A Mother is not always birthing a child....

Another Mothers Day has gone and mine was

almost perfect, only one thing could have made it better,

having Gypsy baby and her Wife, Del with us.

As perfect as it was, I had have been having lots of thoughts lately.

A little sad, thinking of My Mom, DaBoo's Mom, Ms. Barb

all spending Mothers Day in whatever life is after this one.

Listening to an audiobook, a famous one,

FAHRENHEIT 450 BY RAY BRADBURY.

As I listen to this after the crawfish boil on Mothers Day,

driving to the boo's house I am hit with a wave of

tears as I hear this paragraph:

"...MY GRANDFATHER DIED...

HE WAS A VERY KIND MAN WHO HAD A LOT OF 

LOVE TO GIVE THE WORLD, AND HE HELPED...

HE MADE TOYS FOR US, DID A MILLION THINGS 

IN HIS LIFETIME... WHEN HE DIED, I SUDDENLY

REALIZED I WAS NOT CRYING FOR HIM AT ALL,

BUT FOR ALL THE THINGS HE DID. I CRIED

BECAUSE HE WOULD NEVER DO THEM AGAIN.

HE WOULD NEVER CARVE ANOTHER PIECE OF

WOOD OR HELP US RAISE DOVES... OR PLAY THE

VIOLIN THE WAY HE DID. HE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL.

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT MAN. I'VE NEVER GOTTEN OVER

HIS DEATH. OFTEN I THINK WHAT WONDERFUL CARVINGS

NEVER TO COME TO BIRTH BECAUSE HE DIED. HOW MANY

JOKES ARE MISSING FROM THE WORLD... THINGS

UNTOUCHED BY HIS HANDS. HE SHAPED THE WORLD.

HE DID THINGS IN THE WORLD. THE WORLD WAS

BANKRUPTED OF TEN MILLION FINE ACTIONS THE NIGHT

HE PASSED ON...

EVERYONE MUST LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND WHEN HE

DIES... A CHILD, A BOOK OR A PAINTING OR A HOUSE...

SOMETHING YOUR HAND TOUCHED SOME WAY

SO YOUR SOUL HAS SOMEWHERE TO GO WHEN YOU DIE,

AND WHEN PEOPLE LOOK... YOU'RE THERE.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU DO...

SO LONG AS YOU CHANGE SOMETHING FROM THE WAY

IT WAS BEFORE YOU TOUCHED IT INTO SOMETHING

THAT'S LIKE YOU AFTER YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS AWAY...

GRANDFATHER'S BEEN DEAD FOR ALL THESE YEARS,

BUT IF YOU LIFTED MY SKULL...

YOU WOULD FIND THE BIG RIDGES OF HIS THUMBPRINT.

HE TOUCHED ME...

'STUFF YOUR EYES WITH WONDER' HE SAID

'LIVE AS IF YOU WOULD DROP DEAD IN 10 SECONDS

SEE THE WORLD. IT'S MORE FANTASTIC THAN ANY

DREAM...ASK FOR NO GUARANTEES, ASK FOR NO

SECURITY...'

And with that very long paragraph, written many years ago

I realize, this is why I miss my Mother, the Boo's Mother,

they left a thumbprint not only in my mind but in my heart.

I cry right there on the ferry. I feel better after that good cry.

When I get to the Boo's house, I try and explain this paragraph,

Why I spend so much time talking, playing laughing with the

grand girls, why I use my collections instead of just storing them.

Why nothing is off limits to the little fingers that

grasp at things in the cottage.

I try to explain, that once I am gone, I cannot take these things

with me, but I can make memories with them,

I can leave thumbprints in their  little hearts,

in the hearts of all those I love, my children, my ex and his wife,

all those I come across. For all those that I paint portraits of

their homes, not just to paint a home on slate, but to make

it more than that. So that when I am gone, people will remember

that I didn't just breathe the oxygen as all the rest but

I tried to live my life as to make an impression on this world.

I don't know if I did a good job with my explanation

as I laid in his arms as he is quiet through my story.

Then when I get home yesterday, this graduation card is 

waiting in my mailbox.

And I realize, yes I have left some thumbprints in this world.

This little girl, graduating from college, was one of my PreK 

students when I was school nursing. There were many days

she cried for her Mommy, wanted to go home.

There were days that I went get the crying beautiful red head child

from her class and rocked her, played as her Mother in hopes

to ease some of her pain from being seperated from her Mommy.

She was one of my 1200 children in that school and I was

her school nurse for three years. Many times she came to me

to see if she was "sick enough to go home" as she

always rathered her Home to school.

I would check her out, assure her that she was healthy enough

to stay at school, I would give her a magic peppermint that

always helped so many children to get through the days of school.

10 years have passed and this little girl, remembers me.

She is now 18 and my card comes not at Mrs. Lilly or Lilly Riera

but simply "Nurse Lilly"

I have made a thumbprint on her heart.

Just as another graduation card, for KD's little cousin

addressed to MUMSIE

I have made another thumbprint.

