I couldn't come up with a "fitting" word...

Today was a pretty nice day. A week of nearly steady cloud wringing came to an end. The spare sump pump was unplugged. The sun struggled and managed to pop out for a bit. (Near Lake Erie, we get a lot of gray skies this time of year.) I solved most of the New York Times crossword puzzle...Saturdays are toughies! Got a great book at a garage sale for 25 cents and found a nearly new keyboard to replace the one onto which I spilled water and had my desktop doing things Bill Gates never could imagine. In the past 11 years, very few events have had a continuing pull on my attention: The Twin Towers, 2 Tsunamis and Sandy Storm. So much damage and so many lives lost/affected in such a short amount of time. When mass tragedy strikes, Americans pull together...without any prompting whatsoever. They just do it! It's who we are. Income, political persuasion, ethnicity, team loyalty, schooling, etc., matter not. People merely grab anything that will help and take it to those who lost out. There are no introductions and no prejudices. There are no language barriers. The eyes tell the stories. The eyes display the loss. They eyes convey the need. In turmoil, there are the sufferers and the bringers. No borders. Just helpers. Life must go on. It will. It always does. I could quickly fill several pages, but don't need to. You know of what I speak. At one time in your lives, you needed and received, no matter how small or large. At one time in your lives, you gave, no matter how small or large. Possessions were/are not always exchanged. Times such as this tells us why God invented hugs.........yep, 'nuff said there, eh? All that in mind, I caught a portion of the ABC news on my local affiliate. That particular segment centered on the New York Marathon's cancellation. Mayor Bloomberg, in my opinion, made the correct call. Few, if any, residents were involved in the running. They were busy in their own races against shock of loss, wet, hunger, cold, missing family and all that accompanies tragedy. Yet, the camera happened to focus on what appeared to be a nice looking blond lady that I guessed might have been in her early thirties. Her words were very close to, "We're upset, we're extremely mad that the race was called off. We traveled many miles, brought families and reserved hotel rooms." She was upset and vehement in her delivery of those words. (Here's where I couldn't come up with a "fitting word" to describe her audacity). In lieu of that, I will stifle the urge to introduce her neck to my knuckles. One wonders what could be done to satisfy this obviously self-entitled ------, ------, ------, ------. Even if the race COULD have been, the entrants would all have to run over, around and through the rubble. Did she consider that? I have to stop here, as I could go on for pages, but don't need to. All I can suggest is that she sue God and may she hope to never experience what she was so put out by. God bless America.

Mothers Day Serenade

Even if you've not been a genetic Mom, it's a good bet that you've nurtured children in one fashion or another.
Please enjoy some of those thoughts that I've collected over time.....


Real Mothers don't eat quiche; They don't have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'
Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom to Mother....
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The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything,
She can fix nearly everything and that NEVER will change because she will ALWAYS try!!
THAT’S JUST THE WAY MOMS ARE!!
8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.
16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs up her hair.  The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.  It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!
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The good Lord has BLESSED us all with "our very own angel"
I called my angel "MATKA"
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Whether it's Ma, Mom, Mommy or Mother...Whether you have your own children or help raise the children of others...Whether you are a Mom to other than family or perhaps animals...The below is from one who knows about Moms. Althought THIS is Mother's Day, a Mom is needed EVERY day!
This is for those mothers...
Who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Meyer weiners and cherry Kool-Aid, saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."
Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end ,soothing crying babies who couldn't be comforted.
Who came to work with spit-up in their hair, milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purses.
Who run carpools, bake cookies and sew Hallowe'en costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.
Who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
Whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
Who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and meant it.
Who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
Who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the grand mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.
Who go hungry, so their children can eat.
Who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again. "Just one more time."
Who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
Who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
Whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.
Who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.
Whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
Who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
Of the victims of recent school shootings, and the m! others o f those who did the shooting.
Of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.
Who taught their children to be peacful, and now pray that they come home safely from a war.
What makes a good Mother anyway?
Is it patience?
Compassion?
Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sewa button on a shirt, all at the same time?
Or is it in her heart?
Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?
The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby?
The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?
Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child ! when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation...
And mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all. For all of us.
Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.
"Home is what catches you when you fall - and we all fall."
Please pass this to a wonderful mother you know.
(I just did)
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Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
What ingredients are mothers made of ?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between moms & dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Everybody Has An Angela

If you’ve known me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me begin a statement with, “I’m not easily impressed, but……….” The births of my children, puppies, experiencing Sedona, finding a truly good ice cream shoppe, a Lake Erie storm, the friendly folk of Appalachia and poor people who continually give are but several examples. Yet, I doubt if anything is more impressive than the day we discover a new emotion called Love. Regardless where life takes us, we never shake that part of growing up. Few of us bond and stay together forever, while most move on and eventually find another person. Some of us will marry several times and a small percentage will remain single. As time passes, that magnificent “moment” becomes a bit foggy while we pursue what we feel will make us happy.

I wonder if Messrs. Rosenberg were aware of the fuse they would light while penning, “Stand Alone By Me”, the March 3rd installment of ABCs, “October Road.” Angela, the only girl in a tight circle of 6, moved away when they were all 10 years old. Eighteen years later, Angela’s death rekindled memories of how each of 5 boys loved her in his own special way.

We’ll find many loves, but none more significant or even magical than our first, as THAT love opened a new kind of door for our hearts. It’s the first time we could actually see into someone, well beyond the physical and into the soul. We were in awe of a mere presence…the world stopping for us and nobody else, in that microcosm of time…a time when absolutely nothing else mattered…our lives forever changed. Can you remember trying to understand that feeling…the futility of explaining any of it and the blissful, utopian confusion of it all? There WAS no way to understand or explain the euphoria. It just WAS! On that day, during that nanosecond, we bid good-bye to innocence and boarded the train to adulthood.

We will experience much in life. Occasionally, the mind will go back to recall how special a time it was because it was OUR world and for a very short period, there was nothing else!

Go to abc.com, click “Watch Full Episode”, then click, “Stand Alone By Me.” Sip a comfort beverage and---go find, or, at least, remember and cherish YOUR Angela.

I did…..and that’s what I saw from MY porch!