Louis was right: What a wonderful world it is.

Although I am missing my husband with more intensity than I thought possible, there is a battle within me going on between sadness and happiness... all because I have such a wonderful family and terrific friends. For without them, I would be moping around, possibly swimming in sadness and tears. That's not the case, though. For starters, my friend across the street (Heather), had Alyssa and I over for dinner on Tuesday. I now consider Carbonara to be comfort food. Toss in some salad, and some oven-roasted garlic and olive oil for the bread; Mmmm mmmm, food so good it'd make yo tongue jump up and smack the roof of yo mouth! The dinner was enjoyed with a glass of wine, too. Nothing like good friends, good food, and good wine. Then my Superman called me at 7am today. I couldn't think of a better way to start my day. Even though I know our cell phone bill will be through the ROOF, I don't care.... I simply don't care. It's worth it! Later in the morning, Alyssa and I ran some errands just to get out of the house. When we got home I went to go check the mail, only to find a package at my front door. This is what was in the package....

The most exquisite purple orchids from my lovely sister in TN. How sweet was that? Nobody has ever given me orchids, either, so they're even more special. Follow that up with a phone call from another friend (Erin), who so eloquently expressed how she's there for me if I ever need her. Top it off with another girlfriend (Kimberly) sending me an email letting me know she was thinking of me. Instead of writing back, I called her. She is utterly fabulous, too. I've thought so since college, when we met. This is the gal that I went and got my first tattoo with. Well, that phone call turned out to include making plans for her coming in from Atlanta tomorrow night! Yippee! I am really sooo excited. We'll be eating chicken salad and sharing a bottle of wine, then we're going to do her hair (this is becoming a tradition for us). The icing on the cake is that I'll be able to Skype with Bruce at 6 in the morning. :::Heart swells:::

So, all in all... I'm doing OK. I did find myself reading old poetry online today while Alyssa was napping, which is uncharacteristically romantic for me, but in my defense, it could be considered educational. One thing I realized, that I never did before, is that Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a truly gifted poet. I guess you just absorb and take what you need, depending on what stage in life you are. I, also, read some Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, of whom my Grandfather was a fan. I now understand why. I think I'll close this posting with something from Ms. Browning: Sonnets from the Portuguese: XIV

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’s sake only.  Do not say
“I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day”—
For these things in themselves, Belovëd, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so.  Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou may’st love on, through love’s eternity.