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Wow!  Revel — where have you been and what have you been doing?

It’s been the whole summer, and I feel as if you went on an all exclusive, stay aloof-sive vacation!  And it is to say that you were missed, plus temporarily your website fell apart.  Thanks to the geek guy, Eddie at Bluehost, for putting us all back together, and for noticing the card about the geek guy and laughing–very affirming!

So is the very positive feedback I have gotten from sweet sweet Julie (you are the sun shine in my day!), Lauren who lifted me immensely and spurred me back to Revel about a week ago, Ann who always lovingly encourages the inside pieces of my efforts, Julia who sent good vibes over the two new designs, the only words from Revel all summer,  and naturally my  always amazing, always loving Mom and Dad.  (Dana, I can’t wait to give you the latest Revel nuance — a heartfelt encouragement for your senior year:))

Since 59 years old is less than 48 hours away, and Power Ball for 356 million is being drawn on the 12th, shouldn’t I use those numbers to play the lottery for the big bucks?  Revel says go for it.  While talking to Lauren last week, I realized the differences between Revel and myself; describing her pride in the characteristics I find annoying:  the greys, the crepe, the invisible feeling in a crowd.  Revel puts herself out there, and most likely never feels invisible–donning her fire engine red lipstick also with pride.

And put her out there I will.  I pledge here with these words to send or give at least 3 Revel cards each week to friends and loved ones.  And I pledge to walk through the crowd at the baseball game not like I am invisible, but like I am proud (yes, you are a Leo!) and just a bit fiery, like Revel’s lipstick.  And damn it, I am going to go buy a Power Ball ticket.

 

Revel made herself appear to me on March 29th, the morning I took my sweet Penny to the vet to be spayed.  Not that Penny’s surgery had anything to do with Revel per se,  it was the coffee at the vet’s office.  There weren’t any decaf pods on the pod tree, so a REAL cup of coffee is what I made, and drank.  It was as if after years of drinking decaf to keep the skippy heartbeats at bay, the actual caffeine fired neurons that shook Revel from my brain.

Of course she had been developing there over the past several years of my late fifties; don’t you recognize the features, too?  The beautiful silver glitter in her hair (sporadic or perhaps persistent grays), the glorious gold glitter at her neck (extra crepe-y skin that can gather and collect);  yet the wear-with-all to don Fire Engine Red lipstick just because she can.  I’m so proud of her!  Even with six decades of ups, downs, disappointments and accomplishments, she still has a sense of humor.

I’m not sure what exactly I was bemoaning that morning I dropped Penny off:  perhaps it was that I had just recently lost ten pounds, yet now my face seemed to be sagging even more (you mean I have to smile even more now to hide some of my wrinkles????); or perhaps it was that after research and pursuing the purchase of a camper (now this is funny) for the most indoor person I know (me, ask my kids) and then realizing that there was no need trying to become someone I am not at this age; or perhaps the sudden realization that having an unmanageable amount of “moving parts” in one’s life at one time is exhausting and can leave you feeling like you aren’t doing any of them well–I comfortably sat in my Juke, looked in the rear view and announced:  I’m really not meant to have it all–who wants IT ALL?? (so much to keep up with!!)–just enjoy the life you have!!  AND REVEL IN IT!  Revel in the pieces of your life–there are so many to be proud of, to cherish and to coddle.

The pieces of my life now are glorious and precious:  my amazing parents in their mid-eighties showing us all how a good life is lived; my passionate, exuberant, adventurous and dedicated daughters whose love for living inspires me daily; my job where I can help children with chronic illnesses have a better quality of life through proper nutrition; my home where I feel safe every night; my dogs who allow me to be their pack leader; and an amazing bevy of friends who listen to my woes and give me hugs no matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen them last.

We aren’t meant to have it all but to revel in the joy of the pieces we are presently given and love.  Ask Revel, she’ll tell you–while sporting her Fire Engine Red lipstick and giggling over some of the insights she’s uncovered–she’s here to share and uplift.