You Go, Grandma!
Some time ago, I ran across an article about a 60+ year old woman who had just given birth to her first child. My first thought, of course, was EWWW. Upon reading further, I was slightly inspired by this woman's stick-to-it-iveness, since she'd been dealing with infertility for over 30 years and had finally realized her dream of having a baby. Then I went right back to EWWW.
Further reflection about this grandma's current situation caused me to wonder. How is it, when most people your age are sitting around, complaining about their aches and pains, making sure they get to the cafeteria early so they can be first in line and get the "good" desserts, that you decide you want to have a BABY. How do you decide that changing your own diaper isn't enough, and you want to change someone else's at the same time? Maybe it's easier - you can buy baby food in bulk. But it seems like an awful lot of work for a person who just a few short months ago woke up in the morning simply to see if AARP wrote today.
Most people this woman's age flatulate in public and blame it on someone else. No need with a baby - you blame the smell on them. Completely inappropriate comments made to unsuspecting waitresses are written off because you're surely out of your mind - after all, you just had a baby. At your age.
My biggest problem with the whole having-a-baby-when-you're-old-enough-to-be-its-grandparent is that this baby will probably be in middle school when you die. And on top of that, how can you honestly expect to keep track of the little rugrats if you manage to stay alive? You can't sneak up on them when they hear your bones creaking a mile away. And if you can't figure out how to use the internet or a cell phone, forget secret conversations with teachers that blow your kids minds.
Still, to this woman, I say "Right on!" You wanted a baby, and you stuck with it for more than 30 years until you had one. Forget all the children you could have adopted in that time that needed a mom. You did it your way.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Precious Children
(sung to the tune of that old gospel favorite, Precious Memories)
(to my friends at DSS - this is a JOKE)
Precious children, how they linger
Will they ever leave our home?
Lord, we love them
But we'd love to miss them
Why won't they leave us alone?
Precious children, always in my business
They're so nosey I could scream
Asking this and asking that
Even though they don't give a crap
It's no wonder I'm so mean.
Oh, these noisy children, what's with these noisy children
Why are they all ganging up on me?
Man, I'd like to shake them
But there's laws against that
Prison ain't the place I want to be.
Precious children,
They can make me say nasty words
I sure love my children
And I wouldn't trade them
Even if they are gigantic turds.
(sung to the tune of that old gospel favorite, Precious Memories)
(to my friends at DSS - this is a JOKE)
Precious children, how they linger
Will they ever leave our home?
Lord, we love them
But we'd love to miss them
Why won't they leave us alone?
Precious children, always in my business
They're so nosey I could scream
Asking this and asking that
Even though they don't give a crap
It's no wonder I'm so mean.
Oh, these noisy children, what's with these noisy children
Why are they all ganging up on me?
Man, I'd like to shake them
But there's laws against that
Prison ain't the place I want to be.
Precious children,
They can make me say nasty words
I sure love my children
And I wouldn't trade them
Even if they are gigantic turds.
Monday, November 20, 2006
That's What Friends Are For
So a couple of weekend's ago, I took a little road trip - alone - to Greenville to see my very best friend. We've been friends since high school, when my brother felt compelled to set me up to meet someone he worked with so I wouldn't start a new high school without knowing anyone. I don't care what anyone says, that's just sweet (especially when you factor in a teenage boy).
So we've been friends forever. We are oddly alike, and just as oddly very different. Friendship is great that way. I love how God works all that out so people just gel together.
And my friend was 22 months pregnant, and really wanted me to come, so I went to see her. I don't particularly like to ride for more than 30 minutes, so driving it was quite the challenge. I changed my mind and backed out at least a dozen times. It got to the point that SuperHubby finally just said I should let him know that morning if I was leaving town or not. On top of that, I had to drive ALONE - and I don't like doing anything alone. But, she's my friend, she wanted me there, so I went. And when I got there, I was reminded why you do these things for your freinds.
