Oh dear, look at this.

The honest scrap award. Given to me by two beautiful people: Bella, and Sweet Pea. I surely do not deserve such a compliment.
I suppose I should write ten honest things about myself, or so I have been told. And pass this award onto five other people. How will I ever do this...?

1) I am abnormally brilliant at getting rid of important people in my life. I'm never sure why I do this. Perhaps the closeness and fear of losing them without my control is much too great, or maybe because I take what I can from them and move on...

2) I am very musical. I compete in singing (though I hate it) and play the guitar and piano.
3) Red lipstick is my prefered daily attire. It goes with anything.

4) I have an unhealthy obsession with Marilyn Monroe.

5) Winter is my favorite season. It carries such a romantic feeling. When you feel the bone structure of the landscape- the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Such saddness. Such unbearable warmth when everything else is frozen...

6) I am my own worst enemy.

7) My full name is Lauren Valmai Harper.

8) Iron & Wine is my refuge. The slow acoustic sound of it is so soothing. I find myself playing him over and over again. On repeat. My mind spinning with his voice, his lyrics. He is just so wonderful.

9) Pizza is my downfall.

10) I am in love. So in love. Shaun... He is all I have. All I need. My tired heart, is wrapped in his beautiful warmth. His saddness and mystery. I follow his thoughts and heart as though they tell my journey; perhaps my destination. A roadmap to where I need to go, and how to get there. Trapped inside a world of music and poetry and love. A world I may never escape from. And I realize now, after all this time, without him, I would be totally lost.

I pass this on too....

Fragments of me: Oh, sweet Bella. I know you have recieved this award multiple times, but it will never be enough. You are my inspiration and heart and feeling, everything I could need. My best friend, so many miles away. Your words, I feel and understand. Such beauty, such sadness. How lost I would be without you.

Ashley Mortimer: My dear, you are such a sweetheart. I miss you. I miss reading your words and heartache. I miss talking to you. You have saved me sometimes. I love you.

The Girl Behind the Eyes: You are lovely. I feel your writing, whether a reflection of your day, or your true feelings, you never cease to amaze me.

Michael's Blog: You never update much. But your words are so deep and wonderful. I feel closer to you, to the real you everytime I read. I wish you were able to write more often. Until then...I wait patiently.

These Scars Will Stay Forever: Autumn, you are so beautiful inside and out. I am grateful for you, for your feeling and aching and truthfullness. And though you never update, I know what you say is true. You are so wonderful and special to me, I l0ve you.