Amazing Melli

I met Melli last year in November at our lovely laughing lady's luncheon. My friend Floozie was visiting me, and I shamelessly enticed her to come visit me with a promise that maybe we could meet up with Melli and some of the other area bloggers for lunch. That innocent lunch turned out to be a wild 3-day visit when Melli decided to follow us home... Melli also decided that we should go visit Floozie in Savannah. 

Bear in mind that I have been known to agree to things that I'm pretty sure will never happen when they are first suggested. I have since learned that when Melli says she's coming the proper response is "WHEN?" and "For How Long?"

Our 10-hour drive to Savannah turned out to be 12 hours and of course was filled with side trips, drama, trauma, and lots of loud singing to our favorite CDs. I can tell you that Melli rarely gets upset, even when her keys get locked in the car. She merely looked at me, rolled her eyes toward heaven, and said the equivalent statement of Scarlett O'Hara's "I'll think about it tomorrow." (I think it went more along the lines of "I'm going to go Pee and then I'll deal with it".)

We discovered that two people who snore cannot share a bedroom without one being really grumpy in the morning. Fortunately, we soon discovered that nothing could disturb Jen who is deaf, so peace was restored with the juggling of some bedrolls. You'll note that we are both smiling in this picture! Sleep-deprived Divas are definitely not a good thing (trust me on this one!)

The best way to have an argument with Melli is not to tell her while you are having it. (Forgiveness is easier to get than permission!) Our first argument was about wearing the seat belt...I won but she grumbled and complained all ten days about wearing it. (Can you say hard-headed?)

The best way to deal with Melli climbing on everything is just to smile and take her picture. It does no good to try to reason with her, just take the shot quickly and walk away. I have developed a great "I don't know who that red-haired lady was officer" look of innocence.

When Melli is determined... there is no changing her mind! She was so into dressing up in hats and gloves for the tearoom that she brought six hats with her and sweetly asked, " Which one do you want to wear?" If you ignored her, she would just assign you one!

Melli has a heart of gold and became actively involved with a homeless family that had been evicted from a local motel. They were sitting on the curb with all of their belongings around them looking overwhelmed and hopeless. She bought them a few extra nights in the motel and gave them money for food. Her concern was so contagious that the rest of us could not help but pitch in financially too. She went back to check on them before we left Savannah.

Melli is truly a remarkable woman. She is kind, generous, always full of fun, and very protective of her friends (especially the limping variety). She needs her downtime, her camera, her car, her computer, and of course good food. It always amazes me that we are friends. We shouldn't be. There is no way that our paths should have ever crossed except in the blogging world.

The fact that we were able to get women from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland together for Blogger Babes Bash is a testimony to her. I keep telling her that she is " the draw" that made everyone want to come. I spent 10 days with her and am looking forward to our next adventure. Melli is pretty amazing (don't tell her I said so) and I am blessed to call her friend.