Freddy's Steakburgers and fries. Delish.
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label memories. Show all posts
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Monday, May 7, 2012
Appreciating the View from the Other Side
I may have mentioned before how Dad spent most of every evening of most of my childhood helping me through my math homework. It was pretty arduous but Dad was unfailingly patient. If I didn't understand how he explained it at first, he'd come up with a different way. And if I still didn't get it, he'd come up with yet another way. And when I cried and wailed that I would never, ever survive, he didn't give up, he didn't walk away, he didn't wash his hands of me. He just got me through it.
Recently Miriam has needed more help with math homework. Tonight we spent close to an hour finishing the last eight problems of her homework. She didn't understand the first two times we went through it and I struggled to come up with a third explanation. It took a while for her to get it but she finally did.
During this time I came to appreciate, on another level, what Dad went through with me. It's tough being the kid doing the homework, not understanding what the teacher said earlier, forgetting the tips in the textbook. It's a different kind of tough to be the parent who helps. To see the answer before the problem is finished. To want the child to understand why the problem works the way it does. To skirt around what seems like a very obvious answer so the child can figure it out herself. To wonder if the child really grasps the concept and isn't just nodding and smiling along. That's tough.
So tonight, while I've always been beyond grateful to my Dad for all his years of math help, tonight I understood from the other side. And I am even more grateful now that while he was teaching me math, he was also teaching me how to help my own children with their math. If it weren't for my dad's guidance and excellent example, I wouldn't be able to help my own children.
Thank you, Dad. I love you.
Recently Miriam has needed more help with math homework. Tonight we spent close to an hour finishing the last eight problems of her homework. She didn't understand the first two times we went through it and I struggled to come up with a third explanation. It took a while for her to get it but she finally did.
During this time I came to appreciate, on another level, what Dad went through with me. It's tough being the kid doing the homework, not understanding what the teacher said earlier, forgetting the tips in the textbook. It's a different kind of tough to be the parent who helps. To see the answer before the problem is finished. To want the child to understand why the problem works the way it does. To skirt around what seems like a very obvious answer so the child can figure it out herself. To wonder if the child really grasps the concept and isn't just nodding and smiling along. That's tough.
So tonight, while I've always been beyond grateful to my Dad for all his years of math help, tonight I understood from the other side. And I am even more grateful now that while he was teaching me math, he was also teaching me how to help my own children with their math. If it weren't for my dad's guidance and excellent example, I wouldn't be able to help my own children.
Thank you, Dad. I love you.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
I Had a Flashback (& Thank You)
Tonight Samuel wanted to tell me about a story his teacher read in class today. He insisted on telling me every single detail, no matter how small and using voices and expressions like his teacher did. It took forever. It took the entire time we ate dinner. Solomon and Miriam didn't get to talk at all.
While I wasspacing out completely listening, I remembered a family dinner many years ago when Jennifer and I told Mom and Dad about a movie we had seen in school. I think it was called The Million Dollar Duck or something like that and yes, it really was that lame. Anyway, Jennifer and I thought it was terrific and that our parents needed to know every. single. detail. And we didn't miss any of them. It took all of dinner and then some, with the two of us alternating parts, interrupting each other and being quite annoying I'm sure. But Mom and Dad let us go on and on and on. I don't know how they did it. They don't even drink.
So anyway, I let Samuel continue because I remember Mom and Dad putting up with our yammering. That was important to me. I didn't notice so much then but every time I've thought of it since, I've marveled at my parents' patience in listening to that whole long, boring narrative and not acting the least bit put out or exasperated. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for doing that. And for all the other countless, selfless things you did for me as I was growing up. I know I'll never remember them all or be able to thank you for them. But thank you.
While I was
So anyway, I let Samuel continue because I remember Mom and Dad putting up with our yammering. That was important to me. I didn't notice so much then but every time I've thought of it since, I've marveled at my parents' patience in listening to that whole long, boring narrative and not acting the least bit put out or exasperated. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for doing that. And for all the other countless, selfless things you did for me as I was growing up. I know I'll never remember them all or be able to thank you for them. But thank you.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Solomon's Birthmark
I discovered it about 4 hours after he was born. It was late, the ex-husband was asleep on the pull-out sofa in our recovery room and Solomon and I had just sort of gotten the hang of nursing. I inspected his bruised and misshapen head, thanks to the vacuum extractor. I noticed that he has a cowlick on his forehead in the same place I have one. I unwrapped his receiving blanket and looked him over. I'd always thought it was weird when people said they counted their new baby's fingers and toes, but I did that, without even thinking. And then I saw it -- a large, very dark birthmark on his right ankle, across the Achilles tendon. I wondered if he'd be self-conscious of it when he grew older. And then I thought how cool it was.
