What kind of name is Earl? for a hurricane????

Being from Florida, I take the weather very seriously. Right now we are on a vacation on a twenty-six mile long island, and Earl is headed this way. How many years has it been since a hurricane traveled up the east coast???
I need a plan.
We have the house until Saturday, but I'm packing as I type!!! Being on an evacuation route, with a Black Lab, although sedated, would have me walking straight into the storm!!! Trying to keep a car on the road with hurricane force winds, not something on my list of things to do, so I'm stirring the pot!!!
I'm the child in the back seat of the car, but instead of "When will we get there?" its " What is Earl doing?" and I have been asking OFTEN!!!
Tomorrow is Wednesday, and I guess someone will let us know what to do.
Hart, Adrian and I walked on a pier this morning. In order to pass go, and walk on the pier, we had to enter into "Dueling Banjos, Bait and Tackle Store" Of course I had to strike up some conversation with the Fisherman!!! " So are you worried about the hurricane?"
"Haven't you looked at the ocean, its calm as can be!!!" " Heck what they are calling a hurricane, is like a bad storm to us!" Me-" Well OK, can I have some hand sanitizer soap!" The soap was right next to the worms, and I felt like we should buy something for his forecast.
All is good for tonight, tomorrow, now that is another story!!!

Beach Feet!!!

We are on a family vaca in North Carolina.
Sun and noise among the grandchildren, family time.
Still celebrating my birthday, my babies gave me a kit to make their feet imprints in the sand, with plaster gook. We made them march in the sand, push their baby feet in the sand, wiggle their toes, to get a perfect mold!!!! and then it had to dry, we did not calculate high tide into our drying time. SOOoooooo I had to shovel around the plaster and move the "feet" to higher ground. It was as if I was carrying gold, or some rare dinosaur bones. They turned out so precious, we even had enough plaster, although watered down, to make one of Hart's HUGE foot!!
Thank you, Miss Emily, daughter-in-law, and good gift giver!!!
We are burned and tired, and thinking of wearing dread locks for the rest of our journey!!! How do
beach people put a comb through their hair? We all look like aborigines!!
Low tide, and sea shells and the sun going down, and I know a story to be told, waiting for me!!

Pack Lightly

My birthday continues to be celebrated, I have finally convinced people, that the month of August is mine!!! Last week I received a plaque entitled, The ABC's of Life, from a friend of mine at school. I love it, very unique words about life. One especially touched me, P for Pack Lightly!!!
I took it as a sign!!!
The Atlanta Barons are meeting up with The Boston Barons, hoping the New Hampshire Barons also will be coming, in Topsail, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks.
My kitchen is the "staging area" or in medical terms, "triage!"
Bill, Hart, Lucy the lab, and I will be driving, a quick nine hour drive!?
Pack Lightly, doesn't that mean laying your burdens down at the foot of the cross?
I think the cross is already packed.
Three bathing suits, four cover ups, beach towels times seven! Lucy's food bowls, snacks, bed, toys,camera, computer, i-pods, cell phones and all the cords to keep them humming!!! Books, maps, GPS system, DVD's, Cd's, medicine, sunscreen, Beach toys, noodles for the pool, Finn's high chair seat, PACK LIGHTLY Bon-Bon!
Vacation means a respite, sabbatical, the last summer fling. Namaste!!!!
Pack Lightly, who are we kidding.

Don't get your beads in a knot!!!

I confess to having a difficult time with paying attention in church. Especially, the Catholic Church!! You see I am an Episcopalian, and I need help!!!
The problem is, or isn't, the Catholic Church is my neighbor, so she sees me more often, than driving downtown, to my church of choice, All Saints. It's just a FACT, nearer to God, gets me!!!
I just have a FEW issues with Our Lady of Whatever. Communion is for everyone, period!!!
When you design a church, take into consideration of having too many statues. I was so busy looking around, that I missed the readings. Also, it may be a good idea, to place the prayer candles, in another room, I counted them and became hypnotized by the flicker of the light. Not to mention, I had to pray for all the people that had lit candles, and my list is long enough!!! Then you took up two offerings, now that is just not right. One pass of the plate, is sufficient. I wish you had a choir, churches need choirs. Did I mention Jesus on the cross, that creeps me out. Its just too big, hanging in the front, You see I'm easily distracted.
Did I mention that when I returned home, I smelled like a Catholic!!!
I felt blessed and fortunate to have you so close. Isn't there a saying, "Too close for comfort!"
I do love your beads!!!
and Dr. Kildare, playing Father Ralph, in the Thorn Birds!!!!!
Don't get your beads in a knot!!! Just a few observations, from a wandering Episcopalian.

