special olympics

In 1987 I was a fresh college graduate, employed by a bank and enjoying a steady paycheck. One of the perks of working for this bank was their connection to Notre Dame. So, when Special Olympics came to town to hold their annual competitions on campus, employees were encouraged to volunteer. Through some friends I snagged a role as a 'celebrity' ambassador and was able to spend the better portion of the week on campus, attending events and ceremonies and meeting lots of and lots of people. My official role was to be the escort of Mark Shriver, one of Eunice Kennedy Shriver's sons. Never met him, he didn't need an escort...but I did meet several of the Kennedy clan, other Kennedy relatives and a variety of professional athletes and TV/movie celebrities.

But the neatest experience was watching the participants. The pride and joy those athletes had in their abilities and in the Special Olympics experience was wonderful to witness.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away yesterday, but the Special Olympics will live on and what an amazing tribute and legacy to this woman who never forgot her older sister and went on to bring such hope and joy to so many families.

the reading fiend

I've been reading like a fiend over the last few days. I checked out every book our library had in one series and am plowing through another series my mom had loaned to me a few years back and I'd never finished.

First off, the Ophelia and Abby Mysteries by Shirley Damsgaard, are wonderfully told stories about a small town librarian, Ophelia, who just happens to be a psychic as well as a witch. She has the unfortunate 'ability' of stumbling over dead bodies and then the stubbornness that requires she solves the murder. Abby is her grandmother, a very wise and experienced witch descended from the 'granny' women of the Appalachia region. I devoured the first four of these books in two days.

Next up, Ann B. Ross is the author of the beloved Miss Julia series. Miss Julia goes through life with such style and grace, of course, those around her don't always seem to appreciate the 'code' by which she was raised or has lived her life...hilarity ensues. I'm into the third book in this series.

Both series provide a nice mystery that needs solving, plenty of well drawn characters and snappy dialogue.

Well, my oldest two are hustling around trying to get ready for their first day of school. Better go and provide traffic control.

john hughes

We all have favorite movie lines and if you lived your teen years during the 80's, the lines spoken in John Hughes' movies tend to stick with you. John Hughes passed away yesterday. He had a heart attack while he was walking in NYC; he was only 59. His movies are so embedded in my memories of high school, as are the lines he wrote.

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

"The key to faking out the parents is the clammy hands. It's a good non-specific symptom; I'm a big believer in it. A lot of people will tell you that a good phony fever is a dead lock, but, uh... you get a nervous mother, you could wind up in a doctor's office. That's worse than school. You fake a stomach cramp, and when you're bent over, moaning and wailing, you lick your palms. It's a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school." Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Jim Baker: "Why do you think you're a dork? I don't think you're a dork. I don't think Mom thinks you're a dork.
Samantha: Mike thinks I'm a dork.
Jim Baker: Mike *is* a dork." Sixteen Candles

Brian Johnson: "Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you're crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... ..and an athlete... and a basket case... .a princess... .and a criminal... Does that answer your question?... Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club." The Breakfast Club

The 80's may be long gone, but thanks to the movies John Hughes wrote and directed, a bit of my teenage experience lives on and what fun it is to share it with my own teens. I sense a movie marathon weekend in our future.....

the new normal

"The new normal" is a catch phrase I've heard in reference to the economy and just today in regards to a health situation. People may not like change, but we are hardwired to adapt, cope and adjust.

We find a way to absorb the changes that life throws at us and either live with those changes or live around them. Not that we don't like to complain about having to change and adapt, because boy do we like to let everyone know that we are doing just that.

I was pretty worn out by the time I got home yesterday after three meetings in a row. But, on the good side, the meetings went smoothly and the exchanges were even keeled. Today the information will be given out to more people and hopefully the 'new normal' will be absorbed without much complaint. For some reason, even small changes can kick up a firestorm...in many ways larger storms than big changes induce.

Even though I was at the library for a significant chunk of time yesterday, I neglected to get a book to read. Last night I scanned my bookshelf thinking I would reread an old favorite and instead realized I had the first four books in the Ann B. Ross "Miss Julia" series, but had never read them. They are stacked on my nightstand now and will most likely fall like dominoes as we enjoy the few last days of summer before the 'new normal' of the school year begins.

the good, the bad and the schedule

The high school schedules are out and while one child is thrilled, the other isn't quite as happy. The oldest has benefited from her honors heavy class load in that she is with the a majority of her friends for every class. The youngest has at least one person she knows in every class, but none of her BFF's. She was one unhappy student after we left the school for her soccer practice.

She will get over it, meet new people and thrive. It was good to see the few teachers that the oldest had last year and now the middle one will have this year...the big three: Honors Geometry, Honors English and Honors Biology. Of course they've all heard about her from her sister. Should be an interesting year for her! They've never followed on each other's heels like this in their academic careers.

Rain moved in last night. Ugh.

Not sure if I'm in the right frame of mind for the meetings I have today, but maybe with more coffee in me, I will turn the corner.

what is on the calendar

I need to start making my lists. Now that the start of a new school year is just days away, I need to get back to work on my big 'fall' event; handing over the reins of the bookstore to the two ladies who will step into the manager's role.

It can be a delicate thing to hand something like that off. I've been so tied into the whole endeavor and now I will attempt to step back, be of assistance when asked, but let them bring their vision and ideas to the project.

I have a meeting planned with them for this month and then a general 'all store volunteer' meeting planned for September.

In the meantime, there is always the regular work to do. I have two meetings tomorrow; one to discuss space issues and constraints involving the donation process. The other is our regular monthly meeting for the Friends. I hope the warmer temps predicted for tomorrow don't impact our discussions.

The bookstore has thrived over the summer months, so much so that we are in desperate need for donations, specifically paperback romances. I put a call out on facebook for that genre of book, so hopefully we will see a few trickle into the library.

I know spring is Mother Nature's time of renewal, but Fall seems to be the renewal time for me this year. Ending and beginnings in store for the weeks ahead.

what to do

This is the final week of summer vacation. Other than three rounds of back to school registration on Tuesday and a meeting on Wednesday, the week is wide open. All the immediate school supplies and back to school clothes/shoes have been purchased.

I'd like to do something 'special' each day with the kids. Small treats to break up the day, put smiles on our faces and celebrate summer.

Hubby worked on our 'pool' yesterday as the rain we received last week messed up the water quality quite a bit. It is all cleaned out and chemically balanced now, even if the water still looks a bit cloudy it is safe for swimming.

Swimming, walks, picnics, ice cream treats etc.....sounds like a plan for the week before Summer '09 fades away.