I value women who decide how they would like to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Too many are concerned they are going to hurt someone’s feelings, i.e. their children or their own mother.  Why is the priority, so often, to be more concerned about how others feel than about ourselves?  I know one woman who does not join a huge family celebration because she prefers to spend the day by herself.

What would you truly like to do?  I dare you.

Julie came to celebrate Passover with the family.  Erik and Ellen have the Seder at their home each year.  Carrie came to my home so that she and Julie and I went out for dinner the night before.  The next day, Julie went to SF to go shopping and have lunch with Carrie.  That night, after the Seder, Julie stayed at Erik’s home.  I love the interaction these three have with each other.  It has never changed.

They continue to touch my heart.

When Marjie and I were In grad school together, she told people she liked being around me because she would have a thought and her thought would come out of my mouth.  I was the outspoken person.  It worked for her.  I received a card from her today with a picture on the front of two women.  The message is, “We’ve been through a lot together, and most of it was your fault.”  Marjie wrote on the card that this was an acknowledgement that apparently others have the same experience.

Once again.  I know she designed the card and is passing it off on someone else.

Played Boggle with Isaac and Ari yesterday.  It was not shocking that I had a longer list of words than they did.  On the first game, I had the word dee.” Ari asked me what that meant and I told his it was the word for the letter D.  On the third game, Ari had the word dee and said with a smile, “I got it.”

A quick learner.  One of the values of playing with kids.

Went to Ari’s clarinet concert.  There were seven of us.  Afterward, we went for yogurt.  There was a good deal of testing.  Interesting flavors.  Not for me; I am always a blend of chocolate and vanilla.  And then there are the toppings.  For me, chocolate/peanut butter chunks and toffee mix.  And, of course, hot fudge and hot caramel.  We all sat down to eat and I noticed Erik’s dish.  It had no toppings.  I asked him and he said the yogurt is so tasty, he doesn’t like to cover the flavor.

Is that legal?

I recently had to select an attorney.  I was given names of people to talk to.  One I could not reach.  One did not practice in the area I was seeking.  Others were very far away.  I thought about a man who is in one of my business groups who I really like and respect.  I decided to contact him.  He always calls me Dr.Gelman, whereas everyone else calls me Natalie.  I have pointed that out to him, but he continues which reflects his humor.  I was at his office looking over some documents I had brought to him.  He flipped through them (truly flipped), and said, “Natalie, this is not a problem.”  I said, “You just called me Natalie.”  He said, “You are in my office now.”

I picked the right attorney.  Humor matters.

I adore my mother-in-law. She is 101 years-old and she is in Michigan.  I miss her.  I spoke to her recently and she was taking a new medication. She was not totally herself.  My son visited her was on a visit to Michigan and he went to see her.  He said it was a good visit.  The medication is strong, but she was the grandma he knows her to be.  He discovered from her son that she is being given the medication because she is inappropriate with the staff and other residents.  That type of behavior is totally antithetical to who I have always known her to be.

We never know how we will become.

I started reading the paper while I was eating lunch and dinner.  I watch the national news every evening.  I watch 60 Minutes.  I watch Bill Maher.  I listen to NPR when I am in the car.  I keep up with world events.  I found myself responding to the news with uncomfortable feelings.  Too much.

I gave up reading the paper.  I listen to music now when I eat.

The good news is that we have had a lot of rain this winter.  The bad news is that we are getting tired of it and are ready to see the sun.  The forecast was for a clear day today.  I went to the gym in the dark.  I came out to a slight mist. I met a friend for breakfast and we walked out of the restaurant to a rainstorm.

Another hair drying day.  Onward.

I was at a board meeting the other night.  We were getting together to consider making some changes to the group we represent.  There were seven of us sitting around a table.  One person said, “Anyone against the fundraiser is dumb.”

I said, “I am against the fundraiser and I am not dumb. I don’t appreciate being labelled.”

I respect his opinion.  That’s why we have meetings to discuss things.