I'M REMEMBERING, THE MIDWEST-EARLY 60s-COLUMBUS, OHIO

Ennbee's blog set me to thinking...in fact, I'm using terms like "set me to thinking"....that's sorta of a Midwestern thing to say...she was talking about front porches and yikes....that set the tone for the rest of my afternoon/evening....

So here's some things that I still think about when I drift back in time and want to feel comforted....

I had the pleasure of growing up in a neighborhood and school where my cousins and aunt and uncle also lived. I also lived in a neighborhood where no on moved....ever. We all grew up together. And I mean GREW UP together. We ran home when the street lamps popped on and everyone else's mother had license to yell at you if you were in their yard on in front of their house instead of at home. Naturally, this never happened to me....but it did happen.

Every Friday night, my Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Pat held "open house". This meant that whoever wanted to could "stop and visit". They'd be on their front porch. Any and all combination of friends and family would sit and visit for a time throughout the evening...even if it was just for 10 minutes or for a few hours. They were always there hosting. Bring a dish, bring some pop, or just show up. Every Friday...rain or shine...plenty of parking in the church lot next door.

Fireflies.


The sound of the screen door slamming in the kitchen. That was one of my favorite sounds growing up. It was a solid sound, one of connection. It meant I was safe inside my house. When I was in the house and heard it, it meant that someone had left, but more importantly, it could mean that someone was home...and that was even better.
The transistor radio...beige...WCOL...and the coolest disc jockey ever-"Mrs. Hopkins' Fat Boy Wes"...that's what he called himself...and I loved his show....

Mom's Sunday dinners-typically fried chicken or roast beef with potatoes.

Sneaking into the hallway to watch the Dick Van Dyke show and the Dean Martin Show. My Dad had to know I was in there. He just had to, right?

Discovering a bird's nest, or a cocoon, or some other incredible evidence that the animal kingdom was alive and well and we were witnesses to it.

Burying one of the myriad dead animals that the kids in the neighborhood brought to our house for me to bury. This was a solemn occasion. We would find a box, bury it, say some words, and then discuss with great detail where that soul was, if it was with Jesus, in Heaven, what it was doing, etc. Most of the kids were Catholic so purgatory was mentioned a lot. Sometimes the discussions were quite heated...who knew what kinds of sins those dead birds had to repent of?....Quite spiritual...

Walking to the candy store with some coins. Magic. I can still see that big candy case with the penny candy, the colors, the smells, the wooden plank floors, the rows of canned goods, the cash register that seemed so big and tall off the floor...sheer magic...

Hiding in a big shrub or bush. If it was spring, the fragrance of the flowers would be wonderful. I remember hiding in a lilac shrub and watching my aunt's mother brush her long gray hair...I was mesmerized by that vision...I remember hiding in a shrub and contemplating how babies were formed...I pictured them forming in a little metal mechanism, sorta wispy, like when you turn on a cotton candy machine (how food-oriented was I?)....that's how I figured we all started....

Sitting on Dad's lap on Sunday mornings, my head against his chest, listening to his heart beat while in the other room, my sister regaled mother with her Saturday evening escapades...

Warm windy afternoons, snow drifts over the back fence...

My brother David...first voice in the morning, last voice at night....I'm pretty certain Jesus said, "Look, I can't be with you all the time Debbie, so here's David, he's less than a year behind you....play nice."
The Midwest....as I've said before....I think, just maybe...God's zip code might be in there somewhere....just sayin'....

WHAT'S IRISH BUTTER GOT THAT U.S. BUTTER AIN'T?

So awhile back I was shopping at Costco and I noticed a package of Irish butter...right there in the refrigerated section....it was just sitting there all golden and pretty...and I thought, "Hmmm, I should get that!"

Now, why on earth I thought that I needed Irish butter is a matter that should be left to the psychology of marketing strategists which I'm certain Costco employs, but there I was...looking at the beautiful little package of Irish butter....thinking how good that probably tasted on toast....visualizing me all cuddled up in my wooden rocking chair in the evening, settled in, responsibilities of the day taken care of (HEY! IT'S MY FANTASY, I CAN THINK WHAT I WANT, OKAY?), eating some warm, buttery, cinnamon toast and drinking my favorite herb tea....yea...I should definitely splurge and get myself some genuine Irish butter 'cause apparently the Irish know how to do butter right....right?

So I took it home and I didn't even open it right away because I liked the way it looked in my refrigerator. Really. I enjoyed opening up my refrigerator and seeing it in there. Everything else was going to heck in a handcart but when I opened up that refrigerator...ahhhhhh...there was that yummy golden block of imported luxury....just waiting....

