TulipGirl

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Now that we’re living in the States again, I often find myself losing track of what’s going on in other parts of the world. The only reason I was even aware of the Iranian election was due to a good friend who is from Iran, and his updates on the hopes for a fair election and the potential to have a level-headed, reformist president.

However, when there were outcries about a fraudulent election, I became immediately and emotionally involved. The first reports sounded too familiar, eerily like the Orange Revolution after Ukraine’s 2004 election. We were there. We saw how people peacefully poured into the streets, protesting, uniting, banding together.

It’s different for me with Iran. . . I’m not there. I don’t know what news sources to trust. I’m not intimately familiar with the people on the streets. But, I know my Iranian friends (in the US, in Ukraine) and I know they are connected with people involved in the protests and understand the nuances of the situation that I do not.

The tent city in Ukraine, the peaceful protests lasted weeks, months. There were threats of violence, but thank God that nothing happened beyond threats. No violence from the protesters. No violence from the militzia. No troops from Russia.

Sadly, the same is not the case in Iran. Already there has been a violent crackdown on the protesters. Global Voices, a trusted citizen-based news source for worldwide reporting, has gathered links and videos.

In Iran, green is the color of hope, of a spring time of change, of reform. Already this Green Revolution has been stained by the violence against the reformers. Praying for peace, for freedom, for hope. . . for the people in Iran.

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A grandmother in Iran, 2009
(photo courtesy the Atlantic)

A grandmother in Ukraine, 2004

After talking with boys about Van Gogh, I often find myself humming a song from the mid-90s.– I don’t remember whether I heard this song in concert with VoL, or whether I just remember it from the cd. This vid of Bill Mallonee playing Skin is worth watching the full 9:21 run time.

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“Hey, Look! It’s Van Gogh!”

That’s what C8 said, as he brought me a sadly neglected Christmas leftover, a snowman pencil topper missing one of its pom-pom ear muffs. I guess the books we’ve been reading and pictures we’ve been observing have been making an impression.

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We’ve been using Ambleside Online Yr. 5 as the framework for our homeschooling since January. It’s been a good fit, the right balance between structure and flexibility, keeping the boys studying similar things but on their own levels. AO encourages the exposure to and study of an artist each term.

Our local museum doesn’t have a Van Gogh in its permanent collection, and unfortunately not in its special exhibitions either right now. My favorite Van Gogh is at my favorite museum, The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise at Musée d’Orsay.

The screensaver on the kids’ computer rotate Van Gogh works and the boys know them better than I do now, and these are some of their favorites. . .

C8 was making me coffee the other night. Yes, my youngest is quite often tasked with making me coffee–and is quite skilled in the complexities of our stove-top moka pot. He knows just how much sugar and milk to add to each Mommy’s and Daddy’s mugs; our own budding barista.

He burst into my room upset, “Ugh. The coffee tastes disgusting! Why did you put the salt into the round container?!” I was puzzled until he brought in the old coffee tin we use as a sugar bowl. Sure enough, it was filled with sea salt.

“Boys! Come here!”

I knew, I just knew. . . but I wasn’t sure. “T11, did you put salt in the sugar tin?”

“No, Mom.”

Hmmm. . . All of the boys seemed unaware of what was going on.

“Look at my eyes, T11, and say, ‘I promise I didn’t put salt in the sugar tin.’” I wasn’t singling him out. Well, I was. He’s the one mischievous enough to try something like this; and he’s the one who feels so strongly about his honor that he will not promise anything unless he knows he can follow through on it.

“Mom, I can’t say that. . .”

He grinned.

I started cracking up. “Boys, you totally pulled a Fred-and-George!”

J13 started laughing, R10 started jumping up and down, and T10 said, “Yeah! I’m Fred, he’s George. . .” R10 piped in, “And I’m Lee Jordan!” C8 glowered a bit.

And so, this was our first family practical joke.

Little Soldier

Little soldier, little child
You’re still too young to know,
The impact of the battlefield
Or how its memory lingers so.

Playing war is now a game,
Its truth you can’t conceive
Should you defend, until its end
Our freedom to believe.

In God, in man, in liberty
With rights for one and all,
Little soldier, little child,
That day you’ll stand as tall.