Throughout Solomon's infancy, people noticed his birthmark all the time. He was born in late spring so there wasn't much need for socks and definitely not for shoes for several months. Some people thought it was weird. Others thought there was something wrong with him, and suggested that maybe I had forgotten to pin something metal to my clothing during the lunar eclipse that occurred while I was pregnant. (I hadn't. I don't buy into that sort of stuff, but I'd worn safety pins on my shirt that night to appease my in-laws and their friends.) I still thought the birthmark was cool; it was unique and special, something that I'd never seen on another baby.
In the last few years I haven't given much thought to Solomon's birthmark. He talks about it sometimes but mostly in neutral terms and I've never thought to ask him what he feels about it. Tonight he mentioned that the skin is peeling from it. He says it's shrinking. He is troubled by this. Part of it is his tendency to over-dramatize things, I'm sure. But another part of it, I'm realizing, is that he thinks it's cool, too. He identifies it as a part of him and he likes it. I'm glad for that.
To appease Solomon, I traced the outline of the mark with a Sharpie and told him that we'll watch it for a couple of days to see if it's actually shrinking. I'm pretty sure it isn't.
The tracing was fun. Solomon is the most ticklish person I know. It's become legendary. He's so ticklish that having his physical exam done is almost impossible. He can't stand to be touched with the otoscope, stethoscope or any other scope. He's so ticklish, he's convinced himself that I can tickle him from across the room with my brain. I'm serious. So tracing his ankle with a Sharpie was hilarious! I may or may not have gone over it a second time, just for grins.
Throughout Solomon's infancy, people noticed his birthmark all the time. He was born in late spring so there wasn't much need for socks and definitely not for shoes for several months. Some people thought it was weird. Others thought there was something wrong with him, and suggested that maybe I had forgotten to pin something metal to my clothing during the lunar eclipse that occurred while I was pregnant. (I hadn't. I don't buy into that sort of stuff, but I'd worn safety pins on my shirt that night to appease my in-laws and their friends.) I still thought the birthmark was cool; it was unique and special, something that I'd never seen on another baby.
In the last few years I haven't given much thought to Solomon's birthmark. He talks about it sometimes but mostly in neutral terms and I've never thought to ask him what he feels about it. Tonight he mentioned that the skin is peeling from it. He says it's shrinking. He is troubled by this. Part of it is his tendency to over-dramatize things, I'm sure. But another part of it, I'm realizing, is that he thinks it's cool, too. He identifies it as a part of him and he likes it. I'm glad for that.
To appease Solomon, I traced the outline of the mark with a Sharpie and told him that we'll watch it for a couple of days to see if it's actually shrinking. I'm pretty sure it isn't.
The tracing was fun. Solomon is the most ticklish person I know. It's become legendary. He's so ticklish that having his physical exam done is almost impossible. He can't stand to be touched with the otoscope, stethoscope or any other scope. He's so ticklish, he's convinced himself that I can tickle him from across the room with my brain. I'm serious. So tracing his ankle with a Sharpie was hilarious! I may or may not have gone over it a second time, just for grins.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year!
And Happy Birthday to this blog! This is my third New Year's blog entry, even if it's a day late. Wow, time really flies, huh?
We had a great New Year's Eve celebration. Jennifer and Caleb hosted a game night that we pieced together with a lot of people that didn't know each other before now. At one point in the night someone commented that I was the only person who really knew everyone at our party. And it's true. I invited work friends, new friends, an old friend from high school who was in the area and of course, there were siblings, significant others and children. It was a great time.
We played a few games, ate a lot of food, had sangria, wine and some mixed drinks. We toasted the New Year on the porch with noisemakers, confetti and champagne. (I was not impressed by the champagne, to say the least. In fact, I thought it tasted vaguely of vomit, if you're interested.)
Jenn, Caleb, Paul and I have decided to run a 10K in May. I'm nervous. I was running a lot during the summer but that has fallen by the wayside since school started and all that. Paul and I went running yesterday, although I hate to call it running. We ran a little and walked a lot. It felt good to be moving, though. I have a loooong way to go, literally and figuratively speaking.
That's really the only New Year's resolution I have -- to run the 10K. I don't like making New Year's resolutions. In my opinion, it's kind of like celebrating Valentine's Day. Why do I need a special occasion to make changes in my life or turn over a new leaf or show someone I love them? Shouldn't that be an ongoing thing? If New Year's resolutions help someone do that, I won't begrudge them that. More power to them. But I generally don't want to do it.
I did resolve to correspond with my family better during 2009 and I did, sort of. With the exception of losing some gift cards and sending birthday cards late as a result, I did keep up my correspondence much better than I did in 2008. So making the resolution did help that. Let's hope it helps the running effort.
So ... Happy New Year, all!
We had a great New Year's Eve celebration. Jennifer and Caleb hosted a game night that we pieced together with a lot of people that didn't know each other before now. At one point in the night someone commented that I was the only person who really knew everyone at our party. And it's true. I invited work friends, new friends, an old friend from high school who was in the area and of course, there were siblings, significant others and children. It was a great time.
