The Power of Abe...Socks

When I was a kid I thought it would be so cool to have superhero underwear. Remember Underoos? I thought that would be so awesome to know you were wearing a super power shirt under your clothes.  Not only was it just cool as hell, I felt like it would give me an edge. Like maybe if I'd been wearing the Underoos I wouldn't have misspelled Wednesday in front of the whole class like I did in Mrs. Hutchinson's class that cold-ish day in 1983. Maybe. We'll never know because for some reason my mom never really believed in the power or coolness of Underoos and I never got any.

But a few weeks ago one of the best things that has ever happened to me happened and it involved a superhero of sorts, and the Internet and socks. A sock company sent an email that said this:

Dear Angela-

My name is Andrea and I found your blog through a Google search.

 I’ve been looking for someone to write a review of our 

women’s Abe Lincoln knee high socks and link back to our website. 

You’re a great, engaging writer and I enjoyed your mention of how fond you are 

of our former president. 

I will gladly send you a free pair of Lincoln socks in exchange for your review/mention. 

Please check them out: http://www.socksmith.com/lincoln-kh.html

Ahhhhhh!!!! How cool, right?!?

I was finally going to get my chance to wear a super hero under my clothes. Someone who fought for real change in society.  A real hero--not a reality star or a pro athlete or a comedian or satirist or made up guy who flies or spins webs. Someone who made an impact in the world, created real change. For me that hero is Abraham Lincoln.

I sort of stumbled into loving this hero of mine. This past summer on a road trip the kids begged me to stop when we saw a sign that said "Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln." Okay, actually I forced my kids to go with me. But I was fascinated that there was a museum celebrating our 16th President nestled in the mountains of Kentucky along with all the liquor stores and Baptist churches.

So we stopped and my fascination began. I started reading everything I could and watching biographies. I found ways to work facts about Abraham Lincoln anecdotes into almost every conversation/situation. Like when the kids and I went bowling, I said "you know who else liked to bowl?" The kids rolled their eyes and said "Abraham Lincoln" in annoyed unison. 

Abraham Lincoln was a poor, uneducated guy who wanted something more. He was a hard worker who wasn't perfect. He told great stories. He had great empathy. He was a loving father who believed in childhood. He wanted to see all the sides of a situation. He loved to make people laugh. He was prone to darkness and feeling a little too much. He was described as always looking a bit disheveled. He cared. He was deliberate. He was passionate. I truly believe the post Civil War America would have healed differently (and better!) if he had lived longer and that we would have felt the positive impacts from that time today. 

I literally could go on and on (and on) about Abraham Lincoln and defending Mary and the complexities of depression and ahhhh, there I go again. But this post is about socks. Why do I love wearing Abraham Lincoln socks? Because just like the old Bonnie Tyler song "I need a hero!"  Don't we all? Not just a hero, but someone that we can look to and learn from and feel inspired by. I like to think when I wear my socks that I feel even more compassion and empathy even if I sometimes still misspell Wednesday.



I wish I could give everyone a pair of Abraham Lincoln socks. If you want to get a pair, go to this website, SockSmith.com. These socks are soft an comfortable and yeah, inspiring.

While you are ordering, click on the song below and rock out.

(Click here to watch the video.)

I was given a pair of socks to do this review, but the thoughts and opinions are all mine, all original.

Time Goes By Fast & What I Know For Sure

"Life goes really fast," JT said as he tied his tennis shoe getting ready to get on the bus for the first day of school.  "I mean it seems like I was just in second grade."

"Yeah buddy, it sure does," I told him and kissed the top of his head.  "Isn't it kind of crazy, you are growing up?!," I smiled. "Have a great day today," I told him as he headed off to the bus taking him to fourth grade. And then I watched Wade trail after him, so excited to start kindergarten.

Ahhhhhh. It does go fast.  I'm feeling that so hard this week. Time and life and kids growing up and no more babies and new wrinkles and teenagers with phones and all of the kids in school and my kids thinking Tim and I are "so old" and Tim and I feeling so old and holy shit is it Friday already and oh my god.....it's enough to make some of us who are little prone to anxiety panic a little.

Maybe all these feelings of vulnerability and anxiety are why I am enjoying our new trampoline so much. Yeah, trampoline. A friend of mine gave it to us and we are loving it. There's really nothing like jumping around together and being silly and ridiculous and exhausted to make you feel happy.

There are a few rips in the net that I have to fix, I know.

For some of us with a little extra energy, the trampoline has helped burn some of it off.

The kids helped me put it together while Tim was gone this past weekend. I feel pretty damn proud that we did it without Tim.

What I know for sure this week is that life and time are moving fast but it feels good to jump and be silly and enjoy every minute we can.

A cool part about the tweens and teens having phones is that they like to take slow-mo videos of the kids jumping and then they watch it. I would have LOVED that as a kid.

Here's what else I know for sure right now:

• I love rainbows. Did you see the picture of the rainbow in NYC on the eve of the 14th anniversary of 9/11. It was beautiful. Click here to see it. 

• My kids are getting so independent. Yup. I have three that are old enough to walk to the store on their own and even ask "do you need anything mom?"

• I LOOOOOOVE this song. It's my theme song this fall.  I mean with lyrics like "learn to forgive, learn to let go....don 't be so hard on yourself" it's just so good. And the video has a drum line-type solo and I f-ing love it.

• Yeah, yeah, yeah, everyone is growing up around here, but we are never too old to dress up and play pretend Harry Potter style.

• I like extremely violent TV (I really didn't see this coming, I'm not really a fan of violence). I am obsessed with the TV show "Sons of Anarchy." My sister and brother told me to watch it for years and I never did until this summer. Thank god for Netflix because Tim and I are in LOVE with watching this show. It's violent and upsetting, and such good storytelling. We are in the middle of season three out of seven. (PLEASE DON'T TELL ME HOW IT ENDS!)

• Abraham Lincoln was pretty amazing. I am also obsessed with Abraham Lincoln. After visiting the museum of his birthplace in Kentucky this summer I became so interested in his life. I've been reading and watching and learning so much about him. He is fascinating.

What do YOU know for sure this week, right now?  Tell me about it, share the knowledge!