"One must always be careful of books,” said Tessa,
“and what is inside them,
for words have the power to change us."
for words have the power to change us."
~ Cassandra Clare (author)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
"Birthdays & bad parents ??!"....
Bad parents & birthdays??! What?? Say it isn't so. Call Hallmark there must be a card for this, right?Those are two very scary words when combined together... bad & birrrthdaaays. Tell me this story does not end badly? Do I need kleenex now or will there be an intermission before the end?? I can't stand it. Tell me...!! Please.
Our household was always a flurry of activity...busy, busy, busy! Although there were technically only two adults and two small children being raised ( or kids raising us. take your pick! ) There was an undercurrent of activity above and beyond what you could appreciate as an outside observer. Let me lay this out for you. Mommy-O type A ( need I say more? nah ) and moving quickly to Daddy-O type L2...huh? type L2 ( as in laidback/with a twist of constant motion) think the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland with the pocket watch...I'm late, I'm late for a very important...well you get the idea.
How in the world did these two raise children together?
As well as everyone else that's how!
One would have thought we had an assembly line of several dozen children and a flurry of activities going but somehow it worked for us, that is ...until it didn't.
( that's a story is for another time.)
My week was chiseled down for maximum use of every available mini micro-second I could pack into my bag and carry around. Those of you who remember me running crazy through town will laugh just thinking of the sight. ( laugh all you want )
I was up at the crack of dawn daily, which was fairly easy for me since I rarely slept. ( type A remember? ) I liked ( yes, I liked ) to stay up after my husband and children went to bed, to clean the house and do every stitch of laundry in and out of sight, down to the pair of socks that were on everyones feet when they climbed into their beds that night for slumber...Zzzzz.
My poor family.
I am fairly certain they had a little built in glitch to their REM sleep cycle subliminally ignoring my touch and occasional cursing when I slipped my hand under the covers to take the socks from their feet as they slept to wash before morning. I mean really? They were bound to kick or pull them off during the night anyhow. Laugh as you will, but you know those socks that end up stuck in the sheets over the end of the mattress in the sock abyss?? ( I am fairly certain this is where the sock thief conjured up its role in the laundry room, a brewing conspiracy.)
My week....
I have been a nurse forever ...plus a day I think. So being a young family attempting to make ends meet, and apparently "keep up with the joneses" (whoever they were?? do you know?? I don't know them??)
We as their parents were the young overachievers with our crazy schedules. I did mention the 'nurse thing, right?' okay just checking. My schedule was all over the map. The kids spent many a celebration in a nurses lounge off the Emergency Room or Labor & Delivery. Where I would dutifully run in and out smiling, blowing kisses, hugs all around and off I would go!
Being a nurse actually helped and confused us as a family but we dealt the cards we had. I changed my work schedule as the children were born and grew up. Working during the day, evenings and sometimes into the night. My husband was at the time, attempting to get a business off the ground which took an extraordinary amount of time, but on the other hand being your own boss also gave way and left quite a bit of flexibility. The word as parents we thrived for , flexibility. Just rolls off your tongue.
Now we all know that time period pre-kindergarten, where you want to stay with them every second and hear and see everything they do, then the days where you would kill, yes I literally mean kill to speak to anyone over the age of 4 or height of 36 inches tall. I know you all had those moments too. I am absolutely positive. Looking back now....Hhmmm. Well needless to say strict planning was a necessity in our home, or so I thought.
My children were the type that would celebrate a holiday and the very next morning be counting on the calender how many days till it came again, especially when it came to birthdays. My daughter would launch into her very best "can't wait till my birthday in 364 more days" routine which readily turned into a date of January....because counting backwards was boring after the first few dozen times until the week before the happy event. Then counting down again was fair game!
She was three going on four years old. And had been happily chanting for about 360+ something days.."my birfday janwary 10th!" My husband and I had heard this for so long we had a special dance our hips would break into like robots the minute she began her janwary 10th song...to the left to the left, to the right...whoo hoo! Anyhow...
My entire family had moved away when she was a baby to the deeeeep South as in West Tennessee
( another story for another day! ) My husbands parents were local, and all of our marvelous friends. Life was good and apparently one of our offspring was ensuring her place on the very best list for gifts. I could now, on command like pavlov's dogs, not only do the dance but sing the janwary 10th song simultaneously. Do not attempt this unless you are a parent with much practice!
The night before the big event I could hardly get her to bed, of course this was cutting into my cleaning and washing routine. The sock abyss would gain ground on me darn it. Would we all survive with dirty clothes in the basket and the house not perfect? We were about to find out.
With family scattered, the time difference, and our calls coming from Tennessee and California, our Arizona telephone would always ring at the crack of dawn on the celebratory day awakening the whole house to giggles and squeals as the child in question would come bounding into our room to receive their special phone calls! It was all so terribly exciting.
