Azul

My 20th San Dieguito High School reunion is this month and I'm beginning to understand what the saying "don't blink" means. Holy cow.I feel really fortunate that pretty much NOTHING from my 18 year old perception of "how it'll be" has come to pass, and even embrace the thankfulness that I didn't get some things that I wished for. While a painful lesson in letting go, I've discovered in this process that what we WISH for with our minds is so two-dimensional, so less than.So now, I am working hard at allowing myself to be OPEN to all the blessings that the Universe, God(dess) et al will bestow upon me should I get out of my own way.And, since I was restricted to 650 measly characters in my High School Reunion Bio, I’ve decided to post the full Monty here, so that my blessings are stated allowed. Well some of them at least… Cheers, AZB Debbie ZehrSince you’ve seen her at the last reunion “Debbie” now answers to the name of “Azúl” and has landed in San Diego, just a mile from Balboa Park, where she and her one-and-only (husband of three years, JD) have purchased a Craftsman home. Being first-time homeowners, the Bouchardes are learning to loathe perky DIY’ers and highly discourage anyone, ever, from attempting to plant their own lawn from seed. Sheer madness.Why “Azúl”, you’re asking? Well, that’s a rather long, beautiful, and romantic story that has to be told in person (preferably at dawn, where it all began); suffice it to say that JD is an incredible indie artist/singer/songwriter/activist/poet who facilitated the name-change and, oh, yeah…he has a sister named Debbie. (Enough said?) Between her tanzanite wedding ring, her blue-eyes and creative non-sensibilities, Azúl feels Azúl fits nicely and is very at home with her colorful moniker. Much to her parents chagrin, she sometimes even forgets to turn around to “Hey, Deb…”.While she is loathe to be corralled in a cubicle, Azúl has found a unique working environ as a “corporate catch-all” where she spends her days marketing, planning conferences to far-away tropics and driving stuffed ducks in Padres helmets around the office in remote-control hummers with the Company’s President, “Aunt Sue”. (No, we don’t wear the helmets, the ducks do; we wear boas.) Until the babies show up (yes, we know we lag, yes they are on the agenda, yes we are enjoying our games of roulette) this working situation suits her whimsy just fine and provides insurance and mortgage ducats for the family. No small feat in So. Cal.Azúl, always drawn to the artiste, is proud of her husband as he carries the right-brain torch for the family by teaching children piano lessons, gigging about San Diego, playing concerts, and “channeling” Elvis. (Yes, dead serious, and, yes, ‘Cilla has been spotted in the Gaslamp with him). JD is currently mid-creation in the one-man theatrical production he’s written called Happy Songs About The War. Until the show lands them in a modern day Gulag, Azúl is getting her creative ya-ya’s out with the show wearing many hats: (barely) Managing Director/Promotions Goddess/Funding Panhandler/Stage Momma/and all around cat-herder for the logistically-challenged (artists). We hope all you fellow Peaceniks look for the show onstage in January, ’08 and bring your Republican kin (and some zip ties).Regretfully, Azúl isn’t able to make it to the 20th reunion to give hugs and introduce you all to her tall, handsome, über sweet hearted, hunk-a hunk-a burnin’ love; but she invites you to drop a line, and come visit when in San Diego.Here’s hoping you all are doing wonderfully and, like Azúl, still pinching yourselves and asking “How did I manage to procure all these blessing??!”Azúl & JD Boucharde (Formerly “Debra Jeeeean Zehr”)[email protected] www.myspace.com/azulboucharde www.myspace.com/jdboucharde