-
-
The Groups
Norm!
At first it felt like nothing was going on. I was just doing my little part of comment leaving (in accordance with International NaComLeavMo rules & statutes) and I didn’t feel like anyone was going to stop by my little bitter corner of the blogosphere. (I get paranoid some days. No rationality involved.) And then all of a sudden you guys started showing up. Some of you I recognize from clever & witty comments you have left on blogs I read/stalk and others of you are new “finds” & I can’t wait to get to know better.
A little back story on me (& if you are new here check out my “Who is Calliope?” page up there for the nitty gritty) I moved around a lot as a child. (10 different schools- there is no girl scout badge for that) So much so that by the time I was a junior in high school I had mastered the fine art of claiming friends. I had learned that it was an ineffective use of my time to sit quietly and wait for some kid to figure out that I was the shit- I needed to go out and make it known.
After many moves I had figured out what makes a good person and what makes an asshole- and honestly those kinds of things are pretty easy to sniff out once you know what it smells like. Assholes smell like unkindness and cruelty, they ooze mean spiritedness and suffer from a lack of the wonderful top note of humor. Good people smell like the funny pages and have parents that swear.
Of course in my early quests for the holy grail of truth and quick best friending I did some acting out. I led a rebellion at a new school in the 2nd grade which involved teaching all the girls in my class what the phrase “kick ‘em in the nuts meant”. This, by the way, would be the Baptist elementary school that friends of my Grandparents ran. I lasted there until Christmas. But boy did I make some good friends!
In 7th grade I was going to boarding school at a fine arts school in a big city in a backwards state. My desire for uber wonderful and cool friends resulted in my not ever going to class and hanging out with 12th graders from the wrong side of the tracks (aka scenic design kids). Months went by & I didn’t even realize that I was supposed to be in French class and not trying to memorize the cool quirks of the kids filling out college applications. Not so great on the friend gathering during this time.
My life now is pretty rich with friendships. I am extremely lucky that I have many people on that ever elusive “will you help me bury the body” phone tree. And in the past several years I have added many internet friends on that list. It comes hard and fast when you just KNOW that the person on the other end of a snazzy URL is quality. Usually I can tell if someone is awesome by how they write about the banal. If you can sum up an hour at the grocery store and have me pissing in my pants or weeping through my kleenex then I claim you.
Really, that is how I feel about it. Claimed. Owned. You. Yes, you. & sometimes I rush into the claiming and scare the bejeebus out of you. It’s just that I don’t really like the chit chat phase. I want to skip that & get right into the confessions of college phase.
All this is to say that if I have freaked you out with an overly enthusiastic comment I am not sorry. You will see. We will be iBFF’s in no time. Soon it will be like we are all Norm. And when you stop by I will shout your name and freak my cat out.
Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name
If you are reading this and it is thursday please Make it a New Day.
Comments
40 Responses to “Norm!”
Got something to say?
-
-
Great Hosting By:
I am so happy to read this, as it seems like you’ve been isolated in your caretaker role. And YOU, Calliope, smell like the very ink the funny pages are printed on. (Does that sound weird? You started the “smell” thing…)
I wish I could join in on NACOLEAVMO, but since I’m not a mother, not TRYING to be a mother, I am the square peg… maybe I can be the SJP of the two leads and have a great comeback in later years. Ha!
Love and miss you. Glad to see you writing with such regularity.
What’s happenin’ with the photo gig? Tell all!!
XOXO
It IS amazing, isn’t it? This community of people who are so different but all struggling, in their own way, with the same thing. Our desire to be parents to the extent that we put ourselves through all this craziness, does, I think, demonstrate a certain type of person and outlook on life. I too have made cyber-friends through my blog, one of whom has turned into one of my closest friends in real life. We are all truly blessed.
Norm!
I went to eleven different schools! I am now on a quest to find the two of us Girl Scout badges for that.
I just HAD to thank you for getting that DAMN SONG stuck in my head! ARGH!!!!! And I’m not even a fan of that show! (Well, other than Woody Harrelson… I never mind looking at him for a little while…..)
thanks for stopping by, can’t wait to have a new iBFF!!! and the lacrosse - it’s awesome
i took some great pictures yesterday with my snazy new camera!
