Holy Haircut Batman!

I'm posting this picture for ALL the family members who
have harassed me about my son's hair for the past 3 years!

As part of my mother’s day gift this year, my mom gave me an all expense paid weekend to…3 hours south a’ here. With all my children. Yee-freakin’-haw.

We went down south to see my cousin get married. But as I drove with Mega Mind booming behind me and my mother snoring softly beside me, I realized the ONLY way I will ever experience an actual vacation…is if I bring along a nanny or ingest a bucket of Valium.

So I spent most of the drive with any number of self help clichés circling in my head, “You can do whatever you put your mind to!” “Attitude determines altitude!” “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” By the time we arrived I’d convinced myself this trip would live in our memories forever. I bounded out of the van…and fell flat on my face. My oldest wanted to push the luggage cart, my middle child wanted to ride on the luggage cart, the youngest ended up UNDER the luggage cart. Screams, cries, protests. Where’s the Valium?

But, surprise! surprise! (no really, I was surprised!) we ended up having a good time. I had to loosen my expectations and go where the moment took me (only once did the “moment” take me to imagining myself at the state pen where I’d be on permanent vacation for harming my children). We hung out with family, laughed, hugged and mugged it up in a photo booth at the reception. I got to enjoy my children as my oldest deftly explained sedimentary rock formations at the petroglyphs, my sweet girl entertained an indulgent staff at a steak house with a series of Christmas carols on the piano and my youngest approached everything with too much energy and an infectious grin. Regardless…I AM GLAD TO BE HOME!

Mom…next year, may I suggest Paris ?

Hope at the bottom of a Cherry Coke...

I went to the movies with a couple of friends last night. For the record, it was the latest incarnation of Jane Eyre (loved it). As I sat with my friends I felt myself relax for the first time that day. With popcorn on my lap and a cherry coke in my hand, I was happy to unwind and watch one of my favorite literary hotties (Mr. Rochester).

The movie notwithstanding, the ride back was the best part of the evening. It was like therapy on wheels. As we neared home and my coke was almost gone, I was struck by the resilient power of women. We are such emotional creatures, we put our whole heart in just about everything we do. Unfortunately that makes the stakes that much higher for us. Currently, a lot of significant women in my life are experiencing some harrowing trials. Financial challenges, health issues, marital pains, consequences of others decisions, sorrow over children's choices, stress at work...the list seems endless. But when I think of these amazing women individually or collectively I marvel at their ability to keep moving forward while helping others around them.

At the end of the evening, none of us had resolved a thing. In fact one friend faced a corporate firing squad this morning. But I felt good, hopeful and I went to bed thankful for the friends, aunts, sisters, daughters, nieces and of course mothers (mine especially), who encourage me even as they face challenges of their own.