Bill's Birthday

OK, both Bill and I were Christmas babies.

But he got the good side of Christmas.

Christmas Eve always has been and always will be BILL'S BIRTHDAY.

I come along 4 days later. When everyone is partied out.

I am sure, now that I am an adult, that Bill got the proverbial birthday/Christmas gifts just like me. But as a kid I was POSITIVE he got the good stuff and I was stuck with the one present problem. Let me tell you two cards on one gift does NOT cut it!

But, secretly, (please don't tell anyone this) I was all excited about Bill's birthday. It gave me a preview of what might be waiting under the tree and what might be coming a few days later. (assuming everyone played by the rules)

The rules were
1. No Birthday/Christmas presents
2. Birthday presents had to be wrapped in Birthday paper
3. Dessert was Mom's angel food cake with white frosting and sprinkles on both birthday days.
4. And I didn't get in trouble for ignoring Dan on my birthday. (Not allowed on Bill's although Bill could ignore him if he wanted then)

Bill's birthday always brought Christmas faster and brought lots of people to the house. There was always a ton of food and lots of decorations and lots of music.

It also meant that Santa came the next morning. I still don't know for sure who played Santa (although all of us kids had our guesses) But Santa came to each of our rooms the day after Bill's Birthday.

Today is Bill's Birthday.

Now I just call him and sing Happy Birthday to him. He tells me what is happening for his day and I tell him what is going on with me.

We don't get to share Mom's angel food cake but, well, what we have now almost makes up for it.

Happy Birthday, bubber.

Love ya,

Sissa

There She Goes!

THE KID (age 4)

OK. I am proud of THE KID. She slogged her way through law school and then gets the Valedictorian award. That is soooooo cooool.

And I knew when she started that she would have to study just as hard for the Bar Exam. We talked about it alot. My spouse bought her the BarBri program at the start of her last year. She used the podcasts to study for her classes as well as review everything else.

The plan from the beginning is that she would have to go somewhere other than home to study at a live BarBri program. Both Melvin and I agreed (as will anyone else who has passed the Bar) that you MUST take a review program and follow it to the letter. And BarBri is the one the is generally chosen.

I was lucky. When I went through this process, the program was offered at my law school. In the same room where I eventually took the test. I didn't have to move or go anywhere else for three months. I didn't even change my routine. I parked in the same place that I had been parking in for the three years prior. I ate at the same student union where I had always eaten.

But there is no program here.

She had a few choices and she chose San Diego. Her old friends are there and one of them had room for her to crash. And as she put it, "He does care if I ignore him."

So today she left for San Diego. With all her books and clothes and things she would need for a three month stint. To study.

To study very hard.

To avoid distractions.

Like her mother.

It is a good and wise thing. We had discussed it often.

But I won't see her every day. My lunch partner and friend is away.

We use to live in different cities, hundreds of miles apart. We use to not talk on the phone all the time.

But we do now. And I treasure every moment.

I treasure her growth as well.

So tonight I am conflicted. I miss her (already) but I am so proud of her stamina and grit. I am proud that she is willing to do whatever it takes to make her dream come true.

I remember saying to a singing partner at rehearsal one night that I didn't think I would ever get over the awe that I feel when I watch her. He looked at me and said "Parents never do".

Guess I am just a parent.

Wow.

JUST A BIT OF NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

TO EVERYONE THAT READS THIS:

1. I have this incredible daughter.

2. Despite her mother she grew into a great woman.

Just in case you don't know her, she is wearing the green sweater. And, yes, she has dark hair. ANd, yes, she is playing spoons!

3. About 5 years ago she and I made a pact. She would work for me and I would put her through law school if that was what she wanted to do.

4. For 4 years she has attended an on line law school. She had to study on her own and learn more than they taught. She did not have the luxury of classmate camaraderie or instant answers from upper class persons. Her class also had people who were attending the actual classes.

5. She did ask me and my spouse a lot of questions. Embarrassing as it was, we didn't know the answers anymore. (Adult>50=CRS(can't remember s**t))

6. She studied constantly and drove herself (and me) crazy.

7. She asked other attorneys questions which (thank god) they couldn't answer either.



And tonight she just got word:

SHE IS THE VALEDICTORIAN OF HER CLASS!!!!!!!

Hey, everybody, THAT'S MY KID!!!!!!!

Josh

I have a friend named Josh. Let's get this out of the way---he is a lawyer. A CIVIL lawyer. He wouldn't know what to do with a criminal defendant.

Except-----he does criminal appeals.

So he is a very good source for the current state of the law AND the current state of courtroom antics.

I met him when I briefly worked at an insurance defense firm. (We all make our mistakes!) We became good friends.

Which astounded everyone.

Our politics, religion, life styles, and general points of view on life were at, and still are, polar opposites.
He hates cats, isn't real thrilled with dogs. Finds foul language foul and generally (at that time) lived the life of the bachelor Norwegian farmer. (Yeah, he is a farmer, too).

But he was great for bouncing legal issues around. He was (and still is) a walking encyclopedia of statutes and case law.

I was great for bouncing emotional issues around. And he had a few. And if you fed him he would talk about them (as opposed to the law which he would talk about without food).

