The Things Mothers Do

I love my daughter – really I do! I enjoyed raising her (well, there were a few times during those delightful teen years....), and I have thoroughly enjoyed interacting with her as an adult. I love her kids and look forward to my time with them. I love her husband – he is so totally a part of this crazy family.

But, alas, Jenni also has cats. She’s down to two now, but even two cats need to eat and drink when Jenni and the family go on vacation. And good old Mom gets “cat duty.” It’s a little easier these days with just two cats. The third one, while he did have an interesting personality, had one serious flaw – man poops (as Jenni called them). Made litter box duty much more challenging.

So yesterday was my first day of Cat Duty while Jenni and family make a trip to Tucson for Spring Break. And such a fun day it was. I didn’t get home until around 6:45 and immediately got into my sweats and cozy, fuzzy socks. Started working on dinner and talking with Ed. He asked something about the weekend so I checked my calendar and saw “Cat Duty” in bold letters! Shit! I forgot! It was now 7:20pm and I knew “the girls” would not be happy. So I removed the cozy fuzzy socks, put on my tennis shoes and bolted.

Jenni had told me that she was expecting a package from UPS and had left instructions for it to be placed in the gardening box in the back yard because other packages have been stolen from her porch. So my first stop was to open the fence and find the garden box. I finally figured out which container it was and I opened it. Nada! No packages. Just a lot of tools and pieces of yard decor and unidentifiable things. I looked carefully to be sure I didn’t miss it and then closed the box. Almost. It wouldn’t close! Crap – now I’m rummaging through all the stuff trying to figure out the problem. Turned out to be a combination of some tool sticking up too high, and the hinge thingy not working right. I finally got it closed and proceeded to the mail box.

Nothing there, but I saw Jenni’s UPS sticker still on her door – the one with the instructions on it. Drat, they must not have come by. I went up the stairs and noticed a note on the UPS sticker saying the package was left next door. Back down the stairs and up the stairs next door. I rang the bell, heard a lot of commotion and kids, then the door opened. And I was face to face with a Pit Bull!!! Now, I am NOT a dog person. Never been a fan of the whole barking, crotch-sniffing, jumping thing. But this was no ordinary dog – it was a pit bull! My life flashed before me and I thought, “Great, I’m going to die in my sweats and tennis shoes while Ed is home waiting for dinner.” Thankfully the dog ran past me down the stairs while the lady of the house yelled after him and a young boy ran out into the street to try to catch him. The lady gave me the packages and I juggled them back down the stairs and up Jenni’s stairs as fast as I could with bad knees and two bulky packages in my arms (not to mention fear in my heart). I was getting ready to unlock the door when that damn dog came back and started running towards me!! Of course, the lock chose that moment to be a bit sticky but I managed to open it, throw the packages in, break a nail, and slam the door shut.

The cats were happy to see me so I fed them, watered them, cleaned their “bathroom”, and told them I’d be back tomorrow and they better damn well appreciate it!

More wall decor

I love the Southwest - the colors, scenery, food, architecture and people. But I have no talent. My daughter also love the Southwest but she has talent! This is a chalk (I think) drawing she did of the desert that I recently framed. Found a great dark teal mat and Ed found the wood frame.

Not sure where Jenni got her talent, but I do know that it wasn't from me!

We'll hang this in our Southwest home office for now. Then, when we finally retire and buy a home in Tucson, it will grace the walls there.

...it's fun for a girl and a boy....

I just read that a woman named Betty James died over the past few days. She was the co-founder of the company that brought us the Slinky.

Slinkies hold a very special place in our family. They were one of my favorite toys as a child. Watching them go down the stairs. Off the table or chair onto the floor. Off the kitchen counter (whem my mom wasn't looking). Such grace.

I bought Slinkies for my kids when they were small. The old metal ones were a bit vulnerable and if any of the rings became bent, they didn't work very well. Or at the very least they had a bit of a limp.