The day came....the circumstances were right....I was alone....the day was cold...okay, it was winter in the desert so it was relative, but it felt really cold...probably 50-ish....but the wind was blowing....I put the toast in....yummm...the pleasure center of my brain was lit up like the New York skyline....I opened the box and the butter was wrapped in GOLD ALUMINUM....luscious.....I unwrapped the aluminum and it was one solid block of the brightest yellow I had ever seen....wow....these cows are rich in whatever makes butter yellow....what's that tapping?.....is that?...no!....that is NOT reality...not HERE...not NOW...STOP IT....COME BACK LATER....oh...come on....FINE....nothing is THAT yellow naturally....okay okay...I'll check the ingredients....flip the box....what?....just cream (milk) and salt....that's it....in exactly that way, parentheses included....no food coloring....no preservatives...nothing....

And then I checked the ingredients for our pale butter....and you know what it said?.....verbatim....just cream (milk) and salt...that's it...in exactly that way, parentheses included....no food coloring, no preservatives...nothing....

Wait...what makes Irish butter different from U.S. butter?....maybe it's the amount of cream....

REALITY: Hey Debbie! I know...what don't you TASTE IT!!!! Just a thought

ME: Shut up.

REALITY: I could, but you give me so much to work with. I'll just wait...

ME: *tasting* Tastes no different than U.S. butter. None.

REALITY: Like you have a refined palate. Like you could tell the difference, right?

ME: Don't you have somewhere to go?

REALITY: No.

ME: I'm noticing that the Irish butter melts a heck of a lot quicker at room temperature than our butter does. What do you think that means?

REALITY: I would guess it means higher fat content, but when have you ever listened to me?

ME: What?

REALITY: I rest my case.

I'M BETTING (HOPING) OTHERS RECEIVED THIS ALSO...THANKS LINDA!!!

I received the following from my sister-in-law, Linda, whom I love dearly. I wanted to share this with everyone I love. While I don't really think there is such a thing as "International Disturbed People's Day", the message is still pretty fun....so, thought I'd share...

Today is International Disturbed People's Day

Please send an encouraging message to a disturbed friend... just as I've done.



I don't care if you lick windows,

take the special bus

or occasionally pee on yourself..

You hang in there sunshine, you're friggin' special


Every sixty seconds you spend angry, upset or mad, is a full minute of happiness you'll never get back.


Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.

DEPRESSED PIGS...THEY'LL BE THE RUIN OF US ALL...

There's a new flu out there right now, called the "swine flu". It looks to be a nasty one....it might even be the new pandemic flu that we've all been fearing...yeech.

It starts with having direct contact with pigs...yea....but then apparently it can be spread from person to person....so STOP MESSING AROUND PIGS...for cryin' out loud...and if you're a pig farmer, keep your kids home from school if they get the sniffles, okay?

But what I found the MOST interesting in all of this, was when to know if your pig was getting sick. Like....signs that your pig was getting this flu. So, I copied and pasted the signs that your pig might have the flu...here it is...verbatim...and I'm deadly serious:

"Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes."

Did you see what I saw?...."Symptoms of infected pigs include...depression..."

DEPRESSION!!! Please, someone explain to me what a depressed pig looks like. Does he wake up, look around and think, "Crap! I'm a pig!" Does he question his existence and what it all means? Does he consider doing himself in and then remembers, "Drat this lack of opposable thumbs" and then sink into an even greater sadness? Does he, in the middle of the dark night of his soul, gaze upward at the starry heavens and contemplate the existence of....what? How deep does a depressed pig get? I mean, if they have enough self-awareness to be....um....aware...how far do we take this?....perhaps as far as this...yea...this is where I get off....next stop?....writing my representative to try to get some flu virus to Ohio and southern California for the babies and grandbabies...oh yea, and some special grandparents living around them who are INDISPENSABLE in the care and feeding of said babies and grandbabies...(Nancy & Carma)

"That'll do pig"

A DAY WITH EMMY AT THE SAN DIEGO TEMPLE

Yes, here we look relatively sane...she looks absolutely stunning...by any and all appearances we look relatively normal...in fact, when the kids were adolescents, I used to actually say to them before we left the car, "Remember, as far as anyone knows, we're a normal family"....nice.....

But it doesn't take more than a second for the weirdness to erupt....just turn your back Emmy...just turn your back....
Okay...we'll try to recover...the backdrop is so pretty....just smile nice.....no really...stop laughing...
Not bad...we're getting the hang of it....let's try once more...really, give it all you've got!!!
Oh forget it Mother!....

