Typical Exchange With a 13 Year Old Boy...

BANG!!!!!!! (from upstairs)

Mom & Dad: What was that sound?

No answer...

Dad: (now yelling) What WAS that sound?

Oldest Son: I dropped a book.

Dad: (sarchastically) Was it a dictionary or something?!?

Oldest Son: Actually, it was.

We Are The World

Grace has a new fascination. It isn't based on any real life experience, but rather on the title of a show that she has seen approximately three times. The show is "Angelina Ballerina". She now insists on being called 'Gracie Ballerina" (or in her pronunciation 'Dadie Ba-rina'). No other name or nickname will do. So today, I told her that there was a song called "Ballerina Girl", and that I would play it for her so she could dance. She was fascinated, and even wore her ballerina tutu to fully experience the occasion. She danced, hummed, and promptly returned to watching "Yo Gabba Gabba" as soon as the song was done.

I, however, had a different experience. I was reminded of my undying love for all things Lionel Ritchie, and proceeded to watch a half dozen videos from his songs of the past. By the way, all of this was much to the dismay of my daughter, who complained that she could not hear her show!! Bummer, girl. This is Lionel Ritchie after all. Anyway, the last video I watched was "We are the World" by USA for Africa. I listened to this song over and over as a little girl, but I was never moved by it like I was today. It suddenly occurred to me, as I had tears streaming down my face, that this movement in the mid-80's probably saved my daughter's birth-mom, which is the only reason that she is part of our family today. Oy! I was just trying to please my three-year-old's new ballet obsession, but instead ended up having a serious "come to Jesus moment". So, with that in mind.....Thank you Jesus. Thank you for the song that saved a generation. Thank you for the generation that we have had the pleasure of helping as well. You are so good, God, and lest anyone forget what our their mission here on this planet is, here's the song....

Memories

My dear friend Valerie posted this on her blog and I loved the idea....so have fun!!

1. Leave a comment on my blog to share one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

I Can't Help Myself

I know this may alienate me from some of my readers (the few that are left), but it speaks the truth of my heart.

"At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black."
--George Clooney

Within the last 50 years, my daughter would not have been allowed to marry any man but a black man here in the state where we live. Mexican and Asian citizens were faced with similar restrictions. Finally, Armenian people were not permitted to own homes in the "central valley" of the Los Angeles area. What the heck?!?!?! Historically, California has been a trendsetter in the lawmaking process. Would any of us stand for those same restrictions today? Of course not! They are hateful, divisive, discriminatory laws that don't have any place in our more modern, enlightened society. However, we have voted as a state to take away a fundamental civil right from thousands of the citizens in our state. I can't help but look back over the racist, hateful and discriminatory history of our state and nation, and hope that Mr. Clooney is correct; not to mention Mr. Olbermann.

Yes We Did....

...Make History Tonight!!!!! Our new president elect....Barack Obama!!!

An Explanation?

"Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning, and I find myself careening, into places that I should not let me go." James Taylor (Something in the Way She Moves)