My LEGAL Immigrant and Our Youngest Son

Will my children struggle with this also?

Racial Profiling, Now Made Legal in AZ

As the wife of a hispanic man, and the friend to many other hispanic people I cannot but be incensed by this new law in Arizona. Now cops are required to check for residency and/or citizenship. So if my husband (who is a US citizen with a very strong Peruvian accent) is out and about without proof of his legal status in the US he might be arrested?

I keep hearing on the news that there is "concern" for the fact that this might lead to racial profiling. Is there any doubt?? Beware now folks and keep your ID's on you. Don't lose 'em or leave them at home at any point because you might be charged with the crime of being an illegal human being!

This is not the way people! This will only lead us further into discrimination and hate. Why do we keep coming full circle on this? Suddenly I'm not so sad we moved out of Arizona. I love the desert for many things but at least here in Washington Pocho wont be carded just for being hispanic.

The Age of Monsters

When living my normal, every-day routine, I almost never notice the monsters that surround us. Jonas is beginning to. When I have to use my "mommy voice" one too many times he tells me that I shouldn't be a monster. I remind him that mama turns into a monster anywhere past the 3rd repetition of a request. Whether it is a request to help me pick up his toys or a request to stop hitting his brother mama transforms into monster mama after about the 3rd request.

Other monsters besides mama and daddy inhabit our world now too. We have the big, huge black dog. He's really very fun and not so scary once you get to know him. When Jonas is reminded of this fictional creature mama tells him that he is not to worry, Blackie is in the living room with mama and he wont come Jonas' room. Blackie is only scary because he's fictional and he's gigantic! He must be an Irish wolfhound but since he's invisible most of the time we only get rare glimpses. He's a good friend though and after a talk about how nice he really is Jonas isn't afraid of him anymore, just like Marie (a new favorite book "Blackie and Marie").

Since Jonas has become aware of monsters now he recognizes them in movies and TV shows. They are very important topics of conversation and they must be shown to either have been overcome by a superhero or to actually be the superheros themselves (Monsters vs Aliens).

I very much enjoy our conversations about monsters and am so proud to see my son entering the world of make-believe fully fortified with superheros to stand by him as he battles monsters and plays with unicorns. It is amazing to be here as his young mind develops and learns to create new ideas and images. Wondrous!

Learning to Accept a Compliment

Yesterday I was in the check-out line at Trader Joe's and, true to my colorful nature, had on an assortment of purples and greens. The woman directly in front of me in line turned to me and told me how much she liked my purple outfit. Well, instead of just saying thank you I ended up replying with some self-deprecating answer about getting dressed in the dark that morning. She looked at me like I was nuts.

So this all got me wondering. Why can't I just accept a compliment at face value and think nothing else of it? When she complimented me on my use of the color purple I assumed what she really meant was more along the lines of: "Wow that's a lot of one bright color!"

I should just be able to say thank you and move on. It's really only me who's judging me, and if others are who cares? A very wise woman once told me that what other people think of us is none of our business. I agree. Let people keep their opinions to themselves if they're not positive or constructive.

Let me learn to simply and happily say "Thank you!"

Public Library

Yesterday I set myself a writing assignment. I decided it's high time to begin work on my novel. This means many steps and phases of writing. There's research to be done, character development to take place, and settings and plots to discover. As a start I thought I'd research some mythical creatures that I would like to include in my story. So, I found myself at the public library this morning.

Upon arrival I was greeted by a group of extremely beefy young men who wanted me to come and talk to them. I said no thanks and all but ran into the library. But from then on I had a marvelous library experience. I mentioned my welcome party to librarian issuing me my card and she apologized profusely and told me a security guard regularly sends such parties away from the front of the building. Yay! No need to feel unsafe with a security guard on prowl.

Being a total amateur at searching the database for the books and articles related to my topic of interest I asked for help at the reference desk. I doubt many people ask for books relating to mythical sea creatures because I was told she couldn't find many. However, I had a bit more luck when she showed me how the system worked and ended up with a good number of articles on my subject. Thanks to the age of the internet I was able to e-mail these to myself! And after a bit more searching found a few books to take home as well.

What a marvelous first day at the public library. I will return tomorrow with my kids in tow. There is a story-time for toddlers on Wednesday mornings and no matter what the age of your child they can have their own library card and are given a tote bag to carry their books in. Jonas will be so pleased! Thank you Everett Public Library!

