Golden Girls

21 Days Remaining

Last Super Bowl Sunday I watched the Golden Girls Marathon.....And it was the best thing on TV that day. I remember when the show aired in the 80's too.  I loved it! So did the rest of America.

I watched the reruns in college with my roommate Camille and we decided that we'd become roommates again in our old age.  I'd be Dorothy's character and she could be Rose. Now, we just need an old hussie to be Blanche. We still have a few years. 

I seriously idolized these ladies; ranked them higher than Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Ya, I know.....that says something. I guess I could say I've always admired women decades older than me. Of course my mom because she was such a fun gal.  I told you about her.  Now I'll tell you about a few others I remember fondly. There's more than this, but its a start.

Carmen Russman:  We spent a lot of time at the Silver Fox, a bar that Carmen and her husband Dallas owned.  (Yes, a bar.  Rosalie is a town of about 100 people.  If you could buy a cheeseburger there, it was cool to bring your kids.)  Anyway, Carmen had the best stories and the craziest laugh.  She could boss rowdy people like nobody else.  The Fox had 2 round tables that mom and the other ladies would sit at and gab.  I loved to sit and listen.  One time Carmen gave me a glass of orange juice and a little red straw so it looked like I was having a drink with the ladies.  My goodness she was fun.

My Aunt Barb:  Barb is actually my uncle's wife.  Not blood relation, but the mother to my beloved cousins.  He cackles when she laughs.  Seriously.  I have no other words for this.  She also talks really fast.  Other than my mom, I felt safest with Barb, which was a big deal.  I was the biggest scaredy cat as a kid.  When I was a teenager she bought me a little china doll.  Totally unexpected.  She new I had been really sad and I was so touched by that.

June Hawk:  She was our Home Ec teacher and also my buddy Heidi's mom.  Again, another funny woman.  I got to know June because she'd tell stories with my mom.  It seemed like every time their family left the house something crazy happened to them.  I'll have to ask Heidi, but I think they hit a moose once on vacation and found a giant sliver of wood in their pizza.  Always something she'd report back on and laugh until she cried.  She actually did cry in class one time.  For "idol" day, my cousin Kellie dressed up as this old guy from town. He'd walk (drag) his dog (with his shirt half buttoned) all over town.  June knew right away who she was dressed as and it took her at least the first 15 minutes of class to stop laughing and get a grip.  Yes, she could appreciate good humor.

Trisha Curran-Sheehan: The first woman that I admired for something other than being funny.  Trisha was a writing professor at Briar Cliff College.  She was a strong, liberal woman and I was intrigued.  She also had great hair and we hit it off!  It was cool to have super smart conversations then be able to do a little girl talk too. 

Ellen Robinson:  One of my most treasured friends.  We taught together for 8 years.  When we met, I was married and Sam was a tiny baby.  She saw my life change on a daily basis.  Literally 8 hours a day (ok 7 3/4 hours according to Des Moines Public Schools). She is brilliant and brave and I wouldn't be where I am without this lovely lady.  She's funny too. 

Tonight, I'm excited to be one day closer to 40.  I'm intrigued by the thought that some 20 year old girl is possibly admiring me.  I hope she blogs about me someday.  It will probably be called something else and she probably won't even have to type it, just think it and the words will appear.

In other news.....Instead of talking about my random act of kindness, I'll tell you about one that happened to me.  I received a real card in the mail today.  Handwritten! Stamped and addressed!  Wishing me a happy journey to 40.  Thank you Patty G for RAKing* ME!!!!!  Love you!

*Random Act of Kindness-ing