Memorial Day and the Red Poppies

General John Logan

Too often we treat Memorial Day as an excuse to have a picnic, family event or a long weekend for travel.  The reality is that this day was and still is meant for remembrance.  It was originally proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan and observed by placing flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetary that died during the Civil War.  The first state to officially proclaim the day as a holiday (originally called 'Decoration Day') was New York in 1873.  By 1890 all Northern states observed Memorial Day and the Southern states followed suit after WWI.  The following poem was written to commemorate those that died during the Civil War.



In Flanders Field

John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Moina Michael replied with her own poem in 1915:



We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

It was during this time that poppies began to be worn in honor of those that have fallen in service to America.  Initially, poppies were worn to honor those that died during the Civil War but after WWI it became tradition to wear them honoring all those that gave their lives defending our American freedoms.  Later, the tradition of donating money to veterans and receiving a poppy to wear spread to other countries and in 1948 The U.S. Post Office honored Ms. Michael with a 3 cent red stamp in her honor for starting 'The National Poppy Movement'.  To learn more about the history of Memorial Day visit http://www.usmemorialday.org/ or www.history.com/topics/memorial-day-history for more detailed information.

'West Side Story' at The Bushnell

This afternoon we drove into Hartford to see 'West Side Story' at The Bushnell.  We've had season tickets to their Broadway series for several years now.  It's one of the few things that we do just for each other.  Over the years we've seen quite a few shows that we normally wouldn't see if they were not included in the season package but today we were both looking forward to this new production of an old classic. 

Part of the unique difference from the original Broadway production is the inclusion of bilingual dialogue in many scenes.  We had seen 'In the Heights' last year and were familiar with the concept.  I had conversations with some people who were totally opposed to the idea but it was done seamlessly and felt right for the show as a whole.  It felt good seeing a musical that we were familiar with yet had never seen on the stage.  A modern 'Romeo and Juliet' that resonates with our culture today.  By the way...even though it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend the theater was packed! Visit the Bushnell's website at http://www.bushnell.org/ to see what's in store for next season! 

Look Who Came to Visit!

Recently, early on a Sunday morning we looked out our back sliding doors that lead to our deck and saw this young, beautiful doe meandering through the small wooded area behind our townhouse.  It amazes me that we can live in a congested city area filled with a great variety of noise and activity and still see an animal expected to live in a much less crowded part of our world.  I'm not naive enough to think that this deer just appeared in our neighborhood by accident.  Our city is growing and new construction around every corner is having an impact not only on the environment but also the wildlife that is supported by it.  Growth is good for the economy but ultimately a price has to be paid somewhere.  We shouldn't have been visited by this deer but it was a great way to start the day!

There's A Big Empty Spot on Our Deck!

This past weekend we made a momentous decision.  After clearing it with our boys, we took one more relic from their childhood days and bid it farewell!  Their two bikes (all sorts of different ones while they were young) have been taking up a large amount of space on our one and only deck for at least 12-15 years.  We finally realized that this particular part of their life (for now at least) is over.  They're much more interested in transportation that involves 4 wheels.  It actually feels good to have the space back and to know that never again will we have to wheel those bikes through our dining and living room to go through the front door and down the front porch.  There are no steps or access from the deck so the only way to move anything off that deck is through the house.  That's what life in a townhouse can be like - it's crowded and small and we're always right on top of each other - but I wouldn't have had it any other way! 

I'm quite sure that both of our sons will have bikes in their lives again but they'll be purchased by them and stored by them.  The days of 'Mutant Ninja Turtle', 'Power Ranger' and 'Pokemon' bikes with streamers, horns and cards between the spokes are over for now.  We'll see them again someday when they have kids of their own and maybe we'll be purchasing them once more for little redheaded grandchildren but for now...just for now, we're letting go again.  I've always believed that we raise children up to let them go. It is always the right thing to do.  Besides, they always figure out a way to sneak back into the nest!! 

I attached the Pokemon bike theme music for those of you that remember!

