It’s always a good start to the year when the #marknme kids make it safely home from Key West. The attendant at the Circle K store where I got coffee this morning was stoked because he got paid double time and could drink for free on the job. A charter boat fishnet man asked me my plans for the day. I told him I was a writer and was off to the beach to write. He asked my pen name. Without hesitation, I said Sassysnatch. Yep, the year is already good.
Hose Down Your Hoo-Ha
Thoughts, stories, and insights from M.E. Nesser
Woke up at 4 feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed and looked over to find Mark reading a book. I started to laugh. I told him I was off to the beach to write, and it didn’t surprise him in the least. I hope everyone finds someone in their life who loves them unconditionally and doesn’t think they are a weirdo for getting up two hours before the sunrise to rush to the beach to write.
2015 reflections. My initial thought was that it was an incredibly stressful year for us for many reasons. But I never like to dwell on negative crap, so I kept thinking… Our oldest got a job in Denver after he graduated college. He has always wanted to live there. Our daughter graduated college and spent a month in Australia, which had always been a dream for her. Our youngest is in college down south near a beach. Need I say more? We had a successful year at Mark & ME. I published
The Happy Trail, my third book. Everyone is healthy. I’m still happily married. Yea, it was a good year.
Our lives are so hectic this time of year that it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. One of the things that grounds me is listening to the surf, which is part of the reason I escape to the Keys every Christmas. It’s a constant, calming sound that puts everything into perspective. Don’t get me wrong, I love the fun and the craziness of everyday life, especially at Mark & M.E., but don’t be surprised if one day you walk into the salon and hear the sounds of the ocean singing through our stereo speakers.
I’m sitting on a deck, overlooking the ocean, watching a pelican dive bomb for fish, listening to the sound of the surf, and doing payroll. This is why I work so hard. #happy #marknme
We found out Christmas Eve that the weather made it impossible to fly through Atlanta Christmas morning. It took an hour to talk to an agent who simply informed me the airlines couldn’t get us to Florida until Sunday. We weren’t willing to lose two days of vacation because of some silly tornado, so we found a different route on a different airline to get us to a different destination in the Sunshine State. We also had to change our son’s itinerary since he had the same problem and lives out West. Was it frustrating? Yes. It most certainly was. But we turned it into an adventure and made it safe and sound on the same day as planned so many months ago. You can let the stressors and inconveniences of the holiday consume you or you can work with them, figure it out and end up with a happy ending. I will preach until I pass what my father’s favorite saying was…Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
After what I witnessed yesterday at the salon, I wonder if anyone remembers why we celebrate Christmas anymore? As a Catholic, we celebrate the birth of Christ. It’s a pretty big deal in our religion. Yet, in today’s world, it seems like it is only about how many presents you can buy, how much money you can spend, how many cookies you can bake and basically how stressed out you can be. If you don’t believe in the whole Jesus thing, I get it. But shouldn’t this be a time about family and love, not about extending your budget and having a nervous breakdown? Slow down, enjoy your family and try to figure out something good and happy that this time of year means to you. And, of course, make time to have a happy hoo-ha.
During this holiday season, there is a lot to remember. Sadly, as we age, the hair on our head is not the only hair that turns gray on our body. One of my most memorable holiday traditions is watching the cartoon Christmas shows on television. There are many adorable Christmas characters that have been created over the years. You have to admit that the abominable snowman isn’t the cutest one to choose from, even though he definitely has some redeeming qualities. In my opinion, a sleek reindeer with a bright nose is much cuter. That got me thinking…have you seen your favorite wax technician this holiday season yet?
Santa Claus is coming to town. Do you want him to see your big bush and sigh a big frown?
(there are 3 business days left to make Santa happy…)