Tweens, Bra Size and a Spork

I am about ready to pull my hair out.......I have three girl tweens in my house right now. And in normal tween style....they are playing the game of "one-upping" right now........I am better at this, I made this, I work out longer than you, I eat better than you, my space on MySpace is better than yours, I have better music on my phone than you do.....OMG!!!! When I was growing up the only thing that I remembering "one-upping" was in maybe my bra size.....maybe?!?!?! I don't know you would have to ask my friend Tina to be sure. I am sorry that I am having to listen to this as it makes me want to spork my brain out and it makes me sad that all of these things are things that they care about. OMG like IDK......I am trying to watching the Sotomayer hearings and they are debating who has had a membership longer at Life Time Fitness...really?!?!?!? Are these things that really matter to them.......my dog licks people more than your dog......I don't remember ever caring about stuff like this........or even pausing to ponder such drivel.

I may have morphed into my parents.......I can hear my dad, "What are those rum-dumbs up to now?" I remember that our house was the house where all the kids hung out, but it never even dawned on me that at some point my parents probably wished that they could just hang out quietly by themselves. And yet my parents very rarely kicked us all out. Why?!?!?!

If my parents could handle it, why am I quietly calculating how to kick them outside, change the locks on the doors, and dig a moat around the house and fill it with alligators before they can make it around the block??? If I had super powers - I could do it....no really, I think I could. What???? Have you never had those thoughts.......instead I take another sip of warm tea, inhale, exhale, and clear my brain of super power thoughts. I repeat....."I am stronger than this, I am stronger than this......"

So with the power that my parents possessed, I keep repeating how grateful I am that I know where they are and I don't have to worry about their whereabouts and actions. Now if I can just remember where I put my silver-plated spork.......maybe it is in the garage with the power tools and my emergency stock of alligators.

And I cried

I didn't anticipate it. It didn't even occur to me that it might happen based on my prior thougths about his life and death. But suddenly without notice the song "We are the World" started playing and with his family standing in silent unison on the stage - a single tear rolled down my cheek. It was in that moment, that I mourned a person who died too soon, a father who died before he was able to share the milestones of his children's lives, a son who didn't outlive his parents, a brother who would no longer partake in holiday dinners, a uncle who would never wish the nieces and nephews a happy birthday. And when his daughter spoke about her daddy and how he was the best father ever - I cried for a daughter who lost her daddy.

A lot has been said about his life - triumphs and tragedies. And admittedly, I have been one of them. But today I cried because a person, a human being died.

Egg Salad Sandwich, Superstars, and a Circus

Today is the day of the Michael Jackson memorial service. I will watch with morbid curiosity - I believe it will become a three-ring circus that will be a dis-service to the music genius that he became and it will be forgotten that a person died.

When Princess Diana died, I cried for days. I got up early to watch marry Prince Charles and watched with wide-eyed awe. When she died - I got up early with orange juice in hand to watch the funeral and I watched through tear-filled eyes. It only seemed fitting since I watched the beginning (her marriage) of her star rising that I should also watch as she, the sometimes troubled star, be laid to rest. I remember it as if it was yesterday and I also remembered being physically exhausted after weeks of watching and crying.

And here is another troubled star being laid to rest. I am exhausted but it comes from the 24-7 coverage of his life, his troubles, his yet to be determined legacy and yet I have cried zero tears. There is no question that he was a superstar and millions mourn his passing. I have heard many great quotes over the last week including this one; "The quickest way to become a legend is to die young." This no doubt is true. The estates Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley has generated more money with the stars being dead than when they were alive. History will repeat itself and the same will occur with Michael Jackson. Thank goodness for his children. The most profound statement I heard is really reflective of the entire life and times of Michael Jackson. The cultural critic, Toure summed it up today on morning television......he pondered aloud....."If the white Michael Jackson saw videos of the black Michael Jackson - would he even know that he was watching himself." What a sad commentary that is painfully true.

It will a tough decision today at lunchtime - Judge Christina or watching the "highly produced, massive orchestrated memorial service." Of course, I can't think of a better way to enjoy an egg salad sandwich and chips served with a side of circus.