GOTCHA!!

I know why you have those dreams.

You know the ones I am talking about. The ones where you are running as fast and as hard as you can and then look behind you - and the bad guy is almost on top of you! He is leering at you, his mouth is open, and he is walking - yes WALKING - and is gaining on you! OH NO! What are you going to do? You pant and run faster and faster. You zig zag! You run in one direction and then double-back to throw him off! ACK! He is STILL directly behind you! NNNOOO!!! And then you wake up just as the bad guy grabs you and you know you are just about to die. Those are the dreams that I know about. I know why you have those dreams. Wanna know why?

Ok. I'll tell you. But first, let me tell you about a game I used to play with my kids.

I have three children. They are all five years apart. So, my first child was 5 when his little sister was born, and his little sister became a big sister when she was 5 and her big brother was 10. So, each of the older ones got to play this game with their younger sibling. My youngest has never played this game, as far as I know.

Here is the game:

"Hey! Guess what? I'm.....gonna get ya!!! You'd better run! I'm coming!"

And my kids would get up, laugh, squeal and run down the hallway. They would look back, squeal again and kinda jump because I was right behind them. They would laugh and laugh and run and run until finally they would either run out of hallway, or fall down. Then, I would be right on them and say, "GOTCHA! Now, I'm gonna tickle you!!"

It was a fun game. So fun, as a matter of fact, that they would run as soon as I let them go, and we would play all over again. Usually, I would run out of steam, first. Then, Mikey would play with April, and later on, they both would play this game with Tabitha. It was a fun game.

Ok. Back to why you have that dream.

Wait a minute. I think you know where I am going with this, don't you?

'Nuff said.

Why I Am Proud Of My Daughter

My daughter, Tabitha, makes me proud to be her mother every day. First of all, she usually maintains a cheerful disposition. If she is out of sorts, she might snap at her sister - or even at me - but she is quick to apologize. I suppose being proud that my daughter has a naturally pleasing personality or disposition seems unfair – after all, she really was born that way. To that, I would reply that we are all born with certain dispositions. Whether we make ourselves better or worse depends on our conscious effort every day. Everyone can get lazy; Tabitha has not. Remember, I said that when she is out of sorts, she apologizes. She could give in to her temper or bad feelings, but usually she doesn’t.

I am also proud of her because she cares about her schoolwork, and has a plan for her future. She currently wants to become a conservationist like her idol, the late Steve Irwin, was. Before this, she wanted to become a veterinarian. The common theme in her life seems to be love of animals, and creatures that are less fortunate than she is. She is only 13; she could possibly change her mind a hundred times before she graduates. The common thread is that she values higher education, and wants to excel in all that she does. I am proud that she cares.

When I think about Tabitha, I think about a smile on her face, and a laugh in her voice. I think about times when strangers have stopped me in a restaurant or in other public places and have marveled at her prodigious vocabulary and adult enunciation. I think about how eager she is to fill her mind with good things and learning. I remember that she almost did not survive being born, but now is quite the little athlete. She possesses a certain joyfulness that can be infectious at times.

I am proud of my daughter for trying to find the good in every situation – even those she finds difficult, or even hopeless. I have a feeling that whoever and whatever she decides she is going to be when she grows up, I will always be proud of Tabitha.