Category Archives: blogging

for ellie

December 2, 2011

I have a good friend who lives in Massachusetts.

I can’t even remember how we met. Friends of friends, both bloggers, however a friendship starts isn’t the point.

The point is Ellie and I are very connected, even though we don’t live in the same state.

Instead we email, and follow each others lives on Twitter, Facebook and our blogs.

November 2010 she participated in my Surprise Bloggy Bridesmaids shower by creating a video showing us doing the most ridiculous things. Getting ready together, shopping, dancing, playing in her backyard. It was so fun, hilarious and meant the world since I know it took hours to put together.

In addition to many other amazing qualities, Ellie makes gorgeous jewelry. She was with me on my wedding day as she made my “something blue”. She was holding my hand that day; from her hands came what I wore on mine.

In June of this year Ellie unexpectedly lost her father. My heart broke for her and her family. I knew how close she was to her dad, and as someone that is equally close to my father, it rocked me. In fact, I started to have reoccurring dreams that my father had passed away. Night after night my subconscious was connected to my friend in pain.

This year hasn’t been kind to my friend Ellie, as just last month she found out she has cancer. Again, broken hearts everywhere.

Since I heard the news, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. Why are some people tested all the time? Good people given mountainous hurdles to leap over, one after the other? When does her peaceful time come? Can’t I give some of my happiness to her? Can’t I just send it Fed Ex so she gets it tomorrow morning?

Ellie is freakishly strong and this is a treatable cancer but as her doctor said, “Ellie, this is treatable. It will be hard – really hard – and this holiday season will probably be the toughest of your life. But you will have many, many more holiday seasons to come. You are going to be okay.”

She IS going to be okay. I have spoken.

Once again I feel so connected to Ellie that my dreams have turned to me having cancer, or a family member diagnosed. There’s just something about Ellie that I can’t get out of my mind. Even in my sleep.

There is one thing I haven’t told you about our friendship.  One minor detail.

Ellie and I have never met.

We have never talked on the phone, I’ve never heard her laugh, we have never sat down for a cup of coffee or shared a meal. She has never met Ben or Matt, nor have I met her kids and husband.

To me, none of those things matter. They’re small details in the grand scheme of things. I know her, I grieve for her and I will help her fight this ugly disease in any small way I can. This post lacks a video with her face on a stick but I like to think it’s the beginning of that fight.

So please, go to Ellie’s blog, follow her, help her get through this holiday season and let her know all these people out in the world aren’t strangers but close friends who are right there with her, giggling over coffee.

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blogging, friends, hope

Knock knock…

November 30, 2011

Who’s there?

Princess, well now Married Mikkimoto.

Princess, well now Married Mikkimoto who?

Um, no it’s me, Princess, except now I’m married so I’m just Married Mikkimoto.

Um, no it’s me, Princess, except now I’m married so I’m just Married Mikkimoto who?

This isn’t really a knock knock joke.

This isn’t really a knock knock joke who?

Oh for God’s sake, it’s ME! I’m freezing out here. Let me in!

HI!

Yeah so… I’m back.

Remember the whole “I don’t wanna blog anymore… blah blah blah… This isn’t me… crap bull nonsense… This isn’t goodbye…”? I’m so over that and decided I really DID want to blog while posting the occasional embarrassing picture of my family.

I missed blogging. I just didn’t feel like that other glittery space was me anymore, but this? This is good.

And a synch to design. Just ask Cynthia. She’ll say it was fine and all part of the process. “Process” meaning having to deal with a complete pain in the ass, ridiculously picky, stubborn two year old who hasn’t had a nap and spilled her sippy cup… me.

I’m a peach. Really.

I won’t make this long because just like the 5K I hobbled walked on Thanksgiving morning, writing this much is giving me a cramp in my creative tendon.

Thanks a million to the Nap Warden for designing, being patient with me and not giving up.  (Me = a rotten peach.)

Thanks to Cousin Amy for giving me the idea for the header and to friend Ann who when I asked for her opinion on a former idea said, “Even though it’s cute, you have so much more to say than that Becky. If I didn’t know you, that tagline would make me run screaming in the wrong direction.”

