Archives for: March 2013

Laugh, Think and Cry

HAVE A SPECIAL DINNER WITH YOUR CHILD

On the way to school this morning my son asked me what we were going to do for dinner.  You may think that it is odd to be asked so early in the morning, but this kid has always been focused on knowing the details of his meal plan since he could talk.  When we would arrive at his daycare, he would run down to the cafeteria to ask Miss Joanne what was for lunch.  If he didn’t like the plan, he would negotiate a custom lunch that she would very Jenerously make just for him.

Today was no different.  “Roasted chicken, lemon asparagus, lemon parsley mafaldine pasta with vodka sauce,” I said, anticipating the critique.  “Sounds great, but can you be sure not to invite anyone over tonight…I want some alone time with you.”  WOW!  Date night was established.

Later, after the plates were empty and music lessons were done, we sat down to continue our mother-son bonding night.  Instead of watching something I wanted to watch or breaking off into separate rooms, I agreed to let him pick which show to watch with one limitation…no cartoons!  Spongebob gives me a headache that won’t quit.

Last night, we DVR’ed ESPN’s 30 for 30 about the 1983 NCAA Basketball champions – NC State.  I didn’t realize I was about to embark upon a 2 hour journey through the entire history of the season coached by Jim Valvano (“Jimmy V”).  While I did suffer through the first hour, the second hour was inspirational as I watched a man full of life and positivity face his death, compliments of brain cancer.  At his ESPY’s speech in 1993 he shared that he believes that the secret to life is finding a way everyday to laugh, think and cry.  He was an amazing coach who left an incredible legacy, especially through the creation of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which has Jenerously donated over $100 million to date.

Jim Valvano was a winner...he had passion for the game and for Life

Jim Valvano was a winner…he had passion for the game and for Life

It is amazing what our children can expose us to if we just give them individual time and put them in the driver’s seat occasionally.  Tonight, Brooks gave me a great gift…wise words to live by over a simple chicken dinner.  VALVANOISMS: Never give up.  Have a dream, have a goal and be willing to work for it. Laugh, think and be moved to tears.  Have dinner with your kids… The last one was mine, but I don’t think Jimmy V would disagree.

HAVE A SPECIAL DINNER WITH YOUR CHILD On the way to school this morning my son asked me what we were going to do for din...

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A Little Owl Love

SEND A COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE

I am blessed to have two wonderful stepkids.  My stepson, Billy, is a Sophmore at Florida Atlantic University, which makes him an “Owl.”  Recently, Billy sent me his college address and I decided to send him a small care package which included some Soda Stream mixes and an iTunes gift card.  A simple note was all I wrote to let him know that I was thinking about him.  I got one of the greatest voicemails in return…a real keeper!

I remember when I was in college, I would get the occasional care package from my grandparents.  They sold custom advertising pieces for businesses, so they loaded me up with calendars, pens, change holders and lettter openers.  While those were not always things that I found useful, I know that they sent them with love.  I always got a bag of grandma’s homemade cookies with them, which I managed to inhale within a day or two.  There is something about grandma’s cookies…I never could make them quite the same.  They both sent a nice note updating me on recent happenings.  How I miss those notes.  Knowing that they took the time to send me something was all I needed to smile inside.

I wanted to send something Billy’s way to let him know that he is loved.  I think about my stepkids everyday and while they are away, living their adult lives, I hope that they can begin to see how much I love them and how proud I am of them.  Their mother has raised two wonderful young adults.

Unfortunately, my grandparents passed away about a decade ago, but I held on to their notes.  Gone are the tchotchkes and cookies, but their Jenerosity is being replicated for a new Jeneration!

SEND A COLLEGE CARE PACKAGE I am blessed to have two wonderful stepkids.  My stepson, Billy, is a Sophmore at Florida At...

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Viva Los Vets!

THANK THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED

Early this morning, I drove by the car wash down the street from my house and I saw a young boy raising the American flag. That raises many emotions in citizens, but today (as with many times I see the flag) it made me reflect upon an amazing gift…my uncle Richard. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to get to know my uncle very well, as he is pretty guarded. I did have the honor of reading a letter he wrote when in Vietnam, when he shared how difficult it was to gather up the remains of a friend in Charlie Company to carry him back for a proper burial. I can’t even imagine.

