The Mouths of Babes

Yesterday my brother was "kind enough" to bring me two buttons of myself in my gymnastics suit posing. My Mom and Dad used to wear them on their coats. Charming.

Anyway, Cecelia was infatuated with them and kept telling me that I looked like a kid. I'm about 15 in one and maybe 16 or 17 in the other. So, I had to ask her if I looked different and what makes me look different.
She was actually very kind (as I was anticipating a response riddled with words like wrinkles, frown, loose skin, etc). She basically said that now I look more like a lady vs. a kid, now I look like a mom, not a kid, stuff like that.
The best part was when my 4 year old daycare buddy walked up and said "Plus, you're wearing a different shirt."
I thought that was hilarious, I hope you do too.

Washington Post Opinion

In regard to the lack of experience between Obama and Palin I found this opinion in the Washington Post.
I'm usually not one to publicly share my political views, but I liked this message.

Too much experience blinds you to other possibilities, and knowledge is, according to Karl Popper, a relative and changing thing. Maybe ignorance is the best alternative.... Perhaps what we need in this country is leaders who do not know how things are done by career politicians. Perhaps what we need is leaders who understand that they do not have the knowledge to lead. Our founding fathers, I think, were keenly aware of this when they drafted the constitution and limited the powers of the presidency. Sarah Palin may or may not be a good candidate for the VP job; the same can be said for Barack Obama and the presidency. But the fact that someone may not have the qualifications that the media thinks are important poses no limitation on the capability of the person. I do not want more of "experienced leadership" that considers itself wise enough to make decisions for me. I want principled people who understand their own limitations and, yes, their own ignorance

I Just Miss Him So Much....

I hope my Mom doesn't mind me sharing some of what she's feeling right now, but I feel that sharing can be therapeutic and prayers don't hurt much either.

Mom and Dave went to the marina to clean out her and Rick's boat for the fall over the weekend. She had a really hard time. My heart aches for the loss of my step Dad, but it aches even more for the loss of my Mom's husband.

She said: I just miss him so much....

Heartache has got to be the worst feeling on the planet. Just the worst! Some days it takes all that you've got to not scream your head off for no reason. The pain in your heart is so intense that no matter what you do to distract yourself it still throbs.

I know there's nothing we can do besides let time heal. In the mean time, I just want to say that this sucks the big one.

The Bright Side

It hasn't been an easy last couple of weeks - needless to say.

This week I jumped back in to daycare, CeCe started preschool and I am technically still post pardum. As hard as it is to admit, I almost felt like I couldn't handle it all.

Now that it's Friday (thank the Heavens) I can actually manage a smile.

And even though my children haven't made things any easier for me lately, I still love them to death.

I mean, look at these faces.

Guest Book

For those of you who are interested in obtaining my mom's address, please email me. I feel more comfortable donig it that way vs. putting it here on the blog.

There is also a guest book in connection with Rick's obituary. You can access it here.

http://obits.cleveland.com/Cleveland/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=116961678

Thank you ALL for your thoughts and numerous prayers for us!

Our Rick

Our Rick was one of the smartest men I knew. He was a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
He knew how to get what he wanted, in the way he wanted it, when he wanted it.
But, for me, his greatest quality was his unconditional love for his family.

Rick had just printed off pictures of his daughter, Joanna, and her new baby Grant off of his computer. They were still sitting by the printer when I arrived on Wednesday.

He loved us and we love him.

In particular, he loved my Mom.
Rick loved my Mom in every way she deserved. He respected her, admired her and adored the daylights out of her.
When they bought a lake place he named it after her – Claire View.
When he bought the boat of his dreams he named it after her – Claire Buoyant.
I can’t tell you how many times I heard him say to her “What can I get for you, Dear?” “Let me do that for you, Dear” “I love you, Dear.”
His love for her was mutual.
They loved each other hard…..the way a real couple – real soul mates should.

I’m not sure how we’ll get by without him here, but I know we’ll do it together because I know that’s what would make him the proudest.

We’ll miss you, Rick.

Mom and Rick

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,

Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead.

Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now; put out every one,
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun,
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the woods;
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
-- W.H. Auden