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Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day tribute


This writing is dedicated to:
MY DADDY
Who served in WWII
and left his wife and children
to make the world safe and free.
For the man who shared with me that
the day he was shot in this war was the
best day of his life because as he lay there
bleeding he knew either he was going to die
or go home away from this hell.
FOR ALL PARENTS
Who find themselves separated from
their spouses and children
as life goes on in their families without them.
Their children walk, loose teeth, have birthday parties
and still they fight for our freedom and for the
freedom of some who don't even understand
what freedom is.
FOR MY BROTHERS
Who both served in the military.
One who now calls heaven home.
The other who fought in Vietnam.
For the young brother who left because
he thought he what was doing what was right
for his country and came back to a USA that
was ungrateful.
For the part of my brother who stayed in
the trenches of Vietnam.
The part of him that none of us ever got to know.
FOR ALL SIBLINGS
Those who fight now and their siblings
who worry and pray for them to come home.
FOR MY HUSBAND
Who also served a four year run in the army.
He didn't see battle but still he would
have, had he had to.
He was trained to fight for freedom.
He was young and still talks fondly of the time
he honored our country.
FOR ALL SPOUSES
Those who can't be with the loves of their lives
because of War and those who stay home
to take care of the family
as they worry and wait for the day they come home.
For the spouses who already have buried their
loved ones and now must find a way to carry on.
MAY WE ALL REMEMBER AND HONOR WHAT THIS DAY
IS ABOUT AND NOT TAKE OUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED
TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK A VETERAN OR THE
FAMILY MEMBER OF A VETERAN.
Love to all.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Some things are made to be controlled

Yes, my ladies and one of those things would be your bladder.
I am shocked that so many young women have bladder issues
and have never heard of Kegel exercises of the bladder/vagina.
So many talk to me about this and I have to introduce
them to the exercises that I learned way back when baby boy
was born.
They laugh at me sometimes, but I tell them
hey while you are laughing check your underwear it may be
damp where mines is not.
I mean come on the exercise was named after the doctor
who found there was a problem here.
Don't want atrophy of those muscles my friends.
So for all of those who have bladder control issues and
have never heard or practiced Kegel's
this is the practice.
That muscle you use to start and stop your bladder function?
That is the muscle you want to strengthen.
You can start by doing it when you are urinating
but once you know which muscle you are working
you can do it anywhere.
I gave lessons in the school cafeteria, hence it can
be done anywhere.
So I tell the young ladies with these issues,
yes and the older ones too,
tighten that muscle as if you are riding an elevator.
Imagine yourself getting in the elevator and
each time it hits a new floor tighten the muscle a little tighter
up 10 flights:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.....
tight, tight, on the 10th floor let the door open
hold the muscle tight, look out, no one there...
down now, loosen the muscle
10,9.8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1....
ahhhhhh relief down relax.
Then start again.
Now they are really laughing at me...
Huh, but again, I am not the one with wet underwear...
I also tell them in quiet privacy that your hubby will thank
me for this lesson also, tightens more than just the
bladder muscles.
So now that they have had the instruction,
I remind them often,
"Don't forget your Kegels"
They again laugh but I know they are riding
the elevator everytime they see me.
One in particular screams out to me as I am
rushing to check a student,
"Nurse Lilly, my elevator is broken"
I scream back in my rush.
"Well you better fix it quickly because taking
the steps is a heck of a lot harder!"
They laugh and I am thankful that it is not
no underwear Wednesday because I just know
that underclothing will have to be changed.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Summer is here and change for TES and it's school nurse

