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Santa’s Flowers

As tradition goes, we take Arianna to see Santa Claus every year. My daughter was 2 at the time, and actually still today, has a special appreciation for nature. I do too, probably because after her birth, I was reminded of just how wonderous and beautiful the world truly is. We went out for walks frequently. Although we rarely made it down the street, or off our property for that matter, we did manage to take the time to marvel at each and every weed – aka flower – that was in our path.

This was the first year that Arianna actually spoke to Santa, as opposed to screaming with terrible fear that we might leave her with this strange, hairy, man dressed in red. When he asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she quietly responded, “Flowers.” Thinking he must have misunderstood, he asked again and she now confidently responded, “FLOWERS” so the whole line of people could hear. Santa’s cheeks truly turned rosy as he giggled with disbelief and glanced our way – as if to say, you’d better make sure this child gets some flowers for Christmas.

. . . and so began my favorite family tradition. Each year, Santa leaves a bouquet of flowers for Arianna. It is the first thing she sees each year, left by the empty plate of cookies. Our Christmas’s with her believing in Santa are coming to an end some time soon, however someday I hope that she will appreciate how that one moment in time spawned a heart felt family tradition that I intend on carrying out for all my days.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! I hope you all get your “flowers” this year.

Feel free to share your favorite family memory or tradition by hitting the “Add Comment” button!!!

Ode to My Ego

Well over the past week or so, I decided to try out substituting for High School students too. Ok, I didn’t actually decide to – Lenny signed me up but that’s another story. (Realize as you envision me in a high school setting that I am about the height of an average 5th grader.)
As usual, I imagined myself hating teenagers, however to my surprise they are polite, well mannered and usually respectful. They also opt to call me Mrs. P. and ask me to help them with their work.

I was teaching Biology on Thursday, when this group of girls came in the room and thought I was a student standing at the chalk board! The one questioned my age multiple time and thought I was kidding when I said I was 31. She thought I was a new classmate. I think that’s taking it a little too far, but we’ll go with it. It actually happened today again as well. Geez, if I’m going to pass for 18 years old, I’d better dye my grey hair!!!!!

Simplicity

If you’re like most people I know, when you first moved out on your own, you rented a small apartment somewhere in this world. Lenny and I had a modest 1 bedroom apartment in Budd Lake, NJ many moons ago. I was still in college and waitressing at the time and Lenny was at one of his many jobs. We didn’t really have any furniture and therefore made tables, night stands, tv stands and desks out of milk crates and whatever else we could find. I made them look really nice by covering them with bed sheets and table cloths. I’m not joking. We juggled our bills and tried to pay the utilities before they shut them off. Sometimes it worked and sometimes, well, we just didn’t know how to manage what little money there was coming in. But, life was pretty simple and we were happy.

I am sitting in our condo in Vegas now. It very much reminds me of our first apartment. Rest assured, there are no milk crates here, however it is very modest and provides the bare necessities in life. Somehow, that is a breath of fresh air. Inspite of all of the potential excitement the city of Las Vegas is capable of providing, it is the simplicity within these walls that gives me my greatest pleasure. I hope some of our family will come join us one of these days and enjoy the simple life in a not so simple city.

What Irks Me

I have been told by most people that I come across as calm, relaxed, passive and easy going. If you’re laughing you know me better than that – but I’m just telling you what I’ve been told. So do you want to know what REALLY annoys such an even toned personality such as myself? Toothbrush Holders!!!

Why is it that the longest part of grocery shopping for me is picking out toothbrushes that will fit in my toothbrush holders? I’m not sure who to blame. Should Crest, Colgate, Oral B and all the other major toothbrush makers know the circumference of the standard toothbrush holder and make their toothbrushes accordingly, OR should the producers of the toothbrush holders make the slots wide enough to fit the toothbrushes? Has the base of the standard toothbrush widened over the coarse of my lifetime and if so, why haven’t the toothbrush holders changed as well? Am I the only one having this dilemma?

I like cleanliness and have trouble attaining sink spotlessness when my toothbrushes fall out of their holder and drip onto my counter!!! So if you want to experience me when I’m irritated, just follow me to the toothbrush aisle!!!!!

Texas Chainsaw – WHAT?!!

I have the distinguished honor of being class Mom again this year. (Sorry, Holly. You’ve gotta be quick to gain such a status! Maybe next time.) Class Mom allows me to plan all seasonal parties full of food and fun. (I would say holiday parties but apparantly holidays are no longer politically correct.) At any rate, you just have to love the little darlings, you know? How can you resist the natural jack-o-lantern look they all have with mouths full of missing teeth? They’re just precious and sweet and full of childhood innocence.

