Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my blog friends. I have been a terrible blogger this year but I am still reading, even if I am not responding.

This season has been a difficult one for me. It is the first without my mom's mom. She was always such an important part of the holiday.

Love to all,

Mary and Kiran

Seven Years Ago.....

It seems just like yesterday. I was sitting in my masters class on a Sunday afternoon. It was totally out of the blue that my turtleneck felt like it was choking me, I couldn't catch my breath, and forget about sitting still. There was nothing unusual taking place in class but for some reason I thought I was going to die.

When I returned home, I called my SIL and told her about my first panic attack. I told her that I thought my child was born today. We talked for a while when she told me to write the day down in my calendar. Once I received a referral, if her birthday was on November 19 we know that she is mine. I then told her that could also go for November 20th seeing that India was 12 hours ahead of us.

Well, tomorrow, my darling girl turns seven.

How is that mother's intuition????

Life

I am tried of taking out the trash...
of getting my oil changed...
of cleaning our house and doing our laundry....
of being the mean parent all the time...
paying ALL the bills...
doing the all the grocery shopping...
helping with homework...(can you believe a teacher is saying this!!!)
running to dance class, religion, and friends parties...
going to bed everynight exhausted beyond exhaustion....
not having sex....
of feeling guilty that there isn't a dad....

BUT........

I LOVE MY GIRL AND WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD!!!

Happy Halloween.....

Today, I decided to be a mom instead of a teacher. I took 1/2 day off to attend my little witch's party at school. We both had a wonderful time.

Kiran went trick or treating tonight with her cousin and a friend. They were very excited to come home and go through their "loot."

Mary

It has been almost a month.....

Life is moving quickly in these parts....

Kiran is in dance (tap, jazz, and ballet) on Thursday nights. She has religion on Wednesday evenings. On Monday nights, I am taking a Spanish class for Educators. It seems that is all we do around these parts is run run run.... For me it feels really good to be back in class.

I am hoping to start another Masters program this January and getting a license to teach reading. That should open many doors in and out of the Minneapolis school district. It just depends on the finances and what Kiran has going on at that point. My SIL is very supportive and wants me to do it even if it means that K might have to spend one night a week at their house.

This Global warming thing has to be for real. In MPLS today it was in the low 80s. Tomorrow the high is suppose to be close to 85. I cannot remember the last time I had the air on in October. Usually we are freezing until the 15th on the date I will finally turn on the heat.

The First Week....

My class, this year, is going to be wonderful. I have a wonderful group of young children. There are a few squirrels, but I can handle it. Two years ago, I was wondering if it was time to get out of the business. I was feeling hopeless, tired, and frankly burnt out. Last year was the best year I ever had. My group was smart and well behaved. I do believe this year might just be also. It is amazing what a group of wonderful children can do for your attitude. I am still thinking of starting an administration program and becoming a dean of students some place. I love working with those naughty children. Until then I will stay with Minneapolis and keep struggling through. I am starting a beginning spanish class for teachers. Hopefully this will help with my communication between my parents and myself.

As far as Kiran goes, she LOVES school. She is excited to be there all day and told me that she is going to learn so much more this year being there all day. We start dance class on Thursday and religion class in October. Our lives will be rocking then. I would love to send pictures but seem to be missing my cable that ho0ks up my camera with my computer. When I find it I will post.

After a summer where we would seemed to have struggled everyday, life is back to normal. She is her sweet wonderful self again. I guess being in a routine is the most important thing for her. Not to mention we aren't spending 24/7 together.

I am crossing my fingers but good times seem to be in the mix for us.

On a sad note, my last principal, who we know had health issues, is dying. We didn't always get along but I had nothing for respect for him until he starting showing up for school smelling of alcohol and not being where he needed to be. I cannot get him off my mind. Kevin is a very private person, never let anyone in to his private life. During the last two weeks, one of the teachers has finally spoken with him. He is in hospice care, we are all thinking it is complications to AIDS. (His partner some 15 years ago passed with complications in Nebraska.) I was happy to know that he was allowed to take his dogs with him. They were his children. I know I need to write him a letter but seem to be at a loss for words. I would love to see him but he is refusing most visitors. During his final days at school, we had a few run ins, at this point who cares. He must have been in so much pain physically and mentally that he was trying to relieve it any way he knew how.

Love to all,



Love you all,

43 years

Last Friday, I turned 43. I was enjoying a glass of wine with my SIL and I asked the question, "What have I done in my 43 years?" My SIL, knew I was a little down and replied, "What haven't you done?"

My list of things not accomplished but would like to.......