Yes, for the next 9 1/2 weeks I will be on summer vacation.
One of the best benefits of working for a public school
is the time off.
It has been one heck of a year.
It hasn't been my worst year ever except from
a medical standpoint.
The end of the year is always that cliche'
bitter sweet.
Because no matter how much we don't like it,
a school is a business.
Our business is educating and nurturing children.
Cut backs have forced TES to make many changes.
For me, personally my big change is the loss
of a certain student to my medical agenda.
I can't say a lot about this due to HIPPA laws
but I will just say that the loss of this student
has rocked my world and I have cried many tears
over the last few weeks.
Yet the student is on to bigger and better things
and I have to let the student go to live a life
that is the journey laid out.
the other thing that has gotten me yesterday at
our end of the school year crawfish boil
is the loss of so many of our teachers for next year.
I get close to the peers I see every day.
Knowing yesterday that many who were with us
that day will not be back with us the next year
was heart wrenching for me.
The luxury of being the only nurse to all
I get to move around and know everyone in our school.
Because I am loud and nosy and a people person,
I know not only their school life but I know
all of their family life.
I am a talker (oh , I'm sorry thought you didn't know) and I ask many questions.
This makes it harder when I realize that so many will
not be there next year to share our year with us.
So to all those who find themselves in different
positions or with new jobs.
For those who will be home for a while,
I will miss you.
Once again, I will rob Carol Burnett's jingle
that I sang to my student and many TES employees yesterday:
I'M SO GLAD WE HAD THIS TIME TOGETHER
JUST TO LAUGH OR SING A SONG OR TWO
SEEMS WE JUST GET STARTED
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT
COMES THE TIME WE HAVE TO SAY SO LONG
Love and luck to each of you.
TES will still be the best
but it won't be the same without you guys.
Oh and get ready all readers,
I have some funny blogs prepared for this summer.
Enough of this serious stuff I have been writing about.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Alaska here come the Riera's

We finally decided we would have to cancel our
Grand Isle weeks this summer.
Against all our hearts wanted,
a vacation without the beach, crabbing, and fishing
is just not a vacation.
So HOBL always wanting to make things right for us
promised he would find us a vacation that
could make us all happy.
He and the babies searched and searched for
something comparable to what we normally do
in Grand Isle but they could not find a place
that was not booked for the dates we could go.
Then HOBL said, "Well lets go to Alaska"
For those of you who don't know it, HOBL works
there for none other than BP.
I didn't want to go to Alaska.
I told them to go without me and I really
would not be offended.
Just the thought of 12 hours of traveling
made my back hurt.
"Please, you guys go without me, really,
I will be happy for you all and I will be happy
home all alone."
Nope if we don't all go, no one goes.
Just like the Griswold's.
So yesterday I am in the heat of end of the
school business and HOBL calls
to say that the family has decided we are going
to Alaska and I have to come.
With his frequent flyer miles
the whole entire trip for all
5 of us back and forth will cost him,
get this
90 dollars!!!!
Not per person, not per ticket,
for all 5 tickets round trip!
How can I be a party pooper and say no.
So I bend,
"Yes, I will go just don't bother me with the details,
surprise me and I will have a great time."
Now we are all excited.
Baby momma can travel pregnant.
Baby boy and HOBL are planning their
fishing trip, Baby girl wants to whale watch.
baby momma wants to shop,
me, me?
Wondering where I can get some good drugs for traveling.
Hahahah no really we are all sooo excited.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

4 more days


Four days until I can call the
2009-2010 school year history.
What a year it has been.
Much good things, many frustrations
many times I thought,
"gee, I really need to hang this up"
and yet just yesterday when in
the middle of another nursing glitch
and speaking with one of my peers about it
I walk in the hall and It is like being a VIP.
I get hugs and "Hey nurse Lilly"
from every angle.
As I and my nurse friend walk down the hall
I get shown every papercut, every bruise
and I look at her as I hug one of these babies
and I say,
"This is why I do it"
I am reminded that all the politics and problems
of school nursing is all worth it
for one day of bringing comfort to a child.
For every hug that I get or give.
It is why I do what I do.
So summer break and
2010-2011 school year
here I come.
Thanks to the Big Man
for better days for baby girl,
she is feeling much better these days
and so is her momma.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