Escaping the Gilmore Girls

I have been caught! I'm obsessed with the Gilmore Girls. The show is so fascinating and you never know what strange reference is going to jump out next. Will it be an 80's rock band? An Audrey Hepburn movie? An English Poet? Who knows precisely why, but I'm hooked.

Is this a good thing? A natural escape from reality? Perhaps. I guess we all find books and shows that transport us elsewhere and even, for a moment in time, become our reality. I have been caught many times, but I don't think I've ever been caught so thoroughly by a TV show. I'm not usually a TV person. I'm a book person. Movies too, but TV?

Jane Austin, Madeleine L'Engle, Ursula Le Guin, Jules Feiffer, Charlotte Bronte, Anne McCaffrey, J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer: These are some of the authors who have caught me, transported me into their worlds. Some people reading this might wonder that I mix Austin with Anne McCaffrey but I'm only speaking of myself. I found their books fascinating and felt myself a part of their work.

This is the feeling I get with the Gilmore Girls too. I have to know what happens next. Perhaps after I get through the series I can put it down for a while (like any imaginative book) and escape back into my reality.

Moments to Myself

I am now the proud landlady/employer of a very nice young woman. We interviewed many people and finally discovered Natalie. In exchange for room and board she gives me moments to myself. And moments with Pocho.

This morning I woke up exhausted which I'm sure had nothing to do with watching several episodes of Season 4 of the Gilmore Girls until midnight last night. Tired and grumpy, I sat on the couch with the boys as we ate our morning Kix and drank some orange juice. Curious George tried out several ways of patching a hole in the Man with the Yellow Hat's hat and then proved to his country town that he had in fact seen a bear, even though one had not been spotted there in over 30 years. I dozed. Then there was coffee to make. Then toast and bananas for the boys.

After our usual morning routine was over though it hit me: I have someone to help me now. I can go to my office in the morning and write. Jonas and Ronan can be playing in the backyard having a marvelous time on this beautiful Spring day and I can still get some things done before I go and join them!

This will take some getting used to but I am excited to begin the process. Natalie has begun to have good conversations with Jonas and tells me amusing anecdotes from their time together. She has informed me that her job in her family's home was washing dishes and she's more than happy to continue helping with that here. Pocho and I are finally able to have a regular date-night. All-in-all we are overjoyed to have Natalie with us and she is, I believe, finally becoming comfortable with us.

Sucess!

Painting the Easter Eggs

Originally when I sat down tonight I was going to write about the meaning of Easter as I have been struggling with the concept of late. However, I find the whole thing far too daunting a subject to try to write about this evening. I feel I need notes and research. There are so many things I want to think about with regards to this whole holiday and yet I feel like now is not the time to struggle with them.

It is perhaps sufficient to say that Easter is about the resurrection of Christ and a new beginning for all of us. We were given an amazing gift of hope in the future, in our future after death. It is a difficult gift to accept, given the circumstances surrounding the event. But we were blessed and we are loved. It is always good to be aware of the love of God. No matter how far away from the concept I get, Easter is always a time for me to return to it.

My personal affirmation at this time as I think about it right now is the following.
I believe in God. There are so many different beliefs in this world but I would struggle to belong to just one. My God is not the God of insignificant rules and criticisms. My God is not a God of hate for those who disagree amongst themselves. My God accepts all people and encompasses their beliefs. My God loves all people and died to give new life to them. My God loves all life and all that surrounds life - be it plant, animal, rock, wind, planet... My God accepts me for who I am, faults and all, and helps me to constantly strive to be better. If I fail for a while, my God is always ready to help me try again. If I ignore my God for a time, my God is always ready to hear me again when I return. My God is a friend I can talk to and sometimes imagine a response from in the way life plays out for me. My God loves my children and will help them grow to be who they will dream of becoming.

My boys and I painted Easter eggs today. A few crayon scratches from Ronan on an egg and then a big PLOP as the egg hits the dye. Yellow splashes all over the table and toddler giggles in the air. I doubt many parents will receive a "ouchy spider" on their Easter eggs but my Jonas is a pro and we now have several.

I guess I did end up talking about the meaning of Easter after all. Hope everyone has a marvelous day tomorrow. Celebrate it well, as it is a great day for celebration!