Still Waiting . . .and Remembering . . .

For the baby . . . My mother . . .

This morning I was eating a healthy dose of protein - a tuna, apple, caper sandwich and the song "Short People" began singing in my head. It's not the first time. It's been happening for a few days. It's a satire of a song for those who haven't heard it or were too young to remember. The song, which aired and was popular in the late 70's before "politically correct" was ever a thought was written and sang by Randy Newman. This time period highlights the period of my life with Mom that was so fun, rich, and memorable to say the least. It was when I began playing softball - something that I still do, became aware that my mother was creative (her sewing machine was in my closet), she taught me how to cook and I made my first stovetop meal ever - pork chops, mashed potatoes, and green beans if my memory serves me, we went to the beach every chance we had to barbecue and catch little crabs on the rocky shores of Mission Bay, we drove everywhere, singing loudly, in our little blue Mazda GLC, Charlie learned how to ride a bike, it was still okay to walk the half mile or so to Rio Seco Elementary school, we sometimes went to Julian and Ramona. I will never forget these times and activities that shaped me into Gena circa 2006. I miss her everyday. I remember I used to hate being short, but heck I'm 5'6" (ish) and I have a lot of great short people in my life. Jason stands pretty even with me, Mom was barely 5', my Grandma Evelyn Whitson isn't 5' in high heels, my stepmother Leah is the shortest in her family of tall folks standing at 5'1" and that might be generous. And I haven't even mentioned all the little roots and shoots we have among us that inspire us to do and be our very best.
Thank goodness for short people and Randy Newman's silly song. I hope you all have a wonderful day.

More on Randy Newman.

Also, here are some pics of a few things we've been up to around here.




No, I didn't take pictures of all the powernesting we've been doing around here. Today on my list are quilting, painting furniture, cleaning the deck off my bedroom, and washing the car. And probably swimming with Beritt.