I wished for these while going underneath a yellow stop-light yesterday.

MAYBE I’LL GET LUCKY?

(Photo via Bombshell.)

My head is dancing with stories lately.

•

They walked side by side. The sun was halfway melting below the hill they were trekking up. The sidewalk burned her bare feet. She wore a little brown dress with eyelets and a big bow tied around her waist. Long silver earrings dangled from her tiny ears. Her butter coloured hair was falling out of the careless bun she had managed to put it in. He didn’t touch her. They were close. But not too close. He had the habit of rubbing the palms of his large hands on the front of his jeans. He continually flipped his head nervously to the side. He never looked her in the eye.

“Do you really know where we’re going?” she said. It was a playful little question. But she was really beginning to doubt if he actually did know how to get back.

“Of course.” he replied. “We’re almost there.”

She only sighed and eyed his shoes with jealousy. He only laughed. They finally made it over the crest of the hill, and to her relief, she could see the street sign. Never had she loved the name on that sign more. He hated it. It meant his time with her was over. He had thought about taking her on a few more wrong turns, but his worry for her poor feet was more than his selfish desire to be with her alone. Their pace quickened. He felt like crying. He wanted to hold her hand. But he wasn’t brave enough. She could only think of how much her feet were killing her.

•

It comes from something I did once with Sammy. Nothing really like that–with exception of the long walk and bare feet. I just couldn’t get those two out of my head. I spotted a couple like them the other day. Just standing there. So adorable together. I love it when I see things like that. Two people that I can throw into a story of mine. Now that is jolly.

Love.from

-Bella

Dear Twenty-Oh-Nine,

You were a delight to me.

I liked you.

As a year, you understand.

Nothing more.

Some darling things happened to us.

And some not-so-darling things.

But I want to remember the darling ones.

♥

I remember the long walks I took with everyone. And the stargazing in the front yard. The breakfast on the kitchen floor. And the rice. Falling head over heels in love with John Keats. And meeting Robert Browning at 1 o’clock in the morning. The clothesline in my bedroom. WEMBLEY. I remember the way I made my fingers hurt from sewing too much. And all the chunky knitted socks. The dresses. The conversations with sweet friends. Phone-calls. SHARPIE on my arm at Indoor for Kirstie. Soccer in our cul-de-sac. And my sparkly shoes with black tights after the games. I remember the UNO games. And musicals I watched. All of the wishes I made off of bridges and going through yellow stop-lights. Wishes for the Opera & Ballet. Wishes for happy days. Wishes that are secrets still. I remember when the washing machine broke down. And having to go chop wood with Daddy and Tandy in Converse shoes. The way I now hate Converse shoes. I remember truffles. And scones. Lemon Meringue Pie. My brithday. Getting my typewriter and Wellies. Being surprised. The red ribbon with white polka-dots. The blue ribbon with little frills along the edges. The wanting yellow ribbon. I remember the little piano concertos in Laria’s place in Bend and in COSTCO. The chalk. And new PUMAs♥. Snowball fights. Peacoats. And far too many other sweet things.

You were wonderful.

That’s really all I have to say Twenty-Oh-Nine.

Love.from

Bella

•

Dear Twenty-Ten,

You’ve got a lot to compete with.

Love.from

Bella

“DON”T LET THE THINGS YOU STAND FOR GET SWEPT UNDER THE RUG BY INFATUATION.”

-Kirsten Rae

•

Probably one of the smartest girls I will ever be so happy to have met.

She knows

•why IKEA is so good

•who should be important

•the reasons for words

•how to knit sweet little sweaters

•why tea is addicting

•what I need to hear

•that I always miss her

•what it’s like to watch a real theatrical production

•that Dickens is genius

•why my face is occasionally red from blushing or anger

and

•that brooms are meant to sweep things outside.

Not under the rug.

•

I love you to the moon Sweetheart.

Thank.you

Love.from

-Bella

Sorry i’ve been so busy lately. It has been hectic with

CHRISTMAS

and all.

But now I have a spare minute while sitting here in the Sammy Jeans and a pair of dangling silver earrings.

•

The 25th was a sprucey day. It was filled with too much wrapping paper, lovely ribbon, burnt waffles in the morning, friends, homemade bread, little white lights, and argyle socks.

I thought it was just jolly. But that was mostly because I ended up with Martin Chuzzlewit in one hand, a typewriter in front of me, a locket round my neck, and a cup of WHITE CHRISTMAS tea in my other hand.

•

Life is good.

Love.from

-Bella

Yesterday I wished for

shiny

COPPER

POTS

&

PANS.

(It’s something to do with a little story.)

♥

Love.from

-Bella

Today
I
fell
in
LOVE♥
with
Norman MacCaig.

(You should too.)

Love.from
-Bella
xoxoxo

My life lately: IN PICTURES.

1. SPARKLY FLATS.

2. Dancing in the living room.

3. Vintage finds at the GOODWILL.

4. A day with Lemons♥.

Love.from

-Bella

I’m wearing my little vintage lace cardigan.

My hair is good again today.

Livy.Love’s address is in my hands.

And I just read this piece that made my ears sing.

A LIGHT LEFT  ON

"In the evening we came back

Into our yellow room,

For a moment taken aback

To find the light left on,

Falling on silent flowers,

Table, book, empty chair

While we had gone elsewhere,

Had been away for hours.

When we came home together

We found the inside weather.

All of our love unended

The quiet light demanded,

And we gave, in a look

At yellow walls and open book.

The deepest world we share

And do not talk about

But have to have, was there,

And by that light found out."
-MAY SARTON

Love.from

-Bella♥

Yesterday I was a Koala Bear. And yesterday I had a good hair day. And yesterday I kept my fingers warm.

BUT YESTERDAY WE LOST OUR GAME.

(And I got hit in the left side of my face.)

Bother.

•

Today I’m wearing a blouse with a big floppy BOW on the front of it. And today I’m having another good hair day. And today I get to sit and make Christmas presents for hours.

BUT TODAY MY FINGERS ARE VERY COLD.

(And my head is hurting and my ears are red because making gifts for boys is 10x harder than making gifts for girls.)

Oh DEAR.

•

I want to have a good day today. (Like my hair.) So I’m going to try really hard to make it sweet. It will have tea. Christmas gifts. Felt. UGG boots. Romeo and Juliet. Sweaters. Writing. Painting. Letters to Livy.Love. Flowers. And my typewriter. Clicking away on my typewriter always makes my day a good one. And smelling nice. Maybe I’ll put some Belle Fleur on. My words from a typewriter and smelling nice. Good day it will be then.

Love.from

-Bella