I got up super-early on a Saturday morning and drove almost 4 hours to meet her a gas station. Apparently it's pretty hard to find her house and she didn't want me to drive around for hours. Nice. So I pull up and she's not there. I figured I could fill up the car and save myself the trouble of doing it the next morning. So I get out and start pumping, wind blowing and air frankly a little chillier than in Charleston. And she pulls up. I go over to her car, lean in to say hi, and the first thing she says to me, before "hey, how was your trip," before anything, is "Wow, your hair looks great."
Now honestly - that goes without saying - but how cool is it of her to mention that before anything else? It's no wonder she's my best friend.
She had her baby last week. Didn't name her after me, even though I campaigned pretty diligently - but she's a beautiful baby, and she's healthy. Compliment me on my hair or name your baby after me? They both speak my love language.
So a couple of weekend's ago, I took a little road trip - alone - to Greenville to see my very best friend. We've been friends since high school, when my brother felt compelled to set me up to meet someone he worked with so I wouldn't start a new high school without knowing anyone. I don't care what anyone says, that's just sweet (especially when you factor in a teenage boy).
So we've been friends forever. We are oddly alike, and just as oddly very different. Friendship is great that way. I love how God works all that out so people just gel together.
And my friend was 22 months pregnant, and really wanted me to come, so I went to see her. I don't particularly like to ride for more than 30 minutes, so driving it was quite the challenge. I changed my mind and backed out at least a dozen times. It got to the point that SuperHubby finally just said I should let him know that morning if I was leaving town or not. On top of that, I had to drive ALONE - and I don't like doing anything alone. But, she's my friend, she wanted me there, so I went. And when I got there, I was reminded why you do these things for your freinds.
I got up super-early on a Saturday morning and drove almost 4 hours to meet her a gas station. Apparently it's pretty hard to find her house and she didn't want me to drive around for hours. Nice. So I pull up and she's not there. I figured I could fill up the car and save myself the trouble of doing it the next morning. So I get out and start pumping, wind blowing and air frankly a little chillier than in Charleston. And she pulls up. I go over to her car, lean in to say hi, and the first thing she says to me, before "hey, how was your trip," before anything, is "Wow, your hair looks great."
Now honestly - that goes without saying - but how cool is it of her to mention that before anything else? It's no wonder she's my best friend.
She had her baby last week. Didn't name her after me, even though I campaigned pretty diligently - but she's a beautiful baby, and she's healthy. Compliment me on my hair or name your baby after me? They both speak my love language.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Color Me Irritated
This will come as a shock to people who know me, because I'm such a happy, friendly person, but lately several things have really gotten under my skin. It's not like I'm sitting around looking for stupid, mind you - it just seems to be so prevalent these days.
For example, the PlayStation 3 craze. Being a normal person, I don't understand all the hype about a video gaming system anyway. Being the mother of 2 sons, I realize they find something oddly satisfying and enjoyable about video games, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. Wasn't Atari cool enough? I still love those games. But the people at Sony have gone too far. They have limited releases of the PS3 systems, or whatever the current machine is, so they can create a frenzy for a gadget that will be outdated in a year anyway. Grown men sleep outdoors, in the freezing cold, to purchase a system - some for their own, sad life, but some so they can sell them on eBay for 3 times what they paid. So now the children - and the nerds - who really want them can't get them because the price is so inflated. A 24-hour Wal-Mart in Connecticut closed down because of fighting - and one guy got shot. Over a TOY.
Another thing that's on my nerves this week is Christmas. Now, as I stated last year, I absolutely love Christmas and all things related to it. I do not, however, love them in October. Which is when most of the stores around here felt compelled to start with the Christmas decorations. Frankly, I was okay with it then - because it meant the stupid Halloween decorations that had been up since August were finally replaced with something nice. BUT - and here's where I draw the line - we have completely forgotten Thanksgiving!
Last weekend, while I was finishing my Christmas shopping (hate me if you will - you're just jealous), I realized that every store I was in was playing Christmas music. I guess that's okay, but a couple of songs aren't what get me in the holiday spirit. It's more than that, right? Then, just yesterday, my radio station dubbed themselves "Charleston's Christmas Station." On the one hand, nicely done - because everyone else seems to be trying so hard to be politically correct that I'm surprised they didn't go with "Charleston's Holiday Station - Maybe." But they are steadfast and continue to rock out the Christmas tunes every year - including songs that are 100% I Love Jesus. So I like that. Just not before Thanksgiving.
