Scarlett

Scarlett Star
One Year Old

Scarlett Star was a princess before she was even born. 

She took her time entering the world – her mother labored for 36 hours before she emerged.  Once I was allowed to hold her, I could see that   she was everything we had prayed for.  From the moment she was born she was bright, attentive, satisfied with her surroundings.  For the next week and a half, I took turns with Dad and Mom, being the safe and awaiting arms that held the new baby. 

I thanked God I could be part of this baby’s birth.  After all, only a year before Mario and I had been residing on the African continent; now I could not stop holding her, loving her…thanking God that I was there for her.

Today that baby is ONE YEAR OLD. 

In one year, Scarlett has turned into a happy toddler, literally toddling around and keeping her parents busy.  She walks, dances, laughs out loud and eats her meals with quiet confidence.  Her vocabulary has expanded quickly; words, like “Mama” “Dada” “no” “uh-oh” and “Boo-no” (for the family dog, Bruno) comes out of her with delicate and deliberate cuteness.  

She is becoming more social; touching the screen every time we SKYPE, putting her face closer to mine. She is also starting to understand what Vince and Rikki are saying to her, and using her new words to get their attention. 

Sometimes when I call, my daughter-in-law will tell me that our little princess is  “being a brat” – meaning that she is testing her limits.  Even when she does, Scarlett realizes right away that Mama and Daddy stand firm and that those limits don't change.  Even so, on most days life is pretty sweet.

There are few things more beautiful than new life.  Children give a family identity, renewed purpose and love.  Like a breath of fresh air, children give us their eyes and perspective to see, which grown-ups greatly need.  Each day I thank God for my granddaughter; I pray that this little person be protected and nurtured by God. 

Today, I celebrate her.  She is our little sweet pea – our jewel.  I love her and she knows it- even across the miles.  Happy Birthday, Scarlett.  You are truly a little Princess.

Harvey

Harvey Locke Rodriguez 
Born May 26, 2015 3:30 p.m. 
7lb 6oz
20inches

Yesterday Joe and Ariel got married - which I wrote about.

Today, Harvey decided to enter the world since his parents got hitched once and for all.  Both events were beautiful, surprising and the stuff that life is made of.

Mother and Baby are doing well - after a marvelous home birth.  Labor was so beautifully done that the midwives said they were spoiled at the end of their shift.

Our team of midwives
(Seantel on the far right)

Mario hugs Joe

 I don't know how, but we made it here to see the birth of our first grandson.  After six granddaughters here came Harvey - the boy.

As soon as I saw his face, I started to cry.  He is healthy and beautiful and perfect - and I'm very biased.

Today, also, I had the realization that Harvey is not the first boy.

There is his older brother, Asher, who came first.

Asher before he killed me...

As if to celebrate the day, the sword we ordered for his birthday came in the mail.  It became "The Big Brother Sword" - a plastic one that lights up and makes funny noises.

Today, he made me play a monster, a stegosaurus, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex so that he could slay me with his new weapon.  I died slowly on the carpet as others attended to the new baby and Mama.

"You're dead!" Asher said triuphantly.  I nodded, and tried to hoist myself up with the help of a chair next to me.  Asher made sure I wasn't going anymore  "Okay, now you have to be something else so I can kill you again!"

"Are you sure?" I asked, smiling.  "You've already killed me three times."

He shrugged.  "Maybe just a couple of more times."

How could I say no?  After all, he was the big brother.  The baby and the sword came on the same day.

:Later, right before dinner, Asher and I chatted about Harvey.  "What do you think about that little brother of yours?" I asked him.

Asher meets Harvey

"He's so cute!" Asher gushed, but then sat up straight.  "And that sword is pretty cool, too!  Thanks."

Harvey is pretty cute.  He looks like a perfect combination of his mother and father.  He was born with incredible reflexes and a good set of lungs.

At home, we are in awe of life.  Here was a child, safe and warm in the womb - and now surrounded by so many cheering him on. He will be here in our family as one of the ones we pray for constantly.  I am grateful beyond belief.

wedding

Ariel and Joe seal the deal

When I married Mario, I was a single mother to Vince, the two year old boy that made my life worth living.  Mario came with two boys of his own, David and Joe, who I loved immediately.  We “blended” our family, when blended families were not the norm. Not long after, a beautiful daughter was born to us – Alicia.  This is what made up our immediate family. 

