I was thinking of the agenda for tomorrow and how to get everyone where they needed to be. All families do this on a daily basis. But since there are 10 of us in this family, the schedule is beginning to get complicated. Not complaining, love most every minute of it, goodness know I am never bored! Lets see:
Family, friends and neighbors- those interactions alone can tie up the phone all day
but it doesn't stop there.
CHURCH: Mass,ccd teacher, ccd class, first communion and confirmation,2 altar boys, bingo set up and take down, Youth Advisory counsel, Youth Choir,BAYCMA Youth Ministry, YOW.
SCHOOLS: Two colleges, one at the high school, one at the middle school, two at the elementary school, one in the primary school. All that homework, all those teachers...
SPECIAL OLYMPICS: swimming as an athlete, hockey and track as a coach, speeches as a global messenger.
DSS: volunteers, foster/adoption recruitment and support.
4-H: 4 in rabbit club, 4 in science club, one in dog club, one in chess club, one in craft club, one in art club, East Middleboro Fair chairmen, treasurers, junior leaders.
Lets see what else, ah yes two little leaguers, one jv baseball player, adult rabbit club, band, hockey, two jobs, rocket club, music lessons.
Plus cross country and basketball in their season. Have I left anything out? hmmm all the other hobbies and interests, the otheer animals, pirates, plays, graveyards, Egyptology, art,town politics, regency romance, science fiction fantasy, reading, internet,cars, Red Sox, bikes, Sponge Bob, tv, video games...not to mention fiancee...
Two cars and four liscenced drivers needing to be in 6 places at once. Ain't life grand! But when someone starts to tell me how hectic their life is and begins to list their busy day I just smile and nod politely. I win the busy day hands down. Every day. Every blessed day. HerMajesty
Friday, April 22, 2005
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Bike Riding the Neighborhood
Late Monday afternoon our 7 year old neighbor Jonah learns to ride a two wheeler. Just like that he becomes a big kid. He can ride a bike. He can go from the turnaround to Cornish street and back.
When we first moved in 12 years ago it was a different group of big kids who rode back and forth, back and forth in front of the house. Mary and Tim spent long happy hours riding with the Spillane girls, and Sara, with the two Isabelle boys, and Damon and Linda.
Then along came Corey and Julie. They didnt have as a nice a group of kids to play with, funny how good kids and bad kids are part of the neighborhood. They did ride with Ashley tho and sometimes the youngest Spillane girl. We always made sure a grownup was outside to watch them, just like for Mary and Tim.
Sometimes those fresh kids from up on the other end of Cornish would ride down so we watched for trouble. And a few times even a gang from Purchase street rode by, unsupervised. It was all discussed and debated from the vantage point of the handle bars. Where are those kids parents, who is watching those naughty children?
The naughty ones are teens now and even Ashley who wishes she were bad, avoids them. This winter they left beer bottles at the little kids bus stop. I went out to them as they hung around the corner. Mohawk and purple hair , gothy makeup.
I scold them for scaring the new neighbor, the one with three little children. We speak of the beer bottles tucked in a snow bank. They are completely innocent Mohawk says, but has trouble looking me in the eye. We talk and kick at the snow beneath our feet. I hang with them a while at the street corner. I make sure to give each eye contact, to be assured that they know I SEE each one of them. Where are the parents I wonder, of these teens who were out in a snow storm drinking beer?
But now its spring and the last batch of small children is ready to ride the neighborhood. This year there is a bumper crop of sweet little ones. Jamie, Nikki, and Joey ride with Jonah and the 3 Shaw kids. The Downing girls join them and little Cameron from down the street tries to keep up. His sister Brianna is shy but sometimes I hear "Mrs. Blauss Mrs. Blauss can I come over?"
A few times even baby Braedon breaks loose and toddles down the rode. He is scooped up by big sister and the cars drive slowy by ever mindful of an unwatched toddler.
The kids play on their bikes for five hours yesterday, no fighting, no bickering. Today it is not. quite as peaceful, but every bit as adventurous.
They race and ride and talk about Captain Underpants. They try to cajole Tim into driving the car to get them some icecream.
Tim and Mary, the first of the great bike riders now drive cars to get what they need. But how can that be better than riding the neighborhood, with your friends, back and forth back and forth on a beautiful spring day?
When we first moved in 12 years ago it was a different group of big kids who rode back and forth, back and forth in front of the house. Mary and Tim spent long happy hours riding with the Spillane girls, and Sara, with the two Isabelle boys, and Damon and Linda.
