Left Me Smiling!

I was walking ahead of this little Precious to preschool class one morning when I began to hear a snapping sort of noise behind me.  The classrooms were all next to an open area overflowing with lush shrubs, plants and small trees.  It occurred to me that Precious was whacking the leaves of the philodendrons as we passed.

"Please stop whacking the plants," I asked, with a firm but pleasant tone.

"I not whacking.." was the reply from Precious.

"I know that you are whacking the the leaves...please stop it now," I countered in my bit-more-firm voice.

"Can't see me..." he countered with a "nanny-nanny" attitude in his voice.

"Oh, yes I can, my Precious," I replied, as I stopped dead in my tracks, dropped to my knees and lifted my shoulder-length locks above the nape of my neck to reveal a most exquisite single-eyed tattoo.  You know...the eye that all Moms have in the back of their head!

I turned around to find that Precious had the most incredibly surprised look (of shock) on his face.

"Mommy!" he shouted, and then he ran to his classroom ahead of me. I could hear him telling his teacher about his Mommy's eye in the back of her head!  It took everything I had to walk into that classroom with a straight face!

My work for the day was done.

Today's post is sponsored by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop and is in response to the prompt "Something my kids said that made me laugh."  Please stop by Mama Kat's blog and enjoy the fun and frivolity of her many followers.  Just click on the link above.

Thanks for stopping by today....Oh, and I must come clean...I do not have, nor have I ever had a tattoo of an exquisite eye in the back of my head!  I so wanted to have one, but just didn't have the guts!

I Used To Be....

I'd like to introduce you to a blogger friend who inspired me to write this post about the jobs I've held in the past decades of my life.  During the past week, Jeanie, at Living Consciously, shared her "job" history in a post.  I found it fascinating to read and I loved learning new things about someone whom I admire so much.  She has inspired others to do the same, just as I would like to put out a challenge to you.  I think it shows a different side to oneself, and reminds us of just how far we have come.

My very first job, other than babysitting, was sweeping the floors and cleaning the stations at a beauty salon. It was summer, I was 15, and I thought it was so cool to have a job that didn't involve children.  In my senior year of high school, I began working at Knott's Berry Farm, an historical/amusement park, where I was an ice cream scooper.  Yes, you know what I ate on my breaks!  While earning my Associate Degree in Secretarial Science (yep, that's what it was called) I began working in the credit department for Sears.  I was one of about 50 people who took phone calls from retail associates when the credit cards wouldn't work.  Upon graduation, I was hired by a law firm in Newport Beach, California as a Legal Secretary Trainee.  It was a dream job, in a dream city!  All I needed was a dream apartment to go with it all.  I got the apartment in a smaller town next to the dream city, and all was well.

As I gained experience, I moved through several legal secretarial jobs ending up in Los Angeles, where I studied acting in my spare time.  The acting school provided a few opportunities for work on a small scale...just enough to get addicted...I was very fortunate to get a few "extra" parts.  I realized that "in front of " the camera was not exactly working for me, and thought about "behind the camera" opportunities.  While employed at The Getty Trust, I became inspired by two women for whom I worked to return to school to obtain an undergraduate degree.  I returned to college, majoring in Communications (Radio,TV and Film).  It was there that I realized how much I loved to write.  As I was closing in on my last year of school, I heard the tic-toc of my biological clock.  My husband and I knew that we wanted children. The university wasn't going anywhere and there is no age limit to be a college graduate.  I took a break...for about 15 years, to bear some fruit...four of them!  To help with losing the baby weight, I taught aerobics at a Richard Simmons Anatomy Asylum! 

When my girls were in preschool, I volunteered to help out in the classroom and found a new love!  An opportunity for a teacher assistant position became available at the preschool, and upon encouragement from a neighbor who happened to be my daughter's teacher, I applied and got the job.  During this time, I also substituted for teachers who were going to be out.  This was my new "dream" job!  However, age was beginning to catch up with me, and carrying extra weight was taking it's toll on my body. I found I needed to step away.  My love for children was still very strong, so I applied for an office position (photocopy lady) at the middle school close to the house.  I advanced to school receptionist and then Guidance secretary.  Middle school is a quirky, geeky, still somewhat innocent age that I love.  Every day was a new adventure for me!  It was in this job that I was given the opportunity to use my writing skills, and this is when I discovered blogging.   A move to a new city brought me to my current position in the wonderful world of retail.  I'm thinking of writing (I'm sure it's been done a million times) about my adventures in retail, and the diverse group of individuals with whom I work, and the customers with whom I connect every day! I'm enjoying my job as I can schedule most of my own shifts and have free time when I want it. 

I still have the dream of finishing that degree.  I will accomplish it. It's a bucket list thing...  How about you?  I would love to hear your "job" story!  Please click on the blog site above to visit Jeanie.  Say hello from me when you do!


Thanks so much for stopping by!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I'll bet you're asking who these beautiful ladies are and what do they have to do with the blog title. Well, I'm going to tell you who they are. These are four of the many preschool teachers who have passed through the halls and classrooms of the St. Matthews United Methodist Church's preschool. The lovely lady to the left of the picture is a very good friend of mine, and is the former director of the school. The gorgeous woman to her left (the tall one) is another friend who I like to call "Misses Rogers."

This teacher is the female equivalent to Sesame Street's Mister Rogers (Remember the song; hence the title of this blog) because everything she did was done in calm and low key manner. She has since retired, but she was the first teacher that two of my children had for their initial preschool experience. She was perfect for any child's introduction to preschool. I haven't seen her for many years, but have kept in touch with Christmas cards and the Internet. I like to think that she still has the same demeanor. In fact, I am sure that she does, along with a very dedicated faith in God.


Above, is a picture of Misses Rogers with my son, Rock. This is how the day would start. Misses Rogers would be sitting at a table, ready to begin a project. As she welcomed the children, they would choose an activity somewhere in the room. Slowly, she would call over a few at a time to see if they would be interested in what she was doing. There were several parents who volunteered to help out with all of the activities.

There were many special days at school. One of these days was "Pajama Day." All the kids would wear their pjs, and so would all the teachers (and the director... as long as she wasn't meeting with any new parents that day). The classes would all make breakfast. The children would mix ingredients and Misses Rogers would assist them in cooking.


For the last few years, Misses Rogers has been fighting cancer. She has undergone chemo and surgery. Throughout this hellish journey, her spirits have been incredibly high. After appointments and/or treatments, she would email us with an update of what happened, what would happen next, and how she was feeling. The mailing list of emails has grown steadily. We have prayed for Misses Rogers and her family. As do many who make the journey through cancer treatment, she has taken two steps forward and one step back, all the time praising God and praying for his will.

This past week, she received news from her doctors that there is nothing more that can be done. She has come to the end of her life's journey and has accepted the fact that she will soon join friends and family who have gone before her. We pray for her comfort, and for her family, we pray for understanding and healing.

Misses Rogers has touched the lives of hundreds of children and their parents. I can only imagine the size of the group who will attend services for her. Rock, Ed and I will be there in spirit.

Misses Rogers will be fondly remembered for her amazing ability to communicate with every child, her tender and loving care shown to every child, and her adventurous spirit which she shared with all of her children.

God Bless you, Misses Rogers.