I Send Vibrations In Your Direction...

So…. I accidentally went away for a while.  I wasn't trying to and it wasn't planned.  It's kind of like how I accidentally quit drinking when I quit smoking.  I just stopped for a bit and then suddenly it was a month later and then two and then so on.  Yeah, so this here fancy blog is kind of like that.

 

I went away for a bit because I was having The Sadz (with a 'z' cause that's how the kidz do, amiright?) and while it's not really fun or interesting to write about that, I also know that it's not the least bit fun or interesting to read about and I refuse to be one of those people who writes whiny self-indulgent pleas for attention.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I'll totally write self-indulgent pleas for attention, I have a blog so obviously, but I don't want to be one of the ones who make people think, "Well hell, there's 4 minutes of my life I'll never get back and holy crap, stop your damn whining already – you're sad, we get it!"  Anyway, I think The Sadz (still with a 'z' because I am nothing if not a joke-runner-into-the-grounder) have gone away for now, hopefully until next winter.  I'm not normally depressed or even really bummed for no discernable reason and certainly not for more than a day or two, so I think I may have that Seasonal Affective Disorder thing; the last few years (particularly the last few Januarys and Februarys) are starting to make more sense with that in mind.

 

Contrary to what it seems, this post is actually not really supposed to be about me.  That long-ass paragraph above?  That was just supposed to be an introduction.  This is really about Alabama Pink.  Well, technically, it's about Alabama Pink's legacy.  I didn't really know Amanda, except from the writing she shared with us, but I liked her.  I didn't really know her husband, except through her writing about him and his writing about her.  After she passed away, I was hesitant to reach out to Mr. Pink, because it felt presumptuous of me.  But, because my mom died when I was young and I was raised by a single father, I thought that I might be able to offer some insight or I don't know, be some kind of sounding board for him.  It took me many months, but I am so glad I finally did.

 

I've learned so much about Amanda from the way Mr. Pink talks about her.  I think I would have liked the hell out of her!  And I've learned so much about Mr. Pink and the monumental year he's had and all he's accomplished.  I've gotten to know what a genuinely good father he is and what a fantastic sense of humor he has and what a loyal friend he is.  I've been privileged to witness snippets of Little A's life and his accomplishments and new discoveries.  And I've been unbelievably grateful to have these wonderful, smart, funny, and open people in my life thanks to a movie review website.  Huh.  Whether he knows it or not (which, I guess he'll know it now), Mr. Pink helped pull me out of this funk.  His uncanny knack for sending me an email just as I'm sinking down again or some smartass comment during one of our incessant Scrabble games has been my lifeline the last couple of months.  His enthusiasm (dare I say EXUBERANCE?) has made me giggle more times than I can count and his ability to get out of bed, day after day, to do what must be done and his love for his wife and his child makes my heart hurt less & reminds me that my little life is not so very bad.

So, in my long, rambling, round-about way, thank you, Amanda.  Thank you for being awesome and for introducing me to your equally awesome family.  I love you all.