When he met THE WOMAN we (his close friends) knew her only as "Reedley" because that is where she lived. We could not get her name out of him no matter what we did.

Until they got engaged. Then you would think that we would have a chance to forget it.......No, got it in every sentence. It was soooooo cute!

I feared that once they were married that we would lose touch.

It turns out that a friend of Josh's is a friend for life. Foul language and all.

I just sat at a restaurant with them for over 2 hours. Overlooking the ocean. And talking. FOR TWO HOURS.

We will talk more tonight. They are coming to our concert.

He is an amazing friend. Even if his world view is what it is......

I still have time to train him, I think.

In Rememberance

Her name was Lady Tiara Rex. She was a registered Cornish Rex cat.

We got her as a kitten. Very tiny. In every way.

Delicate bones. Pointed ears that were too big for her head. And no fur. Just an undercoat that waved in cornrows.

Within a week, we thought we were going to lose her. She had a violently high temperature and the vet did an emergency hysterectomy. She had a massive uterine infection.

She was forever shy and she never grew her coat back. She looked like a Rex but her hair was very, very thin.

As a result, she cuddled. She cuddled under blankets or under sweatshirts. We bought her a cat heating pad but she wouldn't get off of it even when it burned her. (It got thrown as far as it would go in the landfill---don't you hurt my TeezzaButts)

Yes, that was the name she answered to: TeezzaButts. And she would answer. She came running if you called her name. She was always looking for a warm spot.

So when we moved to Nipomo, we made sure there was sun in the "cat room". She and her adopted sisters, Diamond and Putter, loved it. And they always let the Lady have the cushy spot in the sun. (Well, there was a bit of a discussion.)

TeezaButts in the sun.

She crossed the Rainbow bridge two years ago. At the age of 19.

She crossed in her sleep, in our bed, snuggled up.

I miss her.

Walkin' the Dog(s)

Dogs, according to the "experts" need to be walked. Daily. That is, of course, if they are "indoor" dogs.

Our three are not just indoor dogs. They are lap dogs. Rarely moving off the lap/couch/bed except to eat and bark at the cats.

This is excusable for Mohawk and LadyBug. They are the equivalent of 105 in human years.

Zelda, on the other hand, is the equivalent of 40 years younger. She loves to escape the fenced yard and take neighborhood excursions.

And she use to be very good on the leash. Notice the past tense.

She doesn't like to walk much now. Not on a leash. She would prefer to just stop and sit so the walker will take her home.

Unless she is with the other dogs. Then she has to be Miss Exercise.

So, a few weeks ago, we instituted DOG WALKING.

Every morning, before they eat, I take Mohawk and LadyBug out to do their business. We usually don't have to go far before I bring out the little doggie bags.

In the afternoon, Mel takes them each individually for as long a walk as they want. LadyBug is the shortest because her recent strokes have made her a little tired. Mohawk will go for quite a bit if it is at a slower pace. He likes to sniff and pee a lot.

But Zelda wouldn't go to far until Mel found the secret!

There is a wooded area below our house that has a nice trail in it. It runs the whole block and is next to a little creek. And Zelda loves it. No stopping. No sitting. Just sniffing and trotting.

My guess is that she took her excursions there and considers it hers.

So today, when I came home early, we took LadyBug and Zelda to the woods.

Zelda on her walk

I must say, I love the area myself. It has great oak and eucalyptus trees. It is cool and unpopulated.

The Oak Forest

But I really love the old, big trees.

Old Eucalyptus

As my brother would say, its the paws that refreshes!

85 Years on this Earth

Virginia Hanigan.

The name is synonymous with music in my life.

When my father moved to Lindsay he was a Lutheran. He was of good Norwegian stock and that was the church you went to.

But the Lutheran Church in Lindsay did not have a choir. And father sang. Very well.

So he went to the various Protestant Churches and parsed them for their choirs.

He found Virginia Hanigan at the First Presbyterian Church.

First Presbyterian Church, Lindsay, California

So, as a result, I (and my brothers) ended up being Presbyterians.

Virginia was the choir director and, when I left in 1969, the choir had 40 voices.  And we were good.

Virginia had perfect pitch and a beautiful soprano voice. She could (and still does) play the piano so that it sings. And she taught music.

When I was around 8 my father bought me a Chickering piano. Brand new. Made of cherry wood to match the rest of Mother's living room furniture. And I began to take lessons from Virginia.

For 9 years Virginia toiled with me. I wouldn't practice. (Volleyball and track were far more important to me.) But I learned to read music and I learned to sing. And I could not wait to be old enough to sing in the church choir. (You had to be in high school)

At one point, Virginia had a detached retina in one of her eyes. She wasn't allowed to move her head after the surgery. Remember, this was over 40 years ago and the surgery was very invasive. My mom took care of her. And our family's became inexorably bound.

But there was always music. I can still play one or two of the pieces that I memorized for recitals. I hated them except for the new dresses that I got for them.

And she taught me to sing. Not just notes but music. Music for a life time.

And Saturday, I watched my music teacher celebrate 85 years on this earth. She even played the piano.

She will be at the Vocal Arts Christmas Concert. Front and center.

What a treat to sing for her again.