Morning Duty

I am the lucky parent who has the job of getting Leah ready for school. I think I'm being objective when I say it's worse than being the parent who 1) picks her up from school or 2) puts her to bed.

We always rush to get ready arguing about syrup, cartoon choice, and which toy gets to go to school.

We have never been late on my watch!!!! During our conflicts, sometimes we raise our voices.

The other morning, as we faced off in her bathroom, I waited while she finished brushing, combing, washing and finally I asked her to find some shoes. She spun around looked at me and spat:

"Y O U
L I T T L E

(...I waited for the bad word, not imagining she knew any but they pick up a lot of bad habits in the first grade...)

W O M A N".

Hardly the insult I had anticipated. I laughed. She scowled and off we went to school.

Global Warming Takes A Holiday

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely believe that global warming is a real threat to our planet. But this weekend the gods of summer are shining down on us. The Valley of the Sun lives up to its name but the temperature is unseasonably pleasant.

The high yesterday was 84 degrees. On Memorial weekend we expect at least 103 degrees with the low near 84. Next weekend it will be back up to 100+ but for now we bask in the splendor that is mild weather worthy of a northern state's summer.

I have proof of this phenomenon. See this picture of Leah? Her skin is actually touching the swing set. During a typical year from May through October, children cannot touch metal at the risk of 3rd degree burns but there she is playing like a kid in Oregon or Minnesota or New Hampshire or California.

Tangled Web

User Name ________
Password__________

Does anyone else have trouble managing all of your passwords and user names for the various web sites you visit and subscribe to? Drives me crazy. I need a method to keep track of them. I used to have one universal user name and password but then the web sites started having more rules: mixture of letters and symbols, minimum length, etc. THEN some e-master decided you need to change your password every few months. As if I don't have enough to keep track of...

Now it's also complicated by the fact that Leah is on Webkinz and Club Penguin and a plethora of other web sites and I have to try and remember her user names and passwords.

And how about those sites with the squiggly, scrambled letters that you have to retype or they won't let you in? Sometimes I cannot tell if the letters are uppercase or lowercase or if it's an "l" or a "1". And I'm sure that the twentysomethings that invented this new level of security are feeling so smug when I type it in wrong and they reject my post.

Too Much Honesty

I bent over to fasten the velcro on my walking shoes. Leah came up behind me, patted my bottom like a drum and said "Mommy your booty is so nice and smooth when you bend over." I said "thank you." She continued "See, your booty only jiggles and wiggles when you stand up or walk."

Random Acts

Yesterday I stopped at Starbucks for my favorite Venti green iced tea -- unsweetened. I love to get one on my way to work but I can't afford to get one everyday. I treated myself because someone had given me a Starbucks giftcard. I went through the drive-thru, placed my order and waited. I watched the woman ahead of me in a big grey Chrysler. Her excessively tanned arm had about 6 inches of gold bangle bracelets. I thought she looked kind of cheap and I smirked a little at her bad taste. Finally my turn at the window and I happily handed my giftcard to the server. She smiled and said "the woman ahead of you bought your iced tea." I said "did she know me?" "No, she just wanted to buy your drink and she gave us a big tip."

I felt really guilty about judging her bracelets so harshly.

At Last

My dear friend Berta became Mrs. Peter Jennings last night (no, not that one, this one is alive and well and the luckiest guy on Earth.)

Berta is the most balanced, pragmatic, energetic and happy person I know. You've heard of WWJD (what would Jesus do?) Well, I always say WWBD (what would Berta do.) She is who I talk to when I need advice. She is a great listener and she can get to the heart of any issue and clear it up in a simple, positive and successful way.

Berta waited a long time to get married and in true Berta fashion she waited until she found her perfect guy. I don't know him at all (only through Berta) but I can tell he is kind, honorable, focused and as I mentioned before -- lucky.

So, here's to my friend Berta and her new husband, Pete. I wish you decades of happiness and (with a nod to Vy -- mother of the bride) a house full of Jennings.

Scenes From the Airport

Last Thursday I flew US Air out of Sky Harbor for St. Louis for a business trip. I waited at gate A12 for my zone to be called when I noticed a woman crying. Close to my age, she was blond, medium build in denim capris and a red hoodie that matched the rims of her eyes. It’s unusual to see people crying at the gate since only ticketholders are allowed. Now good byes take place before the security line and most folks are composed and collected by the time they reach the gate. I was curious about her tears. Was she crying over someone she left behind at the escalator? Was she on her way to a funeral? To see a dying relative? I followed her eyes to a young man perhaps 19 with short cropped light hair, camouflage jacket and duffle bag. The look of a new recruit.


They took his boarding pass and he started toward the jetway. And then I saw his dad. A short man, stocky, probably a wrestler in high school. He refused to surrender the tears brimming his eyes. Their son turned and waved. In contrast to his parents, he wore a lopsided grin and was oblivious to the anguish swimming in the waiting area. Mom and dad were already holding each other in a tight cocoon and missed his wave. They silently began their walk back through the terminal and the dad reached over and put his arm around the mom.

I have a theory that it’s inevitable your children will break your heart. I knew I had just witnessed my theory in practice. Their sweet little boy had made a decision that will break his mother’s heart beyond anything I can imagine.

Right before Mothers Day it seems appropriate to pay tribute to all the mom's out there who have left their kids at the airport. I hope they hear from their kids on Sunday.

(BTW, if you'd like to help any of the soliders, visit this web site to see what you can do to help them be a little more comfortable http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm.)