I MEANT TO EAT……….

fat free cottage cheese and blueberries…..

but.  what I ate was an entire bag of potatoes and onions sauteed in butter and olive oil.  with a fried egg.

husband is out of town and I am untrustworthy.   pffts.

MARIE FEDELINE BELLEVUE

About 20 years ago, Husband and I “adopted” a little girl who lived in Haiti with her grandmother and uncle through what was then called the Foster Parents Plan.  The program is now called Plan International. She was just little, maybe 3 or 4, and lived in a small village outside of Port au Prince called Croix-des-Bouquet.  Her grandmother was a seamstress and I don’t know what her uncle did or where her parents were.  We received letters from the Plan staff now and then and once a year, a new photo.  She was a beautiful child with wide eyes and a lovely smile.  Because of our small monthly donation she was able to go to school, the village received a well and medical care was available.  Sometimes, she would send drawings and we would send small envelopes with hair ribbons and stickers.  In those annual photos we watched her grow from a toddler to a small child, then girl then teenager and then, into a beautiful young woman.  Her grandmother must have made her at least one lovely dress each year, as she was always well dressed and very clean with her hair in braids in each photo.  I remember a particular bright blue dress, shiny fabric, with ruffles.  In some of the letters, there was mention that her father had returned to live with the family for a short time, but he was missing again in the next letter.  Did either parent ever contribute to her upbringing? Then, one day a couple of years ago, we got a letter letting us know that Fedeline was now “aging out” of the program because she was about to turn 18.  And that she was pregnant.  This broke my heart because there was no mention of any father or wedding.  I knew only that our little girl was going to be a mother at a very young age in what was going to be a very difficult circumstance for her.  I was grateful she had learned to read and write but wondered if those skills would be useful.  Would she and her baby continue to live with her grandmother?  Would her baby have a sponsor as Fedeline had been sponsored?

Now, I just wonder if she is alive and if her baby is alive.  Fedeline and her family worked hard and I believe they took care of each other as best they could.  When I hear of people criticizing any kind of aid to this poorer than poor country, I want to do physical harm to them!  Someone said that the measure of a country is found in the way it treats the poorest of their number.  I believe that is true.  And in the way it treats their fellow human beings when they have suffered such tragedy…….I wonder if I am of the same species sometimes.  Can you really blame a devastating earthquake on a rumored pact with the devil over 200 years ago to deliver them from the rule of the French?  Really? Where does that kind of deranged thinking come from? If I believed in hell, there would be a very special place there for the people who believe Haiti “had it coming” or that we shouldn’t be doing all we can to alleviate their suffering.  Click here, or anywhere you like, and do what you can.

A MUST READ

You really have to read this.  Jimmy Carter left his church over their treatment of women.  We left ours over their treatment of homosexuals.  Maybe you don’t think they are in the same category.  We do.

I’LL BE RIGHT HERE

Walking through the plaza across the street on my way back from Starbucks this morning, I saw Manuel.  It’s windy and damp today and he was in a waterproof parka out sweeping up the magnolia leaves on the ground.  He flashed his usual ear-to-ear smile and asked me how I was and held out his hand for a shake.  I took his hand and told him I was  little damp and sad.  Sad because we are moving our office to a different building.  When?  The end of March.  I told him I will so miss his beautiful smile and warm greeting in the mornings.  He told me, “I’ll be right here.  Anytime you want to walk through here, I’ll be here!”  Would that the world was full of such kind and sweet people

dizzy

You might recall that several months ago, I mentioned that I was walking to work one day from Starbucks and when turning the corner on to my street, felt a sudden rush of intuition.  Suddenly, I knew that there was a huge change coming.  Just what it was, however, remained a mystery.

Over the months, the mystery is now revealed:  1) the attorneyI’ve worked for the past 11.5 years was appointed to the bench in December (she’s going to be a judge); 2) her last day in the office is 02/18; 3) our firm is going to “merge” with a quite large firm, doubling the size of their family law division.  That’s pretty huge.  My posh office on the 3rd floor with the lovely windows that look out over the plaza across the street will now be an office on the 12th floor, the view as yet unseen by me.  While I will be in walking distance of a Starbucks (isn’t everybody?), it will not be the one that I have frequented over the last couple of years, and I will miss my favorite baristas sorely.  I suspect the morning shift manager will not greet me with a hug and peck on the cheek at the new Starbucks.  I won’t be warmly wished, “Have a good day!” each morning by Manuel, the dear little man who keeps the plaza spotless and has a heart warming smile.  Our lunch options will change, as will parking places.  Instead of 2 paralegals supporting 4 attorneys, there will be 2 paralegals supporting 6 attorneys.  Not to mention my dear friend and confidant will be gone.  So, how’s that for change?

I haven’t addressed the changes that have taken place at home, and for now, I won’t.  Let’s just say that I’m kind of dizzy from the prospect of this new business life that will begin on or about March 30th.  On balance, I think all these changes are going to be for the good and I won’t miss the elevator at the old building for one second.  But I WILL miss the people who made my little nest warm and friendly.

PERSONAL JEOPARDY

Answer:  $1050.00

Question:  What is the price of a water pump.

gah.