Many of the chidren of my generation were born during the Vietnam War and we grew up hearing the stories of bloodshed and returning to an unsupportive country. Most of these men were doing what our country expected of them as citizens. This made my generation appreciate the Vets and become even more patriotic. My uncle volunteered in hopes that if that if death was inevitable, the sole survivor policy would kick in and protect his brothers (my father) from the draft. His father, my grandfather, served in WWII and all three of his sons served in the military at some point. I feel that, in many ways, I owe my life to my uncle Richard. For if he had not volunteered for Vietnam, my father may have been drafted in that ugly war. For that, I exist only to be grateful!

Tonight, I was having dinner with my friend Karen and our sons at a local hibachi restaurant. The waiter asked if only one person could join our table. “The more the merrier,” of course. Our new friend Paul joined us and he shared his experiences in the Army. Today, he still participates in the Patriot Guard Riders, who attend funerals for fallen soldiers. The organization was originally started to protect the deceased’s families (by physically shielding them) against war protesters. Paul, adorned in tasteful riding gear, was making his way from the Keys to Bike Week in Daytona. He shared that his group is now less focused on protecting and more focused on paying homage to those who have served and their families. Paul’s message of inspiration, his dedication to helping surviving families, his personal humility and his own service in the Army, partnered with my own recent reflection of my uncle’s selfless service, warranted a free dinner for our guest passing through town. He is a kind soul.

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The fun part was seeing the service staff gather to watch him get the news that his dinner was one me. They all said that they had NEVER seen anyone pick up another party’s tab. Could it really be that rare? The highlight for me was seeing my BFF, Karen, volunteer to kick in for half. It made both of our nights! Giving is so much better than receiving and giving to those who risked their lives for us is even more rewarding.

THANK THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED Early this morning, I drove by the car wash down the street from my house and I saw a young...

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The Piano Man

TIP A STREET PERFORMER

When I lived in New York, passing a street performer was more common than passing a Sabrett hot dog stand…and sometimes just as fragrant!  Just as you get to know your local hot dog chef, you begin to familiarize yourself with each street performer’s “shtick.”  Forgive me; I had to throw a little Yiddish in there to get you in the New York state of mind.

Amazing musicians, dog tricksters, space scene spray painters and silver covered “robots” with freaky masks delivering “coin-operated” break dance moves were scattered throughout the train stations and tourist areas with the occasional BEER MONEY or GOD BLESS YOU taped to their tip jars.

In Florida, we are not blessed to have so much free entertainment available on the streets; however, our movie theater parking garage shares its real estate with our local Piano Man.  You can always count on him to play one of his seven songs, repeating the same verse over and over again, making up the words as he goes along, trying to hit the high notes which are clearly out of his range.  You can also count on the locals exchanging looks with furrowed brows in an effort to get affirmation that “those aren’t the words to that song.”  And you can always count on my husband getting a dollar out of his pocket to give to my son to put in his tip bucket.

Brooks gets to tickle the ivories between songs!

Brooks gets to tickle the ivories between songs!

You are supposed to take care of your family and over the years, our Piano Man has become family.  We count on him to be there.  He provides a sense of familiarity and community.  He loves what he does and puts a smile on our faces.  And he counts on us to put a dollar in his bucket.  We take care of each other.  An off-tune hollah deserves at least a dollah!

TIP A STREET PERFORMER When I lived in New York, passing a street performer was more common than passing a Sabrett hot d...

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Good or Great?

Do you want to be Good or Great?  Years ago, my mentor asked me to read Good to Great by Jim Collins, which introduced the concept that most companies settle for being ‘good’ and never make it to ‘great.’  It states that the goal is to be GREAT.  Duh!

Which would you rather be…good or great?  I am reminded of the recent AT&T commercials stating “It’s Not Complicated” where the host interviews children about basic questions such as which is better: doing two things at once…fast or slow?  One could argue that it’s not complicated when it comes to which is better…good or great?  Great, of course…right?  I would argue that it depends on how you define “good.”  As a self-proclaimed Platonist, I believe that goodness is intrinsic virtue; hence, the end goal is to BE morally just through our character rather than simply DO good deeds.  Good is the ultimate goal.

This weekend, I was reminded of this when our family went to see Oz The Great and Powerful.  It is amazing what you can learn from a movie that was panned by the critics.  Go see it with the kids and be prepared for some bad acting by Mila Kunis (whose name just sounds like a dirty word to me).  The message, however, is excellent.  While we strive for greatness, we lose sight of the fact that what matters is goodness.  It’s more about WHO we are that WHAT we do.  Maybe we should all focus on being great at being good.

Do you want to be Good or Great?  Years ago, my mentor asked me to read Good to Great by Jim Collins, which introduced t...

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