My Princess Daughter and Granddaughters

And, soon, another to Lovie will appear in the picture. . .

Compelled to blog . . .

I haven't blogged in over a year. The last 24 hours of my life has compelled me to blog. What has that 24 hours looked like? Last night, I had dinner with the son of one of my best friends. I enjoyed the food and the conversation. The restaurant is a very popular one here in Houston, not outrageously expensive but on average you're going to spend $25.00 to $30.00 for dinner at that restaurant. The restaurant is along a stretch of road, like lot's of streets and roads in Houston, that have a string of comparable restaurants serving different kinds of food (mexican, italian, seafood, et al). All of the restaurants are pretty big places and they were all packed last night, a Thursday night. I'm sure on the weekend you would have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for a table at any of those restaurants. There were a group of people at the table next to us who had a beautiful little girl with them. The little girl was 3 or 4 years old and was having a wonderful time. She was enjoying her dinner and receiving lot's of attention from the adults at the table, smiling, laughing and talking up a storm. Watching her made me think of my precious granddaughter Princess Rylee and the joyful anticipation of the arrival of her sister, Princess Reese. They have been and will be borne into a very nice life. It made me smile. . .

This morning, I'm at my office in downtown Houston. Across the street from my office is an outreach center www.chomhouston.org . On the days that the Beacon is serving the community, the line of homeless people stretches around the block. Seeing that line always makes my heart ache for those people. This morning, not only is my heart aching, my eyes are crying. Why? Sitting across the street waiting for a number to get into the Beacon for a shower and a hot meal is a mother and her beautiful 3 or 4 year old daughter. The little girl is sitting very still, totally lacking the playfulness and joy that the little girl from last night possessed so completely. The difference in the life of the little girl last night and the one this morning . . . unsettling. It made my cry. . .

I don't know their story, I don't know why the mother and child are homeless. All I know is that something is wrong when a 3 or 4 year old little girl has to stand in line IN THIS COUNTRY for a hot meal! We are so very blessed in this country, the abundance we have is almost offensive. Over the last couple of years, I have had conversations with lot's of the people from across the street who are homeless. They are not people who are choosing the "living on the streets" lifestyle. Life has dealt them a blow that they haven't been able to recover from, which puts them in a situation of living at the level of survival. When you wake up in the morning, after sleeping on the street, the day becomes consumed with thoughts of where you're going to get food or how you are going to take care of your personal hygiene. No time to think about improving your life, ya gotta get through the day, only to live the same day again tomorrow.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a mother and be on the streets with a child. But more than that, I can't imagine what it would be like to be a child living on the streets.

I don't know all the reasons WHY and I don't have the answers for HOW. All I know is something is very wrong in this country when our children are standing in line just to receive a hot meal. I can't feed all the children but I can do my small part. So today, I'm making a commitment to the children of my city. From this day forward, any time I go out to dinner, whatever I spend, I'll donate a like amount to the Beacon Mission to feed those children in line across the street and maybe just maybe eventually the line will get shorter and shorter and eventually cease to exist at all!

God Bless The Children!

Yea, Tonight it beings again . . .

The perfect quote to remember in the New Year!

"Forgiveness doesn't change the past, but it does enlarge the future." -- Paul Boese

The weekend . . .

Last Saturday morning, my sister and I headed north on I-45 like we have so many times in the past for so many different reasons! To visit family, friends or to hang with our favorite singers (luckily we don't have the same "favorite" singer)! Last Saturday we headed north to hang with some of my favorite people, The Princess, Her Prince and my precious Princess Granddaughter, Rylee Claire O'Neill! The weather was beautiful, the time in the car with my sister passed so quickly that minutes after leaving home, we were arriving at the T Room for lunch! Yum, Yum, Yummy!!!!

The strangest past of the weekend for me, I found myself wanting to "look" at Rylee Claire O'Neill, just look at her, gaze at her, feast my eyes on her! A feast for the eyes she is, but I think part of that wanting to "look at her" is a little bit of the same feeling that I've always had about her mother, she came from me, she's a part of me, but there she is, a whole, complete, perfect person all on her own! It's all a bit of a mystery to me! But, I believe "knowing" that and "feeling" that, allowed me to step back at times and let my daughter become her own whole, complete, perfect person all on her own. In doing so, I've spent 30 years being amazed and awed by the existence of the person that came from me, is a part of me and all that she has achieved in her life and the person she has become. One thing is for sure, my Princess Daughter has become a whole, complete and perfect Mother all on her own!!!!! Feast your eyes on what has come through her!! Watching Rylee is a whole lot of fun!!!

