My very lovely sister Kathleen turns a new age today. (It’s not my decision whether or not she wants anyone to know how old she is, and I’m no fool.) She has been very, very supportive of my writing for years now in both practical and emotional ways.
One night, a long time ago, when we were sharing an apartment (read: I was living in her apt), I wrote a short piece about my parents, in honor of their anniversary, and left it for her when I went to bed at whatever godforsaken hour I did. She worked for a bank most of her life, and got it when she woke up a few hours later. When I saw her next, she was holding it in her hand, kind of gesticulating with the pages, and said, “So you just sat down and wrote this, just like that?” I shook my head yes and watched as the lightbulb went off over her head; I’m not sure in all of her years of banking it had ever occurred to her that someone would sit down and write a short story for no reason whatsoever.
It was like our own sororal cultural exchange: not too much later, she sat me down and taught me how to write a budget. As it turns out I’m excellent at writing them; it’s keeping to them that’s the tricky part.
But a very happy birthday to you, Kath!
Happy Independence
“Revolutions have never lightened the burden of tyranny: they have only shifted it to another shoulder.” – George Bernard Shaw
We forget sometimes that July 4th is the celebration of a revolution, I think. It would be nice if our current government occasionally remembered what the point was, but I fear our president shares more than a namesake with the English king we shook off.
Happy Independence Day!
(& Please don’t drink & drive.)
Here Comes the Summer.
Summer begins today at 7:26 am EDT – the moment this post goes up.
The Beast's Area Code
As it turns out, 666 isn’t the number of the beast. It’s 616.
Too bad all the Satan types missed out; the big day was last Thursday.
Happy Memorial Day!
A very happy Memorial Day to you all, with especial good wishes to anyone who has lost a loved one in a war – current, recent, or past. (I was relieved to find out my own cousin quit the Navy, & so is no longer stationed in Iraq.)
I would personally like to thank my great uncle, who stormed the beaches at Normandy – because he kept so mum about it when he was alive that I only found out about his service after his death.
And since we often “remember” the dead of our wars, but not the post-traumatics and the permanently injured, a shout out to all of them too, for sacrificing a limb or their sanity for our sake.
Happy Mother's Day!
Take care of your mom today, thank her for being selfless, to whatever degree she was.
Thanking anyone who’s mothered you might be a good idea in general.
Then go and sign a petition to help working moms at www.momsrising.org. Do check out the new book The Motherhood Manifesto, too.
But most importantly, read this heartwarming piece about motherhood by Natalie Angier.
Happy Birthday to Us!
It’s Betty’s and my 37th birthday today.
For those of you who don’t know: same year, same day. We are relieved to know at least that our mothers were in New York (me) and Wyoming (Betty) delivering, since this way we know we’re not twins separated at birth.
(Come to think of it, if we ever say we live “like sisters,” we’re going to have to be twins. Fraternal, of course. Oh, no: sororal, rather. Ick, ick, and ick: I still don’t understand how anyone can say that about someone they are having / used to have sex with.)
Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!
My parents are celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary today. Congrats mom & dad, & thanks for the good example.
Cute, aren’t they? So do I look more like mom or dad?
Congratulations, Donna!
As of tomorrow, Donna – one of our board regulars, and a friend – will have been living full-time for a year. She’s had more than her share of trials and tribulations, yet she has come through it with grace and empathy for others.
Congrats, Donna – from me, and Betty, & your friends on the boards.
Please Donate
If you can, please donate to help us keep doing what we do. Thanks to all of you who have contributed in the past.
Last month I was asked how much money I needed, and what it was for, so I thought, for the sake of my newer blog readers, I should explain a little. I’ve put a longer explanation of why we ask for donations on the “please donate” page, but mostly I’d love to encourage people to do a monthly subscription fee – especially if you’re a regular board user (lurker or active poster). Some of you are doing so already, and I really appreciate it.