to sydney, with love [part one]

meet the parents

sometimes, you have to do what is required.
somewhere around the world - in a place i've only read about - is my daughter.
now, there's a boy that says he's going to be my son.
this is not exactly how i dreamed this would progress, but as i said, you have to do what you have to do.
since you can't come to us, we'll come to you.
introductions must be made. it's the only southern way to handle this.
meet our family. mari's family, and now, your family.
we really don't carry shotguns
[unless we need to].

this is me. mama, not mom or mother, mama. i'm southern to the core. proud of it. i was raised in the north georgia mountains in the backwoods world of moonshine and hillbillies. i'll explain later. i have a masters degree from the university of georgia [go dawgs], drive a red saab, and am a 'sex in the city' fan. i was a teacher; now i'm a writer. well, i've always been a writer, but now, there's a little money associated with typing and sweating. i love to travel, to try new things, and be with the love of my life every moment that god allows me to breath. i am blessed.

this is len. actually, leonard joseph, but you can call him len. for now i suppose. he, unlike me, is from new jersey. it won't take you long to understand that once he gets excited. his family is from sicily which translates into some of the most amazing italian food you'll ever put in your mouth. he taught me how to make lasagna and has sworn me to secrecy. his father was in wwii, and his mother taught him how to love with his entire soul. len is - as we joke - an IT professional. he knows computers inside and out. in the picture, he's feeding his horses - lolly, jack, woody, cheyenne. we both do this every single day. and once in a blue moon, there's snow.

so that's us. in a nutshell.
not bad for a beginning, don't you think?