NOT MEANT TO BE

Love and break-ups, never easy.
Not easy for the girl, not easy for the bruddah
and definitely not easy for the momma
and the family
who loves their baby girl.
Little I can say to take her pain away.
Yet I know she is doing the right thing for
both she and her love.
I asked her last week if she had heard the words
to the song
NOT MEANT TO BE BY THEORY OF A DEADMAN
It says what I wish I could say better to both of them.
I am really trying to keep her life private
but I want to help her soooo bad and I know
she reads this blog faithfully so for you baby girl
and for all others who are hurting in love.
ITS NEVER ENOUGH TO SAY I'M SORRY
IT'S NEVER ENOUGH TO SAY I CARE
BUT I'M CAUGHT BETWEEN WHAT YOU
WANTED FROM ME AND KNOWING IF I GIVE
THAT TO YOU I MIGHT DISAPPEAR.
NOBODY WINS WHEN EVERYONES LOSING
IT'S LIKE ONE STEP FORWARD AND TWO STEPS BACK
NO MATTER WHAT I DO YOUR ALWAYS MAD
AND I, I CAN'T CHANGE YOUR MIND
IT'S LIKE TRYING TO TURN AROUND ON A ONE WAY STREET
I CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT
AND IT'S KILLING ME AND I, I'M STARTING TO SEE
MAYBE WE'RE NOT MEANT TO BE.
IT'S NEVER ENOUGH TO SAY I LOVE YOU
NO IT'S NEVER ENOUGH TO SAY I TRY
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO WAY OUT
FOR YOU AND ME
AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE STORY OF OUR LIFE
NOBODY WINS WHEN EVERYONE'S LOOSING...
...I KEEP THINKING IT'S TOO LATE...
I love you baby girl.
I wish I could make this better and easier for you
and yet I am glad I am at least here to give you some comfort.
Believe me, it will get easier, you just have
to trust those who have gone through this and know
they know that time does wonders.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

A pixie called Ellen

BFOB soon to be called BFF after the
wonderful friend he was to me this week texted me
to ask if I could keep this little pixie of a girl
Friday night into Saturday.
I teasingly said,
"Not Ellen, anyone but Ellen?!"
For the longest time I have refused keeping this character.
Not because I love her any less but because
of the things this child has gotten herself into.
I liked admiring her from afar because being
responsible for her scared me a bit.
Those who know, love and heard the stories about her
understand all to well.
However, she is a big girl now
and one of the reasons BFOB/BFF
asked me is because Jesi had the other three,
had to go to swim meets with them today
and we all know this one needs one on one care.
I say yes to the visit.
I find myself yesterday very excited about the experience
when I go to pick her up.
I am sad for the time I missed with this one.
After yesterday I realize all this child has stored in her.
She is the funniest three year old I have ever met.
Her speech is that of a 5 or 6 year old so
she is able to verbalize so much which makes her even funnier
being only a 3 year old.
I thought I would share some Ellenisms.
So we talk in the car and I ask her,
"Do you know where your Mommy and Daddy are going?"
"Yes, on an adventure"
Later she cries,
"Please, please, take me to my Mommy, take me to my home"
(I may have forgotten to say how dramatic she is)
Can't Ellie Pie Mommy is on an adventure but it's
only for grown-ups, no children allowed.
"Oh Aunt lil then I will be an iguana"
I take her to the McDonald's playplace
she is so animated and gets so excited for
all things. There she meets 4 little girls that
she befriends quite easily.
Making friends is a strong point for pixie.
She climbs up in the tunnels and I hear her exclaim
"LADIES FIRST"
Finally the time comes to leave and we get in the car
without a fuss and as I strap her in she asks
"I have some new friends?"
Yep Ellie, new friends for you.
As we drive off she says,
"Those girls at McDonalds, those friends?
Those are my girls"
Uncle Ronnie loves Ellen.
We have to go to Lowes so he can't tell her no
when she asks to ride in the big basket that looks
like a race car. She drives down the Lowes aisles
but when we stop, she questions,
"Really, did Uncle Ronnie forget to put gas in this thing?"
This is just a few things this child has cracked us up with.
She is so animated, I just love her.
As I am telling baby girl all these funny things she is saying
BG shares one with me since she has babysat the Ellen all week.
BG was bathing her when she decided to poop in the tub.
BG asks her why did she do that.
"Wasn't me, Jesi"
BG says to her that if it is just them two in the house
who would have done that?
"I don't know, Jesi but we better catch them
before they do it again!"
She is just what I needed on a Friday afternoon.
Thanks BFOB for putting me in this position,
I really, really am loving it!