Me Jane!!!

Its Sunday morning, I'm sitting at the kitchen table, back porch is open and Helen of Troy Humidity, has attacked my hair!!! I love to wake up with the doors open, and hear nature, and will soon close the doors before nature kicks my ass.
Watching the clock, to make sure there is a Sunday Mass, up the road, that I can get to. I will take my Mali beads with me, and pray for everyone. God is so good to listen.
What is really on my mind this morning, is Tarzan, yes, Johnny Weissmuller, Tarzan. Yesterday, early, I happened upon a Tarzan movie, or at least what they call a Tarzan movie. Tarzan wore a shirt and cutoffs, for most of the movie, and did not even have a tree house. He was handsome, but looked too educated. He didn't swim, or fight alligators, or rescue Jane. When he yelled, they used, Johnny Weismuller's voice. I screamed at my Bill to come look at this horrible Tarzan!!!! My feelings were crushed. I wanted the real Tarzan, one of my first loves. You see, me Jane!!! My friend, Jimmy Kennedy, and I would play Tarzan daily. I think , at times, I would play all parts, including Boy!!! He and I would memorize all the dialogue, and recite the entire movies. We would build rope swings, and tree houses, and play until forced to come home. We graduated later, to horror flicks both thought we sounded just like Vincent Price!!! The summers of our youth, were devoted to Tarzan. Yesterday's bad movie, brought back wonderful memories, and a strong desire to practice my Tarzan Yell!!!! Thank you Johnny Weismuller, you were my king of the Jungle.

August Babies!!

I had two baby boys in the dog days of summer.
William Hartley was born August 21, 1984, and Thomas Ward, August 26, 1981.
Hart turns 26 today, and my Ward would have been 29 next week.
Every year I relive in my mind, their births.
My ankles looked like canned hams!!! Heat and pregnancy, not such a good combo.
While in labor with Ward, 26 hours of labor, the nurse who was Satan's seed, told me she would prefer me not to breathe like I was breathing!!! What does that mean??? I think I told Bill after about 15 hours, to stick his hands up me, and pull the baby out!!! Finally, after a C-section, I looked over and saw my baby, and was jubilant!!! I also whispered to Bill, to go get that nurses name!!!!
Three years later, I was,again, circus FAT with a baby!!!! Pneumonia had jumped on me, in August!, and the doctor asked me if I knew I was in labor? No, I can't breathe, but I believe you.
Several hours later, the doctor pulled my sweet-Hart out, and I knew, the next one we would adopt!!!
August Babies, you are so loved. I hope you know that!!!

Do you know the authors name, LADY???

I think Barnes and Nobles, knows me, but there was a new helper!!!
Who doesn't love for people to help them? But.....they never help me, and I understand.
You see, I never know the name of the book that I want. I may remember just a part of the title, very seldom authors names, never when the book came out!!! I usually write down the name of a book that I want, but can never find the post-it, that is probably in another purse!!! I have torn many a page out of magazines and newspapers, to show them what I need, and they look at me like, crazy book lady is back. I'm very kind, and I will help guide you to help me, you just need to work with me. I buy books, they should be fixing me a drink, while they search for my book.
So today, a book pops in my brain, I turn into B&N, laughing because I know, this is going to be something to witness. I go to the help desk, with confidence, and say, " I don't know the title or the books author, but I think I know a word, and if you just type in the word, show me the computer screen, I will recognize it!!!" The man said, " Do you know the authors name, lady?" My kindness left the building!!! So in a semi-kind manner, I said, " No, but I think the title is The Widowers Lonely, or The Lonely Widower, but I'm not sure, so why don't you just type in Widower." I think there may have been an eye-roll, and he said, " Do you know how to spell lonely?" (Things I was thinking!! Oh Jesus, am I being tested, I don't even want this book, this man is pitiful, he needs this job, he needs to learn how to spell, and work the computer, what is the world coming too!!) "Yes, I do, but that's OK, I will just go home and look around and see if I can find the name of the book, because I'm getting anxious, and I need to go over to the self help section and see if something over there will help me, thank you for trying" He let out a huge sigh of relief. I'm not sure who needed the most help?
So that outing was a bust, but look at all the material. Everything is funny, or can be.
I found the page in the Oprah Mag, The book's name is The Widower's Tale, by Julia Glass. So in a couple of days, I will return , I have to give the man time to recover. I will get my new book, to take to the beach with me. I could just order it off of Amazon, Nah!!!

