ears. Again, the Princess felt enveloped with the kindness and earnest manner of the prince. A few days later, the prince arranged for the princess to have a special birthday dinner at a neighboring manor in the Rocky Mountains, called The Stanley. The prince and the princess had a magical hike in the morning through the National Park (remember the king gave her a pass?) on packed snow with gentle snowflakes drifting down through the evergreen trees. The prince even followed the Princess’s magical (but slightly fragmented) sense of direction and they took a strange turn to a frozen lake in the mountains. They shockingly made it back to the Bear Lake where his steed awaited them.

The following morning, after the delightful dinner at the haunted manor, the prince and the Princess braved the wet and slushy snow to obtain special small-town Estes Park treats—spun cotton that was in fact candy, popped corn covered with a cheddar dusting, and decadent caramels, fudge, and ice cream. It was a strange turn of weather—for the season of May, that the sky would dump buckets of snow, but the prince just smiled and laughed at how delighted the princess was with the frosty powder, even when she threw snowballs at him.  The princess marveled that the prince didn’t complain about her trivial culinary desire, but promised that it was a birthday gift, and his princess should have what she requested. 

As was previously mentioned, the princess had been tired and frustrated with the dearth of eligible princes that had found her in the realm of Denver. She’d nearly given up on the possibility that her heart could find love, when the prince from strange dominion of  Wisconsin swept into her life. His words were always kind and gentle and his eyes a bright, happy blue. The moral of the story is simple…when a princess, no matter what adventures she’s had, gives up on searching for her prince, and becomes her happiest, healthiest self independently...well, the perfect  prince finds his way to her.

(And he sends her flowers for her birthday!)

A Fairly-True Fairy Tale, part 1

Once upon a time there was a Princess who moved from the far away empire of Atlanta to the mountain realm of Denver. This realm had strange things like hockey games, snow in the fall, winter, AND spring, and lots of people who liked to hike, boat, and camp outside. The Princess missed her family and friends back in her old Atlanta realm. She missed the delicious food, the friendly farmer’s markets, and the mildly warm winters. However, the princess was lonely. Any prince who came her way seemed to be horribly broken. These princes were judgmental, uneducated, or lazy. They were broke, cheap, or both. They were princes who’d made terrible choices for their kingdoms, and therefore weren’t good enough to join forces with the princess.

The Princess’s colleague princess, the Lady Denisse, from a far country where they had mountains and cities and spoke Spanish, called Peru, advised the princess. She’d too had a long journey to finding her prince, and it took her across the globe and back to have found her prince Jeff many years before. She advised the princess, “Quit going out with the dwarfs, and wait for your prince.” It was good advice that the princess took to heart. 

The Princess went home to Atlanta in the winter season, where there was very little snow and a fresh baby niece Princess named Stella who’d just been born. She realized how much she missed having people to laugh with and to be herself around. You see, some princesses are very proper and do things a certain way, but this Princess was a little different. She carved her own path and played her own music to dance to. Apparently, the princes in the realm of Denver were looking for the boring princesses. She was sad as she returned to the Denver kingdom, driving a new-to-her Suzuki steed across the nation with her dear friend, the artist Slemonade and her long-missed sidekick, Petey Bella. 

You may know this, but every princess needs an animal sidekick (think of every princess you know!) and several dear friends and confidantes. The princess had a dear friend, Princess Al, who wore glass slippers and ran around castles very fast, pushing her little prince in a stroller. Princess Al was someone who the Princess really looked up to and she began running around the Denver realm too. Something about running, while miles and miles apart, made the athletic princesses feel closer. This Princess’s dear friends were all back in the Southern empire, so it was imperative that the Princess spoke with them via phone and text and facebook and gchat much of the time. All this communicating did keep her buried in devices…computer, ipod, smartphone, etc., but she still went to hike in the beautiful mountains surrounding the realm as often as she could. Her father, the old (but not that old) king even bought her a National Park pass so that she could go up to the Rocky Mountains whenever she wanted. 

One day, the Princess met a Prince at a comedy club in downtown Denver. They each brought their own steeds, because he came from a neighboring territory called Westminster, but truly, he was a gentleman from an either farther away dominion called Wisconsin. It was a strange land where the knights and gentlepeople hunted deer and fished for fish and had manners, but also had accents similar to those from their neighbor, Canada. The Princess and the Prince had a delightful time that night—they had drinks at an unsavory bar in Cap Hill, then watched the improv (what silly jesters there are in the world), and shared fried potatoes and drinks at a nearby tavern. Did the Princess dare wonder if this prince would be worth her time?

The Princess and the Prince had another encounter, a late one with magic pictures on a dark screen…a nostalgic cinematic experience at the Esquire Theater of “The Muppets Take Manhattan.” The Prince and the Princess shared a bottle of good Lambrusco and also shared many hours of conversation. The princess felt safe and open, like she could tell the prince anything. In the early hours of the next morning, the prince left his glass on the counter and departed from her castle. It was very sweet and pure. Maybe a week later, they enjoyed pizza at the magical Tony P’s. They shared a kiss on a windy sidewalk…which, while innocent, left both of their heads spinning. 

