Tuesday, September 04, 2012

First Day In America and Unexplained Happiness

Two Korean exchange students are staying with us for 3 weeks!  They arrived last night.

They are sweet and pretty talkative and they love our dog.
J
                                                                       Jin

                                                                  Dong hee

        Matt just took them to the mall.  When the girls came down for breakfast this morning, Kara whispered, "What about the dress code?"  Their shorts were shorter than fingertip length :-)  I told her that the school would probably cut them some slack since it's their first day in America.  Matt spoke with the principal, and apparently they got the message and are out shopping right now. 

       After school today I had brownies for them, and asked what the best part of their day was, and what the worst part was.  Unfortunately, they couldn't think of any good things to say - it was a real shock to them at school - mostly because the teachers spoke so quickly that they didn't understand anything.  Also it was burritos for lunch and all of my kids agreed that they were horrible.  One of the other Korean kids at school (there is a large group) said she thought she was going to puke. 
And they say, "puke" like, "pook" so that made me laugh.

       In un-related news, James is sitting on the other couch having a conversation with me right now.  (I can't see him because I'm in a chair facing the other way).

James just said,
"Mom I just feel so happy.  But I don't even know why, I just do."

I answered,
"I've had that happen before.  It's like I feel really happy but I can't remember what is making me feel that way."

James added,
"Either that or I have to yawn, it's practically the same feeling."

I thought about that for a minute.

The voice came over the chair again,

"I kind of feel like singing."

:-)




Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Getting Along


Kara had a cousin over, so Beth was relegated to James' room for the night.

She dragged a mattress into his room and apparently wasn't sensitive to peas or Legos
because it lay on top of about a thousand of them.  Legos, that is.

I think they were pretty comfortable in there together, because the next morning James came down in this huge pair of basketball pants. 

I must have looked askance at him because he followed my gaze and shrugged as he opened the fridge,

"Beth made me wear pants to bed."

Good call, Beth.

*

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Summer Reading


Thanks cousin Molly for the book reviews (and the idea to do book reviews)!

Here are some books that I've read so far this summer:

The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene.
I always liked Nancy Drew better than the Hardy Boys mysteries.  One thing I've noticed about Nancy is that she has such great friends.  They're always willing to get into scrapes with her.  I am constantly feeling sorry for her housekeeper though - that poor woman gets so worried whenever Nancy is kidnapped or falls into a hole or when her car breaks down and she wanders up to strange houses to ask for help.  On one hand Nancy seems to have so much common sense, but on the other hand, there is always a point in the story when you're thinking, "Okay Nancy, this is a TERRIBLE idea, do NOT investigate that hidden passageway!!"

Anyway, this story involves Morse code and tapdancing (great combo in my opinion), stray cats, a recluse, weird tapping sounds emanating from an unknown location in an old house, and a trip to New York City.  Unfortunately, I will never know what that tapping sound was because my book became overdue and I had to hot foot it to the library to return it.  Mystery remains unsolved.

Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
This is the third book by actor-comedian-talk show host Ellen, but the first that I've read.  The book was a super-easy read, with really really short chapters.  She writes just like she talks, so you can definitely hear her voice.  I liked it because it was light and easy reading, perfect for between innings at James' baseball games, and several parts made me laugh.  I did wonder if any of her other books were a little more serious or biographical -- I'm kind of interested in her life growing up.  Other than that, I think it's a fun little book that I finished in one game!

You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know by Heather Sellers
This is by far the most interesting book I've read this summer.  Heather writes about face-blindness, a real condition that she (and many other people) suffer from.  She cannot recognize a person by their faces.  Even people in her own family.  In order to recognize a person, she uses context clues - distinctive ears or hair, voice, location and dress (but it's bad if you're wearing a hat one minute and then take it off the next time she glances at you).  It was fascinating to read about her upbringing (a very bizarre family situation that she believed was normal until later in life).  Heather did not become diagnosed until middle age, and so up until that point people were always getting upset with her for not recognizing them.  She was starting to wonder if she had some type of mental illness.

I really liked this book, one reason being that she lives and works in my state -- at least at the time of publication she was a professor at Hope College in Michigan.  Her story is so compelling even without the face-blindness.  Her mom was probably schizophrenic and her dad was an alcoholic -- and yet she emerged from all of that difficulty as a successful teacher and writer.  The face-blindness may or may not have been a result of some of the things that happened in her childhood, but the combination of all that going on in her life was just an amazing thing to survive.  This is my favorite book of the summer so far.