Written by Maureen Kuehne
Copyright 2003

Remembering.

“We mean to show that a man cannot apply himself seriously to repentance without knowing himself to belong to God. But no one is truly persuaded that he belongs to God unless he has first recognized God’s grace…No one will ever reverence God but him who trusts that God is propitious to him. No one will gird himself willingly to observe the law but him who will be persuaded that God is pleased by his obedience. This tenderness in overlooking and tolerating vices is a sign of God’s fatherly favor” (Calvin, Institutes, 3.3.2).

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Beautifully said. Two goodies arrived in the mail this week — “Calvin and the Duchess” and a bio of Calvin. Grad school classes also started this week. I may need to defer Calvin until after I start understanding more about forecasting revenue and such.

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(Via SML, via S&D)

The boys and I joined the YCSers to meet Marco Rubio. Don’t know who Rubio is? Read this great interview with NRO — especially if you live in Florida, I recommend you take the time to read it.

Get ready to party like it’s 1509!

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One of my projects this year has been dubbed the Calvin Quincentenary Project. I’ve been listening to the podcasts from PTS, but haven’t kept up to date with their the listening/reading through the Institutes. And I’ve finally ordered a biography of Calvin, having been disappointed in my searches at the local used bookstores.

Right now I’m in the midst of the chapter on Calvin in The Child in Christian Thought. I’m still at the beginning, but just getting a glimpse of how he viewed childhood and the Church and civic society gives me a deeper appreciation for Calvin and his thoughtfulness.

My Mother’s Day was filled with lots of -extra- spontaneous hugs from my boys. I get a lot of them already, but especially C8 came up and gave me extra hugs. It was sweet.

The boys’ Sunday School teacher did a project with the them that had lots of sweet, mushy reasons the boys love me. I’m going to treasure it.

I got a coolio Sbux cup. . . Okay, so it was an impulse buy. But I told the boys it was their Mother’s Day gift to me, so that’s okay, right?

Hubby made yummy swiss-mushroom burgers and corn-on-the-cob. I’m not a big hamburger fan, but these were fab and really hit the spot.

The boys somehow invited a frog into the house. T11 insisted it was a “bullfrog” but I’m pretty sure it was your average, Florida tree frog. They chased it around the house and caught it. However, as Hubby carried it out of the house, the frog urinated on him. Then commenced Hubby chasing the boys around with “frog fingers!” Much squealing and giggling. Well, except for J12 and T11 whose voices are changing and don’t really squeal anymore.

Yesterday Hubby woke up with the mother of all migraines, which lasted well into today. He’s feeling more “normal” now — headachy, but functional. But yesterday’s debilitation led to me taking the boys to paintball — and earning fabulous good-mommy points. Gotta love that! Then we went to a family birthday party for Hubby’s brother (who makes Florida’s best bbq), a niece and a nephew. We found the coolest car-rug at Ikea a few weeks ago for our newly 1-year-old nephew. Totally fun.

I got to have a nice long conversation with my Mom. That was good. Much needed.

Overall, a great Mother’s Day and weekend.

I saw this over at Clever Nesting, a daydream site for the wannabe crafter in me. I like the idea of the 3/50 Project — I like supporting local businesses.

I do slightly disagree with the idea of “spend it online, and nothing comes home.” Sure, it might not come directly into my community, but most of what I spend online is from mompreneurs or small businesses that are local to their own communities. That wouldn’t be the case buying from the big online retailers, but the small, handmade or home-based businesses? Online sales can help keep them going when they are still building a sustainable, local customer base.

Some of my favorite local businesses:
Funtoysia
Lifestyle Hearing
Cinnamental Bakers
Bangkok Restaurant
Bella Coffee House
Rudolph Clay Studios
Lambrix-Bush Warehousing
Haley Lamourt Chiropractic
Fruitville Grove Market
Dr. Jaworski and Dr. Moricz
Orthodontists of Lakewood Ranch

Some of my favorite independent, non-local businesses:
Old Bisbee Roasters
High Desert Market and Cafe
Kristen Stewart Photography

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What are some of your favorite local businesses? How can you direct some of your normal, budgeted spending to support them?

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Update: After I posted this, I saw another local blogger, Somber and Dull, had just written about one of his favorite local stores — Funtoysia! (Doesn’t that just beg for some ironic comment?)