SECOND RATED FUNNIEST QUOTE FROM "THE OFFICE" TV SERIES

From the episode "Fun Run"...

RYAN: Did this happen on company property?

MICHAEL SCOTT: It was on company property, with company property. So, double jeopardy, we're fine.

RYAN: I don't think--I don't think you understand how jeopardy works.

MICHAEL SCOTT: Oh! I'm sorry. What is, "we're fine"?

DEMOTIVATIONAL POSTERS, CHRISTIAN BALE, HAVE I GOT YOU YET?

Dan and Teresa McIntyre have solved a wonderful mystery for me...and they were gracious and kind while doing so. Let me back up for a bit and explain something first. I receive many international hits on this blog and typically, it's because of the first two items in the title of this post. The demotivational posters are a huge draw...HUGE! One of the demotivational posters involves a picture of an eagle and a cat. Here it is...

Dan and Teresa McIntyre identified themselves as the owners of the photograph that is used in the poster. They said that they routinely (and wisely, I might add) do a search to see where their material is. In fact they said,

"We don't mind the photo being used for viewing purposes only but do not appreciate the many copies out there where folks are making money off our images w/o our permission.

Would like to spend more time enjoying your blog but have to get busy now :) Wondered if you would mind posting a link to our store next to the image?

Enjoyed the video of don't honk at old people!!"

Here is the link to their great site!!

http://alaskarainforestart.com/cateagle.aspx


I'm more than happy to do this for my new and talented friends, Dan and Teresa. I went there and the site is beautiful...please check it out! Cute side note: they reassure all visitors that they still have their kitty cat!

IN HONOR OF EARTHDAY...THANKS BIG ELI....

"Ethan laughing" I don't know what's funnier, the kid or the dad....

SEVEN WORDS...

I had to speak at Church today. This happens on occasion. We are a lay clergy and therefore, since no one gets paid, the people all contribute and subsequently, every once in a blue moon you can expect to be called upon to speak. Today was my and Peter's turn. We were given a topic out of the book, Jesus the Christ, by James E. Talmage.

My topic was the Savior's first cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem. It's a good topic, full of imagery and passion. Here's Jesus, a 30-year-old, relatively unknown Galilean. He had just spent a great week with his family and friends in Capernaum, which was his favorite city, He went there after He had performed his first recorded miracle-the changing of water to wine a the marriage in Cana. It was a great time for Him. A nice place. An emotional oasis before three years of hard work ending in great pain and turmoil before his final victory over death and the grave.

He finally had to leave Capernaum and go to Jerusalem for Passover and to be about His Father's business. When He got there, he found over 256,000 sheep being sold on the temple grounds. The temple grounds were packed with men hawking their sheep, goats and other animals for sacrifices. There were over 2 million people in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Potters were yelling at the people to purchase their ovens and wares. Every Jew had to pay one-half of a shekel in temple coinage for atonement of their sins and for temple upkeep. Money changers were there to change their Greek, Roman and far Eastern currency into temple currency-after charging the people a 5% exchange rate PLUS whatever other profit they could wrangle out of them illegally. Also, people were now using the temple as a shortcut as they made their way across Jerusalem. This was the scene of chaos that the Savior walked in on after He left Capernaum.

The Savior was so upset when He saw what had happened to the sacredness of His Father's house, that He made a small whip of cords and overturned tables and threw all of the money changers' coins onto the ground. He released all of the animals-just turned them loose. He yelled that they had turned His Father's house into a den of thieves. But interestingly, He was gentle with the birds in the cages and told the men to release them, which they did. And no one stopped Him. Not. One. Person. Because He was acting in truth and righteousness.

They were convicted by their own guilty conscious. It was only after He stopped that He was approached, almost meekly, and asked, "By what authority doest thou these things?"

So I was wondering about my own symbolic temples...my body...or my home. If the Savior returned today, what would be His reaction? I can't imagine Him fashioning a whip and releasing my pets. I would hope that He wouldn't be angry. And then I thought about the seven words that everyone wants to hear when they leave here. The seven words that make everything worth while. The seven words that are the reason that we do everything, we say our prayers, we schlep ourselves and our kids to church each Sunday. The seven words that motivate us to read our scriptures, have faith in our spouses and each other, tithe, fast, adhere to the word of wisdom, keep the sabbath day holy, go to the temple. The seven words that make our mortal journey worth it, all the tears, all the work, all the laughter, all the love.

