I am approaching the end of 2020. This has been one heck of a year. I remember going out to celebrate 2020 and dressing like the “Roaring Twenties”. We had no idea what a ride this year would be. I said in my last blog this has been one of my hardest and most favorite years. All for different reasons. I mean tonight I’m thinking about my boyfriend who is dying. He is 90 years old and has been my boyfriend since I was young.( Just a silly term of endearment) He is my best friends granddaddy but he was a lot like mine too. I called him “Big Bill”. Funny how life comes full circle. My oldest now calls him that and she loves him as much as I do.
See people come into your life for reasons. He was my biggest fan all my life. He was always telling me I was smart, pretty or a good girl when most of the time it’s was a BIG stretch. He had a way of making you feel like you were the only one in the room. As I got older and got married… he’d remind me I was still his girl. Then over the last few years he would cry every time I was around him. He’d start to tell me he loved me or he was thankful for the friendship Bridget and I had. It would break me. Today I FaceTimed him. I kept saying I’m coming to see you boyfriend. I saw him and Bridget mostly start to cry and that was it for me. I know this is gonna be hard. I know losing him will be harder on her. I also know not many had a “Big Bill” in their life.
So I laid here tonight thinking who has changed my world. Who’s changed yours? Who’s stopped you on a dime? Who made your world better? I mean 2020 has come with its challenges but it’s also brought back some pretty fabulous people into my world. It’s reminded me to be thankful of those who are still there and for those I lost. Gerald Ray, June Goss and many others who made my world sweeter. Who encouraged me from when I was younger until the day they left. Those people make heaven sweeter. I’m thankful I was able to sit by them on part of their journey.
Now we are here. December. Rolling into the deep. What will be in 2021? I see so many people in my chair and it never gets easy when I lose one. Then just like today I gained two new customers. It never ceases to amaze me. Being thankful for those who come to me and those who will be new this coming year. What will be in our world? I don’t know but I know who holds it. What will it be like for our kids? I don’t know but I know who can be there for them. Hmmm… us. And if you don’t have kids or parents find someone to pour into. It’s real easy to find someone who needs encouragement and love. Just look around.
I also am thankful for great music, iced caramel macchiatos and big red gum.(Those 3 start every morning out for the whole year) I am thankful for moments that change you. That shape you. I’m thankful for encounters with people who make you smile. I am thankful for those who make us grow and stretch. I am even thankful for the ones who break us. We get the best lessons from them but never fear the consistent loyal encouragers are the blessings.
I encourage you to be present this season. Hopefully we will only have one year like 2020. I hope you take time to zoom with or love on your family. I hope you reconnect with people from your past and make new memories. I hope you look at Christmas, your kids , your family, your dogs and love them hard. I hope you learn new music. I hope you dance (I was just being cliche) but do it if you want to. I hope you find moments that make you laugh until you cry and others that make you think. Most importantly I hope you wake up and find a reason to smile. Find a reason to be happy. Show others grace. Don’t forget the real reason this season. Just embrace all things that come your way when they are good… because we aren’t promised tomorrow. So tell your “Big Bills” you love them. Be kind and enjoy the ride:) Merry Christmas and bring on 2021!!!!
Memoirs of a “Not So Famous Hairstylist” 