During our Fall party – which happened to be on Halloween, but was not a Halloween party because Halloween is a holiday and we don’t have holidays – I was handing out pumpkins and art supplies. While making my rounds to all the students I asked each one what they were dressing up as for trick or treating. They were full of enthusiam. The class was loaded with little princesses, firemen, fairies, brides, ninjas, and Disney Characters. It was so very touching to my soul. Then I got to the final little boy and asked what he was going to be for Halloween. With undeniable excitement he yelled out, ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!!!’

I was speechless. How would he know about that? And Ewww, yuck. Then the real horror kicked in when I realized I was probably looking at my future son-in-law because Arianna called her costume ‘The Bride of Satan.’ HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

A PMS Moment

On Sunday we had to go to a baptism so that morning I ran out to the local candle shop to pick out a special gift. (You know you live in PA when there is a candle shop within a 5 mile radius of every house.) Anyway I always know that I can find unique and special gifts there, so off I went.

I found the case of my choice. It was full of Angels with touching prayers engraved on each dress. I have a soft spot for Angels so it is not surprising that I was drawn to them. Within seconds I found the perfect Dedication Angel holding a baby girl up toward the sky. I thought the engraved words were just as sweet as the statue itself. Now, I could have walked away and been home within minutes of my departure, but instead I stood in front of that display for an unknown amount of time . . . staring . . . reading . . . staring some more. There was an Angel statue for all occassion – birth, death, baptism, loss of a pet, prayers for teachers, firemen, EMS workers, mothers, fathers – you name it and it was there. And I read them – ALL OF THEM!!

And then I read them again, until I sort of heard a voice saying, ‘Ma’am, I have your box.’ Then I felt a tap on my shoulder. I stared at her blankly with tears in my eyes. ‘Your Box . . .’ she said again.

I walked up to the counter to pay feeling very touched by all that I had read and then I wondered . . .

Just when did I become Ma’am? I must be getting old!

A Prime Example

Here is a prime example of the difference between men and women – or at the very least the difference between Len and Jen. . .

A typical phone call to my husband would be something like this . . .
‘Honey, could you please stop and pick up milk on your way home?’

A typical call from Lenny to me goes something like this. . .
‘Honey, could you please stop at Staples and pick up a Linksys Wireless Router on your way home?’

If you have no idea what a router is, you are then not lucky enough to be married to a computer geek. If you do know what this is then you must be married to Mr. Shiney!!!

Thankful

Do we really have to wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful?

I am thankful for my life – and for Dr. Delotto who saved my llfe.
I am thankful for Lenny and Arianna.
I am thankful for my family – all of them.
I am thankful that I did not have to sit on the jury because the case of settled out of court the day before the trial was set to begin. I’m not sure I was cut out for a medical malpractice case.
I am thankful that I had the opportunity to dress up with my family this year and go trick-or-treating.
I am thankful for my new girl friends I’ve made this past 6 months.
I am thankful for love, laughter, tears, learning, ducks, sunshine, rain, quads, music, rainbows and all kinds of corny things. I guess most of all, I’m happy and thankful to be alive.

(Oh, and I’m thankful for wine. I’m going to have some with my new friends now!!!!)

Remembrance

‘In loving memory of our Unborn Angels’

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Jobs

‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ had to be one of the most difficult questions for me to answer as a child. I always knew I wanted to be a mother and a wife, but that’s not what people mean when they ask that question. I had no idea what I wanted to be then and I’m not sure that I have one specific answer to that now.

In past generations people stayed at one job for most of their adult life. Things are different today, but many people although jumping from company to company stay within the same profession. I tend to walk my own path in life doing whatever, whenever the timing seems right.

Among other things, I was a cashier at a toy store, a sales person at a clothing store, a gymnastics teacher, a deli worker, a waitress, a legal secretary, an office worker for a group of plastic surgeons and a full time Mom. Together, Lenny and I have been Landlords, Investors and Laundromat owners and operators. We are always looking for the next thing together.

One thing that has never changed is my passion for children. This week I began looking into my newest job venture – substitute teaching. I am in the process of filling out piles of paperwork and getting all my documentation in order. I have to take a course that I cannot get into until January, but I am excited and looking forward to yet another experience in life. One of my goals is to always be home when Arianna is off from school. What better job is there?

I love that I can say that I’ve tried most everything I ever wanted to try. Some might not understand how I cannot name ‘what’ I want to be. That would imply that I want to be just one thing. I want to be many things.