My Grammarholic Mom

My mother was an amazing woman. By the time she passed from this earth to the next at almost 90, she had loved the same man for close to 70 years, raised four children, parasailed, walked the hot coals and been on stage time and again with Tony Robbins (at his beckoning), travelled all over the planet (mostly in her 60s and 70s), danced the Charleston more times than I can count, loved on literally thousands of people with open arms from just about every continent and any walk of life, read more books than almost anyone I know, and next to her King James Bible, surely adored her beloved gigantic seven-pound, 1500-page Merriam-Webster dictionary most of all.

Where Angels Fear to Tread!

     My mother always said that from the time I could walk, I’d go where angels feared to tread. While that’s not entirely accurate, there’ve been many times when it’s been much closer to the truth than not.

     Along with that “personality trait” came its close partner-in-crime, an insatiable curiosity about things. Lots of things. Maybe too many things.  Maybe I should’ve been born a cat.

Best Served Cold!

One of my favorite things in the world to do is laugh. I don’t just mean a smile or a chuckle. I’m talking about laughing til I can’t talk, til tears are running down my face; the kind that will cause crow’s feet if I do it often enough (and it’s worth the trade). I hope this story makes you laugh.

My cousin, Paul, was born and raised in the great state of Texas. He was the baby of his family and, until my birth, was the youngest grandchild in the Cook family. While it was only for a couple of years, he’d obviously reveled in it.

Although we lived over a thousand miles apart and were only together a couple of times a year on family visits, we had a rivalry that must have begun in the playpen.

Virtual Office Challenges!

I met a manager for a large, successful radio station recently. First we talked broadcasting and then, as lots of parents do, we were way deep into talking kids.

Jeff said when he and his wife got the great news that she was pregnant, discussions began about one parent taking a career sabbatical to stay home with the baby. I gave him great kudos right then and there.

He said they were basing their decision on who had the best insurance. His wife, a teacher, had great benefits but then so did he. The verdict was made straightway when, one month before their baby was born, Jeff unexpectedly lost his job. Alas, he was instantly promoted to stay-at-home dad.

Mommy! What's this?!

     Bobby and Mark Chappell were brothers that attended high school with me back in Georgia. Typical siblings, one was always trying to outdo the other. One year the rivalry hit an all-time high as they made a bet between themselves that we all had to endure.

     You see, the Brothers Chappell were quite the casual sort, wearing jeans every single day. At the beginning of this particular year, however, they upped the ante and one bet the other (I don't remember which brother came up with the brilliant idea) that only he was daring enough to wear the same pair of jeans every day for the entire school year. I knew their mother; she worked full time. Knowing what I know now with years under my belt as a mom, it was a close-to-impossible task for her to wash and dry two pairs of jeans and have them clean for her sons every morning. My healthy olfactory nerves proved this wasn’t happening. 

     Being a teenage girl, all I could think of was who in the world would do such a preposterous thing on purpose? I remember being appalled as we watched the brothers day in and day out wearing the same jeans over and over and over.

A Wonderful Healing Place to Call Home

My husband, Doc, and I moved to Bainbridge Island two years ago after four months in Seattle. We actually credit the ferry and the Fourth of July parade for the introduction to this beautiful place we now call home. That scorcher-of-a-day from Paradise, probably in the 80s, made a great impression on us to say the least.

     Our opportunity to move to the Great Pacific Northwest came as a complete, unexpected surprise. A shock. Untimely and unwanted to be quite blunt and totally honest. But then so was the bankruptcy of my husband’s employer in Denver; however, the survival instinct of liking to eat (and the fact that it takes money to do so), prompted us to say yes when the job presented itself in Seattle. We made our way up here with our teeth chattering at what lay ahead (it had nothing to do with temperature).

The Male Shoppers Club

I love to shop. I love to buy presents for people just because. I love a bargain! It’s almost a sport for me. And if I can accomplish all three things simultaneously, it’s a moment of glorious celebration. Obviously Amazon equals fun for me.

     Then comes Christmas. Ah, a hall pass to shop. I’m not so interested in Black Friday and our money tree has seen better days but I do enjoy seeing what I can do with a dollar.

     Enter Doc, aka My Most Amazing Man and beloved husband. He’s fine to follow the advent calendar, get and decorate a tree, see A Christmas Carol, sing along with Handel, send cards to those near and dear, light some candles, and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

     I do enjoy all the above and then some including sending Christmas cards to every friend and family member we know. Add a picture, maybe a newspaper column, big hugs and then hope to hear back from those scattered hither and yon.