In preparation the night before I would set their breakfast dishes out with party plates, placemats, balloons, flowers, cards, lions, tigers and bears....what? Oopps got a little carried away. Needless to say we enjoyed the moments we celebrated in our house.
This particular year was..... different. Very, very different.
I woke, smiled stretched slowly and turned it was barely light leaned over and looked at the clock, and....what? 6:44a.m.?? What wha..? How could this be? I jumped over Daddy-O waking him in the process with an excruciating elbow to the ear grabbing the phone to check the dial tone. Dial tone there check, phone working. Uh-oh.... Where were the happy happy happy phone calls ?? Panic began to set in. What in the world??
Tip toeing around our bedroom in my most indignant Perry Mason/Matlock interpretation I was trying to figure out how this could be so? My precious little baby girl would be four without all the pomp and circumstance?? Nooooo...! I could hear my heart beating in my head faster and faster with sheer panic. I began at that moment plotting to disown my entire family. I could see his family forgetting, but certainly not mine!
( uh...did I type that out loud? nah.)
But wait " No One " had called. Quick! Check the phone for the 18th time. Dial tone there. Now what? We have a routine, right? Yes, my husband assured me this was disastrous! Again with the now what?
Think, think, think...!!
It is times like these, as parents we all dread. Okay, I switched gears immediately. Hhmmp! Who needs them? Bunch of selfish, inconsiderate only think of themselves family? Mumbling incoherently under my breath. Let the disowning begin!.......tomorrow.
Today was all about damage control.
We made our own plans. Running through the house into her room singing Happy Birthday to our daughter who awoke beautiful, happy and squealing with delight! We jumped on her bed and laughed and sang attempting happy faces while she was watching. Inside my heart was broke. How could anyone forget my sweet baby? My whole world had tilted that morning off axis.
We changed our entire day to revolve around her. An all day party ensued in our house. It was amazing, fun, delightful, memorable and exhausting. I just could not understand how " my family, my family " could possible have forgotten her. Now I know we just had Christmas and New Years...but we have to have Birthdays where ever they fall right? I was truly sick over the whole ordeal. But watching us no one would have ever guessed our little family secret....
( forgot your baby girls birthday? what? what? what? )
She was delighted and never noticed. I on the other hand felt as I did the year someone told me Santa Claus wasn't real. No wind under my sails, I felt ten years older. Lunch out, snacks , dinner out, cake, ice cream, presents, presents and a few more new presents and our day was done. The kids were tucked in and we were exhausted. Nary a word was spoke as we finally went to bed that night. I tossed and turned and turned and turned. No lovely dreams. Actually I think I was plotting even in my sleep for my daughter, then it was dark.
I was awoken by the shrill of the telephone. Rrrrinnggg! Rrrrinnggg! Never a good sign when it is apparently still the middle of the night. I glanced down at the handset....my parents name & number lit up the caller ID. In my best I will never speak to you again ( after this ) voice I said "Hello?"
My Mother asked to speak to our daughter.
What? Oh really? Ever heard of a day late and a dollar short?
Well, well...well??.....
I couldn't believe it, had I not been sound asleep I would have cried at the injustice.
So I sat up in bed a bit and said "Mother?" from the other end I heard "Yes, honey?"
I then said "Why didn't you call for her yesterday, on her birthday?"
When her reply set me bolt upright in bed.
"Because today is her birthday."
"Today is January 11th Mother!"
Now I am sitting upright on the bed holding my pillow tight 'The Lioness protecting her cub.' Daddy-O has rolled over to attempt a few more winks of sleep.
Again she says, "Because today is her birthday, January 11th."
My eyes are batting open and closed so rapidly that had I weighed a few lbs less I could have taken flight. My ears are ringing and I have gained Daddy-O's full attention.
He is sitting and staring at me. Not sure how to help.
My Mother from 2000 miles away repeats herself,
"Because today is her birthday, January 11th." I relay this to him.
"Moooother!"....is all that comes from my mouth.
We try to explain that we all know the Janwary 10th dance and song as we have been doing it for 360+ days, trust me!
Again she repeats herself. I look at him in disbelief, he looks at me, we start reciting all four of our birthdays. Fingers counting and flying, drivers licenses on the floor, mumbles, get her birth certificate! mumbles, grumbles, and OMG! omg!......
Needless to say Our Daughter was born premature but indeed on January 11th 1984.
See what a busy household, repetition and programming/training your parents can do?
Who says Pavlov didn't know what he was doing??
And who said,
"We were raising the children and not the other way around??"
Enjoy every celebration as you see fit.
We learned a lot that year, and an extra birthday never hurt anyone especially at age four....enjoy!
