Fireflies, song written by Lori McKenna

Makes me remember.

How about you?

Written by Lori McKenna / Pieces of Me 2001 Gyrox Records http://www.myspace.com/lorimckenna
Recorded by Faith Hill / Fireflies 2005 Warner Bros. Records, Inc.

"Before you met me I was a fairy princess

I caught frogs and called them prince

And made myself a queen

Before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world

And I slept in castles

And fell in love

Because I was taught to dream

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top

To capture Tinker Bell

And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye

But I could always tell

Cause I believe in fairy tales

And dreamer's dreams

Like bedsheet sails

And I believe in Peter Pan

And miracles, anything I can to get by

And fireflies

Before I grew up, I saw you on a cloud

I could bless myself in your name

And pat you on your wings

Before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud

Well life is hard and so is love

Child, believe in all these things

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top

To capture Tinker Bell

They were just fireflies to the untrained eye

But I could always tell

Cause I believe in fairy tales

And dreamer's dreams

Like bedsheet sails

And I believe in Peter Pan

And miracles, anything I can to get by . . .

And fireflies

And fireflies . . .

Before you met me I was a fairy princess

I caught frogs and called them prince

And made myself a queen

And before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world

And I slept in castles

And fell in love

Because I was taught to dream"

(CD photo: courtesy of iTunes)

In Celebration of Women!

When I think of you, my women friends, there is commonality in your wonderful, beautiful qualities. So many women try so hard every day to be more, do more, try more. I write to honor you women and inspire you to stay the course. Your efforts are worth it in so many ways. You are:

· devoted caring mothers who put your children first in all aspects of your lives even when it requires great personal sacrifice

· lovers of books, reading, and sharing your thoughts and opinions

· health advocates who take time to exercise, walk with friends, go to the gym, and who are aging beautifully (perhaps better than a lot of men our age)

· social beings who love to spend time with girlfriends (or therapists....they offer some of the same benefits)

· keepers of traditions, either passed down in families or created yourselves. Every year, you bake, invite family & friends, dress the tree, place candles in the windows, put the leaves in the table, break out the china, and iron the tablecloth. You select birthday themes according to where your child is in his life even if it means long, stressful afternoons at Jokers.

· volunteers. You run the snack shacks at games, book sales, team dinners; you coach, chair committees, sit on non-profit boards. You volunteer in the classroom or tutor special needs children. You volunteer in your communities whether by teaching reading to English-as-second-language adults newly moved to our town, biking for the American Lung Association or doing triathalons for Breast Cancer.

· rocks in the storm. You are the anchor that so many in your life are tied to -- your own parents, siblings, friends and children. Your tentacles are far reaching. You persevere, keep your heads up, and always try to see the positive. On days you're down or when you're going through a particularly bad spell on your journey, you seek means you need to carry on and do the best you can day in and day out.

What I describe, I see in so many of you women, done in your own unique ways. You are beautiful and oh, so valuable to so many. I raise a glass of Veuve Clicquot to you in a beautiful fluted glass and send my thanks for all you do to inspire and show me the way.

(photo: Valentine's Day roses)