I want to Walk in the Sun.

Dearest Mgals:

ok -- i had hoped to enter another year on planet without sounding like a living, breathing walking cliche.

But since it seems like i seem to be living in a cliche vacuum these days, i don't think i have a choice.

Some of you must remember the Go-Go's.

Have them on at present.


"It doesn't matter what they say
in the jealous games people play
Our lips are sealed
Pay no mind to what they say
It doesn't matter anyway
Our lips our sealed."

Let you in on little secret. Although i always am quoting lyrics in these things, i really just am a music girl.

Music -- as in the beat.

Think that is why i still love to listen to music sooo loud. in my car. in my house. so loud you can't hear the words -- you just can feel the beat. those low, low bass soundwaves actually reverb into your soul. very rhytmic -- always mood altering. at least for me.

This music (our lips are sealed) is so happy and boppy. and great, great drums. am totally a drummer at heart.

Yes, my mid-life crisis will be in full rage when i purchase my drumset. i can't wait!

"Can you see them
see right through them
They have no shield
No secrets to reveal."

Yes, i remember first time i actually read the words to this song. i thought hmmm. That's kind of a downer. Words all about people not being all that great towards each other.

Wasn't that so anti-boppy. So anti-Go-Gos?

"Spreading rumors
So far from true
Dragged up from the underworld
Just like some precious pearl."

Yes, i always was much more Ringo than John Lennon.

Ringo seemed so fun.
John was just so intense.

i never was the intellectual. Just want fun music, with a beat you can dance to.

"Can you hear them
They talk about us
telling lies
Well, that's no surprise."

It was really not so much fun to realize that the anthem of my incredible, light-hearted freshman year of college was basically a kickin' song about people being rather crummy to each other.

bummer.

In my cliched-aging introspection, i think that is cause for a lot of our mid-life "sad-dies."

Yes, we are bopping along thinking life's American Bandstand, then things start to happen and we realize it's more Americans Don't Understand or I just Don't Understand.

The happy upbeat, pulsing drums -- laid over the jarring reality of life. and the older i get, the harder it gets to focus on the boppy, silly, driving music -- those darn lyrics just keep rearing their confusing head.

At least that's what i had been concentrating on lately. The negative lyrics of life unfolding around me. The things that are not in our control. The things we don't understand.

and as we were talking about in SSchool yesterday, who really is in control?

That was until last night.

ok -- good picture -- all very glam. but kind of sedate for my tastes. Steve, you really should have gotten a little music going and taken a few action shots.

Look at me. i look like i have just been shot up with some elephantine-drugging dose of a tranquilizer.

Yes -- i was tad sad,

but in thinking about all of you today -- i realize i can't be sad. There are too many awesome reasons to keep looking to the Lord and looking at this photo, i see 12 (13 -- i forgot shelagh you missed picture) of them.

13 reasons. once again showing the Lord has a sense of humor. being born on the 13th, i never really thought it a terribly unlucky number. As my mom used to say to me -- "13's a lucky number in France." which i have no idea whether that is in anyway true, but just remembering her always saying that makes me chuckle.

Guess like most of life, it is just the little things........

Like Jamie coming in straight from beach and Shelagh straight from balmy Baltimore. listening to Heather and Mary. you both helped me so. just hearing what had been going on in your lives and how you touched people for God.

All this Mgal togetherness last night, made me realize i am pretty stupid. which i course have always known, but it is always good to get a healthy dose of the "i'm being so stupids" when stuck in middle of mid-life cliche.

Jules -- you were so sweet to host very nice party life. and Steve -- you are so quick with a shutter and lighter for the candles. Kat loved getting the update on your sister. Another amazing story of God's providence in this crazy world. thanks Julie h. for the jake girlfriend update as i hear nothing from him on such subjects.

A very happy birthday to you Deidre at beach -- as your friendship and encouragement has blessed me more than you can ever, ever know.

Karen -- you always make me smile and love getting a Sydney update. Robin -- i still am laughing about you and Andy at the Ritz. Glad he lost his fear of you. and it was great to hear about all the exciting things you are involved in, Barbara. Kristie -- ok, you are the cutest thing ever. need some of your energy ASAP.

Thanks to Dan for the indirect fireworks display. Though Steve really needs to cut those treetops way, way back. Was extremely hard to get full view across lake back to Zant pyrotechnic.

and thanks to Margaret and Laree for the sign and sentiment. INSPIRE.

Yes, that's what music has always done for me --- the most thunderous Beethoven or the most thunderous Tommy Lee.

and that's what my mgals did for me last night.

I just changed my ringtone. to a very oldie, but very goodie --- and in a rare exception to my music first rule -- here lyrics are the key..

cindy lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."

Some Boys take a beautiful girl
and hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun

Oh girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun.

yes, when all this Mgal Madness started -- think that was all i was trying to get us girls to do -- just be the one's who are walking in the sun.

and guess walking in and with His Son as well.

Just got today's mail. it contained one birthday card and three fall catalogues. Don't know about you, but i am not going to let anyone or anything -- LLBean or shortened school break -- take away my summer just yet. Though i am certainly not a girl -- it still is in many ways -- the summertime of my life.

Need to steal outside and feel that sunshine.

No, it won't last forever. But all i want to do is concentrate on how good it all is right now.



and it is all very good. .... hit it Tommy Lee.


many thanks Mgals. love, love