Mother’s Day Ode

Relatives tell me I look a lot like my late mother (she would never have liked the term late, for indeed, she was always on time for any appointment).

While we do share some characteristics (like the patented “snort and cackle” when laughing – the snackle, if you will) and a penchant for saying to unresponsive teen-age ears, “Enunciate!,” I’d have to say we were not really all that similar.

•  She spoke five languages.
•  I speech wun (Inglich).
•  She played Bach like nobody’s business.
•  I play the radio like a professional.
•  She was genteel and cultured.
•  I am kinda like, from Jersey (she was too, but seemed less so, if youse know what’m sayin.)
•  She was always in my corner and cheered me on no matter what.
•  I was oblivious to her encouragement until it wasn’t there anymore.

Thank you, Lord, for the mother you gifted me with.  I hope she’s snackling up there with you, playing a fugue on the piano and sitting in that log cabin she always pined for.  God bless all the mothers, always in our hearts.

Court of Public Opinion

How do some people end up on the wrong side of famous?  Here in New Jersey, the Tanning Mom, Patricia Krentsil, seems to be the latest Person the World Loves to Hate.

Some celebrities have done abhorrent things; even though we hated them “with cause,” it seems we’ll never allow them to redeem themselves.

• Nadya Suleman
• Lindsay Lohan
• Michael Richards
• Mel Gibson
• Isaiah Washington

How do people get instantly and eternally on the public’s bad side?  Has any “fallen star” ever returned to the “good side?”

Some stars have found their way back into our good graces:

• Robert Downey, Jr.
• Christian Bale
• Russell Crowe
• Tracey Morgan

Even Chris Brown, who definitely has detractors (hello, Miranda Lambert), seems to have found some measure of forgiveness (i.e., Grammy win).

Looking at this list, it seems all of them have (or had) issues and could use a little compassion.  Maybe a chance to get back into the human race again.

Hold Fast

 

As the rain hides the stars,
as the autumn mist
hides the hills,
as the clouds veil
the blue of the sky,
so the dark happenings of my lot
hide the shining of Thy face from me.
Yet, if I may hold Thy hand in the darkness,
it is enough, since I know,
that though I may stumble in my going,
Thou dost not fall.

Traditional Scottish Gaelic Prayer

Pray Day

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  Do I pray?  Oh boy, do I.  So much so that I write for a prayer blog and have written prayers for websites such as Prayables and WorldPrayers.

Now, I’m not trying to be a Prayer-Party-Pooper, but I don’t like the idea of someone telling me when to pray.

For those of us inclined to pray, we’re already doing it.  It’s preaching to the choir.  The designation of a day that is set aside for prayer is unnecessary for people who pray and exclusionary to those who don’t.

Growing up here in central Jersey, we had a “moment of silence” to start the school day.  95% of the kids just daydreamed, and the other 5% who were praying during the moment of silence were praying already.

I appreciate the sentiment, but I didn’t need anybody’s Official Okay to pray.  I’m already on it.

New Jersey News: Tanning Mom Controversy

Here in New Jersey, watercooler talk is all about the “New Jersey Tanning Mom,” who is accused of taking her five-year-old daughter into the tanning booth.  After her arrest (and memorable mug shot) Patricia Krentsil insisted she was innocent; her daughter had gotten sunburned from playing outside, not from the tanning salon.

In subsequent interviews, Krentsil looked even more tan than in her mug shot.  Her hyper-tan is shocking and social media commenters have been having a field day, but if we all realize she’s got issues, let’s all be adults, if only for the sake of her child.

Being There

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;  courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Winston Churchill

Writing Tip: Writers with a Jersey ‘Tude

 

Q. Do you need excellent grammar and a superb vocabulary to be a writer?

A. It ain’t necessary, but it don’t hurt.

How I Write:  Secrets of a Best-selling Author

Janet Evanovich

(Writer, Jersey Girl – born in South River, attended Douglass College)

Jersey News: Amber Alert and Silver Alert Resolved

Today in central Jersey, we had an Amber Alert and a Silver Alert, and happily, both ended well.

Infiniti Parker left her school in East Orange right after being dropped off on Thursday morning by her foster-mother. The ten-year-old ran away in an effort to reunite with her biological mom and was found today at her grandmother’s job. She’s back with her foster-mother tonight.

Elizabeth Carlson has cognitive impairment and earlier today, was temporarily missing.  The 43-year-old was found quickly, partly due to the fact that her car has an unusual license plate:  PUGDOGS.  Normally the silver alert is only used to help locate missing seniors, but in New Jersey, the network covers mental and cognitive impaired individuals as well.

The alert system really does work, and kudos to all the police personnel and good citizens who stepped up to help find our missing neighbors.  That’s the side of New Jersey the world needs to see more of. Way to go, youse guys!

New Jersey’s Medical Marijuana Debate

At a Town Hall meeting today, Governor Christie proposed a “drug court” for offenders busted for personal use of drugs that would send them to rehab instead of jail.

I think this idea should extend to a New Jersey man who was sentenced to five years in jail for growing marijuana to help with his symptoms of MS. 

I was diagnosed with MS ten years ago, and I can tell you that doctors prescribe several different types of medication for the symptoms:  one for spasticity, one for fatigue, one for headaches, and an injection to prevent further exacerbations.  If most of these symptoms can be addressed with a joint and a bag of Doritos (not a sponsor, mind you), I say, smoke ‘em if you got ‘em.

Never been a pot-smoker, but New Jersey passed a law two years ago under then-Governor Corzine that legalized medicinal marijuana dispensaries for MS patients, yet not a single one has opened.

It won’t mean that New Jersey will become a den of druggies; it might give relief to people in pain and give them back some quality of life.  Surely something to consider.

Litmus Test: Are You from Jersey?

I’m not sure I would pass the litmus test of being from Jersey – the test being, we’re always in a hurry.  We speed to the red light, stop on a dime, then tear down the highway as if it was a NASCAR race.

When I realized that I was the only one in Jersey who actually observes the speed limit, it made me wonder.  I was born here… right?  I was pretty young at birth, so I don’t really remember first-hand, but I’ve been taking my mom’s word for it my whole life.

Am I really from Jersey?  Let’s think on this.

• I don’t consider stop signs optional
• I don’t consider tailgating the normal method of driving
• I don’t consider seeing a Bon Jovi cover band in a dive bar a fun night out

Hmmm…. Now I’m wondering!

Oh wait, it’s okay.  I still default to big hair (even though it’s no longer the 80s), I think nail art is bee-yoo-tee-full, and I consider lamé to be anything but lame.

Yeppers.  I am indeed from Jersey!  Youse gotta prahlem widat?