so this race is about race...

What I lack in math skills I feel I gained in common sense. So when a sitting President makes a statement from the Rose Garden that “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon” common sense tells me we got trouble.
   The President was referring to a situation in Florida, oh really, Florida (?), where Trayvon Martin a 17 year old unarmed black male, was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a Hispanic over zealous neighborhood watch volunteer. The case is tricky with Zimmerman leaving his house to follow a suspicious person (Trayvon), Trayvon allegedly attacking him, Zimmerman shooting Trayvon, putting self defense and Stand Your Ground laws in question. After the President’s savvy comment made in the Rose Garden, which ignited some citizens of the country to protest on Trayvons behalf, George Zimmerman has been charged with second- degree murder. He, his family and his neighborhood have received death threats, and have even been threatened by the New Black Panther Party (NBPP).
   On April 12, 2011, Holly Bobo a white, 20 year old west Tennessee nursing student was taken from her driveway by a suspicious person, never to be seen again. I’m sorry Mr. President, did Holly not look like your daughter? Where’s the outrage? Actually Mr. President, with our economy, home invasions, robberies, and yes, even shootings of unarmed citizens are happening everyday. So why Trayvon, why now, during your campaign year?
   But what is even more troubling than a President that seemingly wants to divide a Nation by race, wealth, etc. is the power of the comment. If one statement made in the Rose Garden had such an impact on a group of citizens, common sense tells me more are on the way.

Too COOL for SCHOOL...

Maybe it was riding by the campus with my parents, or the loss of a Dad, or Harpeth Hall, but the decision to take my son out of a very good public school system and into an all boy preparatory school for High School was made. This has not been an easy road and when my son tells me how much he misses his friends (most he has had since Kindergarten) I sometimes think, “What have we done?” but then something cool happened.
Montgomery Bell Academy - MBA- has a summer reading assignment that includes an “all school read”. This is a book that everyone, all grades, including staff and faculty read. This summer’s book was Laura Hillenbrand’s UNBROKEN. It is described as a “World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption”. It is the true story of Louis Zamperini, a forgotten war hero. During the summer when my son finished reading UNBROKEN he was very impressed with Louis Zamperini and his struggles and accomplishments. He would share with me different things about the story, (and this kid hates to read) so I was pleased with the assignment. Louis survived his delinquent childhood by running, (Olympian) , became in airman in the war, survived a plane crash at sea, (sharks), became a prisoner of war (tortured) and lived to tell about it and through new found Christianity, forgave his captors. Ok so here’s the cool part.
On the first day of school at MBA during the all school assembly 94 year old Louis Zamperini attended and spoke to the boys! Now about that decision…..

I'll never tell....

I am a sports radio junky. Living in Nashville, I am privy to a really good sports station. On the way to taking and picking my son up from school I listen. Well, actually whenever I am in the car I listen to Mark, Clay, George and Willy. They can talk or speculate about anything happening in the sports world, local or nationally. Hours are spent on guessing what moves this player, this coach, or this team is going to make. Kind of like a competition of sort, who can guess the next big news story in sports. Then Al, or Auburn Mike, or whoever calls in to give their opinion, this is discussed, and the game of what ifs continue on.
So you can imagine how I felt when Husband and I went back to the restaurant that inspired my previous blog “The table next to you” and I was sitting within inches of a well-known former coach, who was feeling chatty. I learned so much about ESPN reporters, people’s health, and what the future holds for him during my dinner that I could change the “Three Hour Lunch” into a quick snack. But why would I do that? Where is the fun in the truth? I am sure this celeb wasn’t entertaining his table with anything he hasn’t said before. It just got lost in the speculation.

Maybe I shouldn't have

“ Oh maybe I shouldn’t have said that” we all have those regrets. I still think about something I said to my mother when I was fifteen, a boyfriend at twenty three and my husband when I was old enough to know better. That tongue, what seemed so witty, or sarcastic, turned bitter and well, mean, a weapon of sort, perhaps paying back for a hurt feeling.
But maybe I shouldn’t have typed that? That is a whole new guilt trip.
Today I read the story of a popular sport figure’s battle with cancer in the newspaper. It was the first time he shared his condition with the public, truly vulnerable and open. I was shocked to read the comments about the article, cheap shots about his career, etc. What? Really? You can’t say it to my face but you can type it in a comment box? Its sad but yes, today’s faceless internet has turned into a perfect outlet for the mean spirited to be read.

The table next to you...

So you are looking forward to a date night, just you and your beloved , a quaint dinner for two. Why is it when this scenario actually plays out in your mind you forget about the table next to you? You know the unruly 5 year old that should know better, the ladies night out girls on their second martini and one has that voice that carries. But are you ever prepared for overhearing the young girl asking her date “when have I seen you last” and his reply is “well I have been in jail”. What? Did I just overhear that right? Did my husband hear it? I know that’s what I heard and yes he confirmed it. So now I am sitting next to a criminal and am hanging on to every word. When did jail become so normal? His date didn’t miss a beat. “ Oh, did I know that, please pass the salt.” “isn’t this fish delicious?” As I am planning an escape route for her in my mind, she is inquiring if the wine is chilled. Maybe I am judging, maybe he is a nice former jail patron but in my mind some things should be discussed over the phone and not over seafood.

how did I miss this?

I am shaking my head wondering, “ how did I miss this?” First of all, I am a huge American Idol fan. There is just something about that show that brings the critic out of me. I love to see the transformation of the “wanna be” sensation from their first audition to the stage. This often includes a head to toe makeover. It starts with Hollywood week and that’s when I first noticed it. There it was, not one or two but three tutu styled short dresses with so many layers of toile under the skirt it fluffs out like a mushroom. Huh? The only accessory needed for this dress is a stage mom, and the little girl that just stands while the others twirl. I have always considered myself fashion forward. I cut my Uggs in half way before they came out with the mini so I just don’t understand where I have been. I do know that the dress should come with instructions for sitting, do you tuck all that stuff under or let it just sit beside you? Ok, maybe that’s where I’ve been ignoring the trends and living in my practical no manual needed jeans.

Whoops....

Typeos, oh, I’m sorry, typos. I hate them. Why is it they always seem to happen? I remember picking my son up from his Student Government duties at his middle school impressed by the fact his job was to change the signage in front of the school. As we were leaving I proudly took a glance at his work. There it was Congradulations! Teacher of the Year! on display for the rush hour traffic.
It happens to us all. You write an email, push the send button, reread it and of course after its too late, cringe at the message. Texting is another playing field for typos. Its funny my big thumb, or my fat fingers are always to blame, not my failing eyesight!
Truth is, in this world of technology that’s in fifth gear our brains are sometimes stuck in neutral. So proofread, proofread and proofread again.