A good midwife is a gem in the community, a woman to be treasured. I’m thankful for the women who have come alongside me, in the role of midwife, encourager, friend.

In support of the International Day of the Midwife on May 5th, I’d like to extend my personal appreciation to the following midwives and midwives-to-be. Several of them attended at the births of my children, others at my sister’s and mother’s births. A few were not physically present at those births, but nurtured me nonetheless.

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Much gratitude to Alisa Voss, Martha Breeden, Veronica Wagner, Carol Wolfson, Cheryl Hollifield, Tavish Brinton, Anne Sokol, Gurujan KhalKhasa, Stephanie, Kathy Nesper and others who have been with us, with woman. . .

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Updated: Links to more of the local artists and musicians who will be part of this weekend’s art show!

This Friday and Saturday
May 1st and May 2nd
7pm - 10pm
4455 30th St. E
Bradenton FL 34203

Facebook info
Bradenton Herald-Tribune Info

Featuring:
Bill Kimrey
Matt Crotts
Joan Senkowicz
Meagan Chaney
Jim O’Donnell
Bob Salyers
Janine Hoffman
Nigel and Cheyenne Rudolph
Haitz
Scone Train
James Hawkins
Justin Layman
Stephen Gillum
Brandon Crane
. . . and more.

“Now if a deadly epidemic strikes, we should stay where we are, make our preparations, and take courage in the fact that we are mutually bound together . . . so that we cannot desert one another or flee from one another . . .

“When anyone is overcome by horror and repugnance in the presence of a sick person he should take courage and strength in the firm assurance that it is the devil who stirs up such abhorrence, fear, and loathing in his heart . . . Because we know that it is the devil’s game to induce such fear and dread, we should in turn minimize it, take such courage as to spite and annoy him, and send those terrors right back to him. . .”

–Martin Luther, Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague

(Via Dr. Jones)

I’ve only been online lately in fits and starts, hence the sporadic blogging. But I keep coming across really good and encouraging things online and think, oooh — I should share that! Of course, by the time I sit down to post links, I can’t remember half of them. Ah, well. . . Still, here are some things that I think are cool or worth the time to read.

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Kim explains to her son that, yup, Christians can be annoying and unlikeable. “My answer to my son was that I, too, dislike Christians at times. I followed it up with the fact that I am probably disliked by other Christians at times, and so is he. I reminded him that we are not perfect, that we make mistakes, do stupid things and are unkind. And I reminded him that all we can do is continue to make an effort to love our fellow Christians even when it is hard.”

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Camille has been reflecting on Things I Never Heard in Fundamentalism (1) (2) (3). And while our backgrounds are very different, the familiar refrains of grace, grace, God’s grace reverberate in my soul when I read of God’s comfort and faithfulness in her life.

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TAKS — easy-peasy assessment tests, online, free and instantly scored! Errr. . . easy-peasy as far as doing it online, not necessarily for the student. The boys have been worried about their “gaps.” But as my sister reminds me, “gaps are just spaces waiting to be filled.” Thanks to Jess and Bayou for directing me to the TAKS site.

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The dragon-mommy very thoughtfully reflects on The Irony of Ezzo and AP (1)) (2). It concerns me that there seems to be a resurgence of the popularity of Babywise. With a generation of moms and babies who have already been there, done that, regretted it. . . why do people not learn from the mistakes of others? I still find the Ezzo materials introduce such an antagonistic mindset to the parents who read it — as one mom said recently “Do you hate me that I am a Babywise mom?” How sad. Sure, I try to caution moms about the misinformation in Babywise, but I don’t “hate” any moms.

How firmly I believe that God gives just the right parents to each child, and just the right child to each parent. Our love, our mistakes, our triumphs, our struggles — the Lord uses those in both our lives and our children’s lives as we grow into the people He created us to be. I believe it is so important to communicate respect to other parents — and still point out the problems in basing decisions on flawed information and problematic principles.

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Some freebies, giveaways, and contests: Dada Ring Sling from Babywearing.com (deadline 4/30); Online Kitchen Garden Planner via CleverNesting, a little critter giveaway (’cause I was too late in posting about the neato mobile from royal buffet). . . ack, saw some other good ones this week and can’t find them now!

