I just came from steering committee, so I'm all revved up with the spirit of advocacy right now. Forgive me for that.
In case you haven't read some of my earlier blogs, People First is an organization that is run by people who have developmental disabilities. Their mission is to advocate for themselves and one another in order to promote disability rights. They have chapters all over the world, including one in the tiny little dot on the map where I live and work. I think it's a really cool organization, so I work with them as an advisor.
I love steering committee weekends. For two whole days I get to pretend I have friends! There are people everywhere who actually seem thrilled to see me. It's so nice. Also, the work the self advocates do there is really important and I feel privileged to be on the sidelines of that. Anyway, I'm rambling again. I just stopped in to say that Missouri People First is hosting the National Conference in September of 2010 in Kansas City. That is a really big deal. Let the fundraising begin!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
2 years ago
It was 2 years ago today that the world tilted on its axis. We're all dealing much better than we did in the beginning. But still, I can't let the day pass without a little message to Joey. We love you. We miss you. Sometimes we still cry for you. But sometimes we can smile when we tell Joey stories. Eventually, there will be more smiles than tears. In the meantime, we're all thinking of you today and I hope that you feel that.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Just a few pictures to get you through your day.
Here are both of my grandchildren. 
Here's a sleepy grandbaby!
Isn't she a doll!
Here is my grandson.Friday, October 16, 2009
In an old house in Paris...
... that was covered in vines lived 12 little girls in 2 straight lines.
I always thought that line was cool. It just rolls off the tongue and creates such strong imagery. I'm in one of my literary moods. And yes, I do think that the Madeline books are very well written and qualify as great literature. So sue me.
What, you might ask, is my point? Thanks for bearing with me because I DO actually have a point. I love books. I 've read lots of trashy paperbak thrillers. I've read most of the classics. I've read a lot of the books on Oprah's list. But nothing compares to snuggling up in my son's single bed and giggling over the exploits of the cows who blackmail the farmer with the typewriter. The books that I read with my son are the VERY best books in the world. Pulitzer material for sure.
I always thought that line was cool. It just rolls off the tongue and creates such strong imagery. I'm in one of my literary moods. And yes, I do think that the Madeline books are very well written and qualify as great literature. So sue me.
What, you might ask, is my point? Thanks for bearing with me because I DO actually have a point. I love books. I 've read lots of trashy paperbak thrillers. I've read most of the classics. I've read a lot of the books on Oprah's list. But nothing compares to snuggling up in my son's single bed and giggling over the exploits of the cows who blackmail the farmer with the typewriter. The books that I read with my son are the VERY best books in the world. Pulitzer material for sure.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Everybody's Momma
I tend to mother people. My children... neighborhood children ... people I work with ... people I barely know... all of them.
I keep my office completely stocked. People come to me if they need a lint roller, ibuprofen, safety pins, nail polish remover, hand sanitizer, greeting cards, granola bars, etc. Does someone need a ride? Hop in and I'll take you. Advice about your love life? Let's go to lunch and I'll share my limited wisdom. I worry about people. I care about people.
But when 45 year old men start calling me mom, I have to draw the line. Especially because he really means it. Seriously? I know the guy has a developmental disability, but do I look that old? Now I have a complex. I have to change something and soon.
Get your own darn safety pins.
I keep my office completely stocked. People come to me if they need a lint roller, ibuprofen, safety pins, nail polish remover, hand sanitizer, greeting cards, granola bars, etc. Does someone need a ride? Hop in and I'll take you. Advice about your love life? Let's go to lunch and I'll share my limited wisdom. I worry about people. I care about people.
But when 45 year old men start calling me mom, I have to draw the line. Especially because he really means it. Seriously? I know the guy has a developmental disability, but do I look that old? Now I have a complex. I have to change something and soon.
Get your own darn safety pins.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Freaky Coincidence
In addition to yesterday being the first anniversary of my father's death, it also happened to be the day of a funeral that I attended. The man who died is not only my neighbor, but the father of a friend of mine. Even weirder, his name was Jack (just like my dad.)
So what are the odds that I would be at a funeral for a man with my father's name a year to the day from when my father died? Freaky, huh?
Since I'm on the subject of death, I just thought I should let you all know about my burial plans. There is an awesomely cool cemetery in Columbia MO called Green Acres. They feature eco friendly funerals and burials.
You can choose to NOT be embalmed and be buried in a biodegradable casket so that your remains can nourish the earth as God intended, or you can be cremated and spread over the cemetery or you can be cremated and have your ahes buried. For each plot you buy you can place one coffin and 2 urns, or up to six urns. On each plot they plant a tree. The plots are very inexpensive ($585-$1200) and they only charge $200 to bury ashes and $600 for a coffin. I plan to be cremated and interred there. Check it out if you're up for making plans.
http://www.mo-greenburial.com/availability.html
So what are the odds that I would be at a funeral for a man with my father's name a year to the day from when my father died? Freaky, huh?
