Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Seven strangers.......

I just spent an entire weekend away with 6 women I didn't even know existed a year ago, and all we initially had in common was being carriers of FX and having children affected by it.  Writing out a check at the end of the weekend I had to ask Roxanne "So, how DO you pronounce your last name exactly?"
Because of my suspicious nature I didn't rule anyone out as a serial killer prior to the weekend (because COME ON, you never know, their neighbors always say "We had no idea! She was such a nice person!) but we all survived the weekend (at least this one) so I'm assuming a psychopath in our midst is mostly ruled out. (MOSTLY).  However, we still managed to get some local stalking in.

Our first night, out for dinner, Lola promptly checks us all in on facebook.  She immediately gets teased for possible 'safety and security' violations (celebs?), but we ARE two hours away from home and who could really be interested in a bunch of boring moms out for dinner?
Within an hour we get a round of shots delivered to our table with this note....
No one seemed to be particularly concerned at first (but paranoid me) and I'm wondering WHO THE HELL KNOWS WE ARE ALL FX MOMS?   We couldn't figure out who it was or recognize anyone, until (finally) Lola got up off her ass and saw Ed Hanrahan hiding at the bar, a long time Fragile X advocate from Massachusetts!  How bizahhhh! We hung out with Ed and 'enjoyed' the band playing 70's muzak.

Later that night we enjoyed the fruits of our newest addiction 'Pinterest' - gummy bears soaked in vodka.  YUM! Only up until 2 am...maybe later...


Then of course I can't sleep and am up at 8am.  Portsmouth is a beautiful old New England seaside town, cobble stoned streets lined with tiny pricey storefronts.  We parked at the hotel and walked all weekend. 


We ate breakfast at the coolest and funkiest breakfast joint (the grease smell only lingered in our hair for half the day) and proceeded to walk, shop, talk and eat through the streets of Portsmouth for the entire weekend. 

The strange thing after hanging out with everyone for a while is it's tough to figure out who's the bigger bitch - I mean 'most assertive woman.'  I found it interesting all  the women are very opinionated and don't hesitate in direct requests.  It must come with the territory - you have to speak up to get what you want for your kids, or else they won't get it.  If you aren't an advocate, you'll have to become one.
It's also strange because we only know the 'post FX' women, not the women we were 'before' this whole waved crashed on us.  I'm always curious to know the women inside the moms.  




Requisite bathroom shot with the flamingos, of course. I'm still 13 years old deep down.




 
Caution - must love shopping to hang with this gang.....Store after store after store after store.  Naps were needed by some...
Cecelia insisted on a palm reading and Aimee had hers read also.  The rest of us listened intently in the waiting room as the 'pyschic' was clearly grasping at straws - or at least her ball was foggy that day - as she told them their 'children were academically advanced' and asked "Are your parents sick?" "No" "Well, they will be."

As we were departing and trying to not outright laugh in the charlatan's face, Cecelia rummaging through her purse for her wallet - Aimee quipped "I foresee your wallet getting lighter!" 

At least I made it out the door before snorting.


Saturday afternoon I attempted to ban any talk of children or bodily functions/fluids (UNLESS it was your own)....so you know what we ended up talking about...political and religious debates....yeahhhhhhhh suuuuuuuuuuuuurre.  Honestly, I can't disclose the subjects as to protect the guilty. 




Good motto for us all...

 
Saturday night and dinner at the waterfront River House....

"Mainly Blues" drinks.


The view from our hotel rooms, overlooking downtown Portsmouth and Market Square...Only up until 2 am...or later...once again.  So much for catching up on sleep!

Brunch our final morning at The Blue Mermaid Restaurant - Can you feel the love?  Husbands frantically texting "When are you coming home?" and NONE of us wanted to leave.  We had a relaxing wonderful weekend, laughed our asses off, and completely enjoyed each others company.  Strangers become friends.

If we ever all happen to 'coincidentally go missing' at the exact same time, we will NOT be living in a sister wives commune in NH.  DO NOT look for us there (or anywhere tropical....).
Love these ladies.








25 comments:

  1. I am insanely Jealous Kathleen....that I wasn't there with you guys!!!

    Sounds a total blast from start to end.

    I'm meeting up with couple of FX'ers on saturday but we're taking the kids so no drink poos for us haha (It's Kerry P by the way!!!)
    xxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Kerry I knew it was you! :) You GOTTA ditch the kids! But getting together is still great!

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  2. so awesome- so glad you had fun and that you took the time to be together!! can't wait to meet you at advocacy day.

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    1. I know Amy! Soon, soon you will be flesh and not just a person living in my computer!

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  3. Loved reading this! Kathleen, I'm so thrilled you all had such a good time! It's sooooo important to do things like this and make those connections in person too! I love hanging with my FX momma friends....sometimes they are the only ones who get it! See you in DC!

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    1. Thanks Paula! These women help keep me sane (well, relatively speaking)! Looking forward to meeting you in DC!

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    2. Green with envy! Sounds like you all had a great time; now you'll need a few days rest to catch up on the sleep you lost on your 'relaxing weekend' :o) xx

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    3. Thanks Dorinda! We are very lucky to live so close to each other!

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  4. Soooooo happy you all had so much fun, well deserved!

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  5. How FANTASTIC, Kathleen.