Oh Yeah!

“You can either hold yourself up to the unrealistic standards of others, or ignore them and concentrate on being happy with yourself as you are.” ―Jeph Jacques

Get ready to Vote, Vote and then, Vote!!! The longer she's on the show, the happier I'll be!!!!!

A sense of dismay . . .

The recent controversy about President Obama addressing school children has gotten my blood boiling like nothing has in a very long time! This country, that I have always been so very proud of, is made up of a variety of political view, religions, cultures and flavors! That has always been one of the things I love the most about this country! But this past week has made me question the segment of our population that seems to have a problem with the man that was elected President of this country speaking to their children. Being a mother and recently becoming a grandmother, I hope that I've taught my child and will one day play a part in teaching my grandchild about critical thinking! There have always been and will always be differences of opinions and, Thank God for that! I don't always want to eat vanilla ice cream, no matter how good Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla is, I want the opportunity to choose and I think I have taught my child to choose!

The one thing that has been consistent in my beliefs is a belief in respect, for this country and all that represents this country to me! The reaction by some to the President of the United States addressing their children shows a complete lack of respect whether you agree with his politics or not, he is the President of this country. It's dismaying and disturbing that so many parents in this country spend so little time educating their own children that they are fearful about what they might hear!!! I think it's one more example of parents not taking responsibility for what they have brought into our world! I grew up with a father that I pretty much agreed with on almost everything. On the other hand, their is a part of my family that I don't agree with on anything, not politics, not religion, not even the best flavor of ice cream! But, I have a family that have never been afraid to think for theirselves! We were taught that by our parents and, most of us don't think like our parents! We are a family of Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Catholics, Buddhists, blondes, brunettes, blue-eyed, green-eyed, brown-eyed, vanilla loving, chocolate loving mixture of America! The discussions can get heated, but the feeling of love never leaves and a sense of respect is always present and no one is afraid that they can't Teach Their Own Children Well and no one, and I mean no one would suggest that listening is ever a bad thing! As a matter of fact, the art of listening is one of the most loving things an individual can do! So, America, take responsibility, teach your children to listen and to be unique and special, teach them the art of critical thinking! Don't narrow their vision, broaden their horizons, let them be theirselves!!!!!

As for my favorite flavor!


But sometimes, I indulge my taste buds and have Blue Bell - The Great Divide - 1/2 creamy Vanilla and 1/2 Milk Chocolate! Imagine that!

AND, READ THE BOOK!!!!

I love Giraffes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The new baby at the Houston Zoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Blessings . . .

I'm going to go see one of my favorite red-heads Saturday Night!

Smile . . .

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, whats the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Words by john turner and geoffrey parsons and music by charlie chaplin

Isn't she lovely, made from love!

Please show your support . . .

By going to http://musicfirstcoalition.org/ and doing what you need to do! Thanks.

I loved reading this book . . .

"The Secret Life of Bees . . ."

"The first week at August's was a consolation, a pure relief. The world will give you that once in a while, a brief timeout; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life."

Thinking about tomorrow . . .

In 1969, I was living in New York City. One of the best years of my life. A year of feeling freer and safer then ever before and, in some ways ever since. While those of my generation were losing their lives in the war in Vietnam, I was enjoying a feeling of complete freedom and safety. While I never have and never will support war as an answer, the men and women who are willing to take a stand for this country by going where they are told to go and putting their lives in danger for our freedoms will always have my absolute complete support and gratitude.

It's interesting what our minds hang on to that we may not even realize is simmering there. Along my journey to mental wellness, I've read and read and read anything and everything I could find to help me on my way. It's interesting that the books that I've read that have given me the most help were written by a Zen Buddhist Monk who was born and raised in Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh. During the Vietnam war, he attended the Paris Peace Accords and thereafter was refused entry into his own country for supporting the Peace Accords. Thich Nhat Hanh was nominated for a Noble Peace Prize by Martin Luther King for his commitment to world peace. His writings are about creating peace through mindfulness. Being mindful of your words, your actions and your surroundings. Peace begins within each of us. Has the war of my generation been simmering in my mind all these years? Is that why I've been so drawn to this monk for answers? Does it help to know that there were those in Vietnam who were taking a stand against a war that caused so many to lose so much? Maybe so. What I know for sure, I'm grateful for Thich Nhat Hanh, his stand for Peace and his willingness to share that stand with the world no matter what it cost him.

