Would you believe that it has taken me almost Two months to gather photos from every one involved in our Family Vacay. I’m still waiting on a few stragglers, but have decided to go ahead and post anyway.
In mid-July we rented a cabin in the White Mountains. Meghann, Roscoe, Katie, Henry and Weezy flew into Phoenix [...]
Katie - if you’re tuned in, please click on the “X” immediately and go have a snack. It would be very dangerous for you to read this post. And, as your mother, it is my job to protect you and keep you away from danger. Now … you just do what I told you … NOW!
Good. Now that she’s gone, I can continue. She doesn’t like me to brag, but I want to share her accomplishments with the world. Katie is an absolutely incredible teacher and I can prove it. This article was recently published in the local newspaper where Katie lives:
“Monday, May 12, 2008 was a grand night for a great school. The Linda Mar Educational Center (LMEC) was the recipient of the coveted J. Russell Kent Award for outstanding innovations in education. This award is given out every year by the San Mateo County School Boards Association to schools whose programs are both unique and on the cutting edge of educational research. LMEC is definitely both of those things.
LMEC Special Day Preschool and Kindergarten is a unique special education program for the needs of children in our community ages 3 – 5. This highly collaborative enriched program focuses on the Individualized Education Plans of the students and how best to meet those needs through peer reviewed methodologies to provide education and specialized on-site services. LMEC’s highly qualified teachers work in conjunction with these specialized services to create unique programs that address the students’ needs intensively and holistically while keeping community children within the district.
Katie Johnson, Cecilia Ng, Maridel Rehmet and Meredith Shaffer were recipients as teachers for the program along with Tom Stafford, Program Coordinator and Ann Morton, Special Education Director. Dr. James Lianides, Superintendent, and the entire Pacifica School Board, Karen Ervin, Laurie Frater, Connie Menefee, Mike O’Neill, and Joan Weideman also joined the recipients.
The J. Russell Kent Award is a prestigious honor. The entire team at LMEC are proud and grateful to our community for embracing innovations in education that have allowed our programs to grow in service to our children throughout Pacifica.
Submitted by Tom Stafford, Program Coordinator, LMEC”
Good special education teachers are not created in college classrooms. These dedicated individuals are born with a ”GIFT.” Katie is currently finishing her second year at Linda Mar. She has a cross- category preschool classroom, but most of her students are on the Autism Spectrum. You should see her in action. I was fortunate enough to spend a whole day in her classroom last year. What an experience. I spent half the time teary-eyed and amazed just watching this gifted young lady change the lives of, as she calls them, “her stinkys.” I spent the rest of the time working my fanny off. Talk about a high-energy job. I don’t know how she does it. I’ve always felt that I was a darn good teacher, but my kid puts me to shame.
Yesterday morning the whole bunch was gathered in Mike and Carol’s family room having a quick organizational meeting before our shopping trip to Ojai, when I noticed a small bag in Roscoe’s pocket. When I reached for it, with a questioning look on my face, Meghann nearly shoved me to the ground as she shouted, “Don’t touch that.” I remember thinking that that she might have overreacted - just a bit. Then I started to give some serious thought to what THAT BAG could possibly contain. I attempted to surreptitiously examine it from every angle, but I must admit it was hard to appear casual. As Meghann switched Roscoe’s position, I suddenly noticed a second bag protruding from his other pocket. I knew better than to ask questions, so I simply pretended that I hadn’t noticed it. WHAT COULD THOSE BAGS POSSIBLY CONTAIN? Deep in thought, I ran through several scenarios.
Maybe Meghann had stolen some of Carol’s jewelry and she was using her son to smuggle the loot out of the house. Or even more logical, Scott and Meghann were running drugs to and from Mexico and using that poor, wee child as their “horse.” Could it be possible that MPG (My Precious Grandson) had some mysterious illness and was forced to carry his medication in two small, green silk bags? Our the worst possibility - maybe Meghann had stolen some of my jewelry.
I was almost frantic when Meghann calmly said, “Mom and Dad, Roscoe has a gift for you to celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary.” She handed each of us one of the small bags. Inside we discovered new wedding rings - new gorgeous wedding rings. They were designed by our children and specially made just for us. The rings are made from titanium and gold and engraved on the inside. Two years ago Meghann posted about our original wedding rings, and she told Dear Readers about the engraving inside our rings. The words, “It’s a good thing.” have been inside our rings for thirty years. Our new rings have the words, “It’s still a good thing.” We sure have thoughtful kids.
It’s still a good thing.
Thank you, Perpetua.
For the last several years the Big Irishman has been eagerly anticipating an event that most fathers experience when their last child graduates from college: closing the doors of THE BANK OF DAD. Ha.
