Bullying

Just off the phone with my daughter-in-law in Denver.

She and my son are at their wits’ end with their 12-year old son being bullied at school.

Three times he has been physically assaulted, knocked to the ground and hit his head.

Going through the school protocol for anti-bullying has not resolved the situation.

Just last week I read about a 14-year old girl who took her life after being bullied.

Also, kids do bring guns to school.

This feels like too much to bear.

Trying to stay calm and think clearly so I can be a sounding board for my son and his wife as they navigate this minefield.

~Lori

Jumpstart

Feeling smug this morning.

I finished  two loads of laundry.   All by 7 A.M. Continue reading “Jumpstart”

Perspective

“There are two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.”   Einstein

I believe that this mindset helps us to live more creatively, fully and compassionately.

Just a thought.

My First Born

I could tell many stories about my first born.

This is one from the summer when he was 12 years old.

The start of summer.

That summer, he joined a year-round swim team.
He suffered from asthma and we thought swimming would be good for him.
We were right.

The end of summer.

By the end of the summer his breathing was much better. He did not have to use his inhaler as often. His wheezing was minimal. Also at the end of summer he swam in his first competitive meet. His event was the 500.
He was swimming against kids who had been in the program since they were 5 years old. Even though he was much better after taking lessons and practicing all summer, he was not as strong a swimmer as those kids.

They swam laps around him. They finished, exited the pool, and stood on the side watching him, now the only swimmer in the pool. The official stopped him and asked him if he wanted to quit.

My husband and I waited to see what he would do.

Without hesitation, he chose to finish the 500.
All of the other swimmers, the other parents and the officials waited while he swam back and forth across the pool.

The 500 is 100 yards freestyle, 100 yards backstroke, 100 yards butterfly stroke and 100 breaststroke. A really good swimmer can swim it in under ten minutes. He took about 30 minutes to complete all of the twenty laps.

He did not take home any medals that day, but he was a champion in our eyes.

He swam competitively for six years and earned many swimming and diving medals. His asthma was no longer an issue.

The story today.

He now is the father of a 12-year old son who is following in his path as a swimmer. My grandson has mastered all of the strokes and is doing well. He has not yet competed against other swimmers in a meet.

How he swims under the pressure of competition remains to be seen. I am confident that he will be a champion in the things that matter.


Once upon a time.

Did I ever tell you about the time that Christmas was cancelled at my house?

I was a little kid. 

My Father was dead.  

My Mother was left  with three little children.  

Like all little kids, we were excited for Christmas. 

It turned out to be the worst Christmas ever. 

Mother was upset.  

I did not know why but I felt as if I had done something wrong.  

There were no presents under the tree.  

All was quiet.  

I am an adult now.

No more tears.

Crying Time

These days, it does not take much for me to get teary-eyed or even to weep.

I weep when I read about someone’s good deed.

Or, I hear a song that brings back a memory, either sad or happy.

Continue reading “Crying Time”

Masking for a friend

Saturday Morning November 12, 2022

Good morning from chilly, but not rainy, Portland.

I surveyed my front and back patios to see if the leaves had taken over.

So far, the score is 1-1.

A friend loaned me a leaf blower so I have an advantage.

I hate using a leaf blower…so loud plus, I can use the exercise. Still, I am grateful to have it for the sidewalk and driveway.

When I am not in a hurry, raking leaves makes me slow down and smell the leaves.

Continue reading “Saturday Morning November 12, 2022”

Crossing the finish line

I am so close to resolving my window shade problem.

For several months, I battled Hunter Douglas and Home Depot for replacement of defective shades.

Four of the five shades fell apart and could not be repaired.

I paid a workman to take them down and bought temporary paper shades to cover my windows and protect my furniture and hardwood floors from the blazing sun.

So, instead of custom shades from Hunter Douglas in my living room, I had paper shades. Really sad!

Continue reading “Crossing the finish line”

Thursday Morning

I started my day by breaching the alarm system in my home.

Continue reading “Thursday Morning”