Archive for the ‘Family & Friends’ Category

I think all kids should be required to spend time living with their grandparents. I think it would most definately help them better understand their parents. Even if the kids are grown – they will aquire a new appreciation and better understandng of why their parent is the person they are. Recently, my adult son went to stay with my father for a couple of weeks. I like to think my son and I have always had a great relationship, but according to him he has a new appreciation of me, after seeing me in a new light – if you will. There were a few issues between us that would come up periodically, some that caused a bit of friction between me and my son. The most notorious and often rub, was my reaction to watching the news on televison. I am not an overly emotional person, nor am I a big politico, but for some reason when I hear things that cause me angst on the news, I have no problem letting that black box have it. I will admit to getting somewhat enraged by some topics and I have been known to hurl insults quite loudly at the tube when some pundent is spouting information I don’t agree with. This behavior of mine makes my son cringe. He would stare me down after one of my tirads and calmly tell me that I needed to regain control,  stop being so emotional and LOUD. Last night, after arriving home from living with my father, as he settled back into being “home” he quietly leaned over towards me and told me “you are just like your father”. He went on to tell me that my father is a more volitile verson of me when watching the news. He does not stop with insults and complaints, he hurls profanity and gets downright indignant. The show my Dad puts on can be quite amusing. My son related there was even stomped feet and raised fists. He says the first time this happened, he just stood there watching him and realized some things are breed very deep. He laughed when telling me, “you are so much father’s daughter, I never realized how much like him you are and having lived with him – I have a new appreciation of where your intensity of emotion comes from and how ingrained it must be for you to react the way you do”. I wonder what other issues will be easier to deal with now that he knows where I learned it from. I can’t wait until I have a grandchild to spend time with – should be an enlightening experience for them. I will make sure it’s done while they are still young, that way it might pave the way for easier understanding as they both grow.

How exciting – IT’S GROUND HOG DAY!

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be in Punxsutawney, Pennslyvania today. Actually, every February 2nd since I as a kid I have wanted to watch Punxsutawney Phil – live, in all his glory predicting the upcoming end or extention of Winter. What an awesome holiday? And what better place to be – than there – with all those – that love Phil like me. Bet you have to make reservations far in advance, it’s very crowded this time of the year in Punxsutawney. What with all the Phil fans and those wanting to get into something…anything that will take them away from their dismal, drawn out – winter ridden lives! Seasonal Affect Disorder does exist and is living in my house, sucking the energy out of me daily.

Seriously, by February we all cling to the promise of Spring, the return of green, the sound of real birds – not those freaks that endure through sub freezing temps and never fly south. Remember the hum of an AC unit, the smell of charcoal on a grill replacing that now repulsive smell of logs on the fire. I long for the dusting of pollen over that of snow. I curse the heavy coverlet on my bed, longing for the summer nights of blanket-less-ness. I am “oh so” over Winter.

And snow…give me a break, if it were not for two redeeming facts, I would have preferred none this year. However, we did have a white Christmas - minus gifts that our snow phobic mail main refused to deliver. And – my niece and nephew in “no snow” Virginia Beach got to spend a day marveling at it delightfully and playing in it up to their hooded heads. Now… I see those flakes falling and my spirit plummets, I am “oh so” over the snow.

So today I will once again have to watch Phil on TV. But someday I will be there. It will be on my bucket list, it’s not that big a deal really, not even that far away geographically. In a scheme of wishes, it seems pretty small. But I am “oh so” there someday.

So what does my big furry guy have to say regarding this horrible Winter finally ending…

6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER! 

Stupid ground hog, what does he know – now I am “oh so” over Phil!