On Saturday our son, Thomas Patrick Brennan, graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Clinical Psychology. It was a very exciting and moving experience for all of us. I cried when I saw my handsome son in the processional at the beginning of the ceremony. I simply couldn’t believe that he had chosen to wear a tie, dress pants, and descent shoes - all without a word of nagging from Mom.
As I was sitting in my seat listening to the Dean dispense words of wisdom in his opening remarks, my mind began to wander. I spent several minutes remembering other educational milestones in my son’s life. Perhaps one of the most poignant occurred over twenty years ago during the ride home from preschool. I was simply trying to get him to share the details of his day when I asked, “Patrick, what did you learn in school today?” Probably hoping to put an end to my incessant questioning, he calmly replied, “Mom, I learned it all.” Well, I don’t believe for a moment that a degree means he has indeed “learned it all,” but he has learned enough to make his way in the world.
As I glanced over at Tom, we made eye contact, and I noticed that he was also a little misty. We share a tremendous pride in our son’s accomplishments, and an abiding love for the man he has become. We look forward to sharing with him the life experiences that will help to build his future.
A special family moment. Tom looks so proud and I look so old.
Now about that “Bank of Dad” thing. I’m just gonna let Tom believe that the BANK OF DAD has closed its doors. But in truth, it is only under new management. THE BANK OF GRANDMA is now open for business.
Recently I was reflecting on the days and months of the ”waiting game” leading up to my heart transplant. When I was feeling good, I would make mental lists of all the wonderful things a new heart would allow me to experience. On the bad days, I was convinced I wouldn’t live long enough to receive a new heart. I would cry about every thing I would be missing when I died - Patrick graduating from college, watching Scott and Henry as they launch successful careers, sharing with Katie our mutual love of teaching “special” kids, witnessing Meghann’s climb to the top of her profession, traveling to exotic places with Tom and, at the top of the list, GRANDCHILDREN.
Meghann and Scott are adding a new dimension to the happy ending of my heart story. They are providing us with our first grand baby. Roscoe Roberts will be making his initial appearance in early December. I want to share some of his first photos with you.
Thanks to the miracle of 4D ultrasound technology, we can get a look at the little guy right now while he’s still living the good life in his mama’s tummy - and what a big tummy it is.
Meghann has always been, shall we say, a bit high-maintenance. Katie and I used to laugh behind her back and say things like, “When Meghann has a baby, she’ll probably be in intensive care for the whole nine months. WOW, WERE WE EVER WRONG. You have never seen such a casual pregnant lady. She has totally taken the whole experience in stride. She’s happy and healthy and seems to truly be enjoying this magical time. Scott would be wise to consider having many, many children. I also have to mention that she is absolutely gorgeous.
Thank you Perpetua for allowing me to participate in yet another “waiting game” - one of life’s happiest.
Phew! I’m free! On Saturday morning Tom chained me to the desk in our den. He told me I would not be released until I had finished doing the 2006 books for our new business. He has been slipping a squashed sandwich under the door twice a day. He also provided me with a small zip-lock to use as a bathroom. It’s a good thing he hasn’t allowed me to have beverages. That bag is really small. He said he had taken this drastic action for my own good. He says I’ll feel like a new person when the books are done. When was the last time he ate a flat sandwich? Anyway, I’ve been spreadsheeting (as opposed to spreadbanketing) and tossing around cells, rows, and columns for days. Just to help with the boredom, I periodically threw in fake expenses - minus $93,604.00 to take the West Point Glee Club on a safari in Africa. To sorta balance things, I also fabricated a few items of MISC. INCOME - plus $6532.97 from the sale of chicken pelts to The Bush Administration. ##–==++%%
On Friday night we saw Billy Crystal in “700 Sundays.” It was a fabulous one-man show. His sketches were both funny and poignant. I never realized that his dad was a music producer who worked with some of the world’s greatest - including Billie Holiday. Crystal’s stand-up comedy combined with his expressive body language makes him one of the best. One moment we would be roaring with laughter, and the next moment we would be fighting back tears. The title refers to the number of Sundays Billy had with his dad before he died - when Billy was just fifteen. Throughout the whole evening he wove into his routines a wonderful message about tolerance. See this show if you have the chance.
Molly Ivins died yesterday. She was one of the nation’s best political columnists. Her writings were very well-researched and she had a great way of hitting the big issues right on the head. She was a tough old broad, but a straight-shooter and a personal hero of mine. She was one of the very first to state publicly that Bushie was and still is a stupid buffoon. Molly - God’s Speed.
Esther has new boots and she hates them. Tom thinks she is just uncomfortable wearing them. I think she’s angry that Daddy didn’t also buy the matching purse. She needs foot protection to go on a hunting/camping trip with Dad this weekend. What until the boys see this.
