Why?

A simple three lettered question. Why?

Children. We endure 9 months of backbreaking anguish as we carry them to their birth. Then for a short time we spend endless hours adoring their every movement, noticing such details as how often they yawn, or blink their eyes. As infants there isn't much they do that we don't love, adore, and cherish. We spend endless hours trying to share our amazement with others. Our babies. They are unique, that is until they turn 2, and the tantrums begin. Still we amaze ourselves at how we endure the "terrible twos" and allow these special beings of ours to coexist in our homes.

Too soon childhood passes on to the teenage years. Still starstruck with amazement at the accomplishments of our little ones, the ultimate happens, the driver's license. The amazement passes to worry, and fear. And it never leaves.

This week for the second time in the 13 years I have lived in this house, a young woman, a child, a baby, has been taken from us. Away from life, away from her own future. Away. An accident. It is not known why it happened the way it did, but it did. Our world once again loses a bright spot, a shining star, a lovely baby. An accident. Why?

She was 17. She was driving. She hit a tree and a pole. She was only seconds from her home. She died quickly. Her family is devastated. Those that know her family are at a loss. A mother's baby, gone, a father's pride and joy, gone. Why?

It happened about 10 years ago too. To another family in the same area. That time the baby was 15, she wasn't driving. She was seconds from her home. She too was snatched from the dreams and hopes of her parents, and the comfort of her siblings. Why?

Our children bring such happiness into our lives and all those with whom they have contact. We, as parents, love them with an intensity that only we parents can truly understand. We fill them with our hopes, our excitement, our dreams, until they start to form their own. Then we share in what is to be their person, the gifts they will give to the world, and how they will do their part to make the world better. Our children are our future. That is until the ultimate happens, an accident.

We dare not forget. We must remember. The infancy, the first word, the first step, the tantrums. The memories are all that is left. Her voice, her perfume, her laughter, we struggle to remember, and long to be relieved of this struggle. Life must continue, embedded in the shadows of what will never be. She is not forgotten. She cannot be hidden from memory, for she is alive in the spirit of those who loved her. Both girls live in the memory and hearts of those that knew them, loved them, and now that memory helps their families as they create a new life without them. But why?

Rest in peace,Carolyn and Annie.

What the Heck?

My friend warned me. She said that they would grow older and more cynical. She warned that their targets would be us. Mom and Dad. She was right. She said to be careful, they do not miss a comment, a statement, or an action. Oh she was so right. Of course she was talking about our children. Her children are a few years older than ours, but are the about the distance apart in age. As they left for college and would come home on vacations, she would tell me of the comedy that would take place in her house. I didn't believe her. I was certain that my children would never pick up on silly things that my husband I would say or do, much less use them as ammunition for amusement. Oh was I wrong.

Our children and boy and girl are now about the ages that my friend's children were when she started to warn me. In her house, the dinner table was stage for her children to start their parody. In our house, it doesn't matter, any place, time or setting works. It seems my husband, their father, and I are prime real estate for entertainment. The sad thing is, it is funny. Watching and listening to them repeat phrases or lines that we have said, completely out of context makes for lots of laughter in our house.

The current favorite is "What the Heck?" I am well known for my misadventures at attempting to cook. Seems as I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner, I had a bit of an accident at the stove, something spilled and caught flame. My response was "What the heck?", and now those three words have become a favorite catch phrase. Today, as our son was decorating the Christmas Tree, he must have muttered it 10 times. I don't know. Every time he did, I laughed. So I say, why do I laugh as he is clearly making fun of me??

Our son manages to catch me completely off guard. As I am crocheting, or he is watching TV, or just reading, he will pop out a "What the heck?" and all of us will laugh. It is funny. Then our daughter chimes in with some inane statement, and he retorts "What the heck?" and we all laugh.

Children. At any age, they bring love into a home, and really do fill the house. I can't imagine my life without my children. My whole adult life has been about children. At first it was other people's children, as I am a teacher. Then my own. I am still teaching, and those "other" children are a huge part of my life, but not nearly as much as my own children.

God gives us our children for just a short time. We must care for them, teach them to judge right from wrong, and how to make good decisions. We must educate them, keep them healthy, and we must worry about them. Then suddenly we celebrate that dreaded 21st birthday, and realize that they are adults. Adults. How did that happen? With a little luck, we did give them that sense of right judgment, the confidence to be independent and the curiosity to never stop learning. We loved them, taught them to love, and to share that love. In return, we signed the lease. We wrote the agreement, and sealed the envelope. You see, when there is love, there is laughter. When there is laughter, love grows. As love grows, so do the bonds that tie a family together.

Children, regardless of their age, are what life is about.

What the heck.

The gift

This blog is my first Christmas gift this year. Unusual?? Maybe. But a very good friend is responsible for getting me involved in this new hobby. He promises to help me along, and I know he will. Thank you to my friend for opening my world a little more!!

I have discovered how to post, and how to sign on.... that is a first.

..more later

Greetings Angie / thinkerlady

.

Yes, you are the proud owner of your very own blog!

A day you thought would never come I am sure.


After you scan through these photos and links that celebrate a few things that I suspect you value and enjoy, make sure you stop at the bottom to read some closing thoughts.



Imagine what you can with your own little outpost on the World Wide Web:


Declare your love for Philadelphia sports:

Image source: bryce_edwards via flickr dot com

Image source: Philadelphia Eagles.com

Share the joy of a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert:

Image source: informant via flickr dot com

Or perhaps simply celebrate the smile on a child's face:

Image source: angela7 via flickr dot com

Oh, one more (hopefully) fun thing for you.

This is a site where you can search flickr dot com for pictures by color. Here is what a representative search by 'pink' might look like:

(click the image for a 'bigger' view)


Link: . Color Search



Some closing thoughts:

Choosing gifts is always a hard thing to do: to catch the nuances of an individual's likes and dislikes, what is fun for them, what might bring a moment of joy or pleasure.

Here I simply tried to share a few things I hope will bring a smile to your face or fill a few minutes online checking out something new.


You obviously can do what you want with this blog. It will be easy to cancel it. Or you could simply keep it. Or you could even use it. By the way, I opened a gmail account in your 'name' also. I will 'gift' that to you also.


Merry Christmas from your Santa elf.