The Invisible Mother

Once again, my friend Layne has come up with a doozy. This is for all my "mom" friends--and dads, and aunts, and uncles, and all the great builders of cathedrals everywhere...whether they be as solid as bricks and mortar, or as ethereal as internet websites......you are my inspiration!!

The Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when my friend turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.'

And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.

I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "you're gonna love it there."

We are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of the invisible.

I hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does. We may never know what amazing ways our finished products may turn out because of our perseverance.

The Queen Leaves New York for the Last Time

Here's a video of Queen Elizabeth 2 leaving New York Harbor for the last time. It was taken last night, Thursday, October 16, 2008. She will become a floating hotel in Dubai.

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Sad--I always wanted to sail on her.

SPECIAL ED

This is what happens with teenagers. You play them one exceptionally funny, but terribly rude song, and they go to itunes and download every song by the singer, and introduce YOU to more obscenely hilarious stuff.

If you are easily offended, read no further. Come back tomorrow.

Good you're still with me.

Case in point. I saw Stephen Lynch on Comedy Central, and wept with laughter. Ok, I have a sick sense of humor.

So, of course, I had to show him to the kids. And that's why my itunes account has such a large bill this month.

But these youtube video's of Stephen Lynch are begging to be posted here. For one special person.

Yes, my darling younger brother Larry. I do love you dearly. Here's a song for you.





Oh--a little secret...Larry's real name is Ed.

Home-ly-coming 2008

Yes, it has been a week since the beginning of Homecoming Week at Brentwood--and with it the kick-off event- The Powder Puff football game (Senior girls vs. teachers) and the Homely-coming contest!!

I apologize for delaying your enjoyment of the participation of my son, but it took me a while to find the cable for the ancient-as-hell video camera so you could see "Annabelle Josephine" in all her glory. It's not great, but you get the idea. Yes, I will invest in a new digital video device soon.

So without further ado, my son and his pals...all very game individuals to participate so fully in this fundraiser...

Two of the bunch in mid-transformation--the one on the right-please note the dollar bill in the cleavage--is hoping to be a MINISTER one day?????

Poor Lollie, getting smushed between two rather well-endowed beauties...

The "lucky" other half of the senior boys got dressed as cheerleaders-the backs of their shirts say "you can't BUY these skills"--they did a rather inspired dance/cheer routine!

Of course Mom helps you dress on your "BIG DAY"--

And to think how intimidating this guy is in a football uniform...

Presenting...Annabelle Josephine!! She doesn't look half-bad....

The entire bevy of beauties of the 2008 Homely Coming Court-note their elegant sitting styles.

The thing I find amazing--er- maddenning- is that he could zip up a size 8 skirt...

Alas, and alack, Annabelle Josephine didn't win.."Leanna" chose to shake more of "what her Mama gave her"--she's such a tart....common wench.

But, yes, my family, you recognize the Queen's dress as one of my "Formal Night" gowns. I would like to point out that pictures of me wearing this dress do not include chest hair. Go check your photos....

The seniors were all such good sports about the whole thing...I do love you all!

And, because I know you have been waiting all week for this..here's Boy's "presentation"--

WALMARTIANS---PLEASE NOTE

Memo

To: The Powers that Be at Wal-Mart

From: Elizabeth

re: Christmas 2008

Please note that I REFUSE--yes, REFUSE--R-E-F-U-S-E!!! to consider purchasing Christmas decorations in October.

That they are already displayed everywhere in your store is revolting.

Could we please enjoy Halloween, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Hannukah first??