Edith and the Bandit . . .
january 22, 2012
I'm usually an optimist, a half full kind of gal, but once in awhile the "mean reds" as Holly Golightly so eloquently drawled, will penetrate my rose colored lenses. February is approaching and with it all the trappings to give a girl a shake down: a birthday, raising two girls on my own, Valentine's Day, you know the violin concerto . . . What can ease me out of the "reds" sometimes is having tea with my wise octogenarian neighbor Mitzi. The other day she said words that lit me up: "darlin, let me tell you . . .it only goes down hill from here so you better enjoy now. These are your 'good ol' days. Someday you'll be wishing you enjoyed what you had!" I think most of us are waiting for the job, the mate, the house, the Celine Box bag, to make us happy. (Well maybe the bag will!) I know this is nothing new to your ears, but truly if we aren't satisfied now what's the point of our lives? Women like Mitzi and my Great grandmother Edith inspire me to be bold, courageous and to definitely stop whining. Where would we be without tales from our wise women?
During our trip to SunValley on our last night, my girls and I were sound asleep when someone entered our room. My maternal -lioness -protecting -her- cubs- instincts roared out of me as I chased down the 6 ft 3 lumbering strange man out of our room. He claimed he 'had the wrong room and was looking for the laundry area.' Why his key worked in our room I will never know. I called the front desk, had the locks scrambled, and then piled on some chairs and suitcases against the door. After I calmed my girls and laid back down to bed, I started to think of Great Grandma Edith. Edith a blue eyed beauty born in Butte Montana, left home after a bad marriage, and ventured West. Family lore has it that in New Mexico she was alone in a house when a bandit came a knockin'. When he became menacing, she drew out her shot gun and took care of business. That hotel intruder was very lucky I didn't have me a shotgun . . .
This week we have tee pees, animal spirit guides, organic perfumes, pizza, and merino sheep shawls . . . but best of all . . . we have stories and today.