Thankful for Day 8

Last night, Thing Two had an orchestra concert.  7th grade, first concert of the year. Suffice to say,  it's still a challenging performance to sit through.  The kids are at various levels and still sorting out how to play together as a group.  I don't mind going as many of the other parents are neighbors and friends. It's a social evening for me as much as a chance to be a supportive parent.   After a long day spent sorting through conference calls, Dom was weary and not interested in being social nor was the music expected to be top notch.  I suggested he stay home and I'd go to support the kid.

Thing One enjoys his first Christmas (circa 1997)

Tonight, Thing One needs to study for his Spanish test that is tomorrow.  He's catching on to the language but needs to study for this class more than he'd like.  He's used to relying on his incredibly strong memory to get by.     I've reached my quota of listening to whining teens (the down side of working in a high school I suppose).   I simply can't muster much energy in the supportive parent role.  But Hubby?  He's fluent in Spanish and Thing One isn't as  quick to whine when he's with his dad.  So, Hubby has offered to serve as the homework police.

Getting ready to enjoy the show...Blues Clues Live! (circa 2002)

I'm grateful that, in my husband, I have the perfect parenting partner.  We recognize each other's strengths and can identify when the other one needs to opt out.   Can you imagine doing it solo as a parent?  I sure can't....it really does take two!

Thankful for Day 7

Today?  I'm thankful that it wasn't MY kid that smoked weed this morning instead of eating breakfast.  Weed is apparently not well tolerated on an empty stomach and this young lady ended up passing out in English class.   Nurse Chang arrived and it didn't take a genius to identify THAT particular odor and note the clear signs of "neurologically impaired".  

Sometimes it is good to be able to say not MY kid.  

Giving new meaning to the Mile HIGH city...

With the passing of a certain amendment here in Colorado last night, who knows...some day it could be my kid....but until that day arrives (and oh how I hope and pray it never does).....I just grateful to say NOT my kid!

Thankful for...Day 6

 There is only one person in this world that I would be willing to paint an Obama rock for...

 My Judy!  

A year ago today, we helped her ROCK her 50th birthday.  Today, I pause to give thanks for the gift of her friendship.  I miss her so much.  So many times I have had something that HAD to be shared with Judy, only to catch myself and remember....

She's no longer here....

So, in the spirit of Judy:  get out and ROCK the vote...

It's our right, it's our responsibility and well...

Thankful for Day 5

It goes without saying, that I am thankful for my Things.  While there are moments when having two teenagers is overwhelming, overall they are good boys and fill my heart with pride and joy.

Today, I was thankful that Thing Two is a reliable and responsible kid.   He had a 3 p.m. orthodontist appointment.  And I had a situation unfolding at work that would keep me from getting him there at that point in the afternoon.   What to do, what to do....

Guess what?  he got himself there!   I signed him out from school, called the orthodontist and said he was on his way. Sure enough, he made it there, got himself signed in  and bonus points for remembering to call me and let me know he was finished and headed home.   (OK, so it is possible the ladies in the office prompted him to make that call, but I'll go ahead and give him the credit).  

Sure it helps, that the weather was cooperative and the distance involved was less than 1.5 miles.   Just the same, it really helped that he was willing and able to take on this task all on his own.    Parents may groan and grumble that being a parent to teens is miserable...but today?  the silver lining was indeed that desire to be more independent and willing to take care of things on their own.

Thankful for Day 4

 Time:  we can measure it in hours, days or year....today I am thankful for it all!

An extra hour?    Last night, I enjoyed an extra hour of sleep.  Well, actually, I woke up at my usual time but because of that extra hour, I was  able to make it to early church without the usual rush.  Usually the full impact of "falling back" is not appreciated until we all have to get up and out the door for school on Monday.  


