Y’all, I seriously don’t even know where to begin a story that’s been 26 years in the making. Twenty-six – painstaking, heartbreaking, death-defying – years.
Which is why I’ve been absent from the Internet, for like, forever.
Also? There are new and delicate privacy issues I’ve had to consider.
Things I’ve never had to consider before starting this humble little blog.
I used to write like no one was reading. And somehow, that’s exactly how I obtained so many friendships/readers. I had NO shame. And I had NOTHING to hide. I was NOT embarrassed to post the deepest, darkest, secrets about MYSELF. Nor was I afraid to back those very secrets/stories with cold, hard, photographic evidence. I wrote to deal with whatever shit was thrown my way and to get to the other side. I wrote to ‘Find The Funny.’ And that worked. For years.
But that’s the key word.
I.
As in myself.
Even though I am known as The Queen Of TMI I have never divulged the secrets of others. And I never would. Those aren’t MY secrets to tell. That would kind of be like “outing” someone for spite – and that’s just uncool.
The end.
These days, I am in a very different place from where my blog began: as a single mother [of one son] Struggling Commercial Insurance Professional, while battling numerous autoimmune diseases and never ending flare-ups, which led to the inevitable loss of my career and finally moving in with my parents.
Today? I am the mother of THREE. Yes, three kids. Three mother f*cking teenagers!
JCH [age 19] whom y’all know and adore and my two soon-to-be-step-daughters: temporarily known as: BigTitsMcGee [age 15] and HellOnWheels [age 14] – Feel free to thank, Justin, for those aptly appointed nicknames.
Today? Yes, I still have never ending autoimmune flare-ups. I just don’t write about them anymore – for personal and private reasons – which, one-day I truly hope to share with you.
Today? I am a very happy homemaker/owner – no longer isolated within the confines the purple prison/paradise of my parents house. [But I did move around the corner. Literally. It’s like “Everyone Loves Raymond” up in here.]
And, today? I am the happiest I’ve ever been.
I have EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED – including: dedicated, devoted, unmerciful, and undying gratitude – from my partner, the man I’ve been in love with since I was fourteen years old. And I want to shout it from the mothafuckin’ rooftops. I want to skywrite it across the entire atmosphere.
How did I finally get here?
That’s what I’m dying to tell you.
The sacrifices. The change. The growth. The rewards. #FuckingFlorida.
The good. The bad. The scary. The wonderful. #DirtyJersey4Evah
But this is the best I can do, for right now.
Right now, I have all these other people to consider. All this other privacy to respect. And all of these other children to protect. Children who’ve been disgraced and embarrassed enough.
I hope to be able to share my whole story. OUR STORY. With you.
One day.
Soon.
Stay Tuned.
Love,
M
Welcome back to the blogosphere! We kept the light on for you!
Tell the story as you can. I know I’ve got the time. And patience.
YOU RULE. THANK YOU!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!! SOFA KING MUCH!!!
Hi, great to see you again – and is such a great place too! I have often wondered how you are getting on, and you have now put any worries I had to rest.
Looking forward to hearing the story!
Rock Chef
ROCK CHEF!! Oh how I’ve missed you!
I have the whole weekend dedicated to reading all of YOUR blogs and catching up! Can’t wait.
Thank you so much for remembering me!
Hey Chica — I am so happy for you! As you know, I’ve enjoyed your family for many years now and I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the gang.
P.s. Love the Raymond reference!
Welcome back, Ms. Awesome!!!
KELLY!!!!!!!! OMG!! LORD HOW I’VE MISSED YOU! And I still need to properly thank you for the TV recommendation “unbreakable kimmy schmidt”!!
“P.s. Love the Raymond reference!” – And this is why you’re one of my all time FAVORITE people!
Also, I will do my best to get them ALL on video. But for now? I only have snippets, in links, on my flickr account – if you click on the blue words within this post that says, “EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED” – you can catch a glimpse.
XOXO
I love you, Chris. Thank you.
Another great big welcome back. I’ve missed you, your stories and your funny family events. I’ve followed along on FaceBook but it’s not the same. I look forward “meeting” all your new family. 🙂
Lovely, just lovely, my dear! Glad to hear you’re in a good place and welcome back to Blogland, a place still a bit elusive for me, and not to be confused with CandyLand…. Wait. I’m seem to be off track here. I think I need a doughnut or something.
BTW, you inspired me to get back to my painting projects around the house. Thanks for that…..or not. 🙂
How happy was I to awake to see you motha-f-ing blog in my feed??? Welcome back lady, You’ve been missed. I cannot wait to hear the story but I will take this and whatever you can give us in the mean.
This Thursday just got a whole lot better!!!
XOXO
Only a good thing could have kept you just a close step outside the blogosphere, I say kudos to that. Glad to see a new post from you!
Awwww! Thank you so much, Linda! I really appreciate you taking the time to read & comment! I’ve missed YOU too! XOXO
You are cracking me the fuck up! AHHHHHHHHH! And YAY! I am honored to have inspired you!
Thank you, my dear. And hello, with your world travels, I expect AND demand, we meet in REAL LIFE whenever you are remotely close to NJ! Deal?
PS: “How happy was I to awake to see you motha-f-ing blog in my feed” HOLY HILARIOUS! AHahHHHHA
ROG!! One of my original peeps!! YAY! Thank you!