We played a few games, ate a lot of food, had sangria, wine and some mixed drinks. We toasted the New Year on the porch with noisemakers, confetti and champagne. (I was not impressed by the champagne, to say the least. In fact, I thought it tasted vaguely of vomit, if you're interested.)
Jenn, Caleb, Paul and I have decided to run a 10K in May. I'm nervous. I was running a lot during the summer but that has fallen by the wayside since school started and all that. Paul and I went running yesterday, although I hate to call it running. We ran a little and walked a lot. It felt good to be moving, though. I have a loooong way to go, literally and figuratively speaking.
That's really the only New Year's resolution I have -- to run the 10K. I don't like making New Year's resolutions. In my opinion, it's kind of like celebrating Valentine's Day. Why do I need a special occasion to make changes in my life or turn over a new leaf or show someone I love them? Shouldn't that be an ongoing thing? If New Year's resolutions help someone do that, I won't begrudge them that. More power to them. But I generally don't want to do it.
I did resolve to correspond with my family better during 2009 and I did, sort of. With the exception of losing some gift cards and sending birthday cards late as a result, I did keep up my correspondence much better than I did in 2008. So making the resolution did help that. Let's hope it helps the running effort.
So ... Happy New Year, all!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
I Just Love It ...
... when a crappy day turns into a good day. Good people tend to have that effect. I like having good people around. Good people make me smile more than is normal. And, for me, that is saying something.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Girls' Night on the Town
Jenn and I went out with our group of girlfriends on Saturday evening. We had a fantastic time. We laughed, talked, ate, drank and basically enjoyed downtown Denver.
Sorry, it was so yummy that I had several bites before I thought to take a picture.
Jennifer had grilled mahi mahi with huitlacoche sauce and potato-poblano puree. I have to go back sometime and order that fish. I had a couple of bites and it was amazing. The sauce had so many different flavors -- slightly spicy, tangy, sweet and peppery all at once. Oh man, my mouth is watering.
After dinner we walked a few blocks to the theatre district and saw Girls Only. What an entertaining show! It was part play, part variety show and part improv with a little home video and some puppets thrown in. It was all about girl stuff, from childhood diaries to bras to pantyhose to tampons to purses to hormones. It was in a small theatre and the actresses did a lot of interacting with the audience. We laughed so much! (And there was more wine, although not as good as the Tempranillo.)
I think our next Girls' Night will be a game night or something resembling a game night. Our last game night evolved into a laughing, talking night. Do you see a theme here?
We had dinner at Tamayo. That is a delicious place. I had sopa de tortilla garnished with avocado, cilantro and tortilla strips with just the perfect hint of spice. It was fabulous. Then I had quesadillas surtidas made with queso oaxaca, roasted poblano chiles, tomatillo salsa and garnished with crema fresca. I thought I had died and gone to heaven or some other equivalent. And the wine ... oh, the wine. It was a Spanish Tempranillo that was just divine. Divine wine. Some photos for your drooling pleasure:
Sorry, it was so yummy that I had several bites before I thought to take a picture.
Jennifer had grilled mahi mahi with huitlacoche sauce and potato-poblano puree. I have to go back sometime and order that fish. I had a couple of bites and it was amazing. The sauce had so many different flavors -- slightly spicy, tangy, sweet and peppery all at once. Oh man, my mouth is watering.
After dinner we walked a few blocks to the theatre district and saw Girls Only. What an entertaining show! It was part play, part variety show and part improv with a little home video and some puppets thrown in. It was all about girl stuff, from childhood diaries to bras to pantyhose to tampons to purses to hormones. It was in a small theatre and the actresses did a lot of interacting with the audience. We laughed so much! (And there was more wine, although not as good as the Tempranillo.)
I think our next Girls' Night will be a game night or something resembling a game night. Our last game night evolved into a laughing, talking night. Do you see a theme here?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
So ...
It's been a while. I keep thinking of stuff I want to write here and then running out of time to write it. When I do have the time to write, the stuff isn't as pressing and I decide not to do it. Lame, huh?
We had Thanksgiving. I didn't go to Arkansas. I was kind of worried that it wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving without 40 people and 2 turkeys and 17 side dishes. But we made do. I had Paul and his son over. Jonathan and Lance were here. We also invited Paul's friend and her son because all their family is in Ohio and they couldn't travel there. We had a really great day. I made the turkey and it was fabulously delicious, if I do say so myself.
I drove to get the kids (again) last Sunday. We saw a whole fleet of trucks from Midland. It was cool. The kids got all excited and I was a little nostalgic. On that same trip, I saw two vehicles with license plate frames from car dealerships in Midland, too.
The Christmas tree is up. We assembled it and strung the lights last night while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Shrek the Halls on television. We added ornaments this evening. 'Tis the season for hot chocolate, snow and debating Christmas/religion with Solomon. Oh, boy.