Friday, May 21, 2010

ED white graduation

Tonight ED White graduates another class.
This year I have many friends who have children
graduating. Just two year ago I was in the same
place they are today.
A bittersweet moment.
Proud of all the things you and they have accomplished
but wearing your heart on your sleeve
because sometimes, sometimes
you still get the glimpse of the little child
you held in your arms.
Who needed you to comfort them when
the weather was bad, they watched a scary movie,
or made a bad grade on a test.
The same one that when placed in your arms
minutes after they took their first breath
you looked into their eyes and were overwhelmed
with the fact that life as you knew it was over.
To forever wear your heart outside of your body.
Good luck to Ed White graduates as well as
all graduating from high school.
Part of your life is complete.
Do not forget to let your parents know just
how important they are to you.
Days like today are very complicated and full
of emotions for those you call your
Mom and Dad.
Much love to all.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Okay, so i was wrong or DOES THAT MAKE ME CRAZY

Okay when the babies were growing up
and I would push my authority
they would angrily tell me
"OH YOU ARE JUST SO PERFECT"
and I would remind them that what made me
perfect is that when I was wrong I could admit it.
Of course I am not perfect
(sorry to disappoint all you readers)
but I can admit when I am wrong.
So I was wrong about not needing a land line phone.
Yes, it has been quiet and peaceful
if you don't count the times HOBL talks to his dogs.
It has had lots of advantages and I am not
completely happy about having to get another phone.
I did not take into account that when my
old Mumsie calls me I wouldn't be able to teach
her the delay it takes for the phone to ring
which put me answering the cell to her trying
to dial the number again while I patiently wait
for her to be done.
I did not account for the fact that when my babies
call me I would not be able to hear them or
their calls would be dropped.
Really these are the two reasons that we are
getting a landline once again.
So yesterday morning HOBL and I have
our discussion (cough argument cough)
over whether or not we will get a land line.
Oh whatever, HOBL we are getting a land line.
So I leave not too happy but HOBL can't stand
when I am not happy so he calls me on my
way to Mumsie's place and tries to lighten the day
by offering to tear down some walls so our cell service is better.
Last night we went to eat supper with baby boy, baby momma,
lovey and the other set of grandparents.
We tell baby boy and baby momma that
we are getting a landline again and both
give a sigh of relief and BB says he is so aggravated
when he tries to call and the call gets dropped.
Of course HOBL has to add that never happens to him
because you know, he is the King of cells and
a call would not ever be dropped when he makes it.
I tell him he is lying but I am not so nice about it.
Here is the part where HOBL and I may be crazy.
I share with the kids that HOBL offered to tear some
walls down to make the service better.
Baby boy looks at his daddy as serious as a heart attack
and says,
"Dude you don't think it would be cheaper to just
get a land line?!"
He honestly believes that we are serious about
tearing down some walls.
The funny thing is that you may be crazy when
you make a statement like this to your grown child
and he really believes you would do that.
I have to tell him that it was a joke and he
looks at me with that face that tells me
"I didn't know it is Dad we are talking about"
phhhhaaahhhhaaaa that is soooo funnnyyy!!!!!
We are crazy, crazy in love huh, HOBL?