(This post is lovingly dedicated to my Daughter without her presence my life would not be complete...)
Our household was always a flurry of activity...busy, busy, busy! Although there were technically only two adults and two small children being raised ( or kids raising us. take your pick! ) There was an undercurrent of activity above and beyond what you could appreciate as an outside observer. Let me lay this out for you. Mommy-O type A ( need I say more? nah ) and moving quickly to Daddy-O type L2...huh? type L2 ( as in laidback/with a twist of constant motion) think the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland with the pocket watch...I'm late, I'm late for a very important...well you get the idea.
How in the world did these two raise children together?
As well as everyone else that's how!
One would have thought we had an assembly line of several dozen children and a flurry of activities going but somehow it worked for us, that is ...until it didn't.
( that's a story is for another time.)
My week was chiseled down for maximum use of every available mini micro-second I could pack into my bag and carry around. Those of you who remember me running crazy through town will laugh just thinking of the sight. ( laugh all you want )
I was up at the crack of dawn daily, which was fairly easy for me since I rarely slept. ( type A remember? ) I liked ( yes, I liked ) to stay up after my husband and children went to bed, to clean the house and do every stitch of laundry in and out of sight, down to the pair of socks that were on everyones feet when they climbed into their beds that night for slumber...Zzzzz.
My poor family.
I am fairly certain they had a little built in glitch to their REM sleep cycle subliminally ignoring my touch and occasional cursing when I slipped my hand under the covers to take the socks from their feet as they slept to wash before morning. I mean really? They were bound to kick or pull them off during the night anyhow. Laugh as you will, but you know those socks that end up stuck in the sheets over the end of the mattress in the sock abyss?? ( I am fairly certain this is where the sock thief conjured up its role in the laundry room, a brewing conspiracy.)
My week....
I have been a nurse forever ...plus a day I think. So being a young family attempting to make ends meet, and apparently "keep up with the joneses" (whoever they were?? do you know?? I don't know them??)
We as their parents were the young overachievers with our crazy schedules. I did mention the 'nurse thing, right?' okay just checking. My schedule was all over the map. The kids spent many a celebration in a nurses lounge off the Emergency Room or Labor & Delivery. Where I would dutifully run in and out smiling, blowing kisses, hugs all around and off I would go!
Being a nurse actually helped and confused us as a family but we dealt the cards we had. I changed my work schedule as the children were born and grew up. Working during the day, evenings and sometimes into the night. My husband was at the time, attempting to get a business off the ground which took an extraordinary amount of time, but on the other hand being your own boss also gave way and left quite a bit of flexibility. The word as parents we thrived for , flexibility. Just rolls off your tongue.
Now we all know that time period pre-kindergarten, where you want to stay with them every second and hear and see everything they do, then the days where you would kill, yes I literally mean kill to speak to anyone over the age of 4 or height of 36 inches tall. I know you all had those moments too. I am absolutely positive. Looking back now....Hhmmm. Well needless to say strict planning was a necessity in our home, or so I thought.
My children were the type that would celebrate a holiday and the very next morning be counting on the calender how many days till it came again, especially when it came to birthdays. My daughter would launch into her very best "can't wait till my birthday in 364 more days" routine which readily turned into a date of January....because counting backwards was boring after the first few dozen times until the week before the happy event. Then counting down again was fair game!
She was three going on four years old. And had been happily chanting for about 360+ something days.."my birfday janwary 10th!" My husband and I had heard this for so long we had a special dance our hips would break into like robots the minute she began her janwary 10th song...to the left to the left, to the right...whoo hoo! Anyhow...
My entire family had moved away when she was a baby to the deeeeep South as in West Tennessee
( another story for another day! ) My husbands parents were local, and all of our marvelous friends. Life was good and apparently one of our offspring was ensuring her place on the very best list for gifts. I could now, on command like pavlov's dogs, not only do the dance but sing the janwary 10th song simultaneously. Do not attempt this unless you are a parent with much practice!
The night before the big event I could hardly get her to bed, of course this was cutting into my cleaning and washing routine. The sock abyss would gain ground on me darn it. Would we all survive with dirty clothes in the basket and the house not perfect? We were about to find out.
With family scattered, the time difference, and our calls coming from Tennessee and California, our Arizona telephone would always ring at the crack of dawn on the celebratory day awakening the whole house to giggles and squeals as the child in question would come bounding into our room to receive their special phone calls! It was all so terribly exciting.
In preparation the night before I would set their breakfast dishes out with party plates, placemats, balloons, flowers, cards, lions, tigers and bears....what? Oopps got a little carried away. Needless to say we enjoyed the moments we celebrated in our house.
This particular year was..... different. Very, very different.
