So, just when retail gets me down - as it does most days...no one is shopping, the temp is rising in the 90's, I am low on inventory, I am so very cash poor...in walks Elvis Costello, his wife Diana Krall and their 18 month old twin sons, Frank and Dexter. They spent a bunch of money on vintage cowboy boots, interesting jewelry and assorted clothing. So very awesome...Who cares about movie stars when we have the coolest musicians shopping on South Congress...
Addendum to Mother's day Post...
So, here are my problems with Erma Bombeck's little ditty...
1) I don't consider either of my children to be 'disabled'.
2) I am more a woman of Science than of God.
3) I don't believe in the whole angel hoo-ha.
4) I don't believe in the 'my world' - 'their world' differentiation.
5) BUT I do like to think of myself as their patron saint!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Happy Mother's Day...
My Mother's day dedication to all of the "Toxo Mamas" everywhere:
Just ignore what I see as the obvious problems with this essay and take a minute to read it for what it's worth...
The Special Mother
By Erma Bombeck
Did you ever wonder how mothers of disabled children were chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over the earth selecting his instruments of propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"This one gets a daughter. The patron saint will be Cecilia"
"This one gets twins. The patron saint will be Matthew"
"This one gets a son. The patron saint.....give her Gerard. He's used to profanity"
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a disabled child"
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy"
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a disabled child to a mother who does not know laughter ? That would be cruel!"
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of sorrow and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today, she has that feeling of self and independence that is so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm giving to her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you"
God Smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness"
The angel gasps - "Selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally she won't survive. Yes here is a common woman whom I will bless with a child less then perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider any 'step' ordinary. When her child says"Momma" for the first time she will be present at the miracle and will know it. When she describes a tree or sunset to a blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
" I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty and prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as if she is here by my side"
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air."
God smiles "A mirror will suffice"
Just ignore what I see as the obvious problems with this essay and take a minute to read it for what it's worth...
The Special Mother
By Erma Bombeck
Did you ever wonder how mothers of disabled children were chosen?
Somehow I visualize God hovering over the earth selecting his instruments of propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"This one gets a daughter. The patron saint will be Cecilia"
"This one gets twins. The patron saint will be Matthew"
"This one gets a son. The patron saint.....give her Gerard. He's used to profanity"
Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles. "Give her a disabled child"
The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy"
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a disabled child to a mother who does not know laughter ? That would be cruel!"
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of sorrow and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it. I watched her today, she has that feeling of self and independence that is so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm giving to her has his own world. She has to make him live in her world and that's not going to be easy."
"But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you"
God Smiles, "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness"
The angel gasps - "Selfishness? is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally she won't survive. Yes here is a common woman whom I will bless with a child less then perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word'. She will never consider any 'step' ordinary. When her child says"Momma" for the first time she will be present at the miracle and will know it. When she describes a tree or sunset to a blind child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."
" I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty and prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as if she is here by my side"
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air."
God smiles "A mirror will suffice"
Monday, May 5, 2008
Blackbird singing in the dead of night...
When I was pregnant with the twins, I used to sing 2 songs to my full belly. One was the Mockingbird song: "Hush little baby, don't say a word..."
and the other was this Beatles tune:
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
take these broken wings and learn to fly
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly,
into the light of the dark black night."
And on another note, I just signed up for my Intro to Braille course offered by Hadley School for the Blind. I'm very excited and can't wait to be able to write little notes to Zelda in braille and put them in her lunch box - that is, as soon as she actually has a lunchbox...and can read...
and the other was this Beatles tune:
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
take these broken wings and learn to fly
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to arise.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free.
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly,
into the light of the dark black night."
And on another note, I just signed up for my Intro to Braille course offered by Hadley School for the Blind. I'm very excited and can't wait to be able to write little notes to Zelda in braille and put them in her lunch box - that is, as soon as she actually has a lunchbox...and can read...
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