To the Demure One....

Remember how I mentioned my cousin Tina, the coolest one of them all? Well, there is this other cousin….who self-proclaims to be ‘The Demure One.’ Most would agree she has a strong case to be dubbed ‘The Brainiac,’ or ‘The Funny One.’ HOWEVER, her deep voice and contagious laugh are anything but demure. In any case, I think she may take issue with the cool-crown going to Tina, where it definitely belongs. Therefore, I share with you, dear reader, the story of how I hoaxed ’The Demure One.’

Uncle picks me up from the farm so I can spend the night with my cousins. I get excited to see the three girls and play with Kristin and Meghan. When I arrive, Erin is not yet home from field hockey practice.

I have a brilliant idea!

When their big sis comes into the house, she wants to know where the shirt went from the top of her bed. And Kristin delivers. “I have it under my bed!” Erin, while distracted yelling at her sister, lifts the bed skirt to search for the shirt. She never expects a hand to pop out at her! And the shrill of the Demure One is heard for acres and acres of soybeans and corn.

Did I need to play the ultimate prank on The Demure One? Yes. Well, no. Erin racked up several chart topping antics on the “goofy gander” scale (Nanny's) all by herself. She crashed into a cow standing in the road (really, she hit a cow, IKR?!?!?), made a brilliant Miss Hannigan in our attic production of “Annie,” and adeptly Huck-Finned her sisters and cousins into all sorts of stunts.

The great part about the Demure One, she loves in the most unique way imaginable. Every bit of humor, goofiness, and shenanigans nourish the essence of anyone lucky enough to be close. This woman really sees others, determines the emotional shortage, and fuels the need. AND, she accomplishes this at warp speed. The recipient, wonderstruck and laughing, finds themselves in the cooling wind of teasing and love.

……………………………………………

Would you try something for me? Scan your timeline and consider this question: who loves/loved you in the way you needed to be loved? A friend, a cousin, an aunt? Were you lucky enough to have that one teacher? I wonder what your language of love longs for from another human?  Do you allow words to filter in and embrace you?

I am here to tell you this: you are valuable; you are loved.

So many days I purposely push back fear, sadness, anger, overwhelm. I force an internal yield in order to invite light. Sometimes the cave I hide within grows darker than dark; and sometimes it takes a quip, a jab, some kind of craziness ~ to shift my gaze. Humor, especially a unique love expressed through humor, this reaches through.