Yesterday, with Memorial Day on my mind, I watched one of my all time favorite movies. A Few Good Men . . . there is a line in that movie that, yesterday, brought tears to my eyes . . . Demi Moore is asked, about the 2 Marines on trial . . . "Why do you like them so much?" She responds "Because they stand on a wall and they say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'"

And so, this morning, I thank all those who have taken a stand for Peace by being peaceful and those who have been willing to "stand on a wall and say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'" Maybe one day, all the citizens of the world will choose the way of Thich Nhat Hanh and find their own peace within and there will then be no reason for anyone to "stand on a wall and say 'nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.'"

Tomorrow will be a day of peaceful reflection for me. A day of respect for those lost in all the wars, but especially the war of my generation. A day of mindfulness about what Vietnam cost me and a day of gratitude for what Vietnam has brought me.

God Bless America. Have a safe and mindful Memorial Day.

Hmmmmmmm!

Man: Doc, my brother’s crazy. He thinks he’s a chicken.
Psychiatrist: Well, why don’t you turn him in?
Man: I would, but I need the eggs.

- Woody Allen

Mother's Day Reflections

This pretty picture is from the Mother's Day card that was sent to me by my Princess Daugher, Laran, her husband Greg, their soon to be Princess Daughter Rylee Claire and their two sons (their dogs) Doby and Yankee! The Princess and I actually celebrated Mother's Day last Saturday, a trip to the beauty salon, makeup by YSL and lunch at Neimans. It was a fun day! Thanks Princess for the day, for the card and for being a very special You!

Last weekend, at a baby shower given for The Princesses (Laran and Rylee) by some close friends of Laran, Laran gave all the Hostesses, Hostess Gifts and she gave me a gift also. Part of my gift was a beautiful, jeweled Peacock picture frame which contained a quote she had chosen to put in the frame. Here's the quote. . .

"First of all she is my Mother, with a capital 'M';

she's something sacred to me.

I love her dearly...

She is also a good friend, someone I can talk openly with."

-- Sophia Loren

The quote is absolutely correct, First of all, I am Laran's Mother! Being given the gift of being "Laran's Mother" is what I love most about being Me! While raising Laran, I was always her Mother First, she always had lot's of friends but she only had one Mother. I always wanted to be what every child needs most, her Mother. Along the way we became friends which I don't believe would have happened if I hadn't been her Mother First!

While sitting here this morning, my own Mother pulls up in front of my house and honks (which I've asked her not to do at least 10 times, it makes Sunny crazy). Usually her honking irritates the crap out of me. But, this morning, it kinda made me giggle! I found a part of my own Mother to love in that honk this morning! My Mother is going to be who she is, she's going to do what she does and she's going to honk her horn no matter what! (Maybe that's where I got the part of me that's going to be me no matter what!) I went out to see what she wanted and what she wanted was to give me my monthly supply of magazines, honking because she wanted to give me something. Hmmm, maybe I've been a little to hard on her all these years. I think I'll take a cue from The Princess, I'll accept that her "honking" is about My Mother being who she is, someone that's always wanting to give me something. When she appears, Sunny will just have to bark! Maybe Sunny is really barking because she's excited to see Baba!

When I came back inside, I started thinking about her and something she once said to me. Being me, as we were riding down the road one day, I was asking her questions about her life, the question? Is there anything you wish you had done differently? Her response "I wish I had been nicer to your Daddy." I loved My Mother in that moment more than I think I ever had before or have since and, I felt an ache in my heart for her, when she said that, my Daddy had already been gone for a while. It made me sad that she is carrying that regret with her.

My Mother's Day advice . . . Don't let that happen to You, think about it. Is there someone in your life that if they were gone you would wish you had been nicer to them? Is there anyone in your life that doesn't treat you the way you deserve to be treated? Is the person You need to be nicer to Yourself? If it's another person or Yourself, don't let regret stack up on You, be nicer where ever you need to be whether it's to someone else and most of all, if you need to be Nicer to Yourself, Do It!

Happy Mother's Day!