Summer Bucket List

I just saw a Facebook post from Crystal (with pictures).  Scott, Crystal, Bryce, and Mason are at the Cowtown Rodeo crossing one more thing off of Mason's summer bucket list. 

Only Mason would have Cowtown Rodeo on his summer bucket list.  How funny!

Mason's is unique, for sure.  You never know where his mind is going to go next, but I'll tell you - I want to be along for the ride. 

My grandmother's hat

At one point, my mother and I lived in western Pennsylvania with my grandmother and great-grandfather.  It was a life-changing year for me, but we'll do that another time.  This is about the hat.

So...

Every morning my grandmother got up... took a shower (she went once a week to get her hair "done", so she wore a shower cap.  I was fascinated.  That's how they did that in the olden days), put on her stockings, slip, and dress... and then... a hat. 

I was little - 4 years old maybe?  I didn't understand the hat.

"Gram... Why do you put on a hat every morning?"

Gramma Jo chuckled.  "I put on my hat every morning because I want to be ready.  Bertha (across the street) or Duckie (down the street) might be going into town and call to invite me to come.  If I'm not ready - if they have to wait for me - they might not invite me again.  That would never do."

"No Gram", I laughed, hugging her.  "That would never do"

I don't wear a hat, but I do get my shower and get dressed before I do anything else.  Something good might come up and I want to be ready. 

Thanks, Gram!

Me Before You

Josie Clark, saying grace before dinner on Louisa's birthday

"Dear Lord...

Thank you for the food we eat and the company we keep.

Thank you for the opportunities you give us and the strength to meet the challenges we face on our journey.

Amen"

Angels everywhere

Something you may (or may not) know about me (or even care to know)...   

There is at least one angel in every room in my house.  

Name that Dinosaur

At Kate's softball game tonight (she won:  6-0), Chase was sitting on Michael's lap and asked Michael if he could see the pictures on Michael's phone. Michael told him that he could not and then asked Chase where HIS phone was. 

"It's in my pocket", Chase said, dryly.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out an invisible phone.  With his hand cupped as if he really did have a phone, he held it up in the air for Michael to see.

"Let's look at YOUR pictures, Chase."  Michael took the invisible phone into his own hand and with his index finger, pretended to slide pictures across the screen, asking Chase about the pictures.   Michael remarked that there were quite a few dinosaur pictures and tapped on the "picture" with his index finger and asked Chase what kind of dinosaur it was. 

Without a pause, or a smile (or any hesitation at all), Chase replied, "That's a Fingersaurus". 

How funny! Witty 5-year-old.  Michael and I were blown away!

Love that boy!

Graduation goals and aspirations

What do you want to be when you grow up?  That's what the teachers at the Bethesda United Methodist Church Child Development Center asked the graduating class of 2017.

Each preschool graduate was announced ceremoniously and took his/her place at in the center of the altar, dressed in a bright red cap and gown - and a proud grin.  As each child reached the assigned spot, his/her teacher informed us of the answer to the question of the day:   What does this child want to be when they grow up?

The were several  prospective doctors, policemen, fire fighters, vets, and teachers, but there was only one farmer.  Mason.

As usual, when it comes to Mason... he surprised us all - and as usual, 10 of us grinned and laughed at his originality.  I personally wondered if he was serious or just pulling the leg of his teacher.  (He's a champion leg-puller.) 

Later that night, at his brother's baseball game, we asked Mason about his goal of becoming a farmer and why he chose that particular occupation.    He told us that he intends to be a zoo-farmer.  He doesn't want to limit his farm to traditional farm animals.  He also wants zoo animals - like alligators and elephants. How creative!  He has a clear picture in his mind of his zoo-farm.  (Of course.)

Today Mason graduated from preschool.  He says he's going to be a zoo-farmer.

I have no doubt.

Nights in Rodanthe

Adrienne (Diane Lane) speaking to her daughter, Amanda (Mae Whitman) about love...

"There's one kind of love, Amanda - one that gives you the courage to be more than you are - not less than you are - one that makes you feel that anything is possible.  

I want you to know you can have that kind of love.  I want you to hold out for it.  I want you to know you deserve it."