Where Is Sharon, Where Is Sharon? There She Is, There She Is....

Since 2007 began, I have traveled to Dallas (twice), Chicago (twice), Ohio (three times), Omaha (0nce), Wichita (once), Puerto Rico (once), and Newark/New York (once). The fact of the matter is that I am a wanderlust. I love to go, to see new things, to meet new people.

While in Dallas, I visited with family [shout-outs to Junior, Diane, and Jodie], and tried to get a face to face meeting with one of the smartest bloggers I read DP of "Parrish, The Thoughts" and his fiancee Diva E which unfortunately was not to be.


In Chicago, I laid my head at one of my favorite hotels, The Intercontinental and had my first experience with a Hard Rock Hotel [which I found to be fun and a bit off the beaten trail as hotels go]. While there I also finally got to experience the stage production "WICKED" which I had been trying to catch for the last couple of years. I highly recommend it [even if like me you were unable to get into the book] especially if you, like me, are a lifelong fan of "The Wizard of Oz". It is a prequel that is as far away as you can get from what I would have imagined the backstory to be.


In Ohio [Columbus and Springfield], I spent time with the PO. Some of that time was quite difficult as we navigated some of those relationship moments that make you wonder if GOD's plan for two-by-two is way off the mark. Some of that time was representative of the most peaceful and contented moments I have ever spent on this planet and made Ms. Just Write Now feel as JUST RIGHT as she is ever likely to feel. All of that time was invaluable in bringing me ever more closely to absolute certainty that the PO is the one for me.

My jaunt to Omaha was all about the business of business. A quick meeting with my boss that solidified what I already knew, Ms. Just Write Now has hit her stride on the corporate track and things in that area are going along according to plan.

Wichita and Puerto Rico were both the result of the second gig I have taken on this year to earn some extra cash on the side so I can get myself more quickly to the Nirvana of good credit and solid financial footing that one of my favorite bloggers [Chele] spoke about in this recent post, "Reflections" on her site. Blessed by a good friend [that would be you Lacey] who referred me to this opportunity, I have been too busy to blog because of the impact of this gig on my personal time. Though I am a woman who works for a living and enjoys her job, I am not a woman who would work if she did not have to. I assure you that I could make my life even more meaningful and fulfilling if I did not have to punch a clock. However, if one must work or heaven forbid take on a side gig to get the things done that have to be done, this is the way to do it! I get to meet new peeps, travel both domestically and abroad, and make a nice piece of change without doing anything too taxing physically [the travel notwithstanding] or illegal. As they say "everybody ain't able" and Lawd am I glad I am.

My most recent trip was just this past week to Newark, NJ [business trip] with a side trip into Manhattan to see "THE COLOR PURPLE" on Broadway. The Newark part of the trip was wonderful and enhanced the ongoing career development I have undertaken this year. The trip to Broadway was my first, and being taken and picked-up in a chauffer-driven limousine was definitely the way to go. As eager as I was to see the play [especially on Broadway], I must say that Oprah has once again proven that she and I have very different tastes. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the play/musical for what it is worth, and I thought that Fantasia did a wonderful job [surprisingly considering I was embarassed on her behalf after watching the lousy acting job she did in her Lifetime TV biographical movie]. However, the overall impact the play had on me was that it left me with the question: "Why?" I will be happy to be more specific if requested but I don't want to be a spoiler. Suffice it to say that Oprah and the powers that be chose to focus in on angles that in my opinion did nothing to enhance the story or capture its true spirit. Perhaps I love the book and movie too much to make room in my heart for any other interpretation.....perhaps, but methinks NOT!!!

After all of this wandering, I am finally home again. I can sit in my yard/park and smell the smells of my home and city. I can sleep in my bed, and play with my dog. I can see the flowers that I planted and jump in the car and drive over to my favorite local restaurant, bar, or shop. I can change my mind about what I want to wear, and not have to worry that I did not bring the desired article of clothing with me. I can open my eyes and on every single day allow them to focus on the most beautiful creation me and GOD [oh and his Daddy too ;)] ever made, my son's face. As much as I love life as seen from inside a suitcase, I must say, that Dorothy said it best:

There Really Is No Place Like Home!