crazedparent

Five things you don't know about me...

I've been tagged! This is a new concept for me. In my two-plus years of crazedparent, I've never been tagged. But CityMama asked if I'd be part of this virtual cocktail party. CityMama was invited by Lisa Stone of BlogHer.

So here goes...five things you don't yet know about me.

• I'm allergic to juniper but refuse to stop drinking gin martinis.
• I failed my first driving test because I couldn't back up in a straight line going 35 mph. (WTF? I'm not Lightening McQueen.)
• My first car was a pale blue, 6-cylinder 1966 Ford Mustang. My mom and dad bought it for me at a Ford Mustang auction in Modesto, Calif. The auctioneer had a collection of more than 100 gorgeous ponies he had to get rid of so his wife could remodel their home in Hawaii. The one I wanted was a mint 1964 1/2 cherry-red convertible with a white top. We were outbid by $500.
• I was a model in my late teens. I would get paid serious cash to work as a mannequin at trade shows and tourists would snap photos of me. They would walk up to me, talk about me, then try to touch me. And just when they'd get thisclosetomyface, I would move and scare the shit out of them.
• I can't hear the song, "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake without shaking my groove thang.

Hehe. Now it's my turn to tag people who I'd love to spend time with at a cocktail party: Ann, La Queen Sucia,  Bethany Hiitola, HipMamaB, and Michelle Goodman.  Digame chicas!

On giving...

Nolan recently learned about homeless people. Last weekend we were out for a Sunday stroll in our city's downtown drag and he spied a man covered in blankets sleeping on the bench. The man lives on this main street so we've seen him before. But this was the first time Nol asked about him.

"Why is he sleeping on the bench?" he asked.

"Because he has no place to live," we replied, going on to explain how he has no home, perhaps very little money, and how lucky we are to have our house that protects us. The discussion went on for about 10 minutes and then Nol moved on to his next subject.

Fast forward to today. I took Nol out today to run some last-minute errands. We had to stop on that main street again. Nol asked where the "man was that sleeps on the bench." And he happened to be standing directly in front of our parking space.

"But Nol," I reminded him, "it's not nice to talk about him."

"No Mommy," he replied softly. "I was just thinking about a way that we can help him."

And it took every iota of my strength to stop myself from crying.

"How would you like to help him?"

"I would like to ask construction workers to build him a house," he answered, a plan already in place.

"That's really sweet, Nol, but mommy and daddy don't have the money to build him a house."

"Mom, I will give him my piggy bank."

Again, putting me on the edge of tears. I saw a Starbucks nearby. I asked Nol what he thought of getting this man a gift card to make sure he could have some food. Nol liked that idea, so we went into the store and made our purchase. As we approached the homeless gentleman, Nol whispered, "Mommy, YOU tell him." And so I did.

"Sir, my son really wants to help you this Christmas so we bought you this card."

And the man smiled, giggled in what I took to be amusement, and went on his way.

I asked Nol if he felt better knowing that he tried to help the man who didn't have a home.

"Yes, and now he will be able to buy lunch and dinner and a sweet drink for dessert. And his bones will stay strong."

I'm not sure how Nol will react when he sees the man the next time we're out and about. But my son, he has this big, sweet, giving heart. I home it stays with him forever.

Moving too fast...

I knew I was moving to fast when I opened the door to the truck and nearly blacked out after the edge of the door hit me in the eye. Not just the eye...the browline - that super sensitive spot that creates stars and snow when it gets smacked with metal moving at the speed of a humingbird's wings. It's been almost a week since it happened and it still hurts. Last night I was also hit again, this time with the onset of a cold. And I'm glad, because it's a nice reminder to slow the fuck down over the holidays and stop worrying so much about what-to-get-who and the question of "how will I ever get all of this done?" 

Hence, a serious lack of blogging at crazedparent but a lot of writing elsewhere. Details to come for those readers I've managed to keep during this lull (I keep saying that, don't I?)

On James & Kati Kim...

The story of the Kim Family and the loss of James Kim has consumed me this week. I've written about learning lessons about selflessness at the Maya's Mom corporate blog, where I contribute stories once a week. Details on Maya's Mom and other news in the coming days when I've had a chance to mellow out.

In the meantime, keep sending positive thoughts and vibes to Kati, Penelope and Sabine Kim, as well as the rest of James Kim's family and friends.

May next week be one filled with good things.

Rest in peace, James Kim...

My heart goes out to the family of James Kim. The search and recovery of his wife and two daughters gave me hope. The recovery of his body gave me an ache so deep in the pit of my stomach--the kind I get when I'm full of worry. It renders me so speechless that in a time when I need words, I have none. Such sadness and sorrow.

Rest in peace James.