Be Safe

It has been a busy spring where I have been spending more time writing and reading for school (more on that in a later post) and have had no time to write here. 

I have had time to keep up with what others are writing and sharing. 

This poem was shared on Mother's Day by my dear high school friend. It was written by the mother of another friend and sums up what believably all parents want to say to their children. 

I pass this along keeping in mind that so many are experiencing graduations, milestone birthdays, and summer adventures with their loved ones and that some, who have lost their battles with life ending diseases, wish they were still physically around to repeat this message every day.

BE SAFE
By Helen Cabrera

You’re feeling your oats.
Graduation has made you heady.
Youth is conveyed by your smile.
The world is your oyster,
Celebrate your future.

But,

Please be safe.
Take time to make good decisions.
Fast turns can lead to disaster.
You do not have the right to crash.
Your body is a projection of me.
I am yours, you are mine.
Remember that.

When you tripped as a little child,
I gathered you in my arms.
Wiping your tears,
I told you to be careful.
Now, I am telling you:

Be Safe.

You are my legacy.
You are what I leave when I leave.
Your future will make my past work.
Take care of that body,
Open that mind,
You are what I treasure.
Do not treat my treasure casually.

Do not party till no end.
Do not push too hard on the pedal.
Do not compromise yourself,
Morally or financially.

Reaching maturity is a stretch.
It must be done with patience.
It will be attained with much agony.
Choices to be made, must be made
To advance, but be cautious.
You are special,
You belong to me.

Take care of that body,
Beware of pitfalls.
Go forward with joy,
Fear not.
Know my love will go with you.

Because,
You know I love you.

Sing Your Song

This question has been rattling around in my brain for awhile, "What is my purpose?"

Then the other day my daughter asked, "Why are we here?" "What is the purpose of this life?" I asked my husband, the closest thing to omnipotence I could find in a hurry, and his response was, "Who the (insert word that rhymes with duck) knows?"

I few moments later I walked into the living room and saw a pair of shoes lying on the couch (no joke), an empty yogurt container on the floor, and the TV on. After screaming down to my 17 year old to come and pick up after himself I swiftly turned to my daughter and said, "I think I am here for the sole purpose to nag your brother - and he is here, clearly, for the sole purpose to drive me crazy." Well at least we have each other.

The questions continue to rattle around in my brain. It's comforting to know that I am not alone with these questions. Everyone is asking them, right? 

 Everyone's life has a purpose. Our purpose is multi-layered and changes over time, as do we. That's what keeps life interesting. It's possible that we get stuck in thinking that our purpose has to be grand. It doesn't have to be and we don't have to know all the answers.

"The bird does not sing because it has the answer, it sings because it has a song."

We each have a song and i has many verses. (I choose mine to be sung by Colm Wilkinson* because he could sing the phone book and move me into action) Everyone's song is different. Some songs are for the world to hear and some are for our ears only. And that's okay. The thing is to brave enough to go out and sing! 

And maybe one day we will all be able to say to ourselves, "I am doing what I am supposed to be doing." 

If you can think it,
You can dream it.
If you are willing to do the work,
You can have it!
Whatever IT may be...

Start Singing.
Magda

*In case you don't know who Colm Wilkinson is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYnhVITf9E

My Dance Card is Full

Well, it's official, I am no longer the least bit "cool" in the eyes of my children. I admit this has probably been the case for quite some time. Not only am I not cool I am actually "really old" too. Their words not mine.

See over the course of the past couple of months my kids have been letting me know just how uncool and old I actually am. I have been told I must spell out everything when I text. In a  recent text to my oldest son I wrote, "I love u". His reply, "Spell out yr words. Yr a big girl." I guess he's got the do as I say not as I do lesson down. My middle son was even more direct. He recently asked me to do something for him and my reply was, "Okee-Dokee." He was quick to tell me, "You should stop saying that." He was kind enough to add, "You should also never say, Wakey-Wakey Rise and Shine" or Oopsadaisies, either."

My daughter is a little more subtle. While hosting a let's get dressed together, make-up session and pre-dance dinner at our house she and her friends were playing music and dancing around. A fun song came on and I began singing. She walked into the kitchen looked at me and just shook her head. An "Ah NO" look came on her face - the one with the raised eyebrows and mouth to the side smirk. I awkwardly laughed it off and slunk into another room feeling frumpy, old, and out of place. I did pour myself a Margarita first and took it in the room with me - I haven't lost all sense of myself. In addition I am also no longer supposed to say, "My Dance Card is Full", because no one knows what the heck that phrase means. No one says "smidge" any more, as in, "I'll just have a smidge of Ice Cream." It's also completely uncool for me to say "Dude". Apparently it makes me sound stupid.

I want to respect my children's wishes so I am considering tempering my language and actions. Their message really may be, "Please don't speak to us anymore at all but please do continue to do our laundry, make our meals, and drive us everywhere." It's so sad. I was convinced my kids would never get sick of me being around.

So the other day when my son asked me to do something for him I shook my head, gave him a mouth to the side smirk and said, "Sorry Dude - My Dance Card is Full", I then dropped my keys and with a quick, "Oopsidaisies",  picked them up and was out the door. (Without even a smidge of worry about what he and his sister were going to make themselves for dinner.)

Watch this for more parenting fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_NspDWssIY

Magda

Happy Birthday Norman Rockwell

Today would have been Norman Rockwell's 119th Birthday. Now it's probable that Norman Rockwell would not have wanted to live to be 119 Years old but I believe it to be true that his spirit has never died.

Norman Rockwell portrayed life with affection and good humor. Many times I find myself saying, "Now that is a Norman Rockwell moment."  Thanks to the iPhone I try to capture these moments whenever I can.

In Norman Rockwell's own words he "Never used a professional model." He captured every day life with every day people. He captured life's wonderfully funny moments and traditions. He captured important social issues of his time. I often wonder what would he capture in this new century. Life seemed so simple in his pictures. Is it still?


Norman Rockwell was brave enough to paint Ruby Bridges. Would he take on issues such as immigration or gun control? I wish he were around to answer this question. His quaint pictures were thought provoking. Simple but powerful messages.

Here are some links for more information on Normal Rockwell:
/http://www.biography.com/people/norman-rockwell-37249
http://www.nrm.org/

Thank you Mr. Rockwell. I wish you had more time to paint all the pictures you wanted to paint.

Magda