LANSING JOURNAL OPINION- MAY 6, 2007

http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/OPINION02/705060679/1087/opinion

SHINGLE SHOWERS

Burt has projects...They always seem to take longer than one would think but they turn out fine. There are certain hazards in opposites getting married. He is methodical, thoughtful, careful. I am impatient, mercurial and passionate. His way leads to successful conclusions and no one gets hurt. My way is rather like a fireworks show and usually bruising. Both ways work, I must say however.

Anyway he has been puzzling over how to shingle our 2 story barn-like shed which poses challenges in shape and access. He did manufacture a scaffold (saving $250 a day) I might add. Of course in my secret world I am having visions of his lifeless body lying beneath a blanket of splintered 2" x 8's when I come home from work (kind of a pine box scenario). I did examine said home-made structure and was relieved to find he did set the structure up on mud sills for stability. I guess I will fore go the lecture on "scaffold grade" lumber and hope for the best.

At any rate, the barn now sports about a 40% veil of white shingles shimmering against the old nasty black ones. But then he said he doesn't think he has enough shingles! This from the man who perpetually over measures and has leftovers on everything. We could probably build another house based on his fear of not having enough material. I think I am just going to keep quiet about the latest debacle as well.....so unlike me though.

SCENES OF MOTHERS

Two scenarios come to mind this week.

1) As I sat in church and watched two children being baptized I saw their small arms curved around their mother's arm in total trust and confidence. The tender innocence that Mother would be there-she would love them no matter what-she would catch them if they fell-she would sacrifice all for her child. All this seen in the small pink curve of a tiny arm caressing its mother and knowing she would always love them, a given.

2) Mothers and Fathers, tears running down their faces as they tried to assimilate the horror dropped on their children as they attended class -Virginia Tech. By a crazy man who didn't like the "privileged". Their promise of protection shattered in the crack of a Magnum 44 because they just happened to be where they were when the madness exploded. Their dreams of the small arm curved around them gone forever.

As a Mother and a human being, I reflect the pain and unfathomable grief these parents must feel that they could not protect their precious children.

My response this week to the Lansing State Journal on the question of how I feel about the Virginia massacre (there is no other word for what happened) is:

"Virginia Tech-our hearts are heavy. Why do the depressed and disenfranchised feel they have to take someone with them when they go? Legitimate grievances or easy access to guns? Have you made your point? Your fifteen minutes of fame? Or have you made martyrs out of the people you stole. They will be remembered, regardless of their potential contributions to society. You, however, will be remembered as that crazy man who thought he was god."

BUNNY SCENES

This thought keeps rolling around in my head. The upcoming Easter week and secular "bunnies" hopping around town lately remind me of a remark my Mother made the other day. We were immersed with the activities related to my Uncle's recent passing and celebrating my sister Kathleen's birthday. (Ed. note-These just happened at the same time, nothing to do with each other) Well, except,

aren't the events of life related? Birth, marriage, ceremonies, celebrations, funerals.... anyway we use these occasions to look back and reminisce and in this case, we were looking at old pictures.

A couple of interesting facts emerged. One, my daughter and her cousins did not believe my father was ever young and handsome instead of just being "Panga" of the crazy clothes and hilarious pronouncements. Two, my Mother remarked that my youngest sister Lori wanted to be like her big sister Marcia of the long lustrous hair desperately captured in a cascading pony tail. M's hair was thick and black and curlier than any beautician could ever hope to achieve. The younger sibling was hardly more than a baby with a smaller, shorter amount of hair. To satisfy the younger daughter, Mother would put her hair into what she called a "Bunny Puff". Just enough to pull it through the pony tail and happily emulate her big sister. I don't know why that struck me at the moment, I just couldn't get the picture of the little puff out of my mind.

Again I apologize to my daughter. I was never very good at those girl things. Oh well.

SCENIC OPINIONS

Although we of the State Journal Opinion panel have answered 3 weeks of questions, this week is the first one of mine that appeared in the hard copy of the paper rather than online. Even allowed pictures to be taken. Our opinions will show up under lsj.com.online under opinions. Interesting group of people from many backgrounds and interests including a freelance writer, retired folks, a newly minted MSU grad an attorney and the rest of the diverse cast of characters including yours truly.

"As long as I don't say anything too detrimental about our work" was the only caution that I was given. You know me, no controversy here.

IT'S SPRING - SCENES

Has it really been that long since I posted? Guess so. Couple of weeks ago become a member of our local paper's opinion panel and offered two opinions so far. However, with my basic ineptness with 'puter technology I am not sure they made it to their intended target. Oh well, have a year to figure this out.

We are working on picture to go with my name and opinions for the paper and Mr. Perfection is messing with the camera and the flash (its daylight and outside???) but as they say "we're losing the light man"!...... Sorry slight interruption as we went out to shoot some more glamour shots LOL.

Just got back from Florida Wed night and booked a trip to Las Vegas last night. Without a wedding and school bills, we seem to have some discretionary income ahem. Don't tell the feds. Florida was ok even though it never got to 80. Burned to a red headed, white skinned crispy critter after a very short time on the beach, but it was so worth it. Burt has an aversion for wading (think sharks, manta rays,etc).

Stopped at the Villages (if you watch golf tournaments, you know what that is -la de da) the last couple of days to see the Claus'. Burt bought a golf hat and marker at the Nancy Lopez fancy pants executive course (no tank tops or collarless shirts) which prompted us to point out when he shoots crappy, it will be a perfect time to sport his "Nancy" hat. Guys can be so cruel to each other. That was added to the 2 woods (knock off left handed) that he wanted that allows you to change the pitch based on whether you are hooking or slicing. I asked. Apparently they cannot correct a totally lame game such as mine. Oh well. I was willing to go left handed if it would help.

SCENES FROM PIG PLACES

Aha it is now officially the year of the pig! This denotes endings but also new and exciting beginnings. I bring you a pig story.

We were enjoying a conference call with all the staff. Our first time trying this mode of meeting with 30+ staff members. Worked fairly well, an occasional cough, dog bark and a child softly saying "Mom". Comments were fairly light as people were a little leery of the technology and breaking into another person's comment. However there were some of the usual jokes and silly lines.

It was mentioned that once we went to video conferencing, people could not come to the meeting dressed, so to speak, quite so casually (Harley slippers, pink pjs). Or as one of the men said, "Me, I'm sitting here naked eating Cheetos!" EEEEHOOOHHHWWWW