My Friend Deb

There are people among us who are truly angels.  My friend Deb I met about thirteen years ago at San Benito High School.  I was a new teacher there and she had just lost her father suddenly and unexpectedly.  I did not have the pleasure of working with her right off the bat, but after a few years she was in the classroom with me.

One of my fondest memories of working with Deb was on the first day of school.  There we were in a room of 28 special education students, mostly boys with conduct issues and as I was presenting the syllabus Deb paced the back floor looking at the calendar and planning vacation.  The irony was that she was there 100% with the kids all of the time.  This included days when she had headaches or family emergencies.  She always gave everybody her best. 

When Ciera was sick, Deb took a morning off to care for her while I taught.  When  I painted my house, Deb and Mark were there with brushes in hand.  When I moved, she packed her truck and made a couple of trips loading and unloading boxes.  When I was in the hospital, she went to Ciera's Christmas Sing at her school.  These are just a few things that come to mind.

I haven't seen Deb in a couple of years, but when I look around my house at my most sentimental decor it is a reminder of her.  She always gives me the most precious and thoughtful gifts.  I get a feeling of warmth and goodness just thinking of her.

Yesterday, a Christmas wreath arrived at our door.  This wreath had a little red bird attached to it.  Just last week, Adam carefully picked out a birthday gift for his father and it was a little red bird similar to the one on the wreath. When Adam saw the bird on the wreath he was delighted.  It was from Deb.

Deb hasn't only been an angel in my life, but to everyone who knows her.  I am thankful there are people like Deb in the world.  I hope Deb has an angel too.

House and Tree Trimming

Last night, after Adam woke from a five hour nap (strange) we went to Costco to get our Christmas decor, new lights, garland a wreath and a tree.

When we were unloading Adam jumped up and down behind me singing Christmas songs.

The tree was too heavy for me to carry on my own, so I loaded it on his wagon and as we approached a step he'd count 1,2,3. We'd lift the wagon together and bring the tree into the house.

Today, was all about putting up lights. I had some help from a kind neighbor who lent me a ladder.

The tree was difficult to get stable in the stand, but it's good enough and has it's lights.

All in all it was a great day and I am so glad everything is in it's place.

Adam loves lights and everything Christmas.

Thanksgiving!!!

When I introduce the conception and prenatal unit to my students in a few weeks, I will preface it with my story about miracles.  It always makes them red in the face initially and then the red turns to a warm glow of thankfullness.  The story is told by first reminding the teenagers that they are the combination of one sperm and one egg.  I digress by tallying up how many sperm their father may have excreted before their personal sperm came to pass.  I then say, "Now what are the chances of your personal sperm (half of you) arriving at your personal egg (half of you) just at the right time to make you, a one of a kind individual?" We talk about the grandparents meeting up and the great grandparents and all of those folks before who did it at the right time, so they are.   I then use a little Mr. Roger's quote regarding the fact that there is nobody else just like them.  We talk about all of the variables in play and what a miracle they truly are to be.  (I then tell them to show some self-respect, since the odds were stacked against them and pull up your pants, because your underwear shows) Just Kidding.

I am thankful this thanksgiving that my parents met and their parents met and their parents met and so on and on and on.  I am thankful for the woman smiling at me through the glass while my eggs were being taken and transferred to the petri dish in wait of a sperm, for she is the one that picked the sperm and egg that fertilized.  I am thankful for Klaus who grudgingly handed over the sperm for the petri dish.  And for his parents and ancestors who all did it at the right time, so my little Adam could be.

And tomorrow he will be three. Hee Hee Hee

"You've Got to Cut Against the Grain!" "Are You with Me or Against Me?"

Throughout my adult life I have had a common theme running through most of my relationships with the thread being that of opposition. As a child, I can remember my father telling me to cut my steak against the grain. I really never understood what he was saying. I can assure you I do now. When teaching, I sometimes would ask my high school special education students after an introduction, "Are you with me or against me?".

How many kids have I taught that needed this in their IEP?, "________will follow directions 3/5 times when given a verbal prompt 90% of the time".

Literally, when taking Ciera out for ice cream and ordering her the banana split, she'd reject it and only want a vanilla cone.

Today, while preparing to tell the birthday story at school, my set up was taken apart or altered at least three times and I even had a student guarding it.

It seems with most of my interactions I am met with a devil's advocate, better idea, apathy or outright defiance. "What up?" I ask myself. Why the curse? I realize some of the responsibilty is mine. I did choose my career, but this pervasive?

Anyway, I think it has now been programmed into me. As a result, I have ultra empathy and I'm putting myself in the other people's shoes thinking like them before they speak.

I don't like it. It convoludes clear mindedness, which I adore.

Recently, I've had a shake up. Someone is listening to me and following directions immediately after the first prompt.

My dear Adam has given this to me and he is not even three yet.

This gift means the world to me.

I am so thankful for him and his goodness.

All About Birthday !

Adam has been all about his birthday and today we celebrated at Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos Hills. It was a perfect day for my almost three year old. He had a great day as did I.

Finally the cupcakes!
3 Year Old, almost
The farm was wonderful for the kids to play and visit the animals.


When will the party start? I've been waiting forever!






A very happy day for this boy!!!!!!!!!!

Ice Skating

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center
Originally uploaded by bored-now

Yesterday, Adam said, "C'mon, Momma, let's ice skate". He began twirling and sliding all over the kitchen floor in his socks. As he "skated" he made up a song about ice skating to set the mood.

The Sweetest Boy !!! Happy Halloween !!!

This little guy was so afraid of Halloween until last night. He went to each door and remembered to say "Thank-you" and "Happy Halloween" insisting to close the door of the candy giver as a thank-you. Do unto me and I'll do unto you.