Extra days?  This past week I enjoyed a week of free time.   Officially it is called Fall Break but I just consider it the gift of time.   A week off with no where to go and all day to get there.  A chance to catch your breath after the chaos of starting a new school year.  A chance to reboot after a rocky start to a school year.   I found myself with the extra time to craft, take a walk,  to pray and reflect and savor a cup of coffee (or two) with friends.  I had the time to read a book or two (more on that later), the time to sit and watch silly movies with my guys.  The time to talk to family that lives far away.

Extra years?   At 47,   I'd like to believe that I have many great years ahead of me.   But this week, I found myself thinking about my age and what does that really mean.  My mom was just 47  when she was given a terminal diagnosis.  My cousin Cindy (pictured above in the USA t-shirt) was just 42 when she passed away last weekend.  My mom had years to adjust to her diagnosis. My cousin?  We're not sure, but we believe things all happened over a matter of days.  An infection took over her body that resulted in organ failure.  Was her system weak  and compromised even before infection struck? We don't know and in the end, it really doesn't matter. What matters is,  she leaves behind three boys, 15, 13, and 10.  So very close in age to my own things.

  Both women passed before either had what I would consider enough years.  But clearly, a different plan was in mind for them.      I will be thankful for the years we enjoyed as cousins....gathering together for family celebrations.  Knowing that each year is indeed a gift to be thankful for.     And I will be hopeful that I will continue to be blessed with many more years to spend in the company of family and friends whenever opportunities present!

Thankful for Day 3

Today, I am thankful for my husband's mistress....or should I say mistresses?

I still recall some 6 years ago when Hubby announced he was thinking about getting a motorcycle.  My nurse brain initially though "you mean a DONOR cycle, right?".    Yet, instead of voicing disapproval,   I nodded my approval and he's been happily riding ever since.   

As a family, we have reaped the benefits of a head of household that is happiest after a day of riding. Oh sure, the bank account has taken a few hits along the way (the current harem, er stable, is housing 3 motorcycles and 3 have left our family to be hopefully enjoyed by others).  We've witnessed a few adult temper tantrums when a rig is off line for unknown mechanical issues or a much anticipated part was not delivered as promised.   I've even received a couple phone calls when the first words out of his mouth are "Don't worry, I'm ok" (which I wasn't worried until he told me to not worry).

None of this can compare to the family fun we've had all thanks to hubby having a motorcycle.    We've met new friends,taken some fun filled vacations and just this past week the guys plotted how to spread some Halloween cheer that involved Valencia.

Every wife should encourage their spouse to take on a mistress.....assuming by mistress they really mean a motorcycle.

Thankful for Day 2

Last weekend, we enjoyed having my dad stop over for a visit.  For those who have extended relatives living within driving distance, this may not be a big deal.  But for Hubby and I, all our relatives live at least 16 hrs away, so "stopping in" for a visit typically involves planning and usually a trip to the airport.    

I'm thankful that my dad makes the effort to come and spend some time with us.   In return, we try to visit him at his home.  But let's be honest, traveling solo is easier and less costly than traveling as a family of 4.  However, I know several people of the next generation who view it as the adult child's responsibility to visit the older parent.

I'm most thankful that my dad doesn't expect that of us.  His visits, as brief as they may be, are eagerly anticipated by both boys.    For Thing Two, it's a time to perfect his pie baking skills with the master pie baker guiding his efforts at creating the perfect crust.   This time, it also included a trip to see the Colorado Symphony perform downtown.  For the violist in the family, this was indeed something he looked forward to doing with Grandpa.

For the older Thing, not into pie or the symphony, Grandpa brings with him his belly.  Thing One loves to snuggle up against his grandfather's belly and together they catch a snooze (or two) on the couch.  I'm sure if my father ever decided to take on a weight loss program and the belly was reduced, he'd hear plenty of protests from his grandson.  It is also a time for bowling. Grandpa took both boys to the new bowling alley where they showed that well.....their skills in this sport are not improving much but they sure do have fun playing just the same.  

