Thank A Veteran

I love America and respect the veterans and active military. In a day and age when it is common to paint them as terrorist, poor uneducated folks who joined because they had no choice or simply not worthy of our praise I am shocked that young people are still joining and are eager to serve our country. In January on a return flight I was seated next to a striking young woman wearing fatigues. I choked and said nothing, I never told her that I am in awe of anyone who is willing to give their life so that my family can sleep at night and not have bombs dropping in our neighborhood. I wanted to ask what her motivation was for serving, what her job was or what were she was stationed. It was like I was sitting next to a celebrity. I have never thanked my neighbor who has a huge Marine flag in front of his home. Often the veterans from World War II are referred to as the greatest generation due to their bravery and courage but I think this new crop of military may become known for what they have done to protect our country from a very different enemy. In the past our foes were obvious but currently we are up against a movement that wants to destroy our way of life, they attack the freedoms and beliefs that have made our country the greatest place to live on the planet. We are so blessed, don't just thank a vet, hug a vet.

Always Eat The Burnt Toast

Yesterday on the radio the host encourage listeners to call and share what their mothers taught them. I started thinking what would I say with a 5 minute platform. My mom taught me everything since she raised us alone. The one thing that sticks with me daily is "put your children first".

In the 70's my mother who never finished high school but decided to make a financial sacrifice and pay for private schools. In kindergarten we lived in the building of a woman who sent her children to a Lutheran school so my mom sent me there. Midway through first grade we moved with my mom's pretend sister, so we went to a public school with her children. It was the longest year of my life, bullies, disruptive students and a sub par curriculum. When I arrived I was so advanced, I was labeled the smartest kid in the class. Midway through the second grade we moved to a woman's building that sent her children to a Catholic school so we were sent there. I arrived there one of the dumbest kids in class. I was so far behind in reading that I was enrolled in a special program. I attended the sessions until 4th grade and remember being teased for having "special reading". I later got revenge by being named salutatorian giving me the honor of delivering the welcome address at graduation. We would remain at that school until 8th grade, even though we moved a couple of times.

 My mom was very young and most of her friends sent their children to the local public school. Her friends drove new cars and my mom had a beat up station wagon. Her pretend sister had the biggest, latest television with a remote control, our set came from Salvation Army and we used pliers to change the channel. I don't know if her friends ever told her she was stupid for paying for our education when CPS was offering the same thing for free but we heard it from the neighborhood children that taunted us in our plaid skirts. Even then I knew my brown uniform was a badge of honor, I didn't understand exactly how we were better off but I knew we had an advantage.

Regina always had a strong work ethic no matter what was happening in her life she got a job, worked hard and advanced. She moved us to better apartments every time her pay increased allowed us to "move on up". As a busy working mom she was always running late trying to prepare breakfast, get us dressed and get to work on time. She burned the breakfast at least once a week. When the toast popped out too dark she would replace it with a new piece of bread and put the burnt toast aside. My mom grew up hungry, she couldn't throw food away so she quietly ate the burnt toast. We never went hungry and never lived in government housing. My mom is the epitome of the great American story, she lost her mom at 13, shuffled between relatives and foster homes, had a baby at 17 (me) and another 19 (same dad), married for a brief time finally producing a son but was devoted to making sure we did better than she did. We were Girl Scouts, traveled to Disney World and for years she sent us to tap and ballets lessons on Michigan Ave. We were never idle, seven days a week were off to either school, scouts, choir practice, dance rehearsal, skating rink or a movie. Looking back I should have taken the piano lessons when she offered instead of tap and ballet that was very painful, I am happy that video cameras were not invented yet.

I graduated from a private high school and next Sunday her first granddaughter will graduate from a private university, God is good. My mom and sister think I don't remember the lean years and everything she did for us, in fact they think I was switched at birth because of my political views. During the last presidential election season Mommy and I fought endlessly and she didn't understand how I could be so defiant, I know how, she put me in a uniform skirt with my skinny ankles, on the westside of Chicago. I had to explain almost daily why my mother so dumb to waste money on private school. Note, brown plaid was never in fashion in the ghetto, it was like wearing a bulls eye. 

