Friday, October 23, 2009
Fear and then Relief
No mother ever wants to get the panicky phone call that says in a shaky voice, "Mrs. Curtis, you need to get down here as soon as you can". On Tuesday, I got that phone call. For just a moment my heart stopped. Then my younger daughter Caley got on the phone and told me she and Fiona were alright but Fiona had been in a car accident. Thank God, both of my girls were not injured in any way. Espeacially since there was a telephone pole sitting on top of our car in between where they were both sitting. I have seen photos of what the car looked like and I can only say it is a photo you do not want to see until you know both of your children are safe and sound. Whenever I pray, I ask that God will keep all of us safe as we travel back and forth. I guess God was listening, because they are both safe. I guess I should have prayed for the car to, because it is pretty much demolished. Oh well, you can't have everything and I would much rather have my girls safe and sound.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Happy (Belated) Birthday to Me!
I am fairly pleased with who I am as a forty-seven year old woman. I have some regrets about some of the choices I made over these past 47 years, but I am also proud of my accomplishments. I am a mother of two beautiful, smart, confident daughters. I have had a positive impact on the lives of young women through my role as a coach. My health is fairly good and I am working to keep it that way. I continue to set goals for myself and I expect that I will achieve those goals, even if it takes me longer than I would like them to.
For my birthday, Fiona and Caley gave me a card and in that card they thanked me for being their Mom. What a great gift.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Favorite Things About Summer
Summer is frankly not my favorite season -- primarily because Summer in New Jersey tends to be way too muggy and hot. However, I have to admit that as I get older, I am enjoying Summer more than I have in quite a few years. Here are some of the reasons why I am starting to like Summer:
1. Flip-flops. I know they are terrible for you but they make me smile. They come in tons of colors and even prints and they just scream SUMMER to me (I know that teenagers and young adults everywhere are now wearing them year round, but they are definately a Summer thing for me).
2. Mike's Hard Lime. I'm a grown-up and I like to have a drink now and then. I only drink Mike's Hard Lime in the Summer. It is refreshing and dangerously does not taste like alcohol. That being said, this is Summer in a bottle for me.
3. Fresh produce. Corn, tomatoes, melons, basil, etc. Even though you can get this stuff year round now, it is not the same as when you get it from a road-side stand or your local farm market. One of my most favorite meals is a big juicy (rare) steak with corn on the cob and fresh slices of tomatoe. Finish the meal off with grilled peaches sprinkled with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Heaven!
4. Tanned skin. Again, I know that tanning is so bad for you but I grew up in an era where (almost) everyone wanted to have a deep summer tan. As a person of Irish distraction, I must exercise extra care when I am in the sun because of the fairness of my skin, but I do tan and I really like the look of it. I also enjoy the extreme relaxation of the process of acquiring a tan -- stretch out in the sun on your back for a half hour and then turn over and lay on your stomach for the next half hour. I can read, I can chat with my friends at the pool club or the beach. I can ignore my phone and just be by myself. Again, this is Summer to me. It's not for everyone, but it makes me feel good. I do use sunscreen and because I work, this is not an everyday thing for me, so hopefully I will not suffer too much.
5. Porch Parties. Several Summers ago, one of my friends hosted the very first Woodbury porch party and a tradition was born. They are typically very spontaneous. An e-mail will go out about 2-3 days before the porch party and we will all congregate on whoever's porch or patio or deck. There are summer cocktails (mojitos, frozen margaritas, sea breezes, Mike's, ice cold beer) and lots of delicious appetizers and deserts to go along with pleasant conversation. Our teenaged children are still willing to attend these parties because their friends are there to hang out with. These parties are typically relaxed for the host family because most of the party happens outside and everyone brings the foods and the drinks. It is a very pleasant way to spend a Friday or a Saturday Summer evening.
6. Springers Ice Cream. Located in Stone Harbor and only available during the Summer. I haven't even had ice cream from Springers (yet) this Summer, but it is always something to look forward to. Anyone who has had it knows what I am talking about. Forget your diet and just enjoy the moment. My favorite has been Snickers for the past few Summers. If you are in Stone Harbor you have to have Springers. No matter how long the line is on a Summer night, it is always worth the wait.
7. The Beach. I am a little sad because I have not been to the beach even once this summer. The girls finally got there for a day this week, so hopefully, I will get there as well. Even though I am not much for getting in the ocean, I love the sound of the waves, the breeze that comes off the ocean and the feel of the sand between my toes when I am sitting in my beach chair. Since this is the last day of July, maybe I will get to the beach one day this August.
8. Summer Reading. Trashy novels, classics, biographies. It is always more enjoyable to read a book in a beach chair or when you stretched out on a towel sunbathing. This Summer, I tore though all 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, I've read Pride and Prejudice for the 4th time and a few other books of various types and quality. Just started Benjamin Button, which should be a quick book then I will need something else to read.
9. Summer dresses. Bright colors, loose and comfortable. They always make you look put together.
10. Summer Lacrosse Tournaments. I have to admit that I love lacrosse any time of the year, but Summer tournaments tend to be a bit more relaxed and laid back. The girls get to play with kids from all over South Jersey (and Delaware) and they get to see different coaching and systems. They have fun playing and I have fun watching. It is a win-win.
I guess I really do like Summer more than I used to, but I have to admit that I am looking forward to the cooler days of Autumn (which will be here before I know it).