So, here's a shout of thanks to  Grandpa for spending a few days with us!  We hope you enjoy a sunny and healthy visit out in Sun City this winter!    We look forward to your layover in Colorado in April.  

Thankful for Day 1

Hello November.
Hello neglected blog
And Hello Thankful challenge, the 2012 edition.

5 years ago, I decided to challenge myself with blogging every day during November.  Yikes, for as infrequent as I have blogged lately, that alone will be a challenge to renew my acquaintance with blogger and all that goes into regular blogging.

Each day in November, I have shared or commented about something I'm grateful for. True, some years I've played catch up at the end.  And some years, the gratitude of the day is rather trivial in the grand scheme of things.  But each time I have managed to share something or someone that I am grateful for.

So today, I start out with being thankful for traditions. It is not a tradition I have practiced my entire life but only for the past five years.  Yet, a tradition has to get it's start somewhere, right?   What started as a personal challenge (can I really come up with that many things to be grateful for?) has now become part of my November routine.  

And as a result of this newly established tradition, I find myself appreciating and enjoying Thanksgiving more and more each year.  It is more than just turkey an a nice glass (or two) of wine.  It is about the tradition of giving thanks...

Let the fun begin!

Maybe Dr. House is right?

Just as I manage to sort through one situation where critical information would have made me able to provide better care, another situation cropped up.

A young lady collapsed yesterday.  While her condition was stable, it is still a very unsettling sight to see a loved one out cold.  The  boyfriend of this student has been the witness to enough trauma in his short life so seeing his girlfriend out cold was more than he could handle.  He started to experience some significant panic issues.  We worked with him, got him calmed down and then   I spoke to his mom.  His mom and I  agreed that he was too upset to finish out the day and I sent him home.

Well....a few hours later I learned that he knew way more information than he shared with myself and emergency crew.  His lies may just end up costing him way more than the loss of my trust.

I really enjoy working  with the population of a high school.  The kids are old enough to get my humor, yet they still young enough in many other ways that make them a fun group to spend my day with.  They are independent enough that I can juggle many of their issues all at once (they can bandage their own boo-boos: that alone is a huge help on busy days).  But they are also still looking to the adults to help them sort through some issues.  They have grown up issues they have to tackle with a brain that is still trying to develop.  I enjoy being available to help them through these developmental tasks.

Yesterday?
How I wish with all my heart that my young man had trusted me enough to be honest with me....I could have helped him.    Now?  I'm not sure there is much I can do to make sure he gets to remain in school.
yep...it's THAT serious.

3 calls to Emergency crew in 3 weeks...buckle up it's gonna be a LOOOOOOONG school year.

The short weeks

are indeed usually the longest ones.

Wednesday I had my first 911 call of the new school year.  A young lady came in, looking and acting very out of sorts.  I got her situated in the back to rest, while I started to collect some additional information.  No sooner had I pulled up her name on the computer, did my trusted and faithful assistant call out "Martha, she's not responding".  While I raced to assess her condition, I sent Susan to call 911.  It was a good thing that I didn't waste any time making that decision.  Before the paramedics had arrived, this girl's health took a sharp turn into the world of bizarre.    If one ever questions why we need police officers in the school, please just have them call me.    Our officer happened to come into the room right as the student changed from being unresponsive to being something straight out of a horror movie.  His quick thinking and sheer strength kept me and the student safe. Thank you, Officer P.  I owe you big time!

Today took me down another emotionally charged road.  One that I was honored to assist with, but still struck by the sadness of it all.  I was called to assess the wounds of a young girl who had admitted to her counselor that she had taken up cutting.  I walk in, and while she is now 15, all I see is the little girl I first met when she was 6.  How could that confident happy girl now be cutting and expressing ideas and plans to end her life?    Again I turned to my trusted assistant:  "can you handle the clinic, I just can't leave right now".