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions better titled: CHANGE



Change.
What causes us to make changes when it
is too hard to do it on our own?
When you know change has to happen but
you really aren't sure how to do it because
life gets too comfortable and it is scary
to think of change even if you aren't happy.
So this morning I examine natural disasters.
With hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions
days before things around look normal.
The sun may be shining and people are living
their lives but pressure is brewing.
Sometimes there are warnings and sometimes
there are not but the pressure, the turmoil is brewing.
Finally the day comes when it blows.
It either spews it's lava all over the lands
or comes in to land bringing disaster with it.
Finally the disaster is done and things are calm
once more. The dust settles and things can
be seen in a different light.
Things that weren't important to you before
become prized possessions and you pick it up
and you dust it off and never again will that
possession be taken for granted.
Sometimes when the dust settles there is
forced need for change.
Even if you don't want to do it and you cry
because all you thought you loved is gone
the change has to happen, there is no other choice.
Family and friends come out of the woodwork
to help each other.
Even those who haven't talked for months
come out to help.
It is painful, yet with this change that we sometimes
feel we just can't do, a disaster comes to give
us no other choice but to do what is the right
thing to do.
To pick up the pieces of what is salvageable
and move on. Sometimes we are thankful
for the disaster because we have a better life now.
We find ourselves better people and at a better
place than we ever thought possible.
So is life, natural disasters happen
even in families and in the end things are
better than you ever thought imaginable.
Because the family rallies, truth is spoken
and change is imminent.
Nothing gives me more comfort in times
of trouble than my favorite Beatles:
WHEN I FIND MYSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME
SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM
LET IT BE...
AND WHEN THE BROKEN HEARTED PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE WORLD AGREE
THERE WILL BE AN ANSWER
LET IT BE
FOR THOUGH THEY MAY BE PARTED
THERE IS STILL A CHANCE THAT THEY WILL SEE
THERE WILL BE AN ANSWER
LET IT BE...
AND WHEN THE NIGHT IS CLOUDY
THERE IS STILL A LIGHT THAT SHINES ON ME
SHINE UNTIL TOMORROW
LET IT BE...
I WAKE UP TO THE SOUND OF MUSIC
MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME
THERE WILL BE AN ANSWER
LET IT BE
I adore and love you baby girl...

Monday, May 17, 2010

That's how you know it's love


Since Mothers Day I have had this song on my mind,
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
By: Deana Carter
I wanted to post it then because when I hear it
it has always made me think of how much
I love my children.
It is a love song between two people but for
me it has always spoken of unconditional love
between a Mother and her child.
Baby girl and I, well I'll just say
we have hit some rough patches in our relationship
lately. I have accepted my part and asked for forgiveness
for what I felt I have done wrong as well as she.
You know when a child struggles and I as a parent
can't seem to get her motivated the frustration sets in.
I have felt that way for some time yet the frustration
is also against myself, I wonder where did I go wrong,
how did I not give this child the life lessons she needs to get past
what she is dealing with?
I also realize that maybe because of my frustration I have
pulled away from her.
So yesterday and today, after many textings and talks
we have put it all on the table and we hopefully know
now what each expect from the other.
We are going to start all over brand new now
that we have been able to talk about all that has happened.
This parent stuff, it never gets easy.
So these words are for you baby girl,
the words that I think of when I think of how much I love you:
IF YOU GET OUT IN THE DRIVING RAIN
STAND IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE
AND NEVER THINK TWICE
IF YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON SELFISHNESS
AND YOUR THOUGHTS ARE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
CAUSE THEY'VE CHANGED YOUR LIFE
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S MEANT TO BE
WHEN THE SPAN OF FOREVER
JUST NEVER SEEMS LONG ENOUGH
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE
WHEN YOUR HEART INSISTS THAT YOU GIVE IT ALL
WHEN YOU NO LONGER FEAR THE FALL
AND YOU JUST LET GO
WHEN THE PAST IS FINALLY DEAD AND GONE
FATE LEADS YOU SOMEWHERE TO THE ONE
THAT HAS YOUR SOUL
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE...
NO PART OF YOU QUESTIONS
NO PART OF YOU DOUBTS
YOU'RE ONLY SURE THIS WHAT LOVE'S ABOUT
AND NOTHING AND NO ONE
CAN STAND IN YOUR WAY
OR KEEP YOU FROM SAYING WHAT YOU'RE DYING TO SAY
THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S LOVE...
No matter what we ever fight about (and I am sure we will) or agree upon
there is one thing that will never change,
that I love you, would not be the person I am today without you,
and cannot live without you.
You are my baby girl,
I will forever love you,
no matter what!

