A Brat Introduction
I suppose the best
place to start is the beginning but to be perfectly
honest I'm not exactly sure how it all began. I'll
start with Robin and Tonya since they claim the
highest seniority. They talked until 2am the first
time they logged on to the chat room. Sharing
nothing in common but a love of Nora's stories, the
connection was immediate, the friendship
effortless. Two pieces from life's puzzle they
discovered they fit well side by side but they had
yet to see the big picture.
It wasn't long before
they hooked up with Lisa. She added her own
perspective. She'd acquired and read all of Nora's
books in just over a year. Sweet, quietly insecure,
Lisa. From Mmmichigan. (Oh well, nobody's perfect)
Her generous spirit knows no bounds.
Then there was Maria.
She'd been in once, briefly, but had technical
difficulties and gave up. The lucky girl was then
saddled with being responsible for every technical
difficulty that occurred after. Anytime someone had
trouble remaining in the room the blame was placed
on the ghost of Maria. When she logged on over a
month later she couldn't believe anyone remembered
her. Maria is one of those people. Unforgettable.
There's a sweetness about her that makes the world
a better place.
Now there were four.
Transients in and out but no keepers. It takes more
than a passing interest to be a brat.
Suzanne was next.
Never one to hog the conversation she remains an
enigma. Discovering layers of herself, she shares
them or not as the mood strikes her. She doesn't
see herself as complex, although she rarely logs
onto a chat under the same name twice. She has yet
to understand who the world sees when they look at
her. It makes knowing her worth every unexpected
twist and turn.
As luck would have
it, or we'll call it fate, an unscheduled Friday
night chat brought brat #6 on board. Despite the
constraints of distance and cultural differences
Shelley added another facet to the group. An
Australian connection who chucked wobblies and
lived a day ahead of everyone else. Without motive
or intent she cemented the group and made it
stronger. Belle represents their commitment. I
believe they'd agree to chat at 5am if Belle could
be there. They'd grumble and complain but they'd
show.
A tangle of
friendship with thousands of miles separating them
the brats forge on. Building on the friendships
they've built and making new memories to laugh
over.
This unlikely group
thrives because of two very precious gifts from
God. The first, a false belief they each need the
group more than the group needs them. The second
and perhaps most easily overlooked the gift of
Nora. Without her stories and their tremendous
effect on the lives of these women none of them
would have felt the need to discuss her work. They
would never have found each other.
If you believe you
were born a brat stop by and meet them sometime.
You won't need Visa or American Express but bring
your thickest skin and a good measure of patience.
In a room full of brats, believe me, you'll need
it!
ADWOFF > NEWSLETTERS > EDITION
#12 > Introducing the
Brats
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