When it's all said and done, when the Savior makes His final visit, when you're wrapping up your work and reporting it all...when you look into those eyes...the only seven words you want to hear....

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant"...

DON'T HONK AT OLD PEOPLE

A LONG AND WINDING ROAD....

One of the nicest things about Saturdays is getting the Arts and Books section of the L.A. Times. This past Saturday, a piece was done on Paul McCartney. He's 66 now...still working...still producing quality stuff...his band is in their 20 and 30s and one can only imagine the "worshipping/teaching" that must go on...the interviewer caught McCartney during rehearsal in a relatively empty theatre that was actually in N.Y. where he was sitting on an empty stage with nothing but a piano. He started toying with the keys and began playing "Let It Be", which "could make a bare cinder-block building feel like a cathedral..." wrote Geoff Boucher. When he finished the song, there was a mini standing ovation from the people who were setting up the stage and the few who were there to witness it. In fact, Boucher wrote, that they were "dabbing their eyes".

McCartney spoke about how "Let it Be" means something very different to him now than it did when he originally wrote it in 1969. He said, "In truth, a lot of them [songs] mean new things to me. I hear stuff I didn't hear in the past." He mentioned the song "Long and Winding Road" also and said, "What it means to me here and now, from this perspective, when it has been a long and winding road for me, well, it's so different. When I wrote that song, it already had been a long road, you know, from my youth up to that point. We were going through quite a lot. But now I look back and that song..."

I get that. Things can look differently. I looked at the pictures that Emily sent of our family from the 80s and perspective kicked in. At the time, I thought, "yeesh, look at my arms and that hair!", or something like that. Then I looked at it and I saw my cute little sons and daughters gathered around me, their little faces and bright eyes. I didn't see their futures or their children, or even their missions. I just saw them on that Easter afternoon. I even remembered who took the picture. It was Uncle Bill who was kind enough to bring his Kodak camera with him and give us that photo. I saw Eric with his little arms crossed and his big attitude. I saw Emmy with her ready-to-please smile who I'm relatively certain had to corral Eric into place. I saw Jette with her pretty little face that belies the fact that her right arm was draped over her little brother Eli to hold him in place because he was a fireball of activity and I saw Eli whose face can barely contain the fun he was having with the game of Jai Lai they were playing, which Jette and I are still holding the baskets for.
And I can look at it longer and see a musician/composer, a couple of mother hens, a father, a poet, a financial analyst, two husbands, two wives, two returned missionaries, a couple of comedians, a writer...four adults who contribute to their communities, who are raising children of their own, who are patriotic, who are giving back.

Yea...it's been a long and winding road since 1987 and I see things differently...and I've learned that we don't divide our love, we multiply it...and I'm grateful for everything that's happened to me because I've learned from it, even if I didn't realize it at the time...and I'm thankful for family that loves me, warts and all...and if I had ruby slippers on right now, I'd click them together three times...there's no place like home....wherever home is right now....heartland or desert....

FEEDING THE ELDERS....

The Elders just left. You know, the 19-year-old missionaries that spend two years away from family and friends and girlfriends to go wherever in the world they're sent and do things for other people and only other people until they go home. They had Easter dinner with the hubs and I. Little Eli had dinner with his older brudder, so it was just the four of us. I thought I would play "Jewish Mother" and throw a little food from the "homeland" into the mix. These young men are just that-YOUNG. And being from Utah, typically they're "right off the farm" and not exposed to a lot of the world and I suppose that includes some of the ethnic foods that are available. I went easy on them...believe me...

So, in addition to some user-friendly baked chicken (okay, I sprinkled some cumin on there...what could it hurt?), and some nice, easy rice, we had matzoh ball soup, gefilte fish, chopped liver and matzoh crackers (for the unleavened bread). I told you I went easy....

They were very polite (as all Elders are) and ate a smidgen of everything...well...one of the Elders didn't even attempt the chopped liver...and all had a good time. I explained some of the customs of the traditional Seder and they listened because they're polite (as all Elders are)...and then we set up the computer at the table and watched a slide show, as one of the elders showed us photos of his vacation to London and Paris he took with his mother before his mission...because we're polite.

It was a nice, easy Easter. I have to keep it nice and easy, because if I let the real message and meaning of the day overtake me, I'll break apart. And I think I've broken apart so much lately on this blog, I probably should try to hold it together a bit...

So, I hope the day was a beautiful day for all of my family and friends who worship in their various houses of faith...I hope you were spiritually nourished and uplifted....as for me and my house, we rejoiced in the resurrected Christ...and the company of our Elders....whom He sent...