Blended families are special, and I have always been grateful for ours.  We enjoy very special relationships with one another – as our kids have grown up, they have invited us into their lives.  This is why we came to Seattle – Joe, our “second son” is having a baby with Ariel, his long-term girlfriend, this week and they invited us up.  We gladly accepted the invitation.

Yesterday, after being in Seattle for only one day, Joe called us right after we woke up. 

“Yeah, today Ariel and I are going to get married,” he said casually. 

Instead of shock, Mario looked at one another and raised our eyebrows.  Joe and Ariel are not what you would call predictable. 

“We’ll be right over,” Mario said.  We were elated – we knew that Joe and Ariel were planning to be married, we just didn’t know when.  We also knew that it would be up to them to name the time, place and date.  They did all three.

I met Ariel awhile ago, when she lived with her sister, my daughter-in-law, Lennae.  She had a young son, named Asher.  They seemed to be in their own universe, devoted to one another the way that most mothers and only children are.  We socialized rarely; while Lennae was open and inclusive, Ariel seemed shy and wary of us.  Now and then we would talk to one another, but we did live in Africa – and our main purpose while we stayed with David and Lennae was to be with them – and their girls.

It was natural that Joe would spend the holidays with us– David and Joe were to us like peanut butter and jelly, or bread and butter.  Having them together in Kansas City in David’s house seemed completely wonderful.  Eventually, Joe and Ariel discovered each other – and they began a relationship.

Their romance seemed equally private, but even I could see that they were seriously considering each other for long-term commitment.  Joe began feeling very strongly about Ariel and her son, Asher.  I started to see qualities that existed in Mario come to the surface: stability, protection, quiet strength, enduring love.  It was beautiful and scary.

After finishing college, Joe moved to Seattle to work for Boeing.  He told us about a year ago that Ariel and Asher were moving across country to be with him.  Soon after, Ariel and Joe were expecting a baby. 

We received an invitation to come out and be with them for the birth – an honor I wasn’t expecting.  Mario also told me that Joe asked him if he could perform a marriage ceremony for them; it turned out he couldn’t, but we both were in awe that he would be asked. 

Yesterday was a surreal day.  I woke up, had coffee and went to Joe’s house to see him and his pregnant girlfriend get married; the ring bearer was Asher, carrying the rings on Leonardo.  It was a beautiful clear day, where the Seattle sun shone kindly upon us, and we parked our car in a downtown garage and walked to the chapel.  It was an unconventional place called “Shotgun Chapel” – decorated in urban chic and old west fusion. 

A girl named Bronwyn performed the service and asked the bride and groom questions, like how they met, what their first date was, what they did that was memorable.  Eventually she asked, “If the sky were the limit and money was no object what gift would you give to one another?”

Joe smiled and looked at Ariel and said “I think we already have done that,” referring to little Harvey, present but protected in his mother’s womb.

After vows, we celebrated with dancing to the wedding song “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” from Footloose. This song was actually chosen on a whim – by Joe’s sister, Seantel.  It has a quirky story behind it, but it fit the non-conformist wedding perfectly. 

Today, I type this completely blessed.  It is only God who can orchestrate these things.  I am here with my husband of twenty-seven years.  We are about to head over to Joe’s house where we will be with him, Ariel, Asher, Cathy (Mario’s ex-wife and a dear friend), Seantel (Cathy’s daughter, who calls me her step-mom), and little Asher – who reminds me so much of my own son, Vince.  We are all happily “waiting on Harvey” – the little guy who we all love so much already.

I am stunned at how beautiful life is sometimes.

Thank you, God.  

Memorial

Jay-D Ornsby
December 9, 1985 - April 28, 2007

Today I spoke with a Gold Star Mom – a mother who has lost a son in the service of our country.  She’s not just any mother, she’s the mom of my daughter Alicia’s long time best friend, Morgan: Robyn Ornsby.