As I absorb all of this, I pray on Mothers Day after I am

gone from this Earth, my children and my grandchildren

those who have known me will not be sad but remember

all those things we did, all the memories we made

be what they miss and in that loss they make a path 

to follow it in some way as to leave their own

thumbprints on the next generation.

For, really is this not all that really matters?

Loving each other for all it's worth not to be the "sloth"

that Ray Bradburn writes about

"... KNOCK THAT SLOTH RIGHT OUT THAT TREE

WHERE IT HANGS UPSIDE DOWN, SLEEPING IT'S LIFE AWAY.

TO HELL WITH THAT, SHAKE THAT TREE AND KNOCK THAT

SLOTH OFF HIS ASS..."

I end this very long post with this last thought,

the words I write in my handmade graduation cards this year,

"Go out and make a difference in your World"

Happy Mothers Day!

ROLL TIDE, OUR BAMA GAL!

So much to be said about my great niece, Lucy Plaisance.

She is my sister, Veronica, My niece Rebecca and her hubby,

Mikie Plaisance's second our of four children.

I will start with the fact that if this child can grow into the awesome

18 year old she is, then my grandgirls are not too spoiled.

I say this because, like all children born into our family,

they are all spoiled. Lucy, as a very little child,

had a voice and was not afraid to speak it.

One of my favorite memories of her was, still in diapers

and a carseat in my back seat, I reprimanded her for something

that I can't even remember what for at this time but

her two year old self said in exasperation,

"Aunt Lil, I am about to blow up and you will have brains all

over this car!" 

Yeah, that kind of kid.

Yet, since then she is no less strong willed but has matured

into how she expresses herself. A just all around, well-rounded child.

She entered ED White in 8th grade and had cheered and

danced but had never twirled a rifle or a flag.

As she practiced without ceasing in her back yard, 

preparing to try out for her schools color guard team,

her Mother, being worried she may not make it as an 8th grader

told her,

"LuLu you maybe should have a plan in case you don't make it,

maybe try out for cheerleader?"

She answered, "Oh I will make it"

Not knowing Lucy, you may think she was conceited but

she is not, she is not conceited or convinced, she is that confidant in herself.

She not only made the team but as a Senior was Captain of her high school team.

Winter guard had her team winning many first place awards.

When she decided she wanted to go to University of Alabama

for college, her parents told her she would have to work on 

scholarships. In true Lucy fashion, she not only began working

on that but also on a solo to try out for the 

"Million Dollar Band Color Guard"

She made a 32 on her ACT as a 10th grader,

exceeded in all her classes, became captain of her team

and applied to Bama.

She was accepted there with a full paid scholarship.

Now on to her next goal. The Colorguard team!

Again, her Mother began to encourage but also try

and prepare her for the chance she may not make it.

this time Lucy knew what she was up against. 

A well known college where she was trying out with Seniors,

students who had been on the team for years.

She did not falter, even when she found out try-outs were on

the same night of her high school Senior Prom!

To top that off, she was chosen for the Prom court.

Still, she and her Mother and one of her brothers headed

to Alabama for try outs with the mentality 

"If I miss Prom it means I made the 'Roll tide' team"

A Two day exhausting try outs which had one on one interviews,

learning routines and perfecting her solo she had

choreographed. Our whole family was taking the time to

pray, put all our thought into her weekend.

Late Saturday afternoon the ruling began to go down

the texts of family.

"Our Bama Bound girl made it, Roll Tide!"

We could not be prouder of our Lucy.

No one deserves it more as this was not handed to her,

it is something she has worked hard to achieve for

5 years. Looks like we will be cheering on the LSU rivals,

well when it comes to the color guard team that is!

Congrats, Lulu, I love you and am so very proud of 

all you are and all you will become!

A WEEK FOR THE BOOKS!

There is a lot to be said when the youngest of the grandgirls,

of the Triple J's as they call themselves is finally at an age

where she can come along on Mumsie adventures.

This week, having all three of them being out of school for 

spring break and both their parents working has given 

us much time to be spent together. 

While my painting has taken a back seat for the week,

I have no regrets as it is such a short time where

Mumsie's Cottage will not be one of their favorite places

to hang, Maw Maw's being another.

Cathy and I have shared daily duties with these cuties

and while sometimes it can be exhausting, 

all my memories with these girls are being planted

in their hearts and in their heads.

On Easter Sunday, Jilly was supposed to go sleep at

a friends house but when she heard that the littles were

sleeping at Mumsie's she changed her plans quickly.

As I told Kd when she shared with me that Jilly rather

come here than her friends home, I said,

"Let her come as I am sure I will only be favored for a few

more years and better take advantage now."

Jilly insists she will always choose the Cottage over a friends house,

I beg to differ. Although each day with me we did some type of

adventure, yesterday was my favorite. Second being a trip

to the theater to see "Gumbo" (Dumbo) as Jemma calls it.

Having to go to Thibodaux yesterday I promised them

that if they were behaved while I ran my errands I would

bring them to one of the only McDonalds play places still

around. While passing that said Micky D's not only was the 

play place gone, but the whole place was shut down!

Oh what to do, what to do!

