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Author Archives: Vicki Hamlin

Twenty.

10 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by Vicki Hamlin in Beauty in the Dishsoap, Family Ties, Stuff I Want to Tell You About

≈ 3 Comments

 

On our wedding day: ages 30 and 26

In Korea: ages 43 and 39

Our 20th Anniversary: ages 50 and 46

I saw a very funny comedy bit recently about marriage. The comedian was madly in love and in a moment of overwhelming rapture ran to his partner and said “I love you! It’s the kind of love that comes around once in a lifetime! I never want to spend a single day without you! I think we should get the government involved.” And they got married.

When Guy and I got married we already owned a house and had a dog. We had our reception in our backyard and several of the rooms in our house had no furniture, which was great because it was full of wedding-goers and for several days what is now our front room served as a lively space for dance parties. It feels like yesterday.

Love surprises me. The highs are higher and the lows are lower than I imagined they’d be, but at the end of every day, I still turn to Guy and thank the universe that he’s the one I’m on the roller coaster with.

Middle age does sort of compel me to look backwards more than I used to. It also makes me wonder about choices I’ve made, roads I’ve traveled, things I’ve said yes (or no) to, and consider how things might have turned out differently. But when I go back to being 25 in my mind, I don’t hesitate about this decision. I choose Guy every time.

 

 

 

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All the Way Gray

17 Sunday Jun 2018

Posted by Vicki Hamlin in Beauty in the Dishsoap, Stuff I Want to Tell You About

≈ 5 Comments

I will turn 46 years old on the 21st of June, and memories of The Old Port and turning *21 on the 21st* are currently running loops in my head. One of my roommates at the time bought me gift: a drink called a Mind Eraser, and it went so far downhill from there I called in sick for two days. Really; kids, do not try this at home.

I try not to drink like that anymore. But never say never.

I’m giving myself a gift this year. It has nothing to do with vodka or coffee liqueur, or ruining any clothing, the interior of a cab, ahem, a carpet or my pride. I just thank my lucky stars handheld connections to the internet did not exist.

My gift to myself this year is this: letting my hair go gray. Embracing what is.

And what is, I suppose, if I overthink it: clear indication I’m that much closer to the finish line of life, but it honestly doesn’t feel that way. It feels more like dropping a lead coat from my shoulders and shaking free. Moving lightly. Freedom. It’s gray hair for god’s sake. It’s not crippling degenerative disease. For whatever reason, I was mostly gray at 35, and that’s just the way of things. I’ve fought it long enough.

Here’s my new haircut and my new gray hair, free of any and all color. It’s reeeaallllly short, but hey, it’s summer.

I have no plans to color my hair ever again. But never say never.

It’s 76 degrees, and I’m bundled up because I have a fever. That’s a delirious smile right there.

 

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Things I Could Gold Medal In

21 Wednesday Feb 2018

Posted by Vicki Hamlin in Beauty in the Dishsoap, Stuff I Want to Tell You About

≈ 2 Comments

I like winter Olympics. (I LOVE summer Olympics, but winter will do.) I’m consistently impressed by athletes and their abilities, and always have been. Chloe Kim? I mean, jeeZUM. Awesome in the true sense of the word.

I’m equally impressed, I’ll add, by the athletes who train their entire lives to never medal, to never have their short biographies flashed up on the tv screen, the ones who give their sport everything they’ve got but may not ever be remembered for it. I like those athletes. Can you imagine missing a gold medal by .34 of a second – and having, say, seven other athletes between you and the sparkle? It’s good to remember: ALL the athletes in Pyeongchang are the world’s best. Out there doing what they love.

Sigh. I love the Olympics.

If training hours are all equal, I’d say I’ve got more than a solid shot at some bling to hang around my neck. These are the things I think I’m a serious contender in:

  1. Creative Draping of Plants Over Lampshades
  2. Ignoring the Painting that Needs Doing
  3. Books-to-be-read Stacking
  4. Leftovers Reheating
  5. Gum Chewing
  6. Furniture Rearranging
  7. Squishing Dishes into the Dishwasher
  8.  Obsessive Counter Cleaning
  9. Dog Snuggling
  10. Ass Sitting (a dual event, really, along with “and Mindless Internet Surfing”)

Granted, I’m on vacation. There might be other, more world-stage-worthy events I could be considered for when I’m not in my pajamas. And hey, maybe these events don’t need trial runs or the aforementioned training. Still. I’m nothing if not committed.

What about you? Let’s get creative. Let’s make some Winter Olympic events of our own.

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