I have many things on my mind tonight, all these things fluttering around like ticker tape during a celebratory parade. Some of these things (not that you asked) I’d like to share:

Barbaro the horse died - many cried. His owner said a simple yet profound statement this a.m. as she reflected on her loss (yes, losing an animal is like losing a family member for many of us animal lovers), she said "grief is the price we all pay for love."

Homeschooling my son, Sam - is still a very real option for me this August.  As if a sign, this Sunday’s Sun-Sentinel had an article about home-schooling. What did I learn? The number of Florida children educated at home has more than doubled from 25,000 in 1996 to 53,000 in 2006. In FL it became legal to homeschool 21 years ago.  I go to my first homeschool meeting this Thursday night!

No matter what happens in life, having a few good sister friends helps so much in life. As I prepare for for the CEFL Sisterhood Weekends in NY and FL, I contemplate the effect my sister friends have had on me. I have three really good inner circle friends and my sister-in-law Enid is my closest friend within my family. What’s interesting is how unique and different we all are from each other.

I thank God that we’ve all been able to withstand the temptation to walk away from each other when it would have been easier to say "the heck with this". As one that never really allowed people (esp. women) to get to close to me, I have to say that I thank God I changed my ways and allowed the risk of being hurt for the great joy of being loved and accepted with all my quirks. I know that I still irk my friends and family with some of the things I say and do but they have chosen to "stay with me" anyway as I have with them.  With that committment, I’ve learned to love more, to realize tomorrow may not come so love real good today, say thank you, say I love you and be vulnerable even if they don’t say it back. All I can say is that sisterhood is powerful.