Then along came Corey and Julie. They didnt have as a nice a group of kids to play with, funny how good kids and bad kids are part of the neighborhood. They did ride with Ashley tho and sometimes the youngest Spillane girl. We always made sure a grownup was outside to watch them, just like for Mary and Tim.
Sometimes those fresh kids from up on the other end of Cornish would ride down so we watched for trouble. And a few times even a gang from Purchase street rode by, unsupervised. It was all discussed and debated from the vantage point of the handle bars. Where are those kids parents, who is watching those naughty children?
The naughty ones are teens now and even Ashley who wishes she were bad, avoids them. This winter they left beer bottles at the little kids bus stop. I went out to them as they hung around the corner. Mohawk and purple hair , gothy makeup.
I scold them for scaring the new neighbor, the one with three little children. We speak of the beer bottles tucked in a snow bank. They are completely innocent Mohawk says, but has trouble looking me in the eye. We talk and kick at the snow beneath our feet. I hang with them a while at the street corner. I make sure to give each eye contact, to be assured that they know I SEE each one of them. Where are the parents I wonder, of these teens who were out in a snow storm drinking beer?
But now its spring and the last batch of small children is ready to ride the neighborhood. This year there is a bumper crop of sweet little ones. Jamie, Nikki, and Joey ride with Jonah and the 3 Shaw kids. The Downing girls join them and little Cameron from down the street tries to keep up. His sister Brianna is shy but sometimes I hear "Mrs. Blauss Mrs. Blauss can I come over?"
A few times even baby Braedon breaks loose and toddles down the rode. He is scooped up by big sister and the cars drive slowy by ever mindful of an unwatched toddler.
The kids play on their bikes for five hours yesterday, no fighting, no bickering. Today it is not. quite as peaceful, but every bit as adventurous.
They race and ride and talk about Captain Underpants. They try to cajole Tim into driving the car to get them some icecream.
Tim and Mary, the first of the great bike riders now drive cars to get what they need. But how can that be better than riding the neighborhood, with your friends, back and forth back and forth on a beautiful spring day?
Sunday, April 17, 2005
joe's new bunny
The first thing Joe said when he woke up, the morning of the Rabbit show, even before he climbed off the bunk bed, was, "Today is the day that Sandy comes."
Sandy is the new orange Netherland Dwarf rabbit that has traveled all the way from New York to become Joe's new bunny, a replacement bunny. This is the first day in a month that he woke up smiling. This is the first happy day since the Husky dog tore thru our bunny barn and shook Joe's world.
The husky couldnt resisit tearing thru the cages and killing rabbits. But one rabbit in particular held a special place on Joe's life. Joe adopted Carrot the orange rabbit from our friend Alice. Carrot was orange like Mr. Joe. Carrot was adopted by Joe like Momma adopted him. Carrot had red hair, Joe had red hair. Joe took care of Carrot and Momma took care of Joe.
Joe waited a long time for a forever family to adopt him. He was made to believe by word and deed that it was his fault that he wasn't adopted. Joe was bad, very bad.
When Momma finally could bring him to his new house Joe wasn't sure he could stay. He was bad, very bad. The judge took forever to legally make Joe part of his forever family, to allow him to change his name to ours. Even Momma who said she would take care of him could not get the judge to change his name.
It took an extra two years before DSS finally said 'Joe you are safe, this is your home, you never have to leave.'
That was a year ago. Not a very long time for a boy to be completely sure he is safe. But he is slowly learning to trust.
Then a husky dog comes at night and kills Joe's bunnies. Joe couldn't keep Carrot safe even though he adopted her. Other rabbits also lost their lives but Carrot triggers something dark in Joe's soul. Carrot is him, maybe he is not safe. Maybe it is his fault that Carrot died. Maybe he forgot to feed her. Maybe he made her unafraid of dogs. Maybe he should've kept her in his room.
Every morning Joe cries as he feeds his other rabbits. He cries at the next rabbit show. He has bad dreams. Bad thoughts of Carrot dying and its his fault. Bad thoughts and flashbacks of his own painful past. How no mother wanted him, how he was bad, how he was in a car crash and it was his fault he went thru the windshield ( even though he was only two and a half in the custody of a birth mother who wasnt suppose to have him). He dreams about how he would wet his pants in the foster home and get in trouble, how he had to stay in his room when all the other kids played outside. He remembers all of it, dreams of it, cries for Carrot and worries for himself.
