Just so everyone knows, I will be finding a new photo of Sheryl and I pronto, even if it means hopping a plane to Seattle to have one taken. Although, photoshop is probably a faster and cheaper way to go. The shirt I am wearing in that picture was promptly discarded upon my seeing that photo. I had no idea I looked that hideous until I saw it. It does little for there being any hope of me becoming a non-hermit.

I am the World's Best social hermit. I call myself a social hermit because what with having 3 kids and all, I am forced to be a tad social. I would, however, be able to spend much of my life in my house if given the chance. As long as the house was filled with warm blankets, good books and a working computer. So I could Facebook, of course. Facebook is amazing because it allows one to be a hermit yet still feel social at the same time.

I am so hermity that the very year the hideous photo was taken, my next door neighbor approached my husband and said she was sorry to hear about my leaving him. Apparently, I had spent so much time not out and about in the hood, it was abuzz with gossip that I had up and left my husband and children. I mean, I had decided to take a break from my garden that year, so it was a tad overgrown. There was Matt's work crisis, which left us all a little stressed and depressed and probably equaled a little more indoor time. There were the 4 days I spent in Seattle and our 10 day Boston/D.C. vaycay. And as usual, I didn't sprint out my door on every single nice day, parading my kids up and down the street, unlike many of my neighbors. But lordy, it's not like I dropped off the planet or something! I still did my usual carting around of the kids, grocery shopping, garbage taking out ect.... Whatever. I'm fine with my hermit factor. I like that I am comfortable being by myself. I am not the life of the party, and i'm aces with that.

That picture was taken during one of my most life defining years. It was the year my husband quit his job and began his quest to start his own business. And because as any sane, unemployed couple would do, we decided to get pregnant. GENIUS! It was, as it turns out, a pretty smart thing to do. Gracie is amazing and pretty much one of my most favorite people at the moment. Probably because she can't talk yet. It was also the year that, contrary to what my neighbors think, I came out of my shell a bit and took my second ever solo trip.

There is something to be said for being comfortable in the everyday norm. There is also something to be said about going out of your everyday norm and being a bit daring. Because it was on that trip that I got to re-connect with my life long friend. I witnessed first hand what an awesome mama she is and how she is the center of her boys world. I got to know and fall in love with her boys. It was the trip full of Thomas the Train, Uno tournaments and sparkly flip-flops. I guess the picture isn't that bad. How could it be with memories like that?