First let me say, CONGRATULATIONS to THEFEARLIST!!! wOOT, bELLs & WhIStleS! You WON a copy of My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren!
Now, on with the show, this is it!
Remember Steel Magnolias? I loved that movie. I think about it and I’m reminded of my girlfriends. Right now as they read this line they’re all thinking the same thing, “Oh dear Lord, please don’t let me be Ouiser!”
I had a slight melt down the other day. Something I read sent me right over the edge. Naturally, before thinking it through I started visualizing worst case scenarios in my mind.
I had a choice. Who to call? My real Steel Magnolias love and support me no matter how neurotic I get. All of their advice is meant for my good, but they each have a unique way of giving it.
My sweet Jane would have answered with, “I love you.” In my mood, it would have turned nasty. “You love me? Oh, you love me? Well, that’s going to make me all better. Thanks for the love.” Click.
I could have called my “body guard.” Her response, “You want me to take someone out? You just say the word and it’s on.” She generally resorts to offering to beat someone up who hurts me or offends me (which happens less often than it sounds). And she makes me laugh at her violent antics. After calling off a hit, she buys me shoes and bling. So please, say bad things about me in public because Charlotte Russe has a sweet pair of red sling-backs I want!
I could have called my “Fixer” friend. She would have given me sympathy and then proceeded to tell me all the things I might be able to do to make things easier, or solve the problem. Always great ideas and sensible.
All of their advice is great. And helpful. But when I’m having a pity party and I know I shouldn’t be, I call my pit bull. My ragin cajun. I owe the fact I’m blogging to her. Her encouragement to do it was relentless…”You’re an idiot if you don’t do it. What’s your friggin problem? Who cares what people say about you? Get a grip.” Now you get to read my drivel 3 times a week!
I called her and told her what I read. Our conversation went like this:
“So, this morning, I was about to get into the Word, but I read something really quick and this is what it said…” (insert what I read) “and then I couldn’t even study because I was sick. Just sick.”
Silence on the line, then in that Lousianna spice–a little loud, a little sharp, I hear, “First of all, yah never should have put anything above the Lord. Yah had that comin.”
“I know.” Sigh.
“Now, I gotta confess, my advice is good, but I’m guilty of it myself. However, this ain’t about me. It’s about you so…”
I giggle. She laughs with me for a moment. “Now, shut up and listen to me,” her sharp tone silenced my chuckles. She spent the next ten minutes givin me an earful of raw, honest truth. And she was right. I was worrying over something that was ridiculous. I needed to trust God more. And I had no business getting into my emails, social media, or blog before I socialized with God first. Had I, I would have been prepared for what I read and saw it for what it was–nothing to worry about.
So am I over it? Yes. Am I set straight? You betcha.
I laugh as I think about my own Steel Magnolias. I love them so much. Maybe I’ll have a girl’s night and we’ll all watch it and laugh because we used to wear our hair just like them. We’ll fight over who gets to be Darryl Hannah without the glasses and I’ll stand in my living room and do an awesome impression of Sally Field at her crucial moment.
“Drink the juice, Shelby!” Bet you thought I was talking about the funeral, didn’t you? Sidebar: When my ragin cajun or I talk and one of us is feeling sick that’s what we say. “Drink the juice, Shelby!”
Anyway, here’s a few of my favorite lines from Steel Magnolias taken from IMDb:
Clairee Belcher: Ouiser, I’d recognize this penmanship anywhere. You have the handwritin’ of a serial killer.
Clairee: Ouiser, you sound almost chipper. What happened today – you run over a small child or something?
Truvy: I don’t like her. I don’t trust anyone who does their own hair. I don’t think it’s natural.
Truvy: Oh, Sammy’s so confused he don’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his butt.
Ouiser Boudreaux: I do not see plays, because I can nap at home for free. And I don’t see movies ’cause they’re trash, and they got nothin’ but naked people in ’em! And I don’t read books, ’cause if they’re any good, they’re gonna make ’em into a miniseries.
Clairee: I’ve just been to the dedication of the new children’s park.
Truvy: Yeah, how did that go?
Clairee: Janice Van Meter got hit with a baseball. It was fabulous.
Truvy: Was she hurt?
Clairee: I doubt it. She got hit in the head.
Alright, so tell me how your girlfriends encourage you. Do they bring you pints of ice cream? Buy you shoes and bling? Take you out and drive you around while tied up? Maybe that’s just me. wink.
