My New Friend

You know how someone starts to tell a story and they yammer on endlessly and you wonder if they will ever get to the point? Yeah, well. This is one of those. You’ve been forewarned. 😀

Did you ever watch “Sanford and Son”, the old TV show with Redd Foxx 🦊as the main character Fred G. Sanford? And when he said his name, he would always say “and the G stands for….” and insert whatever word or phrase came to mind, i.e. “Gonna give you 5 across your lip👊 !” or “Get outta my house”, you get the drift. I always absolutely LOVED that. I loved the way he misbehaved yet tried to be good and loved his family – in his own way. Okay, so why did I mention all that? I warned you, taking the long road to get to the point!

My 9th grade English Teacher was Gail Russell Pack. Those who knew her probably either loved her or despised her. I get it. She was a force to be reckoned with. She had strong opinions and would listen to opposing opinions, but if she was right, she was right. I loved how she stuck to her guns. I adored her. I recently made a list of heroes and monsters where my writing is concerned. Heroes are those who were/are supporters and encouragers. Monsters were the opposite, the ones who torpedoed my confidence at some point. I digress.

Gail made the heroes list. She had us journal 📓daily that year. And on the front of our journals, she has us write “A lot is two words.”, something I always let her know I appreciated!! She always praised and encouraged my journal writing, even when she disagreed with me. After that year, when we’d cross paths, she’d always ask if I was writing, and always said I needed to be doing it. We connected on Facebook, and became friends instead of just teacher/student. She was the Spanish teacher for my three home schooled children. And she still always, always encouraged me to write.

Made it this far? Slow news day, right? Hang with me, we’re getting there. So, Gail’s birthday🎈 ? September 7th, day before mine. We loved that. And yes. I said loved. Past tense in all this. Gail passed away last year, July 11, 2019, sometime around 3 a.m. I know. You’re asking, “What does that have to do with Sanford & Son?” I’m getting there.

I just finished a 12 week class called “The Artist’s Way.” Life changing, a story for another day. In the class, I was encouraged to find or buy a trinket of some sort that I would treasure and it would remind me to treasure me as I would it. In treating the object well, it would remind me to treat myself well. I would treat this with love, kindness, respect, grace – and in doing so, do the same to me. Great idea, right?

I looked on Amazon at a thousand things, you know, pandemic and all I’m not out doing a ton of shopping. Struck out on Amazon. Had to run to the Dollar General for a bag of ice, so I masked up, went in and decided to browse for just a minute. At the back of the store, they had some $1 mini garden figures, mostly gnomes and faeries. They had been pretty picked over, many were broken. I saw one and was immediately drawn to him. He was sitting in a post looking like he was meditating. Doing something I’ve learned in the last year I need to make time for doing for me, but don’t always do. I picked him up and sat him down again, and opted for picking up and setting back down several others. I knew. He was the one. I paid for him and for the ice and brought him home.

It sounds corny, but we immediately became the best of friends. Yes, he talks to me. He’s the voice of reason for me most mornings. He tells me I can take the time to write, to meditate – yeah, that constant pose says I gotta meditate every day. He tells me to light the candles I love. He’s a very calming and peaceful guy. He needed a name.

I thought about my writing heroes and Gail popped into my mind first. I know Gayle is a guy’s name, but it didn’t fit. But Russell? Yes! Perfect! And then it clicked. I wanted him to be Russell G – and the G stands for whatever he wants it to stand for in the moment. Just like Fred G. Sanford would do. And so, my friends, I’d like you to meet Russell G – he says the G stands for “Great to meet you.”

I’m going to share my space here with him from time to time. He’s got a few stories and opinions to share. I have him sitting on a desk liquor tequila🍸 in a shot glass pedestal right where I do my writing. He’s on a pedestal, to keep me remember to put myself on a pedestal. Treat ourselves well. He and I will share that shot one day with a celebration for an accomplishment or a change of pedestal, when the occasion is right. He says to tell you guys that he’s always looking out for my best interest, and he’ll encourage me and inspire me to write, learn, grow, love and fight for what’s right, just like his namesake did.

He does have a lot on his mind, he’ll share some of this thoughts soon. His words are wise, and kind, and he thinks a little outside the box. He loves his new home with me and my family. Our only issue is my extreme desire for him to wear socks🧦 , and he refuses. Sometimes, we just have to accept our differences, not hold them against each other, and keep loving and moving forward – don’t we? Russell G – and the G stands for Gratitude, says that he’s “Gonna see you down the road a bit. Good day!!”