The Danbury Art Festival - C.O.D.A.

Today our son had artwork exhibited at Western Connecticut State University during the CODA (Celebration of Danbury Arts) festival.  He is currently 17 and anticipating a Sr. year that includes a heavy concentration in English and Art and that is his plan for his college career.  This is his 'Green Lantern' piece to the left.  Super talented!





We were so looking forward to this arts festival and to our dismay it was announced that there would be no financing of this event and it would be cancelled.  This was on Tuesday...by Thursday an anonymous donor appeared and saved the day!  Art is too important to allow funding to suffocate the ability of these kids.  They need the social exposure and artistic mentoring that only an art show can provide.  An art show has the ability (by it's self) of becoming an entity that will carry these young people through the surf on the incoming tide.  Support the arts.  This is a need...not a want. 
  

Strange Things We Cook for Kids!

I can't believe some of the things I used to do to perfectly good food in order to entice my children to eat it!   We are compelled to turn food into all sorts of artwork for our little ones.  I've made vegetables into all sorts of pretty pictures including a vegetable 'rainbow' with dipping sauce.  Part of what I did was motivated by trying to keep up with other moms.  The perceived competition was fierce and winning was important.  How incredibly crazy!  I remember that the pre-school my boys went to required moms to share the responsibility for snacks -with one catch - we had to coordinate snack with whatever subject was being taught!  I came up with that rainbow vegetable tray for the week they were learning colors.   Those are sweet memories but I'm glad that part of my life is now relegated to memories...that was a lot of work!  At least I never did this to hot dogs and pasta! 

My sons now require nothing more than easy access to the refrigerator and all the contents within.  But please, 'no assembly required' is their motto.  They think we have a 'magic kitchen' where the food magically jumps out of containers and becomes something edible!  One of my favorite websites for family friendly recipes is http://www.allrecipes.com/.  This site actually has an ingredient feature that allows you to type in specific items you have available and will spit out (get it? kids and food) all sorts of recipes to try!  Perhaps it is entirely because we try so hard to make healthy food appealing that the end result is a person who enjoys new food experiences.  I never allowed my kids the opportunity to not try foods. The 'No, thank you' helping is part of our family history!

I attached some funny food montage videos just for fun!  My sons are actually really good about trying different foods now and don't turn their noses up at much.  Did I actually just type that last sentence?  Silly me.

   

Fussy About Food

I haven't had a soda in 2 and a half years - not just soda but anything carbonated.  That doesn't seem like such a big deal but let me tell you what else is on my 'do not ingest' list.  I don't eat red meat of any kind.  I have to say 'of any kind' because I'm always asked, "but what about pork?" and the answer is always the same.  If it walks on four legs, I don't eat it.  I've also completely eliminated artificial sweeteners and try very hard to avoid high fructose corn syrup.  If I see HFCS on a label, I won't buy it.  I've started buying items that don't travel far.  For instance, I've found a store that sells eggs from Connecticut - (visit www.buyctgrown.com to learn more about foods that are grown and harvested in CT) and I buy butter that comes from a farm in Maine.  It's called Kate's Butter and is made with sea salt.  Visit www.kateshomemadebutter.com to learn more about this great product.  Yes, it's more expensive but it tastes so much better!  Eating better also means buying organic items when I can find them and avoiding processed meats.  We don't eat out as much and fast food restaurants are not even considered.  

While my list is limiting in some ways I've found that the benefits far outweigh the minor inconveniences.  For instance, I lost the excess weight I wanted to lose, my blood work improved, my blood pressure came down and I feel so much better.  My family is eating better just because of the food choices that are now available to them.  I don't force my food habits on my sons or my husband but because I eat the way I do, I know that they are eating better as well.  This has caused some minor disturbances in our extended family because my new food choices were initially considered 'a phase' that I would eventually tire of.  Now that 2 and a half years have passed we all work around it and for the most part my new relationship with food is respected.  The single biggest objection I've had to cope with is that the way I have chosen to eat is just 'too much hard work', or 'I love food too much to eat the way you do'.  I can only reply that it is most definitely hard work and it is exactly because I love and respect where our food comes from that I've made this change in lifestyle. 

If I could I would require every single American to watch two movies.  Both 'Supersize Me' and 'Food, Inc.' paint a crystal clear picture of what the food industry has become in our country and what we can do to change it.  One person can make a difference!  If you haven't seen them yet, I've attached the trailers.  Be brave...watch the movies.

My Husband and the Shoe Shine Kit

My husband and I have been married for almost 24 years.  After all that time you get used to a person's habits, obsessions, pet peeves...all those little things that can distinguish a long relationship from a short one.  However, there is one box in my husband's closet that drives me insane.  It is his shoe shine kit.  It's actually in an old shoe box and sits on the top shelf of his closet collecting dust until he decides that his shoes (all of them) need to be shined.  He also has a small jar of some nasty smelling cream called 'mink oil' which he puts on some of his leather shoes.  It's just the most disgusting smell you can imagine.  He doesn't do this all that often but just enough to make me crazy - insane crazy. 

This past weekend he pulled down the shoe shine box and proceeded to shine, buff and 'treat' all of his shoes.  As you probably guessed he is not someone who buys shoes lightly.  He hates shoe shopping and when he buys a pair of shoes it is a lifetime decision.  And so this weekend I did what any wife would do and threatened to just buy him a new pair of shoes.  He offered to shine my shoes and put the dreaded 'mink oil' on my docksiders.  This is marriage.

I attached a video about how to 'correctly' shine shoes.  It's over 4 minutes long.  I know my husband will watch it.  I noticed the guy in the video is wearing a wedding band...there's hope.  Then there's a music video about the "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy".  Country, of course.

Prom is Big Business!

My 17 year old son is a junior in high school and attended his prom this weekend with his girlfriend who is graduating this year.  This means that they are going to two proms.  They could have attended only one but felt that if they were smart about their choices they could manage both.  We live in a very expensive part of the country and doing anything in Fairfield County, Connecticut is not inexpensive!  Just to give you an idea of what was spent on this junior prom: 2 tickets- 130.00 (at the Danbury Plaza Hotel http://www.danburyplaza.com/ ); tuxedo rental - 100.00 (included shoes, socks, etc.); gown - borrowed; prom portrait package - 55.00 (basic); flowers - 25.00.  They chose to not attend any pre prom or post prom activities and drove a family car instead of opting for a limo.  They actually got lost on the way there even with directions but eventually located the hotel! The total cost for this event was approximately 300.00 and I have to tell you that many of the families I know spent much more than that!

Proms weren't always this extravagant.  They didn't become the social event they are today until the 1950's and even then in many schools it was more of a 'Sunday Best' type of dress and held in school cafeterias that had been decorated by a 'prom committee'.  I found a great website where you can read all about the history of American Proms http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/004prom.html and once you're done with that, visit their homepage...it's a really fun site exploring history from a different angle!  Another useful site is http://www.promdress.net/ if you have questions about anything even vaguely related to a young person in your life attending a prom - it's not just about the dresses!  I've attached a photo of my son and his girlfriend just as they were about to leave for their 'Seaside Serenade' prom! Just below that is the trailer from the new Disney movie 'Prom' that was released in April!

An Update on the Prom Peril in Shelton!

Just a few minutes ago, Dr. Beth Smith announced that she has reversed her earlier decision and is allowing James Tate and the two friends that helped him put up his sign go to their Senior prom on June 4th.

This is significant not only for James and his classmates at Shelton High School but for all people who feel that they can't change their circumstances.  It's important to note that it took courage for Dr. Smith to reverse her decision.  It shows her students that flexibility is an important part of our daily lives. Change is good and necessary.  One person can make a difference or in this case a large group that called themselves #teamtate - Congratulations!

Prom Perils!

There is a young man in Shelton, CT who is not going to his prom this year.  This story has become national news and is quickly turning 'viral' on the internet.  His name is James Tate and his crime was to ask his date to the prom by placing a large cardboard sign on the school building so she could see it as she entered the building.  Sweet.  The Headmaster of Shelton High School, Dr. Beth Smith thought otherwise.  James received one day of in school suspension and was told that he could no longer attend his prom.  If the building was vandalized or in any way defaced I would more than likely support this administration's decision.  However, the official offense was cited as 'trespassing'...please.  Shelton High School is a public building on public property. 

After much public outcry a statement was made yesterday afternoon.  While I knew the administration had to come out of this looking strong I truly believed a compromise could have been reached.  The message had been sent and the lesson learned.  Dr. Smith stood firmly entrenched in this pool of quicksand.  She has not budged and is ever so slowly sinking away from any respect she had to gain from the student body.  Speaking of the students, they have formed facebook pages and have a firm hold on the trending topic on twitter #teamtate in addition to staging a sit-in this morning.  I applaud them.  For so many years we have seen apathy grip our young people like the plague!  Activism is good and one person (or student body) can make a difference.  I've always believed that if you want something to happen you have to make it happen.  I hope many good things happen for James Tate.  I'm sure you'll see him on national television shows and hear from him in the future.  I've attached some video just in case you haven't heard about this Connecticut 'conundrum'!

By the way, my son went to prom tonight. 

My Cat is Fat!

We knew the day was coming.  We kept trying to avoid it.  You see, if we never really had to take our cat, Nikki, to the vet then we wouldn't have to listen to the vet tell us that she has a...weight problem.  It started a few months ago when her breath became intolerable.  We suspected this was just wrong, especially when she could stink up a whole room just by being in it!  Then one day we looked at her and noticed that her tongue was consistently hanging out of her mouth.  Odd.  Then we saw the tooth - sticking out of her mouth at an angle.  We couldn't avoid it any longer.  We made an appointment with our vet for the next morning.  My husband was brave enough to take her to her 'date with destiny'.  First we had to make sure our animal crate was big enough to handle her.  In case you don't have cats they don't travel well...at all.

After my husband got her to the vet and they hoisted her onto the scale we got the news we knew but didn't want to face.  She weighed 19.8 pounds! That's way too much for a cat.  She's always been fat.  Sounds like an excuse right?  But it's true.  We adopted her in the Spring of 2002 from the Danbury Animal Welfare Society (http://www.daws.org/) and at that time she was over 16 pounds.  Nikki was only 2 years old then.  She was born at the shelter and adopted by a young woman who ran into tough times and had to return her to the shelter which is when we adopted her.  My husband thought we were crazy adopting a fat cat, "Think of the food she's going to eat!" was a frequent refrain!! 

After fixing her health problems which were all related to bad teeth, they gave us the news that she had to lose weight...at least 5 pounds! That is a 25% weight loss...a lot for anyone!  So, here we are one month later and she's lost 1 pound.  The vet is pleased but let me tell you that it is no fun living with a hungry cat.  She lurks around the cabinet where her food is kept, the refrigerator and her food bowl and has become increasingly vocal!  She's even started hunting again!  But, she's not very effective with all that weight and many of her teeth now pulled.

We're not the only family with a fat cat.  I've included some photos I found on http://www.pinterest.com/ (visit their site...you'll love it) that I thought would be fun!

Our Secret Desire to be June Cleaver!

Mother's Day has come and gone...almost.  I wrote earlier today about the traditional history of Mother's Day but what about contemporary culture?  For those of us that have children in college or approaching college we were raised with an ideology of parental perfection.  It has taken years for me to realize that it simply cannot be done.  We like the idea of it, perfection appeals to everyone as does world peace but it simply cannot happen as a mother.  We make mistakes.  Some of us are really good at it!  What can happen is acceptance...from our children.  I am blessed to have children that have lived through tough times and have come to accept me as a flawed human that has always tried to do the best I could given the circumstances I was handed. 

