Author Archive

May 19, 2006 | Family & Life

I’ve been busy, not writing, living. Living and enjoying life with my family. Observing mostly how we interact with one another and how proud GMan (that would be hubby) and I are of our children.

JGirl graduated from college on Mother’s Day. Leave it to her and Drake University to make it all about the students on Mom’s Day. It was a beautiful ceremony. I didn’t cry. I didn’t cry at her high school graduation either. I must have cried myself dry at her eighth grade graduation. I sat in awe. Didn’t we just sent this girl off to first grade? Didn’t we just have First Communion? There are two other girls she grew up, and they also graduated. I find it amazing how beautiful, intelligent and spoiled they are. They’re on their way to living a successful fun filled life. At least I hope so, I definitely enjoyed my single life. So much so by the time I was twenty-eight, Mommy wanted to know if she’d get grandchildren before she was too old to enjoy them. Still took me another two years to find GMan, but Mommy and Daddy enjoyed their grands for many years.

JGirl is now a young, unemployed college graduate moving back home. Anybody else experienced this? Still experiencing it? JMan isn’t happy about her return. He placed second singles in Boys Tennis Conference. Awesome job!

People say her return will be an adjustment for us. I’m here to tell you, the adjustment for us won’t be as bad as it will be for her – if she makes it so. She’s afraid she won’t fit in. For the first couple of weeks, she won’t. That’s just the plain truth. We’ve developed our own routines and habits. She’ll feel out of place, but she is a truly loved member of our family. Hope she realizes this. I’m looking forward to seeing her face, talking to her, yelling at her, hugging her.

Next week, I’m going to do a Top Five List of Things I’ve Learned from JGirl. Monday, we’ll start with shoes.

May 3, 2006 | Family & Life

Miss me? I looked up and found the month of April had passed by in a blur, no less. Last time I blogged, it was about JGirl graduating in May. Well May is here and the big event is next weekend. We visited JGirl last weekend, in soggy Des Moines. As Maya wrote, she’s grown up and I should enjoy our new mother – daughter relationship. We did, especially the shopping in DSW shoe store. JGirl is absolutely beautiful and afraid to take on the real world. JGirl, if you read this, please make a note that your rent is only paid thru May. Now that she’s about to become a college graduate, she will take on adult responsibilities and I believe this can become quite frightening. After all, she’s had her parents to lean on. Her father is under the riduculous fantasy that once she finds a job, she’ll be on her own and we won’t be fiscally responsibile for her. I’m allowing his allusion only to save his sanity.
As for my writing, I’m doing a lot of reading this month because of all the family activities. I’ve discovered Octavia E. Butler and am reading Parable of the Talents. It’s really good and once I’ve finished a couple of her books, I’ll post them on my website. I also have an article this quarter’s Passionate Ink’s newsletter, entitled “What About Me?” I blogged earlier this year about making the time to write. Hmm, I think I’d better reread the article several times.

Also, next week, Simone Elkes, a soon to be published Young Adult writer, will be answering questions on my Writing Page. I know the majority of us don’t write young adult, but the market has changed and Simone will be addressing those changes and how she got in the YA market, which is very hot.

As for my other passion, tennis. My team made it to the semi-finals. The other club brought out their big guns and clobbered us. Nevertheless, we had a GREAT run and I’m very proud of them. Oh yeah, I’m hosting our year end team party in two weeks.

Apparently, I’m very busy. Hope you are too. Keep writing.

April 10, 2006 | Family & Life

I’m sitting here, looking at a box. This box contains college graduation announcements. JGirl is graduating May 14, 2006. I’m pretty sure we just sent her away to college. The four years have passed so quickly. When JGirl left for college, it was a traumatic and upsetting time for the hubby and me. Her behavior, the final couple of months in high school, came very close to her being asked to leave home. We figured we had until the first day of fall classes to cancel her student loans, if her behavior didn’t improve. Fortunately, we didn’t have to. Now, after four years, she’s returning home on improved relations with her parents. Not necessarily with her fifteen year old brother, but hey that’s to be expected. He’s matured, developed his own sense of self, and is not use to have her home. Well, none of us are, but here she comes. Even in our new home, we don’t have enough closet space. I got a good look at her shoe collection. She’d rival the local DSW shoe store! But that might be because she shops there.

We’re quite proud of JGirl. She’s smart, attractive, more self-assured, and values the support we’ve given her. She’s been my rock when my parents died. The love she had for them, was demonstrated over and over. I remember watching her kneel at my mother’s casket, and pray. I knew then, my mother was pleased. She adored JGirl. So did my father. She is their first grandchild. My Mommy said she wanted to live to see her granddaughter grow up. Well, Mommy spent her final Christmas in our home when JGirl turned twenty-one.

But now, I have to address these announcements and send them to friends and family. People who have been through the fun and crazy times with this girl. People who have listened to me whine, cry, and laugh about the things she’s done. I’m excited about graduation. So is her dad, but he’d be even more excited if she came home with a job! That’s the next phase, living with this twenty two year old, while she looks for employment. Right before I finished grad school, my mother asked me if I could find a job in Washington, DC. “Don’t you want me to come home?” I said. “Yes, on the weekends. If you came home to live like your father wants you to, I’ll have to kill both of you. You’re use to staying out, and you know how your father is.”
Smart woman. I was able to find a job, and come home on the weekends to visit.

My relationship with my mother changed when I finished school. Just like my relationship with JGirl, it’s more open, mature, and close. Of course, Mommy still didn’t want to hear about my sex life! I’m looking forward to her coming home, and I’m really looking forward to her moving out! So, it’s back to the announcements, a few tears and a few laughs as I remember her as a child and how much my parents loved her. Uh, JGirl if you read this, don’t forget honey, your grandparents were crazy about your brother too!

Love Ya, Smooches!

April 3, 2006 | Family & Life

Well, for a quick moment we had great weather! JMan’s Boys Tennis Team has begun playing, and this means traveling time. Life intrudes on writing, it’s part of living. There are some advantages of tagging behind the team. I get to see parts of Illinois I might not ever willingly travel to. This state does have some beautiful areas and the citizens are very friendly.

JMan played on the Varsity team, and with his doubles partner he was one win, two losses. Not a bad start to the season. I know the boys were expecting better results, but they were playing against high school juniors and seniors with more experience.

This season means an adaptation on my part. I have to pack snacks and beverages for long afternoons, and bring reading or writing material. I use to bring stacks of stuff, but I learned I only will look at one thing. The rest of the time I’m watching him or the other boys play. It’s hard to accept my son will be graduating from college in two years. I figure that’s about the time JGirl will be financially able to move out on her own.