So for an hour, I sat and held this young girl's hand.  I hugged her mom as she shook with fear 'how is this possible".  And yes, I shared in their tears.   I cannot imagine a phone call more frightening than the one from the school psychologist asking that you come to the school as we plan to transport your child for a suicide assessment at the local hospital.  To actually know the student and her family, made it all that more frightening and humbling.

Yes indeed...you can cram in a week's worth of work in just 4 days.

Life goes on

I recently read a quote that noted "In three words, I can sum up everything I have learned about life:  It Goes On".   Yesterday proved that to be oh so very true.

Hubby and I had the joy of attending the wedding of dear sweet Caitlin and her perfectly matched husband Eric.  We've known Caitlin for over 14 years:  first as the "friend of the the friend" (her best friend is Judy's oldest daughter) and now she and her family  have truly become friends of our family.

Thank you Caitlin and Eric for including us in your very special day!  It was perfect from start to finish!

Think of all the beauty still around you and be happy....Anne Frank

Joy runs deeper than despair....Cora ten Boom

Time is running out...

I'm into the homestretch of my most relaxing summer vacation.  Not sure how others deal with the reality of summer bliss coming to an an end.   But, I do know what I do:  I tackle the reading pile with a new found sense of urgency.  

It started with this one.  Perhaps you've heard about it?  It created quite the stir last year when first released. Essentially, it is the memoir of a woman, reflecting on her actions as a "Chinese parent" and how that contrasts to "Western parents".  Press picked up on a "we vs. they" approach and she made the rounds of the assorted media outlets.  As the white girl in a mixed marriage involving someone of Chinese heritage, you can imagine my reluctance to read a book that potentially tells me how I'm doing everything wrong as a parent.  Hubby and I don't need to read a book to hear that conversation:  we only need to recall  past conversations with his folks(ok, slight exaggeration...but you get the idea).

Nope, no how...wasn't going to read it.  Besides, remember my last book report about me vs. non-fiction.  But again, it was available on the library's e-book "available now" section so I figured "what the heck, let's see what the hoopla is all about".

Turns out the book was not nearly as threatening as I initially thought it would be.  I realized in reading this, that we all have a little Tiger in us when it comes to being a parent.    And while I don't want to spoil the book, the author also made a few discoveries of her own in terms of her parenting style.  

Next up is this young adult novel by Sara Zarr.  It involves two young ladies:  both about the same age (18) and experiencing two major life changing events.  One is pregnant and the other is still recovering from the sudden loss of her father.  Told through both their voices, I appreciated the author's ability to portray this age group in two different ways. I also appreciated how while the story was predictable, it was told in a way where the reader stayed engaged and interested. 

 Lots of "Aha" lines....you know, where an author can capture such a complex idea in just a sentence or two.  I admire that ability.   For example:  "there are so many pieces of grief.  Sad pieces, angry pieces, guilty pieces, pieces of regret and pieces that are a certain kind of  pain that doesn't even have a word."   Or how about,  "You used to not give a damn about anything, but that was because you were brave, not cynical.".  

And finally, the story takes place in Denver which probably enhanced my enjoyment of this book.   It is indeed a quick and worthy read.  And, it would make for a great book club discussion:  especially for a mother-daughter type club.  

Remember Sidney Sheldon?  I remember reading his stuff in the late 80s/early 90s.  Thought he was dead, right?  Well, yes, he died but apparently the family has authorized Tilly Bagshawe to write in his "style" and use the Sidney Sheldon name.  I think that's probably a good thing:  I've heard of Sidney Sheldon but not Tilly Bagshawe and wonder....would I have picked up the book if not for the name recognition?

Turns out, she can write just as good as I recall Sidney Sheldon.  The story, a murder-mystery that spans several continents over at least a decade, is well thought out. It starts with the murder of a wealthy elderly man and his much younger wife is brutally assaulted, only to disappear within days of the assault, only after giving away his entire estate to charity.