TODAY WE DROVE THROUGH IDYLLWILD BY WAY OF MIDDLE EARTH...

Today the hubs and I drove up to the mountains of Idyllwild. This is a beautiful little community alongside mountain pine forests. It's loverly. We enjoy going up there through all the seasons. It's cooler in the summer, we find snow in the winter, monster pine cones in the fall and lilacs in the spring. It's tough to find fault with Idyllwild. They have groovy log houses and A-frames all through the woods. It's a funky, artists' town with a huge jazz festival that's known for its out-door rib fest. It's all good up on the moutain. And here's a fun fact for anyone older than 40. Remember the opening scene of Bonanza when Pa and all of his sons are riding towards you on their horses in that beautiful field with the moutains in the background and the big ponderosa pines? Yea...that's Idyllwild. We pass that same exact field everytime we go...and it still looks the same.

So, I snapped a few pics of the hubs in the snow. We stopped at a little general store (log cabin, no less) to get our requisite candy that we munch on during our road trips and I noticed the gentleman's dialect. I've gotten quite good at "hearing" these things. So I asked him what part of the Northeast he was from. "Maine" was his reply and that was all it took....he and the hubs were best friends for about 30 minutes. His name was Bruce and he was about 65, maybe, it's difficult to tell these things. He was absolutely charming and his store, Harmony Farms, is a total blast to walk around in. A. Total. Blast. He and Peter didn't live too far from one another in Maine. I told him that if we ever lived back there, it would have to be around Bangor because of the teaching jobs at the colleges there. He was pleased with that because it was close to where he was moving back. He and Peter each agreed that the desert wasn't fit for human habitation during the summer....It went on from there...

We then had dinner at a little place in the village, bought more candy, and came home. It was a great day. The best part of the drive home was this: as we were driving out of Idyllwild, through a particularly dense mountain pine forest, the clouds were very very low. The elevation is high anyway, over 5,000 feet, so the combination made for a very foggy/cloudy day. The effect was stunning. The best word is "enchanting". The forest was very green, the clouds hung quite heavy, the sunlight was spotty at best and shone in occasional shafts. The entire scene look like something out of Middle Earth. As we drove our car along the winding road, we could see the sun-drenched hill side miles ahead. It was quite surreal...and after yesterday's rainbow encouner, maybe I should stay away from the moutains for awhile.....

Anyway, that's my report on today's activity...Idyllwild...I recommend it....just don't go into the enchanted forest alone....

EXPLAIN THIS RAINBOW TO ME PLEASE....

So as I was driving back from Emily's house, I ran into some rain...I LOVE that...it's so fun for me to hit "weather"....I realize that may sound odd to those who live in the heartland...or actually, to anyone who doesn't live where I live, which is sunny every. single. day.

ENOUGH WITH THE SUNSHINE. THANK YOU. IT'S LOVELY.

But sometimes I just want some dramatic clouds. A thunder-boomer. Lightening. Variety.

As I came over the mountain, through the pass, it was dark and rainy. Absolutely stunning. I was in heaven. And there, off to the left, as I was hugging the side of the mountain on the switchback, the arc of a rainbow was in the distance. So I pulled off to enjoy the moment. Sheryl Crow was the CD of the moment, I had a cane sugar root beer in my hand, and a rainbow in front of me. Life was good...very very good. It's good to take a moment and enjoy things like that and I have no problem "pulling off the road for a rainbow moment"...none at all....

As I re-emerged onto the road, the sun also re-emerged a bit...enough to brighten the rainbow...and to enlarge it!...GREAT I thought....this is getting better and better....and then the arc portion turned into a full-blown stem to stern rainbow with TWO ends now...I looked down to the valley and the end on the left appeared to actually be resting on the floor of the valley and I thought to myself, "the people on the ground must be sensing color where they're standing because it appears to be at ground level"....it was that bright and that low to the ground...I'd never seen anything like it..it looked like the trees were orangish and bluish...so I kept looking for a turn-out to get a picture....

The end of the rainbow on the right rested on the mountain side to my right and was also brilliant and also appeared to be extremely low-not high in the sky at all. I had never in my five decades ever seen a rainbow do this. It was still very overcast with shafts of sunlight coming through. At one point, the colors of the rainbow appeared to be on the outside of my car windows and traveling alongside as I drove, as though I was driving through the rainbow. I was approximately 3500 to 4000 feet altitude at this point. I slowed down to keep the effect going. As I passed cars going the opposite direction, I attempted to look into the cars to check the expressions on their faces to see if they were as shocked and reactive as I appeared to be and they just weren't! When I finally reached a safe place to pull over, I threw open the door, grabbed my camera and looked: behind my car was dark grey, in front of me was bright sunlight, and all evidence of the rainbow was completely gone. My heart sank!

