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 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 1, 2007 | Uncategorized
Because life seems to be overwhelming me a bit these days, and because Maddie had a wee tiny (yeah right!) meltdown when it was time to dress up for Halloween, I didn’t manage to take any pictures last night. Instead, I “stole” one from my sister, so I can at least show off the cuteness of the two monkey cousins. (And this is your opportunity to ooh and aah about the monkey costume I made for Nikki. Don’t look too closely at the ears, though.)
by Heather Plett | Oct 30, 2007 | Uncategorized
When I got home from work today, the girls came running toward me.
Julie: “Mom – come see the brownies I made!” Sure enough, a fresh pan of delectable brownies greeted me in the kitchen. Just because she felt like it. I think I’ll keep her.
Maddie: “Mom – come see the playhouse I made!” In the basement – in the big empty space that’s still awaiting floor finishing from the renovation-project-that’s-sucking-the-life-out-of-me was an imaginative play-world, complete with a princess who was attending her first day of school, assorted stuffed animals who were in the playroom at daycare, a computer made of a discarded box, and several other rooms that all had unique purposes. I think I’ll keep her.
Later tonight, Nikki was telling me what songs she’d uploaded onto her new iPod. “This Crowded House song is on there because it reminds me of Grandpa.” That seemed a little odd, since I can’t ever imagine my dad listening to Crowded House. “It was on the radio when we were on our way to the farm when we’d found out that Grandpa died. I’ll always remember that.” I think I’ll keep her.
by Heather Plett | Oct 23, 2007 | Uncategorized
Just when you thought the women’s movement had done its’ job and you could quit burning your bras, you read a story like this. It seems there is more tolerance for wife abuse than there is for animal abuse – at least in the sports world. I’m thanking my lucky starts I’m not married to a professional athlete.