-Never been married, would like to at some point.
-Go on a cruise...
-Go to India...
Meet Inger and family......

Things I have accomplished or have.......

Became a parent to a wonderful first grader!!!
Graduated from college and have a Master's degree in Teaching and Learning.
I moved 2,000 away from the safety of my parents to teach in Houston for three years....
Have taught some really wonderful kids over the last 20 years. Hopefully I had a positive impact in their lives.
I have been in the presence of Pope John Paul twice!
Met Bill and Hillary Clinton! (ok, I just shook their hands!)
Campaigned for Paul Wellstone...
Have attended a baseball all-star game.
Been present for two world series championships.......Love those Twins!!!!
Been to the Final Four....
Went to Italy .........

I surrounded myself with a great network of friends on and off the internet.....

I am the aunt to several wonderful nieces and nephews......

My family is terrific.....

Ok, after that list, it wasn't all that terrible. I have accomplished or done many things some people only dream of...

I love and am loved by many.....

It isn't so bad being 43 after all.....

God's Greatest Gift.....

Children.

Tonight, I was reading the seventh Harry Potter book and Kiran was getting ready for bed. Once she was sleeping I went into the bathroom and taped to the sink was a note, This is last of all. Until wake up say I love you, From Kiran.

What a way to end my day...........

Tears and ANGER

First of all, let me say that Kiran and I have been out of town for the last week and we are just fine. We were not in the Twin Cities when the 35W bridge went down. We were enjoying some much needed R & R on beautiful Lake Vermilion. While we are there, we rarely turn on the tv or watch the news.

On Wednesday evening, our cell phones started to ring. I talked to my dad's wife, and she told me that a bridge around the U of MN just fell into the river. The rest of the evening was spent in disbelief. We turned on the tv and with the invention of satellite we watched in horror and were wandering if we were going to make it through tragedy without knowing anyone affected.

I traveled that bridge a few times a month, when I attended to the U of MN, I watch out my dorm window, the traffic and how it would back up during rush hour. I HATED that bridge because it was always so busy!

On Thursday, I learned that several of the children on the bus where students or former students from my school. I thankful that they survived. Tonight was the first time, I really have sat down and looked at the pictures cannot believe how close this one hit to home. I have cried so many times listening to the stories and watching the families who have lost loved ones.

My thanks and heart go out to the Minneapolis police and fire departments. They did one hell of a job. What does go through your mind when you get a call saying that bridge was down?

This bridge was the most traveled in the entire state. HOW IN THE HELL DOES A BRIDGE IN AMERICA JUST COLLAPSE!!! In our fine state, our governor, refuses to raise taxes. For the past two legislative sessions, they have tried to pass bills to increase state funding by raising the gas tax. He has vetoed it every time. Today I hear that he is going to call a special session in September and guess what he said it would be to raise the gasoline tax.

Why did have to take a tragedy like this to get him to change his mind? Why didn't he listen to the MDOT when they said they needed the money? Why did anyone have to die?

My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who was involved in this horrible event.

She is not a baby anymore........

This is a new photo of my baby....... She is all grown up!

at home parents....

My hat goes off to everyone who stays at home with their children. Let me explain, I teach in Minneapolis. For the first time, since I became a mother almost 6 years ago, I choose not to teach summer school. I am a over half way through the summer and going crazy. I miss the interaction with adults and think I have seen every Disney show at least twice.

We have been keeping busy but being with her 24/7 is about driving me crazy. Don't get me wrong, Kiran is the joy of my life. I have learned to treasure those times, even for 5 minutes, that we are separated. Two of my nieces are also hanging out with us. Let see, we have been to several parks, the library, a few movies, a play, a few of my nephew's baseball games. I am running out of things to do. Did I mention we painted and rearranged Kiran's room.

How do you do it, at home parents? One thing I have noticed, joining the world as a soccer mom this summer, is those in two parent households, they do tend to get a little break.

Next week we are going up to my brothers' cabin and then mommy is having a girls weekend in Wisconsin. I am sooooo looking forward to that.........

Mary

Dumb things people say....

Almost six years ago, one of the most wonderful 8 month old girl arrived in my arms from India.

These are some of the comments that people have said to me:

Are you adopting from India because they are so smart in math?
Is she dots or feathers? meaning Native American or Indian
How much did she cost?
When she was three, I had an educator ask me how her English was coming along.

This was the best one, Do you rub her skin every night? This person thought that because the bottom of her feet were so light, the color just rubbed off. To my disbelief, he really thought that I would try to make her skin lighter.

Finally......

I am back under a new title and am happy to be back in cyberspace.......