Somewhere along the way my brother, Tony, did some damage to the Slinky belonging to my daughter, Jenni. Jenni will have the full story which she will more than likely be happy to share in a comment! Anyway, one year Jenni mentioned that Tony had broken her Slinky and she never got another one. Not sure when this was, but Jenni was in her teens - maybe older- when she made the comment. From that Christmas forward I've managed to find a Slinky for my daughter every year. Some were the cheap plastic kind, one was a collector's edition. Some small for stocking stuffers. I think one was in the shape of a star. It's a family tradition. At least, it's my tradition - not sure if Jenni enjoys it as much as I do.

Another Slinkyism I enjoy is the following quote: Some people are like Slinkies - not really good for anything, but you still can 't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

Good-bye, Betty. Thanks!

Happy Mother's Day, Jenni

Mother's Day takes on many different themes as we get older. First we're the daughter bringing flowers or breakfast in bed to our mom. Then we're the mother getting hand-drawn presents from our own children.

Then our daughters become mothers and the day takes on a whole new meaning. For me, there have been few things in my life more special than watching my daughter, Jenni, be a mom. When she adopted her kids, they were already toddlers. Having had twins myself, I know only too well the challenges of having two toddlers running around the house. But Jenni took it in her stride and managed, almost overnight, to grow the four hands that all mothers grow! Her kids are happy, healthy, and smart (sometimes TOO smart!!) and a tribute to her mothering skills. Watching the three of them interact just never gets old. Even when they get in trouble and she has to discipline, I watch with a hidden smile.

In addition to being a great mom, Jenni is my best friend. I've been so lucky. My mom and I shared a wonderful relationship, talked often, and could brighten each other's day with a phone call. Jenni and I talk a LOT. Usually in the evening after she gets the kids to bed. We call each other when there is something interesting in the news, when something funny happens, or something sad, or something to be celebrated, or there is something good on tv, or for any variety of reasons. There are few sounds I enjoy more than Jenni's voice when she picks up her phone and says Hello. We know each other well and share many of the same interests (except perhaps Country Music and Survivor). Often when we see the other person's name in caller ID, we know exactly what the call is about. In difficult times, like when I lost my parents, Jenni has been my rock.

Oh, we've had our difficult times. What mother/daughter hasn't. But the good times outweigh them and having an adult daughter is quite a gift.

So, Jenni, here's to you. Have a wonderful Mother's Day. I'm extremely proud of you and of who you've become and I love you more than you can know.

Time to brighten things up

Thought it was time to change the look of my blog. So, with the help of my daughter (actually, she did 80% of it!), we finally got it done. The photo is the basil plant in my backyard with a few thyme flowers and a sage leaf or two peeking through.

This photo is Jenni after she questioned the zoom abiity of my camera. Turned out to be a great shot.

Thanks, Jenni, for helping me with the blog, teaching me some HTML, and putting up with all my phone calls today!

Not sure what to title this!

Well, my darling daughter, Jenni, tagged me again!

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to blog about their seven things and post the rules as well. At the end of your post, choose 7 people to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog! OK, here goes...

1. I've had a burning desire, since I was a teenager, to visit New Zealand
2. Growing up I wanted to be a doctor - not go to school and do a residency and all that - just wake up one day and be a doctor!
3. When I was a young girl thinking about marriage and family - the one thing I wanted more than anything was to have boy/girl twins. And I did!
4. Exercise is a four-letter word, but now that my husband has heart issues, you can bet we'll be walking
5. I was speeding to a test in college, the cop was behind me with his lights on, I pulled quickly into a parking space where he couldn't see me and walked briskly to class. As I walked, I saw him stop at the corner and look down both streets trying to find the little blue car.
6. My husband and I have traveled more in the 7 1/2 years we've been together than I did during the first 53 years of my life - and I've loved every minute of it.
7. I don't know 7 other people to tag!!!!!!!

So there are my 7 things. Not terribly interesting, but when my daughter speaks, I jump!!

So, I'll tag the following: Desert Diva, Rachel, Autumn's Meadow, Wendy