Like any Gold Star Mom, Memorial Day is not just another national holiday- it’s a time to grieve the child they have lost in protecting the United States.  It is the one day that they are joined in their grief by all of us, as we stop our lives and remember the fallen soldiers that made life in America possible for the rest of us.

“Ever since I lost my boy I have battled with why people don’t celebrate this holiday,” Robyn told me.  “I have a hair salon and if I ask a group of fifty people what Memorial Day is, only one or two will know exactly who we are remembering.”  She’s not exaggerating; according to the most recent Gallup poll, only a fraction of Americans know what Memorial Day is.  Specifically, 28% answer the question exactly right by saying the day exists to honor those who died in war. 

Those who have died in war leave behind families – they remember the veterans as more than just soldiers.

Jay-D - Two Days Old

“My Jay-D was born a mischievous little monkey,” Robyn laughed.  “Honestly, he was a little character who found joy in challenging me!”  Her laughter faded and she sighed, “I would give anything to have him here challenging me now.”

Jay-D was born on December 9, 1985 and seemed to be all boy through and through right away.  “He was mighty and tough, and he wouldn’t tolerate anyone bullying him.  He’d give them a good fight.”  Robyn was always trying to teach the delicate balance of sticking up for oneself and self-control, especially when Jay-D started sticking up for his friends in the same manner.  

“I would get a call from the principal's office, and they'd tell me that Jay-D was in there for fighting a boy who was bullying someone else,” Robyn told me.  “When he got home, I asked him why he would fight other people’s battles, and he answered me straight: ‘Well, it just didn’t seem right!’”

Jay-D seemed drawn to help the disadvantaged, from the underdogs at school to the handicapped.  “At a time when it was not cool for him to help the Down Syndrome kids in school, he would.  We were at the movies once and a man in a wheelchair was trying to gain access and the other teens were just watching.  It was Jay-D who stood up and helped the man open the door and find his way down the aisles.  He was just like that, always helping someone.”

The boy who fought other people’s battles grew to have his own tender interior.  “He taught himself how to play guitar, he loved ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ which he played very well.”

After high school, Jay-D chose to enlist in the US Army, since career opportunities seemed more promising after finishing school.  “Jay-D wanted to get his life started,” Robyn said.  “He knew that if he enlisted he would be able to earn money for college and get other opportunities.”  

At twenty years old, he was enlisted, sworn in and enrolled in boot camp.  It was there that he became a soldier.  “Once boot camp was over,” Robyn told me.  “Everything changed.  He was very focused on fighting for his country.  Shortly after, he was deployed to Bagdad, Iraq, where he served as a tanker gunner.  While the main gun is what most people think of when it comes to tanks, Jay D was part of the crew that operated the machine guns mounted outside. 

With a heavy heart, Robyn told me about the day her son was killed.  “It was actually supposed to be his day off.  He wasn’t supposed to work that day, but they needed him.  He agreed to go, not only because he was part of a team, but also he could apply that day to his next leave.”  Instead of their usual tank, the team took a Hummer as part of a convoy and made their way through the streets.  On the side of the road, waiting, was the enemy.  As soon as the company’s Hummer was in range, the enemy exploded an IED – an Improvised Explosive Device.

It was a massive tragedy.  Of the four soldiers in Jay-D’s Hummer, three were killed.  The enemy was fired upon by the surviving convoy and killed, but their deaths do not satisfy.  War, as they say, is hell.

“I was able to bury Jay-D in Sunset View, a cemetery in Jackson,” Robyn said, after she composed herself.  “It is a beautiful and peaceful place.”  Tomorrow, for the holiday, the Ornsby’s will host a BBQ and celebrate Jay-D’s memory with friends.  “I have a decorated wine barrel here, and I will burn a candle for my son all day.”

For Memorial Day, this Gold Star Mom has a cherished wish: that Americans would stop and remember what this day really is all about.  “I see the advertisements for the Auto Malls, the shopping centers, and the grocery stores.  All of them say “Memorial Day Sale!”  I wonder if they will honor any fallen Veterans there; I think they won’t.  It’s all a money-making opportunity then.”

Morgan and her baby, Jay-D
(named after his Uncle)

I think about Jay-D a lot.  His sister (my daughter’s bestie) has a young son he will never meet.  He’s a beautiful bundle of joy – named Jay-D.

