by Heather Plett | Nov 22, 2007 | Uncategorized
1. She was cute and cheerful with sparkly eyes and a cherubic face. Before I had children, I used to play with her and her sister at the annual Christmas party where we’d decorate cookies and hang them on the giant Christmas tree. This week, I heard that she’s been caught in the schoolyard of the high school she graduated from – selling drugs to students. It seems she’s lost her way.
2. I remember when he was born. We held him and cooed over him. Marcel and I were dating at the time, and it was the first time I realized my husband-to-be was baby-crazy. He didn’t want to put the baby done. A few days ago, we found out that that baby has grown into a high school student who’s belligerent and disrespectful and was caught stealing when his class volunteered at the local food bank. “If the poor people can have that stuff, why can’t I?” He’s losing his way.
3. She was beautiful and gifted and seemed so highly capable when she started working with me, several years ago. The future ahead looked bright and should have been. Today I heard that she’s carrying a sadness with her, and has become so self-limiting her potential seems wasted and almost dried up. Is she losing her way?
4. Two little girls with friendly smiles and nervous giggles. They’ve been to our birthday parties and played in our backyard. Both of them seemed fearless and bold and full of spunk. One of them could shimmy up the monkey bars and walk across the top like a tight-rope walker when she was still too tiny to go to school. The other one came with us to Ballet in the Park and would wander off into the crowd like she was afraid of no-one. Now they’re ten years old and looking for love in all the wrong places. Getting their eyebrows waxed, dressing like show-girls and bragging about kissing boys. Both had mothers whose pregnancies cut short their youth. Will they lose their way?
I have no conclusion for this post. No wise words or happy endings. Just a bit of sadness for the stories of people who’ve been in my life at some point and have since faltered along the path.
by Heather Plett | Nov 19, 2007 | Uncategorized
Alternate title: Since I’m bragging about my kids anyway…
Many, many years ago, when I was about 5 or 6 (or I might have been a bit older, I don’t remember – perhaps my sibling-with-the-amazing-memory can help me out?), I walked 22 miles to become the youngest person in our community to complete the walk-a-thon.
Yesterday, Julie did me proud. She climbed 29 flights of stairs for Conquer the Globe: StairClimb for Clean Air 2007 and was awarded the “Youngest Achiever Award”. She came home quite proudly waving her new MP3 player award in the air. Yay Julie!
She completed the climb in 7 minutes and 47 seconds. I think I would have only made it up about 4 flights of stairs (huffing and puffing) in 7 minutes. Nikki made it in 5 minutes and 47 seconds. (She was the second-youngest achiever, but there was no award for that.)
I better start getting into shape, because next year they’re determined I do it with them.
by Heather Plett | Nov 18, 2007 | soccer
Last Spring, Nikki suffered a major disappointment when she didn’t get selected to play on the developmental level soccer team. Several of her friends got chosen (or at least got chosen to serve as back-up – kind of like the ‘farm team’). If you saw Nikki play, you’d realize that it was clearly an oversight. No, I’m not just being a biased Mom – all the other parents who watch her were as incredulous as we were.
Nikki is passionate about soccer. P.A.S.S.I.O.N.A.T.E. Even though she could only play at the recreational league level, she poured her heart and soul into it every chance she got. All through the spring and summer, she worked extra hard, determined to improve her skills so she’d be selected next year. She went to a soccer camp in the summer, and her skills got even better.
This year, for the first time, both her and Julie are playing indoor soccer. (They wanted to last year, but our budget was a little tight.) Nikki started the season with a bang – scoring the first goal for her team – and has been knockin’ em dead ever since (highest goal-scorer so far). She is a force to be reckoned with. (I really love watching her. There’s this little skip-step that she does just before she kicks it into full throttle. It’s a thing of beauty.)
And yesterday it paid off. We weren’t aware of it, but there was a coach from the developmental team watching her game, looking for a possible back-up player for their team. After the game (in which Nikki scored 2 out of the team’s 3 goals), he pulled Nikki’s coach aside, and then he pulled Nikki aside. They want her to come out for practices and be available to play whenever one of their players can’t make it. (She was the only one from her team selected.)
She’s not a full-fledged member of the team (yet), but it’s a start. And it sure is good to see that smile on her face.
by Heather Plett | Nov 16, 2007 | Uncategorized
Two years ago, I wrote a post about all the things you should NOT do if you’re applying for a job (at least if you’re applying for a job where I’ll be your manager). I just finished reading through 57 resumés, and I hate to tell you, at least half of those people did NOT BOTHER TO READ my very helpful post. C’mon people!
Telling me that you were “led by the Spirit” to apply for the job is not going to guarantee that I am “led by the Spirit” to hire you! And including a picture on your resumé? Unless you’re applying for a job at Moxies or Hooters, I can’t imagine when it would EVER be advisable to add the picture. And if you ever think that six pages of fine print wherein you brag non-stop about how wonderful you are is going to be read with delight – guess again. 57 resumes is a LOT of reading to do, and you’ve just guaranteed yours will be barely skimmed through.
Just one other thing… don’t EVER, under any circumstances, include phrases such as “do you really want to pass up the opportunity to meet with me?” Or “Look no further!” Or “I am confident you’ve found the right person in me.” Let me be the judge of that!
by Heather Plett | Nov 12, 2007 | sister
There have been lots of cheesy things said about sisters – in Hallmark and Blue Mountain Art cards and plaques and all manner of cheap token gifts. I’d never buy one of those for my sister – not because I don’t like her, but because we share a disdain for schmaltzy, overly sentimental clap trap.
This is my own version of “why I like my sister”:
She is the best traveling companion EVER. We have the same interests, we skip the same overly-popular tourist traps in favour of out-of-the-way local flair, we seek out similar versions of “beauty”, and we like to make fun of OTHER tourists. (In fact, I’m a little jealous of her friends and husband lately, because they’ve had more chances to travel with her than me and that sucks.)
She has been an incredible presence in the lives of my daughters from the day they were born. She spoils them, she encourages them, she treats them with great respect, she honours their individuality, and most of all she loves them.
She is sarcastic and opinionated – in an endearing kind of way. If she feels strongly about something, she doesn’t mind voicing her opinion, but she’s equally open to hearing other people’s opinions. She loves a good argument, and it was one of the things our dad admired most about her.
She is way more organized and dependable than me. But she doesn’t rub it in my face or get really annoyed when I forget about something or my disorganization gets in the way of success.
She can throw a party like few people I know. I am in awe of her hosting skills. She doesn’t want to be the centre of attention, but when you see her in action at a party she’s hosting, it is a thing of beauty.
She lets herself be vulnerable with people she cares about deeply and who have gained her trust. If you happen to be lucky enough to be within her circle of trust, you will be deeply rewarded. She’ll admit her weakness and trust you to handle them tenderly and with respect. She will treat your weaknesses the same way she hopes you’ll treat hers.
She knows me better than almost anyone in the world. There are times when we are in a room full of people, and we hear a comment made, we just need to glance at each other across the room and we can communicate our response to the comment without anyone else in the room knowing what’s passing between us.
She knows my hurts. She’s the first person I tell when I get those familiar pangs of missing dad or I have to deal with some of the transitions our family has been through, because I know that she will respond with the kind of compassion that only someone with the same hurts can respond.
She loves Folk Festival as much as I do and even went as far as arranging her wedding around it. I love her for that.
If she believes in something, she commits herself wholeheartedly. She has been part of the most incredible Children’s ministry team at our church for a long time and she has poured a whole lot of herself into caring for, teaching, and encouraging our children. Many, many children have been blessed by her.
She doesn’t like cell phones any more than I do.