I woke, smiled stretched slowly and turned it was barely light leaned over and looked at the clock, and....what? 6:44a.m.?? What wha..? How could this be? I jumped over Daddy-O waking him in the process with an excruciating elbow to the ear grabbing the phone to check the dial tone. Dial tone there check, phone working. Uh-oh.... Where were the happy happy happy phone calls ?? Panic began to set in. What in the world??
Tip toeing around our bedroom in my most indignant Perry Mason/Matlock interpretation I was trying to figure out how this could be so? My precious little baby girl would be four without all the pomp and circumstance?? Nooooo...! I could hear my heart beating in my head faster and faster with sheer panic. I began at that moment plotting to disown my entire family. I could see his family forgetting, but certainly not mine!
( uh...did I type that out loud? nah.)
But wait " No One " had called. Quick! Check the phone for the 18th time. Dial tone there. Now what? We have a routine, right? Yes, my husband assured me this was disastrous! Again with the now what?
Think, think, think...!!
It is times like these, as parents we all dread. Okay, I switched gears immediately. Hhmmp! Who needs them? Bunch of selfish, inconsiderate only think of themselves family? Mumbling incoherently under my breath. Let the disowning begin!.......tomorrow.
Today was all about damage control.
We made our own plans. Running through the house into her room singing Happy Birthday to our daughter who awoke beautiful, happy and squealing with delight! We jumped on her bed and laughed and sang attempting happy faces while she was watching. Inside my heart was broke. How could anyone forget my sweet baby? My whole world had tilted that morning off axis.
We changed our entire day to revolve around her. An all day party ensued in our house. It was amazing, fun, delightful, memorable and exhausting. I just could not understand how " my family, my family " could possible have forgotten her. Now I know we just had Christmas and New Years...but we have to have Birthdays where ever they fall right? I was truly sick over the whole ordeal. But watching us no one would have ever guessed our little family secret....
( forgot your baby girls birthday? what? what? what? )
She was delighted and never noticed. I on the other hand felt as I did the year someone told me Santa Claus wasn't real. No wind under my sails, I felt ten years older. Lunch out, snacks , dinner out, cake, ice cream, presents, presents and a few more new presents and our day was done. The kids were tucked in and we were exhausted. Nary a word was spoke as we finally went to bed that night. I tossed and turned and turned and turned. No lovely dreams. Actually I think I was plotting even in my sleep for my daughter, then it was dark.
I was awoken by the shrill of the telephone. Rrrrinnggg! Rrrrinnggg! Never a good sign when it is apparently still the middle of the night. I glanced down at the handset....my parents name & number lit up the caller ID. In my best I will never speak to you again ( after this ) voice I said "Hello?"
My Mother asked to speak to our daughter.
What? Oh really? Ever heard of a day late and a dollar short?
Well, well...well??.....
I couldn't believe it, had I not been sound asleep I would have cried at the injustice.
So I sat up in bed a bit and said "Mother?" from the other end I heard "Yes, honey?"
I then said "Why didn't you call for her yesterday, on her birthday?"
When her reply set me bolt upright in bed.
"Because today is her birthday."
"Today is January 11th Mother!"
Now I am sitting upright on the bed holding my pillow tight 'The Lioness protecting her cub.' Daddy-O has rolled over to attempt a few more winks of sleep.
Again she says, "Because today is her birthday, January 11th."
My eyes are batting open and closed so rapidly that had I weighed a few lbs less I could have taken flight. My ears are ringing and I have gained Daddy-O's full attention.
He is sitting and staring at me. Not sure how to help.
My Mother from 2000 miles away repeats herself,
"Because today is her birthday, January 11th." I relay this to him.
"Moooother!"....is all that comes from my mouth.
We try to explain that we all know the Janwary 10th dance and song as we have been doing it for 360+ days, trust me!
Again she repeats herself. I look at him in disbelief, he looks at me, we start reciting all four of our birthdays. Fingers counting and flying, drivers licenses on the floor, mumbles, get her birth certificate! mumbles, grumbles, and OMG! omg!......
Needless to say Our Daughter was born premature but indeed on January 11th 1984.
See what a busy household, repetition and programming/training your parents can do?
Who says Pavlov didn't know what he was doing??
And who said,
"We were raising the children and not the other way around??"
Enjoy every celebration as you see fit.
We learned a lot that year, and an extra birthday never hurt anyone especially at age four....enjoy!
(This post is lovingly dedicated to my Daughter without her presence my life would not be complete...)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
"Oh, Snap!"
..."Oh, Snap!".....(lens closes)I carry my camera everywhere I go. Try spending a week looking through the lens of a camera and see how different your surroundings appear. Try taking everything in black & white or sepia.
...Find a color that makes you smile and photograph everything in it pink or blue, ivory maybe. See if this changes the way you see things!
And let me know! I would love to hear how it went...! Enjoy...
