Dear Friends

Broad title. 

From day 1 to present day... (What's 40 years in days?... I can do the math, but I won't...grade 1 homework has kicked my butt this week)...

If the lot of you got together you could write one hell of a story.  Don't. Don't, get together... I love the idea of being mysterious. 

I'm super lucky. For reasons unknown I have managed to make friends. And if that was not enough, the friends I have are... Well....fkn awesome (autocorrect really struggled with 'fkn'...I won).

I have friends who ate my raisins (sounds innocent enough but I had previously eaten them and was depositing them like the Easter bunny).  I have friends that kicked me in the stomach (and later loaned me their ID to get into bars when photo ID was a pipe dream). I have friends who joined my neighbourhood detective club, my cheerleading club, my fitness group, and my make a new Country compound. I have friends who told me I looked great and friends that brought me a new outfit. Friends who tried to find me a boyfriend and friends who took my boyfriend. I have friends in jail and friends who put people in jail. Friends who held my ponytail while I was praying to the porcelain prince, and friends whose ponytail I held & DNA I have worn. I have laughed 'til I cried and cried 'til I laughed. I have made plans, cancelled plans, been on the in, and been on the out. Played for them, with them, or coached them. I have held secrets and reminded friends of dreams...and they have done the same for me. 

We have lost shoes in lakes, been hickeed (is that a word) by leeches, ourselves and boys (not me..ewww), missed curfew, borrowed chocolate bars from 7-11 (we need to return those...and I was innocent, innocent I swear), moved desks into the gym for exams, pulled all nighters on trips, jumped on the beds of four star hotels, and roomed with 500k cockroaches. 

We have been bad, good, amazing, and God-like. We have been friends. 

When the going gets tough, one of you, somewhere seems to reach out just when I need you. You remind me of where I came from, and who I am and where I ought to go (sometimes you say 'hell' but I know you would join me). 

Feeling blessed, Thank you. 

Sar/Butch/Miss B/Jo/Red/SARS/SB/Morrison...Sexy Bitch (I may have made one of my those up). 

Being happy for others

When I was a little girl, ten or so years ago (writer's privilege), I was envious. Envious of everyone that could do something I could not OR had something I did not. It was torturous. There was always somebody better. There was always somebody with more. That feeling robbed me of so many incredible moments. I wanted to be like someone other than myself. I didn't see my successes because I was too busy coveting others. 

I was competitive and self deprecating. I wanted the awards and accolades. I wanted the 'stuff'.  I wanted to be seen as successful....As the best. I wanted others to recognize me! 

I based MY worth on what OTHERS thought.

I am not the envious little girl anymore. I changed.

Not overnight...but gradually.

 I learned that waiting and working for recognition gave others the control of my happiness. I learned that I had to be the one to acknowledge me. I learned that my most successful moments are not trophy or press release material and may never be known by anyone other than me. And I learned that it is rewarding to be genuinely happy for those that ARE being recognized. 

And I have so many opportunities to be just that. 

 I am an extremely fortunate person. So many of my friends and family are the cream of the crop. They are hall of famers in sport, they have parks and trophies named after them, they are Olympians, professional coaches, professional athletes, professors, performers, authors, educators, first responders, trail blazers, business owners and heroes. They are frequently awarded for being such AND I get to know them. I get to be happy for them and that feeling lasts longer than any award I have ever received. 

The company I keep is to be envied, and I couldn't be happier. 

S.  

Bubble wrap

Firstly, I don't profess nor am I misguided in believing that I am a perfect parent. Just by observing my children, my actions, and what the miniature miscreants say about me is enough to keep my ego in check. Soooo, when I rant about children, parents and the world in general, it's because I live on the edge of my glass house and when my shoulder is not bothering me I have a hell of a throwing arm. 

Ok, so this rant, er blog, is fuelled by the snow banks at the local public school that have construction cones on them. 

Snow banks are off limits at the school. 

In particular the snow bank that is safely tucked behind the school. And thank heavens for that!  What a menacing abomination! Standing at 3.5 feet tall, away from any play structure, building or roadway...taunting children...whispering enticements. Could you imagine the horror if kids played on it?! Thank goodness it has pylons on top to deter. 

Thanks for nothing. 

When did it happen? When did children start needing to be bubble wrapped? I looked on the school supply list and nowhere is bubble wrap mentioned. Nor is helmets, esteem booster, or mommy/lawyer on speed dial (I think electronic devices were listed). School ground play structures are off limits to students unless supervised by a teacher at a specific time...which means NOT before school. So, no play structures and no snow banks....which stands to reason since kid's can't play king of the castle since that may indicate a less than level playing field....no punn intended.  

Where am I going with this? Well, because snow banks are forbidden, and I want my children to respect the rules as laid out by the misguided,... I mean administration... I am put into a position of disciplining my child when he, climbs onto said snow bank. Again, thanks for nothing. Now my mini mountain climber is grounded (things escalated when I removed him from the snow bank). 

I obviously don't agree that the snow bank is THE problem. Kid's not knowing how to take turns, be gentle, act safely..is THE problem. And that stuff is self correcting. The kids don't need teacher supervision and pilons...they need experience. 

Kids need to 'kid'. 

Kids need to learn that the biggest kid is not a great choice for the top of a piggy pile. Kids need to learn that putting arms out is a way to break a fall (and the occasional arm). Kids need to learn how to sign casts. Kids need to learn that not everyone is their friend nor does everyone need to be their friend. Kids need to learn that snow banks on the side of the road are not something to play on but the ones safely in the middle of a school ground are. Kid's need to be given the opportunity to make decisions. They will suck at it. And as they get more chances and more experience they will suck less. I'm not suggesting kids get free reign...parents still need to parent. If snow banks are against your family's core values then instill that into YOUR child (not the school rules). 

And now I need to clean the windows of my glass house.  If only there was a snow bank close enough so that I could do the outside.