Anne

My classes began reading about Anne Frank yesterday from our literature book. Oddly enough, a phrase caught my attention. We were reading along and the book was talking about how Jews were treated and how they were discriminated against -- how their lives changed once a decree was set forth forbidding them to do many things. In this explanation, there was a phrase about Jews only being allowed to shop in stores that bore the "placard" 'Jewish shop'. Placard. I used to use this word often when I was talking about placing a placard in the dash of someones car to remind him/her to stop somewhere on his/her way home or to pick up something, etc. For example, one placard that used to be used bore the word "CVS". Man, how some things just take us back to a certain place and time. Crazy! Out of nowhere. Insane.
So, those who have memory problems, place your placards in the dashes of your cars to remind yourselves of your errands you need to run. It works!

Commercial

Over and over again a Southwest Airlines commercial has been playing - you might have seen it - "Bags Fly Free". It is the one where the men who are baggage handlers raise their shirts to have the phrase painted on their bellies. Seen it? Thought so. Okay, so here's my reason for mentioning it. It has flooded my thoughts with flying, going somewhere. I have not flown in a very long time. I almost feel like I'm having withdrawl symptoms because of it. I miss New York City terribly. I wouldn't even mind going by myself! That's how much I miss it. I'm not even talking about the "touristy" places. I don't care if I go there. I want to be in the city, taking in the life, making my way through the boroughs and quaint places. I want to dine at certain places, rest in others. I want to sit by the Bethesda Fountain and have the sunshine on my face. I want to buy a hotdog from a street vendor.
I know. It sounds like a lot of "I wants". That is never a good thing, you are saying to me. I understand this. It doesn't negate the feelings I have, though. At this point, my flight I want to take doesn't HAVE to be NYC. I could fly relatively anywhere and be satisfied. I feel like it will never again happen for me. And I don't like that feeling. Sure, you can pin selfishness on me. Go ahead. I never claimed to be completely unselfish. You can bet your bottom I am, in many ways, unselfish because of my three children, though. So you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, as my dad would say. Ponder on that a minute. If a mother has children, she sacrifices if she is a mother at all. So this request might not be so selfish after all, I'm thinking.
Oh, this is just a bunch of mumbo jumbo, falling on deaf ears. I know that. It just feels a tiny bit better to get the feelings down on "paper" so to speak. Until the day comes that I'm magically wisked away to another place, I'll simply wait here in angst. That could be forever.

Haven't done it

Boy, my big plans for spring break. Big plans. Reading. Who thought I was actually going to get some reading done? I was hoping I would. I feel cheated. I've only been on spring break for one day, I hear you saying. But, that is a day that has gone and passed by without warning. I am regretfully counting down the days I have left. It's so stupid of me, really. Nonetheless, I am continually doing just that.
Yesterday I spent the day helping my best friend clean an apartment she is moving into due to her husband divorcing her. It was rather sudden. Sure, they had had problems, but she never would have thought he would do what he did to her. Now, at age 37 she must become independent again. The apartment is cute, and will do her just fine. I hope all of her "stuff" will fit in it. She has a lot to disperse! I found it empowering to help her onto the next phase of her life without her husband. She has her good times and rough times, but she'll make it in the end. I will be there for her whenever she needs me. So I look at yesterday as a day of service, so to speak. Volunteerism.
Today, I am taking the girls to Columbus so they can hunt for various things. Bathing suit for one, underwear for another, and perhaps at least one pair of shorts for one. I tell you, they are growing faster than I can breathe! Syd has birthday money, Cam has "Nana money" for a bathing suit, and Mak has babysitting money. They can't wait to spend it. Burnin' a hole in their pockets! I have an Applebee's gift certificate (Crapplebee's), so I think I'll take them out to lunch there. Then, it's back to N.V. for some basketball practice. The wicked never rest!
Maybe while Cam practices I can read at least a chapter or two in my book. Perhaps.

In other news... get to go to Pacer game Wednesday night for free (sitting five rows off the floor). I'm thinking some "downtown Indy food" sounds magnificent. Nice addition to the break.

Spring Break

This week is our spring break at school. I am so looking forward to some sleeping in, reading, and taking the week slowly. I need some time off.
Thinking that there are only nine more weeks left of school is wonderful. I am looking forward to the summer. This summer I won't be taking any writing class, so my summer months will be relatively free. Yippee! Cammi will be playing basketball on a travel team, and Sydney will have some dance practices, but my calendar is clear. Thank goodness for that!
Sydney did make the middle school dance team. I'm so proud of her. She is excited about being on the team. I can't wait to see her perform. Track season is abound for Cam as well as the musical. She is Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast. She even has a solo this year!
My mom is doing wonderfully. She has nine months clean and sober now. Fantastic! She is making her first sober trek to Bristol to the NASCAR race with my dad and uncle. She was a bit nervous to be around all the drinking (since alcohol is a drug), but she was excited, too.
We have March Madness in full swing here at the homestead. Games have been good. Until next time...

Anne Frank

Time to begin our Anne Frank study for the year. Man, this gets me every time -- that kids aren't aware of the Holocaust and what happened then. I guess it's my calling to inform them of the inhumane treatment of others...