The Pursuit of Happyness by Quincy Troupe/Chris Gardner
I checked this book out because I saw the movie a while back.  Will Smith was very good as Chris Gardner - and the story was just heart-breaking and wonderful at the same time.  I haven't finished the book yet, but I'm sticking with it.  So far, almost the whole first half is about his childhood - it hasn't even gotten to the part that the movie depicts (as a young father).  His upbringing is by all sorts of random family members because his mother gets sent to prison and his stepfather is incredibly abusive and awful.  I'm starting to get to the point where I want it to move on, because I know the story is about his struggle to remain a father to his son in the very worst circumstances, and how he never gives up.  There is some harsh language in the book and a couple of "scenes" that wouldn't make it suitable for children to read (or me to read either but I'm "glossing" as well as I can).  My review is...well I can't really recommend it yet.  It's very very interesting, but so far it's a LOT of background information.  Maybe it's because I watched the movie first that I keep anticipating when the book is really going to begin.

Anybody want to recommend a book for me to read this summer?  I just sent All Over But the Shoutin' to my dad on his Kindle for Father's Day.  It's a great story!  And of course, if you haven't read Bloom by New York Times Best Selling Author (and my cousin) Kelle Hampton, then you're missing out!  It's such a great book!! :-)

I don't have a Kindle, but I have a library card!  Tell me your favorite book!

*







Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Abandoning the Internet


Saturday afternoon we went thrifting - I love taking my girls because it's the one time I can sort of say, "Get whatever you like!"  Usually we are on such a budget that every purchase is weighed carefully -- but at a thrift shop, if you see a funky pair of red sunglasses that flip up, and if they make you smile, and if they're 99cents....well then -- throw them in the basket, they're yours!

After that we went to Kroger to buy snacks.  We were debating between two different snacks when I noticed the backpacked stranger muttering to himself near us.  We changed aisles, and he followed.  We changed again and he followed.  Kara was holding the bags and discussing which one was better when I grabbed both bags and threw them in the cart, "Let's get both!"
The girls looked up, startled.
I am not usually so generous with the snack food.
I scooted them out of the store and told them what was going on.  They were half-scared, half-thrilled and pretty pumped about two bags of snacks.

Next stop was Joann fabrics, to buy material for the girls' first sewing project ever.  Usually I meet the most irritable employees in that store, but this time we hit the jackpot.  I asked a question regarding sizing and the lady at the cutting table leaned over to study the pattern and talked with all three of us for a long time, giving us so much help!  She was kind and patient and not grumpy at all.

We left the grocery store so quickly that we forgot about drinks, so we stopped at KFC for a soda.  While there, an employee ran in breathless and pointed out the window.  She had tried to help a blind man cross a really busy street but he said he was alright without help.
We all watched as he made his way across Grand River with a long cane and sure enough he made it safely.  Sometimes fast food employees get a bad rap, so I liked hearing my girls say how cool it was of that employee, running out to the street to try to help a stranger.

The MSU Jazz Orchestra was playing at a festival in town, so we parked and found our seats by about 9:30.  I love that we have such quality music available to us (for free!) in such a small town.  After awhile I could see that the girls were getting tired so we walked around a bit - somebody took our picture, we people-watched, and looked at some huge paintings that were being made right on the spot.  It was so nice to be there without an agenda.
"One more song", I said, and then we left.

I taught the girls my technique for walking back to my car in the city in the dark.
Find a group of strangers that look nice and stick close to them.
We found a bunch of kids in shorts and polo shirts. 
Yes, we judged a book by its cover :-)
We caught up to them and walked almost on their heels all the way to the car.

We slammed the car doors and the girls were anxious to get home, but I was sitting there feeling irritable because the night was so so beautiful, and because I suspected that they just wanted to return to their beloved internet.  I probably said something to that effect, in a whiny voice, telling them that they never want to have any fun and look, there's a swingset right in front of us! 
We had parked right next to a playground.

There was a pause and then they said, "Oh alright!" and we practically leaped back out of the car, laughing and jumping onto the swings, doing the monkey bars and climbing the rope ladder.  We all paused almost at the same time and I said, "Where is that music coming from?"

Kara looked and pointed, "It's a movie!"

We squinted across the length of the park.  We could see a tiny moving picture at the end of it.  It was so far away, I thought maybe it was East Lansing's "Movies in the Park" night or something and I took off, saying, "Let's go!!"

The girls followed me, but the closer we got, the more I suspected that this was not a public movie show.  We drew right up next to five kids laying on beach towels on the grass, their projector flickering Indiana Jones onto a sheet tacked up onto a brick wall, sound system blaring the theme song as Indiana ran ahead of that huge rolling stone.