Imperfect Birds

Anne Lamott is one of my favorite authors, I think I may say that about many authors!! I do love, love many. After I read her books, the yellow, neon, high-lighted sections, forever jump out at me.
She has a style, that suits my style. We are very comfortable together. I purchase her books, no questions asked. So when, the newest one, Imperfect Birds, was released, it came home with momma!!!
I anticipated it may be somewhat different. The story about how our children are connected to us, yet independent, family and love, she always writes about these things, but I had a feeling!!!
Parents fears, worries, she says are like fishhooks, that you can't get untangled. You have to let kids sink or swim, but mothers have a hard time, with drowning children.
The child in the story, Rosie, is addicted to drugs, alcohol, lying, she is drowning in bad choices.
My son Ward, was like Rosie. The book ends with heartbreak and hope. Our story did not have a happy ending, in my heart I wanted to find out what this family had done different to save their daughter, something that I may have missed, with Ward. The story just had a different ending, one that Anne Lamott could write, we did not have the pen and paper for our story.
If you love Anne Lamott, like I do, you will read it, appreciate it, but maybe not enjoy it.
It's raw, and draining, and lovely, like families.
There is one line in the book, by Elizabeth, Rosie's mom, that read, " Life on earth is a head-scratcher for anyone who's paying attention."
Pay attention to this author, read all of her books, and maybe this one also.

Dali, need I say more?

My mind is racing after looking at Salvador Dali's work.
I could not get home, fast enough to look on Google, for some information about this man.
My hubby kindly took his audio tour guide,out of his ears, every other second, because I had questions!!! I had revelations, about each painting and work of art.
" Bill, he has issues with his mother, or maybe breasts or mothers milk!!!" "Oh my God, he is a tormented Catholic, look at all the Madonna and Child references!!" " Bill, look, he likes to infuse Geometry and Physics, into his art, this must make you happy, Science and Art together!!!" (Note-Dr. Baron is an Organic Chemist!!! who takes me to art museums, to keep me happy)
I was very surprised that Dali was so talented, I don't know why? I think of him, as coloring so far out, that I would not connect with his art. So wrong, and thrilled was I, to be wrong.
I knew he did not have children, his art told me. My research confirmed this, but then I had to think back to why I thought this? No answer came to me, his mind was reeling, he never had time for children. Other artists had kids, but not Dali, he had mother issues, or maybe father issues?? He painted rhinoceros horns for Christs sake!!!!
He was married to one lady love, and from all accounts they had a wonderful life. She was his muse, and is painted often. His father never spoke to him again because of this woman. Family dynamics, now that is surreal, and will make you a surrealist for sure!!!
What a joy to see masterpieces of art, I feel so lucky.
I asked Bill what his favorite one was, and it was one that had something to do with atoms swirling all around????? We are not even on the same page!!!! I loved a simple one of the back of a girls head, and a red splotchy Madonna and child, and a shadow of the back of Jesus's arm on the cross!!!! Dali is twisting his moustache somewhere, pleased with himself. Dali, need I say more?

Eat, Pray, Love, but did you ever have a child?

The movie was great, better than I expected. Julia Roberts actually did a , bang up job, she lets herself be seen at a raw place, and that's unexpected and refreshing. She suffers from problems with meditation, as I do. I respect people who are searching. One thing that came to mind, in her journey, she did not have children. Not only did she not have them, she had not suffered the loss of them. So, you see, we are different. We do love with abandon, and cherish all that life has to offer. She just has not loved so deeply as a mother, it's just a fact. To be a mother, is the most intimate thing there is, I think. To bury a child, is beyond anyone's ability to grasp. I watched the movie with love, and adoration, and desire to be a better person. I wondered in my thoughts, at what you would have done, Ms. Elizabeth, to love a child, and lose that child. Is there a mantra for that, I think not. Not only do I not have the ability to travel and escape my grief, I don't know how. I thank you for inspiring me to keep searching, I believe in love and myself and I know my child is a part of the universe. I also know, that there is no place to help me heal. Thank you for giving me , food for thought, and Javier Bardem. You are an angel, Ms. Elizabeth, unaware.

