Prologue: Charlotte Cindy Blueberry

Prologue: Charlotte Cindy Blueberry
She had always been proud of her hair. It wasn’t like other little girls hair, and that is what made it so special. Others had gleaming, straight locks pulled into perfectly manicure pig tails and braids. Colorful bows and other fancy embellishments adorned the tresses the color chocolate, berry, and pineapple. But, that wasn’t the case with CeeCee. Atop her head was a mess of sandy colored curls wound so tightly brushes would cower at the prospect of running their bristles through it for fear of breaking. Some referred to CeeCee’s hair as a “rats nest.” Or, they would comment that perhaps she had stuck her finger in a light socket, for it definitely seemed to stand up of its own free will. No, she hadn’t stuck her finger in a light socket, but as for her hair having free will, well that was the truth.

Charlotte Cindy Blueberry. That was her full name. Charlotte was after her great grandmother, Cindy after her mother’s best friend, and then Blueberry. That was her father’s last name, and his father’s last name before that, and again before that. That was the only reason for it. However, if you put Charlotte Cindy Blueberry all together it was a bit of a mouthful. The first person to call her CeeCee, was her Grandfather, and quite on accident. After a rather grueling mouth surgery to get rid of an even more grueling molar, and under the influence of a few strong medications that numbed the mouth shockingly well, he had tried to call Charlotte Cindy to get him a glass of lemonade. What he got wasn’t lemonade but a hand grenade and he hadn’t called for Charlotte Cindy at all, but for CeeCee. No one recalls where the little girl found the hand grenade or what her grandfather did with it after being handed it. But, the name followed around Charlotte Cindy like a lost puppy and has been her ever faithful companion since. This happened when CeeCee was six, and she was now coming up on her 13th birthday.

When a girl turns 13, she has so much to look forward to and yet so much more to leave behind. Growing into a young woman is fun, thrilling, and terrifying. It was fun to think of boys, breasts, make-up, shaving of legs, gossip and becoming a teen. It was thrilling to think of boys, breasts, make-up, shaving of legs, gossip and becoming a teen. It was terrifying to think of boys, breasts, make-up, shaving of legs, gossip and becoming a teen. New adventures and information starts to mature that little girl into well, something more mature. She is starting to think for herself and make decisions that can affect who she may become.

The very sad truth of it all is that as a girl becomes a woman she leaves behind the girl. She forgets about the childlike spark that used to claim her as adorable. She may still cling to the idea that she is a princess and she never stops imagining Prince Charming is coming to rescue her from her tower. But, the woman forgets to remember the wistful mind and ever entertained personality. Her personality is not the only thing that changes, but her appearance does as well. The once carefree braids and pony tails get taken out and are straightened into more grown-up styles. Hair now hangs flowing down a young woman’s back and is perfumed with strawberry shampoo all the celebrities’ newest scents. CeeCee was like other girls in that she was very excited at the prospect of growing up. However, her hair had something else in mind.

No matter how CeeCee pulled, brushed, heated, stretched and ironed her hair, it wouldn’t relent. It still stuck out of her head like a perfect impersonation of Albert Einstein. She spent a few weeks hating her mop of curls, but in the end she gave into them. She allowed her hair to twirl, dance, and frolic from her scalp. She did accessorize a bit. She added an occasional headband and even had the local salon weave some highlights of gold and amber into it. She especially liked to wear her hair in a single pony tail pulled together at the mid-back of her head. The curls seemed impatient to be loose from the bonds of a hair band and formed a giant, messy pom-pom. But, her favorite way to wear her hair was down and free from any barrettes or braids. The strands took on a mind of their own and became a unique array of kinks that turned nearly every head.

“Is it natural?” people would ask CeeCee when they beheld her hair. And, of course, it was. You see, CeeCee’s hair was refusing to grow-up. It was staying the same way it had been when she was three and playing with Barbies. It remained like it was when at seven she tramped around the house with her Mother’s best sheet wrapped around her to resemble the perfect evening gown and a string of pearls wrapped around her head like a crown. Her luscious locks even recalled when she used to pretend like the vacuum was an enchanted artifact that would render anyone who touched it completely lost in never ending slumber. No matter how old CeeCee got, her hair was always young. Luckily, a bit of that hairs determination to hold onto youth, also rubbed off onto CeeCee. She had always been proud of her hair, but it may have put her into a few more scrapes that she was proud to admit.

Come back for more of the story . . .

What I'll Miss About Des Moines

Long walks around Grays Lake. This place is especially enchanting at night when the lights are up on the bridge. I will miss walking around in the Summer and hearing the roaring buzz of the cicadas in the trees. Funny that I will miss that, I used to hate it.

My favorite store and the place I always found the best deals ever. I'm pretty sure there aren't Gordmans in Washington. But, how knows. Maybe I will find one here someday.

Fireworks Friday Nights at the Cubs games. Good old Principal Park. This picture makes the Ball-Park look a lot bigger than I remember. Still cool though.

Greenwood Pond. This is my ultimate favorite place in Des Moines. I could come here and spend hours just walking around and looking at all the animals and pretty scenery. Just up the hill from the pond is the Rose Garden and Art Center. Places that Bryce and I frequented while living in Iowa. My favorite time of year is spring because of the new life and the animals. Greenwood Pond always had turtles, frogs, birds, ducks, geese, and anything else you could ever want to see in Iowa.

One of my favorite trails to run on. The Riley Trail. This picture doesn't even do the beauty of this place justice. I would more often than not see deer in the woods watching me run and raccoons scamper away as I passed. I felt all alone, yet surrounded by the comfort of this beautiful place. This trail has seen many miles from my old asics.

The Salisbury house is so fun to walk around and so close to our old apartment.
Those of you who are still in Iowa and have not walked around this place yet, need to right now. I always felt like I was stepping back in time and I was Elizabeth Bennett. You can just imagine Mr. Darcy is about to turn the corner and propose. Not that I need a Mr. Darcy, I've got something much better.

My favorite weekend activity. An Iowa Cubs game. Why a game is better than a movie. #1:Cheaper #2:Outdoors #3:Shooting Hot Dogs and T-shirts #4:You can be as loud as you want, no one shushing you #5:Dancing and singing so you can be shown on the Mega-tron. #6:Lots of people watching #7:Every game is Family Freindly, they don't have to come with a rating #8:Aren't the first seven enough.

My lovely Cardinals. I will miss you most of all. I will miss them waking me up in the morning and calling to me when I get a little too close. It is such a thrill to see this bright red wonder amidst the flood of green that engulfs Iowa's skyline. Everywhere you look you see green, and it is breathtaking. But, it is better still to look a the green and see a spot of red flashing through and singing a song to you.

Feels Like Home To Me

Moving to a new place is always a little disorienting. There is no way to know where you are going, which road to take, where all your familiar spots are. It is a lonely feeling. I moved quite a bit when I was young, and then Bryce and I have moved a lot since we have been married. I thought that maybe I would be used to it by now and it wouldn't even phase me. But, this morning as I was unpacking our suitcases in an unfamiliar apartment with strangers walking outside my window, I felt that ever pressing loneliness growing in my belly. It wasn't a good feeling and I wanted so to stave it off. So, I took a quick shower to gather my senses and then decided that we needed a few necessities. And, where do you go for all your necessities . . . WAL-MART of course. Bryce and I typed the address to a Wal-Mart close by and took off. As we pulled into the parking lot I could feel that pressing in my stomach begin to subside. Then, as we walked into the automatic glass doors and were greeted by a friendly "welcome to Wal-Mart" I took a great sigh of relief. This, this place, it feels a little like home doesn't it.