#58 Proud to celebrate Pride

I'm not going to lie. This has been a tough week. You never know how you will respond to something bad until it happens. But you also find strength in yourself that you didn't think you had, and find strength through the support of others.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to support me and offer kind messages. I am more empathetic now for people who are grieving and I learned first hand how someone's personal contact can make a big difference. A small message like "How are you" or "I'm so sorry"... Three words that really help. Surprisingly help. So thank you to everyone who reached out.

I decided this weekend to just let myself float around and see what seemed right to do.

After sleeping for 12 hours straight -- let me repeat that...I slept for 12 hours!!! -- I decided to enjoy a cup of coffee on my balcony.

While I was having my coffee, I saw an news feed that Gulfport was having their annual Pride Festival and that it was starting soon.

Y'all know I hate crowds, so I jumped in my car quickly to race there before it got too busy.

I'm so glad I did!

Here are some pictures from the morning, including ones of an amazing rock band make up of people with varying abilities (they were flipping amazing!!) and a Pet-a-Snunk organization (keep Gulfport weird!).

Being there made me feel connected to the community and I'm so glad I went.

Leaving there, I debated dropping Marshmallow's things off at an inland thrift store, but I convinced myself to take a quick stop at the beach first--I needed my fix, ya know.

But on my way, after getting lost and finding myself in a part of Gulfport I have never been in, I passed by Out of the Closet. My car screeched into the parking lot and I realized this was the perfect place to donate Marshie's things.

This fantastic place focuses on HIV care, education and offers free testing. This seemed to be the very best place to donate with honor Marshie's belongings so some other little dog can enjoy her stingray toy and Thunder Shirt.

But you know what? I forgot to take one particular item out of the plastic box holding her belongings before I donated it.

So if anyone happens to go to Out Of the Closet and sees a ziplock baggie of what looks like valid sized white, smooth stones, you might want to pass them by.

Unless you like the idea of owning the bladder stones from one Marshmallow Grigg. (You be you. No judgements here).

I did end up at the beach and was treated to another surprise. Ollie called and I got to have a nice long talk with him while I was standing knee deep in the cool Gulf waters with racing black storm clouds hiding the bright blue sky behind them. Made my beach trip even more therapeutic.

I stopped at Walmart to pick up some comfort food dinner.

While I was there picking up cheese, this rough looking man was standing next to me. He suddenly pointed to the shelves and started ranting, "Will you look at this? They have nothing in stock. What is this world coming to? It's like we are in an apocalypse!! Do you feel that way too?".

What would YOU have said in this situation?

As I was grabbing my block of Velveteeta (don't judge... It makes The Best mac and cheese), I looked him in the eye and agreed with him that the world feels scary right now and very unsettled.

He looked bewildered and said, "So what should we do? How can we make things ok again?"

Well, I really dunno, but I blurted out, "If people can be nice to each other like you are to me, that's a really good start".

I think he liked that answer because after he thought it through for a few seconds--some verrrryyy looooong seconds, he pumped his first in the air, said "Yes! You are right!!", blew me a few kisses and then moved on down to the pork chops.

I think he was on something.

Walmart: a grocery experience and entertainment all in one.

Because 12 hours of sleep wasn't enough, I took a luxurious nap for another few hours outside on my balcony, then went in to enjoy my Walmart feast and smutty TV show.

Today worked the same way. Not knowing how I would feel, but knowing that being at the ocean and with my friends always makes me feel better, I met Ellen and Jen at the beach.

Unfortunately the no-see-ums were out and biting, but floating in the water kept them away. So that's what we did for a few hours.

After, we headed to meet Ang for breakfast and to walk around the St. Pete Beach farmers market. (STICK TO THE RIGHT!!!) These guys knew that I needed a distraction and some goofy laughs.

But around noon, it was freaking hot and I was kind of emotionally drained by this point. So I yeeted on home to chill out in my A/C while I finalized my upcoming Utah trip that Ollie and I will be doing in a few weeks.

That Boi does not want to know what we are doing, so the whole trip is going to be a surprise. I have a hecka lot of badass adventures planned for us but I can't tell you about them yet.

Unless you bribe me with chocolate.

🍫❤️