Dear Blog friends

WOW! Here I was leisurely living my life as a summer person, unencumbered by schedules or deadlines when BLAM!!!!! Back to teaching and conferences and meetings etc! I thought my time would be mine forever. All excuses aside, here it is November. We have been focusing on helping Anthony achieve his dream of joining the Marines. Lots of road blocks.....they don't just take anybody these days. They even had to check Anthony's tattoo to make sure he wasn't part of a gang! Do they have a "National Tattoo Database"? Anyhow tattoo aside he has been cleared for take off. This means he will leave sometime in December for boot camp and because he is in the reserves he can return, continue college (their dime!) He owes them one weekend a month and possible deployment over the next 4 (6?) years. He is very excited and at this point with all that he has been through we are happy to see him so focused and so...well grown up. Ask me in December on the day he leaves...today I am o.k.

Dear Son

Enough already!! You better ship off to boot camp before our little dear population is gone. I must say you are a good shot though. I should have seen it coming. Remember when you were a small boy and would throw all of your toys up into the trees? Remember tossing golf balls and rocks onto the roof and of course practicing all sorts of shooting-BB guns, paint ball guns, air soft guns, bow and arrows, you had them all? Sitting still in school was so hard for you. Remember when you threw pencils into the cardboard roof tiles in the 5th grade hall way? You got called down to the principals office and to your dismay I was substituting that day. Just remember.....I'm always watching you.

Dear Kitty

We will miss you. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful friend to Marlaina over the years. When she would find her life in middle school or high school too difficult to deal with, there you were purring loudly, licking her face, letting her squeeze the life out of you with nary a complaint. Thank you for giving us story after story of your antics to share with an unbelieving public. Thank you for not being prissy and shy like some kitty's. Thank you for your persistence in wanting a warm lap and a pat on the head. We were sometimes grumpy and disinterested because life was getting us down. It was your persistence that made us pat you and let you onto our lap. With that simple act our troubles faded away as you smiled up at us. Thank you for being like no other-for being our kitty. Peace.