I Owe My Mother!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC
" Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11 My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION
"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP .
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me"

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

And my favorite:

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE .
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"

That's why MOTHERS RULE!

BEING A MOTHER

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.

She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie."What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded "just the two of us."She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed,"she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy.My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.

"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said."Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you."I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice, much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me.I love you, son."

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I love you." and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than our family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off until 'some other time.'
Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby.... that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother,"normal" is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first....that somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....that somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten...or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....well that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a Mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a Mother's job is done when her last child leaves home....that somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your Mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her.... that somebody isn't a Mother.

Pass this along to all the "Mothers" in your life and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't just about being a Mother; it's about appreciating the people inyour lives while you have them....no matter who that person is.

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle".

Sulking

Well, the good news is that the bone is healing well, the doctor is pleased, I'm pleased, which means no surgery is needed. The bad news is, I'm in a new cast for another month. I shall endure because it is only for another month AND because I don't need surgery. Speaking of surgery, I'm canceling my gallbladder one until later, after we find out what's going on with Mr M. His health comes first. All I need to do is keep from inflaming my gallbladder again. I think I can handle that.

Just Another Day In The Grove

On Friday, Mr M took me out to dinner for my birthday to our favorite steak house. We opted for staying in on Valentine's Day. I didn't feel like waiting or dealing with crowds of people. mr M also gifted me with a new wedding band set as my old one needs some serious repair. I am not happy with the last repair. The jeweler sends it out to be repaired and whomever he sent it to? Did a crappy job. In any case, I have a nice simple set now.

This afternoon I go to the ortho doctor and see if my cast comes off for good. If not, they will have to redo this one, it's very loose. It has not been an easy ride. I have fallen a few times with this thing and I hope I haven't disaligned the bone. I guess i'll find out today.

Things around the Grove have been quiet since Daughter and the kids moved out and Sprout is hardly ever home or if he is, he's in his room. There is so much clutter to go through. Mr M and I started working on that this past weekend.

not much else folks. Things otherwise have been pretty quiet.

Happy Valentine's Day

To all the people I care about.. Happy V day and I hope you spent it with someone you love or if not, at least, you got lots of delicious, decadent chocolate!!

Oooooooooo

It sure was quiet last night, almost too quiet. I'll adjust. I have to get use to it all over, but I'm not complaining. They got the bulk of Daughter's and the kids' stuff over there before it got too late. Mostly I have clean up to do. Of course, I need to get use to cooking mainly for two and sometimes three (when Sprout decides to grace us with his presence) but I'll figure it all out and HEY! I -finally- have an empty bedroom! I never thought I'd see that day. For as long as I can remember all the rooms have been filled. So this is truly a first in the history of this house.

Not much else is new here. verything else seems to be status quo. I am considering putting off my surgery until we get Mr M all figured out but then I think, get it done and over with. Then I'll not have to worry about my gall bladder ever acting up again. -Sigh- Decisions, decisions.

Three day weekend. Not that, that, changes my life in the least. Will probably have to be up early Tuesday morning to get the kids to school since SOMEone for got to call the bus dept and find out about the kids bus schedule.

Oh yeah.. and in December, FB lost his job down south. We don't know how or why. Karma's a bitch, isn't it?

News Update From The Grove

Well, the day has arrived. We're starting to move Daughter, Pookie and Topper into their own place. Hopefully this weekend, they'll all be moved in. It's going to be tight for her monetary wise but I know she can handle it. Then I have to be in the process of righting this house again. I want this damn cast off. I go see the ortho doc on the 19th, four days -after- my birthday. I'm hoping it comes off.

Still worried about Mr M's health. Battery of tests are forthcoming. One of his docs thinks he's been having a series of TIA's, which make sense, but what worries me is that there are far too many of them lately. This next month (March) we'll be in Sacramento, alot. There's his tests and my surgery.

Other than that, same stuff, different day. Over.