Our office Christmas party is this Saturday evening. I'm really looking forward to it. It's just my second one but the last year was lots of fun and this year Paul is going with me.
Next weekend Jennifer and I are going out to dinner with girlfriends and to see a play. We're excited. The group of friends we're going with is so much fun. They're witty, intelligent women and we all get along really well.
The weekend after that, I'll keep Jennifer and Caleb's boys while they go to Caleb's company party. That will be fun. I'm thinking that if it's not too cold, we might make up some hot chocolate and go walking around their neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. I was just there tonight and there are lots of lights up already.
The day after that, I'll take the kids to meet Moises and they'll be gone for another 2 weeks. I'll have Christmas here with Paul and Jennifer and Caleb and other assorted cool people. And there'll be New Year's Eve and it will be 2010. Man, time is flying!
So those are the plans for the rest of the month. I'm looking forward to it all. It's what the holidays should be: time with family and friends, food, fun and anticipation of the coming year.
We had Thanksgiving. I didn't go to Arkansas. I was kind of worried that it wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving without 40 people and 2 turkeys and 17 side dishes. But we made do. I had Paul and his son over. Jonathan and Lance were here. We also invited Paul's friend and her son because all their family is in Ohio and they couldn't travel there. We had a really great day. I made the turkey and it was fabulously delicious, if I do say so myself.
I drove to get the kids (again) last Sunday. We saw a whole fleet of trucks from Midland. It was cool. The kids got all excited and I was a little nostalgic. On that same trip, I saw two vehicles with license plate frames from car dealerships in Midland, too.
The Christmas tree is up. We assembled it and strung the lights last night while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Shrek the Halls on television. We added ornaments this evening. 'Tis the season for hot chocolate, snow and debating Christmas/religion with Solomon. Oh, boy.
Our office Christmas party is this Saturday evening. I'm really looking forward to it. It's just my second one but the last year was lots of fun and this year Paul is going with me.
Next weekend Jennifer and I are going out to dinner with girlfriends and to see a play. We're excited. The group of friends we're going with is so much fun. They're witty, intelligent women and we all get along really well.
The weekend after that, I'll keep Jennifer and Caleb's boys while they go to Caleb's company party. That will be fun. I'm thinking that if it's not too cold, we might make up some hot chocolate and go walking around their neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. I was just there tonight and there are lots of lights up already.
The day after that, I'll take the kids to meet Moises and they'll be gone for another 2 weeks. I'll have Christmas here with Paul and Jennifer and Caleb and other assorted cool people. And there'll be New Year's Eve and it will be 2010. Man, time is flying!
So those are the plans for the rest of the month. I'm looking forward to it all. It's what the holidays should be: time with family and friends, food, fun and anticipation of the coming year.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thursday Thirteen: Best Life Events
After # 1, these are in no particular order ...
1. The births of my children, seeing their faces for the first time.
2. Christmas 2008.
3. Christmas 1993.
4. Moving into my own apartment after separating from the ex-husband.
5. Being voted Unsung Hero at West.
6. Trip to Lake Tahoe.
7. Trip to Honduras.
8. Going out with Kelly and Hope to Heaven.
9. Marc Broussard concert.
10. The 'other' staff Christmas party at West in 2007.
11. Obama rally.
12. Snorkeling in Cancun.
13. Any and all Thanksgiving holidays spent with the family in Arkansas.
1. The births of my children, seeing their faces for the first time.
2. Christmas 2008.
3. Christmas 1993.
4. Moving into my own apartment after separating from the ex-husband.
5. Being voted Unsung Hero at West.
6. Trip to Lake Tahoe.
7. Trip to Honduras.
8. Going out with Kelly and Hope to Heaven.
9. Marc Broussard concert.
10. The 'other' staff Christmas party at West in 2007.
11. Obama rally.
12. Snorkeling in Cancun.
13. Any and all Thanksgiving holidays spent with the family in Arkansas.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sentimental Clothing
I was reorganizing some things today and I found the dress I wore in my uncle's wedding when I was 4. I was the flower girl and Mom made the dress. Miriam saw me refolding the dress and fell in love with it so I offered to let her play in it today. She's so petite that it fits her perfectly at age 7. It was kind of surreal to see her running around in it all afternoon.
We also found some of the baby clothes I am keeping for sentimental reasons. I discovered that I have been holding on to some clothes that weren't as meaningful as I first thought so I got rid of those. But there is a dress and bonnet set that I will never part with. Miriam fell in love with it, too and I let her put it on her Cabbage Patch doll. She couldn't believe she was ever that little. If she only knew.
We also found some of the baby clothes I am keeping for sentimental reasons. I discovered that I have been holding on to some clothes that weren't as meaningful as I first thought so I got rid of those. But there is a dress and bonnet set that I will never part with. Miriam fell in love with it, too and I let her put it on her Cabbage Patch doll. She couldn't believe she was ever that little. If she only knew.