Please say a prayer or think a healing thought for Annessia. She is my little honorary grandchild. She received a new heart just a few days before I got Perpetua. She is currently in the pediatric intensive care unit at University Medical Center in Tucson. She was taken by ambulance yesterday. She is in a medically induced coma and on a respirator. The Doctors are fighting to get her fever down. There is no diagnosis yet, but I’ll keep you posted. I’m so glad that she’s in Tucson where Dr. Copeland and The Team can care for her. I really want to be with her mom, Roberta, but I know I can’t. Please pray for me too.
For those of you who aren’t gunny (into guns) let me explain the term “packin.” It means “carrying” or “packing” a fire arm. Gun people usually chew tabacky, and having a huge wad of goosh in one’s mouth makes it difficult to pronounce the “g” in “ing.” So we hear “packin.” Also if one chews tabacky, one must be prepared to spit at all times, and spit preparation requires the mouth to be held in a certain way that also makes it impossible to pronounce the “g” in “ing.” Yesterday the extended Brennan clan had a P E. (Packin’ experience.)
The Big Irishman is very gunny. He currently owns 7,901 fire arms. He received another one for Christmas from the kids. Several years ago he broke his very first and favorite gun - beating a rabid bear to death in order to protect a wagon train that was transporting orphaned children from the East coast to the West coast. Son Scott found the same gun (one just like it) on a dead body in Salt Lake City and was able to buy it from the guy’s estate. So the Big Irishman once again has his trusty Ithica when he rides into the wilderness to defend the virtue of women and all things good.
All 5 of our children have suddenly developed an intense interest in becoming gunny. This may have something to do with the current administration. For yesterday’s trip to the shooting range, Tom selected 3562 of his favorite weapons and a U-haul truck full of ammo (that’s what gunny people say when they mean bullets) and off we went. I noticed that suddenly every one’s voice developed a twang. When I looked into the backseat, I saw that both Henry and Patrick had pasted on fake handlebar mustaches. Katie had on thigh-high cowboy boots and a cowhide bustier. Diana kept fanning herself and declaring that, “Stage coach rides always made her feel sick and she feared that she would swoon.”
As it turned out, all the kids were pretty good shots. I did a lot of eye-rolling to cover my embarrassment. Henry kept yelling lines from every cowboy movie he had ever seen. Whenever anyone walked near our area, Patrick would grab Diana and shout, “Stay away from my woman. This is your only warning.” Diana would then swoon and demand smelling salts. Katie sang a steady chorus of ”Home On the Range” at the top of her lungs and fell on the ground when ever she shot. Tom was kept really busy reloading and giving all the kids pointers. His mantra became, “Shoot to Kill. Shoot to Kill. Shoot to Kill.” I mostly just sat on the bench behind the people next to us and pretended I was with them. Did I mention there was also a whole lot of spitting?
“If you give me a cookie, I’ll let you read me a story.”
(Meghann Brennan, 1984)
I’m trying to recover from a case of the Green Plague. Also I’m dealing with overwhelming feelings of guilt. Meghann had her wisdom teeth extracted on Friday morning, and I had my ticket and was set to go to Salt Lake to help her through this crisis. Actually, I was equally concerned for Scott. He has never had to deal with a full-blown ” sick Meghann” situation. I really didn’t want the marriage to end, before their first anniversary. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. The plague grabbed me by the throat and spent the weekend kicking me in the head.
I had a lot of time on my hands because the Big Irishman was off in the forest for the weekend. (The elk won this round.) Being focused on the fact that Meghann needed me and I wasn’t there, started me thinking about her as a child. Unlike Katie who just wanted to be left alone when she was sick, Meghann used illness to pretty much turn the whole house and family upside down. Once we determined that school was out of the question, she would direct as I made a bed on the couch - using a special quilt and every available pillow in the neighborhood. She then ordered that a T.V. tray be placed within easy reach. On this tray she had me arrange several books, dolls, and craft activities just in case she felt up to a little play time later in the day. Did I mention that she also had to have the T.V. remote and a small bell with which to summon me if I by chance needed to use the bathroom or left her for any reason.
The little cutie would then present me with a list of items she immediately needed from the grocery - jello, pudding, chocolate milk and, of course, cookies - several different kinds of cookies. She always instructed me to make this grocery store run before Tom left for work. She wanted a parent present in case the death gurgle came upon her suddenly. She actually said “death gurgle” at the age of five. She spent the morning hours wailing, “Why Me” over and over and over, until I almost considered pillow therapy. About noon she would start bugging me to run over to the school and request a work packet from the teacher. She didn’t want to fall behind. I ask you, how much work can a 5 year old miss in one morning? After lunch we had several more hours of ”Why Me.” She would repeatedly ask me to call Tom and the grandparents to tell them how sick she was. Every time I walked by her, she would demand that I feel her head for signs of increased fever. And while I was standing there, she thought a back rub would really help.
