We
bought groceries this morning, just me and the kids, and I had an odd encounter
in the Kroger. Michael and I were headed towards the checkout, and I saw a man
about my age, sorta attractive in a rugged outdoorsy way. Michael, in front of
me, was gliding along on his heeleys, but not bothering anyone or looking
particularly like a young daredevil. As the guy passed me he muttered softly
and with great menace, “Those damn things oughta be against the LAW!” I was so
startled. I immediately went into protective mama mode, hoping Mike hadn’t
heard the guy. He hadn’t. He was oblivious. I just thought to myself, look
buddy, he’s never bumped into anyone yet, or hurt himself, or caused any
problems in here. Why don’t you mind your own business? My innate hatred of
confrontation kept me from telling him off, though.
Why
do people think they have the right to tell me how to raise my kids?
That
wasn’t my only strange confrontation of the morning.
When
we were on the way to Kroger, we were going down the road in a residential area
where the speed limit is 35, and this woman who was walking her dogs saw my
car, halted in her tracks, and screamed and shook her fist at the car. I think
she was screaming “You’re going too fast!” but I looked down and I was going 40
mph. She was the only human I saw on the road. It wasn’t like I was anywhere
near her. I wasn't going 90 mph.
I
believe things come in threes. I later pondered when my next scolding would
happen. Well, Mother fussed at me for not cooking dinner at 6, but I had just
had a snack with the kids and we weren’t hungry. She wasn’t obnoxious like the
other two, but it certainly made me uncomfortable.
I
am fine with people having a difference of opinion with me, but just don’t
lecture me, unless I screw up. Jeez. I have enough to deal with.
Michael
went to the Georgia Aquarium this afternoon with the kids from Kate’s Club. We
have the best aquarium in the world here, truly an awesome place. You can walk
through this tunnel under the biggest tank and see whales and hammerhead sharks
and giant turtles swimming all around you. It’s surreal. They have terrific
exhibits where the kids can stick their hands in and touch fish. It’s a cool
place. He had a good time.
While
Mike was there, I picked up Alesia’s friend Elena and we took Mother and went
to the mall. Now, I hate malls. I just thought it would be a good time to do
something girly, with Mike gone all afternoon. Mother was in her wheelchair,
because she cannot walk very far due to her arthritis. The elevator in the main
area didn’t work. We had to go into JCPenneys and take their elevator, which was tiring. We spent
a long time in a card shop so Mom could buy her Valentine’s Day cards, and then
met the girls back at our entrance. Alesia has a bunch of babysitting money
saved up but she didn’t buy anything.
Before
we went to the mall, Elena told me something quite disturbing. She has a friend
I’ll just call G, one of several kids adopted from Ukraine by a single mom, and
G has run away. She met a man on the internet, had a fight with her mom, and
went to live with the guy in Ohio. She is 18 now so the mother can’t go haul
her back and the police won’t help. I think she’s a good girl, just screwed up.
The man she met said he was her same age, but it turns out he’s 29 and
unemployed. So G is in a bad position. Alesia knows G, too.
I
told both girls, you must be SO careful about the internet, and never, ever,
trust someone you meet online. It is so dangerous and scary. Poor Elena was
just distraught over her friend. I don’t blame her. That girl is in a bad
situation. I told Elena if anyone at school is able to get in contact with G,
they must tell her to get away from the guy and just come home, and get some
counseling with her mother, and salvage the relationship. G has not finished
high school yet. She cannot even get a decent job.
Alesia
knows two girls at school who are pregnant. We live in a nice middle to upper
middle class area. I was shocked to hear about these pregnancies. I told Alesia
to tell one of the girls, I’ll call her B, who’s a casual friend, to please
think about putting her baby up for adoption, so she can finish school. B is
only 16. I suspect B, who is hispanic, will simply drop out of school and go on
welfare, and thus will continue the cycle of poverty. It’s so sad.
Please pray for both these girls, G and B, to do the right thing, and be strong enough to change their lives in a positive way. It’s so distressing to hear about kids who have a chance at a decent life making such terrible choices.
I posted a new photo in my photos - an old photo, but recently unearthed.
