Party of Five

You may or may not recall that two years ago for Thanksgiving, I was delegated to bring the all important Cool Whip to Thanksgiving dinner . I was okay with that - one cannot have pumpkin or chocolate pie without Cool Whip, so I was pleased to be the bearer of the artificial dairy product for our feast. Last year...it was the dinner rolls or beverages...I don't recall which, but neither of which were a very important part of the menu. So here we go again. The family feast prepared by my mother-in-law that we look forward to all year long. It's only a few days away, and I'm already starting to salivate in anticipation of the meal that will be waiting for us. I asked her a week ago what I should bring for dinner. She simply replied, "I don't know yet." One week later I have yet to be given my assignment, and with the holiday just a few days away I'm not sure I will be given one. Nothing. I'm not sure if I should be offended or elated. I manage to...

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." I've come to realize over the past few days, that this is one of the dumbest phrases that I've ever read. The fact is that words said publicly or privately, whether they are said in honesty or in jest, can and will hurt when they are meant to. And I'm not just talking about a wounded ego. Sometimes the words can strike a chord so deep inside, it's a heartache that is second only to the loss of a lover. It's a devastation felt that makes your heart drop out of your chest and hit the floor with an audible "THUD". And don't forget the level of disappointment in the people we believed wanted only the best for us, but the words formed on their lips or under their fingers on a keyboard show a different side to their intentions. It makes me wonder what it's like for politicians during their campaigns. How can they just sit back and watch when their opponents drag their n...

Today marks the start of what turns out every year to be a very sad, depressing period of time. For my mother especially, but also for me as I struggle through my own memories & heartache. So forgive me as I blog my way through some sadness over these next few weeks. 8 years ago my husband answered the phone while I was reading a bedtime story to our son. I could tell from the conversation that something was wrong, but I had no idea. 8 years ago, my step-dad was driving home from the gym, down a road that he had been on more times than we could ever count. For whatever reason, his truck crossed the center line, and hit another car head on. My mom's world changed forever. Larry was her knight in shining armor, who treated her like the queen that she is. They had actually known each other when they were teenagers - my mom and her boyfriend at the time, had gone out on double dates with Larry and his girlfriend at that time. Years later, they became reacquainted when Larry s...