It seemed like a good idea at the time, volunteering to host a weekend gathering of Deer Park Divas. My friends Patti and Rae started it, saying something about needing to come to Austin. We had so much fun the last time we gathered here to celebrate a friend's birthday and I've been wanting to do it again anyway.

But what was I thinking? Here I am all revved up on writing my children's book, involved in a critique group, which means reading and critiquing other people's pages besides writing my own. I'm trying to get two businesses started, plus keep up with my blog and blog friends.

I'm also in the middle of sorting through clothes, books, movies, odds and ends… what to keep (and where to keep it) and what to sell. My house is filled with cardboard boxes and housekeeping in other forms has been sorely neglected. I had to scramble to get bedrooms and bathrooms ready for a dozen overnight guests.

What, oh what, was I thinking?

I'll tell you exactly what I was thinking…

…that life is too short and friendships like these are too precious not to gather as often as possible. All the rest can wait.  I don't regret it at all.

(a few Divas at our last gathering this summer at Rae's)

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And now for my Sweet! list…

Monday: a spring-like morning in January; the joy that oozes from frisky puppies; surprising ducks on a pond; crossing off a to-do that had begun growing roots on your list

Tuesday: the flock of ducks lingering for a photo shoot; laughing with your daughter; shampoos by Clint and color/cuts by Michael; money in your pocket for some old clothes; dinner with your son and honey

Wednesday: a night of much-needed rain; singing frogs; running creeks; a laugh from a friend, just when you need it

Thursday: sunshine returning; lunch with sweet friends; finally (finally!) sorting through piles and getting your office organized; discovering a pair of earrings you overlooked in a door prize giveaway from a week ago; perfect guacamole a la your husband

Friday: the blues, pinks and golds of a morning sky; finishing cleaning your house before your guests arrive!; slumber parties with high school girlfriends when you're 52 

Saturday: I'm just guessing, because I'm writing this Friday night as I wait for the first wave of women to arrive… but I'm thinking that it's awfully sweet spending the morning with these women of my childhood. Hope you're having a sweet morning, too!

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18 responses to “What Was I Thinking? (and my weekly Sweet! list)”

  1. JillsyGirl Avatar

    have a wonderful weekend!

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  2. Agnes Avatar

    “The rest can wait” — you’re so right Barbara!

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  3. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    slumber parties with high school friends when you’re 52
    ….that is the sweetest:):):)
    hope the rest of your weekend is
    drenched in sweet grace,
    Jennifer

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  4. Gail Avatar

    How do you manage to cram so many things into your days?? I’m always exhausted reading this. Don’t know how you manage to read and critique the writing of others and still have time to write yourself.
    On a side note: I just discovered Jodi Picoult’s novels. Have you read her? If so, what are your thoughts? I can’t put her books down!

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  5. Otto von Münchow Avatar

    You are so right. We should not let a chance to meet up with good friends or people we care about, go. Although sometimes (if not most of the time) we are so busy (as it sounds like you are) that we don’t give ourselves the time to do it. But in the end I think the energy we gain from being together with people we connect with more outweighs the time we have to allocate to make it possible.

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  6. joanna jenkins Avatar

    A house full of gal pals!!! What could be better than THAT! How fun.
    jj

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  7. Lady Fi Avatar

    The rest can definitely wait!

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  8. lisleman Avatar

    Hopefully we will read about your hosting adventure after you have rested. Starting two businesses? I started one years ago that didn’t get any traction. Why two? Isn’t launching one enough?

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Technically, there are three! Or four. Depends on what you consider a business. One is the personal history business I wanted to develop. I have the name and domain but haven't finished my sample yet. The photography business kind of fell on me and I decided, why not? Then the jewelry business… easy and fun. Then there are the blogs, the books….
    What was your business?

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  10. Barbara Shallue Avatar

     Oh, they waited, alright!! But I'm so glad I didn't worry about it. Totally worth it!

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  11. lisleman Avatar

    I’ve never written a book. Technical stuff yes but never a book. But in my description of a business (what the hell do I know?) I would not call book writing a business. Is art painting a business? Publishing is the business part. But certainly your other ones are but they could be combined. A personal history could always a few good photos. I did some engineering consulting so I guess that did make a little money but honestly I didn’t pursue it very hard. One crazy idea (many ideas not too many actions) I had was to create photo montages on DVD for people. I made a few but never sold one. The most time consuming one was for my MIL’s birthday.

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I was actually going to combine the personal history and photography business, or at least umbrella them under the same name and website. Baby steps… (I know what you mean about ideas vs. action!) I think once you get to the selling part of anything, books, photographs or paintings, it can be considered a business, because if you make enough, you're going to be taxed!! 🙂
    Photo montages look like they would be very time consuming!!

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I did! Still trying to recover and another one is almost here!!
    Hope you had a good one, too!

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Ah, but then there's all the catching up to do….! (Still, no regrets!)
     

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you, Jennifer, it totally dripped in sweet (and some bittersweet) grace and friendship! Now for catching up…
    Hope you had a wonderful weekend and the next one is better!
     

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Since I'm still catching up on emails from this weekend, obviously I don't juggle everything quite as good as it seems!
    You know, I've intended to read some of her books – they're sitting on my shelves – but still haven't done it. Which one should I start with?
     

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  17. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    You are so right, Otto! As one friend put it, it's a 'restorative retreat', although not necessarily a restful one!
     

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  18. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    It really was so, so, so much fun!! Definitely no age limit on it!

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