I finally met her on New Year's Eve morning.  She and her boyfriend, after attending a debutante ball in Mississippi, slept at my parents house.  As the only female member of my brother's band, and girlfriend of the lead singer, I've wanted to befriend her since I first saw her picture. 

I can probably blame my girl-crush on my brother.  He spent a long time when he visited us this summer playing me music off of her MySpace and showing me her painting and portrait work.  I've long held a day dream in my mind of her following my boys around outside and taking their pictures.  She's an incredible photographer along with everything else.

She slept in my old bed that night, where I'd put my babies down to nap the day before.  Knowing I would see her for the first time, I primped myself a little extra that morning.  My heart pounded when I saw my bedroom door was open, meaning she was up.  I even did that cheesy thing where you're waiting for someone but trying to look like you aren't.

 She emerged in a very Alice-esque emsemble.  Maybe that's why I loved her already; she was my Alice.  Floral shirt, geometric patterned jacket, brown jeans, Converse sneakers, and little pins holding back her hair. 

She gave me a genuine smile, with nothing behind it but her.  It was a wonderful first glance.  We ate breakfast together, and she watched my in-lap two year old with adoration in her eyes.  Reaching up to smooth down her boyfriend's beard, she told him he looked nice in his tux the night before.  She shines like that, at other people. 

My brother revealed that she will be an aunt soon.  Her sister's child will be her first neice, to be named Soleil.  "Did you know that's Punky Brewster's real name too?", I asked him.  "She has two daughters now; Poe and Jagger".  I always loved Punky Brewster.

We missed each other later that afternoon.  I had hoped to spend more time with the three of them; The Jewel, my brother, and the boyfriend, but was gone with my Mom and boys.  Apparently they'd been on a quest for 2008 and 2009 glasses to change out at the exact moment the year switched over.  If I'd been with them we would've found them.  I knew exactly where to go.   

When my family and I left the next morning, I unconsciously dressed myself in a rather Punky outfit.  With purple pants three sizes too big rolled up on the bottom, neon pink impulse-buy socks, pink striped shirt, a white eyelet belt, and a green tie-dyed jacket I was quite a sight.  On our way out of town we made an emergency trip to Wal Mart to get another car-charger for our phones that were both on the verge of dying.  Walking up to the doors, I got a few stares, but felt more at peace in my home-town than I have since I left.  Unsurprisingly, I saw a friend from High School, and though she didn't recognize me, was glad for the small reunion none the less.  I always assume those people don't want to see me again and am ridiculously nervous, but I was calm and centered.  My secret was that I'd seen the diamond in the rough, and just being near her made me shimmer more like myself.

 When I got back to the van my husband, admiring my strange footwear, commented that I looked like I was wearing Oz-worthy ruby slippers.  I complied by clicking my heels together and reciting the required "There's no place like home".  And for the first time in years, there really wasn't.