I felt a combination of feelings: loss, shock, even fear! I ran around the car looking up and down the mountain and the valley (having no clue what I expected to find) but eventually had to get back into my car. I sat there for another minute or two just to get my bearings right again.

I'll never forget that. I do have photographic evidence that I, indeed, saw a rainbow. Below is the series of photographs I took. You may be able to tell that the rainbow got brighter and brighter with each picture. This is the rainbow that I was enjoying when I initially pulled over to enjoy the root beer and the music. It was after I pulled back onto the road that it got crazy. If anyone has any explanation on what could have possibly happened, I'm open to any and all suggestions. If you prefer to email me, you may do that as well at: katzbox1@gmail.com.

Thanks.

THIS IS HOW A BABY IS SUPPOSED TO BE BLESSED AND HOW HE BLESSES BACK...

I'm going to go ahead and blog on this...I mentioned this to Abby and Eli when I sent them the pics and since they haven't blogged on it, then YAY...I GET TO...and Nancy, I will send these to you if you want them :)

Regular readers may know that we recently had twins in the family. Abby and Eli actually possess the children, and to paraphrase Louis C.K., the kids have social security numbers now, so they're on the grid, everyone knows Eli and Abby have them and they're responsible for them now. But because of all the prenatal complications, bed rest, and all of the other issues that arose, friends and family rose to the occasion and fasted and prayed these children into the arms of their parents. Truly. With the benevolent nod of a loving Heavenly Father, Charlie and Olivia reside in an adorable little cottage, complete with a lamplight just outside the front porch, where they are hugged and smooched and nuzzled...endlessly....and sometimes referred to as "the moogies" by their dad....it's so adorable, I sometimes pee a little...

Recently, following their blessings, their other grammy hosted a beautiful reception in her downtown apartment...what fun! Even on broken toes, the hostess provided a lovely meal for family and friends in a beautiful and lovely environment. Best of all, we got to hang out with the "other side" of the family...Abby's lovely grandparent, Grandma and Grandpa Rankin. What beautiful people. And of course, Per, Nancy's wonderful husband who is probably the nicest, most soft-spoken man on the planet...really...

So, armed with my camera, I set about capturing the day (as always...how do people stand me?)...and what did I spy with my little eye?...just about the cutest moment of the entire weekend...I caught Charlie...held by his father, close to his heart, surrounded by his Grandfather Per and Great Grandfather Don Rankin. Each of these great men are holding Charlie and supporting him in the gentlest and loving-est way imaginable...and Charlie is making eye contact and smiling at his Great Grandpa Don. It was a singular moment that took my breath away.....I cropped it in various fashions to high light how beautiful the moment was at so many levels....
This is the full picture of all four...Charlie, his Dad, his Grandfather Per and his Great Grandfather Don...Look at how safe Charlie is...how close to his father's heart he is....
THAT is a happy daddy as well....Charlie and his sister are safe, home, blessed and on the records of the Church....Can we get an amen!
Look at the connection between Charlie and his Great Grandpa! Three months old and there is no mistaking the twinkle in that boy's eyes for his g-grandpa....moments like these are gifts..pure and simple....

This is Charlie...surrounded by the fathers in his life....held, loved, supported and safe. This is the birthright of all children, and especially our sons...to have strong, moral fathers to model for them how to love correctly...Charlie...how blessed you truly were that day...

PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR....IT JUST MEANS "BEING NICE"

In my Social Psychology class this week, we're discussing "prosocial behavior", which is a fancy word for compassion. There are typically five steps that an individual quickly goes through before rendering "prosocial behavior" to a stranger. I address them later in this post. We were asked to write about a time when we, or someone we knew, rendered "prosocial behavior" and then to enumerate the five steps. So, I did....thought I would share it here...

MAIN DISCUSSION POST: What follows is an example of prosocial behavior that occurred in Fallbrook, California in a back, winding road. A young mother with a child in a car seat were traveling down the road. The day was hot. The young mother had the air conditioning up so she and her daughter could be comfortable. At the side of the road, a man of about 60 years of age was walking. He appeared to be Hispanic. This is very common in this area of agriculture. His skin was very weathered. He was obviously tired, heated, and fatigued. The young woman pulled her car over, opened her door and leaned out (without actually stepping away from her car-given her daughter being in the back seat) and offered the gentleman a large bottle of unopened, chilled water. This young mother, who was fair-skinned, light-eyed and very blond, spoke fluent Spanish and addressed this man with great respect. He accepted the water gratefully and they each went on their separate ways.

