Strummin' with his fingers!

This month was here and now almost gone!! Love the back to school memories and watching them being replayed through your children's eyes! 6th grade, baseball, band, and .......


Monday, Matt FINALLY had is first guitar lesson with Mr. Koska. He has been so patient (2 years). He wrote down songs and artists he's interested in learning to play. Musically, he's a natural and learns quickly. He plays clarinet as well.

Mr. Koska and I worked together, and fell deeply, madly, and affectionately in friendship with each other. He is an amazing and talented man with a musical passion. In fact, he refers to me as his DIVA and I'm never to allow anyone to play guitar behind me ...EVER! I received an email from him after sending him this picture of the two of them in the "Koska studio"

He really, really seems to have the "Passion" for this guitar thing. If I can keep him on track and interested in playing...he's gonna be a MONSTER on guitar by the time he hits high school.

However, if he eventually wants to drop out of school and join Pearl Jam on the road...it will not be my fault...well, actually it will be partially my fault..and I'm OK with that guilt!

Koz

A Perfect Day!

I think I've only mowed the lawn - maybe - 5 times this summer. It has been so very dry! This past Saturday, after spending a nice relaxing morning with Matt, I got out and spent about three hours in my yard mowing, trimming, and weeding. Next thing I know, it's 3:30pm. and we still haven't had lunch! Matt calls me from the window and tells me I have a phone call. Monika, a friend from the Smyrna Opera House (SOH), says it's beautiful and can she stop over. She arrives in a electric blue 1967 Skylark convertible with the top down, of course! Matt was so excited. He'd never been in a convertible. We picked up some KFC, and headed out to Woodland Beach. Before the 20th century, vacationers skirted this beach in steamers, on their way to Cape May from Baltimore, across the Chesapeake Bay to Chestertown and on to Bombay Hook Landing, just south of here. It is where the Delaware River becomes the upper Delaware Bay.

We pulled up to the parking lot at high tide. The view was of local folks with crab nets, and fishing poles walking up and down the new steel fishing pier, 5 or 6 families on the small beach taking in the next to last day of summer sun, and a strange man playing with a limbless tree that had washed ashore.

He was wearing a crotchet budweiser hat, t-shirt, long pants, and no shoes. We sat and watched while we were feeling the breeze and nice warm sun on our faces. Finally, the man scooted the tree across the sand, and mounted it in the water. What on earth? He found another floating board and used it as a paddle. He skirted the shoreline and proudly where he should be saddled on the thing! We were perplexed and started towards the cement boat ramp when Matt yelled out to him! "How's the water?" The stranger answered, "Fine, come on it - no wait, I'll come to you!" At first look, I thought, how I was witnessing a spontaneous moment in this man's life! I secretly wished I had done it first! I reminded Matt that he had a sore throat, and being in the cold water is probably not a good idea. Matt agreed, and looked at me as if he was thinking...."Yeah, I'm 12 now, not 8." A few seconds later, a married couple from the town warned us about his mental capacity, but that he was harmless.

I'm not sure if it because I'm 43, that skydiving and paddling a tree into the water isn't so crazy! It seems to me that it would make me feel more alive. I don't like feeling grey, I want to feel colorful!

A birthday evening of fun, family and friends

Grace and I grabbed some salads at our local restaurant, picked up the Snickers Ice Cream Cake and a huge birthday balloon. When we arrived we silently creeped up Jim's house steps and yelled surprise. Matt was happy that it was a small group of people as he still was feverish with a sore throat. He was happy to get the guitar, and his extended family friends that love him.

Grace spent the evening teaching us adults some fun sign language. She eminates such a pure loving spirit that it becomes contagious. I swear the room seems brighter and I can feel her joy and happiness. She speaks very well and has an incredible talent for reading lips. We are blessed to have her in our lives.

Happy 12th Birthday Matt!

Happy 12th Birthday Matt!

Day before his birthday, Matt got his physical for baseball (overdue). The doctor announced that he was due for his 12 year old shots. Matt simply turned to me and said, "Nice birthday gift Mom." He was very brave as he received 4 shots; 2 for each arm (Hepatitus, Chicken Pox, Tetanus, and Menengitis). On his birthday, he had a sore throat, fever, and cold symptoms. Needless to say, his birthday was quiet. Luckily, before his birthday, he didn't want a big celebration. He got what he wanted and has been waiting for almost 2 years!

