I don't want to brag or nothing but......(Part 1)

....I have the best friends ever. And the best part is I get to share them all. The trip to Florida was jam packed... full of sharing gifts, friends and activities. Upon arrival to Animal Kingdom, after the official first hugs with my best friend Lynde, Judy and I checked in and settled into our Hotel. There are not enough thank you's in the world that could go out to Lynde, as she took care of setting up the entire welcome. Our hotel balcony view was of the animals. Just perfect for Judy to hang out with all the sweatpeas. Sweetpea Heaven.
A knock at the door and the hotel delivered two gift bags packed by Lynde full of fun stuff. A mickey mouse beach towel, coffee mugs, candy, snacks, bookmark, oh and not to mention ..A Keurig coffee maker, coffees and teas. And the water for it. Came in handy every day.
I had my own goodies I brought. I surprised Lynde with a full wedding production of her nephews wedding. A wedding she could not attend so I volunteered back in August to tape it and upload the ceremony that evening so she would not miss out on what the rest of the family was able to attend. I then produced a clean fun final DVD package for her to share at home with her mom. But here is the fun thing, I also had our blog published into a hard cover book and dedicated it to Judy and had copies made for the three of us for our birthdays. (Judy's is coming up and I just want to say we are all the same age. just sayin. haha. The book is way cool and I got the idea from Lynde when she said I should have it published. While it is not really published I found a website that converts it into a book pretty easily. (Blog2book) It's really nice!! I made it orange because that is Judy's favorite color. If you did not know that by now. lol. There is so much reward in gift giving and sharing gifts of love. It is absolutely a Hallmark Moment!!

We spent 5 days in Disney. We went to Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. We went on rides and yes....Judy finally did the astro orbiter....and not without me holding her down in the seat and Lynde wing walking in the rocket in front of us to get pictures of the chicken shit. You would think she was sentenced to the torture chamber FFS!! lol. what a baby. hahaha. But I am proud of her for following through and getting that little task off the check list of things to do that make you go hmmmmmm....(or cry like a 2 year old). LOL. Love you Judy. You would put yourself in a cage with a silver back gorilla easier. haha.

Friends I recently connected with in August after 30 years came to join us at Animal Kingdom. My friends Tina and Karen. This is why this post is labeled Part 1. That deserves an entire blog on its own. lol. Tina and Karen live within an hour of Disney. We spent the day in Animal Kingdom and then went on to have dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe where they surprised me and Lynde with the biggest birthday desert I ever had. What I love most about facebook is the chance to share friends. Lynde and I grew up together, Judy and Lynde and I went to grammar school together, Tina Karen and I worked together and became close friends 35 years ago, Tina, Karen and Judy made friends on facebook, Judy met Tina and Karen for the first time in Animal Kingdom, Tina and Karen met Lynde at Animal Kingdom, Lynde, Tina and Karen are now friends on facebook. See how that works? The pyramid thing is going on here and is way fun.

A little love goes a long way. And by the time you get to be our age or older, you find out that it is the most important thing ever. It takes priority over all things and has the most value of anything you own or ever owned. Don't wait until its too late to connect with you friends or your loved ones and even if you can't touch them, you can tell them you love them. There is no question that meeting up with Lynde for our birthday was one of the most touching, emotional and loving experiences. Having that capability to share it with my friends, brought it over the top. WE HAD A BLAST!!!!

In my next post you will see the meaning of the post title "I don't want to brag but..." so stay tuned for more of this Florida adventure. There is much more. I will put them out 1,2,3. but I can't end this blog without saying there are angels at work here. I am Lucky. Saying goodbye to Lynde was extremely hard but knowing we are just beginning again is a little miracle brought to us by facebook and by a string of events leading me right to her. I think it is called FATE!

