Today, CPI and I went with Papaw, Aunt J, ES and LS to the zoo. No, we do not want to comment on why it took five adults to take 2-year-old LS to the zoo. We all had a grand old time. We saw lions, bears, giraffes and even baby elephants. The biggest hit was the sea lions. We watched them for some time while Papaw took a phone call from a friend. They put on quite a show! The two young ones chased one another up and down the slide. Then, dad came out and took a ringside seat on a platform. Finally, mom came out and swam about watching the fun. The water looked really cool and inviting. LS suggested jumping in. ES (typical ‘mom spoils it all’) said that he couldn’t. When Papaw’s phone call was over, we had to practically peel LS off the fence between us and the sea lions. We only saw about 1/2 of the zoo before LS got sleepy. We’ll have to go back another day and take in the rest.~~TSG
Archive for the 'Parents' Category
off we went…
time to party
Tonight, my parents, siblings and a few friends are joining my family at Babbin’s, a local seafood restaurant. There will be fun, fellowship and alligator appetizers for the adventurous among us. No, it does not “taste just like chicken”. Afterwards, we will be going to my parent’s house for cake. The only ones missing will be RTA and MFA, who live too far away to come (insert frowny face here). I told FMP that this all sounded a bit expensive and he asked me if I intended to turn 50 again. Since I don’t, I had to concede his point. On with the festivities!!
Happy Father’s Day
In the sixties, when I was born, most men wanted a son first to carry on the family name. My father just wanted a child. The fact that his first-born was a girl didn’t faze him at all. He was delighted. He was every bit as delighted when my two sisters followed me in the next four years. It was not until six years afterwards that a boy was born.
My father taught me that I could do anything that I determined to do. He never met my suggestions, no matter how wild, with scorn. Instead, he provided me with the tools and taught me the skills necessary and then let me go. Now, when someone tells me that something can’t be done, I tell them to get out of the way.
When I was ten, I decided that the tall cylinders my mother’s hose came in would make great pencil holders if I could just melt the top to make a hole. My father got a small blowtorch and taught me how to use it. When I had the hang of it, he left me outside with instructions not to point it at my sisters or the house. At the time, I was so proud that I could handle something dangerous all by myself. Now, of course, I know that my dad was nearby watching just in case. The pencil holders were a great hit as Christmas presents for grandparents, aunts and uncles. This was my first experience in learning that homemade gifts are the best.
Today, my sisters and I all work in education. We help others reach their goals, even if they seem difficult or impossible. People who have never met my father are benefiting from what he taught us. My brother is a lawyer. We tell him that three sisters were excellent trainers in arguing.
Thanks for everything, Dad! I love you!
TSG
Mother’s Day
People say that I am a good mother. I say that I don’t see how I could possibly have failed to be considering the example I was given. I am not saying my mother was perfect. If she had been, then she would have been God, which would have left her little time to be my personal mom.
I am saying that she was the very best mother she could possibly be. She taught us to stand together, even if we felt apart; “You can fight with your sisters all you want. But, if someone else fights them, you had better be on their side!”. She taught us respect for ourselves and others. This is part of the reason I am now married to FMP instead of his predecessor. I have respect here that I was NEVER going to get there.
The first dish she taught me to cook was baked beans and hot dogs. You might think that an odd choice, but they were my favorite at the time. I do not know what my sisters learned to cook first, but I am sure it was something they liked. I am also sure she ate some truly awful results so as not to discourage us.
She has stood beside me through every event in my life. She has told me the truth when I didn’t want to hear it and certainly didn’t like it. She did not treat me exactly the same as my sisters and brother. She treated me as I needed to be treated. Children are not cut-out cookies. They are not all the same. Fair is not important, equal is. We were equal.
I love you, Mom!
TSG
In the Ensuing Panic 
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