Happy Mother's Day Mommy. I thank my mom for skipping the Cadillac and investing in us and I thank the nuns and priest of Our Lady of Lourdes for making us appreciate the privilege of a private education.

I Am So Glad My Pastor Doesn't Need Security

My sister says, 'Listen to both sides" which is one reason I decided to visit Trinity United Church of Christ but the main reason is because I am trying to get to know a new aunt who happens to be a member. My family met her this past January and in an effort to get to know her I asked what church she attended, when she answered forks dropped, what were the chances.

I picked yesterday randomly and soon learned it was Unity Day, that sounded friendly enough. I went with an open mind since Rev. Wright is no longer the pastor and I figured it could not be bad as it was depicted. Almost everyone was wearing a white t-shirt, the back read, "Unashamedly Black And Unapologetically Christian". A year ago Unity Day was started in response to all the adversity Obama faced during his run for president. He attended the church for 20 years before separating himself from Rev. Wright and the hate preachings. Trinity is like I remember black churches from my youth, a great deal of reserved parking spaces, white gloved ushers willing to help and the pulpit complete with a large choir area and several associate pastors adorning either side of Pastor Otis Moss III who was wearing a black t-shirt with a large black fist on the back. Before the sermon we were treated to a performance youth drama team, it was a cute skit which included a line about being grateful to have a black president but I didn't think there would be any further mention of politics, boy was I wrong.

Psalm 118 was the topic of this sermon titled, "Why Black People Shout?". I got excited because I thought he was going to shed some light on why black people are loud but he explained why we are more charismatic when praising God. I found it interesting that it came from our African heritage. The missionaries may have shared the good word but we added the dancing and shouting. Moss said that it has been said that blacks brought no culture to the fabric of America and he begged to differ. He then started preaching about Kind David being the 7th sons of 7 sons and his rule being a "change of administrations" (repeatedly). I started searching the scripture thinking that those two words seemed too modern to be a direct quote. He talked about thanking those that rejected you because if it were not for them you would not be where you are today. During his sermon he spoke in that stereotypical cadence, wiped his forehead a lot and drank from a water glass, nothing unusual those actions. He repeated "rejection" and "thankful" a great deal until it morphed into "How George Bush Done Us Wrong". I closed the bible, sat up straight thinking I was possibly being punked by the dozens of the people clapping and shouting in agreement. I forgot I was there to praise Jesus and instead I debated if I should storm out in protest. Bush ignored and rejected the urban communities and now things were looking up because of Obama. I tried not to look annoyed but I was stirring in the pew. My aunt sat to my right so I had to be polite and besides my mom was there and she taught me better.

When the "sermon" ended my aunt asked if I wanted to meet him, I hesitated but agreed. This was not the forum to tell him that he was irresponsible and dangerous but I wanted him to remember me because I knew an email was headed his way. Next, I noticed a gentleman wearing an earpiece standing next to Rev. Moss, as I live and breathe, security. There was a very nice but chatty older woman who we let go ahead of us which allowed me the chance to calm down. My aunt assured me that he loves spirited exchange of ideas, I knew this was not the time or place. She broke the ice immediately, "Rev. Moss this is my Republican niece", he chuckled and I said it had to be God that I would chose that Sunday to attend. I shook his hand and moved on, the line was long. My aunt informed me that this was par for the course, Trinity is very political. I asked what Sunday are they scheduled to bash Mayor Daley and their alderman, "We never talk about Daley", why blame the people who are witnesses to the urban neglect? I know he is new to Chicago but if he spent a couple of hours reading the scores of Chicago Public Schools, he would understand neglect. Are parents protesting in front of City Hall demanding better schools, no let's sit in a church and blame a man living in Texas?

This was shocking enough but what happened next was crazier, after we said our good-byes my mom said that she was embarrassed, she worked hard on Obama's campaign and we fought like the Hatfields and the McCoys for months. She said that her church didn't talks politics. I thought Rev. Moss was taking the church in a new direction to shed the poor image Rev. Wright left behind. If I had not heard it for myself I would not have believed it and again I ask the question I asked just before the election,"How can a Christian sit in those pews for 20 years and listen to that hatred?