Momma helps him and his teacher too. Everyone rushes to reassure him, but the world is dangerous for a little boy who nobody wanted.
Then its Rabbit show day and he races into the show room to meet Sandy, his new orange bunny, a red head from New York. She huddles in terror and he croons to her, snuggles her, vows to take care of her.
That night there are no bad dreams. He hurries thru his own breakfast so he can feed her, hers. He asks if he can bring Sandy in for one tv show, like he did with Carrot.
Momma laughs, "Sure bring Sandy in for Sponge Bob, that was always Carrot's favorite show ( yes some rabbtis can watch tv!) Ypu named Sandy for the girl on Sponge Bob."
Joe looks at Momma and scoffs,"Sandy cannot watch Sponge Bob, thats for big kids and grownups and Sandy is a baby. I am going to bring her in and watch Rugrats cuz thats for little kids and babies."
So when people ask why do you have so many kids, why would you adopt someone elses kid? I think of the look on Joe's face while he is explaining how BABY RABBITS ARE TOO YOUNG TO WATCH SPONGE BOB.
I think of the wisdom of a mischievous redhead and I wonder why everyone doesn't rush out and get one of their own. HerMajesty
Sandy is the new orange Netherland Dwarf rabbit that has traveled all the way from New York to become Joe's new bunny, a replacement bunny. This is the first day in a month that he woke up smiling. This is the first happy day since the Husky dog tore thru our bunny barn and shook Joe's world.
The husky couldnt resisit tearing thru the cages and killing rabbits. But one rabbit in particular held a special place on Joe's life. Joe adopted Carrot the orange rabbit from our friend Alice. Carrot was orange like Mr. Joe. Carrot was adopted by Joe like Momma adopted him. Carrot had red hair, Joe had red hair. Joe took care of Carrot and Momma took care of Joe.
Joe waited a long time for a forever family to adopt him. He was made to believe by word and deed that it was his fault that he wasn't adopted. Joe was bad, very bad.
When Momma finally could bring him to his new house Joe wasn't sure he could stay. He was bad, very bad. The judge took forever to legally make Joe part of his forever family, to allow him to change his name to ours. Even Momma who said she would take care of him could not get the judge to change his name.
It took an extra two years before DSS finally said 'Joe you are safe, this is your home, you never have to leave.'
That was a year ago. Not a very long time for a boy to be completely sure he is safe. But he is slowly learning to trust.
Then a husky dog comes at night and kills Joe's bunnies. Joe couldn't keep Carrot safe even though he adopted her. Other rabbits also lost their lives but Carrot triggers something dark in Joe's soul. Carrot is him, maybe he is not safe. Maybe it is his fault that Carrot died. Maybe he forgot to feed her. Maybe he made her unafraid of dogs. Maybe he should've kept her in his room.
Every morning Joe cries as he feeds his other rabbits. He cries at the next rabbit show. He has bad dreams. Bad thoughts of Carrot dying and its his fault. Bad thoughts and flashbacks of his own painful past. How no mother wanted him, how he was bad, how he was in a car crash and it was his fault he went thru the windshield ( even though he was only two and a half in the custody of a birth mother who wasnt suppose to have him). He dreams about how he would wet his pants in the foster home and get in trouble, how he had to stay in his room when all the other kids played outside. He remembers all of it, dreams of it, cries for Carrot and worries for himself.
Momma helps him and his teacher too. Everyone rushes to reassure him, but the world is dangerous for a little boy who nobody wanted.
Then its Rabbit show day and he races into the show room to meet Sandy, his new orange bunny, a red head from New York. She huddles in terror and he croons to her, snuggles her, vows to take care of her.
That night there are no bad dreams. He hurries thru his own breakfast so he can feed her, hers. He asks if he can bring Sandy in for one tv show, like he did with Carrot.
Momma laughs, "Sure bring Sandy in for Sponge Bob, that was always Carrot's favorite show ( yes some rabbtis can watch tv!) Ypu named Sandy for the girl on Sponge Bob."
Joe looks at Momma and scoffs,"Sandy cannot watch Sponge Bob, thats for big kids and grownups and Sandy is a baby. I am going to bring her in and watch Rugrats cuz thats for little kids and babies."
So when people ask why do you have so many kids, why would you adopt someone elses kid? I think of the look on Joe's face while he is explaining how BABY RABBITS ARE TOO YOUNG TO WATCH SPONGE BOB.
I think of the wisdom of a mischievous redhead and I wonder why everyone doesn't rush out and get one of their own. HerMajesty
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