To summarize the five steps and customize them to this particular situation:
1. This young woman noticed that something unusual was happening because an elderly gentleman was walking along the side of a busy road in a less-than-wise manner.
2. She correctly interpreted that there was a need-that perhaps he was dehydrated.
3. She discerned that no one else was going to/or was available to help him.
4. She also correctly discerned that she knew his language and that she had water available; therefore she could render the service that was immediately needed.
5. She therefore made the final decision to pull over and actually perform the necessary service.

P.S. I know about this because it was my daughter, Emily. This is not unusual for her. She perfected her Spanish when she served a full-time compassionate-service mission in Arizona for our Church when she was 21. The rest of the story is that she could tell from the man's appearance that he was of an age where others would be retiring...and he was still working far too hard for his body and his health to sustain him (from his appearance)....also, after she pulled away, her daughter in the back seat totally threw up over everything and she had NO WATER whatsoever...she laughed and cried all the way back to her house because she wouldn't have traded her situation for anything in the world-she was going home to a clean house with clean water and everything she needed to care for her child....she had perspective and sometimes that's the best gift of all.

HEY! THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN!

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Earlene has her own blog. She's flying out of the nest. It's cool. I'm okay with it. She's a big girl.

This leaves room for the other characters in my head to get air time. So, Earlene has her own place which leaves vacancies for the crazy bike girl on the East Coast to reappear (if she wants to), the angry divorcee (also from the eastern seaboard-just love those accents), and other assorted nuts, to have their say and day on the blog: agirlandhermac.blogspot.com.

I've noticed that as school gets more demanding, my attention goes more and more to the girls in my head...to me, this is enlightening, fascinating, and relatively frightening....I had no idea my fantasy life was still so active....I knew this as a child, but for it to resurface with such vengeance in my senior years...really? my senior years?...is as much a surprise to me as it is an annoyance to you....my inner child never took her nap, never grew up, never matured, never even outgrew her love for cherry flavored anything...if it's red, I'll eat it....

So, visit Earlene if you wish (dare), or any of the other nut jobs that may appear on the other blog...I'm not sure what I'll be when I grow up....I'm not at all certain I'm going to grow up....
neener neener....

CHOICE: BE A GOOD PARENT VS WEASELS EATING OUT MY EYES

There are times when it's just no fun to be a step-mom...when it would be more rewarding to have weasels eat out my eyes. This morning was one of those times.

Don't get me wrong. This kid is a great young man. He gets up every morning, walks our dogs, and goes to seminary before school...no easy feat for a 17-year-old who just wants to sleep 24/7. Here's where it got "difficult"...

His girlfriend is leaving for college in June. She is beautiful. And...we...the girlfriend included...are LDS...meaning "Mormon"....this means that she will be "fair game"...for any returned missionaries that are also going to college...and returned missionaries are notorious for wanting to get married...did I mention that this girl is beautiful?...available?...wealthy?...

Did I also mention that Eli is NOT going away to college? That Eli is staying here...going to a community college...planning to leave on his mission, which will take him away for TWO years...and that we are NOT wealthy?...

So....I took Eli to breakfast this morning and we sat in the car and we had the above conversation....

Did I mention that Eli is beautiful? That he is compassionate? That's he's funny and kind and has all kinds of wonderful gifts? and that he will be worthy to take one of Heavenly Father's finest daughters to the Temple for marriage AFTER he returns from his mission? And even after all of that, I had to look into those big brown eyes....

Where are those weasels...

ME AND THE NURSE PRACTITIONER-MY NEW BESTEST FRIEND!

So I just got back from my thrice a decade OB-GYN visit. That's about what it averages out at. I know it's supposed to be once a year, but really...why? When the equipment's not there, why pay to have it maintenanced? Am I being unreasonable? I think 3 times every ten or so years is okay...I mean...so far, so good. There. Today I learned I can take the "OB" out of the "GYN" part. Oops. Sorry. Okay. Yes, by all means, take the OB part out...no more obstetrics...I'm done procreating...the mantle has passed...actually, it passed 27 years ago this past March 16th...