Name for baby blogging

What to call the baby when Blogging.
That is the question I have struggled with
since I was given baby blog privileges.
When new people come here they sometimes ask
me what the codes for people mean.
I sometimes think I need to make a box
just to explain to those who exactly I am speaking of.
So I'll take some time to explain for those who don't know.
So there is Baby boy, easy one-Roddie, my first born.
Baby girl, just as easy-Jesi the baby of the Riera's right now.
Kd used to be Katie but that has changed now she will
be known as Baby Momma.
Bruddah would be Chase, Jesi's boyfriend.
HOBL is my hubby, Ronnie
He is my "Hunk of burning love"
hence the name.
Mumsie is what I have called my Mom since she has shown
signs of dementia but it will also be
what this child calls me, he/she's grandmother.
Can't forget BFOB, this would be my nephew Mikie.
Best friend of blog.
Don't tell him but he is more to me than just my BFOB.
So now we have this little one coming to us.
Right now the kids call he/she fetus Riera.
Well I can't call our baby that.
It sounds like a science experiment.
This morning it has come to me,
exactly what the baby will be called here for
blogging purposes:
LOVEY
because I am already so in love with this child.
When you see Lovey written in this blog it
will be about this baby who is coming to us
to teach us about life and love.
Monday Monday lalalaaaalalaa
so good to me.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE...

YES, YOU GUESSED IT!
I, Lillian Therese Collins Riera,
Sibling to 6
Wife to 1
Mother to 2
school nurse to 648
Aunt lil to many...
is now going to be, to be...
A GRANDMOTHER
Grandmother or Mumsie as I want to be called.
Oh it's been hard keeping this secret!
Now I have been given permission that
I can shout it from the rooftops!
My baby boy and his beautiful wife
are pregnant.
This love is a funny thing, you know.
From the minute I heard Kd may be pregnant
I immediately began to think of everything
through the eyes of a grandmother.
I asked Kd
"How can we love something so much that we
don't even know exists yet?"
The best gift a parent can ever be given
is hearing a grown child say,
"When I have children, I want to parent my children
the same way I was raised."
I heard that at baby boy's first AA birthday
and I heard it again this morning when
reading an email from him.
To watch these two people enjoy the love of
a child will be enough.
I am soooo excited.
Pray for our children that all goes well with this pregnancy.
I think Kd was hours pregnant when she found out
so there is always that nervousness that comes
about for the first three months.
So pray that this Mumsie
will hold a new baby in my arms come January 2011!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

POWER OF PRAYER


My friend Lorraine is a cancer survivor like me.
Yesterday at school I received an article from her
written by the Rev. Wilmer Todd.
She knows how much I and she shares the power of prayer
so she sends me this article and it made me smile.
It is supposed to be a true story and of course,
I believe.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER
A pastor had a kitten that climbed a tree in his
backyard and was afraid to come down.
No amount of coaxing would get the scared kitten down.
The tree was young and not sturdy enough to climb.
The pastor decided to tie a rope from the tree to his
car so that he could bend the tree and then reach the kitten.
He set up the rope and slowly started bending the tree
by pulling it with his car. When he had just about
the right height, he decided to give another slight pull.
That was too much. The rope broke and the tree
sprang back to its upright position, and the kitten
went sailing through the air, out of sight.
The pastor felt terrible. He searched for the kitten
to no avail. He could not find the kitten so he prayed,
"Lord, I commend this kitten to your keeping"
and went about his business.
A few days later he sees one of his parishioners at the
grocery store with cat food in her basket.
Knowing she was not a cat lover, he questioned her
as to why she was buying food.
She replied,
"You will not believe this, Father, but for the longest time
my little girl has been pestering me for a cat. Just the
other day I told her, 'If God gives you a cat you can keep it'
So, she goes out in the yard, gets on her knees,
and asks God for a cat. Now I know you won't believe
this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten
came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws
outspread, and landed right in front of her!"
MAY NONE OF US EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

"WHEN YA AIN'T GOT NOTHING GOOD TO SAY"


