Don't Mind Me Being Frank. But...

I do NOT like the following.

Sometimes they make me so angry I don't know what to do with myself. So I decide to take a nap.

{Me back in 1990}

1) When people do not wash their hands. Come ON, it takes like one minute.

2) When people do not have elevator/bus courtesy. How do you expect me to get out of the elevator if you are already packing in like a punch of wild hyenas?

3) When teachers say they’ll give a graded paper/exam back on a certain day, and then they decide not to. Torture!

4) When teachers email students with an extra assignment the night before class. If it ain’t on the syllabus, I ain’t doing it.

5) When people cough/sneeze into their hands. The shoulder really would suffice.

6) When people are consistently sarcastic. Once in a while it’s fine, but at a certain point it just becomes annoying/can hurt my feelings.

7) When I am having a bad dream that seems soooooo real. Two nights ago I had a dream I was back in high school again and my calc teacher stopped me in the hall and said, “Kathleen, you haven’t been to class for the past two months. You’ve missed three exams. You currently have an F.” WIGGIDY WHACK!!!!!

8) When I have no choice but to use a disgusting public bathroom. The smell alone usually makes me want to vomit. I am forced to pull my neck collar up to my nose in order to block the odor.

9) Crumbs !!!

One Time

One time I started throwing a hissy fit because I lost my phone, keys, and glasses all in two days.

But then I realized, unlike other things in life, they are replaceable.

So I shut up, kept to myself, and moved on.

Missing you Q. Now and always.

The Kennedy's

When I was in 3rd grade my family went to Washington DC for our annual vacation. A few years before going I saw the movie Forrest Gump, and I really loved the part where Forrest is speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial and Jenny, dressed in her hippie ensemble, calls out to him and, you know, treads through the Reflecting Pool. It just melts my heart; I still watch it on repeat. Well that, combined with my absolute excitement of getting to go inside the White House had me nearly peeing my pants for like 2 months leading up to the trip. I remember I got so into the whole President thing; I was just in awe of them. So, I use to go to the local Thomas Ford Library and for hours upon hours I would just look at books about the presidents. When it was finally time to go on the trip, I had memorized all the presidents names, what number they were, their wives names, and their children's names. I was a FREAK. Of course, just about all that information has gone bye bye.

But anyway, that brings me to the Kennedy's. The Kennedy's are one of those families that remind me of the olden days (and by the olden days, I mean the days I wasn't even alive for. Sighhhhh. The glory days that I was meant to experience but didn't due to that whole not being born yet factor). Whenever I read about the Kennedy's, learn about them, or see pictures of them, I think of my mom. Ya know, I think they were best friends; as if she and Caroline use to be buds and play hopscotch together. If only.

My mom always use to tell me how much she loved this poem that was printed in the newspaper the day after JFK died. It was written by Candy Geer, a 15-year-old high school student. I haven't thought about it in a long time, but recently I saw an article about JFK online and so I looked up the poem. I was in the quiet section of the library and started....crying. I don't know why, but it just made me really sad.

Six White Horses

Six white horses came today

to take my Daddy far away.

Mommy said I must be good

and stand as big as Daddy would.

And now I'm big so I won't cry

when I see my Daddy wave goodbye,

'cause Daddy is my special friend

he always comes back soon again.

I cannot wave, I don't see why,

there's just a black box moving by.

But Mommy says I should be still,

I'm a big boy now, and so I will.

I hear some drums, they're awful loud,

but Mommy is sad and so's the crowd.

And everybody's dressed in black,

but Daddy soon will hurry back.

We're going to take a walk to mass

then maybe I'll see my Daddy pass.

I wonder why we're only three,

he always comes to church with me.

Two men are talking, I can see,

they said they're very proud of me.

They said my Daddy's in that box,

that black one with six gold locks.

I have on a big boy's suit

and now it's my turn to salute.

I do it just like big boys do,

because I have to be one too.

They're going to stop, and then just leave,

but in that box, how can he breathe?

Though I do not understand,

there's Mommy here to hold my hand.

He's going to leave and not come home!

We just can't leave him here alone.

I want to hear him laugh and say,

"John-John, come here so we can play."

I don't see Daddy anywhere,

I want to cry and I don't care.

He's in the ground, he cannot be,

he should be right here holding me.

But Mommy says I must be good,

so I'll stand as Daddy would.

- Candy Geer, 1963

Caroline and John John

Oh and for old times sake....

Dad, even when it may have seemed like i wasn't listening...

I was.

Last night i was listening to Stevie Wonder's i just called to say i love you ...

No New Year's Day to celebrate

No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away

No first of spring

No song to sing

In fact here's just another ordinary day ...

...

I just called to say I love you

I just called to say how much I care

And it got me thinking. Why don't I let my loved ones know how much they mean to me? I mean on Birthdays and Christmas and on Thanksgiving I always show my appreciation, but why don't I do it more often? Why must there be a special occasion? There is no answer nor reason.

So dad, I thought I'd start with you.

Dad, thanks for...

1) Reminding me that when I am frustrated or when I think things seem unfair, sometimes the best thing to do is "Just grin and bare it."

2) Editing my countless English, Communication, History, etc. etc. papers. The phone conversation usually goes like this...

"Hi dad."

"Hi Kathleen."

"What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for bed. What are you doing?"

"Writing a paper."

"When is it due?"

"Tomorrow."

"..... ok."

"You think you can look at it in the morning?"

"..... sure."

"Thanks dad. Love you. Goodnight."

"Love you too. Goodnight."

3) Introducing me to some of my favorite films... "Going my Way", "Singing in the Rain", "The Sound of Music".

4) Sending me clippings from the Chicago Tribune whenever you see a column about the UW or the city of Madison. Even if it's about bike paths and helmet safety.

5) Surprising me with a blueberry muffin every once in a while when I was in high school. You'd make a run to get coffee before work, and then you'd drop off the muffin for me because you knew they were my favorite. What a wonderful way to wake up.