1. Flip-flops. I know they are terrible for you but they make me smile. They come in tons of colors and even prints and they just scream SUMMER to me (I know that teenagers and young adults everywhere are now wearing them year round, but they are definately a Summer thing for me).
2. Mike's Hard Lime. I'm a grown-up and I like to have a drink now and then. I only drink Mike's Hard Lime in the Summer. It is refreshing and dangerously does not taste like alcohol. That being said, this is Summer in a bottle for me.
3. Fresh produce. Corn, tomatoes, melons, basil, etc. Even though you can get this stuff year round now, it is not the same as when you get it from a road-side stand or your local farm market. One of my most favorite meals is a big juicy (rare) steak with corn on the cob and fresh slices of tomatoe. Finish the meal off with grilled peaches sprinkled with brown sugar, butter and cinnamon and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Heaven!
4. Tanned skin. Again, I know that tanning is so bad for you but I grew up in an era where (almost) everyone wanted to have a deep summer tan. As a person of Irish distraction, I must exercise extra care when I am in the sun because of the fairness of my skin, but I do tan and I really like the look of it. I also enjoy the extreme relaxation of the process of acquiring a tan -- stretch out in the sun on your back for a half hour and then turn over and lay on your stomach for the next half hour. I can read, I can chat with my friends at the pool club or the beach. I can ignore my phone and just be by myself. Again, this is Summer to me. It's not for everyone, but it makes me feel good. I do use sunscreen and because I work, this is not an everyday thing for me, so hopefully I will not suffer too much.
5. Porch Parties. Several Summers ago, one of my friends hosted the very first Woodbury porch party and a tradition was born. They are typically very spontaneous. An e-mail will go out about 2-3 days before the porch party and we will all congregate on whoever's porch or patio or deck. There are summer cocktails (mojitos, frozen margaritas, sea breezes, Mike's, ice cold beer) and lots of delicious appetizers and deserts to go along with pleasant conversation. Our teenaged children are still willing to attend these parties because their friends are there to hang out with. These parties are typically relaxed for the host family because most of the party happens outside and everyone brings the foods and the drinks. It is a very pleasant way to spend a Friday or a Saturday Summer evening.
6. Springers Ice Cream. Located in Stone Harbor and only available during the Summer. I haven't even had ice cream from Springers (yet) this Summer, but it is always something to look forward to. Anyone who has had it knows what I am talking about. Forget your diet and just enjoy the moment. My favorite has been Snickers for the past few Summers. If you are in Stone Harbor you have to have Springers. No matter how long the line is on a Summer night, it is always worth the wait.
7. The Beach. I am a little sad because I have not been to the beach even once this summer. The girls finally got there for a day this week, so hopefully, I will get there as well. Even though I am not much for getting in the ocean, I love the sound of the waves, the breeze that comes off the ocean and the feel of the sand between my toes when I am sitting in my beach chair. Since this is the last day of July, maybe I will get to the beach one day this August.
8. Summer Reading. Trashy novels, classics, biographies. It is always more enjoyable to read a book in a beach chair or when you stretched out on a towel sunbathing. This Summer, I tore though all 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, I've read Pride and Prejudice for the 4th time and a few other books of various types and quality. Just started Benjamin Button, which should be a quick book then I will need something else to read.
9. Summer dresses. Bright colors, loose and comfortable. They always make you look put together.
10. Summer Lacrosse Tournaments. I have to admit that I love lacrosse any time of the year, but Summer tournaments tend to be a bit more relaxed and laid back. The girls get to play with kids from all over South Jersey (and Delaware) and they get to see different coaching and systems. They have fun playing and I have fun watching. It is a win-win.
I guess I really do like Summer more than I used to, but I have to admit that I am looking forward to the cooler days of Autumn (which will be here before I know it).
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Summer Reading
I always love looking for summer reading books with my daughters and this summer is no exception. Because I am part of a really great book group, I have summer reading of my own too. As a group we select our books for a 6-7 month period with some caveats. We always pick one "Classic" and we always pick one non-fiction book. Our book for July is "Julie & Julia, My Year of Cooking Dangerously". I bought the book on Saturday and had finished it by Sunday. I really enjoyed reading this book. Julie Powell manages to make even liver sound appetizing (which is pretty hard to do for me...my mom used to make liver with bacon and onions -- the smell alone could kill you). At any rate, I finished this book so fast and I am almost done with "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", so I am going to need another book really soon. I may even read some of my daughters' "assigned" reading. Fiona has to read "Mrs. Dalloway" and Caley has to read "Ella Minnow Pea"...both of those books appeal to me, so I may be borrowing from them.
Can anyone tell me where this summer is going to though? June has flown by and I am sure July and August will be flying by as well.
Also, wish Fiona some luck -- July 1 is the first day that college coaches can start to contact rising seniors in the recruiting process. Hopefully she will start getting some calls as close to July 1st as possible. It would be nice to have something good happen when it is supposed to happen.
Can anyone tell me where this summer is going to though? June has flown by and I am sure July and August will be flying by as well.
Also, wish Fiona some luck -- July 1 is the first day that college coaches can start to contact rising seniors in the recruiting process. Hopefully she will start getting some calls as close to July 1st as possible. It would be nice to have something good happen when it is supposed to happen.
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