Many couples have one song that puts them in the mood — Bryan and I have over 200 that span genres and decades.

Very early in our courtship, I was inspired to send him a song every day to express my feelings for him. What followed became a catalog of love songs that journaled the range of emotions I, and sometimes we, felt as the love between us grew.

One day, when I was around seven years old, my mother took my brother and me shopping at Market Basket (a Southern California grocery store that operated from 1930 into the 1980s). My brother, who is five years older than I, wandered off to the pharmacy next door, probably to browse the books and magazines, as he usually did. I accompanied Mom into the market.

One day as I was spending way too much time surfing Facebook, I stumbled into a friend’s page of favorite quotes. Some were pithy while others profound, but there was one that offered me the best advice for an interview I know I will have one day that I need to begin preparing for now.

Years ago as I was moving out on my own, I had the daunting yet exciting task of purchasing my own bed — not a hand-me-down, but a brand new bed I had selected. I was beside myself!

So, I went to a store with a large selection of mattresses and tried out every bed on the showroom floor.

Rodney R Fuller, circa 1985

For some reason, I’ve been thinking about my brother Rodney. He was born nine years before I was and as far as I can tell, my major caretaker when I was a wee lass. His nickname for me was “Poops” — I’ll give you one guess what I did to deserve that moniker.

If there’s someone you can talk to
Someone no one can replace –

If there’s someone you can laugh with,
’till the tears run down your face –

If there’s someone you can turn to
When you need a helping hand –

If there’s someone you can count on,
To advise and understand –

If there’s someone you can sit with,
And not need to say a word –

If there’s someone you can trust,
To keep each confidence she’s heard –

If there’s someone you can think of,
As each year comes to an end,

Then you’re a very lucky person,
For you’ve found an eternal friend.

“But you’re so intelligent …”

Over the last few months, this one unfinished statement has rung in my mind. It is based on a very brief conversation I had with a dear friend regarding the issue of gay marriage. I don’t support the practice of it, whereas my friend does.

Christiane and I had a very interesting conversation the other day regarding a couple of cultural practices commonly engaged in by young children in the LDS Church (encouraged by the adults, of course) — bearing their testimonies in Sacrament meeting, and partaking of the Sacrament before they are baptized.

It appears that Christiane and I are alternating posting, so I guess it’s my turn.

Much has been blogged and reported on the ongoing Prop 8 controversy and I feel no need to repeat everything here. I will post if I think I have something new to add, or some personal experience to share.

We want to wish all a very happy new year! Our new year festivities were very quiet since we’ve both been ill the last few days, but it didn’t seem to really change the Woerner tradition of dining in and showing off our vocabulary skills. The only difference this year with our new year festivities is that we celebrated it twice!