Bring On Lemons

I shared a picture on Facebook today and I'll share it here with you all as well: My dad was quite devoted to his family, and he was a good man. I would go so far as to say that he was a great man. He passed away when I was young so I honestly didn't see any of the faults that may have been under the service. He was quiet, patient, loving, and kind. As a little girl, that's all I could have wanted. He spent time with me and loved me unconditionally. He listened to me and protected me. Looking back, I totally get all that. He had wanted to be a father and waited nearly 50 years to have a child. He had every reason to be smitten with me. Here's what I don't get about parenting (and this is not a complete list, because I truly don't understand the absent and abusive parents, the unloving parents, etc... but that's not what this is about) - I don't get how someone can be as devoted as my dad was to me, to children that aren't theirs. My hat goes off...

I recently said this to a friend in the context of redecorating her home. She had wanted to paint and do things for quite some time, but the house was older and she was realistic about the extra work that goes along with owning an old home. She knew that there would be plastering and patching, drywall and sanding, etc... and then finally would come the taping and the painting and ultimately the comfort and relaxation of a completed project. I told her to just start somewhere because she was stressing herself out thinking and planning and re-thinking and re-planning. Judging by the pictures, everything went well and now she has a relaxing and peaceful space and several rooms have been started and completed. It didn't seem difficult when I said 'just start' and it wasn't really advice so much as we were sharing ideas. She knew the answer, but sometimes it helps to hear it from someone else. Today I needed to hear that voice, and since I'm not good at telling people ...

"Only Pigs Wallow" my mother would say when I was in a funk as a child. I loved reading Anne of Greene Gables, so I was likely to come home and tell my mother that I was in the depths of despair because something terrible had happened. During my pre-teen years, the something terrible would have been a fashion disaster with my clothing, a bad hair day that couldn't be tamed with my extra large bottle of Aqua Net Hairspray,  or a zit that couldn't be disguised with an ample covering of Cover Girl foundation. I dated a pig farmer when I was 16 and my mother may not have been right about pigs being the only animal that wallows, but I found out first hand that pigs stink. Maybe it was then that I decided to take her advice, or maybe it's some genetic gift that helps me see the bright side....whatever it is or it isn't...the fact is, I seldom wallow. I didn't say NEVER wallow...I said seldom... and for the record: When I miscarried in December, I wasn'...

Book Review – The Alphabet Sisters Book By, Monica McInerney (review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto) I can’t explain why it took me until 2013 to read my first novel by Monica McInerney. She is an Australian born author with international bestsellers including: A Taste for It, Upside Down Inside Out, Spin the Bottle, and most recently Lola’s Secret. I often exchange books with friends and family and was not familiar with Monica McInerney until I was handed a book called The Alphabet Sisters. The book was a quick read filled with dynamic characters that came to life with the authors great detailing of physical attributes as well as emotional characteristics. McInerney wove together a beautiful story of a family in turmoil who overcame their own fears and selfish pride. I can only apologize for not reading this delightful story earlier (it was copyright in 2004) and I can say without a doubt that I will be reading more of McInerney’s books in the very near future. This lo...