Later that month, the prince invited the Princess to a spectacle of a Rockies baseball game. The Princess didn’t particularly care about sports, but she enjoyed a crowd and the live action of the sport. The two walked to the downtown 16^th Street Mall area—an area people who visit Denver like to see, but the princess had not yet been to. The two had delicious food and fancy drinks at the Rialto café—another Denver fixture. They again, enjoyed conversing and each other’s company and laughing at the spectacle that a city can bring. The prince even blushed when a knave spoke to them and told them how beautiful the princess was. The Princess’s tummy was filling with butterflies, the more she spent time with him.

another Mother's Day...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommas out there. The biological mommas, the doggie-mommas, the surrogate-mommas, the teacher-mommas, Scout leaders, piano teachers,  aunts, grandmas, sisters, stepmoms...even dads who acted as moms...you know who you are. I thank you for your listening ears, hugging arms, and words of wisdom. For the mommas we're missing...the ones who have passed on or the mommas who're missing children, my thoughts are with you, too.

I spent (yet another) holiday away from my family this year. When you have a budget-destroying job, and live 1500 miles from the town where you lived for 30 years, you don't get to come home as often as you'd like. Since moving to Colorado in July, I've spent Thanksgiving hiking (in snow!) in the mountains, Easter here (outdoors at Clear Creek park and in the Indian hot springs), and Mother's Day in Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park. I've missed my brother, my aunt, and my sister's birthdays, which we usually do together. I guess I keep going to Mother Nature...since I can't be with the other folks I love.

This year, though, I was struck by how much love I've gotten from other places on this journey of leaving behind much to find even more. Through facebook, in particular, I've found so much support in the kind words people have posted or messaged to me. I've received cards and care packages from friends, past coworkers, teachers, and family. I've posted words of frustration, and received words of guidance or strength. I've posted words of triumph, and received words of solidarity and kindness.  My dear and wonderful friend Allyson (who is a mom to a Thespian-Three-Year-Old), has been tireless in her texts, cards, and care packages.

This year, my dog had a big, expensive surgery, and I posted a lot here and on fb about it. I received so many words "lifting me up," as we say in the Christian tradition-- helping me stay strong, while I've been alone here out West. Words on email, on my blog, on facebook, in cards.  I asked for donations for my school's scholarship auction, and I received gifts and items from my acupuncture studio here in Denver, handmade items from my mom and stepmom, and delicious goods from friends, friends' moms, and my aunt. Way to make a girl feel special...telling me with your words and actions...what YOU, Adrienne, do, matters. We support what you support. It brought tears to my eyes, every time a package arrived for the auction.

So, this year, for Mother's Day, I sent my usual people their cards-- the moms in my life. My mom and grandmothers and aunt have been my foundation for years and years. My sister Emily became a mom and this was her first Mother's Day. I've recently found a loving relationship that's helped me to feel joyous and surrounded by love every minute...so I'm happy. But something came to my attention today, that made me feel so terribly anguished.

A friend, named Lucy, who I have known since I started graduate school at Agnes Scott in 2007, has been experiencing a different type of Mother's day with her mom this year. Agnes Scott musicians are often connected with Ga Tech musicians-- I was fortunate to sing with Luchsingers a capella group for several years, even as an Alum. Lucy and her now spouse were members of the Ga Tech marching band in college and also singers. There were many, many happy concerts, parties, and events where I knew Lucy over the past several years.

If you know music people, or you are a musician, or you sang with a group, you might know that musicians play instruments and sing because they have too much emotion in their hearts to be contained. That energy, that chi, has to be released somewhere. Thank God for organized music. We'd all be a mess! Lucy is a music person...and music people...they're good people. Lucy's had a path...which has included being an avid member of Scouting, attending college out of state, and getting married to her true love.

Although, apparently, Lucy's mom's not too happy with the outcome of her daughter's path. Lucy has been bravely vocal via blogs and sometimes fb posts about her journey to happiness, identity, and love. She has posted her research and connections to other people's experiences in relation to transitioning to a new identity. She's in a stable and successful career, has time to travel and enjoy the relationship she has with her spouse. I can't imagine a mother being angry about this, but poor Lucy's mom...she is. Lucy posted about her mom and the vitriol that she spits in the general direction of her own child. It's heart-breaking.

My heart felt heavy, writing with Lucy today, in contrast to how light it's felt...my life feels like it's going in a good direction. I've fought demons of depression and suicidal thoughts for years, and to think of all the tears my mom shed for me for the struggles I have faced, I always knew she wanted me to be happy and well. It wouldn't have mattered what would have brought be happiness-- my mom would have loved me, no matter the path I was taking. It brings tears to my eyes for a mom to not see the wonderful person her daughter is...and that a daughter who's not like she expected, well, that's what all children are.

We come into the world, squirming, screaming, pooping, and are generally very needy. With any luck, over time, we find a way to be strong, loving, happy, and eager to share our light with others. My hope is that for this one momma (and I naiively think that there are very few like her), that she will see her child's light. That it is strong and good. And what more could a momma want, than her child to be an adult...one who's happy and thriving.

So my wishes today are this...that every child can feel the light and warmth of a mother who loves them. Maybe it's not the one who gave birth to them...maybe it's a person who is there along their path with angel wings to encapsulate and protect them. And for dear Lucy to seek the love of the mommas around her who know her path to be right...and to know, that while her momma hasn't come around this year, there's always next year. Mother's Day is a day, to celebrate the love that we dole out and accept year round. Be strong, friends. Hold each other up. Shine.