Friday, January 2, 2009
People Who Have the Power to Influence
I learned this morning that a family friend passed away last week. This wasn't a man I was close to; I hadn't seen him in years. He was just a man who was sort of always around. He and his wife were friends of my grandparents before I was born. He was involved in the church where I did most of my growing up. The couple were at church camps and conferences. I saw his name in newsletters and had fond memories of his smile and his soft-spoken manner. He was one of those genuinely nice people that adds a bit of brightness to the world. And now that he is gone, that brightness is fading.
He will be missed by many -- and by many that feel his loss infinitely more acutely than do I. My thoughts are with them now.
He will be missed by many -- and by many that feel his loss infinitely more acutely than do I. My thoughts are with them now.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Nuts & Bolts of My Election Day
I have put off writing about this because I don't know what to say. In the moment, the enormity paralyzed my words. I'm still at a loss but if I don't start writing soon, I'll begin to forget and that is the last thing I want to do. So I will start with the beginning.
I refused to sign up for a mail in ballot and didn't really want to go to early voting, either. I like the ceremony of waiting in line, showing my ID, signing on the dotted line and curtaining myself in a booth. It's both solemn and exhilarating for me. I knew that to avoid waiting in line for hours I'd have to be in line before my polling place opened.
The kids and I left home at 6:30 AM to go to their school, which is my polling place. I took my place in line and there were about 20 people ahead of me already. By the time the required hour of 7:00 AM arrived, the line was beginning to snake around the school building. The kids played on the playground until the line moved inside. Solomon went to choir and the other two went with me to vote.
I knew the ballot would be extensive due the large number of proposed amendments this year. I had prepared a cheat sheet of sorts for myself from the voter's guide so I didn't have to read through all the amendments in the booth. Still, when I stepped into the booth, my stomach flipped at the sight of a page about 2 1/2 feet by 2 feet. I didn't know where to start. I finally recognized an amendment number in the middle of the page and pressed the appropriate button. I breezed through the rest of the amendments and then realized I hadn't voted for a single person yet. So I went back to the top of the page and pressed the buttons for the offices of President, Senate, House of Representatives and a couple of local races. Then I triple-checked all of my lit buttons and finally pressed the submission button.
We left the gym and I dropped off Samuel and Miriam in the cafeteria to eat (another) breakfast. Then I remembered that I hadn't gotten an "I Voted!" sticker. Yes, I'm a voting dork, I like the booth and I want that sticker. So I went back for my sticker.
On my way out of the school I called Jennifer to celebrate voting and got all choked up on the phone. I ran into a guy from the campaign office and he asked me if I was going to help out. I really wanted to be helping at the polls but I had to work. He asked me who I voted for and we both burst out laughing.
I stopped at Starbucks for my free coffee. I told the barista that I had just voted and showed my sticker. She yelled out, "Hey! She just voted!" and everyone cheered. The girl passing out samples of the Peppermint Mocha with a Twist complimented the back of my car. She said that she really liked the stickers, even though "I'm 'technically' neutral. But I really, really like your bumper stickers."
When I got to work another nurse was hooking up a tiny portable television so we could keep up with the news during the day. That turned out not to work so well since we could only tune in to The Price is Right. We ended up leaving the back computer on MSNBC all day to listen to the live feed, which wasn't very interesting.
During the day, it was pretty easy to forget what a monumental day it was. I was too busy to be nervous. But once it got to be 5:00 and polls closed on the East Coast, I started to feel funny. I rushed to pick up the kids and we ate a quick dinner in the car on the way to Ben & Jerry's. I got a free scoop for voting and the kiddos each picked a flavor, too. We sat in the food court and watched the returns on a massive television hanging over our heads.
I tried to explain to the kids what all the figures and calculations meant. Somehow the electoral process with its popular vote versus electoral vote escaped them. All they cared about was that Obama was definitely in the lead. Really, that's all I cared about, too.
When we got home the kids finished their homework and started getting ready for bed. I was pretty useless as a supervisory figure since all I could do was sit on the couch and watch the returns. I did manage to tuck in Miriam and Samuel and get Solomon into the shower. When I made it back to the living room, there was a picture of Barack Obama on the screen and a headline reading, "Barack Obama Elected 44th President of the United States."
I got chills and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So I did both. I sat on the couch, in shock. Dad sent me a congratulatory text message and Jennifer called 5 seconds later. Solomon came out of the bathroom and asked me what was wrong. I told him that nothing was wrong, that Obama will be our next president. He whooped and ran to their bedroom to tell his siblings. They were already half-asleep and didn't care.
Solomon sat with me on the couch. He said he wanted to stay up and see Obama's victory speech. I wasn't going to tell him no during such an historic moment. So we snuggled together and he fell asleep in my lap half way through the speech.
I finally went to bed, relieved and also half afraid that I'd wake up in the morning to hear that there was a mess of hanging chads and voter disenfranchisment somewhere in the country. It was a great day and I hope I never forget it.