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Remember, local art and music in Sarasota / Bradenton on May 1 & 2. I read a blurb in the East County Observer, unfortunately they don’t put their articles online. (Nor the pics the publish in the paper version — which is disappointing, ’cause they had a cute one of my little protesters.) I also saw a column that mentioned the art show in the BHT. If you are local, it’s a great place for a low-key date night. Local music, local artists, good coffee. . .

“Because God remains man’s Creator, man still retains indications that he was created to be God’s son. But he is now God’s image in the sense that a ruin is still a castle, or a palace. Its greatness lies in the past, in stark contrast to what it has become. Man is now by nature a great, but tragic figure. Like some character in a Shakespearean tragedy, he still stands on center stage, but bears the marks of his own tragic destruction, rather than the glory of the image of God. Like the prodigal in the far country, he retains confused memories of his former family status, but feeds himself on the husks of a fallen world.”

– Sinclair Ferguson

Today is dedicated to picking up a transcript from one university and hand-delivering it to another university — neither of which are in my town. Ah, the joys of relying upon technology that hiccups. Interestingly, the admin offices of both unis are aware of the problem, have been aware of the problem. . . this is a regular glitch that happens. Thankfully, the people in admin have been quite friendly and helpful, since they know the “system” hasn’t been.

I’m hoping to be home in time for ThinkTank tonight. We’re discussing Seven Pounds, which was recommended by several of the regular participants.

“To every toiling, heavy-laden sinner, Jesus says, ‘Come to me and rest’. But there are many toiling, heavy-laden believers, too. For them this same invitation is meant.

Note well the words of Jesus, if you are heavy-laden with your service, and do not mistake it. It is not, ‘Go, labor on,’ as perhaps you imagine. On the contrary, it is stop, turn back, ‘Come to me and rest.’

Never, never did Christ send a heavy laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one, away on any service. For such the Bible only says, ‘Come, come, come.’”

–Hudson Taylor

Whenever I start thinking I’m spending too much time online, the Julie Miller song from the early ’90s starts playing in my brain. While that’s not what the song is really about, still I don’t want my family to have their memories being the back of my head.

I listened to your talking, I believed in what you said…but I only saw the back of your head.
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I wouldn’t have been misguided, I wouldn’t have been misled…but I only saw the back of your head.
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Well, you promised me a lot of stuff that you never could keep,
You said you were a friend, but you’re a wolf among the sheep,
You said you’d do your best for me, to keep me clothed and fed…but I only saw the back of your head.

Speaking of, April 20 - 26 is Turnoff Week. It started as Turn-off-the-TV week. . . but now they are promoting “screen time awareness.” So, I guess that means the wii, nintendo, dvds, computers. . .

(Via Carol)

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April 15th. Taxes. Tea Party Day. We participated in our neighborhood Tea Party. The boys went with our neighbors, until Hubby and I could show up later. I would say there were easily 300 people when I arrived, and was told the crowd was larger earlier in the event. While I was there, I saw many people come and leave — so I would easily estimate 5-600 people participated throughout the event.

Besides our neighbors, we saw friends from church, the lawn guy who works in our neighborhood, our dentist and a lot of small business owners. Later on we met up with some of the YCSers. I think I even saw Steve as he took his almost-great photos of the event (would have been great pics, had I found ones of my boys!)

In addition, we saw people of all ages, people with disabilities, people of various socio-economic backgrounds, people of different racial and cultural backgrounds. Even some people who had a few too many beers. The “right wing extremist” stereotypes were blown away by this Tea Party.

As the Tea Party went on, the scheduled speakers finished and the organizers opened up the microphone to anyone from the neighborhood. It was interesting to hear the common refrains of liberty and responsibility. J12 leaned over to me and said, “I think I have something to say. . .”

And so, he went up to the podium and had his first experience with extemporaneous political speaking with a microphone. He announced the Young Conservatives of Sarasota and talked about how his generation, and every child today is already laden with tens of thousands of dollars in government debt. I was pretty impressed. (Our kids’ futures being mortgaged — talk about taxation without representation!)

