HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEMMA

SEARCHING FOR FAIRIES

**********

I'm celebrating my return to blogging by celebrating the birthday of my dear friend Gemma, aka Linda.

Gemma, like me, is a lady of a certain age who is enjoying a wonderful second childhood. She believes in mermaids and fairies, and as you can see by the photo above, likes to search for fairies whenever she is in a likely place, such as the magical garden above, where fairies certainly must be found. She doesn't mind at all if people look at her strangely when she's hunting high and low.

Gemma is A Wild Woman In A Desert Garden (Arizona). In fact, that's the name of her blog. Go to (http://www.adesertgarden.blogspot.com/) Occasionally she can be spotted dancing under the full moon, or sporting a swatch of pink in her hair.

Gemma is a talented artist who sometimes accompanies her art with beautiful, evocative poems. A member of the "Glitter Power Sisters", she recently hosted a gathering of the GPS in Sedona, a spiritual place for a very spiritual lady. She has a huge heart and a kind and loving soul.

Gemma is one of my soul friends, to be sure, but she is more. She is my ancestral sister. We come from the same ancient tribe. In this life, we come from the same place too. I knew for sure when Gemma wrote her "Where I'm From" essay that has made its way around blogland.

We're from Blue Willow china, wooden screen doors, clothes drying on the line, small houses with big yards, hardscrabble beginnings and strong family circles with funny, interesting, quirky relatives.

I like to think of us as the Blue Willow gals.

Happy Birthday, Gemma. I hope you are having a wonderful day. I'm sorry I'm posting this so late. I took a nap after work and now look at the time.

My wish for you, today, Gemma, involves "G", and you know what it is.

Love, Julie