    Way to run me through a range of emotions at 5:30 in the morning!

    I am a friend of Cecelia.

    Yes, I do dislike the name of your blog, even with its explanation, and am grossed-out by it. However, I am VERY literal and don't like racial/religious slurs, even when people of that race/religion are using them, so that is just me. (I get the whole "taking the word/term back and thus claiming its power for yourself and making it not powerful" explanation, I don't live under a rock, I just don't buy it and the anger simmering underneath DOES give power to a phrase...) anyway that's my opinion and that and a quarter will buy you 15 minutes in a parking spot, right, so live and let live...

    THEN I was moved by your Maslow quote -- it's beautiful and something I have been seeing myself in these past few years, so its lovely to read and thank you for encapsulating that feeling for me.

    THEN I found your writing really funny and down-to-earth and warm. I love that you took a picture of the note -- I wanted to hear and see more and more about your weekend.

    Go get 'em; I look forward to reading the further adventures of Hot (you all ARE beautiful, is that a coincidence?) Fragile X Moms.

    Maria

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    1. Hi Maria! Yes, my blog title is quite controversial and I have debated changing it (I can't even say it out loud!) but it seems to serves its purpose - provocation!
      And THANK YOU! It's quite the roller coaster we are all on, I think the blog reflects that!
      And YES, they ARE all hot babes aren't they!??
      Thank you for your comment!

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  6. Maria.and Kathleen ..i continue to get notes from parents and profesdionals discusted with the title. One parent said google images will pull up pictures of your family by typing in the " r " word. Scares you cant hide on the internet.

    I worry that your clients are offended where you work and uour daughter thoughts.

    But you know what is best for you. Best of luck..

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    1. You 'continue to get notes'? Let me know what you are the ambassador of, and feel free to slide me the 'notes' in study hall later. I also get 'notes' - in the forms of comments and emails! And who the hell is google imaging pix of the 'r-word'? Weirdness. I'll play along with you though, k?

      At this point, both my boss and my boss's boss (company president) read my blog, AND I still have a job. I also run my own business, and my boss there sometimes think this whole blog business can be a pain in the ass (ya feel me?), but I usually over rule that voice in her head.

      As far as my clients - very few clients have actually seen the BSP article/this blog. Clients are in therapy for THEIR own problems, not to hear about mine. For those who had seen it, I was surprised by the relief expressed by those who had read it. They were relieved that their therapist understood emotional pain. Many of them told me they made an effort to stop saying the 'r word.' And to put it bluntly some of them said they felt better about their own lives ;)

      Thanks for your 'concern.' Best of luck to you!

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  7. Her clients, and anyone elae that know her, know how kind and loving she is - therfore they know the "tone" in which this blog is written. Clients go to see her because they are in pain, and she helps them NOT be in pain. They, more than most, would know the title wasderuved fromthat kind of pain. I think, if anything, it makes her more relatable, and more likely to listen and help people

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    1. Aw, thanks! I always thought my clients knew I was pretty crazy, turns out I hid it better then I thought!

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  8. I decided to actually put the google images theory to the test. I googled "retarded" - no images of your family appeared. I googled "the r word" - no images of your family appeared - HOWEVER - you will be pleased to know that "the r word" brough up images of Jane Lynch (Glee) and (wait for it....) President Obama. SO - if your family ever DOES appear on there, you are in good company. And - I have to say - I REALLY wish I had so few problems in my OWN life that I had the time, and energy to gossip about a fragile X blog to other "parents and professionals". And I'm just going to be VERY catty here (you've been warned). I find it hard to believe someone that thinks the word disgusted is spelled with a "C" can be ALL that professional. (oh yes I DID! SNAP)

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  9. You have a boss when you are self employed? How does that work?

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    1. I have two jobs. And the whole 'boss at my own business' - um, it's a joke. (hint hint, I'M my boss there.)

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  10. Did you hear that? That was the sound of the boss joke going right over my head. I couldn figure out how someone aelf employed had a boss. Well at least you hve a nice boss!

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  11. It is AMAZING to me that so many are up in arms regarding the title of your blog, and not the fact that people are roaming around calling each other "retards" when they do something silly, which is a direct slam on our kiddos. The focus should be placed firmly on the issues, not on the label given the road used to bring about attention to the problem. But yes, it must be nice being able to sit and play the part of PC Police while we are fighting for our childrens place in this world. Oh, to have that kind of time...
    YOU GO QUINN!!!!! Do not let the "naysayers" get you down-there are many women out there nodding their heads as they read your blog, recognizing all that you say as their truths. MY truth.

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    1. See this woman who posted above me?? ^ Ms. Packard? SHE is why I keep writing this blog - for the moms in my 'real' life who share my struggles and whom I love immensely...THANKS TERRI! You rock.

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  12. Just keep writing Sistah!! I predict this "little blog" thing of yours turning into a book! Ah, to think, I'll be able to say, "I knew her when..."

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  13. I see her making the talk show round (The View, Dr. Phil) or a segment on 20/20.

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  14. I just LOVED reading this entry. So glad you had this time away - I know how much you needed it. Seeing this is helping me to not feel so badly about our decision to leave the twins behind with Michael when I go to SC for Jimmy's wedding. My heart is breaking, but I need the break (and sleep) so badly (I'm delusional at this point). Hope I have half the fun you did... Love you!!

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