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“We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our selection between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts as that we must be taxed in our meat in our drink, in our necessities and comforts, in our labors and in our amusements, for our callings and our creeds…our people.. must come to labor sixteen hours in the twenty-four, give earnings of fifteen of these to the government for their debts and daily expenses; and the sixteenth being insufficient to afford us bread, we must live.. We have not time to think, no means of calling the mis-managers to account, but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow suffers. . . .

This is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle becomes a precedent for a second; that second for a third; and so on, till the bulk of society is reduced to mere automatons of misery, to have no sensibilities left but for sinning and suffering… And the fore horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in it’s train wretchedness and oppression.”

Thomas Jefferson

This is a picture of Grampie’s hearing aid shop, the one I wrote about before. I remember seeing this picture when I was growing up, and always thought it was Grampie out front, but now that I can see the picture better I know it isn’t him.

Trembling for joy cries all creation;
What is this mystery, so great and new?
The Lord has risen from among the dead,
And Death itself He crushed with valiant foot.
Behold the cruel tyrant bound and chained,
And man made free by Him who rose!

–Melito of Sardis

judas, peter

because we are all
betrayers, taking
silver and eating
body and blood and asking
(guilty) is it I and hearing
him say yes
it would be simple for us all
to rush out
and hang ourselves

but if we find grace
to cry and wait
after the voice of morning
has crowed in our ears
clearly enough
to break our hearts
he will be there
to ask us each again
do you love me

–luci shaw

Breakfasts
Egg & Sausage Breakfast Muffins
Granola / Yogurt
Oatmeal
Cereal

Lunch
Bagels and Cream Cheese
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Soup in Freezer
Ramen-n-Eggs
Leftovers
PB &J

Dinner
Pork Something / Sweet Potatos with Cinnamon and Ginger
Beef Stew (Marinate Beef) (Freeze?)
Egg Salad Sandwiches
Red Beans and Rice
Chili (Freeze?)
BLT Pasta

Snacks
Deviled Eggs (teach boys to make)
Baked Potatoes
Navel Oranges
Apple Sauce
Popcorn

Church Fellowship Breakfast (after the Sunrise Service)
Croissants (bacon and cheddar / chocolate)
Quiche (Spinach, Broccoli)

Those who have been visiting me here at TulipGirl for any length of time have probably noticed we have a whole category with miscellaneous writings on Theology for Girls. We are great fans of Louis Berkhof, John Calvin, St. Augustine, J. Gresham Machen, and others who have gone before, upon whose shoulders we stand.

Sometimes theology isn’t perceived to be a proper girlie pursuit. And yet, we as Believers are called to study, think, discuss, writing, meditate — all with the purpose of knowing our God and walking with Him intimately.

A couple of weeks ago a friend mentioned the book Practical Theology for Women. She pointed out the cover reminded her of our shared online community, a place where women regularly gather to discuss and work out the practical implications of the Gospel in our family lives.

So when my birthday came around and I splurged (imagine, a pocketful of Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders gift cards!), I impulsively bought this book. I probably wouldn’t have bought it just based on the title and summary, but the pretty cover didn’t gave me a happy feeling and Rebecca gave it a five star review.

Wow. . . that’s a lot of background for why I bought a book. . . *L* And to think, I meant this to be a short book review!

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When I first opened the Amazon box and saw Practical Theology for Women: How Knowing God Makes a Difference in Our Daily Lives, I was a tad disappointed. The book is such a slim little volume and when buying books new, I feel like I want to really get something substantial. Yet that disappointment quickly evaporated as I began to read.

Wendy Alsup has written a brief, accessible, but meaty introduction to theology for girls. She begins by giving a sketch of why she studies and teaches theology to women, along with a glimpse of the struggles in her life and how the Lord has carried her. She gives both a definition of theology and brief apologetic for why women should study theology. In a nutshell, she writes what my heart knows — the study of God and His attributes compels my heart to worship. Theological pursuits enable me to rest in the Lord.

The chapters are short, perfect in length for daily devotionals. Alsup is free with referencing Scripture, not just giving chapter and verse, but also quoting at length the relevant passages. Several things spoke to my soul within the first few chapters. (Oh, how I need to remember, refocus, and abide in the Lord!) But it also brought to mind some things Hubby’s mom is walking through right now, and I wanted to share this book with her before she leaves town tomorrow. I decided to read the book quickly, in order to give it to her for her trip.

