Hi ho, MMMlogerinos!

SOUL FRIENDS
It has been said that one is made by one's friends. I would count myself so blessed as I have great friends who are lovely, talented souls that support and teach me.

As you may know I ascribe to the notion of past lives. I really like the idea of the universe working that way, sort of a competency-based education plan, if you will. You keep coming here, or there, for certain lessons, to teach and learn, until you get it right and achieve a level of competency and move along. Suits my Obi Wan anthem, "Move along, move along."

I study, research and write about the concept of soul groups. The same souls keep coming around together with agreements for various teachings and learnings among themselves, playing roles for each other that offer the best opportunities for the souls to achieve their goals for a given life.

Haven't you seen someone you were instantly drawn to and you couldn't explain why? Aside from my DH, one other person I absolutely HAD to met and get to know many years ago was famed Pacific Northwest guitarist and song writer, Kathye Long. I saw her at an aerobics class some fifteen years ago. She was very reserved, quiet and business-like, there to get the job done. I was there to play, meet new people and immediately turn beet-red when I exercise, puny blonde athlete-wannabe that I am. I finally wore Kathye down and discovered a rare treasure--she's vastly talented, a cleverly funny smartass and a very kind, generous soul. I'm sure hoping I have a pre-life agreement with her that goes something like this--she brings hope and inspiration into my later life with beautiful music and friendship, which I earned for some great sacrifice of self like saving children from a burning building in a past life, or something.

In any case--Kathye, thank you for your latest encouragement!

Childhood Issues
Okay, I grew up in northwestern Arizona and surrounded by a certain attitude--those "prunelanders" are gonna take over someday. In homage to my pretty much dissolved roots of Californian-phobia, case in point--my DH is a third-generation "prunelander", I offer the following joke from a former classmate, Dan Harshberger:

Four Women on a Road Trip

Four women were driving across the country. Each one was from a different
state: Idaho, Nebraska, Arizona and California.

Shortly after the trip began, the woman from Idaho started pulling potatoes from her bag and throwing them out of the window. "What the heck are you doing?" demanded the Californian. "We have so many of these darn things in Idaho, I am just sick of looking at them!" the woman from Idaho answered.

A moment later, the gal from Nebraska began pulling ears of corn from her bag and tossing them from the window. "What are you doing that for?" asked the lady from Arizona. "We have so many of these things in Nebraska, I am just sick of looking at them!" the Nebraskan replied.

Inspired, the lady from Arizona opened the car door and pushed the Californian out.

Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMelinda