Smiles, laughs & sweet days

I had a nostalgic walk through Avent Park today. This is the park where we celebrated Emma turning 4 with a Strawberry Shortcake party. Its the same park where my children held hands with friends and played hide and seek. And it's the same park where they perfected jumping out of a swing-oh the adventures of childhood! My littles are grown. The places I find wonder and amazement in them have changed. Like when your oldest moves to the city.

It's a new level to see your children realizing their hopes and dreams. Hang on tight Mama...the ride only gets more exciting and you can just breathe and smile when they invite you along for the ride. Always go. Sometimes you won't be invited to the movie (I cried) or the Sr. trip (I thanked God). When I shared with my children I was adding to the blog their responses were varied and unguarded. As we looked at the old posts my son said, "Mom, it's been a decade." My middle child responded, "I think it's great for you Mom. You would like that." And my oldest said, "If you quote me, make sure it's right." We had a lively talk in the den about platforms and new options--I touched on this discussion in my 'Muffin Likes to Visit' post. I was surprised at how engaged my children were about me blogging again. I'm guessing they hoped something would be done with all my Notes and scribbles.They've seen me write for years. Look for the common ground, and don't be surprised when you're challenged if you sought to raise an independent thinker. And always, always be grateful when they pickup the phone for Mom, right? Next blog, the venue moves from the park to the vape store. Today I'll leave you with the promise that as your littles turn big you will enjoy many more smiles, laughs and sweet days.

Glory Days

I hope you have fun this summer! I hope you get to relive some of your glory days with people who make you laugh the loudest. Whether your glory days were spent cruising McDonald's, hanging out the sunroof of a Supra; or piled up in a dorm room writing letters to the editor. It's the bond, the togetherness, the physical closeness and shared experience that sustain us. And may you have many more unscripted glory days! Everyone breathe. _

"Muffin Likes To Visit"

 "Muffin likes to visit," was written in the Comments section of my 1st grade report card. Mrs. Rebecca Kummer, stalwart of the First Baptist Church, noted my delight in talking with classmates. My classroom included a row of windows on the north side and is visible from Main Street. Watching my own children conclude a school year brings back good memories of school days in Franklin, Kentucky.

Mrs. Kummer was always dressed in a skirt, often a suit, and wore nude hose. Let me remind everyone that 70's hose were fierce. Thank you Kardashians for revitalizing shapewear. Mrs. Kummer's jewelry was 'sparkly' to me, yet as I reflect it was understated and professional. She read one verse to us from an enormous Bible each morning, and each morning we pledged allegiance to the flag. Remember the reading groups, math sheets and SRA?? 

The rhythms of the school year provide predictability. The END of the school year makes Mamas (and grandmothers, aunts, cousins and friends) frazzled. It's that crescendo of excitement that summer is approaching, don't ya think? And the celebration of graduates, of course. The shared experiences of the end of school--field days, award ceremonies, all the 'lasts' that mark milestone years.  Mrs. Kummer did not run down the hall with her hair on fire but I know plenty of people who could! We're all ready to exhale. Summer break has arrived. I still like to visit. When I told my children I planned to add to the blog they questioned my platform. "Does anyone even know how to find you?"  "Mom, is that one outdated?" The questions were valid but I'm continuing what I started...a place to share. A place to visit. An interchange of ideas. I'll be here. You'll know it's me. No fakes allowed. Everyone breathe. #IYKYK

TWEENagers....

Here's the thing. I reeeeeeally wanted a nice picture of me with my children.

Here's the other thing....we don't always get exactly what we want, particularly when TWEENagers are involved!

The House of Wong

At this time, the closest Sammy & I have gotten to China is the dimly lit family dinners we used to enjoy (paper chicken was Sam's fav) at the House of Wong in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Visiting the House of Wong became a tradition with the Steers family.

Soon my grandmother, Dran, began taking Aunt Paula and my younger cousins Orran Lee & Carly to the House of Wong for their own dimly lit dinners during summer visits to Kentucky.

There are various stories and fond memories that sprang from our family dinners at the House of Wong...we won't bore you with those but we will take credit for cousin Carly's interest in East Asian studies. Her fluency of the language and doctoral accomplishments are of her own making!

