Guts

One thing I am consistently thankful for are those people in my life who are brutally honest with me. As a female, I've been in the place where I've played games, had games played with me, and have tried to be someone that I'm not. Sincerity, though, has now become a value that I cannot put a price on.

To my friend who starts his sentence with "Now this is going to be a hard pill to swallow...", I am and always will be grateful. He has shown me what it means to lead a disciplined life, and isn't afraid to call me out when I'm walking away from that.

To she who has said, "That was your chance and you didn't take it! Make sure you get there next time!", I owe my heart. She keeps it safe for me, and let's me know when I'm keeping it too guarded or wearing it too loosely on my sleeve. She's not afraid to say what's on her mind, because she knows that it eventually will be on my mind as well... I just occasionally need to be told square in the face.

To he who has, with all kindness and love, made sure that I heard these words, I am forever in debt: "God is so jealous of your time, Kim". He spoke as one so concerned with another's soul. It was Holy Spirit discernment, that's for sure. It's only that kind that can identify a need without even being told. And it's only that kind that can have the courage enough to speak the truth in love. Again, eternally grateful am I.

What a privileged woman I can consider myself to be, that I may have friends with guts.

Cheeseheads

I have realized lately that there is a certain type of person that is particular to Wisconsin. The distinction came to me as I was waiting at the baggage claim in the General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee. It was there that I noticed that residents of Wisconsin can get away with wearing just about any kind of hat. Now by "get away with" I don't necessarily mean that such a person will look good wearing a certain hat, but merely that these hat-wearers will not be grouped together and labeled as social outcasts because of their choice of attire on their heads.

Now I must also offer a feeble disclaimer: it was winter when I visited Wisconsin. Winter is hat weather. One will almost always see more hats in winter when visiting Wisconsin than any other season. End disclaimer.

As I stood and watched the passersby, I was amazed at the varieties of head apparel that walked around this city! There was the commonplace Green Bay Packer baseball cap, the knit wool cap, the knit wool cap with tassel on the top, and the knit wool cap with the roll over cuff. There was also the I-would-only-need-this-big-fuzzy-suede-hat-if-I-lived-at-the-South-Pole hat, and the My-grandpa-used-to-wear-this-plaid-hat-but-I'm-bringing-it-back-in-style hat. And these were all being worn INDOORS. Enough said.

And it doesn't stop at hats! Wisconsin-dwellers can get away with wearing close to anything in public, because there's always the always appropriate "It's just so cold!" response to any question of their appearance. I saw a lot of cheesy turtlenecks and a few pairs of snow boots, even though there hasn't been any snow all winter.

Yet amidst some of the clothing mismatches, there is a slight charm about these Cheeseheads that exuded sincere loyalty. And all these folks aren't necessarily rednecks, either. These are the folks that will dig your car out of 2 feet of snow at 2 a.m. These are the folks that will snowblow your driveway so that you don't have to shovel in the morning...

Cheeseheads. Gotta love 'em.