Hello folks, let’s chat! Every other Friday I write for a blog called Southern Belleview. Perhaps you’ve been visiting with us there. We have ten authors and speakers who blog regularly about this, that, and the other, and as our tag-lines puts it, “We are down write southern.” (Tricky, huh?)

One of my good friends who also happens to be a Southern Belleview belle was with me in the studio last Monday for my radio show, ATS LIVE. It was a jam-packed hour of fun and information. (Joneal brought us up to date on what’s going on with Heartfelt Ministries, her Titus 2 ministry.) Big stuff, as in an opportunity for her to share her heart on Focus on the Family!) I’m hoping to have that podcast up at Shellie Media soon, but well, life, right?

Among the many topics we covered and the stories we told was one I thought y’all might enjoy here. It has to do with my BFF. She and I are well known among our family and friends– not to mention our Facebook circles– for the pranks we play on one another. Of course, my pranks are sweet, endearing bits of nonsense– like making Red think she’s about to be arrested on charges of domestic terrorism. Harmless stuff like that.

Red and I actually prank so well, so often, that my mother is always cautioning us to be careful. “I’d hate to see one of you girls take this too far.” I should’ve listened. Mama is so smart like that.

To tell you about Red’s latest evil escapade, I’ll need to give you some back story. Rhonda is a blue-eyed redhead. I am a brown-eyed brunette. Got that visual? Good! Perhaps you can explain the ongoing mystery that has people mistaking us for each other, everywhere, all the time, which brings me to our story…

I was at home, minding my own business, when I got a text from Red. “So,” she wrote, “I was checking out at Wal-Mart when a somewhat familiar lady pulled her cart up behind me. I smiled. She smiled. And then– in a flash of recognition, she grinned really big and said, “Well, hello Shellie!”

I know you’re thinking Red kindly corrected her. That would’ve been nice. Alas, I give you Red’s own words, “And well…buddy, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t help myself. As I continued unloading my shopping cart I dug in my nose and flicked it on the floor, mumbling about this heat drying everything out. And then I begged her pardon as I released some gas, blaming it on the new high fiber diet I was on. Finally, just in case she was beginning to doubt that I was you, I laid a bag of dog treats on the counter, smiled and said, “For my sweet Dixie Belle.”

Rhonda closed her text with a joyful note that the whole thing was big fun. “I like playing you!” she typed.

I hope she did. Standby for news.

Hugs, Shellie

Do you prank? Have you ever been the recipient of a good prank? It wasn’t until days after I jotted that story down for my listeners that Red admitted she had not actually done those things. She had wanted to, but she hadn’t. Whew…I’m still gonna get her for letting me think she had…