Truthfully, though, this book is better read in bite-sized bits. As a devotional, as a prompt for meditation — each chapter addresses an attribute of God or the reality of His presence in our lives. The ideas are simple — but not simplistic. For those who are newly walking with the Lord or scared by the term “theology,” Practical Theology for Women is an excellent foundational Bible study. For those who have been walking with the Lord for years and perhaps are already convinced of the value of theology, this book provides a means for refocusing on the basics of our walk with the Lord.

One of the things I liked best about this book is that it would be easy to use in a one-on-one discipleship context, a small group Bible study, or just to pass along to a friend. Already there are several women in my life I know would find it encouraging to their faith and I’ve given my copy of Practical Theology for Women to my mother-in-law. Overall, I give this book a 5/5 rating.

That said, had I been Alsup’s editor, I would have suggested two small changes. First, I would have edited the chapter that focused on “being ruled by emotions” to communicate the value of the emotions God has given us. Secondly, I would have provided a short “For more study” bibliography in the back for those who would like to take the next step in theological study.

Speaking of. . . which Theology for Girls resources would you recommend?

I called my grandmother the other day to talk with her about my hearing loss.

Maw Maw has told me more details of her life as she’s gotten older — or maybe I’m just remembering more of what she tells me now that I’m older. She didn’t go to college like her sister. Her sister finished college and then immediately married a soldier and moved away. I got the impression the family wasn’t pleased with that, and that was in some way connected with her decision not to go to college. Instead she went to work.

She worked in a hearing aid store and met my grandfather there when she was just 19. Even though he was in his early 20s, Grampie wore hearing aids and met my grandmother when he went into her store to buy batteries. I thought that his hearing was damaged due to an injury from a job he had as a teenager. At this point I’m assuming that there was a genetic factor as well. Though since he passed away last year, I can’t really talk with him about it.

I’m still fuzzy about their actual history at this point, but I know that Grampie and Maw Maw eventually owned and ran a hearing aid company right on St. Charles Street, downtown New Orleans. I have vague memories of going to that building, and mailing a letter down a fun mail chute from the second floor. But I know their business also had a street-level entrance, and I wish I had a copy of the photo of Grampie standing in front of their business. But my memories are very vague, and by the early 70s Grampie was already transitioning out of the hearing aid business. (Maw Maw just told me during my last visit it was because the government was increasing its regulation, and Grampie just could not abide government interference in his business. Uncle Mitch told me that’s when he started the business he ran until his last days, distributing industrial hand-cleaner.)

So, the presence of hearing aids was a normal part of my early childhood.

When I talked with Maw Maw about my hearing loss she first said, “Oh, your Grampie would be so sad about that. . .” But really, it’s not upsetting to me right now. Realistically, I understand that I may mourn this loss at some point, but right now it’s more of a helpful “oh, this makes sense. . .” realization.

Maw Maw’s perspective has been different from most people’s. “You know, when we were in the business very few women came to us for hearing aids. Usually it was women with good jobs who were paid well, and knew they needed the help to continue their work. But sometimes it was society ladies, women who were well-to-do. They would ask Grampie for the best, least obtrusive hearing aids he had and want them quickly. They didn’t want to miss out on things.”

She told me that most women, though, didn’t want them because they were ugly or they didn’t want to spend the money on them — especially if they were home with the children and not out working on part of the society circles. “But you — you need to get them. You need to be able to hear those children, You don’t want them talking behind your back! You need to listen to them, and those children need to know you hear them.”

One of the goodies Papa John brought for us was an iPod. It’s not just any iPod — it’s the one that belongs to Mo that she has used especially for her lectures. But knowing how much the boys love audio books and how some of them tend towards auditory learning over visual learning, she sent it as a surprise gift.

The boys name all of our gadgets. The mp3 player they got for Christmas is called Do-Hickey. The new ipod? In honor of their grandmother. . .

Mo-Pod.

This weekend my Dad visited with us from Chicago. Though we got to see him this summer at a family reunion, it has been a couple of years since he’s been able to come to Florida. It was a good visit. Coffee and talking on the lanai, going out for brunch after church, listening in to each of the boys have their own conversations with Papa John.