While predictable, she does a great job of maintaining the reader's interest.  What I really appreciated was the time spent after that capture telling more of the "now what".  In many other murder-mystery books, once they catch the crazed criminal, the story ends as if to say "that's a wrap".  She managed to add a few more twists right up until the very end.

I'd put this in the summer-beach reading "fluff" category but worth a quick read.  Especially if you are trying to get back into the groove of reading after a hiatus of sort.

Now, off to see what else I can manage to plow through before the reality hits on August 14th...until then, you know where you can find me:  with my nose, stuck in a book!

The reason for my absence...

Not only was it a good week, it turned out to be a good week to be out of town.

Our prayers go out to the victims and their families of the Aurora shooting.  This story hit just a little too close to home:  with a few of the students from my school being involved.  From what I've heard, all are expected to make a full recovery....with time and support.  They can certainly count on support from the nurses office once we all return to school next month.

Summer Sampler

It is a never ending battle to get Thing One to try new things.  But, in all honesty, I shouldn't get too frustrated with him:  I am also a creature of habit.  I know what I like and don't really stray too far from those standards.

Take reading, I am a 100% fiction reader.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I am sure that non-fiction book is very well written and worth my time to read, but I had convinced myself I just couldn't get through.

And then came the current hit The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.  It  really sounded fascinating:  telling the story of the HeLa cells.  Malignant cells collected in the 1950s that really shaped the course of modern medicine in ways the scientists never imagined.  It also tells the story of who HeLa was:  Henrietta Lacks, a poor black woman who grew up in rural Virginia and later moved to Baltimore.

Sounded great...but it was NON FICTION.

Remember, I don't do that genre of books.

But, just as I nagged at my older son to try a new food, I too pushed myself to try a type of book that is typically not to my liking.

And guess what?  I liked it.  I really, really liked it.

I could relate so well to many parts of the story.  My background as a nurse of course factored into it. But, I was also taken back to 1992, when my first job out of the Army was working at an inner city hospital in Baltimore Maryland.  Who knows, maybe Henrietta's descendants passed through my clinic?  Doubtful, but possible.  I did my reserve training with an inner-city unit not far from the area that Henrietta's family still lived in.  And the area that she grew up in?  Not far from a job I "almost" took but decided rural Virginia was not the place for me.  

I found myself reflecting on how much medicine has changed over 50 years.  Not just how we treat illnesses, but how we treat the patient.   Henrietta was treated in a fashion consistent with the time and era.  But, if we treated her and her family in such a fashion today?  Yeah, get ready to meet with the legal department and expect to lose your license.  

Am I ready to convert to reading more non-fiction?  Probably not...but this one really was a worthy read.

Hey, did I tell you?  Last month, I went to Hawaii.  OK, not really....but I did read this interesting historical fiction set on the island of Molokai.  It tells the story of 7 year old Rachel who developed leprosy.  At the time, we knew nothing about this illness and fear guided many of decisions related to how it was managed.  As a result, isolation was the name of the game.  Rachel was shipped off to this isolated island.  The story tells her life on the island, along with many others.

I found the history part of the story to be fascinating.  Rich in detail:  not just about leprosy but about the state of Hawaii before it became a state, the cultural and religious practices of its' people.  Stuff I never knew.     I would say that was the author's primary interest:  sharing history as I sometimes felt the character development was slapped together and plot was stretched so that he could include another plausible historical event.

Regardless, it made for an interesting read and again, would make for a very interesting book club discussion.

It also left me wanting to pack my bags and head off to Hawaii...which I suppose makes this a potentially expensive book to read.

So those have been my two favorites of the summer.  I've also found myself afflicted by this disease caused Netflix-itisis...you know you can watch entire seasons of certain shows?  Yeah, not so good....I've found myself hooked on Drop Dead Diva and the darker lawyer show Guardian.  Both have become huge time drains...but with the recent heat wave, one doesn't feel like doing much more than hibernating inside, away from the hot dry summer sun.