My daddy always said just like many other parents
back in the day:
"IF YA AIN'T GOT NOTHING GOOD TO SAY
DON'T SAY NOTHING AT ALL"
Daddy hated negative gossip or truth.
So much good is happening in my personal life
but how can I overlook the fact
that young girls are being raped and murdered
in my little towns I grew up in
by outsiders.
I cannot overlook the fact that because of
this murder four children are left without a mother.
How can I overlook that the places that
I considered sacred to my childhood
are being polluted by corruption?
Yes, I now live in Thibodaux for many reasons
but my heart and my past will always be proud
to say I am from Golden Meadow.
I brag about it all the time.
No one here in Thibodaux does not know where I am from.
So I am saddened that one of the safest places
on the Earth is becoming corrupt by
people who just don't belong there.
My opinion of course.
People from the small towns
of Golden Meadow, Galliano, Cut Off and Larose
are all feeling the same way no matter where they live now.
I know bad things are happening all over the world
and yes it affects me but not the same way as
it does when my old stomping grounds are being attacked.
Yet, if I look at the big picture,
what is the Big Man trying to tell us here?
Big changes need to happen all over the world.
I often say I am glad I am not raising young children
in today's world and yet I know I have a responsibility here.
I will have grandchildren in this world.
I have nieces, nephews and a slew of young children
in my life that I adore.
I attend church most mornings to pray for the children
of the world. They are the innocents in all of this,
aren't they?
Never more than now has the statement
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD
made sense.
Let this be your motto and if you have the chance
to make a difference in a child's life...
do it!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Mothers Day Weekend

I spent my Mothers Day with my babies in Plaquemine.
When Kd called to ask what I wanted to do for
Mothers Day I said I wanted a picnic
in the park.
The winds of May were strong so we
ate at Subway.
Pictures that follow are
what we did for a few hours following lunch.














I will end the picture montage by quoting
Taylor Swifts song written to her Mom:
"I HAD THE BEST DAY WITH YOU TODAY"

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Riera anniversary

Already a year has passed since baby boy and Kd
made their relationship official.
I often wonder how relationships come to be.
For instance, how in the heck, in a world
of millions of girls,
did my baby boy find the very best girl for him?
Because of his
"needle in a haystack find"
I am the proud mother-in-law to
this woman.
Because of his choice...
These two families became one.
Happy 1st anniversary to baby boy and Kd
and to both of our families.
I travel to Plaquemine today to spend the night
with my children for Mothers day.
Tonight we will eat the top portion of their
wedding cake that Rebecca made for them.
We will watch the wedding video that was made
a year ago and remember what a great day it was
for all who were involved.
The young couple could have chosen to be alone
for their first anniversary.
Instead they have invited their families
to spend the special evening with them.
Happy Mothers Day to all you
mothers out there.

Friday, May 7, 2010

A bit about Alanon

Alanon
a gathering of friends and family who love alcoholics
and drug addicts...
I don't often speak of this part of my life.
If I am to be honest about lilbit of my world,
then I must speak of my life in regards to alanon.
I have been out of sorts over this winter.
It has been a rough one and so I had given
up parts of me that are important.
Yet, just like all of us experience, the
more we give up that is important to us,
the more we tend to loose who we are.
So as the warmer weather moves in and I
am doing much better I am trying to get back into those
things that I have avoided when the cool winds of
winter settled in.
Hence my visit to an Alanon meeting last night.
I walked into what I call our clubhouse and there
were old friends and new ones waiting to share
the experiences of strength and hope for an hour.
It didn't matter that I had been gone all winter.
No one lectured me on why I had not been there.
All were genuinely happy to see me and wanted
to know all about the happenings in my life.
Often people mistake Alanon as a place to go so
you can learn how to fix the alcoholic/drug addict.
In essence I and others go there to change ourselves.
I have so much gratitude for these meetings
and am so grateful that I found this world wide organization.
At 23, when I stepped into my first Alanon meeting
every one there understood what it is to live
and love an addict.
They understood what the rest of the world did not.
I never dreamed that because of this wonderful program
I would become the very best person I could be.
What I am the most grateful for is that I worked hard
at all the program taught me would help me to be this person.
I am grateful that because of this hard work
I knew exactly what I and HOBL needed to do when
faced with addiction in our own baby boy.
People who loved us did not understand what we were doing.
Why? Because it did not make sense to the majority of the world.
Yet we stood strong with the help of our Alanon family
and we did what we felt we had to do to
help our son beat the odds.
It worked and now I speak to others what worked for us.
So now that HOBL is about to celebrate his 23rd year
of sobriety and baby boy has celebrated his 6th
many many wonder,
"Why do you still go to those meetings?"
I go for hope.
I go because in my life and story some other parent or family
member, as they go through their hell on earth,
can hear my story and know that there is hope.
I go because when I had no where to turn and felt no one understood
the people here opened their arms and hearts
and understood 100%.
I go because here I remain humbled by the many stories
of people who still suffer.
I go because here I remember honesty and how to
be honest with myself always.
I go because I know that I am the lucky one
and I am called to give back to those less fortunate than me.
I am on my way back to the life I want to live.
Alanon will forever be part of that life.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