I just can’t resist the stuck-out lower lip, especially if combined with the big puppy dog eyes. I found the Peanut Butter Banana Bread recipe on a very cool website: http://www.bigcitylittlekitchen.com. You’ll find it under the Baking section on an April 3rd post. If you search even further (back to 2007, I believe) you’ll also find the recipe for the Guiness cupcakes that Flat M helped me make. Both are delish.
Love the thought of a new iBFF and so love your description of friend smells.
Hi there, thanks for stopping by my blog — yes, I am the one who is too lame to get the NaComLeavMo picture to work on my sidebar. I actually had already done the widget thing but for some reason the picture won’t show up. Oh well! Thanks again!
Hola! Thanks for the comment!
I love your blog…I feel like Norm & Diane & Woody already!
I also think it is admirable that you are taking care of your grandmother…I am looking forward to getting to know you via blogs!
Annitra
Hi! I heart you! What a great post. Riffing on the Dead Bodies Phone List, I had been teaching my BFF a certain part of Torah that says if you are in the desert with someone else and you only have enough water for one person that you should drink your own water, because it is wrong to end both lives. BFF said, “I would give you my water because I know we’d be lost in the desert because of something I got us into.”
I’d be happy to be claimed.
I’m intrigued by your story and plan to back-read and keep updated too…I think it’s super awesome that you are your grandmother’s care-taker, I’m really impressed by that.
I only went to 5 different schools…so I’m not nearly as cool as you.
“will you help me bury the body” phone tree
CLASSIC.
I am not getting as much NaCom play as I would like. I expected a full-on orgy so I am getting paranoid over at my place.
And now I am getting jealous about all these NEW iBFF’s. I hope it’s clear that I claimed you long ago. And I pull hair.
Okay, now I have that Cheers song in my head.
Yeah, all of a sudden I went from an average (for me) number of a hits everyday to my best day ever. I thought maybe some people I knew had found my blog and were passing the link around the Internet to all of our friends saying, “OMG, Look at what Pepper’s up to!” (This is how the paranoid mind works.) Then I remembered, uh .. yeah. It’s NaComLeavMo, or as one commenter said, “NaComBloLeav or whatever.” Whatever it’s called, I’m certainly loving all my new peeps!
Hey, I’ve been reading you too, and lurking too! Craziness I tell you, craziness!
I lurk often, not much of a commenter as I am a Mom of two, on my 2nd marrige facing age related secondary infertility. A mouthful, but really pretty boring and kind of feel like a square peg in a round hole.
I have backread your story and am rooting for your success. I can only imagine the fun pregnancy stories you will one day share. I have to admit I initially followed your story because of your GM. I lost my Grandmother 4 years ago at 92 yrs of age. I loved her dearly and was blessed by her love, wisdom and guidance. I miss her terribly. It makes me sad that your GM is losing herself, but I am inspired by your love and commitment to her. Even when her mind forgets, I am sure her heart knows. Keep writing and good luck with your upcoming FET, I am so excited for you and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
O how I loved this post! You clearly are very clever with stringing words together in funky bracelets that one cannot help to try on to see how it feels. This post will definitely stay with me for the day…only thing…I feel a litttle left out ’cause my parents don’t swear…O! right…we’re not in kindergarden anymore…does that count?
Oh you and your tiny little nut kicking feet!
I’m actually leaving a second comment because I’m pretty sure last time I commented I got Mr Potato man as well and it’s worrying me that maybe your blog has categorized me as a root vegetable. And what is with Bugged? Why does she get a photo? Where’s her root vegetable?
OH MY GOD!!! Look…another mr potato man… CAL! What does this mean? I feel so….stereotyped!
ok but I like his little batman mask.
Going away now.
I went to two schools and loathed both of them. In total admiration of your ability to fit in that many times.
J
WOW!!! The second grade, I didn’t learn the power of the nut kick until the 6th grade in sewing class. I’ll never forget it, cause I thought the boy would kill me.
NaComLeavMo Madness! I am so glad that other people fall instantly in love with their new iBFFs and I am not the only weirdo round these here parts.
I am so glad to finally find out who Calliope is. I have seen your headers everywhere, and you are so gifted. My grandmother is also losing a battle, but hers is with cancer. I will add you to my prayers.