As a child, I can remember watching 'Leave It to Beaver'.  I was fascinated with the mom (June Cleaver) and how perfectly perfect she was able to be.  That was not reality...certainly not my reality.  Life is hard.  But like the 'Leave It to Beaver' show, it certainly is funny.  As my oldest son always tells me, "It's all good".  I've always had an 'Eddie Haskell' in my life and I hope you do too.  Life just wouldn't be complete without one of these characters!  Enjoy these old clips of 'Leave It To Beaver'!

Mother's Day Primer

I'll bet most of you don't know about the American origin of Mother's Day.  I certainly didn't until I started researching this relatively modern American holiday.  While days honoring motherhood have existed throughout history, it was never celebrated in the United States officially until after 1908.  It's origins begin in 1870 with Julia Ward Howe's (remember...she wrote 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic 12 years earlier) Mother's Day Proclamation that encouraged mothers to come together to protest the death and carnage wrought during the Civil War.  It was a political statement from women protesting a war that had taken so many lives.  Sound Familiar? It was a day that was centered around celebrating peace and motherhood.  This holiday was celebrated sporadically for a brief period of time before it's demise.  Once Howe stopped paying for the celebrations they slowly disappeared.

Anna M. Jarvis was the next woman to carry the banner for Mother's Day by petitioning for an official celebration to unite mothers in friendship and peace.  While this effort began in 1908 in West Virginia, it wasn't until 1912 that official recognition began and finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the 2nd Sunday in May the official Mother's Day.  Anna Jarvis worked tirelessly to promote Mother's Day as a day for mothers to unite in friendship and peace. Visit http://www.mothersdayshrine.com/ to read more about Anna Jarvis. 

It was during this period of time that it became tradition for carnations to be given to mothers.  White carnations were given in memory of deceased mothers and pink and red were given to honor living mothers.  Imagine how that would affect the florist industry if only carnations were gifted to mothers today!  Read more about the history of Mother's Day at www.mothersdaycentral.com if you want more background on these 'activist' women!  Remember, this all occurred before women got the vote!

Can I get your 'Interest' with 'Pinterest'?

It's been a few days since I've posted due to a combination of events that conspired against me!  Most notably, our dachshund, Otis had to visit the vet to have his front left leg checked.  He's fine and on an anti-inflammatory for the next week while his sprained limb heals.  He is supposed to go easy on the running around but telling that to a dog is next to impossible!

Now...on to the fun stuff.  If you haven't heard of http://www.pinterest.com/ yet you should take some time (a lot of it) and peruse their website.  You have to sign up via 'invitation' but they're quick about responding.  This is addictive.  Basically you create boards that you 'pin' images of your favorite things based on categories.  The categories themselves are fun to meander through.  It really is like creating a 'snapshot' of who you are!  You can take your pins and share them with others through twitter, facebook and just about any social media site you can think of.  I've only just started creating boards and pinning my favorites onto them but it's been more fun looking at everyone else's favorite things!  Below is a short video tutorial about Pinterest and how to get started.

Our Blast from the Past...'Hair'...Not Really

We have season tickets to the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, CT.  It's an indulgence but we don't travel at this point or have many other 'bells and whistles' going on in our life so it's a welcome respite every other month.  Today we went to see 'Hair' which I'm quite sure I would not have bought tickets for on my own but that is the beauty of purchasing a season package!  We have had the opportunity to see many shows that we normally would not have opted to see if given the choice.  So today we found ourselves in Hartford seeing a Broadway show that came with a warning about nudity and subject matter. Really. 

The show is set in 1967 during a time of political and social unrest in the country that largely surrounded the Vietnam war. What my husband and I both saw was a similarity to what our sons are experiencing now in the world they are growing up in as young adults.  The show was joyful, exuberant and sobering...as life is.  We left feeling intensely happy and at the same time saddened that history will always repeat itself.  We wish we had brought our sons. I left with a flower.  Enjoy the video!