Janet is mother of two boys. She took to mothering so naturally, just like our sister Patty.

Zach is now a handsome, smart teenager and a marvelous big brother to Alex. I took this picture of Janet and Zach on the day he was baptised.

He and Janet spent many days with me here, in DC. Our favorite thing was hanging out in a park on the Potomac River, across from the airport. We also hit the Capital Children's Museum a few times. The giant "cootie bug" was irresistible to kids and Zach was no exception.

Both of my sisters are mothers to a total of six fantastic children.

I caught this when Patty's first child, Chris was baptised. It was a formal, Ukranian Catholic service in which only the godparents partook. I sat in a pew behind my sister and could almost feel her anguish at having to hold herself back from her wailing son. When the priest laid Chris on the cold marble floor in front of the alter, he stopped crying. I think we were all a little nervous wondering if he was OK. When Patty was finally handed her son, exhausted, he burrowed as far as he could into her shoulder and we all sighed in relief.

Chris is now a working man in Chicago, having graduated from the University of Illinois a couple of years ago.

Happy Mothers' Day, Mom!

It's a wonder how Mom has survived nearly 62 years of marriage, 5 children, 4 dogs, various rescued wild animals and all the illnesses, weirdness and pain in the butt attitude of hormonal teenagers. Somehow she managed to hang on to sanity and a wry sense of humor.

Her considerable mothering skills smoothly transitioned into grandmothering.

In middle age I've finally come to realize that she was right most of the time. I wish I'd followed her example and taken her advice more often. Three cheers, Mom!!

When I first saw this blot, I was reminded of a family crest -- you know, the kind with two, rearing lions on either side. Only my lions look more like two svelte greyhounds. The center sorta reminds me of a frog ready to be dissected in high school biology -- eeuuuww!

Happy Anniversary!

May 10, 1980

Patty and Tom were married in Potomac, Maryland. The day was perhaps a little more eventful than we would have liked but, in the end, vows were made and everyone had a good time. Many of us shed happy tears for a couple so obviously in love with each other.

Four children, one dog, hermit crabs, and a pet rat notwithstanding, they remain best friends and lovers.

A Path Taken

Cape Henlopen, Delaware has a spectacular beach. It is largely untouched by man so it's a more natural ocean experience than elsewhere up or down the coast.

Hard as it is for younger generations to imagine, during WWII manned defensive observation towers and gun turrets lined the dunes here and all along the Eastern seaboard. Some have been left in place at Henlopen as a reminder of what could have been.

Funky Flowers

We loaded our balcony planters with flowers yesterday and I simply had to mess with a pic of some. Can you tell what they are?

Laddy

My first childhood pet was a mixed breed, abandoned puppy who wandered into our backyard and started pulling freshly laundered sheets off the line -- not a good way to win over our Mom. Nevertheless, after much pleading and whining by my older brother and me and a notice in the local paper that was never answered, we got to keep him.

He was a free spirit in every sense of the word. He'd wander off for days at a time and return with a smug look on his face. We figured he'd sullied the reputation of a pure-bred dog somewhere in town. Other times, he'd come home with injuries, clearly from fighting another dog or two and once from being hit by a car.

Laddy was our protector and accomplice in our many excursions to the "wild side" -- on the bluff between two sets of commuter railroad tracks, the beach and through the territory of a nasty, standard poodle that liked to bite. If Laddy had wandered ahead or behind us, once he heard our yelps, he'd come like a barking streak of white and brown lightning to drive away the predator.

One of his favorite pastimes was finding the most disgusting smelling matter and then rolling in it. Several times it was dead fish on the beach. An unusual event left mounds of Budweiser Clydesdales' poop in our intersection. He looked positively ecstatic coating himself with the nasty, but warm glop. Of course Mom had to deal with these "unpleasantnesses." She'd throw on an apron, grab him in whatever fashion she could and dump him into a wash tub filled with warm water and Tide detergent. If it wasn't for Mom's naturally loving nature, Laddy probably would not have survived as long as he did. Of course my brother and I also had to pay a price for Laddy's indiscretions.

Memories of Laddy started flooding my mind when I started watching The Dog Whisperer on the Animal Planet channel. To my utter horror and ever-lasting shame, I came to realize that we'd done everything wrong with him! Rather than willingly coming to our sides or into the house, he'd dance around just out of reach. When he finally relented he'd get a smack. No wonder he didn't want to come to us!!

I just hope God has a special place for pets and that Laddy is spending eternity rolling in whatever he wishes to. I also hope he knows how much we loved him and how fondly his human family remembers him.

"There are many paths to enlightenment. Be sure to take one with a heart." --Lao Tzu, "Tao Te Ching"

World Press Freedom Day

In 1993, the United Nations passed a resolution declaring May 3rd World Press Freedom Day. No, I'd never heard of it, either. The more I thought about it the more I like the idea. Wouldn't it be something if journalists everywhere were free to report the news honestly and unfettered? -- North Koreans might finally learn that humans have been on the moon. -- The Burmese, whose country has been brutalized and renamed Myanmar by a military junta might learn that the world has not forgotten them. But then news from Darfur, Sudan might lead them to think differently. Nevertheless, as much as the American press gets wrong, it gets far more right; often embarrassing us by reporting our own foibles and gaffes. However, without a free press, corruption would be far greater and we might settle into a complacency that would allow unscrupulous types to grab control. Happy World Press Freedom Day!

Blot #22

For those new to my blog, I create blots with dimensional paints -- similar to the old ink blots.

Bullet Proof

Just got off the phone with a friend who lives in San Antonio, Texas. Seems a 20-year old company there is reaching out to new clientele. It's speciality has been retrofitting limos and other top of the line autos with armor and bullet proof glass. We're probably both thinking that's a good idea for government and diplomatic types, right?

Well, now anyone with $90,000 can own an armored vehicle, fitted with systems that spew tacks and smoke {Agent 007 style} to slow down or stop pursuers. The windows and exterior are armor-piercing-bullet-proof. They get some pretty big hail down in the Lone Star State, but armor-piercing-bullets?!

Bet law enforcement is really excited about this new development. . .

Counting the Days to Meet Tucker

This picture was taken by my niece, Bethany, on Tucker's trip to his new home. He's half poodle and half golden retriever and ALL about family.

When I first saw this picture, one of dozens I enjoy looking at regularly, I fell in love with the furry guy. [If we didn't live in an apartment, my husband and I would probably have several dogs.]

Tucker was supposed to grow into a medium sized dog, but genetics decided differently. He had big feet as a puppy and has now grown into them. Nevertheless, he's a gentle, loving pet and I can hardly wait to meet him this summer.

First in 2007

We are both devotees of water melon and when we saw some in the grocery last Saturday, we decided to chance an early one.

If you know anything about water melons, you know we were not disappointed. YUM!!

Happy Birthday, Key!!

Yesterday was this young lady's 20th birthday.

I took this picture of my niece/goddaughter when she was four or five.

She's still an independent, ebullient and loving young woman and a sophomore at the College of William and Mary. She plays bassoon, was high school home coming queen, runs, rows, plays basketball, does yoga, and so much more that it wears me out just thinking about it all!

I'm blessed with three godchildren -- Nan, Key and Alex. I enjoy a special connection with each unique individual that enriches my life immeasurably. I thank their parents for sharing them with me!