I refused to sign up for a mail in ballot and didn't really want to go to early voting, either. I like the ceremony of waiting in line, showing my ID, signing on the dotted line and curtaining myself in a booth. It's both solemn and exhilarating for me. I knew that to avoid waiting in line for hours I'd have to be in line before my polling place opened.
The kids and I left home at 6:30 AM to go to their school, which is my polling place. I took my place in line and there were about 20 people ahead of me already. By the time the required hour of 7:00 AM arrived, the line was beginning to snake around the school building. The kids played on the playground until the line moved inside. Solomon went to choir and the other two went with me to vote.
I knew the ballot would be extensive due the large number of proposed amendments this year. I had prepared a cheat sheet of sorts for myself from the voter's guide so I didn't have to read through all the amendments in the booth. Still, when I stepped into the booth, my stomach flipped at the sight of a page about 2 1/2 feet by 2 feet. I didn't know where to start. I finally recognized an amendment number in the middle of the page and pressed the appropriate button. I breezed through the rest of the amendments and then realized I hadn't voted for a single person yet. So I went back to the top of the page and pressed the buttons for the offices of President, Senate, House of Representatives and a couple of local races. Then I triple-checked all of my lit buttons and finally pressed the submission button.
We left the gym and I dropped off Samuel and Miriam in the cafeteria to eat (another) breakfast. Then I remembered that I hadn't gotten an "I Voted!" sticker. Yes, I'm a voting dork, I like the booth and I want that sticker. So I went back for my sticker.
On my way out of the school I called Jennifer to celebrate voting and got all choked up on the phone. I ran into a guy from the campaign office and he asked me if I was going to help out. I really wanted to be helping at the polls but I had to work. He asked me who I voted for and we both burst out laughing.
I stopped at Starbucks for my free coffee. I told the barista that I had just voted and showed my sticker. She yelled out, "Hey! She just voted!" and everyone cheered. The girl passing out samples of the Peppermint Mocha with a Twist complimented the back of my car. She said that she really liked the stickers, even though "I'm 'technically' neutral. But I really, really like your bumper stickers."
When I got to work another nurse was hooking up a tiny portable television so we could keep up with the news during the day. That turned out not to work so well since we could only tune in to The Price is Right. We ended up leaving the back computer on MSNBC all day to listen to the live feed, which wasn't very interesting.
During the day, it was pretty easy to forget what a monumental day it was. I was too busy to be nervous. But once it got to be 5:00 and polls closed on the East Coast, I started to feel funny. I rushed to pick up the kids and we ate a quick dinner in the car on the way to Ben & Jerry's. I got a free scoop for voting and the kiddos each picked a flavor, too. We sat in the food court and watched the returns on a massive television hanging over our heads.
I tried to explain to the kids what all the figures and calculations meant. Somehow the electoral process with its popular vote versus electoral vote escaped them. All they cared about was that Obama was definitely in the lead. Really, that's all I cared about, too.
When we got home the kids finished their homework and started getting ready for bed. I was pretty useless as a supervisory figure since all I could do was sit on the couch and watch the returns. I did manage to tuck in Miriam and Samuel and get Solomon into the shower. When I made it back to the living room, there was a picture of Barack Obama on the screen and a headline reading, "Barack Obama Elected 44th President of the United States."
I got chills and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. So I did both. I sat on the couch, in shock. Dad sent me a congratulatory text message and Jennifer called 5 seconds later. Solomon came out of the bathroom and asked me what was wrong. I told him that nothing was wrong, that Obama will be our next president. He whooped and ran to their bedroom to tell his siblings. They were already half-asleep and didn't care.
Solomon sat with me on the couch. He said he wanted to stay up and see Obama's victory speech. I wasn't going to tell him no during such an historic moment. So we snuggled together and he fell asleep in my lap half way through the speech.
