Elastagirl, sadly, I am not

I am feeling protective.
Wanting to get my arms around everyone I love and hold them close.
Keep them warm.
Safe.
Protected.
Loved.

Wish I was Elastigirl.

From The Incredibles.

I already have her hair.
And her ass.
Wish I had her waist.


Want my arms to grow and stretch all the way to Jack's classroom, where he is completing Kindergarten and growing with such speed I fear if I don't grab him now, he will soon tell me he doesn't want to snuggle me anymore.

Want to grab Lucio in that warm hold and tell him that we can be successful in everything we do as long as we try.
Together.

Wish I could stretch a little more to hold tightly to Harrison and Piper, who are slipping from my arms a little more each day.

Want to grab Kevin and Steph everytime I see them, tell that living next to them has changed our relationship forever, and that for every up and down we've had, I love them each more than I ever knew I could.

My arms are letting me down.

I cannot reach my mother to hold her and tell her she is proving to be a stellar grandmother. The best ever, in fact. We've done some checking and she really is top of her class.

Nope, cannot reach Florida, to assure Caye she looks amazing and the woman in Ross was clearly "special". No hugging, Caye. I know.

Cannot stretch my way to Leigh and hold her hand when we walk, which she always lets me do.

I cannot get to Becca and tell her I knew happiness would find its way back to her home. Or how happy I am that it did. I cannot throw my arm around Lori's shoulders when she frets over her first home purchase. Cannot offer reassurance to Danielle when a tree falls on their house, let alone laugh with her until it hurts.

Cannot catch Jamie as he moves to quickly.
Can barely grab hold of Julie as she jets off west again.
Wishing wishing my arms could hug Vivian everyday. Hardly seems believable that our friendship is this strong when we only lived near each other for 21 months, long ago, in the mid 90's.

Can't reach Denisha and tell her it's their loss.
Cannot contain my want to show happy fingers when I think of a week in July in Walloon Lake with Leslie and the girls.

Cannot control my glee at thought of sitting snug in chairs with Laura and Kayrn in Colorado later this year, maybe. Just the thought of getting to them makes me smile.


Yes, I am feeling the need to protect what I love.
I think it's okay.
I think it might be Facebook's fault.
If I want to throw hugs to people I have not seen in decades, some of whom I was only marginally close to, it's no wonder I consider smothering love on those few people whom I've loved all along.

If I see you and I hug you, please let me.

You can even hug first.