447-7471

447-7471
No longer is this my home number.
Finally HOBL and I did what we always said we would do.
When Jesi graduated from high school we would
get rid of the house phone and resort to cells only.
I guess I should say,
I HATE THE SOUND OF A RINGING HOUSE PHONE
Now all of those who laugh at how "frugal"
(cough, cough cheap)
we are I have to say, this decision, for me
had nothing to do with the 50 bucks HOBL spent
each month to have the monster.
For me, after speaking on the phone all day
to parents there is nothing that drove me
crazy more than the sound of the ringing phone.
Now I know what some of you are thinking,
same as baby girl said when she tried to protest the situation.
(of course, we offered to keep it if she would pay the bill,
hence the loss of the house phone)
"How can you say you hate the phone when sometimes
you spend hours talking to your sisters and nieces?"
Yep, it sounds like a double standard coming from me.
However, many days in the evening when the phone rang
no one here would answer it.
Why, well mostly because usually it was
a salesperson, someone telling my via a taped message
that my car warranty was about to expire,
and as all of you know, my favorite,
freaking DAVID VITTER calling me.
Facts are as I get older I hate speaking on the phone more.
On my cell, I love to text and I can screen my calls
because I can see who is calling
and David Vitter does not yet have my cell number.
Yet, there was a time when I lived on that phone
I can still remember my home phone number that
I kept throughout my childhood until my Mumsie moved
to Cut Off: 4755371
Yep on this line I did lots of gossiping as a teenager,
spoke to many boys and girls alike for hours at a time.
Phones in our bedrooms were not allowed but
the old green chair near the phone became one of my
favorite places to hang out.
Once I got to high school, being the only child left at home,
I convinced Daddy to get a long cord and I was able
to walk this phone across the room, up the stairs,
to the first room on the left which was my room at the time.
Then when I married the HOBL and moved to Galliano
we had the number 6322798 for the whole marriage
until we moved to Thibodaux.
Oh much happened on this number.
I learned how to parent from others on this number.
Spoke with many other parents on that line.
Spoke many times with HOBL wherever he was working
through those years.
Many arguments and making up happened on that line.
Then there was 447-7471 the last one.
The one we got when we moved to Thibodaux.
When we took a leap of faith in hopes of
saving baby boys life and giving baby girl a new start.
It was one of the best things we have ever done,
a thing that I still don't ever regret.
So a part of my life is done when it comes to landlines.
I have no need for them.
It has been one of the best things we have done lately.
It is so peaceful to come home and not have to hear
the phone ring. To be able to relax without hearing
the screeching ring and hunting for the phone.
For the absence of hearing 5 rings before the
answering machine picks up and no one leaves a message.
For not having to know via phone that
Stage is having a huge sale and I am invited.
I sometimes hate admitting when HOBL is right.
This time, he definitely was on target.
Call or text the cell if you need me.
I do not see a landline in my future.