I finally went to bed, relieved and also half afraid that I'd wake up in the morning to hear that there was a mess of hanging chads and voter disenfranchisment somewhere in the country. It was a great day and I hope I never forget it.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday Thirteen: Memories from Early Childhood
1. Mom making my Cinderella birthday cake. age 2
2. Someone scrubbing my hands with stinky soap and putting a gown on me so I could see newborn Jennifer in the hospital. age 2
3. Dad singing me to sleep in the rocking chair. age 2
4. Tossing a balloon to my aunt over the shower curtain while I took a bath and she was babysitting. age 3
5. Making mud pies in the back yard with the kid that Mom babysat. He was so old, at least 5. age 3
6. Going on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa and being eaten up by mosquitoes. age 4
7. Wearing my favorite dress at least part of every day at Dover. It was red and covered with flowers. age 4
8. Watching Dad milk cows on the dairy and getting to feed bottles to the calves . age 5
9. Waiting for the kindergarten school bus by Granny and Paw Paw's honey suckle bush. age 5
10. Thinking that an 'E' should look like this:
age 5
11. Lance being born and Dad telling Jennifer and me that he was a big baby; me thinking that meant he was already bigger than me. age 5
12. Playing dentist and pretending I had a loose tooth, only to realize I really did have my very first loose tooth. age 6
13. Trying to take my cat into the wading pool and getting the full benefit of his claws on my back as he scrambled away. age 6
And a bonus story because I can't leave it out --
A skunk spraying our front porch. While we were outside. With all the windows open. And box fans sitting on the window sills blowing into the house. age 6
2. Someone scrubbing my hands with stinky soap and putting a gown on me so I could see newborn Jennifer in the hospital. age 2
3. Dad singing me to sleep in the rocking chair. age 2
4. Tossing a balloon to my aunt over the shower curtain while I took a bath and she was babysitting. age 3
5. Making mud pies in the back yard with the kid that Mom babysat. He was so old, at least 5. age 3
6. Going on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa and being eaten up by mosquitoes. age 4
7. Wearing my favorite dress at least part of every day at Dover. It was red and covered with flowers. age 4
8. Watching Dad milk cows on the dairy and getting to feed bottles to the calves . age 5
9. Waiting for the kindergarten school bus by Granny and Paw Paw's honey suckle bush. age 5
10. Thinking that an 'E' should look like this:
age 511. Lance being born and Dad telling Jennifer and me that he was a big baby; me thinking that meant he was already bigger than me. age 5
12. Playing dentist and pretending I had a loose tooth, only to realize I really did have my very first loose tooth. age 6
13. Trying to take my cat into the wading pool and getting the full benefit of his claws on my back as he scrambled away. age 6
And a bonus story because I can't leave it out --
A skunk spraying our front porch. While we were outside. With all the windows open. And box fans sitting on the window sills blowing into the house. age 6
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My Birthday
I was thinking about my past birthdays this morning. Most have been relatively uneventful but still memorable in their own way. Others have consisted of elaborate plans and lots of memories.
I don't remember my first birthday, but I've seen the pictures. I sat on the table in a diaper and smeared myself with chocolate frosting from my very own cake. That's been a big family tradition.
I do remember my second birthday. Most people don't believe me when I say that. They think it's because I've seen the pictures of it and I only think I remember it. But they're wrong. Mom made me a castle cake with Cinderella sitting outside it. It was pink. Very pink. All of that is in the pictures. What does not show are the Pringles cans that made up the castle towers. I remember watching Mom cover them in icing. It seemed to take forever.
Other birthdays run together in a blur. There were several that Jennifer and I celebrated together since our birthdays are 6 days apart. We had a birthday party in the big red caboose at McDonald's one year. Another year, we had a party at Granny and Paw Paw's house. We had two cakes; one was yellow with pink decorations and the other was pink with yellow decorations. I don't remember which was mine and which was Jennifer's.
I got a bike for my fifth birthday. I picked it out from the models at the store and Dad said we needed to find the actual box so we could take it home and put it together. The thought of waiting on it to be put together so disappointed me that the sales person said we could take the floor model. I was thrilled.
There was the year that Mom and Dad let Jennifer and me point out a few things in the toy department that we wanted. I thought we were giving specific instructions so I was a little pouty when I opened my presents and they were slightly different. I still feel bad about that.
Jennifer and I got new bikes when we were 7 and 9, respectively. They were identical 10-speeds and we thought we were hot stuff. We rode those bikes every where. Someone tried to steal them once. I'm a little foggy on the details but Jennifer remembers it better than I do.
On my thirteenth birthday, Mom told me she would make any dinner I wanted. I found some recipes in a magazine and she did it. We had roast beef sandwiches, cucumber salad and a dessert that I can't remember now. I also got my ears pierced on my thirteenth birthday.
My sixteenth birthday was a lot of fun. I had a sleepover with my best friend. We stayed up all night and watched all 4 Jaws movies. Then we scared ourselves silly in her pool. I left for a mission trip in Birmingham on my actual birthday.
My eighteenth birthday was notable because we were awaiting the arrival of my youngest sister, Elizabeth. I also learned to drive that summer.
I spent my twenty-first birthday nursing my 6-week-old baby and marveling at how much my life had changed in just a year. Not the typical American twenty-first birthday, was it?
My twenty-fifth birthday was the last day of our family trip to Disneyland. We missed a flight to Phoenix (not our fault), got re-routed to Las Vegas and grounded in Las Vegas due to 114 F temperatures. We got a free room at the Monte Carlo and spent 48 hours taking in Vegas. If it weren't for the divorce clouds looming overhead, it would have been a fantastic detour.
I was at Lake Tahoe for my twenty-sixth birthday. A boyfriend (ex) and I had a helicopter ride over the lake, a cruise around the lake and saw a Rascal Flatts concert. Definitely a memorable birthday.