Monday, January 24, 2011
"10 Things I Learned this Weekend..."
10 things I Learned this Weekend...
1) Never underestimate the power of saying your Sorry.
2) MadMen Season: 4 ..finished! Ugh! I can't wait until May!!
3) Life is too short to worry about tomorrow.
4) No matter hold old our daughters get when she/they visit, Mom's things are always borrowed.
Keeps us close with memories, and forms new ones with new daughters!
5) Serge Normant's hair products are perfect for my wild curly untamed hair! Ty Julia Roberts for the Tip!
6) It is fun to surprise the one you Love with little notes he will stumble upon while away on business trips..(spray a bit of your perfume on them too!)
7) I always seem to overpack for everything! (you know...just in case *wink*)
8) While visiting a friends house if homemade Rice Krispy Treats are being made, go for a long run instead! (bathing suits are already on the racks in January! yikes)
9) It is best not to attempt to wear a loose dress on a windy day! (trust me on this..*wink*)
10) I still have so much to Learn on this Journey we so casually call Life....enjoy!
2) MadMen Season: 4 ..finished! Ugh! I can't wait until May!!
3) Life is too short to worry about tomorrow.
4) No matter hold old our daughters get when she/they visit, Mom's things are always borrowed.
Keeps us close with memories, and forms new ones with new daughters!
5) Serge Normant's hair products are perfect for my wild curly untamed hair! Ty Julia Roberts for the Tip!
6) It is fun to surprise the one you Love with little notes he will stumble upon while away on business trips..(spray a bit of your perfume on them too!)
7) I always seem to overpack for everything! (you know...just in case *wink*)
8) While visiting a friends house if homemade Rice Krispy Treats are being made, go for a long run instead! (bathing suits are already on the racks in January! yikes)
9) It is best not to attempt to wear a loose dress on a windy day! (trust me on this..*wink*)
10) I still have so much to Learn on this Journey we so casually call Life....enjoy!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
"10 Things I Learned this Weekend..."
10 Things I Learned this Weekend...
1) We must always remind ourselves, there is a big difference between wanting & needing...2) I adore the way the Ocean looks on a grey, cloudy days!
3) Clearing away clutter can be so therapeutic & gets the New Year off correctly...
4) Long drives are better when you have good company, good music & lots of snacks! (*wink* I have proven this!)
5) Although I won't buy them, I will indeed eat the entire bag of cheese puffs if you leave them next to me...(you've been warned~he he)
6) I am much more blessed than I ever really understood. (and for this I am very grateful. I need to remember this one daily)
7) You can be who ever you want to be, so choose wisely!
8) A one minute kiss burns 26 calories, apparently. (*wink-wink*)
9) You really are only as old as you feel....Hhmmm (how old is that today friends?)
10) Somedays are just stay at home, order take-out food kinda days...try not to fight it..(*wink*)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
"Quotes..."
"Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
" I will try again tomorrow"....
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"Quotes..."
"Nostalgia ~ it's delicate, but potent it's a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This isn't a spaceship, it's a time machine. It goes backwards, and forwards, it takes us to a place where we ache to go again. Let's us travel the way a child travels ~ around & around and back home again, to a place where we know are loved."
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
"10 Things I Learned this Weekend..."
"10 Things I Learned this Weekend..."
1. Cherish the Ones you Love, You never know.....
2. Anything worth having you can certainly wait for.
3. Sometimes just always being honest (even if it embarrasses you) can save the moment and the day.
4. Gardening is a lot of fun, and rather addicting...try it!
5. Sometimes one helpful person can restore your faith in Humanity.
6. I love Summer but I am enjoying the winter this year in the bay...
7. A male friend criticized me many times this year for being "too sentimental." At the time he hurt my feelings, but I have decided that's silly. I am very sentimental and this is not a weakness...It is actually one of my strengths.
8. Turn off the phones (home & cell) a few hours a week.
9. Sometimes pretty flowers spread around the house can change the mood.
10. Occasionally you can have the Best & the Worst Day at the same time and survive.
2. Anything worth having you can certainly wait for.
3. Sometimes just always being honest (even if it embarrasses you) can save the moment and the day.
4. Gardening is a lot of fun, and rather addicting...try it!
5. Sometimes one helpful person can restore your faith in Humanity.
6. I love Summer but I am enjoying the winter this year in the bay...
7. A male friend criticized me many times this year for being "too sentimental." At the time he hurt my feelings, but I have decided that's silly. I am very sentimental and this is not a weakness...It is actually one of my strengths.
8. Turn off the phones (home & cell) a few hours a week.
9. Sometimes pretty flowers spread around the house can change the mood.
10. Occasionally you can have the Best & the Worst Day at the same time and survive.
Monday, January 3, 2011
" Perils of Parents & 16 yr olds Driving...."
