Emergency Compliments

On my birthday, my friend Brian sent me a link to

Emergencycompliment.com

I clicked through a few and chuckled.

And then I got to this one

and, promptly burst in to tears.

{of course.}

I took a screenshot of it, 

and, then, forgot about it.

Until about a week ago 

when I was searching for a new phone wallpaper

and I saw this...

and it caught me again.

So, now, there it is...

every time I look at my phone.

I think, deep down, I believe it,

but it's taken days of seeing it several dozen times

{I look at my phone a lot}

for it to even begin to feel true.

And I love that it's getting there:

to feeling like the truth.

So I thought I'd share...

Just in case you were in need of some truth, too.

The Day I Met John Mayer

Yesterday someone mentioned that St Patrick's Day is coming up. Of course, a few hours later, as I drove to lunch, John Mayer's "St Patrick's Day" was stuck in my head. As I thought about the song, I remembered a story about a crazy {crazy} 20-year old girl.

And so, here's a little trip down memory lane...with a pit stop in Bonkers. {You should probably press play on the link above so you can hear John's voice as you travel back in time.}

When I was 19 {and 20 and 21 and probably even 22} I loved John Mayer. I saw him in concert several times and knew all of his songs by heart.

In 2003, while I was studying in London, some friends and I bought tickets to see him. Of course, we were fully prepared to sing, be noticed for knowing more about John Mayer than anyone else and--probably--get asked to hang out after the show. Obviously.

We stood outside after the show, ready to meet the band.

John came out and talked to us for a few minutes. He signed my ticket.

I gave him a shirt that said, "Proud Member of the Allison Fan Club" {which, looking back, I'd imagine he handed to another girl a few people down the row from me, but definitely did not throw in the trash} and I asked him to play "St Patrick's Day" as an encore the next time he was in Los Angeles. He agreed. {I made very sure to note this in my scrapbook--along with the fact that he was "very cool".}

I didn't go to his next LA show--but not because I had lost my love for his music...and I'll prove it to you:

The night after he played in Los Angeles, I looked up the set list online. I just knew that he had played it. I could feel it. John Mayer is not one to make a promise and then break it, right? If he tells a girl at a show in London that he will play a specific song nearly a year later at a show in Los Angeles then he will do it.

And you know what, you guys?

He did it.

He freaking did it.

I was so certain that he had played it just for me--well, not as certain as I was that he wore that Proud Member of the Allison Fan Club shirt frequently--but certain enough to announce to a room of people that he had, in fact, played the song just like he'd promised.

I was, as expected and deserved, mocked for this declaration. Nevertheless, I still believed in my heart that he and I had a special connection in that back alley in London. A connection that had stuck with him several months later and had helped him to craft his set for the LA show.

Looking back, I can't help but roll my eyes at my naiveté...at my silly innocence coupled with arrogance.

But one of these days, he will be photographed wearing a T-shirt with my face on it...

And then you'll see--
You'll all see.

Paperman

I haven't seen many of the nominees for this year's Academy Awards, but I am rooting for this sweet Disney story to win Best Animated Short Film.

via A Cup Of Jo

Ode to a Ringworm: Revisited

Four years ago at this time, my seven months in Kitale, Kenya were coming to an end. I was two weeks away from moving back to California and had no idea how to prepare to return "home" {a term that had become so subjective.} Though, I did know that the next two weeks were going to hold many goodbyes and what would feel like an ocean of tears.

Around this same time, my face began to itch. I wrote it off as a mosquito bite because, well, there were a million mosquitoes around all the time...but instead of itching less as the days went on, like a typical bite, it was getting bigger and itchier.

One afternoon, our friend Sister Freda, said, "Oh dear. You have ringworm!" It was about the size of a quarter in the middle of my right cheek. And it was a beaute!

I explained to Steve, our team leader, that Freda had told me that I would know it was healing when it stopped itching. His response was classic: "Well, then I've had ringworm in my butt for 40 years because it itches everyday!" 

Steve is incredibly memorable.

****

Four years ago, yesterday, I wrote this blog post.

****

Steve came in this morning, as we were leaving, and told me to sit down because he had written me a poem.


Here it is:

There are signs that mark our journey,
As we move from land to land
Some are told and some are written
Some in ink on back or hand

One such marking I will carry,
Of Kitale--home with me.
It's a circle--It's a virus
On my cheek, for all to see.

I won't cover or deny
This tiny 'O' upon my face
It will be a sweet reminder
Of these people...of this place.

I will never forget this journey,
Or the changes that I see.
Tho' this mark will some day fade, I pray,
I know, that these children stay with me.

I cried when he read it...HE cried when he read it.
And I cried again just now...

I love Steve. I love his heart for this place. And I love his constant encouragement and passion.
It will be a great last two weeks to have him here with us.

****

I have the poem, in Steve's handwriting, framed in my bedroom.

I see it everyday...

Reading it now is still as emotional as it was the morning he read it to me.

Four years later these children are still with me.

Buried so deep in my heart.

Fortunately, the ringworm healed long ago!

Read more of my Kitale adventures here.

January Things I Love

Well, if you're in the mood for a recap of things that caught {and held} my attention in January, you are in luck, my friend...because here it is.

Albums: 
Lord Huron, Lonesome Dreams
{favorite song: Time To Run}

Dr. Dog, Be The Void
{favorite song: Lonesome}

First Aid Kit, The Lion's Roar.
{favorite song: Emmylou}

Apps:

Flow 

{Free}

Podcasts 

{more on this later}

Vine

Podcasts:

Radiolab

{Thanks Cathi}

NPR: All Songs Considered

Pray-as-you-go

Blogs:
Project ThreeSixtyFive

A Beautiful Mess

Free People


Any recommendations for February?

Here's To Happiness {by Katie}

My great friend, Katie, just recently moved away.

And, while I miss her {and her super cute little boy} like mad, 

technology has done a pretty good job of keeping us connected.

So, thank you, technology...and, of course Steve Jobs. {Oh, and also R.I.P.}

Here is Katie's list of

10 Things that make her terribly happy.

         1. An unexpected " I remembered you said you liked this!" gift.

         2. Hugs from my boy, unprompted. 

         3. Snail Mail. 

         4. When my hair curls perfectly. 

         5. A great deal on something I've had my eye on.
         6. When my husband grabs my hand and gives it a sweet kiss. 

         7. A huge iced coffee, done right. 

         8. A conversation with a friend that is 90% laughter & 10% chit chat. 

         9. HGTV 

         10. Spending anytime with my sweet sister & soul mate.

If you would like to make your list,

I'd love to post it here.

send it to:

allihibb{at}gmail.com

You Know What They Say About A Picture...

this picture is who i want to be...

the dress

gentle

relaxed

feminine

child-like

the boots

playful

ready for adventure

unafraid to get a little messy

wading deeper in to the difficult things

i really want to frame the print in my house...

as a reminder of who i want to be