Category 5 Temper Tantrums

With all the rainbows and marshmallows that seem to come out of my proverbial mouth I know it can seem a bit hard to believe that I am not completely in denial of all things real and painful in the world.  I would like to take this opportunity to say, yes, even princesses have selfish, pessimistic thoughts and, on occasion, prone to full on Category 5 hissy fits.  JJ and SA are painfully aware that these do exist and will testify that I go slightly insane on occasion. 

Sometimes, I just do not express my thoughts and feelings very well. I try, but in a world where words filled with selfish and vapid meanings flow so abundantly, it can feel impossible to make someone listen when you have something real to share.  I maintain that the reasons behind these fits are valid, but I admit, my reactions are not always the most reasonable. Thankfully, these fits are few and far between; maybe not quite as far apart as I would prefer, but still not the norm.

The truth is my life is pretty fantastic.  I have some of the most amazing people who have ever existed regularly interacting in my life.  I am constantly surrounded by people who have seen all the less than attractive parts of me and not only accept me but still choose to love me and welcome me into their lives.  These are people who may not know what color my eyes are, but can describe my “true colors” better than I could ever begin to express. 

I don’t know what I have done to deserve such love, but I am so very thankful and I am trying very hard to be the type of princess worthy of these gifts.  

As All Good Fairy Tales Begin...

Once upon a time there was a group of adventurous and good hearted young knights and fair maidens (as well as a Princess) who had recently started cultivating the bonds of friendship. This newly formed band of friends began their story with lots of little adventures and celebrations. One such celebration was a Gala to benefit the less fortunate families of the kingdom. With all of the knights in their best tunics and the princesses and ladies in fine gowns, the merriment of good food and drink, merry minstrels, and dancing ensued.

Towards the end of the evening, a contest of sorts was begun to see who might best provide support for these families in need. The friends rallied their resources and were able to promise a substantial amount to feed the hungry and clothe the poor of their kingdom. At the end of the contest, this group of friends found themselves rewarded for their giving hearts with a week vacation at a private cabin in the Smokey Mountains.

Preparations were made and a date for the expedition was set. But not all of the friends were destined to make this journey.  One by one, the anticipated adventurers dropped out of the band of travelers until only three were remaining for the grand adventure. Sir JJ, the Valiant; Sir SA, the strong; and Princess Brandi set out on a week-long adventure that would forever change the course of their lives.

The small band of adventurers traveled far and wide taking in the sights of the foreign mountainous land. They trekked through the wilderness to see breath taking waterfalls, wandered through small villages getting to know the villagers, traveled many miles to see the beautiful local castle, explored the gathered wonders of the aquatic world, and ventured on horseback to the heights of the mountains to view the lands from above. They delighted in feeding carrots to the local donkey wildlife and found merriment playing in the forts and games the children had built.  They even engaged in a local customer called "Black Light Mini Golf"  which, while agreeable to Princess Brandi and Sir SA, the Strong, the effects on Sir JJ, the Valiant were not so pleasing causing him to avow never to engage in this custom again. 

While all of these adventures were exciting and delightful, the true magic of the trip was found in the fireside talks that went on deep into the night. Open and unfiltered sharing of life experiences, views on the world, and struggles of everyday life (as well as a little wine) spurred the friends to grow deeper and deeper in their friendship until setting the beginnings of solid almost unbreakable bonds. By the end of this adventure, Princess Brandi and the Nerds in Shining Armor had been transformed from a band of congenial acquaintances to true friends with a bond unlike any other.

In the words of Sir JJ, the Valiant, "Myeah, see? Myeah!"

Guerrilla Befriending

I have told you about how S.A. and I became friends, now, here is the way JJ and I became friends. *Disclaimer* If you ask him, I am sure he will have an entirely different take on the matter, but he is not the Princess, now, is he?

Like I have said before, princesses meet a lot of people in their day to day lives and I am no different in this respect. I have also said that sometimes it takes time for a person to come into focus; JJ is not one of these people. He announced his presence and made it know he was going to be my friend, regardless of how I felt on the matter. He’s good like that.

Like S.A., I met JJ through the young adults group at my church. He was freshly out of college and setting out to make his mark on the world. While it is true that I met JJ a couple of years before I became friends with him, as I was acquainted with his older brother, prior to this time, our four year age difference put us at significantly different places in life. When JJ graduate from college and started being an “adult” (i.e. having to buy his own toilet paper) it seemed he had a mission in life to make new friends and I was one of the targets.

I am not sure that there was an exact time that I could pinpoint to JJ becoming my friend, he just did. One day he decided that we were friends and “so it was written and so it shall be done.” Game nights, dinner out, movie nights, and barbeques… it was as if he was an activities coordinator for a while until his targets forgot that we weren’t all lifelong friends. His open heart, crazy laugh, and eager acceptance of each of us just as we are made it difficult to do anything other than love him. So… that is what I did.

I am very thankful for his seek and destroy (or befriend as the case may be) approach to making friends; I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world!

Nerds: The Unsung Heroes of Princesses Everywhere

Being a self-proclaimed princess has some disadvantages. Not everyone sees my worth and the things that I hold dear do not always translate well to the rest of society. Thankfully, In my life I have stumbled across some charmingly odd individuals who not only accept my "outside of normal" approach to life, but actually embrace and encourage it. While they may not quite experience the same joy I do from performing full choreography while completing most any of life’s mundane deeds, they delight in my quirks and find me rather entertaining.

I find them a fascinating people, little known to the general population. They speak a language unknown to the masses and routinely shy from the public eye. Their abilities and capabilities are often coveted by mainstreamers and frequently harnessed by the government. While I like to call them by their given names, most people call them nerds.

Two, in particular, have become rather integral parts in the shenanigans of this princess. JJ and SA appeared separately in my world and through a series of adventures, misadventures, drinking, and silly songs have become some of the most important people in my life. They frequently speak a language completely foreign to me but are so very patient while I learn. They stand by me even when I erupt into a full on, category five, temper tantrum; offer unconditional love and support the best they know how; and when lofty dreams crumble at my feet, they manage to make me laugh when all I really want to do is cry.

So, while they not be celebrated champions by the rest of the world, they will always be my nerds in shining armor.

Boys Aren't So Bad...

I like boys.  I don't mean I am a heterosexual, which I am by the way. I mean that I particularly enjoy the company of the male persuasion. I just got back from lunch with my friend JJ and I am again struck by how much more elemental guys are when compared to their female counterparts.

I have always had many male friends, even since I was a child.  So much that my male friends usually out number my female friends. More often than not, my best friends have been male and, to be honest, I prefer it that way. I love that boys are ok with not talking, disappearing for days on end, being stupid and disgusting, and, most importantly, instinctively understand the value of just hanging out and doing nothing as part of a meaningful relationship.

Guys are always themselves, wherever they are. A guy geek is a geek at home, at work, at the bar, or at a party. He might be a little more reserved with the geek-speak with strangers... but, for the most part, he is who he is wherever he is. It is this truthfulness and uncomplicatedness of guys that I really appreciate and seek out. In most situations not involving sex, guys left to their own devices are honest and genuine, granted sometimes painfully so, but always straightforward. It seems it is the girls that mess this bit up the most.

Anyway, I know guys get a lot of flak from chicks about their lack of refinement, so I just wanted to say to (most) all guys:

 "I like you. Just the way you are. Please don't change yourself for some stupid girl. I promise, if she wants you to change, she isn't worth changing for."