Naperville Harvest Bible Chapel is a place that all can come, feel welcome and hear the message from Pastor Ron Zappia. I don't attend every Sunday but I have never heard him speak negatively about anyone other than Satan. My husband is white and if my family were to visit Trinity we would be extremely uncomfortable, at Harvest we have the rainbow coalition and when you meet the pastor there is just Ron and Jody (his wife not his body guard). Two questions: I am curious if a person lunges at Moss would that guy shoot the culprit right there at the pulpit? And shouldn't the t-shirt have bragged about being Christian first and then being black?

Thaddeusmom Is Disappointed

Last night we held the 6th Annual Spring Into Safety presentation in Lisle. Years ago my friend Autumn saw Rachel Mellon's story on the news and like many others she was effected but unlike many she reached out and became educated on how to keep children safe, a parents first and foremost responsibility. We offer resource tables filled with information, free ID cards for children, Escape School, Internet safety and so much more. Each year our numbers never meet our expectations but last night I got mad. We were are blessed to have Pam and Craig Akers from the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation (if you don't know who they are you should have been there because their story was front page in Dubai in 2007) and Angela Rose from PAVE who are national speakers dedicated to spreading the word about the child abduction and exploitation. We are all busy but if your child missed this rare opportunity to attend one of many soccer practices I am sad. 

In January 2000 I went to the hospital because I was 9 months pregnant and I had not felt my baby move in a few hours. After the nurses tried to locate the heartbeat a doctor entered the room and told us our baby was dead. The next couple of days were the worst of my life but that's another story. When I found the bereavement brochures among my things from the hospital all I kept thinking was reading those during my stay would have been the equivalent to learning to swim while drowning. The pamphlets were filled with information that would have been helpful if I knew about it before I was drowning in grief. I knew people lost babies but I was the most boring baby maker, I could spit one out in 60 minutes or less so I thought it won't happen to me.  The nine months you spend in the OB waiting room there are never brochures telling you prior how to handle a very common and painful situation. I did not know I could have bathed Thaddeus because I was in no condition to read after the doctor told us there was no heartbeat.

SIS is about educating parents before something bad happens and hopefully prevent your child from becoming a victim of a child predator. If we offered free pitching lessons from a player from the White Sox the place would have been packed. Yes there were baseball practices, games and learning fairs but our event was 4 hours long. I understand that some people could not come for legitimate reasons but don't insult me by offering a lame excuse, then I am forced to be fake and not challenge your tall tale. Don't say anything, you don't owe me an explanation.

We spent time with the presenters after the night was complete and that made my disappointment turn to glee, I got to chill with 4 awesome individuals. We wanted our community to benefit from the tragic events of 2 survivors, your loss not mine.  

I wish I could sing.....

I love pro-American lyrics in fact I get tears in my time every time I hear The National Anthem. If only God had given me the gift of voice, I would be heard from sea to shining sea each time The Star Spangled Banner is played, when I forget that I can't sing I pitty for the person directly in front of me at a game, sorry. Today I participated in a Tea Party Rally (Taxed Enough Already) in Lisle, my hometown. It was scheduled to start at noon, I arrived at 11am because I figured parking would be a nightmare. From the moment I passed over the bridge to enter Community Park the atmosphere was warm and inviting, folks waving signs and directing traffic to the designated parking lot. I had not prepared a sign so I used that time to make one. Picture everyone draped in red, white and blue, flags waving crowded together to protest the current situation in Washington. There were speakers on the agenda with patriotic songs and parodies playing in between. When I heard Lee Greenwood's God Bless America I had to sing and during the chorus ".. and I"ll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.." I waved my sign high over my head rocking in rhythm with tears in my eyes. I stood there surrounded by like minded Americans and I could not stop smiling. As I visually scanned the crowd I saw a black man, wow and then I a saw a second one but my jaw dropped when I saw a black woman with her young daughter holding a sign with a message asking Washington if they wanted her arm and leg too. It's not easy being a black conservative, one armed paper hangers have it easier. We are a rare sighting like big foot and UFOs,  actually those are more common. I listened to Chairman Steele on talk radio this morning and emailed him immediately in support of a black Republicans. I made my way through the crowd to introduce myself to the "sister" but she took her daughter to the bathroom and I had to leave. My democratic pro-Obama family thinks I was switched in the hospital or dropped on my head, they don't understand how I could be a Republican and as Christians I'm at a loss trying to reason how they support a person this with radical abortion beliefs. I am fed up and fired up, Obama is a one hit wonder we must work to keep him from a second term.