Living With Alligators

While still going through my photos and paraphernalia from our trip to Hilton Head, I was reminded of their most prominent reptilian resident, the Alligator!
For years I have thought of Hilton Head as being a swamp with golf courses, now I know its true. If you live in Hilton Head, these areas are called marshes, inlets, bays. In the deep south, Florida, we call this the everglades!!!
We took a drive to Palmetto Bluff, (Palmettos and Bluff, code for swampland) a beautiful, remote village?? place for wealthy people. Had valet parking for The Inn, that had no people. Jesus could have had a room at this Inn!!!! Walking around, we found a little post office, yes wealthy people have their own post office!!! There were all kinds of stuffed animals, that have been found on this nature preserve, turned residential.
One particularly caught me eye, Living with Alligators, what the hell, is that a plus to buying in the neighborhood. Talks about Palmetto Bluffs large population of South Carolina's most distinctive native creature. Creature is the operative word here!!!
Here are some of the do nots that are listed
1. Do not swim in lagoons or ponds, and stay away from water trails!!
2. Never allow children to play near the water.
3. Do not allow dogs in or near water known to harbor gators!!!
4.Be aware of your surroundings, no Sh*t!!
5. Play it safe when playing golf, never search for a lost golf ball in the water or on the banks.
6.Never Corner an alligator, you don't have to tell me twice!!!

I am not going to live with alligators, on my back patio , or walking through my yard, like our Uncle Mike. I don't need to know when their mating season is, so as to stay indoors, while the big daddy gator is searching for mamasita!!!
Hilton Head is fun to visit but.....to live there....get me back to the burbs!!!!

Oh!!! I get it!!!?????

Tomorrow I go back to school, and my mind is still on beach time. It is always a good place to begin the year with. I have had a wonderful summer, although a hot one, a lazy, hazy one will work also!!!
I have laughed, more than cried, and that is a good "thang"!!
Just last week, while sipping "something", I noticed a cute sign in the bar. I said to Emma and Uncle Mike, " Look at that sign, it says no cow poop in here, isn't that funny, where is my camera?"
I knew something was "off"?? by the way they were looking at me, like I was a TARD!!
"Bonnie/Mom ( both talked at the same time!) the sign means NO Bullshit Allowed!"
"Oh, I get it??" when I really didn't!!! I think I may be losing my edge!!! but it made me laugh out loud, and I had a summer filled with those moments.
So when I return to the grind tomorrow, I will try and remember to have many more moments that make me laugh. I will spend the year, helping kids learn English, and teaching them, that laughter remains the universal language!!!

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere!!!!

"Live In The Sunshine,
Swim The Sea,
Drink The Wild Air"
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I still am unwinding from the beach, if that is possible. I think the beach lingers.
We are getting ready, in three weeks, to go again. We will meet the children and grands in Topsail, North Carolina, for a week of Coastal Living!!! We have rented a house big enough, to hide or be found!!!
I was looking at my sunscreen collection and wondering, if I should get MORE!!!?? The summer is nearly over, in my brain. There are towels, to fold and pack again. Toys for the grandchildren, and Advil for their Uma and Grandpa Baron!!! Lucy, the Lab, is going with us, so her Stuff will need to be locked and loaded!!!!! Hart will also be in tow, we need all the adults to help with the babies. It takes a village, Brian and Emily will be headed south, and Keith and Kelly, we keep hope alive!!! will make a surprise visit. Emma will miss this trip, college calls!!!
Maybe I should be thinking of packing alcohol!!! Come on Bonnie, we are going to the beach, the biggest watering hole there is. Honestly, how can anyone not, have a drink at the beach, and time of day ?????there are no watches!!! Beach people are different, they have learned that not everything has to be useful, not everything has to lead to something more. We have to learn how to relax sometimes, just sit and enjoy our surroundings, if you are lucky, you are near water. If you are real lucky, someone just told you, It's five o'clock somewhere!!