I felt suddenly awkward.  Their skateboards were in a pile near my feet.  The girls skidded to a stop behind me and I called out, "Hey, can we watch too?"

They looked up and immediately said, "Heck yeah!  Sit down!  Hey you want some pizza?"

A high school boy slid a pizza box to us across the grass.  We looked at each other and sat down, feeling happy and silly.  We ate their pizza.  We watched about a quarter of the movie until it started to sprinkle.  It was time to go home.

So all the way home we laughed and talked about what a great night it was.  We kind of crammed a bunch of things into one day, but we also went through it in a very random, unplanned way, just letting things happen and being open to surprises.

People are so interesting.
I like to get my family out of the imaginary world in books and on tv and of course facebook, and into real living.

Well, at least once a summer.  :-)




Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Heathercakes


So I'm used to getting rejection emails, and this one was pretty typical.  I had over-bid our band's fee, and I was expecting them to decide that "your band is not a good fit for us".

What I didn't expect, from the same address, was another email, inviting me to display my culinary talents at the festival pre-party.  Here's the email: 

Heather,
I am following up on an e-mail sent a few months ago regarding Heather Cakes participating in the Townie Street Party, and providing your wonderful cake at the Terrace.

I am hoping you have had time to consider this, so I am attaching a contract.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Well, this was a mistaken email -- apparently my email address was on file for the band and the organizer connected me to the owner of "Heather Cakes".  

My wheels started turning.  (My extended family will understand this completely)
I didn't think about how this was sent to the wrong person.  
The contract had my attention, and a series of thoughts flew through my mind:

I wonder how much it pays?  I did get a lot of compliments on those triple-layer mini cupcakes I made for the recital.  What if I painted a little HC monogram onto a baker's apron and took a bunch of cupcakes to the party...I have a contract, I'm totally legit!

After reading the contract, that was basically about providing between 4-600 pieces to the party and the payment was free advertisement for my non-existent company, I made an announcement to the room.  (Consisting of my oblivious husband reading the paper and the dog)

"This is SO not worth my time."

Matt nodded and the dog snapped at a fly.  

I just smiled at the email for awhile.

I was thinking about how they underbid me.

*

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Family

I want to tell this story of a true family moment that happened last night, with names and everything, because right in the middle of it, while it was happening, I knew that it was an example of family doing what a family is supposed to do.

I have four teenagers.  And there is angst.  And there is drama.  And there are tears.
And it is way way way way way way harder to know what is best for them now than when they were toddlers.

Back then I knew.  I just always knew exactly what to do.  I didn't always do it right, or with the right spirit or with the best amount of patience, but at least I knew - I was captain, teacher, all-knowing, ever-present - keeper of the bandaids, the kisses, nutrition, shelter, life!

Now my role has changed drastically.  Getting ready to leave James for the day last week I asked him if he'd be all right, all by himself, all day.  His answer,

"Of course!  I have plenty of waffles!"  

They feed themselves now.  They wander around town with friends, babysit for neighbors, wash their own clothes and take showers behind locked bathroom doors.

If my role hadn't changed, I'd have absolutely nothing to do now.

But now instead of lifting a spoon to their mouths, carefully balancing amounts of green vegetables, orange vegetables and pureed fruit, I just try to make sure they don't eat too many waffles.
I roll them outside when they've watched too much television.
I get them to the dentist twice a year.

And I listen to heartbreaking teenage moments of exclusion, betrayal, fickleness, immaturity and selfishness.  And I am suddenly in this place where I have no idea what to do.
No idea.
And I watch helplessly as my child is rebuffed or lied to or hurt and I can't step in and scoop them up and carry them out of the sandbox anymore.

Because the hardest part is -- they really don't want to leave the sandbox.  They like playing there and the other occupants are their friends - imperfect and unpredictable though they are.
And the fact that I am still allowed to sit on the edge of the sandbox is a tenuous gift.

Beth was invited to a party - a boy-girl party - an overnight party.
The boys were to be banished to the basement while the girls had the run of the upstairs.
The information about boys spending the night did not reach me until permission for the sleepover was given.
It was not difficult to render my previous permission null.

The protest was passionate.
I handled it calmly by asking Beth who was the strictest parent she knew.
She said it was me (beam, beam).
I said,
"Do you remember when we tried to do that very thing for your and James' birthday?"

We promised the parents that the boys and girls would not mix.  But housing a dozen 13 year olds overnight requires round-the-clock vigilance.
And we fell asleep.
And they mixed.
And no harm came, but it was a lesson learned.

