A Week of Firsts

Anthony (hubs) and I enjoy sharing 'firsts' together. This week held a few first experiences for us...

FIRST book signing event we've ever held. ✅
FIRST time we've had conflicting kid schedules.✅
FIRST time I've found a hair stylist I truly trust.✅
FIRST autographed Mary Higgins Clark book.✅
FIRST autographed Dean Koontz book.✅
FIRST time my 8-year-old daughter played in a soccer match.✅
FIRST time winning on a slot machine.✅

Starting with last Friday, I finally found a hair stylist/colorist I really hit it off with and completely trust to do an amazing job on my locks! (It only took 38 years.) I needed a new do and color for my upcoming book signing, and was very nervous, worried about showing up to the event with a chop shop disaster. I couldn't watch (kept my eyes locked closed through the whole appointment, from the first snip of scissors until she was ready to reveal the new look in the mirror. When my lids finally unclenched, I was soooooooo happy with the results! Aesthetic confidence for a public appearance bestowed! Thank you Janelle! 💗

Saturday, hubs, the kids, and I were shopping in a local antique mall and the thrift shop next door to it. Anthony found the first autographed Mary Higgins Clark book I've ever seen, and since she's no longer with us, I'll never get to meet my all-time fave author, so I HAD to have it. Would you believe...$5! It's going in the #treasurechest. Yes, hubs and my son built a legit treasure chest for me a couple of years ago. Only the most valuable things go in it, and they're all sentimental, not jewelry or money. Memories. Reading MHC books helped me through many difficult youth and young adult years, so she earned a place in my chest (heart included).💗 Also scored an autographed Dean Koontz novel!

Wednesday, nerves wracked me to the core as my first ever book signing approached. Hubs was amazing, though, and helped calm me so much. He lugged the cases full of books, swag and table dressings he'd bought for 'someday'. Then someday was here. Real. He set up my table, backdrop and coordinated with Brandon Jordan, the evening's music performer, did a little light coaching, then handed everything over to me. Crazy how life's little geckos morph into fire-breathing dragons in your mind from fear of the unknown. Alas, everything went so smoothly, and I enjoyed interacting with everyone so much that I'm totally looking forward to the next event. Of course, there were lessons learned about preparation, pre-staging and organization, but small potatoes compared to how much fun it was!

Thursday evening was a hair-pulling first. I've always been careful about scheduling, especially with my kids' activties, but with two girls in karate class, my youngest in a soccer match, my oldest teen needing a ride home from his fast food job, and hubs still at work, I found myself in a first-time pickle. Ultimately, everyone got where they needed to be, albeit a few minutes late back and forth across town, and I got my youngest to her game in time to play. Stress melted humorously as my 8-year-old entertained herself - and everone in the stands - dancing, doing cheer routines and even hamming it up in bodybuilding and sumo wrestler poses every time the action was on the opposite end of the field. Soccer Mom facepalm. The most fascinating part was when the ball was on her end of the pitch, she was a tenacious little monster stealing the ball and kicking it forward up the field!

Finally, Friday night, Anthony and I enjoyed karaoke together at a nearby spot that has slot games. I'd never won anything in my two other times in my life going to casinos, but last night I won a hundred bucks! Woo-hoo!

All-in-all, a good week, and today I'm working on the feature article for a literary genre magazine, requested by the editor-in-chief. Also a FIRST. No pressure.

Roll Tide!
LLIL
Lynessa