Have a great weekend & call a friend and tell her you love her.
I LOVE Steel Magnolias!! Those quotes are priceless. LOL
Yes, I definitely have different friends for different situations or needs in my life.
Love Steel Magnolias!
My favorite line –
Clairee Belcher: Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!
(I know someone just like this character!!)
I'm the listener. I can hear the story over the phone and know what's REALLY going on. It's like a 6th sense. They don't drop things in my lap unless they really want to hear the truth…
I love the support I get and give. It's part of life. We need each other. Great post!
"Mah colors are blush and bashful."
Love that movie. Although I'll admit, I watched most of it (on TV) for YEARS before I ever saw the end. I was totally unprepared for that – and Sally Field blew me away in that funeral scene.
Good friends help me talk it out, laugh it out, and cry it out – and make me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
LAUGHING OUT LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a honor and blessing to be your friend ! by the way Ouiser is my fav…love you
Yay!:D Thank you so much Jessica for the giveaway! I'm uber excited because it sounded like an extremely good book and I've never read Susan May Warren.I'm guessing you'll need my address?
This was a great post! I've actually only seen one scene from Steel Magnolias, the one when they're at the funeral. But it seems like a really good movie so one of these days I need to watch it. I loved the quotes you posted as well, they were so funny!
What wonderful friends you have! You're truly blessed to have so many to support you. I have a friend who is incredibly helpful because she is both encouraging and motivating. If I'm down, she'll help me up, and if need a kick in the butt, she'll lend a foot. 🙂
-Lizzie
Listen to me. I would consider that number one when I start to rant. I would tune me out, but they don't. Priceless. Thanks for sharing.
You're so blessed to have great, supportive, and funny friends, Jessica. I'm glad they kept you motivated to blog.
My closest friend lives on the east coast, but she calls me weekly and does everything she can to encourage me to write. There were times when she actually got mad at me for not telling people what I do. "You're a writer! When people ask what you do, tell them you wrote a book! How many of us can say that?" She scolded. Sometimes I need her to light a fire under me, especially when it's tempting to listen to the naysayers.
I LOVE Steal Magnolias, any movie about friendships in the south really.
We all need every different type of friend, don't we? We need the ones who will listen, the ones who will correct us when we're dead wrong, the ones who will help us fix it, and the one's who will give us a swift kick when we need it!
Have a great weekend, Jessica!
You are so blessed to have these friends around you! My best friends are far away but LOVE the phone calls!
Well I have to say one of my favorite parts of the movie is the night at the carnival, and Daryl Hannah screams "nobody move! I lost my contact!" I love to impersonate that…and with my southern drawl I do a fine job! Oh, btw…I love you! Lol!
I have to single you out, Terri! You're back! The grandkids must be on their way home. 🙂
Great comments everyone. I'm so glad you're familiar with the movie. If not, Lizzie, rent it and watch. Good times! 🙂
Awesome post, Jess! And so timely for me. I've been leaning on my friends quite a bit this past week or two, as you know!
My friends encourage me by reminding me of what God has previously confirmed to me, by comiserating with me, by being on my side, and by keeping my coffee hot and giving me license to eat my Reese's! *wink*
Love my friends! Love the support, the truth, the tough love and the nuttiness! Where would we be without them?
Sally Field is the one I relate most to, Ouiser is the one who makes me laugh the hardest, (and reminds me of an aunt of mine…) I need the pitbull the most, but my best friend listens when I just need to cry my eyes out about something. She doesn't judge or give me platitudes….just love, but I fight being a "fixer". I really do fight it. I remind myself all of the time that I don't have to live someone else's life, so how can I advise them–of course unless God is poking me in the back telling me to! 🙂
Love this post! (Love that we both had a Frivolous Friday this week… You scare me. LOL) God gives us the friends we need, when we need them. It amazes me to look back through my life and see how different my friends have been at different times, and believe me, I think I've had every Steel Magnolia there is. 🙂 Side note, first play I ever saw in the theater was Steel Magnolias. After that, I was hooked.
Ok now you've gone and done it got to rent borrow or buy a copy of Steel Magnolias and "find" some me time! Been a million years since I saw it and feel like a little reminder of how blessed I am will do me some good. I have had the smile of God on me as only He could have put so many "Girls Friends" in my life. May even head to Starbucks with one special gal pal! Keep writing girl keep writing!
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