To all the fathers out in blogland . . .

Sunday, June 18, 2006

You dads have a place all your own in our hearts. There is nothing like a dad to make us feel special. On this day we honor you for the many good things you do.

For those dads who are no longer with us, we remember you with kind and happy thoughts. For those dads who are still around, we will fire up the grill and invite you for a swim. You won't have to lift a finger on this day. We will make sure you know you are loved and are surrounded by those who love you.

So, fellas, have a Happy Father's Day this Sunday.

Sunday Flowers

Portulaca (Moss Rose)

Daisy

Dianthus

Petunias

Yellow Lillies







Pink Calla Lillies
White Astilbe

Tag, You're "It"

I always thought "tag" was a playground game, but I have learned through blogging that being tagged means that you have been asked to submit answers (in most cases personal and revealing answers) to a series of questions. I never thought it would happen to me, but I've been tagged by Sue. I said I was game and I've have decided to play along.

7's Meme

Seven things to do before I die:
1. Write a book that everyone will read and add to their list of books they love
2. See my grandchildren grown, educated, married, and with children of their own
3. Travel all over the United States (so I can take husband to Hawaii)
4. Actually do some Spring Cleaning when it's Spring (G-d, I hate housecleaning)
5. Go back to college for an advanced degree (so I can leave my mark on the world)
6. Lose a lot of weight (so I can walk with ease)
7. Tell all my loved ones that I love them more than life itself (including all my lovely blogfriends)

Seven things I cannot do:
1. Landscape my yard like my sister
2. Go into small, dark places
3. Climb onto high places
4. Handle snakes or bugs
5. Perform operations
6. Do complicated math
7. Cook like Paula Deen

Seven things that attract me to my husband:
1. His willingness to do whatever I ask him to do
2. His kind heart
3. His love of music, nature, and art
4. His ability to build or fix anything
5. His political views
6. His love of our children and grandchildren
7. His love of travel

Seven books (or a series of books) I love:
1. Anything by Steven King
2. Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingels Wilder
3. The Borrowers books by Mary Norton
4. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
5. Roots by Alex Haley
6. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
7. From Time to Time by Jack Finney

Seven movies I'd watch over and over again:
1. When Harry Met Sally
2. Gone With the Wind
3. You've Got Mail
4. Sleepless in Seattle
5. The African Queen
6. The Nun's Story
7. Independence Day

Seven people I'd like to tag:
1. Alipurr of Kitten Yarn
2. Mrsgreenthumb of Desert Gardener
3. Susan of Patchwork Reflections
4. Franny of Franny's Fables
5. Jellyhead of Jellyhead Rambles
6. Manababies
7. Lillee of Pieces

If you've been tagged, I hope you play along. If not, I will understand.

An historic occasion

Happy Birthday, Alipurr

I can remember the exact minute I went into labor with you, daughter. It was 7:00 p.m. on June 4th, 1970-something. The reason I remember the exact time was because I was lying in bed and decided to call my mother. During our 20+ minute phone conversation I casually noted that I began to have regular contractions. They weren't very strong, but they were regular. While we talked, I began timing them and I realized that I was in labor. Your dad and grandmother were very excited while for some strange reason I remained calm and collected. I told my mother to pack her bag and get down to Kentucky because this was "it" -- your birthday.

Because I was still comfortable, we went to bed to get some sleep. Around 1:00 a.m. on June 5th, I awoke and realized it was time to go to the hospital. It took us around two hours to get our stuff together, take your baby brother to a friend's house, and then proceed to get to the hospital all the while remaining very calm. In fact, my entire labor was calm.

You were born around 3:00 p.m. on June 5th. In those days ultrasounds were not routinely done (the dark ages) so we didn't know whether we were having a boy or a girl. When you were delivered and I was told "IT'S A GIRL," that's when I became really excited. Your dad was in seventh heaven and I couldn't have been happier. We now had a boy and a girl -- a perfect family.

I will always remember your knobby little knees. It seemed as if the skin around your knees was way too big for your little legs and just hung in folds. You can see what I mean when you look at your newborn baby picture. Your eyes were dark and your hair (what little you had of it) seemed dark. We would not know exactly how dark it was until you were at least two years old.

We were very happy with our beautiful little girl. This little girl would grow up to be an intelligent, beautiful, and talented woman. This woman later in her life became a mother thus completing the circle.

Our daughter gave us many opportunities to be proud of her and to love her as she was growing up. She is a good daughter for which we are very thankful.

On this occasion of her birthday, we send her our very best wishes for a happy celebration. As her mother, I love her more each day and appreciate her kindness, good sense, sense of humor, mothering skills, beauty, quick wit, and crocheting skills. She is learning to be a gardener, not only of her plants, but also of those she loves.

Happy Birthday, daughter, on June 5th. May you have many more in your lifetime. Our gift to you is our love. As your mother, the memories of your birth and your growing up have been a gift to your father and I all these years. Thank you for the joy you have given us.

The kindness of strangers

I have noticed since I have been using either a walker or a cane to ambulate that people have been treating me differently. Some have looked on me with genuine concern, some have looked at me as if I have a contagious disease that might transmit itself onto them, and some have looked at me with that morbid curiosity when one sees a particularly gruesome sight.

Being a gimp who is hobbling around and limping a lot has given me a unique perspective into how people treat others who have infirmities. Most people will hold doors open for you and will look with concern whether you are safe. Some, however, must be terribly frightened of anyone who is "different" and almost run the other way.

My biggest pet peeve during this invalid period of my life has been those individuals who fail to observe those no parking signs under the canopy at the doctor's office. You know the ones that say, "No Parking," or "Do not leave your car unattended, patient loading zone." I have found that there are always those who think these signs do not apply to them because they are only running into the pharmacy to drop off or pick up a prescription and it will only take a moment, or they have some urgent business in the doctor's office and have parked there only 10 or 15 minutes. The majority of these, I notice, also do not exhibit handicapped signs for their vehicles and are not picking up or dropping off a patient.

In the meantime, those who are handicapped and unable to ambulate very far or who need help getting up or down a curb, must walk around these vehicles or walk twice the distance just to get into the building. Or, how about those dolts who sit on the benches near the entrance to the building smoking their cigarettes and watch as the incapacitated struggle to open the door to the building while trying to balance on a cane and never once offer to help.

Having worked in the healthcare sector for many years, I am attuned to the needs of the health-impaired. Over the course of those years I have held many a door and assisted quite a few people to ensure their safety and to show a modicum of polite behavior in attempting to help them if needed. Being on the receiving end, however, has shown me a completely different aspect of human behavior.

I have come to the conclusion that most people are kind and helpful. Most people practice what they believe in and are preached to in church on Sundays. Most people are nice. To these people, know that you are appreciated for your kindness and your helpfulness. You are good people.

Some people, however, are selfish, blind to the needs of others, heartless, afraid, nasty, unthinking, self-centered, and callous. Somehow they think it couldn't happen to them. If they do become infirm, will they expect and receive assistance? Or, will they think that they are the only ones that have ever suffered in this world?

Our local paper prints a lot of those "thank yous" from people who have been injured, sick, had surgery, or suffered the loss of a loved one. These people wish to thank their friends, family, and neighbors who have shown them kindness during their moment of need.

I wish to acknowledge those strangers who have shown charitable kindness to me during this period in my life. These are the people who don't expect a formal thank you or a reward. They are just caring individuals who practice what they preach. Do unto others. You know who you are.