Hi Terrie
by Maggie (no login)It has been beautiful here in San Diego. I don't "go to the beach" very often because I am bone lazy and don't like to be wet and sandy and could care less about a tan
but every so often I happen to be on a hilltop near the water and I see the ocean. It is stunningly beautiful. The immensity of it makes me catch my breath, and reevaluate my perspectives. It also makes me very glad I didn't move to a farm in Kansas when I was worried about Y2K. I do have a tendency to be a worrier.I have three teenagers, and two of them are driving now. There's a worry for you. The boy, who is 18, seems to believe he is invulnerable, contrary to the evidence. He rolled his truck off-roading a while back, with no injuries, but then broke his collarbone on a dirt bike. Well, actually, he had just parted company with the dirt bike a fraction of a section before he broke the collarbone. The girl, who just turned 16, is more mature but less experienced, so driving with her is scary too. Then we have to remember that there are a hundred thousand other teens out there on the roads in Southern California . . . I think I'll just go back to bed!
Do you live in a city with teen drivers? Let's pretend for a few minutes that we are going to "go walkabout" to Ayers Rock. No teenagers in fast cars there! Do you have a good camera and sturdy shoes? I suppose we also need bug repellant. Do they make snake repellant? Crocodile repellant? Let's see, don't think I'll need this umbrella (brolly?) And since we'll be getting all that exercise, we can eat anything, so let's pack lots of cookies along with our dehydrated trail foods. Or are we going to snag iguanas along the way to roast for our lunch?
I know! After cruising Ayers Rock, we'll pop over to a sheep station and meet some gorgeous - umm, do you call them cowboys? Ranchers? Stationers? I bet I could catch a guy who was - - - stationary? Maybe he would even look just like Mel! OK!
Did I mention that my younger son is going to invent a matter transmitter for me? Since I don't like shopping. That way the groceries will just pop from the store right into the kitchen. The best part is that we can fiddle with the settings on the thing, and when I pop out of the matter transmitter after my little trip across the room, I am going to be the perfect weight and seven inches taller and my hair is going to have lovely waves! Voila!
Also the matter transmitter is going not going to be powered by fossil fuels so we can clean up the atmosphere and because of that we are going to be very rich and very popular. Doesn't this sound good so far? Not too much pressure for me to put on my child, do you think?
Seriously they all know I love them dearly. My younger two even take my hand in public and walk with their arms around my shoulder. Of course, they love to show off how much taller than I they have grown! It was funny, though, as we were about to walk into Wal-Mart, my son moved away from me and announced that he had to swagger now! My older son is less demonstrative but he gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek whenever he leaves. I know that I have made a zillion mistakes as a parent and done a lousy job in some ways. Our family never looked like the television ideal, we moved around a lot, so they had to be the new kid at school, and money was usually tight. Whenever there was a dad or step-dad around things could get very unpleasant. But I guess things are turning out alright and if I can just manage not to be a burden on anybody in my old age....of course, I have already told my daughter she can never move out of the house, because I can't reach the top shelf in the kitchen cabinets
Terry, I hope you find some joy in your life today. I wish you magical moments and new wonderful memories in the making.
Love,
Maggie
from IP address 207.212.95.209
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