HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MY FAMILY'S "OTHER" MOTHERS

In all our lives, though we are blessed with the mothers that we live with, we are also blessed with our "adopted" ones, as well.  These are those women who, aside from our relatives, also play such an important role in "bringing us up" to be the individuals we are today.  They are the neighbors, the mothers of our friends and the teachers who impact us in such a significant way.  My daughters, most especially, have been loved by a great many "second" mothers, and their contribution to all of my daughters' childhoods will always be appreciated.
It may be because of Dave's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, fifteen years ago this month, that so many women come to mind when I think of all the help I received with raising my girls.  These women treated my daughters as their own, and included them on vacations, outings and family activities throughout all the years, ever since. During those moments, when my life was filled by worries about Dave's health and stays at the hospital, these women stepped in, without ever having to be asked, to fill the role of comforting and reassuring my daughters, when I was unavailable to do so myself.
Some lived miles away and some lived across the backyard, but each was there for my girls...and by virtue of their generosity, was  also there for Dave and me.  They eased our minds, already burdened by other worries, from having to be concerned about the well-being of the girls, when times were hard.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention the men that helped to parent them, as well.  Whether they carved their pumpkins, tossed baseballs with them, or helped them to overcome the terrible job I did teaching them to parallel park, they too, stepped in when times were tough.
So thank you to all of you whose hearts had enough room to love, not only your own children, but a few extras, as well.  You will always hold a cherished place within my heart...and the hearts of my children.  Many blessings to you all...and Happy Mother's Day to all the "other" mothers who have graced our lives. 

TO RUSSIA, WITH LOVE

I started my blog on December 27th, 2010, and the majority of my readers are from the United States.  The second country, from which I have the most return visitors, is Russia, followed next, by readers from Germany.  I just wanted to thank everyone, from all the many different countries that read "Fireflies and Tuna Cans," for taking the time to read my blog.  I am delighted that you would do so, and humbled to think that the stories I have posted would be of interest to you.  I like to think that it is because each of us, no matter what country we may reside in, share a common experience between us; the love for our families, and a sense of humor about  the little things in life.  Once again, thank you for visiting my blog...it is greatly appreciated.  Blessings to you all....Amycita 

THE PERILS OF PARALLEL PARKING

If given the choice, of parallel parking directly in front of the door of the establishment I am about to enter, or of parking 17 blocks away in a spot that forced me to walk barefoot, on glass, through alleys filled with knife-wielding masked bandits, I believe that my choice would be obvious; I would ask my husband to park the car instead.  The only way I am able to successfully parallel park is if there are no other cars in any of the spaces on the street, AND all other drivers have agreed, in writing, that they will not use any of those other spots, until I have finished my errand and driven my car back out. It is curious, I think, that knowing of these issues I was the one who was chosen to teach my daughters this particular aspect of driving.
When instructing Holly, I decided that a great opportunity to learn how to parallel park had presented itself, when I noticed that two of our vehicles were placed a car length apart on our hilly driveway, with just enough room for her to pull Dave's new car between them.
"This is great!"" I said to Holly.  "Just pull up next to the first car, and then we will carefully angle dad's new car in such a way, that we will easily glide into the empty-space between it and the second one in just 3 easy motions."
"Really, mom?"  asked Holly. (whose name should have been Thomas, due to her doubting nature)
"Yes!  I have been driving for years." I said, confidently. "Just follow my instructions. I am sitting right next to you. What could go wrong?"
Holly pulled up next to the first vehicle, and I instructed her to turn the steering wheel and begin to back in at a sharp angle, towards the imaginary curb, about a third of the way between the two other vehicles.  I had not even gotten to the next step when Holly and I, who were both looking out the back window to ensure that we DID NOT hit the vehicle behind us, suddenly heard a sound that was very similar to the sound of our car hitting another car... in FRONT of us.
"What the he#% was that?"  I said, as Holly and I turned back around to look.
"Oh," I said, answering my own question. "That WAS the sound of us hitting a car in front of us.  I forgot to watch that we didn't hit that one."
In a panicked voice Holly, who was still unfamiliar with all the rules of parallel parking, wisely asked me, the expert, what we should do next.
"We should somehow hide these cars, before dad arrives home."  I replied.
We successfully did this, without parallel parking any of them, and then ordered pizza as a nice treat for Dave.
Dave arrived home, and as we sat enjoying our pizza together, Holly said, "Boy, this sure is a great pizza Dad.  And, also, I wanted to tell you that I love you very much."
With that, Dave raised his head and gazed at us with his eyes narrowed, suspiciously. He then said, "Something has happened to my car, hasn't it?"  (and I am not even kidding...that is exactly how it happened)
"What kind of thing is that for a father to say to his child???"  I shouted...but, unfortunately, he didn't hear me since he had already begun running out into the driveway, where he sadly discovered the two vehicles we had damaged.
I must confess, Dave was remarkably kind about the incident, and explained to Holly that accidents happen when a child is learning how to drive...especially if I am the one teaching them.
For all future instruction, I utilized those orange parking cones, rather than actual cars, to teach my daughters the joys of parallel parking....let that be a lesson to you all.  Blessings, Amycita :D