Karla and I were fortunate enough to be born into our friendship, second cousins by birth. Karla’s mom and my dad were first cousins and had their fair share of adventures, and we have continued the family escapades. We have so many stories we could write a book. So that’s just what we are doing and have been for years.
With both of us having busy family lives, we don’t get to meet and write as often as we would like. So, it’s taking such a long time because when we get together, it can be difficult to buckle down and get busy. Take Saturday for instance. We met for lunch first. This is always essential because we love Cracker Barrel, and we have to catch up on each other’s lives. Even though we have texted and talked during the week, it’s just not the same as the face to face commentary.
Beauty Shop Fun
The weather was absolutely beautiful for this time of year, so we decided to go to Starbucks and sit outside to work. We hadn’ t been writing long when Karlas’ hot flashes began and there was not a ponytail holder to be found. So, like MacGyver, we used whatever was at hand. Being the person who is never without dental floss, I pulled off a long string. Karla attempted to put her hair up alone, but wasn’t having much luck. So I got up to do it. I carefully wrapped the floss around and around her hair, tying it and carefully making a dainty bow. People sitting outside were staring at the makeshift beauty shop, but we have gotten used to stares!
Friend Fun
Our book spans many generations, starting with our great-great grandfather and reaching down to us. Saturday, we decided to write a story from our college years. One thing led to another, and we were laughing and singing. It often happens when one of us has a random thought. It started when Karla said, “I’m a pickin’”; then paused for me to add ” and I’m a grinnin’” That reminded me of a song from our childhood. I started in, “Pickin’ up Paws Paws and puttin’ them in my pocket…” (And of course being the kindergarten teacher that I am, I was picking up imaginary paw-paws and putting them in my pretend pocket.) As I continued singing, Karla joined in.
I abruptly stopped asking, “What is a paw paw anyway?”
Karla’s reply, “probably poop.”
“Poop! Why would you put poop in your pocket?”
“I don’t know, they’re picking in a field, you know poop like cow patties.”
So I quickly googled it, and we were amazed to discover that a paw paw is a fruit! We had sang this song since childhood and never knew what we were singing about.
We began discussing the time we decided to change the words to hit songs, making them apply to our love life, or lack of, and create our own Top 40 Countdown. What fun we had with a record player and tape recorder in those days.
Boom Box
To Karla’s surprise, I had downloaded these tapes a while back to my computer because I’m sure with age they are becoming brittle. Remembering that I had them on the computer, I located them for us to listen to. Since Starbucks had music playing over the outside speakers, it was difficult for us to both hear. So we improvised. We sat holding the big laptop computer between our two heads like a giant boom box, and we listened and laughed until we cried. We weren’t the only ones amused. People sitting around were getting a kick out of us. More times than we can count, we have been mistaken for being intoxicated. But life is meant to enjoy, and that is what we do!