Until next time....

Catching up

 I suppose I should finish blogging about how much fun we had here.  A few pleasant surprises (not as humid as we were expecting).  A few not-so pleasant surprises (significantly more crowded than we were expecting) and finally some wonderful surprises (Not once, but twice Hubby ran into friends from his military days)


The first surprise happened with the help of his buddy Lee.  Lee knew we were coming, so he tracked down two other college buddies that Hubby had lost contact with.  Together we all enjoyed a great evening of food and fellowship at Lee's country home.  (honest, it was way out there in the country!)

The other surprise happened on our last full day in DC.  We were looking for a breakfast spot before visiting the spy museum.  As I dart into a bagel shop with the Things, I realize Hubby is no longer right behind us.  I retrace my steps outside where I find my usually quiet man chatting up two FBI agents (yes, we were right across the street from FBI HQ).  Seems one of the two men remembered Hubby from their Army days in the late 80s/early 90s.   Mr. O. and his co-worker had just stepped out of their office for a morning cup of coffee.  Imagine the odds?

the boys were awestruck when Mr. O. kindly offered them one of his business cards.  Still not sure which impressed them more:  the fact that they were talking to two FBI agents, or that their dad knew an agent?  

It should come as no real surprise that Thing Two no longer thinks he wants to be a marine helicopter pilot (yeah, we knew that dream had ended when we noticed how sensitive he is).   Nope, he is now thinking law enforcement is the route to go.  Was it meeting Dad's friend the agent?  Or the fact that during our visit to the Crime and Punishment museum, he managed to rock the simulator:  firing off 3 shots, with two being kill shots?  Or that the best part of the vacation was our adventure to the Spy Museum interactive exhibit where he got to be the spy?

All in all, it was a good trip....

And while I'm on this blogging roll....I should also mention how much fun we had here.  You can read all the details and reasons for my willingness to try camping here.   I'll just hit the highlights....

 The Things and I joined up with the Russians at the campground just outside of Grand Lake, CO

 Thing Two was all smiles...he's been eager to try camping for a very long time...

 We're still not sure how they managed it, but the campground owners had arranged for an exemption to the campfire ban that is state wide.  We think it was because we were camping in the middle of a field.  Just the same, it was unsettling to watch the embers spark up, knowing the danger and destruction that a simple spark poses to our very dry state right now.

 While Hubby was with Valencia, enduring the heat, we took in this little festival in  Winter Park.

 Milestone moment:  the oldest one has indeed surpassed his mama in height.  The scowl on his face reflects his dislike for chocolate:  he was hoping for a chicken festival I think!

Not matter how old you get, the appeal of climbing on the statue never grows old if you are my kids.

So while we are off having fun in the sun, I still must pause and say a word of Thanks to the countless fire crews and rescue workers that are hard at work here in Colorado.  We knew it was going to be a rough fire season.  The winter was mild, dry and warm temperatures in early Spring added to our worry.  Years of pine beetle destruction has left our forested areas primed and ready for the spread of wildfires.  Hot temperatures, high winds.  It is just too much to process.

On a personal level, we are safe.  But as our fellow residents are asked to leave their homes on a minutes notice, left waiting and wondering what will be left....our heart aches for them.     There is not much else we can do except pray:  for patience, courage and strength....and of course, for rain!  I would gladly give up this summer of fun, and return to work if it meant that the season of fires are finished.  If only it worked that easy....

It only took 30 years...

To make it into the yearbook....and as a "centerfold" no less!  I guess I can strike this from my bucket list!

(this double page spread was in the school yearbook.  I knew the yearbook kids had taken my photo and interviewed me.  Was surprised to see that I was featured as the lead article about teachers/staff.)

And no, that is not a very short high school student.  In addition to the 2400 teenagers assigned to my care, I also supervise a day care program that is held on our campus.  These little raptors are the children of staff within our district.  I still prefer the bigger kids, but I also enjoy the occasional visitor that is indeed shorter than I am.

