Rainy Day Letters

In typical Oregon manner, it was pleasantly spring like and gave us all hope for a forthcoming summer.  For approximately 4 days.

Now, we are back to the rain and dreariness that has been with us for approximately, oh, forever. 

I would wager all my fortune, currently $47, to say that Oregonians have to be the most depressed people on the planet.

I know the rain and darkness have sunk me to an all time low on the depression scale. 

Even my children have been affected. They are whiny, impatient and quick to fight with anyone that looks at them cross-eyed (this last one I know for a fact as one child did look cross-eyed at another child and after that, it. was. ON!) . 

It doesn't help that we are a six person family (8 if you count the ever growing dog) in a 3 bedroom, less that 1000 sq. foot home. My children NEED to go outside for the love of all things holy!!!

Jeven, who, I have to say, is the laziest 6 yr old  I know, and even if he does indeed venture outside, will most likely sit and wonder how long until mom will let him back in, has had enough!

I found this taped to the sliding glass door this afternoon:

It reads:  "Please stop raining and hailing. God please."

Yes, God, please.

For all our sakes.

A Little Skin

Saturday, while sitting and enjoying my daughter's soccer game, I noticed (along with all the other parents at the field) a little girl wandering about. She was probably about 3, a little adorable African-American girl. 

She was so lost, she wandered out in to the soccer game, almost getting ran over by the girls playing the game.

Yet, no one made any attempt to help her, or ask where her parents were. She continued to wander. 

I hesitated to help her. Perhaps her parents were watching and just didn't care? Perhaps she would start to cry or scream if I attempted to help her? All these fears came in to my head and it kept me from acting.

Then, I realized, "This is stupid. If this was one of my children, what would I want a stranger to do?"

So, I approached the little girl, being very careful not to touch her, as I didn't want to be accused of anything, later. Even though there were plenty of witnesses. (Isn't it so sad, that this is what our world has come to? Sigh...another post for another time, perhaps).

"Hi there! Where is your mommy or daddy?"

"They are at home."

"Oh, ok. Well, did you come here with a grown up?"

"My grandma!"

"Ok, where is she? Do you know?"

"No! I can't find her!"

"Well, what was she wearing? Do you remember?"

"She is my grandma with a rainbow on."

"A rainbow?  Ok."

I look around, don't see anyone with a rainbow.  I hesitate to ask the next question:

"Sweety, does your grandma have skin like me?  Or, skin like you?"  thinking at least that would narrow the search down a bit. 

Her reply is absolutely perfect.  It made my day.  Totally.

"She has grandma skin." 

"Ok, so we are looking for a grandma with a rainbow and grandma skin. Got it. Let's go over here."

As I walked around with this little girl, plenty of people watched me but never once offered any help or suggestions.

Finally, a lady calls out:  "Jada!!  Get over here!"  And, off my new little friend went. No "thank you" or apologies or explanations from the Rainbow Grandma. She was totally unaware, uncaring that her grandchild had wandered around a good 10 min, almost getting knocked over by a herd of 3rd grade Soccer Survivors, intent on getting on with their game as to move on to their snacks of Oreos and Capri Suns. (because, who brought snacks and what are they? is the most important part of the game. Trust me on this) . 

Every parent has a bad day (or two. or more.) and I like to think this Grandma was having a bad day. 

With that rainbow and all , you'd think she'd be a touch more cheery.