It's day 3 of Garth's (not his real name) and my adventure into the deep south (okay, as far as I've ever been able to git) and  I'm happy to report that we HAVE managed to work AND travel together (without the kids) AND talk about, you know, all sorts of stuff. Other than the kids, I mean. . In fact, my husband says I'm ALL talk and don't be fooled into thinking that we do NOT miss our children - I've called them before school, after and at bedtime...everyday - but, we've been at this parenting thing for quite a while (more years than we can remember, really...the memory IS the first to go) and leaving the children doesn't affect Garth (not his real name) as much as being able to talk to other grown-ups, does me.

"Ya'll here on bin-ness?"

Yes, I mean no.

"Actually, my husband is and I'm sort of...well...yes and..."

I stopped talking, first (for once) before realizing that I had inadvertently placed my hand on her shoulder and then started stroking the woman's arm.

"...um...I'm here researching the area and sort of trying to get a feel for the place."

I also told her that we live in New Jersey, that my parents are from Eastern Europe and how I really do NOT know what to do with my hands!

"I'm originally fruuuuuum Jersey, too!"

So, I'm NOT the only one susceptible to picking up speech patterns, huh!?!?

"How long you here?"

[smiles broadly]

"Oh, quite a few yuhs now!"

Okay, I'm just quicker at it - thinking, not so much.

"What do ya'll do?"

[blank stare]

"Well, I'm a full-time mom and I write part-time about, you know, stuff."

Uh-huuuuuuuh.

"Not like, there's any such thing as a part-time mom, or anything."

Riiiiiiight.

"Oh, here's Helene NOW!"

One of the other things I wanted to do - besides, try to listen to what Garth (not his real name) says and NOT totally freak out the English-speaking population of North Carolina - was look up my long-time blogging friend over at Adventures in Parenting.

"Relax, just be yourself."

Easy enough for Garth (not his real name) to say!

"Hi, it's me!"

I smiled, waved my hands wildly and promptly placed them at my sides...so, as to not freak out another mommyblogger.

"I'm sorry, but I can't believe you're here and I have this terrible need to hug you!"

But, you can't blame us for being absolutely thrilled to finally meet each other, IN PERSON!

"I've been following you and your family...for...YEARS!"

I introduced Garth (not his real name) to Helene (go over and see our pretty picture) and later thanked him for being such a good sport about...well...EVERYTHING!

"That's okay, it's hard NOT to be friendly around you, even though you ARE nothing but a bunch of blogging freaks!"

Maybe so, maybe so...BUT...hey, Helene knows more about me than anybody and she's originally from Wisconsin!