Birthday Presence

January 11 1958 - It was a stormy snowy night. My mom had a rotten cold. It did not stop her from playing cards with my dad and the neighbors...Mr and Mrs. Dodge. Both my mom and Mrs. Dodge a whopping 9 months pregnant. Mrs. Dodge was due to have her baby and my mom was due weeks later. But hey. I wasn't waiting. Today was gonna be my birthday no matter how good a poker hand she had. No matter how hard it was snowing... January 15, 4 days later, Lynde (Lindy) Dodge was born. My birthday present. We lived across the street from each other. We were non blood related twins from then on. Inseparable. Our moms had coffee in the morning at our house and coffee in the afternoon at her house. We played paper dolls, Barbies, Little Kittles, strung indian corn, popcorn and beads, made bracelets out of electric wires, belts out of plastic, went to dance school, raked paths in the woods, ice skates, roller skates, tag, dodgeball, basketball, swimming, picnics .... and we walked to school up hill in the snow for miles every day to Live Oaks school. lol (Lynde still has the paper dolls my mom made and the Barbie clothes my mom made) see pic. Lynde was notorious for cheering me up in life with Saltines whenever we had a little disagreement. While I would sit on my back porch and pout, Lynde would fly out her front door..."Jul I got crackers". A fight between the two of us never lasted longer than a new pack of Saltines from Lynde or me with Sunkist orange halves.

In 1972, houses sold, families parted kids grow up and words get said and two little girls are separated and silently heartbroken. And life goes on. One small gesture to sign each others high school yearbooks, one brief hello in a store and 40 years go by. Everyone who knew me knew me and Lynde knew us as one.

And then there is Facebook. Our families friended, and we connected once again. The love and bond picks up immediately through words on a page and the memories and feelings flood back in. Laughs and tears.

SO....when someone asks you what you want for your birthday...I asked for Lynde. I messaged her sister Brenda back in December to see if I could possibly surprise her. The response was most likely not. Lynde is a Cast member at Disney and a caregiver to her mom and quite busy. Lynde is an avid blog follower of ours, and also friends and classmates to Judy. SO I just threw it out there that me and Judy may come to Florida and could we visit. Turns out Lynde was free, on vacation for a week on her Birthday. I suddenly became her birthday present and she mine. Its all we wanted for our birthday. There are no words to describe how excited and how amazing it was knowing we were going to be physically be in each others presence for the first time in 40 years. SO Jules and Judy once again jumped in the car and drove 1200 miles to make this happen.

Lynde went above and beyond to accommodate our trip, setting us up in Animal kingdom with all the amenities, goodies and provisions that make this experience more magical than anyone could imagine.
The meeting: Cell phones - where are you, I'm here with Judy in front of the hotel in the car, where, here, where here and then a scream. And a huge hug, and tears and all the mushy mushy stuff that happens when you remember what you forgot and when you get back what you lost.

We had lunch, laughs, exchanged gifts and then dinner in Epcot with fireworks. Lynde drove us around the parks. All I could think of was "Look, Lynde IS DRIVING". I never saw it. I was not surprised she likes chicken nuggets and coke and spaghetti and meatballs. I on the other hand pomegranate ice tea, gourmet flat bread - and rigatoni in a mild cream sauce with chicken, peas and Parmesan. YUP..we were the same. Same as we were as kids I mean. Can't wait to see what the day will bring today because she went home last night and I miss her already.

One thing (I am gonna have to watch a week of Judy and Lynde and eventually Karen, a friend joining us later in the week talk baby talk to all the animals outside our porch) FFS!!!! lol

Is There a Dooms Day? ...what if it's true?

Happy New Year Everyone. Well yes it is a New Year and according to the Mayan Calendar it is the last one. LOL. They say on 12-21-2012 we are history. Nice knowing you all. Just sayin!!!

I recall the War of the Worlds scare, the book 1984 and just recently the Rapture was upon us. hmmmm. Still here! They predicted this calender of days starting at 3114 BC..until 2012 AD. Only 100 years ago we had no planes and only in the last decade have we had technology break through so what the heck did they know??

Well I am not taking any chances and neither is Judy. If we have exactly 11 months to live and a few days, we better get going. Oh and its my birthday on the 11th. Significant to this post because on Wednesday, January 11, Judy and I are taking our First Road trip of the year. Another Facebook Phenomena at work. Love technology. We actually learned how to 3 way conference call on SKYPE!! One thing you should know...video is only available 3 way if you have a premium...yes PAID account. why pay? I mean what for!!! It only means a shower and makeup and all that. Oh and don't forget clothes. (ehem).

Anyway, see you on the Road! This is gonna be grand. Fantabulous and OH SO SPECIAL!