Since I'm on the subject of death, I just thought I should let you all know about my burial plans. There is an awesomely cool cemetery in Columbia MO called Green Acres. They feature eco friendly funerals and burials.
You can choose to NOT be embalmed and be buried in a biodegradable casket so that your remains can nourish the earth as God intended, or you can be cremated and spread over the cemetery or you can be cremated and have your ahes buried. For each plot you buy you can place one coffin and 2 urns, or up to six urns. On each plot they plant a tree. The plots are very inexpensive ($585-$1200) and they only charge $200 to bury ashes and $600 for a coffin. I plan to be cremated and interred there. Check it out if you're up for making plans.
http://www.mo-greenburial.com/availability.html
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Last of the Firsts
One year ago today my father died. That makes today the last of the firsts. We got through the first wedding, new baby, Thanksgiving, Christmas, wedding anniversary, birthday, Father’s Day, 4th of July bash, etc. And now the first anniversary of his death is here.
This is not a sad occasion.
My dad was a good man who lived a rough life. When the babies were up in heaven choosing parents, my father drew the short straw. Still, with all of the disadvantages that he started out with, he achieved something spectacular. He fell in love when he was in junior high and stayed in love with the same woman until the day he died. He was completely convinced that he had married the most wonderful woman ever born and that he was the luckiest man in the world. How cool is that to spend your life feeling so blessed?
Before his life ended he had five children, 13 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He has had three more great grandchildren in the last year, so that is a testament to his immortality. So far that makes 22 people who would not exist if it weren’t for him. Within the next 50 years, there could easily be 150 descendants of my father. Some of them may not live up to their full potential, but there will be a gene of pure goodness running through all of them. My dad never met a stranger and never deliberately caused harm to anyone, so I can’t imagine that there will be any bad seeds. The odds increase as you count the numbers in each successive generation that one of my father’s descendants will be president. One will most likely be a scientist that finds a cure to something. One will most likely enter the clergy and save souls. Most will be good, hard working people who keep the world moving forward and bear gorgeous, gifted children. So my point is that he isn’t gone. He has left a mark on human history that may not yet be apparent, but I have absolute faith that he has changed the world.
Of course, that isn’t even taking into account the number of people he impacted that were not his descendants. He spent a lot of time parenting children that weren’t his own. His lectures were infamous, but all from the heart. His legacy is that his heart and his home were open to anyone. I can’t count on both hands the number of people we took in ‘just until they get on their feet’ when I was a kid. There was no room in our house for extra people, but that was not a barrier to moving them in. I think that his example of goodness changed the destiny of people who might have ended up somewhere far worse than our crowded little house.
When they made my dad, they broke the mold. (If he heard me say that, he would have to tack on “Yeah, and then after they broke the mold, they beat the hell out of the mold maker.”)
Love ya’ Daddy.
This is not a sad occasion.
My dad was a good man who lived a rough life. When the babies were up in heaven choosing parents, my father drew the short straw. Still, with all of the disadvantages that he started out with, he achieved something spectacular. He fell in love when he was in junior high and stayed in love with the same woman until the day he died. He was completely convinced that he had married the most wonderful woman ever born and that he was the luckiest man in the world. How cool is that to spend your life feeling so blessed?
Before his life ended he had five children, 13 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He has had three more great grandchildren in the last year, so that is a testament to his immortality. So far that makes 22 people who would not exist if it weren’t for him. Within the next 50 years, there could easily be 150 descendants of my father. Some of them may not live up to their full potential, but there will be a gene of pure goodness running through all of them. My dad never met a stranger and never deliberately caused harm to anyone, so I can’t imagine that there will be any bad seeds. The odds increase as you count the numbers in each successive generation that one of my father’s descendants will be president. One will most likely be a scientist that finds a cure to something. One will most likely enter the clergy and save souls. Most will be good, hard working people who keep the world moving forward and bear gorgeous, gifted children. So my point is that he isn’t gone. He has left a mark on human history that may not yet be apparent, but I have absolute faith that he has changed the world.
Of course, that isn’t even taking into account the number of people he impacted that were not his descendants. He spent a lot of time parenting children that weren’t his own. His lectures were infamous, but all from the heart. His legacy is that his heart and his home were open to anyone. I can’t count on both hands the number of people we took in ‘just until they get on their feet’ when I was a kid. There was no room in our house for extra people, but that was not a barrier to moving them in. I think that his example of goodness changed the destiny of people who might have ended up somewhere far worse than our crowded little house.
When they made my dad, they broke the mold. (If he heard me say that, he would have to tack on “Yeah, and then after they broke the mold, they beat the hell out of the mold maker.”)
Love ya’ Daddy.
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