*fist bumps @ 2005 bloggers!*
Holly Shit Balls, Awesome, Crying, Dying, I love you, Appriciate you, Loved you since I amd 18, oops you were 14, Live for you, Your Gonna be the one that saves me, Oh you already did, I am the Happiest I have ever been, We are Family, Finaly after 26 years!!!!!
I would expect a full NJ smack down if we don’t meet up. <3
Well written Meleah! Looking forward to next blog from you????
Oh, so glad you were able to put it into words. You do that so well and I am sure you will learn to find that balance between sharing a story and keeping the privacy but MOST OF ALL I am so happy for you, your happiness has been shining through on your facebook posts, they might be a little more limited but the joy is clearly obvious at that is all that matters 🙂
Ain’t that the truth!!
XOXOXOXOXO
MOMMY!
Thank you, sweetheart!
Aw! Thank you so very much! XOXO
Meleah!!! Welcome back! I canNOT wait to hear the rest! I’ve missed ya! 🙂
Melba,
Welcome back to the blogosphere, mija! I’ve still got you on my old blog and watch for any updates. I consider myself one of the lucky ones since i linked up with you on Flickr, so I am sorta aware of your familial situation. I am elated that you have found your happy place and you’ve found happiness with your new family. Lord knows, after all the shit you’ve put up with, you deserve a break. Honestly, I was worried about you for a while, but, I am overjoyed that you have found some inner peace/happiness. You are the blog princess. If you need any help, your loyal followers are await your command.
Some stories aren’t meant to be hollered from the rooftops rather held inside our hearts and shared with a small circle of those we love most, especially those stories that involve our kinship to Bob, Bill, Lois, and Ann.
Meleah, I was so freaking happy to see that you had posted!!!! Welcome back! You have been very missed. I totally understand and respect your taking a break and reevaluating and prioritizing. You sound VERY happy and I’m happy FOR you!
Thanks so much for the update and look forward to your future posts!
The BEST to you, my Libra friend! And have a supa’ weekend!
X
I’m so happy for you. Congratulations on everything good happening in your life. Sometimes the stories we have to tell are meant to be told at another time.
I’ve missed you too! SO VERY MUCH!!
You simply referring to me as, “Melba” made me burst into happy tears! And while reading the rest of your comment – just made my cry, harder, in a good way!!!
Also? I am sofa king psyched to reconnect with you!
RON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I HAVE MISSED YOU – JUST LIKE I WOULD MISS MY LEFT ARM!!
I am DYING to HOST a gathering with YOU, me, Kathy & Val! Would you be willing [up-to] traveling to NJ?
Nothing would make me happier than to have y’all in MY HOUSE and I would insist “Ron Colonna” make an appearance!!
Thank you for understanding! Luckily, I think I’m almost ready!
TRUE! Very true.
However, things have settled down enough, where
I might actually have time to rejoin my blogging community. And quite
frankly, in my new role – as a step-parent – I’m craving some camaraderie!
Welcome back I have missed your posts.
I am genuinely pleased your now in a better place than you have been in the past.
Why thank you!!!
“I am DYING to HOST a gathering with YOU, me, Kathy & Val! Would you be willing [up-to] traveling to NJ?”
Ooooo…..that would be so much fun! And yes, absolutely! Perhaps Kathy and I can figure a way to meet up and then drive out there together. Just email me when you have an idea of when so that I can check my work schedule for that week.
X,
Ron Colonna
YAY, Meleah’s back!
Love the daughter-in-law nicknames, why am I not surprised at their creator??
Great to see you blogging again, Meleah! It sounds like so much has happened for you and it’s all been good! Who deserves it more than you? Well, me, but that’s another story! Glad to see you blogging again! I missed you and hope to see more posts from you with you and your fun family!
🙂
WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lolz!!
“Who deserves it more than you? Well, me, but that’s another story!” – AHAhHAHHAHHAHhHAhHAHHAH!
I love that you are back writing your blog. This form of communication is a slippery slope, isn’t it? I always have struggled with wanting to say what I want to say but respecting the privacy and feelings of my family and friends. I am eager to hear your story and whatever parts of it that you can share. I can totally appreciate your needing to keep some things private.
BUT the thing that I am especially happy about is that your are so HAPPY. YAY!!!!
I think this is the shortest blog post you’ve ever written! 🙂 But I don’t care. I’m SO happy to see you back here and SO thrilled that you have found such happiness! I hope you’re planning to stick around for a while now!
Cheryl –
“This form of communication is a slippery slope, isn’t it?”
Um, yeah!
“the thing that I am especially happy about is that your are so HAPPY. YAY!!!!”
I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!
Also? I am actually SERIOUSLY considering turning this forum into a “stepmom” blog – mostly because I need to find the funny again – especially with what I am dealing with – and I used to think being a PARENT was hard, but, being a step-parent = HOLY FUCKING HELL!
HAHHAhHHHHAhhhAhahahaha! It really IS the shortest post I’ve ever written – mostly because I was trying to say a lot without saying too much!!
I can’t even imagine being put into a supervisory role for children that I didn’t actually give birth to. I am pretty certain that no one in their right mind would allow me to “parent” their kids in this current culture. I can appreciate how difficult it might be to be a stepmom as I have one of my own. She had it easy as I I was out on my own when she made her debut. Even then, I sensed she didn’t quite know how to handle having a stepchild.