Monday Blog Hijackery or "I've known Marti for longer than I haven't"

It's Monday. Which means it's time for another Blog Hijackery. (Yay!!)

Because you know that I am all about documenting my life, and I have such great friends, I thought this would be a fun way to do both. So Monday Blog Hijackery was born.

This one courtesy of my BFF, Pam. Her blog is called It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life. (That also happens to be one of our favorite quotes from Lord of the Rings, but that's not important right now.)

I was twenty years old when we met and became insta-friends. We worked as cashiers together at a local movie theater and then both married young and hung out together as young-married-twenty-somethings before we had kids. (She was the one who introduced me to my first husband, but I don't hold that against her because that produced Amy and Adam. =D)

My kids call her their Fairy Godmother because she is so amazingly generous to them and loves all four as her own.

When I asked her to hijack my blog, I had no idea she would write such nice things about me. In fact, I'm a little embarrassed. But I love that we share more than half a lifetime of memories. Her husband, Pastor Gene, is the one who brings me The Daily Hanford Train Report.

So every day we talk, we text, we Twitter, we Facebook, we send photos and emails and we continue to share life - the cyberspace way. =D

******************************************************************

I've known Marti for longer than I haven't

First of all, I had to share this picture. I don’t know why, but I am so cute! We were looking for pecans for pecan pie in 1961 in South Carolina but this was before I knew Marti…

(bet she makes a great pecan pie, Cuban style, of course.)

I met Marti, my BFF, in 1975. I’ve known her for 34+ of my 52 years, Marti is my oldest (time known, not to imply she is old) and dearest friend. We keep in almost daily contact.

Marti has always been a great cook and amazing “good time” person. I remember eating her Arroz Con Pollo on this day (And YES he invented wearing water shoes before they became popular, but that is not important right now).

I know you have read about her parties, but what you might not know is that she gives great gifts and is always creative.

Above was one of her gifts to my husband, Gene. See how useful! (Hey Marti, digging the seal picture in the background! Remember that?)

I think my favorite gift she gave me was this...

She mailed this to me! She could have been the author of the new campaign! (Balloons popping out of surprising places-that was her idea YEARS ago, but that's not important right now.)

Here is Marti and my husband, Gene in 1979 at our little cabin in Running Springs. You see? She has that same great smile!

Looking at a picture of Marti’s smile always makes you smile, doesn’t it?

One regret I have is that we don’t live closer. If we lived closer, she would plan all my parties! I could stop by and visit! We could go to Disneyland everyday!

That was my favorite picture of us! Here’s the tale...

She texted me and said it was a DL day! I was so excited because my husband and I were there. I didn’t want to tell her we were coming because I truly hoped we could surprise her.

When she texted that she was there I was so excited. We kept texting her back and asking where she was! She didn’t answer. (Must have thought we were so annoying.)

Finally she wrote back and said she was just getting off the tree house! We just happened to be resting at the River Belle Terrace! My dream had been realized. Now, hopefully she was still there and the text was not too late in getting to me. There she was! I was able to go up behind her and just stood, invading her privacy by getting very close. She looked annoyed at me then realized it was me! That was the photo!!!!! I love it!

I do use her for encouragement when I am down, and I am so thankful for that. She never judges me, which is a wonderful quality. She is always there to listen! Marti, I so appreciate that, more than you will ever know. You’ve enriched my life in countless ways. Thank you for the privilege to hijack your blog!