Can I count you in my daily NCLM tally? It seems like extreme laziness on my part, which, to be honest, I’m pretty much totally cool with.
i think this is one of my most favourite posts of yours i have ever read. i went to the same grade school, all 8 years (dont hate me) and i kind of envy you in your friend-claiming abilities… as my lack thereof has affected more than friendships in my life. i am trying to learn to be better…
one thing tho ~ friends are Friends. there is no middle ground of acquantance in my mind or heart… if you get called a friend by me, i am as loyal as they come and will go to the mat for you. *sigh* i must be pms-ing, cuz i am all teary thinking of things this morning…
love you lots,
gypsygrrl
Oh, Cali.
I would always help you get rid of the dead prostitute in your trunk.
There ought to be a girl scout badge for that. There’s one for everything else! I am shy IRL, and find it hard to reach out, but thank the stars for the internet because no where else could I find friends as good as I’ve found online.
Will you marry me, Cali? Can I be your own?
I also went to many different schools in fact I went to 12 different schools in 12 years of schooling and when one considers that one of those was for the last 5 years of my school life you have to shudder - what can I say army brat! Girl Scout badge for me too please
I went to one school from K-8, and it was a teeny, tiny school in the sticks. However, I was the kid who was nice to the new kids. Unfortunately, most of the new kids were kids like you who didn’t get to stick around for long, so I gained and lost friends fairly quickly. I had a lot of pen pals though! And that’s sort of what all of this reminds me of–except that everyone is so much wittier!
Love this post, Cali, and I’m glad to claim you as an iFriend. You’re awesome!
Hey There! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m so happy that you finally got the money you needed for the FET! Congrats!!! I’m so glad you finally get your chance!
That is so great that you learned how to make friends so easily. Coming from a girl who moved once and even then only 20 minutes away, I can’t even imagine having to re-make friends that often! But I can see why it has shaped who you are today! Lively and full of spunk! But that’s what makes you so interesting and why so many people care about you! Best of luck with your upcoming FET!!!
I am not an iBBF… I am vBBF (the “i” could be imaginary or ignorant as well as internet whereas “v” is virtual and virtuous
)
But I am happy to be a Norm!
I feel the same way about the comment thing. I think I had about 2 total in all the time I was writing so it feels weird and wonderful…mostly wonderful.
I love your introduction. You sound like you’re a lot of fun.
hahaha. You cracked me up. I was much like you for a while, but stopped when I began scaring off too many of those “good people.” I also got a little gun shy after I spent time with the co-workers from Hell for 3 yrs. It took them one and a half of those years to decide I was ok after all and that they should stop either:
A. Point blank Ignoring the sound of my voice.
or
B. Point blank insulting me and mine.
Ah those were the days. I’m getting some of my chumminess back, but I’m much more cautious now. It’s so hard though because like you, I usually know pretty quickly whether I like someone that much.
I LOVE the smell of the funny pages, too. I’ve always thought they smelled differently than the rest of the paper… but I’m sure it’s just my enthusiasm for one and lack thereof for the other.
I wish I had that go out and grab new friends thing down in my real life. I tend to be the wait around for them to decide I’m worthy and if they don’t figure it must be something wrong with me. I hate that part. I didn’t move much as a kid until like my junior year of highschool and we moved from just south of Seattle to Montana, first Helena and then Great Falls. My saving grace in Great Falls was an air force base with a bunch of air force kids who knew what it was like and took me in.
iBFF’s! i like that! haha.. thnx for passing by, i’ll be back to read more on you. NCLM!
Help you bury a body? Weeeellll… it really depends on WHY there’s a body. If it’s a really good reason, I’ll help you hide it. If it’s only a so-so reason, I might not help you hide the body, but at least I won’t narc you out.
I wish all friendships could skip the “chit-chat phase”!
Here from NCLM…isn’t it great?
Can I claim you? I am new to the whole blogging scene, and have kind of jumped in headfirst after taking all my clothes off and be dammned who is watching. I wanted to do the pithy posts thing, but I seem to have started with the deep ones instead. Oh well. Nothing like coming right to the point for getting to know people.
I found you via NCLM, have read the ‘who is’ and will be reading a whole lot more.