Its called OTT

Everyone has a letter disease, right?

And if you say No,

your probably one of those people,

whose friends

discuss your letter disease privately...

Lucky me,

I have two!

One requires a novel to describe

the other...worthy of,

a blogging short version.

It's called OTT!

And I have two confirmed friends

who share in this most wonderful

and nutty affliction.

OTT is short for "over the top!"

You know them as people

who can't just make a ginger bread cookie

but must frost them so they

ACTUALLY represent the recipients

in little frosted shorts and skirts!

(yes, one of my confirmed friends

did this for us at Christmas)

This is OTT at its best!

Could also be called the AAB club,

"above and beyond!"

Pretty sure I get this from my "mom"

Something that drove me

crazy growing up

and... then I became it!

It starts like this...

A January call to one of my OTT friends.

(the older one)

"Hi, I got this fab idea!

We should do a Paddles and Pinwheel

event to Celebrate Jennifer, in February!"

"That is a great idea but

we don't have much time!"

"Oh, we'll keep it simple, easy,

nothing "over the top!"! "

says one OTT to another...

hmmmm? Right!

Really, easy, just

order some pinwheels

and suction cups

show up, have fun,

say a few words,

paddle, go home,

best friend celebrated,

project done!

Hmmm?

But T shirts would be nice

since I don't have anything pink

and I have been wanting to try that

new Zazzel company,

I'll just make one for me

and well, Carolyn too

cause it's her birthday and well

Sara and Anita would probably like one.

Should be working

on Winterfest stuff instead

but this will just take a minute.

It didn't!

And how hard is it to

find suction cups to hold

a flag or pinwheel?

Really hard, three weeks,

hours on the computer and phone

and seven samples later,

Finally, they arrive with two days to spare!

Whew!

But the pinwheels? Should be easy!

Proceed to order some

'make your own' kits

and Valentines ones...so perfect!

They arrive early with time to spare

but Valentine's ones are too small

and the kit?... is just lame.

Whaa!

Back to the computer drawing board!

So last Friday, with a million "art show"

things to do,

I finally find the most perfect pinwheel

Hawaiian style.

Luau with flowers!

With confidence I push "checkout."

Plenty of time to get them!

Plenty!

In the mean time shirts arrive...

very cool!

But OTT friend says,

"you didn't order one for Kuba?

she loves pink!"

Whoops, yes, I should of

back to the computer.

Its Monday, now! Gosh, cutting it close!

OTT friend, takes the others

home to dye them

so they might be a multi pink!

Okay!

What if the pinwheels don't show up

until Saturday afternoon?

Panic!

Hmmm, better revisit the lame

'make it yourself' kits.

So I will make one design

specifically for Jen,

well maybe two...

no, actually how about three...

three custom Jen pinwheels!

Gluing , cutting, printing into

the midnight hours

knowing, I am certifiable now!

But its "a project of love"

I tell myself!

The reward comes on Thursday

afternoon, when the custom pinwheel

and 'timely arrived' suction cups,

are attached and stay attached on

a speeding canoe across the water,

Great grip,

so great that when I tried one

on my forehead

it left a 'suck mark', which I must say

was NOT such a great idea!

But Jen?

She looked beautiful spinning in the wind,

on the front of the canoe!

OTT friends says in review,

"couldn't you make any with the six points."

"Are you kidding me?"

What else should be done?

still got a couple hours...

Hmmm!

Should really honor her memory with

some pictures,

how about a story board

and maybe some posted copies

of her emails

from that avoided E mail file

I made, when she was diagnosed.

oh dear...cry, cry, cry!

It's Friday!

Just need to put

the pinwheels into the suction cups,

find a way to put pinwheels

on baseball hats

and may be make some pinwheel

Wild Wear Bobble Bands...and

Hmmm!

I really should say something before

the launch tomorrow,

a poem maybe,

yes, I should write a poem?

and may be some ginger bread cookies

that look like Jen?

And where is Fed Ex with those perfect

Hawaiian pinwheels?

P.S

OTT friend says I get the

OTT award for this one...

Yaay!

...I think!!

Pam Piper Rain