Mint and Strawberry

Which is me?

Which one comes first?

It's the Mint for sure - that's why it came first in the title.

But ahhhh... that Strawberry is so part of me too..I want more. Give it to me!! It has such a way of getting to me.

It all started in the shower on New Year's Eve while I was preparing for the party we were going to.

I tend to be supersticous -rarely but when it hits me it's a big deal.

Suddenly I was faced with the thought that occurs to me most years on Dec 31st " The way you bring in the New Year will define that year"

So it became highly important which body wash I opted for. Suddenly soap took on a whole new meaning.

Mint-for poignant, sharp, focused and deliberate coolness and calmness and intellect and good and sound decisions. Mint for laser focus and that tingling feeling of success.

But Strawberry was calling to me equally to choose her. Soft, spontaneous, joyous, peaceful, soothing, sweet, connected, mirroring and nurturing.

Which should I choose for 2012?

So I choose both. First the Mint as it's clearly needs to be my foundation. It's what holds up the fort.
Then the Strawberry, luxuriously and generously lathered to soften out the spirit and highlight the feminine curves.

I put on the Mint and the added a second layer of Strawberry. It made the mint better. It made the mint sweeter.

I left that evening for our party back in the city in a divine state. I am not sure anyone noticed but I certainly did.

I drank pomegranate champagne and lots of it, I danced and lots of it, I hugged and lots of it, I ate what I wished to eat at the buffet and lots of it.

Although Mint is who I am-I also choose Strawberry. I let her into my life and on my skin.

All night I allowed myself to Indulge. In the amazing people I was with, in the music, in the drinks, of the softness all around me.

I even let a lesbian woman sit on my lap! And another's husband swat my butt as he walked by! I laughed and I danced! The six of us (three couples) gave group hugs all night!

My kids ran out with the 25 others in the snow with bare feet at 2am! They all took shaving cream and sprayed it on us, and the house at midnight!

I drank Coke that was not Diet!! I did not judge the lap dancing wife who was all over everyone's husbands!! (not mine though as she was way too scared to mess with me even if I did have on a thick strawberry layer).

I gave myself a gift...and it was to be free.

To mix some Strawberry Daiquiri into the mix of my usual Virgin Mohito. To mix it up and to indulge in the perfect blend.

My body wash continued the next day..sleeping in until 11:30am, being hung over, going skiing on the sweetest smallest hill when all I usually crave is a challenge. Eating fajitas and pasta in front of the TV with the kids.

I have come back to Mint since, but the Strawberry still lingers. It's still within my reach and I intend to embrace it and take care of it and nurture it more often.

Is it possible that maybe, just maybe I am starting to let go of "being in charge"? Is it possible that maybe I am transforming without even trying to anymore?

That next morning my usual new years resolution adverse Hubby leaned over in bed and said "I decided what my resolution is: it is to tell you every morning I love you and every night how beautiful you are"

So even though the next night-he did just that and it felt fake and dumb and weird since he had just gotten in a big fight with me 5 mins before bed and called me a bitch...I still liked it.

I secretly knew that my body wash decision had bedazzled him to some degree and Be Dazzling is what makes us both who we are together. Keeping that mystery and love alive. Being together minty and berry like as the clock strikes midnight at the end of the year.

I still hold that the way we bring in New years defines us.

I was thankful this year of my awareness of the definition I choose for myself.

I liked who I was today very much. God Grant me the courage to keep it up!