“I love little Jay-D!” Robyn says, her voice lifting with excitement.  “Morgan shares him with me and I watch him every Monday!” 

Everyone who has lost a person close to them know the painful reality that life goes on.  While it does, it helps to grieve with others.  On Monday, we all grieve together.  I will grieve with the Ornsby’s for their son; I will grieve for all who fell in battle.

Our soldiers are more than men and women in uniform. They are someone's baby, someone's spouse, someone's uncle or aunt.  I will grieve the fallen; I will celebrate the freedom that I have inherited because of them.  

That’s what Memorial Day is.

(Uncle) Jay-D December 1985          Baby Jay-D   May 2015

Dad

Mom and Dad at their 50th Wedding Anniversary Party

“Personally, I have always had a predilection for boys, and have at times reflected that the strong sex reaches its highest point of lovableness at the age of twelve to seventeen – to get it back, in a second flowering, at the age of seventy to ninety.” ~ Isak Dinesen

My father celebrates his eighty first birthday today.  

He and my mother still live in the house where I was raised, a large ranch style on nearly an acre of land.  Even so, he maintains the gardens, keeps a koi pond, and does most of the repairs himself.  He also knows the value of a dollar, clips coupons and chases deals all over town.  A retired Catholic deacon, he still manages to visit the sick to pray for them.  He and my mother take their lunch each day in front of a college course DVD; they  are thrilled by the joy of learning. 

I am constantly reminded that I have great parents, not only from others, but my own memories.  For a brief period in my life I wasn’t so sure.  I was entirely convinced that God had placed me in the hands of people who didn’t understand me and were far too strict.  

As time passed, all of my angst fell away as I realized that my parents were simply people; and they really loved me, even through my rough periods of rebellion. 

My father never went away; he was always there.  I have grown to love him for who he is, but especially because he has sweetened with age.  Without the pressures of career, men tend to sweeten; they stop living for others and start enjoying life.  That’s how my father is now: he genuinely enjoys life. 

With all the challenges of family, I am happy for all we’ve gone through.  It hasn’t been easy, but I am grateful for each challenge we have been though.  I am also grateful for God, who is our common denominator, even though I am no longer Catholic. 

Happy Birthday, Dad.  Some things really do get better with age; I’m happy that applies to both of us.

semesters

Fellow English 300 Students - they gave me permission to blog!!

I woke up this morning, looked around for my dogs, finally finding them in the office with my husband.

"I bet you don't know what you're going to do today," Mario said, smiling coyly at me.  The last few weeks I have spent buried under books at my computer - now I was finished with the semester.

"I have a lot to do," I said, but then realized that was balderdash.  I felt lighter and freer- maybe my "stuff to do" wasn't so important.  After all, I had to walk the dogs, go to the organic grocer's, blog, write, edit... and then.  And then.

Yesterday I took two finals.  The most ominous was the one I took at 12:45 - my honors history class.  This class, my absolute favorite this semester, was taught by Rudy Pearson - an encyclopedic professor with a lecturing gift and a tendency to grade particularly tough. I came armed with a "blue book" (yes, those are still used) and two fine-point Bic ball-pens. We were asked to write two essays using "key terms, great detail and impact" of four topics.  Thank God I had studied two of the topics he assigned.  I labored through the test, and even though I consider myself an able writer, I wondered if it was enough for an A.  With Pearson, it was doubtful.  I would have to be taking dictation from our dense History textbook - and even then, he would mark it with "...and what is the impact?"

I stumbled over myself as I handed my blue book in.  How do you say goodbye to a Professor?  How do you thank him for impacting your life?  I felt the same nervousness saying goodbye to Dr. J, and somehow I managed to voice appreciation.  I am terrible with goodbyes and always manage to fudge them up.

I went home, breathing a little melancholy.  Did I do my best?  Yes.  Was it enough for an A?  I don't know.

After lunch, I returned to campus to take my English 300 final.  I walked up to Davies Hall and saw my fellow students talking on the bench.  The same melancholy flooded me - would I ever walk up to this grouping again?

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked them, smiling.  "Can I take your picture?"