See his Guitar interview below!

b. September 18, 1996

You light up my life!

It only takes a few notes......and I'm taken away!

Last night after cub scouts, I was driving by the high school with the windows rolled down in my car. I heard a few snare drum rolls followed by a trumpet and then other instruments joined in. Could it be? I had actually caught the end of high school marching band's rehearsal? I jerked the car and pulled into the back parking lot near the football field. I explained to Matt that I couldn't go home just yet, until we heard the band. We parked the car and saw the band director (Jessica) along with the band front director (Jamie) high up on the bleachers as they were shouting out directions to the band. They weren't on the field as they should be, but on the parking lot behind the bleachers instead. We quickly made a bee-line to the bleachers, climbed up and stood on the top riser facing the lot. The air was crisp with a nice steady slow breeze. We got a bird's eye view of the band. After a few positions were corrected, they did the full run-through. I was lucky to see the program that they were going to do for this Friday nights game! Another adventure in music! Can't wait to "hang out" and sit with the band on Friday. Go Eagles!

My connection with the high school is through the Drama program. However, after the last song was played last night, I found myself picking out the return students from last year and tears came to my eyes. The band director(s) invited me to say hello to them. I am so proud and lucky to have a connection with these young people. They have so much to offer and are growing by leaps and bounds. I love each and every one of them.

Baseball is berry berry good!

I'm an official baseball mom! Who woulda thunk? Me, a theatre, music, churchy nut? Matt, Jim and I are involved with our local theatre (Smyrna Opera House) since 2003. My son has been exposed to mostly the Arts. Through scouting and school he's played team sports at recess or with a few friends, but mostly he's been an Artsy Kid! Our Kid!

Amazingly, he's picked a team sport! This past summer, I believe he was influenced by his coach. His coach, happens to be a former band member and underclassman from my high school. It's a small town! He owns a video store. It was suggested by a co-worker to check out the new automated video store. There he was, 25 years later, playing guitar and talking about baseball with my son. That's all it took! He's a good coach too!

Who thinks that a theatre buff or musician can't play sports?!!! Huh? I have to say, however, that watching the game is entertaining. Some of the boys moves remind me of several choreographed musicals I've seen!

I Love Cub Scouts!

I just love cub scouting! I got involved with the program when my son turned 9. As a girl, I was a Brownie for a short while (and only remember one meeting). I thought it would fun for Matt to learn about country, citizenship, family responsibility, and outdoor fun. As an only child, he could meet other boys his age.

When I purchased his Wolf handbook, I was hooked. First, it was the excitement of checking off each achievement. Next it was the beads, patches, and arrows earned. We were having fun and both learning at the same time. We were a team! He advanced to Bear, and a new leadership formed. I full-time participating parent in all the meetings. They got me hook, line, and sinker. Matt's last year of scouting became my first year in a leadership position. I watched all the boys grow and learn as they advanced into new levels. Three Pinewood Derby cars and Raingutter Regatta boats, 8 fireside pack meetings, 2 overnight scouting campground events, 3 Blue & Gold Banquets, and over 36 den meetings later..... I'm still ready for more. This year, I'm a Webelos Den Leader and Cub Scout Committee Member.

Being a Single Co-Parent!

My parents divorce was ugly and painful. They didn't speak to each other for almost to 20 years. They both immediately remarried and tried to move on with their lives. As a child of divorce, I had feelings of anger, loss, resentment, and dissertion. When my ex-husband and I divorced, I vowed to myself that I would never put my child through the same pain.

Jim and I were best friends and high school sweethearts. We've known each other since we were 16! How can you throw away a lifetime friendship? Not only am I lucky because we've remained good friends, but he is an excellent father and a good human being. When we split, we had no discussion about what went wrong in our marriage, but only what was in the best interest of our son, Matthew. Our son WAS the best thing that we ever did!

How do your raise a child in separate households and still maintain a family unit? We constantly connect and communicate about his daily events, interests, thoughts, and progress. Matt knows that we are a team and that we love him. When I think of my family, I think of us as a unit.