If Matt and I couldn't control a situation like that, I couldn't trust that another parent could.

Beth accepted the verdict, but what we didn't anticipate was that Beth's best friend would react so meanly.  Beth handed me the phone in tears and told me to read the slew of angry texts.
In Sarina's words, thanks to Beth the party was now "wrewned".
None of the other girls were likely to spend the night if Beth had to leave the party at 11pm. 

I was torn.  Beth was being blamed for something completely out of her control, and the problem was not whether the party was "wrewned", but it was that Sarina was so terribly angry with her.
I watched her dejected form, and I read the many many apologies Beth had texted back to an unsympathetic party host.

I needed reinforcements, so I brought Matt in but he started saying things like, "Why are you crying?" and "Can't you see that this girl does not care about you?"  I gave him the evil eye and he started to leave but then I gave him the pleading please-just-stay-and-be-quiet eye and he sat down on the floor while we talked and Beth cried.  It had suddenly come to me that we could not denigrate Beth's best friend. The problem was clear -- Sarina was mad at Beth and Beth felt terrible and we just needed to talk about it and figure something out.

Kara was leaning in the doorway listening to us come up with possible solutions and she started adding her own advice.  Soon we were all sitting on the bed together, throwing out ideas.
The first thing we decided was that Beth should not apologize even once more.  The second thing we decided - neutrally - was that Sarina had all the control.

We found out that Beth didn't even care about spending the night, she only cared about keeping Sarina happy.  We all gathered around the phone as Beth texted the other girls only to happily find out that nobody else was spending the night either.  Sarina's accusation that the party was wrewned was completely false.  The party could go on!

I noticed that the more information we had, the more Beth brightened.
The more advice her older sister gave, the more she was listened to and comforted, the less terrible she felt.

A few last barbs were thrown by Sarina.  They were deflected by positive statements from Beth about how great the party was going to be.  We could see Sarina weakening with every text.  We could also see Beth's power grow.  She realized that she was actually the powerful one in this relationship.  She realized how much she was wanted, and how easy it was to distract Sarina from what she couldn't do.  She realized that she didn't have to answer every question that Sarina lobbed - she was not required to be defensive - there was nothing forcing her to apologize.

We talked about how  Beth should show her kindness regardless of the things Sarina had said.  We extended grace at every turn - another thing that added to Beth's confidence.  She was extending  grace, not asking for it.  Any hurtful idea was cast aside as "not very nice" - only strong, positive comments were allowed to be texted.

I felt, in the middle of it, so honored to be there.  Nobody took over.  Matt - a very black-and-white no-nonesense person - listened to all of this female fluff with patience and just lent his presence to the situation.   Kara and I knew it wasn't fluff - it was real to Beth and we remember 13.  I also knew that I wouldn't have been able to help Beth all by myself - it was this group of people, all with a common purpose, who were working together to help her.

Beth felt it.  By the end of it she was smiling.  She went from complete discouragement to happiness.  We asked her things like, "But what do you want to do?" and she didn't shrink from answering, from thinking for herself.

I hope this long long post really describes what I'm trying to say.  You might think that the issue at hand was frivolous...but to a 13 year old girl it was not.  And the lessons learned during this time of figuring out how to be in a relationship...and how to be in a family....were priceless to me.  Because at the end of it I said to her,

"Beth do you know that all of these people in this room care so much about you.  We all know you were hurting and we will always be there to help you figure stuff out.  We love you more than anything in this world."

And she heard me, and I heard me.
And we as a family all sighed with relief because Beth was no longer unhappy.
And because we remembered that every one of us is sad sometimes because of something we just can't figure out, but we are in it together, and that's what matters.

That's what family is.

*


Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Things That Make Me Happy

An avocado, spinach, fried egg, siracha sauce grilled pita sandwich
First coffee of the day
A good night's sleep
The noon emergency siren
The 2am train whistle
Warm weather
Rainy weather
A clean kitchen
Weddings with dancing
A free day
Walking into Goodwill
A foot massage
Depositing checks
Getting texts
Smiling kids
Mailing a letter
McDonald's coffee, large, 5 creams
When my students practice
Going to the movies
Having a supper plan
Checking my garden
Free food
Practicing music
Walking at night
Open windows and breezes
Birds
Holding my dog
Drawing
Dressing up
Quiet
People who talk slowly and listen deeply
Hugging
Flying in an airplane
Crossing things off lists
Not being finished with a really good book yet
*