My Son just bought a new car. He has been waiting for a year now, with the economy such as it is for the right moment. With a mortgage & household bills the truck he was driving was fine, it just wasn't "new" and he craved that. Now understand he is 28 yrs old, works hard for the USFS as a firefighter, owns his own home in California ( well him & the bank...) not a small feat these days, acts responsibly for the most part (*wink*), has an english bulldog named Lennon who I might add requires more attention than a child. All and all he has done amazingly well and made his Dad and I very proud. But since we are speaking of cars and driving my mind goes drifting back to when he was 16+..... you better sit down!
Oh how proud we all were as parents when they turned 16 yrs old could drive and get from point A & B without us having to rearrange our entire lives. As parents (especially raising kids in Havasu) you all know it is far more important they get to the Marina to 'catch a ride on the lake' or meet the guys at the Nautical Inn or Mudshark to sit on the sand 'looking cool' checking out all the new dental floss, ooops I mean bikini's. This was far more important than Mom & Dad going to work or anything else we might have on our agenda. (Duhhh!)
Of course we had specific rules for driving & owning a vehicle.
1. Always wear your seatbelt. ( Which translated to till they were out of our sight...)
2. No drinking & driving ( No drinking anyhow you're 16!)
3. Must have a job to pay or at least attempt to help with the never ending repairs, maintenance & gas.
4. .... well you all know the drill so I will get on with the story.
At 16 getting your license and driving is a right of passage but to the parents it is holding our breath and praying it will be okay. Okay enough rambling...
And the story begins.... my husband & I were no longer married but got along great and still parented the same as always, which drove the kids nuts. Maybe this is why we were chosen to be their parents. (*wink*) I moved back from a short stay in Tucson to LHC so the kids could see us both (stability in numbers I now had him to back my play.) I lived with my kids in a friends very large home that they were trying to sell but needed it to look like a magazine, they moved out we moved in.I used a lot of their things and mine to make the home lovely. I am a nestor and type A, enough said?
Our son did his duty and got a part time job in the evenings at a Pizza Parlor to help pay for this privilege. Of course employees had to park in the dark way out back where dimly lit was exaggerating. Now this was Havasu circa Uhmmm 1998 so everyone knew everyone and all their business.
I worked as a nurse in the ER and would frequently go to bed before the kids came home. I left the lamp on next to my bed and the rule was they would wake me so I knew they had gotten home on time and safe, then they would turn out my light and I would drift back to sleep, not before I alarmed the entire house from my room...( I am not entirely naive..!) It was my rule but was a lovely bonding between us and served as "OMG" if I awoke and it was really late and the light was still on...believe me trouble would be on the horizon.
One particular night my son came home to say goodnight and after the light was turned off and he was heading out of the room dropped the tinsy tiny little bomb..."Mom someone took a baseball bat to the front of my truck." I came bolt upright in bed to ensure he was not harmed and we decided to deal with it in the morning. I was so happy he was safe, curled up and went to sleep...Zzzzzzz
The next morning it was Sunday. I got up early, peeked in on him, he of course was snoring like a freight train, went downstairs to make some french press coffee (the only way to drink coffee by the way...) I took my steamy mug and walked out to the side where the driveway came up through the gates wearing my pajama's, robe and flip-flops. I always parked in the garages, but there were 2 carports and plenty of other parking for the kids and visitors. I proceeded to take a deep breath of clean desert morning air Ahhh, ( there is nothing like it, Havasu air in the morning) took a sip of my coffee and turned. There it was, the infamous truck facing directly at me. Hhmmm...... (not my son's smartest move.) I stood for several seconds sipping my coffee staring at the truck. Did he think I was mentally impaired?? Really?? I know to anyone looking from where I was standing it did not look as if the truck had been hit with a baseball bat. I knew exactly what I saw. I pinched myself to ensure I was awake and not dreaming then leisurely walked back in the house.
It was early for kids but not by adult standards. I gently picked up the phone, with my feet up and called my ex-husband...".Daddy-O" to the kids making me "Mommy-O." Caller ID is a wonderful invention. He answered cheerful as always and I briefed him on the truck assault inviting him over for a cup of coffee. Of course he said he would be over in a few minutes, but curiosity of the real story he could not pass up.