I’m sure you can all understand why Meghann rarely missed two consecutive days of school. My rule became - If her temperature was under 118 degrees, she got on that bus. Sometimes, if she dosed off, I hid in my bedroom for a little nip of “Mommy Medicine.”
Meghann and Scott came home for the weekend. This was their first visit as a married couple. The Big Irishman even allowed them to sleep in the same bed. We spent hours chatting and catching up on all their latest. Scott is finishing his Doctorate very soon and then they will be spending some time in southern California. They have established a beautiful system of communication on all levels. Meghann is still very high-maintenance and Scott usually forgets to call when he’s going to be late, but they have figured out a way to make it all work. They live, love and even argue with great passion. I love them both very much. It’s sure quiet around here today. I hate it when my babies leave.
Katie and Henry celebrated their first anniversary this weekend. Can you believe it has already been a year. (When I think about how close I came to not being here for my daughter’s weddings, I nearly come unglued.) Several celebratory activities were planned for this anniversary. The culmination was A special dinner. Katie prepared squash soup, a wonderful rice medley and coconut-crusted scallops for dinner. She wore her wedding dress and veil to serve and eat this fabulous meal. They used their wedding china, crystal and silver. Henry was enthusiastic about the whole plan and was in charge of wine selection and pouring. They are another wonderful young couple, and I love them very much.
I also want to update you on the “Little Prince.” Patrick is working hard to complete his senior year. He has a new girlfriend - Virginia - who we will meet next weekend. He has a great group of friends and has made huge strides this past year. He is really turning out to be a wonderful man and I love him very much.
So as not to disappoint those who depend on me for political direction — I think the American people are finally starting to “GET IT.” They are tired of having an illiterate, wannabe cowboy running the country. (I hope I didn’t offend any real cowboys.) He isn’t making us safe, isn’t creating jobs, and isn’t making it any easier to pay for health care. The Republican leadership isn’t helping the situation at all - unless you’re rich, you have stock in oil companies, you love war, or you tolerate lies. People are also starting to understand that Bushie’s policies are being advanced because the congressional majority are enablers and rubber stampers. Things are about to change. There are gonna be some new kids in town.
I’ve been crazy busy trying to finish several projects for the wedding. It occurred to me yesterday that I haven’t posted in several days. I don’t know where the time goes. First, I should report that last weekend was a huge success. Carol and Stacey, the groom’s mom and sister, arrived on Friday, as did Meghann and Katie. The bride was the last flyer to arrive, so the rest of the group had some time to put finishing touches on the bachelorette party preparations. (We made some very questionable cookies. Common decency prevents me from elaborating.)
On Saturday my best friends - the greatest women in the whole world - hosted a wedding shower for Meghann. The food was fabulous and the bride was showered with tons of wonderful gifts. Scott and Meghann are very spoiled, but I can’t think of two kids who are more deserving of beautiful things. They will be very well equipped in their new home in California. I foresee a possible dinner party for the president and first husband. (Did you all catch that?)
On Saturday evening we all participated in the most elaborate and well-organized bachelorette party ever. Katie did an amazing job. The evening began with fabulous snick-snacks and over-the-top decorations, and ended with a huge country breakfast cooked by the BIG IRISHMAN at 3:00 in the morning. In between there was a limo ride, visits to several night spots, and lots of giggling. Katie even provided a glamorous cocktail dress for Meghann as well as party bags stuffed with goodies (some of which were x-rated.) Carol and I were invited to ride in the limo and, I must say, we could teach these young chicks a thing or two about partying. The color theme for the evening was teal and black and all the guests dressed accordingly.
Once again I was reminded of how blessed we are to have such terrific friends and family. Cousins, Kristy and Charlotte drove from California just to be with Meghann on her special evening. These cousins have an amazing relationship. Friends - Kayle, Erin, Kelli, and Kristi Loui, share a bond with Meghann that will last forever. Stacey, Scott’s sister, is a very valuable addition to this group. Last, but not least, there’s sister Katie who shows her love for Meghann in countless ways every day.
On Sunday, after every one departed, Meghann and I shopped. I finally found a dress - in fact, two dresses - for the wedding. I may change at the half-way point - right before I dance on the cake table.
Not wanting to disappoint my readers, I feel I must submit the following: Juvenile George has been reported to be “troubled” by reports coming out of Iraq concerning the massacre of Iraqi civilians by American servicemen. He sure as HELL should be “troubled.” What did he expect? He sent poorly equipped troops, in insufficient numbers, into an immoral war to fight an ever-growing insurgency. Many would snap. Now the question is, will he have the balls to do the right thing and GET OUT? Also - Donald - RESIGN NOW. WE’VE SEEN ENOUGH DEATH!
