Thanks to All

Fiorella is very fortunate to have good friends, like Jason, who is restoring her baby car for her.  And like Lisa, who told her about two tax deductions she needed to take advantage of.  Like Janece, who regularly gives her sympathy and wise council.  Like Suzy and Ellen, who support her across the miles.  Like Pat, whom she's never met in person.  Like Paula and Sharon, who've stood by her through the years.  Like Jamie and Patricia and Claire, who've helped her with electronics.  Like Jane and Jan, who make her laugh.

And if this reads like an acknowledgment page, it is.

Motherhood

Friend Sharon was overloaded the other day so Fiorella took charge of the church baby doll for her--the lifelike dollie that the pastors use to teach the children about baptism.  The baby had the most darling face and the cutest little nose. It's times like these that Fiorella understands Giuseppe and Pinocchio.

Yep, in a couple more years, you'll probably find Fiorella putting her $150 down on an advanced model--one of those baby dolls that warms up and seems to be breathing.

The maternal instinct never dies.

PS: 
Thanks to Friend Janece for telling Fio why Ebola is spelled with an uppercase E--it's the name of an African river.

Lenten Sacrifice

Happy Ash Wednesday.  Fio loves the drama of the ashes, although she hasn't given up anything for Lent in years.  Tomorrow, she'll start off her morning by wishing Nephew Aaron a happy birthday and suggesting a celebratory dinner with him at Frisco, then she'll send a silent birthday greeting to her father, who dines with the angels.  Traveling into Austin, she'll meet with Friend Paula before church and Friend Sharon afterwards, later dropping by Son-in-Law's place to pick up some things she is mailing for Daughter.  After that she will deliver her tax stuff to CPA Blake W.  Yes--she'll leave the house at about 9:45 and return home about 4:30. It's her day out, but not her day off.

Maybe it's time she's giving up this year.  Hours and hours of it.

HB to SK

Fio and Friend Sharon first met many years ago through their church choir and have been supportive of each other through various illnesses, dramas, and traumas ever since.  In fact, their pastor frequently compliments them on their continuing friendship--apparently forgetting all the sermons they gossiped through while they were sitting up in the choirloft.

Today Fiorella celebrates Friend Sharon's birthday.  And graciously forgives her for being a natural blonde.

Eclectic Snippets

Like Dolly, Fiorella's back in town.  Not that she was actually gone, just knocked off the internet till about noon today, which drove her crazy.  No Google news, no e-mail, no blogging.  For someone who calls herself a Luddite, Fio is mighty computer-dependent.
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Looking at the pictures Son took of her, Fio realizes she doesn't really look as good as she thinks she does.  But then, she never did.
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Between the elections and the Longhorns, Fio's going to retreat into her snail shell for the duration.
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What would Fio do without friends?  Tomorrow she's going to have lunch with Joan, and last week she lunched with Sharon.  Last night she wrote a long email to Suzy in England to bring her up to date.  Paula has stood by her for years.  Katie, Janece, and Jane have cheered on her literary aspirations, and Marion even read an early copy of P of BB.  Fio's sure to have left someone important out so please forgive her because she loves you all.

Puppy Love

Maybe it's the new puppy, but life is rosy at La Casa Fiorella right now. Local Son has a new desktop computer, put together by Cousin Aaron and Friend Anthony after his laptop crashed. Daughter is recovered from her cold/flu, Minnesota Son is heading toward long-awaited knee surgery on March 5 (his late grandfather's birthday), and Husband has had an extended period of good health--the experimental lupus drug seems to be working.

Add to all that the fact that Friend Sharon is holding steady on her own experimental drug, Cousin Julie's daughter seems to have beaten breast cancer, Friend Suzy's husband has a new job, Friend Paula's daughter and husband have bought a new house, Friend Marion is expecting another grandchild, and Fiorella herself has had a nibble from another literary agent.

Fio has also developed a new skill--typing with her left hand because sweet, silky-furred Sonya Wendysdotttir is sleeping on her other arm.

The occasional puddles on the floor are worth it.