I made a fresh brew of coffee set out two mugs turned around and he was standing in the kitchen. Smiling pleasant and happy to have a nice cup of coffee but dying to get down to the dirt of it. I told him to come with me...we made that walk down the long hall to the side patio where " It " was parked and stood exactly where I had been standing not 30 minutes before, side by side coffee mugs in hand looking at the truck in silence. I watched him out of the corner of my eye trying not to laugh and spew coffee everywhere. He grinned slightly, took a sip of coffee twisted his head a bit left than right and just stared as I had. Finally a few minutes later I broke the silence by bursting into laughter at the absurdity of the elaborate baseball bat tale and gained my composure enough to say, " I could swear that is a perfect impression of a mailbox, house numbers and all." Although the numbers were backwards & the word US Mail, (hence being hit head on) we both nodded in agreement. 32014....now what street? Actually it was a spectacular work of art, or crime scene (take your pick.) We went into the house sat down in the living room and busted out laughing at the stupidity of the lie. Of course it woke Son-shine up, unbeknownst to him the jig was most definitely up!
Down the stairs came one of the victim's of this horrendous crime, of course the truck was another victim, but somewhere there was a third lurking at an undisclosed location. He attempted to act normal even sat down and had some coffee talking about some nonsense at warp speed (hoping to get us off track..) His Dad said let's go have a look at your truck Son. I am fairly certain being a trained medical professional and stealth ninja Mom he turned 12 shades of white/gray then beads of sweat started to pour. He stepped outside with us and was going to attempt the story once again but became mute when he saw us grinning ever so slightly. Not wanting to get caught in a blatant lie I took over and gave my "mailbox conspiracy theory.." with the best Perry Mason/Matlock impression I could muster. Our adorable Son decided silence was the wisest choice and just stood there. (What?? Huh?)
We preceded to ask, " Who's mailbox was killed in the commission of this crime?" He plead no contest. We three soldiers piled into Dad's suburban for a painful road trip. Lake Havasu has predictable routes from one side of town to another so we took the reverse of what we assumed he had traveled. The street numbers were coming into line nicely. Low & behold about 3/4 of a mile down a main road we found the evidence we were looking for. The mail box in question in a large plastic bucket with fresh concrete poured to stabilize it and a few sticks shoring it up till the concrete was hard.
The three of us walked up to the front door, rang the bell and waited. A little man I estimate to be at least 167 1/2 yrs old came shuffling to the door, his wife lagging in second place slowly behind. I suspect they didn't get many visitors so were pleased to see us regardless. My Son profusely apologized to the sweet elderly couple and offered to replace their mailbox in the ground with a new box and pole immediately. They were so happy he was not hurt himself they said not to worry....(Uh no!) We as the parents insisted and threw in some yard work while he was there. My Son, our Son did not try and make any excuse but stood tall looked the man in the eyes made his apology (sincerely) and shook his hand.
The mailbox was replaced better than before. The sweet woman made my Son cookies and juice ( does crime pay? Nah...) He had fun listening to the man's war stories and came home smiling.
It was a scary thing as parents to think of the what if....but everyone's life went on, till the next ridiculous stunt. We definitely learned raising children to count our blessings however they come to us!.....
Oh how proud we all were as parents when they turned 16 yrs old could drive and get from point A & B without us having to rearrange our entire lives. As parents (especially raising kids in Havasu) you all know it is far more important they get to the Marina to 'catch a ride on the lake' or meet the guys at the Nautical Inn or Mudshark to sit on the sand 'looking cool' checking out all the new dental floss, ooops I mean bikini's. This was far more important than Mom & Dad going to work or anything else we might have on our agenda. (Duhhh!)
Of course we had specific rules for driving & owning a vehicle.
1. Always wear your seatbelt. ( Which translated to till they were out of our sight...)
2. No drinking & driving ( No drinking anyhow you're 16!)
3. Must have a job to pay or at least attempt to help with the never ending repairs, maintenance & gas.
4. .... well you all know the drill so I will get on with the story.
At 16 getting your license and driving is a right of passage but to the parents it is holding our breath and praying it will be okay. Okay enough rambling...
And the story begins.... my husband & I were no longer married but got along great and still parented the same as always, which drove the kids nuts. Maybe this is why we were chosen to be their parents. (*wink*) I moved back from a short stay in Tucson to LHC so the kids could see us both (stability in numbers I now had him to back my play.) I lived with my kids in a friends very large home that they were trying to sell but needed it to look like a magazine, they moved out we moved in.I used a lot of their things and mine to make the home lovely. I am a nestor and type A, enough said?
Our son did his duty and got a part time job in the evenings at a Pizza Parlor to help pay for this privilege. Of course employees had to park in the dark way out back where dimly lit was exaggerating. Now this was Havasu circa Uhmmm 1998 so everyone knew everyone and all their business.
I worked as a nurse in the ER and would frequently go to bed before the kids came home. I left the lamp on next to my bed and the rule was they would wake me so I knew they had gotten home on time and safe, then they would turn out my light and I would drift back to sleep, not before I alarmed the entire house from my room...( I am not entirely naive..!) It was my rule but was a lovely bonding between us and served as "OMG" if I awoke and it was really late and the light was still on...believe me trouble would be on the horizon.