Then while getting my haircut as three little girls were

on their best behavior it was suggested that maybe I try

the Children's Museum in Thibodaux,

Excellent choice!

We all had so much fun with so much to do.

Triple J's love each others company and the littles are

so very blessed to have a big sister like Jilly.

Yes, she is your typical 8 year old in so many ways 

but when it comes to her little sisters, most often is so patient,

wanting to hold one of them during the puppet shows,

reading to them in the car, just so good with them.

When I am not sure what to order at the restaurant for them,

she knows what they like. When getting snowballs after a long

day at the Museum, she knows their favorite.

After a long, fun-filled day, they are all very tired

(before adventure day)

(after adventure day)

and both the littles don't think twice to love up on 

their big sis for rest. Yeah, it's a fake sleep but they

really do cuddle up like that coming home.

I am honored to have these three call me Mumsie.

I am touched when Ed Sheran starts singing his song

about loosing his Grandmother and JoJo gets sad

because she wants "Mumsie to never die"

I assure her I will be around for a very long time.

I am so very tired but content with our time spent 

and we get back to the Cottage with a  visit from

my very own niece, Tiffany (BeDa) who has come to spend the 

weekend with me. I don't know what I did in this life

to make me so lucky to have these three but I 

could not have hand picked three little ones better myself.

..IN SPEAKING OF A LEGEND....

We all have people in our lives that we look to as being

a hero, a mentor, someone who made a difference in our lives.

For me, the one who always resounds is Dr. Fisherman.

However, since beginning to write this book,

I have found out so much I didn' t know,

for instance, his name was not Dr. Fisherman but Dr. Fischman.

Wow, all my life I had it wrong.

He is the man whom I am told who made all the decisions 

of my medical care way back in 1968, the one man I 

could thank for his wisdom, for curing my cancer.

I reached out to Touro Infirmary which was like my second home

for many years and am overwhelmed by the responses I am

receiving.

From the first email response from Jonnie Honse Sutter,

who shared it with Touro archivist, Florence Jumonville,

then shared with Josh Fredmann, Foundation manager.

In such a short period of time, I am getting so many answers.

Today I share of connection with Dr. Fischman's son, 

Dr. Nathan Fischman. He too received the email

and after I texted his personal number he sent,

he called last night. 

When hearing his voice mail I was both nervous and excited 

to return his call this morning and that I did.

What a wonderful man, who took time from his clinic hours

to hear and share a little bit about his Father with me.

At one point, we both were a tad choked up.

I realize this man is the link to a part of my life.

Before hanging up he hoped that he and his three sisters

could one day soon meet me and continue with stories

of the family man he was. I cannot wait.

I am energized, this book will happen!

JURY DUTY

Today, I have been elected to show up for Jury Duty

in my local parish of Iberville.

Unusually, I don't have to show up until 1 pm.

Many people dread Jury Duty.

I, on the other hand, always get excited when I get that

envelope in the mail and I always hope I get chosen.

Why? Because I love learning about different aspects

of the World that I have minimal knowledge about.

I like watching the people who sit with me in the

courtroom and wondering what they ware missing that

day to be there, as I am. As we wait for two lawyers and a judge

to decide whether we are the type of persons they are looking for.

I love meeting and talking to new people in my town.

I also think of what a privilege it is to be in a Country that believes

in 12 peers to listen to the information and make a judgment

where all must agree on the outcome.

I take this seriously and while I really don't have time to

spend days in a courtroom, listening to information relevant to

the case, and while I believe in only one Judge, being our maker,

I will show up for Jury duty.

If picked I will go in with a clear mind and no beliefs leaning 

to any side, for if we all stop showing up

Our system of law and order that we so believe

in, in our beautifully free Country of US of A

will fail and all those things that make us free

like the right to have your story be heard and judged

by a panel of peers will deteriorate.

Peace to all.

                                  

Follow me on a Journey..

Beginning today I am on a quest, to more journaling,

more blogging, more sharing.

Why, you ask? ( I know your asking....lol)

For many years I have played around with the idea

of writing a book.

This book has been started and stopped many times.

My book, hoping to title it like my first blog,

LILBIT OF MY WORLD

will be about my surviving childhood cancer back in 1968

when very few survived cancer, especially the type I had

Wilms Tumor. 

I am energized by many things in the last month or so

as I have been putting together my information,

trying to establish a timeline, etc.

Two publishers have reached out and I had not shared

as I always think they do that for everyone, etc.

What really has me fired up and wanting to make this

book a reality instead of a pipedream is

this week I contacted Touro Infirmary which was

basically my second home for most of my childhood

and the help I have received from them and the 

knowledge I am gaining by one simple email is

astounding! Now this am, the hospital has shared 

the original email with the son of the Doctor I believed

to have saved my life, Dr. Fischman.

My whole life I thought his name was Dr. Fisherman and

now know it is in fact Fischman.

Todays email has shared that they have spoken to his son,

Dr. Nathan Fischman and he was not only touched but

sent his personal cell number for me to call him!

I cannot wait to speak to this man as I have already

left a message on the number provided.

Follow along with me as I make this

"pipe dream" a reality!

More than excited as I gather my information!