When I was a kid in school, and Valentine's Day came around, the teacher would have us decorate brown lunch bags with hearts and kisses and tape them to the sides of our desks. At the appointed time, we would run around the room and drop our little cards in the bags of those we wanted to be our valentines and the teacher would give us all candy and a special card for each of us. We'd run home with our bounty and read each little card to see who loved us enough to scribble their name on the card. It was heaven.
Whatever happened to that?
When I was dating in college, depending on the guy I was hanging out with, Valentine's Day could be anything from a romantic dinner at some overpriced restaurant he couldnt' afford, in his attempt to both impressed and seduce me... or simply laughing and watching a "chick flick" in the dorm. It wasn't as simple as when I was a kid, but it was nice.
Whatever happened to that?
While in the throes of courtship with the man I eventually married, a silly little ritual begain. I mentioned, the year we met (we met about a month before Valentine's Day, actually), that I loved Pez... and Jelly Bellies. On Valentine's Day, I got both and the most beautiful hand made, hand drawn card. I still have the card, I have no idea what happened to that first Pez dispenser. The Jelly Bellies were heaven.
Over the years, the general gifts have remained the same (I really do love Pez and Jelly Bellies) and the hand made cards are tied up neatly and in a box in the back of my closet. I get dinner some years, jewelry others, all sorts of surprises too. Its been... loving.
Yet, somehow, I want the dumb little card with his name scribbled on it.... and the candy hearts and the teddy bear and all the other stuff I got when I was younger. I just what I really want is... younger. Its gone tho... I know.
Valentine's Day has become this day of remembrance... joy on a quite level, happiness contained. Its good, very good. Even without the scribbled name on the card.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone...
Labels: mah peoples..., spiritual musings
Unless you've been under a rock or something for the past few weeks, you should know that today is Superbowl Sunday. I am an Indianapolis Colts fan, and my team is playing my husband's team (the New Orleans Saints) today.. This friendly rivalry has been the highlight of the season and as our daughter is proud to say, a true measure of how we much we love each other. I'm taking a moment from my preparations to do what I always do on Superbowl Sunday... panic.
I am a football fan. I've been a football fan for as long as I can remember. Saturday afternoons propped up in front of the television with my father or uncles, Sunday afternoons learning the minor details of the game. I love football.
This time last year, I muttered about how NEXT week would signal the end of the football season. Since the Pro Ball was moved to the week before the Superbowl this year, I realized this is it... the season is over tonight. I think I need to be put on suicide watch.
The really sad thing about the end of football season is there's 8 weeks before baseball season starts. The eight weeks in between are torture for me. Even with the winter olympics this year, I just don't know what to do with myself. I only like skiing, and not even that much. Hockey is out of the question, and basketball, ugh... tall, skinny people in baggy shorts shooting balls at baskets just doesn't move me.
So, the orgasmic high that is the Superbowl will end with a bang... tonight. After nearly 20 weeks of foreplay, teasing, moments of joy, tears, sadness, confusion, amusement, my annual affair with football is over. Tomorrow at school, I'll discuss the game with students and teachers and by Monday night, I'll be circled up in a ball in my bed wondering if I will survive. Its over; I can't stand it.
Although I'm not as big a fan of college ball as I am of pro ball, I will, if not otherwise occupied, watch the draft and at some point in July, I'll begin my flirtation with the sport again. Then, as always, I"ll be back here, the first weekend of February, suffering... interruptus.
Lord help me....
Labels: random thoughts
Okay, its time for the political correctness police to dust off their robes and wander around aimlessly as people make excuses for saying what they say.
In case you've weren't aware, Chief of Staff Rahm Emmauel, behind closed doors (where most of us assume we're safe from the PC Police) called a group of liberals who wanted to run ads against conservatives "f*ckin retards". Somehow, our favorite Republican Barbie Sarah Palin found out about his comments and noted that what he said was inappropriate. Remember, Sarah is the mother of a child with cognitive and physical disorders. I, as a teacher, a parent and a citizen of the world, agree with her, that word is not on the cool list. (don't panic, I'm allowed to agree with her sometimes, ok?)
In the meantime, our favorite Republican Mouthpiece, Rush Limbaugh used the term publically during his radio program basically denouncing Sarah's need/desire to make that word go away. When asked about what she thought of his use of the term publically, Sarah, kinda, sorta, reprimanded him. Go figure.
Tim Shriver, CEO of the Special Olympics isn't happy about any of it. He jumped on both Emmauel and Limbaugh about it. Emmauel apologized. Limbaugh hasn't yet (and knowing him, probably won't; man, I hope I get to eat those words) As part of the Special Olympics' "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign, a website has been set up to pledge not to use the "R-Word" anymore. Shriver has also sent our dear Mr. Limbaugh a very strongly worded email that in part makes it clear that members of our society with intellecual disabilities are human, same as he is (personal tongue bite), and that his position as a public figure and commentator has an enormous influence on others. Basically, Tim told Rush to quit being a retard.(yay for Tim!)
I, as a teacher, mother, daughter of a special education teacher, and member of the world, have always tried to be sensitive to the hearts and emotions of my fellow humans. I am female, of African descent, height challenged, sight impaired, intelligent and outspoken: all of the stuff that is foder for comment and ridicule. I've been called a "dumb girl/woman", nigger, midget, blind, wannabewhite and bitter, arrogant bitch. I can relate to not wanting to be called something negative.
I join Sarah, fellow female, sight impaired, intelligent and outspoken, who also happens to be mother of an intellecually impaired child, in saying to Rush, just shut the hell up man. This time, you are really out of order. Apologies are in order, you know it, get to it.
Everyone, make the pledge, make the "R-Word" go away.
Labels: mah peoples..., politics as usual
Three random thoughts today...
- The 2010 Census. I still hear some of my less informed, pretending to have a clue people talking about how the census is just the government's way of getting all in our business. Ok stupidos, if you need to beleive that, cool..
- Political Naivete. Ladies and gentlemen who didn't know where their polling place was before November 4, 2008, listen carefully. I love you, seriously, but shut up.
As intimated above, politics in this country requires participation in ALL aspects of the process, starting with getting counted. In order to have your voice heard, you must be counted among the living. That doesn't happen if you don't complete the census form people. If you want to continue to get your food stamp card filled every month, it would help if someone knew that, so that the money and food is there for you to use. Random thought #3 segue...
- The hidden rules of captialism. (poverty, middle class and wealth)
I have begun reading "A People's History of the United States", by Howard Zinn. Fascinating book. It tells the history of this country from the point of view of everyone except the wealthy and academia, who, in case you weren't aware, were/are the ones who decide what we should and shouldn't know about ourselves (all of us, not just the people with copious melanin in their skin). After I got beyond my general disgust at the way the Spanish and Italians killed off the aborigines on the Americas, I have been able to deal with colonial arrogance in the face of true economic and social wealth. We as a people in this country need to consider the words put to us via the media and from our pulpits. We really do.
so when pastor tells you not to complete the census form, or when the dudes on CNN only tell you the stuff someone upstairs told them to tell you, consider this:
This is still our country. We still get to comment and make our voice heard. We all have functioning brains and should begin to use them. You don't get to complain when your political lines are redrawn, or your taxes raised, or school funding in your district slashed... if you choose to be silent.
the forms come out in March. We shall revisit this topic at that time.
carry on.
Labels: mah peoples..., politics as usual
Labels: mah peoples...
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