They grouped together and smiled.  "Thanks! Can I blog about this?"

There was a collective grumbling, then a "no, no..." before I realized they were joking.  "Give me five bucks and the answer will be yes!" Shasta said.  She and I had kind of bonded this semester and we spoke about the summer term and what classes we were taking.

We migrated toward the classroom and set our minds to the next exam.

It occurred to me that students mark their lives according to semesters - different from the rest of the world.  In each semester, there are assignments, attainable goals, hellos, goodbyes, laughs, tears and attendance.  It is an efficient encapsulation of life: God teaches us to number our days - students do.

After I took my last final I walked it up to Professor Strawn and thanked him.

"You know," I said, bordering on tears. "You really helped me this semester and I want to thank you."

He smiled for the first time in the semester.  "You're welcome."

So here I am.  All done with my first semester.  I am fighting back tears as I write this.  I went back to school after a thirty two year absence and what I found was challenge - relationships - learning.  All my favorite things.

Now I'm off to the organic grocer's to get oranges.  My dogs' tails are wagging because they know I'm taking them.  

finals

This week is known on campus as “finals week”, where students are tested on what they have taken away from the semester of the classes that they took.  I’ve always heard about finals – in fact, I did take part in them when I was at school the first time, but I never really studied – studying was for people who really cared about their grades.

I was born with a fine mind and most people liked telling me so – I liked hearing it.  The drawback of this is that I never really thought I would have to try hard at retaining knowledge.  

Now is different.  

I put a lot of effort into studying, which consists mostly of reading (this surprises a lot of people).  Chapters in the texts are assigned, along with required books, extra articles, and peer reviewed journals.  If you are faithful to read what you are supposed to read and write what you are supposed to write – and show up to class - you will do well.

This week is the week where it all comes together.  Professors see how much we have put into the class based on how we do in the all-important final examination.

Today I took a test in Political Science, which is one of my honors courses.  Our professor, Dr. Jeydel (we all call her Dr. J), spaced our tests strategically through the semester so we would have exams that assessed our retention of the subject matter equally – four tests over the 12 weeks. 

I’ve grown to love this class, although I am far from a political science aficionado.  Being an honors course, it is populated by honors students, all whose minds are sharp and fast.  I realized I knew far less about my country’s government than I thought I did.  During the semester, we discussed the different facets of our government – the first successful federal system in the world.  I found myself politically opposed to others, but our arguments were always civil and I never felt like anyone was trying to push their political agenda.  I will miss everything about this class – it has been truly a growing experience.

Today was our last test and as a celebration, a few of us went out to The Federalist.  This restaurant, in midtown Sacramento, is named for the political scientists that blended a strong central government while retaining state’s rights to govern.  Without federalists, we would not have the republic of the United States – so we thought it was appropriate. 

While we were in line to buy drinks, I saw a T-shirt hanging up that said “I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery” and pointed it out to my professor. 

“Isn’t that terrible?” she remarked.  “That’s not even a Federalist sentiment.  Maybe I should tell him.”

The guy behind the corner knew how to fill up the mason jars with beer really well, but he didn’t know what Dr. J was talking about when she told him the restaurant’s flair wasn’t in keeping with Federalist doctrine. 

The quote, I later found out, was from Thomas Jefferson, who also quoted an ancient Latin phrase  “Malo periculosam, libertatem quam quietam servitutem” (it has also been translated as, "I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude”).

“No, I didn’t know that,” he said, smiling wryly.  I could tell he was amused at her passion.

“Yeah, you might want to change that,” Dr. J was smiling, but I knew it mattered to her.

We sat down and ordered salads.  We all talked about what we were going to do over the summer, what our plans were to continue our education, what we liked about the semester… and eventually we decided to take a picture together.

I asked a guy who was quietly drinking with his wife to take a picture of us – and it came out a little blurry, but I didn’t care.  I was also slouching, but I guess that doesn’t matter either.

What matters, as you look at these people, is that they were the welcoming party that made me feel like I was part of things after a thirty two year absence from higher education.  They made me feel like I was part of them, which I will appreciate forever.   You might also see a diverse group of folk that together make our nation great. 

That’s my Honors Poli-Sci class.