Last year, another boyfriend (ex) and I had a good time. There were flowers, dinner, a movie and some wine. The wine wasn't so great, but it was a fun night. The wine was actually kind of funny.
This year has been a good birthday, too. I had to work today, but it wasn't so bad. I went to lunch with some co-workers and was completely embarrassed when the servers chanted the Happy Birthday song and brought ice cream and balloons. I'm eating dinner with Jennifer and Caleb (homemade pizza!). This weekend we are headed to a music festival downtown. I am looking forward to some great music, great laughs, great drinks, a great time in general.
And I am not dreading being 29, either. I'm not even dreading being 30 in 364 days. I don't feel much different than I did at 19 so I'm good with this age thing.
I don't remember my first birthday, but I've seen the pictures. I sat on the table in a diaper and smeared myself with chocolate frosting from my very own cake. That's been a big family tradition.
I do remember my second birthday. Most people don't believe me when I say that. They think it's because I've seen the pictures of it and I only think I remember it. But they're wrong. Mom made me a castle cake with Cinderella sitting outside it. It was pink. Very pink. All of that is in the pictures. What does not show are the Pringles cans that made up the castle towers. I remember watching Mom cover them in icing. It seemed to take forever.
Other birthdays run together in a blur. There were several that Jennifer and I celebrated together since our birthdays are 6 days apart. We had a birthday party in the big red caboose at McDonald's one year. Another year, we had a party at Granny and Paw Paw's house. We had two cakes; one was yellow with pink decorations and the other was pink with yellow decorations. I don't remember which was mine and which was Jennifer's.
I got a bike for my fifth birthday. I picked it out from the models at the store and Dad said we needed to find the actual box so we could take it home and put it together. The thought of waiting on it to be put together so disappointed me that the sales person said we could take the floor model. I was thrilled.
There was the year that Mom and Dad let Jennifer and me point out a few things in the toy department that we wanted. I thought we were giving specific instructions so I was a little pouty when I opened my presents and they were slightly different. I still feel bad about that.
Jennifer and I got new bikes when we were 7 and 9, respectively. They were identical 10-speeds and we thought we were hot stuff. We rode those bikes every where. Someone tried to steal them once. I'm a little foggy on the details but Jennifer remembers it better than I do.
On my thirteenth birthday, Mom told me she would make any dinner I wanted. I found some recipes in a magazine and she did it. We had roast beef sandwiches, cucumber salad and a dessert that I can't remember now. I also got my ears pierced on my thirteenth birthday.
My sixteenth birthday was a lot of fun. I had a sleepover with my best friend. We stayed up all night and watched all 4 Jaws movies. Then we scared ourselves silly in her pool. I left for a mission trip in Birmingham on my actual birthday.
My eighteenth birthday was notable because we were awaiting the arrival of my youngest sister, Elizabeth. I also learned to drive that summer.
I spent my twenty-first birthday nursing my 6-week-old baby and marveling at how much my life had changed in just a year. Not the typical American twenty-first birthday, was it?
My twenty-fifth birthday was the last day of our family trip to Disneyland. We missed a flight to Phoenix (not our fault), got re-routed to Las Vegas and grounded in Las Vegas due to 114 F temperatures. We got a free room at the Monte Carlo and spent 48 hours taking in Vegas. If it weren't for the divorce clouds looming overhead, it would have been a fantastic detour.
I was at Lake Tahoe for my twenty-sixth birthday. A boyfriend (ex) and I had a helicopter ride over the lake, a cruise around the lake and saw a Rascal Flatts concert. Definitely a memorable birthday.
Last year, another boyfriend (ex) and I had a good time. There were flowers, dinner, a movie and some wine. The wine wasn't so great, but it was a fun night. The wine was actually kind of funny.
This year has been a good birthday, too. I had to work today, but it wasn't so bad. I went to lunch with some co-workers and was completely embarrassed when the servers chanted the Happy Birthday song and brought ice cream and balloons. I'm eating dinner with Jennifer and Caleb (homemade pizza!). This weekend we are headed to a music festival downtown. I am looking forward to some great music, great laughs, great drinks, a great time in general.
And I am not dreading being 29, either. I'm not even dreading being 30 in 364 days. I don't feel much different than I did at 19 so I'm good with this age thing.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Remembering the Moments
I will confess up front, that I am slightly inebriated at this writing. Friends and family have just left my apartment after a very nice evening of chatting, drinking, listening to music, eating. Basically, being our boring selves. But we like our boring selves and we have fun.
I am tired, but I don't want to go to bed. I want to bask in the glow of this moment here. Friends, family, food, a little vodka, good times. It's a nice moment. So I am imprinting the details into my memory so maybe they won't fade quite as quickly as they might otherwise.
I am tired, but I don't want to go to bed. I want to bask in the glow of this moment here. Friends, family, food, a little vodka, good times. It's a nice moment. So I am imprinting the details into my memory so maybe they won't fade quite as quickly as they might otherwise.
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