This was the first visit, however, in my long and irregular (pun unintended) history of OB-GYN visits, that I met with a nurse practitioner...HALLELUJAH and STRIKE UP THE CHOIR....where has THIS been my whole life? This was a boat trip and two plane rides away from every other OB-GYN visit I've ever experienced. Really. I've always pretty much liked my doctors. You know, they were okay...no one I would want to hang out with at the mall on the weekend (my ultimate litmus test for a physician), but my Kaiser Permanente NP was spot on (again, pun unintended). Our dialogue was so conversational, so down-to-earth, so interspersed with medical/social/personal/fill-in-the-blank-with-what-makes-you-feel-comfy-term that I didn't want to leave. It felt as though lunch should be the next natural evolution in our "relationship". Really.
Here was a sampling of our "interview". Her name was "Chris", by the way, and we're roughly the same age. We love each other already because in this office we're surrounded by beautiful young, 20-somethings with posters of teddy-bears and kitty calendars on their desks.

CHRIS: Hey! What's that book, "Biopsychology"! Cool.
ME: Well, I'm in grad school. Just trying to catch up on the reading, which never ends, by the way.
CHRIS: Oh! That's so cool! It says here you had a bone density test, why was that?
ME: Well, I turned 50, so I just did it, along with the other "welcome to the 50's club tests".
CHRIST: *laughing* That's great, but I wouldn't worry about getting another one of those again till about ten years out of menopause. For real. When do you think that will be?
ME: Gosh. Don't even know. How 'bout we shoot for 2013. The PhD should be done by then and I'll celebrate it with a bone density test. *mutual laughter and high fives* (it's not even funny but we think we're clever)
***************the exam is performed and we're sitting around talking********************
CHRIS: So, is there anything else you wanted to talk about or ask me about?
ME: I'm certain there is but you know, me and this shrinking hippocampus, I can't remember anything. *again, peals of laughter-for no apparent reason other than we think we're hilarious*
CHRIS: Man, I love your glasses. I'm wearing these frameless suckers so no one will know I have eye wear and your all in-your-face with those horn ribs, that's really great.
ME: Well, it's not because of fashion sense-don't be fooled. They're men's frames and they were the cheapest and I like the wonky look.
CHRIS: Well, would you like to be screened for any sexually transmitted diseases?
ME: No, I think I'll pass this time around.
CHRIS: Okay, that's cool. Well, I'll see you next year. Unless something comes up. Here's my card with my number. Call me.
ME: Take care Chris. Great job.
CHRIS: Take care. Good luck with that brain stuff.

And so....I left Kaiser Permanente a relatively happier woman....until I picked up my $235.00 hormones....my husband had better be a relatively happier man.....

LITTLE ELI'S ROLE IN "CAROUSEL"....THE BOY CAN DANCE!!

Little Eli performed in the chorus and as the "Star keeper" in the musical "Carousel" last night at his high school. We were impressed with his dancing skills and we're seldom surprised with his acting...he appears to be a natural. Above, after the play, he met with his "adoring fans" and allowed one of them to rip off his mustache...lucky fan....
This is his girlfriend Cassie and behind her is Aaron, both friends from Church. It was a fun turn out. Good friends are valuable..
When Eli was performing his Star Keeper role, more than one person made mention of the fact that he resembled his father up there....hmmmmmm
This was Eli's reaction to that .......
And we snapped a shot of us together before we split. That is one proud papa and one happy son...look at them...they're both cute!....and Eli went on to his big social life and we went on to our...well...not big social life....

A FUNNY QUOTE FROM "THE OFFICE"

I love "The Office"....LOVE IT! It just kills me....even the uncomfortable moments...I love the characters, the writing, the acting, the whole she'bang. So I thought I would share a bit of dialogue from the show...it's about Michael (the boss) who is considering quitting and finding a new job. He has such an inflated image of his importance to the company (which I suppose is a protective factor for his ego, but is so NOT realistic)...anyway, I thought it was funny....

This conversation takes place between Pam (the receptionist), Michael, and Jim (a salesperson, who is dead-on funny) and my personal favorite, Dwight Schrute, an Amish-y beet farmer who is also a sales person (and a very good one, hence they don't get rid of him. Enjoy!

Pam Beesly: Do you have any leads on a job?

Michael Scott: Pam what you don't understand is at my level, you don't just look in the want ads for a job, you are headhunted!

Jim Halpert: Have you called any headhunters?

Michael Scott: Any good headhunter knows that I am available.

Dwight Schrute: Any really good headhunter will storm your village at sunset with overwhelming force and cut off your head with a ceremonial knife.

Jim Halpert: Right, because that's what we're talking about.

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