Carly is spending a year in China & Japan...if you're interested in the culture check out her blog, listed at left under Soul Sisters.

For now, Sammy & I are content with life in our homeland...

Muffin Makeover...by Sam!

For you sis...here's to your latest spray tan and aspirations of strength training!! Just a preview as to what would be if you continue down the path of spraying and start pumping iron!! LOL!



Steer clear of the oil while visiting the gulf coast...would hate to see what oil does to the spray tan...might be hard to maintain the MommyDiva image with that kind of streaking!!

Cheers!

Rotten Potatoes

Honesty really is the best policy. And I'm not talking about the advice we give our children. I'm talking about grown-up honesty. I'm talking about honesty with oneself. I'm talking about self-awareness that only comes with age. I'll be honest with you, now that I've been honest with myself. I've been in a bit of a 'twist' lately, and I thought I'd share some of my discoveries.

First, what I found lurking in my kitchen drawer will shock and horrify many women. Most of all my own mother. When I saw the long alien-looking sprouts protuding from the new potato I couldn't believe my eyes. I'd never seen sprouts this long on any potato, much less one of mine. Immediately, I knew this was the potato my husband was referring to when he mentioned buying the 3lb bag of new potatoes as opposed to the 5 lb bag. Clearly the deep kitchen drawer hadn't been opened in awhile. Before you judgmental hussies start forming opinions let me say that we have a fabulous, and I do mean fabulous, housekeeper. I applaud myself for the hire. My husband applauds her for the cleaning, scrubbing and refreshing she gives our home twice a week. So, you can imagine my surprise when I found a rotten potato in the center of my sparkling-clean kitchen. After retrieving the alien-looking new potato from the top of the drawer, I looked into the drawer more closely. Ugh. I saw a clear plastic bag. Oh no, I felt slightly sick at my stomach, what is it? I have to get it. It's my responsibility. I braced myself for the mushiness...yep. A baked potato. Not mushy. No long sprouts...just gumball, spikey-looking spheres all over its potato body. Good God, I thought, that is gnarly looking....

After finding the potato I've thought a lot about how my simple failure to open the drawer led to the gnarly sprouts growing and growing and growing. I walk by that drawer many times a day. If only I had thought to open the drawer. But I've been too busy.

The business of life has contributed to my 'twist.' You know, just realizing, accepting and understanding that life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and professional will continue to be very busy whether it's soccer season, summer, football season, or Christmas. If I'm going to find myself in a 'twist' whenever life is busy....well, then I'm in a perpetual twist. And I don't want to be in a twist forever. Webster's dictionary defines twist as "to contort or distort; to confuse; to spiral; to revolve or rotate; to wind, as a path does; writhe." The twist I'm referring to is a period of self-awareness. See me--twisting--turning--I'm pretty much inside-out trying to figure out who the hell this woman is today. Our oldest daughter's march toward adolescence was the impetus for my personal twist. [side note: Aunt Sammy if you're crying at his 4-K graduation, just wait until you're shaving armpit hairs.] My age--I'm turning 40 next January-- I'm sure has contributed to my twist. My personal twist has been a process of embracing myself as a woman who is entering her 40's. My personal twist has led to my accepting myself in spite of mistakes I've made recently and those made long ago. Part of the twist I've been in is a result of acknowledging the hurt and pain my parents failed marriage caused my sister and me (and them) and burying that hurt so it doesn't affect the way I feel about myself today, 25 years later.

Finding the rotten potatoes catapulted me into reality about the twist I've been in. What the fuck? I asked myself. What am I doing? I mean, the fucking potatoes are right under my nose...just open the drawer and throw them out. It is what it is. Nothing more. Nothing less. Rotten fucking potatoes. You just open the drawer and throw them out. My responsibility....ok, John could've opened the drawer and thrown them away but we all know if John opened that drawer he would've closed it quickly...knowing that I would clean it out.

Open the drawer Mama.

You may be shocked and amazed at what you find lurking in the drawers of a freshly cleaned kitchen...but honey it won't be any worse than what I found lurking in mine.

Next time, other discoveries I've made during my personal 'twist' including breathing and surrendering.