She’s sort of subtle but I think she meant it wasn’t her favorite.

And no I won’t tell you what that former flop of an idea was because you just got back here, I can’t risk you all running for the hills.

Ahh… it’s good to be home.

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blogging

Putting the Crown on the Shelf

October 9, 2011

I had a post all written out entitled, The End.  But I chickened out.  I’m not ready to say goodbye forever, I just need a break.

Some time to think about whether that crown up there is still me.

Started this blog in March of 2008 during a time that I needed it and I loved it. I posted every single weekday. I thrived on every last comment, I longed for more page views, I was thrilled to do reviews, guest posts, anything.

Writing about very personal details of my life was an important outlet as a struggling single mom.

My personal space in the cyber world has served me well. I have made invaluable friendships that now reach further than just a website.

But, the truth is, at least from my perspective, blogging is a job. A part time job but a job none the less. For me it was never just post something and hope that someone reads it. I promoted myself on Twitter, Facebook and on other people’s blogs. There’s competition in this weird little world of blogging (if anyone denies it, they’re lying) Who has the most pages views, who’s tweets are re-tweeted the most, who stole who’s ideas, who’s was asked to speak at what conference, and on and on.

And I used to get off on that.

However in the past six months, I’ve cared less and less. Whenever I think about writing, it feels like a college midterm. A chore. A nagging voice of just another something I “have” to do. It’s no longer fun. It’s exhausting.

And as my mom said, I don’t want to ruin my joy of writing and the writing itself by making myself do this.

I’ve tried really hard to get back into it. I’ve told myself I only had to post twice a week, then once a week, then once every other week and yet I still couldn’t do it.  I’d rather spend time with my family and my dog then holed up in our office re-writing a really lame post for the tenth time.

Princess Mikkimoto isn’t really me anymore. In her place is a very happy, very content woman who finally got her happily ever after and now just wants to live it without sharing every last detail with the world.

So that’s what I’ll do.  Because it’s my blog and I’ll stop if I want to.

This isn’t really The End.  At least I don’t think it is.

For now, let’s just say, see you later…

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blogging, Living My Happily Ever After

A Lull

August 8, 2011

It’s that time of year when life is so slow it’s almost at a standstill.

The last few weeks of summer where camp is over, sports are done until fall, and there are full weekends with nothing on the calendar.

Yes, it’s nice. Life is slow. However… me being me, it doesn’t totally work. It’s not where I feel comfortable. When life gets slow, so do I.

I haven’t had the energy to do anything with the yard. I look at weeds and sigh. I throw out plants that have died due to lack of attention and water. Next year! Next year it will be awesome.

Remember when I used to cook and whistle while doing so?  These days I’m lucky if I make dinner at least once a week. It’s not dinner, it’s DiGiorno.

This blog… well it’s not as easy as it once was. If I post once a week I consider that an accomplishment. I seem to have nothing to write about. When life is sluggish so is the creativity.

And please don’t even ask about exercise.

It’s true that this guy is taking up a ridiculous amount of time and energy.

What little energy I have, that is. He’s a stinker, but a joy.

One might read this and especially with my history be worried that I’m depressed. The funny thing is, I’m not. I’m actually really happy. And content. I’m just as slow as my life. You know I’d tell you otherwise.

Maybe this is the Universe’s way of giving me a break after an absolute whirlwind year. Maybe this is my body’s way of saying, “Now we can breathe. Breathe and enjoy it. There are no more weddings, no more house hunting, moving, getting ready for a puppy. This is it. Sit with it.”

So that’s what I’ll do. I’ll sit. And breathe. I’ll turn my face to the sun while allowing myself to return those calls later and make the pork chops tomorrow night.

As uncommon and uncomfortable as this time feels, I know these moments in life are rare. All too soon it will be back to school, (for both Ben and Eddie) sports will start up, and the pace of life will increase. I’m sure I’ll long for these lazy summer days.

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blogging, life lessons, Puppy!
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