It's a Conundrum Charlie Brown

Was anyone else confused by Peppermint Patty? I always thought she was a boy and Marcie had a crush on her/him and that explained why she followed her around everywhere. I knew Patty had a thing for Chuck, and he loved the little red haired girl, but I had this tangled Peanuts' love triangle all secret in my head. All because I was too embarrassed to admit I couldn't tell if Peppermint Party was a gay man in love with Charlie Brown, a girl in active wear with a husky voice prone to giving nick names to her amours, or the lesbian president of the Charlie "Chuck" Brown Club.

I'm forty-two and I finally know one thing for sure by now about Peanuts. Woodstock is a little yellow Mr. Bean and I still giggle when I see him on screen. I hope it doesn't take another forty years to resolve my issues with Miss Piggy and how poorly she treats Kermit.

Know Thy Neighbor

My twelve year old neighbor knocked on my door at 2:30 in the morning. He was alone and wanted to use the phone to call his Mom that had taken his Dad to the E.R. He was trying to call his aunt that took them, but he wasn't sure if the number he had was the right one. It didn't work. I tried to tell him that Emergency Rooms can take a long time and that this could be all night. He knocks again at 3:30 (I told him to come back if he wanted) and he tries to call his Mom. Out of service. He goes back home but I can actually hear him crying, I mean wailing across the breezeway. This kid is the biggest deviant. He has had the cops called on him for punching a young girl in the head, he smeared jam all over my railing, been suspended twice, then expelled, threw a water balloon at my door late at night... but here he is wailing for his Mother.

I call the nearest hospital E.R.s and find where his Dad is. He has been admitted. I reach his Mother in the room and we talk. When I give this boy the message his relief is so great. All he wanted is to know. That's it.

Not knowing is a terrible state of being. In many many ways.

Live to Hope

For those of you that know my parents, well you know how fantastically wonderful of a cook my Mother is and my Dad ain't too shabby.  Well this week we got some news about my Mom's health that is going to change the diet in their house and I am excited about how excited my Mom is to have an opportunity to make things better.  So she can get better.

My Mom is going vegetarian.  Go ahead, sit down, have a drink, do what you have to do.  She is going to the U of U Wednesday for an Angiogram and possibly a stint for a blockage in her heart.  But the biggest and most hands on action she is taking is tackling diet.  Over the last couple of days she has been going through my vegan/vegetarian cookbooks getting recipes for meals she never thought possible.  But what has been really invaluable is the book Eat to Live by Dr. Fuhrman.  If any of you have had an actual conversation with me, you know how much I love this book and what struck me last night was my Mom saying how she had "seen how much it had worked for me." 

I want my Mom around forever.  In fact I have given her specific instructions to never die.  I also realize how ridiculous such an order is.  Yet I am hopeful.  Hopeful that my Dad will be on the Healthy Food Team because he will do whatever it takes.  Hopeful that my Mom finding more and more healthful eating options as FUN and tasty options will make this transition less of a challenge.  Hopeful that doing this as a family, will keep us a family.

My Mom called me tonight to ask a cooking question.  I hope that happens every night.

Dreams are Funny Things

Sitting on the couch with the Moms and we decide to watch Turner Classic Movies' night of Burt Lancaster. One flick down, we think "From Here to Eternity" is up next but oh no, a whole other monster starts. "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth has got to be one of THE SADDEST MOVIES EVER EVER EVER! Sitting on the couch, trying my hardest to hold back legitimate guttural sobs I turned into a snotty bawling heap.

So here is my review: If you are looking for some of the best acting, desperate and bare dialogue that makes you pity the human condition this is your film.

Just do it with someone you aren't afraid to show your ugly cry.

Time for Time

All Saints Day.  Or the day all the ghoulsies and goblinsies are coming down from their sugar high.  But for me, today is the 2 year anniversary of my surgery to have the big bad Cancer removed from my body.  Two years.  I'm sure some people might think it silly, and a bit unnecessary to keep on about this date or that, but not me.  See, I'm still here.  Some don't get that luxury.  I'm not pretending it is a princess party every day, there are still complications.  But life is full of complications and I'm grateful for the chance to endure them.

Here's to more anniversaries.  All around.