her independence day

our community shoots off the fireworks on july 3rd.
i really like fireworks.

so this evening we heard the signal boom
and headed outside to watch them.
i'm lucky enough to have our youngest with me.
she's been here for about 6 weeks.
she and her cat.
they have been at the in-between stage of life
again.
she graduated from college in may
and got a job.
however didn't need to be at the job
immediately, so hung out at home.
 
tomorrow we head west with this
teacher-daughter-child-woman.

she's got a job in a big city about 15 hours away.
sigh.
really i am happy for her.
it's what she wants.
to teach second grade in a city.
she will do a really good job.
such a heart for kids she has.
and such energy she has.
:-)

as i watched the sparkling lights tonight,
i thought of why we shoot them off.
independence.
we wanted it.
we needed it.
and we got it.
it wasn't easy, but worth the struggles.

and i thought of my youngest child.
she's worked hard for her college degree.
it wasn't easy, but...
she wanted it.
she needed it.
and she got it.
and now...starting tomorrow
she begins the journey towards
her independence day.

gonna be on her own,
new place,
new people,
new adventures. 

and this is a good thing.
 

 
 

the golden rule of fueling

no matter where i go it seems
some people just don't use their manners.
or maybe they are just ignorant,
and i mean un-informed actually.

so todays topic is
how to politely put gas in your car.

1. when you pull up to the pump
be sure to go to the most forward
one if it's available.
don't just stop at the back one.
that causes blocks, traffic issues,
and grumblings.
and even dangerous situations as others
must wiggle waggle into the spot you
could have easily pulled up to.  

2. also, after you've filled up,
if you need to go inside the store,
MOVE YOUR CAR.
do not let it set there whilst you
cavort amongst the candy...
or peruse which bag of chips 
is calling your name. 

MOVE YOUR CAR up to the store. 
PLEASE.
then you can dance among the candy
and sodas as much as you fancy.
and the next thirsty car can get
a tankful. 

whew..
at least i've told someone
something useful today.
 


 

she didn't feel wanted

our youngest,
our most recent college graduate,
just wasn't feeling too confident about
her future.
after all she has the degree, now needs the job. 
but so far, things weren't moving very fast.
patience is hard when your future is on the line.
   
late last week an email came from a school expressing interest. 
here-after known as school A.
AHA! 
her confidence began to creep back up. 

the next day came a phone call from another school,
she had an impromptu interview and got a job offer.
we shall call them school B.
(it was her birthday, too.)
confidence level vastly improved!

lots of research, discussion followed 
with her parents.

the weekend was over.
 it was time to make a decision.
good old dad was getting nervous for his baby girl.
" take the job!
call them NOW!
take the job!"
(referring to school B.)
and the mom was trying not to get on that train.
however,
the college grad had her own time frame.
she had a determined time when she was going to make the call.

before, yes before she can make that call...
she gets a call from another school.
we shall call them school C.
not even one she's heard from yet.
ever.
they want a phone interview.

now i get a call.
from the daughter-roo.
my little college grad is starting to float above the floor.
she is wanted!
she does have something to offer.
she is being validated!!!  

she puts a phone call in to the job offered school,
school B.
but the principal is unavailable. 
message is left. 
  
she calls home updating me on the process.
as we are talking she gets an email
from the principal at school A.
he wants a phone interview, asap.
  
okey-dokey.

this baby-college-graduate of mine 
is no longer grounded.
she is levitating 5 feet off the floor
in excitement and amazement.

lets see,
she does the phone interview with 
with school C.
they are nice, but not quite
what she's interested in.
they say they will get back with her.

the phone interview with school A 
is next. 

i am getting phone calls in between all
the calls she is getting.  
it's important to know
this is happening in about 1 hours time frame. 
honest.
it's c.r.a.z.y. 

our phone rings with the latest news...
interview with school A goes great!

this baby-college-grad has left the building.
she is floating in the clouds.
so excited i can barely understand 
what she is saying.

she loves the teaching methods,
concepts, and much much more.
she is offered a job.
it's even teaching her most preferred grade,
second. 

i ask,
"did you say yes?"
she:  "No, i wanted to talk to you."
me: " do you want to teach there?"
she: "YES"
me: "then call him back. now."
she: "Okay. mom they are sooo cool."

and she proceeds to tell me again all the things
she was excited about.

we got off the phone.
she called school A, accepting their offer.
so, now it's back to HR.
they do the official hiring.

if this all works out,
our baby will be just like her siblings
and spreading her wings.
she will be 16 hours away.

it's okay.
honest.
you know why?
as we got off the phone
she said,
"okay, you can finish fixing your lunch,

i'm just gonna be jumping around my apartment!"