You raise yours, I'll raise mine

So I'm constantly bombarded with people's opinions of how I should raise my Doodle. And by that, I mean reproachful looks when I let her come to the Seether concert (I totally explained to her that until she's a Marine or in a band, she is not allowed to say the f* word..unless she just REALLY means it), and the obvious distaste of the lady who saw Doodle in Master's studio while I was getting my new ink (no worries, I totally made Doodle put out her cigarette before she came in). Either way, the choices I make about and centering around my daughter are my choices. Perhaps because I was older when Doodle graced my life with her presence, perhaps because I've seen a lot in this old world, and perhaps because I just treat Doodle the way I would like to be treated, I have a very clear view of what her childhood should be. She's amazingly well adjusted, intelligent, snarky, witty, and everything that I could hope my offspring could be. Also, she asked me for a Ramones shirt yesterday that she found online (!), and knows almost all the words to "Love Song" by the Cure.
This is not to say that raising a child to be involved in more than Sesame Street is always easy. She's extremely inquisitive. JUST BECAUSE is not an acceptable answer to Doodle. She does understand, however, that it isn't enough to question authority, you gotta speak with it too. But something else she knows is that her Momma loves her more than life and can sing kid's songs and the whole of Rent! with her, while teaching her about rhetorical theory and the show The Office.
Now, get your jaw off the floor, go back to your officer's spouses meeting, and say ugly things about my mothering skills. Pardon me while I help Doodle change into her Viva Che! shirt.

Mono no aware (物の哀れ) - Happy Father's Day!

Today is one of those days that, along with Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffles and that song by The Verve, are bittersweet. Mono no aware is the Japanese term that is used to describe the awareness of the transience of things and a bittersweet sadness at their passing. A good term to use when thinking about today and what it means. On one hand, I have such wonderful memories of my Daddy, and such fond stories of our time together. On the other, it's Father's Day, and my Daddy isn't here.
At least I can watch Marine and Doodlebug and know that they are building the same amazing bonds. So, a Happy Father's Day to one and all...to those who can see their Daddy today, and to those who have to do like me, and only feel his presence. Today I remember the great times, and think about how lucky I really am.

Of unrequited love

The day to day conversations that I have with Doodle are the things that mean the most to me. They aren't necessarily big "moments" in-and-of themselves, but when I look back, those 15 minute talks we have in the car on the way to school really are the stuff of memories.
This morning on the way to school we were listening to Pearl Jam Ten Redux. For those of you who don't Redux, I can say that with every waking minute of my senior year in high school and my entire college existence, Ten was MY album. I had the flannel and Docs to prove it. Anyway, there is nothing new under the sun, so this is on my most played list of the moment. The song, "Black", is one of my favorites, and it was playing when we went to school this morning. EV sang the line, "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky, but why, why, why...Can't it be, can't it be mine?" I was singing along, oblivious, and Doodle asked me, "What did that mean Momma?". I was temporarily confused and stunned by 0700 traffic on 58. "What did what mean honey?" "What that man just said?" Doodle said. I stopped (at a traffic light, and also with my whole person), and told her, "Well baby, that means that he loves her and she will be everything to someone in life, but he knows that as much as he loves her, it won't be him". "Ah", she said. "That's really sad Momma". Well yes baby, it is. And on the list of things I'll teach my daughter...Romeo and Juliet...check.

It's Found Object Friday

The truth...and it fits on a post-it.

And a Happy Anniversary...

I can remember being in Jr. High. In fact, all the way to my senior year, all of my friend's parents were divorced. When Angela Massey (my best friend) came to me and said her Daddy and Momma were no longer going to be married, I remember being stunned. You mean, people get married and they don't stay that way? When Amy Losser came to school and told me during 2nd period that her Dad was leaving her Mom, I remember thinking, "WHAT?? But why? How?". In the fairy tale existence I had, people were married once, and to the love of their life. I've learned a lot since then, but no knowledge has taken me from this fact..when Steve and Susie Platt married, they meant forever.
Today is Momma and Daddy's Anniversary. I hope that today does for you as it does for me; and reminds me that Momma and Daddy are clear examples that there are some loves that are real, and eternal. There are some couples that are just meant to be. There are some partnerships that are true examples of what real love is...there are couples like Steve and Susie Platt.
So, Momma, thank you so much for raising me to see a Momma and a Daddy that not only loved Amy and I, but also loved each other. In my own relationships, I see myself wondering how Momma and Daddy would have handled it. I think about their love and see the beauty of 2 individuals who loved, trusted, and counted on each other with their entire hearts. How good would life be if we all did that? I encourage you all to look inward at your relationships... give until there's nothing left, kiss until your lips run dry, hug until your arms hurt, and love until you can't love anymore. Then, at least for a moment, you will have what Momma and Daddy had. And isn't that what we're all searching for anyway? What else is life about if not to love? Happy Anniversary, to the best couple I'll ever know...

Rockin out

Because I am the kind of Momma that people just really wish they had, I let Marine bring Doodlebug to the Seether concert on Saturday at my festival (I say "my festival", but I really mean, the festival I helped plan for the Marines). That said, I of course warned her that the men on stage may say words that we were not allowed to repeat (unless we were rock stars or Marines). She hasn't dropped the f-bomb yet. Thankfully.
The concert was eventful. Several broken bones, bloody noses, and black eyes. I guess you just haven't moshed until you've moshed with the boys from Recon and CAB.
So, to all the Marines, a happy 96 (off for Memorial Day), and a pleasant recovery from the almost-alcohol poisoning you probably had on Sunday morning.
:)

Lots of Laughs Wednesday

Ok, this is the funniest thing I have seen in forever.

Happy Mother's Day Momma!

So, I decided that I need to start my own business making greeting cards...and the first card I'm going to make is going to be a Happy Momma's Day card. Because I almost went nuts trying to find the perfect card for my Momma. I don't call her MOM, and I surely don't call her MOTHER...which always makes me think, NO WIRE HANGERS! So to my Momma - the biggest hugs, kisses, and love on this Momma's Day.

The very best compliment anyone could ever give me is that I remind them of you. I hope that I continue to grow up to be the kind of daughter who makes you proud. These past 2 years have not been easy, but you have shown Ames and I a strength that is so inspiring. You truly are something else Momma. I love you so much, on this and every day. Thank you for being my Momma, my confidante, and my best friend...I'm so lucky that I have you.

Growing up...it's hard.

Today I am having what the women in my family affectionately call a "Momma Day". It's the kind of day where you just want to lay in bed, cry, and be held by your Momma (not necessarily in that order). Being the fine, productive member of society that I know I pretend to be, I made myself get up and start getting ready. Things went along per the usual until I started to drop Doodle off at the door of school. I bent down to kiss her goodbye and, in her most serious voice, with the most sincere look on her face, she reached up, put both hands on either side of my face and said, "Momma, I know your heart hurts today, and I want you to know that I love you". Without another word, my little angel skipped into school. I've said it before and I'll say it again...man, I raise 'em right don't I?

The joy is in the little things

Doodle is very verbose. Something, I'm sure, she inherited straight from me. We've been reading the Fancy Nancy series of children's books. Nancy is a very precocious little girl who reminds me much of Doodle. In the books, she uses big words, then explains them in ways that little girls can understand (i.e., "It was extraordinary - that means it was fancier than just ordinary"). Doodle wore her silver sparkly shoes to school yesterday and when she got there, her friend Nalani came out to greet her. "Do you like my shoes Nalani? There iridescent. It's an expression. It means sparkly, like a mermaid tail". God I love this child.