That kinda never happens. Seriously, when was the last time someone sent you a postcard? It's from Niagara Falls, and it's kinda from the past. Mollie O., I'll call her...in case she doesn't want to be talked about on the dubya-dubya. We worked together at Home Plus the, um, couple of weeks I worked there. She was in Lawn and Garden and had a great tan because of it...and because she was half-Filipino¹ so she had great skin to start with. But we were sort of default work buddies because we both hated the other people in our department so we eventually started hanging out at lunch. And then we started hanging out with each other outside of work. She moved away and never knew anything about me and Bill so, obviously, she still doesn't. He was just the boss who's butt we checked out (can I admit that?) when we were in the break room. She met a boy, got pregnant, lost the baby — that was scary (I went to the hospital with her that night) — then when he ended up joining the Army, they got married and, apparently, she moved with him to New York state where he's stationed. He's in Afghanistan now (so scary!!! When are we gonna stop this craziness!?!) and she took her mother-in-law to Niagara Falls when she came out to visit her and her (now not so new) baby...Julius, who's 3. Julius! What an AWESOME name!

Getting this in the mail brought three thoughts into my head. First was: thank you U.S. Post Office. (Heck of a job you're doing Mr. Postmaster General Jack Potter.) I haven't lived at the address Mollie sent this post card to in a long, long time. Sure, it took a few more months to finally get to me here on Linda Vista, but still...impressive. Way not to give up, Post Office. I really appreciate it.

Secondly: It's always crazy when I "reconnect²" with someone who knew me pre-Bill and doesn't know about the way my less-than-normal life has turned out. It really doesn't happen all that often...mostly because I've been in so many different places and the people that I've met along the way tend to stay (literally and figuratively) in that place when I leave. It's been an interesting way to go through life — it's been good and bad. I think it helps me meet and get to know people easier, which is good. But I can also kinda walk away from those relationships pretty easily, too...which is bad. It's kinda the only way to survive that way of growing up, I think, but it does make me a little sad thinking that there are lot of Mollie O.'s out there (from high school and just after...and before, I'm sure) that I might be a postcard away from talking to again...but probably never will. BUT, back to thinking pre-Bill. It's weird because I don't consider any of this a secret really — I mean, obviously we do a lot of "hiding" in a lot of ways...probably more than any of us want to, but, in lots of other ways, it never really crosses my mind. That said, it's not something I feel like I can put in a postcard, you know? It's just a little too big for that. Maybe I'll ease into it. Maybe I'll say: "GUESS WHAT?!? You're never gonna believe this. Remember 'Great Butt' Mr. H? Well, we're married and have two boys and a girl!" That alone will blow her mind, I'm sure. I'll give her a little time to digest that, then...the big guns. Man, she won't see ANY of this coming! I might not ever tell her any of it, I guess. Maybe it IS just too big. It doesn't seem that way to me, but...maybe I got a skewed perspective. I'll feel it out. I do want to stick with the postcard from of communicating with her, though. It's a dying art and we're gonna bring it back. You have to be really choosy with your words — you only have that little square to write in!

Which brings me to my third and final thought: Mail is awesome. I know I've already written on this subject, but it's just plain awesome. Letters are great, but postcards are so darn cute it just makes me sad Nell will have no idea what they are (were) because by the time she's grown up, as the postcard will have long since died. It'll be in e-mail form...which stinks. Since you can email from anywhere anyway, an e-postcard doesn't have that same sense of: "wow...so-in-so is way far away and this piece of paper started there and ended up here." That's a great feeling. And it's own...a little separate offshoot from the general "getting mail in this day and age is awesome." I want to thank Mollie (and will do so to her individually via a Utah-themed postcard³ tomorrow, if not today) for giving me this nice little surprise that totally put a smile on my face.

Now, back to sorting bracelet clasps! Sweet!!

Talk to you guys soon.

Love me!
Margie.

PS-And thank you, too,"Isaiahchapter4verse1", for your comments on plural marriage. You're more articulate than I am?one day, I'll be able to break down my thoughts on it so neatly. But, seriously, thank you for sharing. Hopefully you'll be a regular reader from now on?and tell your friends, wives, and wives' friends.

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¹Might have asked this before but I need an explanation as to The Philippines is spelled with a Ph- and a person from that very same country is a Filipino with an F. Make that make sense for me, Internet.
²Probably the wrong word in this case because I haven't written Mollie back yet - even though I will. One postcard a reconnection does not make. It's an awesome start, though. And I'm more than thankful to Mollie for getting the reconnection ball rolling?now, said ball is Margie's Court!
³Obviously, suggestions from my peoples are always welcome.