Enough about work...back to summer vacation and relaxing I must go!

Before I was a blogger...

My summer project is to work on the chaos that is my basement storage closet. Sure, a walk in closet in your craft area sounds like a great idea:  until you have it so filled with stuff, you can't find anything!   As a result, I"m busy sorting, purging, scanning.  

Today, I came across this gem:  apparently it is a note I wrote to my Grandma Irene  at some point during my youth.    It would have made a pretty amusing blog entry!

The text reads:
My grandma is a very nice lady.  She is 70 years old but she still acts like a spring chicken.  She's one of those ladies who keeps on working and just can't sit still for five minute.  She is a very good cook.  she make anybody gain 10 pounds at one meal!  when she says she don't have no food, well the trth is she doesn't have as much food as she wishes she had.  She says she's fat but I don't think so.  also, if she were fat like my mom, she wouldn't eat.  Me and my grandma get along pretty good.  I guess we get along pretty.
(wonder why I just stopped writing?  who knows...)
Yikes...I'm trying to recall what my mother's
reaction was when she saw this letter?  If she was even privy to it.  My cousin and I had a tradition of spending a week at Grandma's house each summer:  my guess is that is when I would have written it.  Probably around the mid 1970s?  Assuming she really was 70 when I wrote this:  Grandma had the habit of not disclosing her true age...something I can appreciate now that I myself am older.  She also never disclosed her middle name, simply said she didn't like it and thus wouldn't tell us what it was.

Grandma Irene passed away in December 2002, at the wonderful age of 96.  I often wonder what she would think of her family and how it has grown?  My guess is she'd be pretty proud of all of us!

My nephew visits with his great grandma.  I have always loved the smile on her face in this photo.

Even Thing One was able to sample one of Grandma's trademark cookies!

Grandma and her grands with their  kids mid 1990s.
Missing were 9 more great grands that were  either not born or not able to attend the party.

Arlington Reflections....

The schools here have a tradition of going to Washington DC in 8th grade.  We denied Thing One's request to go with his classmates as the price tag was such that I said (in my mommy wisdom) "We could ALL go for that price".   and of course, Thing One with his memory immediately started in with "remember, you said we could go!".  

So, off we went...

First Stop:  Arlington National Cemetery

As we toured the grounds, I was swept away with the beauty of this place..We wandered over to the Women in Service memorial.  It was here that I found myself reminded that I too am one of many who was committed to serving in our nation's military. 

 What surprised me and saddened me, was how we had this area all to ourselves.  Hundreds of girl scouts (they were in town for their 100th anniversary celebration, estimates were there were 200,000 girl scouts preparing to "Rock the Mall" over the weekend), swarming the place, and few if any  took those extra few steps to explore this portion of the property.  Here, these young girls could have learned so much about the  role that women have played in our nation's military. 

 I don't fault the girls themselves, but I question their leaders.  Did they know this place was here?  Did they choose not to include it?  Yes, this exhibit was a bit off the beaten path from the typical tourist attractions of Arlington, but it wasn't much of a long walk over to this area.  

It is my  hope it was a simple over sight on their part.  To think it was much more than this, is simply too disappointing to imagine.   

As for my guys, they know the role that women have played in the military.  They know that had it not been for the military, our family as we know and define it, would not be here.  

  And for that I am proud...

(trip report to be continued in the days that follow)

In the blink of an eye

Celebrating Thing One....today he finished 8th grade....next stop high school!

Laughing it off

Some days, that's all you can do.   Thing One is your typical moody teenager.  One minute, he's happy as can me.  Next minute?  Not so much.

He's also struggling with figuring out how his 'quirky' factor plays into some of his reactions.  We've been working with him to understand how having autism makes it more difficult to read the cues of others.

During a recent meltdown, he cried out "Why? Why? Why do I have this alzheimers?"