Az Central | Be Still My Heart Blog

Every time I think of my tender hearted and dear friend, Michele, The Beatles song enters my quirky brain, “Michele, ma belle, these are words that go together well, my Michele.” In fact I often associate people with songs, or maybe the other way around, but either way she is my spirit sister. We met years ago at American Express when we were both working corporate America. Not that there is anything wrong in that. We are both just done with that phase of our life now. She’s blessed with two beautiful boys and has blessed me with a Godson that I often gush about.

After going to bed yesterday feeling kind of crummy, my Michele text me and as shown below, this is exactly why I love her. Tonight we are going to have a candle lit dinner à la rooftop, makeup free, laughing above the beautiful desert and cityscape of Downtown Phoenix. We may even cry a tad because that’s what we do and then we’ll laugh a little more. But all in all, thank you, my Michele. You don’t know how much you impact my world.

Here’s our loony conversation, telling her to show the lady at the Vietnamese restaurant my picture because she knows me and will therefore automatically know what we want. Brilliant if I do say so myself. We’re like Miranda in Sex & the City, except with Pho. Always a laugh, with my Michele.

PS- Don’t bitch at me bc I know The Beatles version of My Michelle is with two ll’s but MY Michle is only one. So there.

Bon appétit and cheers,

Britt x

Ah, the smell of fall is in the air — talking about the recently purchased three wick candles, of course. Each draw of the waxy aroma is reminiscent of how spectacular this time of year is in the Valley of the Sun.

Phoenix is not quite Door County, yet fall still finds a way to claim representation, being sought after by Phoenicians everlastingly. It is the central motive to surviving the living hell that is our summer season. Despite Phoenix’s sunny disposition, the heat can bring on the sadness, similar to Adele’s previous albums, 19 and 21.

Adele’s impeccable timing came when Phoenician’s were ready to say their first “Hello” to the bliss that is our fall. We have our very own fall anthem explained in a way that no one else but Adele could have done:

“Hello, it’s me

I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet

to go over everything

they say that time’s supposed to heal ya, but I ain’t done much

healing”

The translation is simple, Phoenix, or to anyone living in extreme temperatures.

“Fall, it’s me

summer feels like its been years

and I was wondering if you’d like to meet

to go over all this heat

they say coolers supposed to heal ya, but it I ain’t seen much

cooling”

Just as you begin to think that the songstress is going to stay true to her broken hearted lyrics, “Hello from the other side” wafts your face like a breath of fresh air and as the song proceeds, the declaration of how every Phoenician feels when it drops below ninety degrees, exclaims our raw emotion for the love of this season.

We made it. Is she reading our minds?

Adele continues with, “Hello from the outside.” She just gets us. We can finally go outside and appreciate what a beautiful city we live in. Hello, fall. Hello, Phoenix. We don’t have to stay inside. Anymore.

You were well worth the wait, just like Adele.

— Here are a few fall pictures I snapped from around Downtown Phoenix —