Remember when a towel was enough?

Last Thursday we loaded up the car, headed to Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was a major production, a band of gypsies would have been proud. Flip-flops are so easy to pack, why not take a few!!! roll up some bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts and you are done. No need to take blow dryers or curling irons, the swamp-humidity will take care of hair-do's!!! Make up takes a back seat, to sunscreen!!! BUT...do you think that stops any female from hauling all of the above??? Never, we have to be ready for anything, a shark sighting, may require a change of clothes!!!
I grew up on the beach, we barely took a towel!!!! There was no such thing as a beach cover-up and matching sandals, and coordinating beach bag, and a special rollers for chairs and umbrellas, coolers, snack baskets, bags for wet clothes, hats, sunglasses, reading material, I-pods, and some jellyfish sting jell!!!! It's not an easy trek to happiness!!! It takes work, and it fascinates me, that in order to enjoy Nirvana, we humans have made getting there, a pain!!! and then after you have set up, and baked for a few hours, you need to load up, and your stuff has seemed to multiply. It seems like a much bigger mess. Satan's Humidity has embraced you, like a winter coat in August, and your body can barely move, I knew we should have brought some gator-aid!!!!! and is it worth it??? A million times, worth it. Happiness is the ocean, whatever you need to take to get there!!!!

Compassionate Friends

I wake up early, always have, just an early bird. I want that WORM!!!!!
This morning around 4:30, waiting for my coffee, I was looking at Ward's ashes. They are on the fireplace mantle, in a blue pottery jar. I was asking him, if I have left anything out? I'm not sure what I meant, but I felt like I needed to say something? Then it occurred to me, I have never thanked the people at Compassionate Friends.
This organization meets monthly with parents who have lost children. We went for about one year, and try to go back occasionally now. They helped save my life, by showing me, that I was not the only one that was hurting. Many people lose children, in numerous ways, and its not normal. Pain is universal, yet we all deal with it differently.
They have a yearly meeting, where people from all over the world meet, and remember their children. You see its a group that no one wants to join, but once you are a member, you are grateful for the company. Each year we send a picture of our Ward, to be on display, and they return it to us. I wonder who all touched his photo, and thought of us. Did they wonder how this young man died? It makes me very happy to know people saw my child and know his name. Each Year on his birthday I get a handmade card from this women, who lost her child, and that is her mission to send cards to all people who have lost children. She is a compassionate friend to strangers. Her life devoted to all of our children's birthdays. Oh and I almost forgot, she sends us all cards on their Angel Date also, the day of their death.
Compassionate Friends, I thank you for loving me, and listening to me, and for remembering us.

To All Mothers of Boys!!!

When thinking about having children, all I ever dreamed about was a football team of boys!!!! I love boys!!! There is no explaining to boys, they don't care about reasons. Their smells are very different, boy smells!!! Like dirt and puppy smell, mixed together. Even after their pretend baths!!! You know its true, if left on their own, they would not bathe!!! It is common for them to dig clothes out of the dirty hamper and wear them again!!!! My house is barely standing, and I buy new furniture , as much as, I buy groceries. Boys, fall OUT, on the couches and chairs, the sound of springs breaking, ring in my ears. Running , running and running more. Eating, eating and eating more, and more!!!! Balls, and bats, and action figures, hot wheels, they do not outgrow these things. Comic books, baseball cards, cartoons, video games, it never stops!!!! and my boys are grown men!!!!! My baby boy, will be 26 this August, he visits often!!!! I adore him, but...he yells from the TV room, "Mom, come look at how flexible, I am!" ( picture by his sister, Emma!!) ( I had a come to Jesus moment, and adopted a girl!!!) I was thinking, its either new furniture or a trip to the emergency room!!!!!
"Wow, Hart, that is good!" (Lord, please find him a wife, that loves sports and understands boys!")
My daughter in law, Emily, mother of my two grandsons, called to tell me Adrian, age 4 had broken his collar bone!!! She has not even smelled, two-a-day football clothes yet!!!!! ( Lord please find Emily some strength to take care of these Baron Boys!)
I would not change anything!!! Four boys and one daughter, and medication!!!!