I guess it's because Thanksgiving is happening so early this year. It's still relatively hot here - for most normal people - and the tree lots are popping up everywhere. Of course, in 4 days people will be strapping them to the tops of their Hummers and driving the 2 blocks to their house to have the help (translation: kids) get it in the house. Whatever happened to going to a tree farm and cutting down your own tree?
I love Thanksgiving - it's a perfect holiday because (1) you get good food, (2) you spend time with the relatives, but not as much, and (3) you don't have to worry about the gift exchange. Yet. Everyone else in America seems to think Thanksgiving is just a day for bad football. Go, Lions.
One final word about things that are ticking me off this week: People, if you can't drive a big truck/van/whatever, DON'T buy it! Regardless of how cool the truck, you look like a jerk when you can't park it and are driving straight down the middle of the road.
There. I've spread my holiday cheer. Have yourself a Happy Little Thanksgiving.
This will come as a shock to people who know me, because I'm such a happy, friendly person, but lately several things have really gotten under my skin. It's not like I'm sitting around looking for stupid, mind you - it just seems to be so prevalent these days.
For example, the PlayStation 3 craze. Being a normal person, I don't understand all the hype about a video gaming system anyway. Being the mother of 2 sons, I realize they find something oddly satisfying and enjoyable about video games, but I can't for the life of me figure it out. Wasn't Atari cool enough? I still love those games. But the people at Sony have gone too far. They have limited releases of the PS3 systems, or whatever the current machine is, so they can create a frenzy for a gadget that will be outdated in a year anyway. Grown men sleep outdoors, in the freezing cold, to purchase a system - some for their own, sad life, but some so they can sell them on eBay for 3 times what they paid. So now the children - and the nerds - who really want them can't get them because the price is so inflated. A 24-hour Wal-Mart in Connecticut closed down because of fighting - and one guy got shot. Over a TOY.
Another thing that's on my nerves this week is Christmas. Now, as I stated last year, I absolutely love Christmas and all things related to it. I do not, however, love them in October. Which is when most of the stores around here felt compelled to start with the Christmas decorations. Frankly, I was okay with it then - because it meant the stupid Halloween decorations that had been up since August were finally replaced with something nice. BUT - and here's where I draw the line - we have completely forgotten Thanksgiving!
Last weekend, while I was finishing my Christmas shopping (hate me if you will - you're just jealous), I realized that every store I was in was playing Christmas music. I guess that's okay, but a couple of songs aren't what get me in the holiday spirit. It's more than that, right? Then, just yesterday, my radio station dubbed themselves "Charleston's Christmas Station." On the one hand, nicely done - because everyone else seems to be trying so hard to be politically correct that I'm surprised they didn't go with "Charleston's Holiday Station - Maybe." But they are steadfast and continue to rock out the Christmas tunes every year - including songs that are 100% I Love Jesus. So I like that. Just not before Thanksgiving.
I guess it's because Thanksgiving is happening so early this year. It's still relatively hot here - for most normal people - and the tree lots are popping up everywhere. Of course, in 4 days people will be strapping them to the tops of their Hummers and driving the 2 blocks to their house to have the help (translation: kids) get it in the house. Whatever happened to going to a tree farm and cutting down your own tree?
I love Thanksgiving - it's a perfect holiday because (1) you get good food, (2) you spend time with the relatives, but not as much, and (3) you don't have to worry about the gift exchange. Yet. Everyone else in America seems to think Thanksgiving is just a day for bad football. Go, Lions.
One final word about things that are ticking me off this week: People, if you can't drive a big truck/van/whatever, DON'T buy it! Regardless of how cool the truck, you look like a jerk when you can't park it and are driving straight down the middle of the road.
There. I've spread my holiday cheer. Have yourself a Happy Little Thanksgiving.
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