I Belong With You; You Belong With Me

Happy Monday, dear reader. Wow, what a weekend! Is it me, or did the Fourth of July celebration last forever? My little introverted self is looking forward to a week of uneventful normalcy. Most of the time, I view being an introvert as a character flaw. I am awkwardly uncomfortable in social situations. Conversations with strangers can sometimes feel forced and fake. As I talk to others, I have a constant script running in the background, like bad music. The script goes something like this: Why did you say that? How should you respond? Do you come across as sincere or weird? Don't stick your foot in your mouth. Focus. Say something funny. Don't be a boob....and so on. I like writing because I can edit my thoughts. I can revisit my written conversation, edit, add, reword, and erase anything that doesn't sound or feel right. Conversing with someone face to face doesn't allow for error. I am highly self-critical. After face-to-face conversations, I often replay them in my head and analyze everything. Most of the time, I could kick myself for what I consider social blunders. However, all that stress and self-criticism disappears when I am with my people.

I've spent the past four days with my people, and although I feel mentally drained, I also feel fulfilled. The Bibbed Wonder and I spent the Fourth of July at Stutzman's Blueberry Farm. I consider Abbey June, my people. Although I only have the pleasure of seeing her for a few short hours every summer, I naturally feel at ease with her easygoing personality and relaxed approach to everything. Thursday was a good day, and seeing so many friendly faces and loyal supporters was so good. We finished the day with the one and only GB (GramBarb) and watched the local fireworks display.

Friday, The Bean and I took the rare opportunity to leave the farm and spend the day in Greensburg with her long-time friend Destiny and Destiny's mom, Missy. I forgot what it is like to spend hours in a shopping mall. However, two teenage girls can spend serious time in a retail mecca. Missy and I have so much in common. We joke that we are the same person. We share everything from similar health situations to loving Halloween to wanting the same make and model of desirable cars. It's uncanny how much we have in common. Friday was a perfect day. My daughter was happy and laughing. We joked around, teased, talked, and shared details we don't usually share. I felt like I got to know her better, and I hope she feels the same.

Saturday, I was surrounded by my market family. Spending time with my best friend Tricia has always been good for me. We can laugh, make fun of each other, have serious conversations, and grouse about our troubles without editing. You will find me in Tricia's tent when I have had my fill of The Bibbed Wonder's and The Bean's shenanigans. Although I don't enjoy the 3:00 a.m. wake-up on Saturday morning, I enjoy my market family.

Even more rare than leaving the farm to go shopping all day is leaving the farm on a Saturday after the market. However, that is precisely what we did. My friend Marie hosted her annual Fourth of July celebration at her beautiful venue, Cherry Run Lodge. If you require an event venue for a wedding, shower, or celebration, I gently encourage you to explore all this gorgeous event hall has to offer. My beautiful friend and her husband, Jason, work tirelessly to create a stunning oasis. This place is magical, from its lovely cozy log cabin lodge, complete with a stone fireplace, to the amazing covered deck that overlooks stunning scenery, the picturesque pond with an adorable little cottage, the perfect swimming pool, and the gorgeous surrounding gardens this place can add to the magic of any special day. The night ended with a fireworks finale that exceeded our small town's fireworks display. It was indeed a good day.

Last but not least, I hosted my dear friends, Monica and Marie, along with their families, on Sunday evening. I have not hosted a get-together with friends that is not holiday-related since COVID. Me hosting anything, especially during the market season, is a rarity. Although I found myself stressing about having enough food, the appearance of the farm, and the idea of having people in my home once Jenna arrived and then my friends and their families arrived, all the stress disappeared. I was surrounded by people I genuinely love and spent the evening laughing and talking. One feels at peace and comfortable when surrounded by what my sweet friend Monica calls kindred spirits. Kindred spirits we are. I have been friends with Monica and Marie for more than thirty years. They do my heart good.

I love that my child has such a broad, open-minded, and strong sense of family created by those who surround us. Jordan and I were discussing people from Marie's party. She asked who the young man who was there was. I told her it was Marie's son-in-law. She had Marie's son-in-law confused with another young man who is often at get-togethers. When I explained that the young man she was thinking of was a family friend, Jordan responded, "Oh, so we aren't related to him?" It took me a minute to process her response. I almost corrected her that we weren't "related" to any of them, but I stopped myself. I merely smiled and responded, "No, baby. We aren't related to him." I love that my girl considers my friends her family. We have a very open and broad sense of family, and she simply accepts it. Love is love no matter how it comes about or what the ties.

I read somewhere, and where escapes me, that the saying blood is thicker than water is misinterpreted. The version I prefer explains that the water referred to in the saying represents the womb. We are surrounded by water in the womb, representing our biological family. The blood referred to in the saying represents blood from the battlefield. Thus, it is inferred that your ties to those who stand beside you in battle or who are there for you when you bleed from the wounds life inflicts upon you are stronger than biological ties. Accurate or not, this is the interpretation I choose to believe. This interpretation speaks to me on so many levels. First, my daughter and I do not share biological ties. I did not carry her in my womb, but I have stood with her unbendingly as she has fought the battles of her young life. Our bond is forged in steel and could not be stronger. Secondly, those who have surrounded me in my darkest times and celebrated me in the glory of good times have proven far stronger than any biological ties that now exist. As the song goes, "So show me, family, all the blood that I will bleed. I belong with you; you belong with me..." I will willingly bleed for my people.

I hope, dear reader, that you are blessed with an army of your people, kindred spirits, and people who will bleed for you. If you read this page, I belong with you; you belong with me.... On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, may you be surrounded by those who bring you comfort, and of course, keep washing your hands.