Spring Break

They started talking about months ago and they started leaving today. There are various destinations but Florida is the number one location for spring break. I need to feel some white powdery sand in between my toes. It has been two years since our last family vacation in Puerto Rico. Now it is that time of year again, since we are not going on vacation until June I am bitter because everyone is leaving. I don't hope they get rained out or anything but it's not fair I need to feel some sun now. Normally I don't count the days until summer but this winter was brutal and has left me wanting. Next week I want my boys to have fun but we have some spring cleaning projects that must be completed. I want to spend time in the city with family members that I miss. I will anticipate picture messages from my beach bum friends, let me start working on witty responses to cute pictures of them kissing mermaids as I wipe cat hair off my drapes and Jinxie has been gone for weeks. "He who vacations last vacations best" that is my new mantra. I will miss my buddies and look forward to the stories.

If Bill Maher Has A Show My Four Year Should Have Two

Reagan (4) is very entertaining and the most offensive word he uses is "poopie", Bill Maher is a potty mouth but if you lack the intelligence to complete a thought it is common that to use profanity in the place a real idea. My sister tells me to listen to both sides, I normally avoid Bill Maher for many reasons but anyone who mocks religion gets extra space. I decided to watch March 13th because Andrew Breitbart was a guest, I love it when he sits in for Dennis Miller, he's a conservative in Hollywood, that is as rare as a Big Foot sighting. Bill's opening monologue was laced with racial jokes but my favorite one called Republicans superstitious about a "black cat in the White House". It was an ambush from the start, the other guess was Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a black liberal elite.  Dr. Tyson was out of central casting, well spoken professor so down with the social problems and his script included the usual, Rush is a racist and Justice Thomas is self-hating and misguided. I just finished reading the book My Grandfather's Son, Clarence Thomas is a great American success story. I could only make it through the panel because it is the Bill Maher Show, I have included the link to that panel portion of the show. I hate to bring up race as a way to categorize people but I know that there are other conservative black Americans that are angry with the Democratic Party for leading by fear. I lived this as a child, I heard adults say, "Republicans only care about rich white people and if Reagan becomes president we will be slaves again". At 15 I knew enough about my country to know that was not possible. I feel sorry for white Americans that have legitimate issues with the current administration, God forbid you express them, you are a racist. Hollywood and the Chicago Democratic Machine deemed Obama the Savior and when you question his socialist policies they say, "Bush.....". I will teach you how to spot a person suffering from the side effects of drinking the Obama Kool-Aid, ask he or she a direct and or specific question about Obama's socialist policies and that person will look wide-eyed and mutter BBBBush....., that's the point when I wish I could pimp slap them but I am non-violent, darn. My favorite Obama campaign worker recently told me that "Obama is just some rich person and I am trying to get my business going", when I told that person that last fall that Obama was just a like any other rich Democrat that person told me I needed therapy... I am starting my own line of t-shirts and bumper stickers, "Don't Blame Me, I Am A Martin Luther King Republican, I Voted Based On The Content Of Character Not The Color Of Skin", will that fit across a bumper? I am the mother of bi-racial sons I wish I could have supported Obama but I am holding out for a conservative, black, white, yellow, red or mutt.... Question, why are black conservatives self-hating but black gang bangers that terrorize their own community are labeled victims of the social ills of America, discuss? Oh, yeah Reagan is cheaper and cutter than Bill Maher, does anyone have the number to HBO?

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