One particular night my son came home to say goodnight and after the light was turned off and he was heading out of the room dropped the tinsy tiny little bomb..."Mom someone took a baseball bat to the front of my truck." I came bolt upright in bed to ensure he was not harmed and we decided to deal with it in the morning. I was so happy he was safe, curled up and went to sleep...Zzzzzzz
The next morning it was Sunday. I got up early, peeked in on him, he of course was snoring like a freight train, went downstairs to make some french press coffee (the only way to drink coffee by the way...) I took my steamy mug and walked out to the side where the driveway came up through the gates wearing my pajama's, robe and flip-flops. I always parked in the garages, but there were 2 carports and plenty of other parking for the kids and visitors. I proceeded to take a deep breath of clean desert morning air Ahhh, ( there is nothing like it, Havasu air in the morning) took a sip of my coffee and turned. There it was, the infamous truck facing directly at me. Hhmmm...... (not my son's smartest move.) I stood for several seconds sipping my coffee staring at the truck. Did he think I was mentally impaired?? Really?? I know to anyone looking from where I was standing it did not look as if the truck had been hit with a baseball bat. I knew exactly what I saw. I pinched myself to ensure I was awake and not dreaming then leisurely walked back in the house.
It was early for kids but not by adult standards. I gently picked up the phone, with my feet up and called my ex-husband...".Daddy-O" to the kids making me "Mommy-O." Caller ID is a wonderful invention. He answered cheerful as always and I briefed him on the truck assault inviting him over for a cup of coffee. Of course he said he would be over in a few minutes, but curiosity of the real story he could not pass up.
I made a fresh brew of coffee set out two mugs turned around and he was standing in the kitchen. Smiling pleasant and happy to have a nice cup of coffee but dying to get down to the dirt of it. I told him to come with me...we made that walk down the long hall to the side patio where " It " was parked and stood exactly where I had been standing not 30 minutes before, side by side coffee mugs in hand looking at the truck in silence. I watched him out of the corner of my eye trying not to laugh and spew coffee everywhere. He grinned slightly, took a sip of coffee twisted his head a bit left than right and just stared as I had. Finally a few minutes later I broke the silence by bursting into laughter at the absurdity of the elaborate baseball bat tale and gained my composure enough to say, " I could swear that is a perfect impression of a mailbox, house numbers and all." Although the numbers were backwards & the word US Mail, (hence being hit head on) we both nodded in agreement. 32014....now what street? Actually it was a spectacular work of art, or crime scene (take your pick.) We went into the house sat down in the living room and busted out laughing at the stupidity of the lie. Of course it woke Son-shine up, unbeknownst to him the jig was most definitely up!
Down the stairs came one of the victim's of this horrendous crime, of course the truck was another victim, but somewhere there was a third lurking at an undisclosed location. He attempted to act normal even sat down and had some coffee talking about some nonsense at warp speed (hoping to get us off track..) His Dad said let's go have a look at your truck Son. I am fairly certain being a trained medical professional and stealth ninja Mom he turned 12 shades of white/gray then beads of sweat started to pour. He stepped outside with us and was going to attempt the story once again but became mute when he saw us grinning ever so slightly. Not wanting to get caught in a blatant lie I took over and gave my "mailbox conspiracy theory.." with the best Perry Mason/Matlock impression I could muster. Our adorable Son decided silence was the wisest choice and just stood there. (What?? Huh?)
We preceded to ask, " Who's mailbox was killed in the commission of this crime?" He plead no contest. We three soldiers piled into Dad's suburban for a painful road trip. Lake Havasu has predictable routes from one side of town to another so we took the reverse of what we assumed he had traveled. The street numbers were coming into line nicely. Low & behold about 3/4 of a mile down a main road we found the evidence we were looking for. The mail box in question in a large plastic bucket with fresh concrete poured to stabilize it and a few sticks shoring it up till the concrete was hard.
The three of us walked up to the front door, rang the bell and waited. A little man I estimate to be at least 167 1/2 yrs old came shuffling to the door, his wife lagging in second place slowly behind. I suspect they didn't get many visitors so were pleased to see us regardless. My Son profusely apologized to the sweet elderly couple and offered to replace their mailbox in the ground with a new box and pole immediately. They were so happy he was not hurt himself they said not to worry....(Uh no!) We as the parents insisted and threw in some yard work while he was there. My Son, our Son did not try and make any excuse but stood tall looked the man in the eyes made his apology (sincerely) and shook his hand.
The mailbox was replaced better than before. The sweet woman made my Son cookies and juice ( does crime pay? Nah...) He had fun listening to the man's war stories and came home smiling.
It was a scary thing as parents to think of the what if....but everyone's life went on, till the next ridiculous stunt. We definitely learned raising children to count our blessings however they come to us!.....
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