TACKLE the Eyes

Over the years my daughter has shot random photos of family and friends.  These are my favorites:



Ma



Athlete






Birthday Girl

 

                                                 

Marathon Runner

 

Airman



Artist

 

              

Houdini




Animal Lover



Kat buddy




Neighbor

Penny Lover


 

The Fig







In Charge!  Stay away.

 Family, friends and animals:  You know who you are.  The eyes have it!

TACKLE Grandchildren Time

There is nothing more precious than grandchildren.  They melt your heart with a glance or a smirk.  They make you feel wealthy, especially in the "toy section" of the store.  When you hang out with these little innocent wide eyed wonders, you feel like a kid again.  Visiting the Gillis Farm, NC with an almost 2 year old grandson made these simple things seem amazing to the Pop Pop and Nannie:

                                                                               

    

A tractor with its humongous tires.

A pumpkin too big to carry.

A ride on Pop Pop's shoulders to grab the colorful fall leaves.

The graceful daddy long-legger spider climbing up a stick to tickle a little hand.

The "uh-oh" when the horsey did a "do do".   

The grandson sneaking his carrot snacks to the baby bunnies.

The grandson sneaking his cheese crackers to the hungry chickens.

The grandson throwing his cookies to the Canadian Geese.

The grandson pointing to ice cream for a snack.  (The packed snacks have mysteriously disappeared.)

The heavy sigh and the heavy lids during the car ride home to see Mommy and Daddy.

Nannie and Pop Pop were pooped too.

Darn! why do we have to live 6 hours away from this sweet bundle of joy! 

          

      

TACKLE My Moment

I have to admit that today I broke down and watched the new Rebecca Black video, "My Moment" launched on You Tube recently.


Earlier in the year, my oldest daughter posted Rebecca's goofy "Friday" video on facebook and that catchy tune stuck in my head.  Rebecca Black is a viral star.  That phrase probably didn't exist before You Tube was created in February 2005.
                                                         

Rebecca's mom invested $4000 in the song and video and it went viral March 11, 2011.  "Friday" has over 160 million views.  "My Moment" is her follow up video.  She is an adorable girl and very perky. She looks like one of my daughters.  She is enjoying her fame even though music critics listed her first video "Friday" as "the worst video ever". 

                                 "My Moment" by Rebecca Black (July 18, 2011)

                                 

Despite the criticism, she gained international popularity, had been on major television shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Glee.  She had been recognized by MTV, Ryan Seacrest and was a part of the Katy Perry video Last Friday Night (TGIF).

                               

Not bad for a young teen from Anaheim, California.   Rebecca is having fun with her fame. We all have moments when we want to sing and dance with happiness. This could just be her "moment" of glory or the continuation of a career.

The videos have a lot of dislikes but people are still listening, making Rebecca Black a part of pop culture history.  Here is "Friday" from the spring 2011, in case you missed it.

                                                 "Friday" by Rebecca Black

                                

TACKLE the African Queen

My middle child has always been an animal lover.  The only TV network she would watch was the Animal Planet.  We have had countless living things in our home (some without my knowledge).

Her first pet was a Daddy Long Leg Spider that she found in the basement at age two.  She was giggling while it crawled all over her arms.  Horrified, I flicked the spider off of her and she started to scream.  I gently placed her friend outside.  That was only the beginning of her private rotating zoo.

During the past eighteen years we have rescued and housed dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, chinchillas, birds, iguanas, turtles, hermit crabs, fish, lizards and the bearded dragon. Each animal became an obsession.  She is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to animals.

She read books and volunteered with animal shelters and adoption clinics.  She took a year of nursing in high school for medical knowledge.  She developed a fascination with the Great African Elephant, an endangered animal.  She became a vegetarian and then a vegan for animal rights.  Then she set off on her quest to go directly to Africa and volunteer her services.


I remember her sales pitch very well.  The month long adventure would cost about $4,000 and the experience would be priceless.  My reply was for her to show me the money and then we would talk.

She worked every spare second waiting tables (with a full school course load while playing a varsity sport) and came up with the money.  Now I had to pay attention.

She had researched many organizations and PoD  was the best option.

 


PoD checked out to be a quality worldwide volunteer organization.
The cost includes the plane ticket and the 
lodging and the experience would be priceless. 

My next hurdle would be to educate my daughter on travel abroad.  Navigating an airport can be a challenge, especially to Africa.  She would change planes four times and she never heard of a boarding pass.  

The week before the departure I put on my travel agent hat and sat down to organize her on her upcoming adventure.

She was more worried about her hair, the wardrobe and seeing the elephants.  I worried about getting her to the destination.  Nightmares of getting lost, missing her plane and getting kidnapped plagued me and my oldest daughter. 


She packed a cheap digital camera and a tiny cheap notebook computer to communicate.  She was advised to not look like a tourist or too wealthy by keeping her valuables out of sight. 

Saying goodbye at the airport was difficult.  I kept chanting, "Don't cry" to myself.  As soon as I turned the corner I broke down and bawled.  My hubby was confident that my daughter would be successful in her travels.   





She sent me a text from each airport and bombarded facebook with pictures and messages. 

Greeted with a rainbow at the South African airport made her giddy with excitement.  

The Elephant Park is exposing her to research, animal care and meeting people from all over the world.   

She enters college in the fall majoring in Biology with a goal to become a wildlife conservationist.  This will be a stepping stone to that goal. 


My daughter; the next "Jane" of the jungle.

TACKLE High School Graduation With a Goofy Group Photo!




Goofy Grads and Friends

Patience.  Parents of high school seniors should remember this word during the end of the final school year.

Relax, because you will miss your child one day.



Seniors are very different from their parents during this phase in their lives.

They know it all; parents know zip.
They are free; parents are chained to their phones for senior updates. 
The world is their oyster; parents crave a vacation.  
They dread packing for their senior beach week house ; parents enthusiastically help them.

On graduation day, they are excited, proud and worried.  Reality is right around the corner. 

Celebrate   

Before an evening ceremony, an open house graduation party can include home movies, posters, tons of food, music and goofy candid photo shoots to create memories.


Friends, family and neighbors should be invited to congratulate the senior.



Congratulations Class of 2011!

The graduation march on the massive stage made parents cry.
This was the same cry from that first day of  kindergarten.

Now the graduates will go out into the world--that is their oyster--and with their own patience, find their place in society.



Child # 5 is getting ready for senior beach week,
a month long trip to Africa and college in the fall.



TACKLE an Award

Nothing makes a parent prouder than hearing their child's name announced from a stage.  The High School Spring Athletic Awards are a showcase of all the athletes for that season.

My two daughters played lacrosse and both played great this season.  During the program,  my youngest daughter was awarded "Offensive Player of the Year" and she is only a sophomore.  She was so surprised that she looked shocked for a minute.

To top off the night she also received the honors of 2nd team all district for her lacrosse skills.  Hard work, dedication and that new lacrosse stick must have paid off this year.  

TACKLE Tubing

 Apple, Mama Bear, Pebbles and Bug (Our Trail Names) on a Tubing Adventure

What could be more perfect on a hot, humid day than plopping in the refreshing Shenandoah River?  River tubing is an inexpensive, simple, fun time that will leave memories for a lifetime.


You will need directions or a GPS to find Shenandoah River Outfitters http://www.shenandoahriver.com/  .
It is an off-the-beaten-path canoe, kayak and tube outfitter located on the scenic South Fork of the river.

Old school buses transport your party to the beginning and from the ending of your trip. Lifejackets are supplied but, bring your water shoes, sunscreen, hats and coolers with munchies and drinks.

Tie your tubes together so no one floats away.  This train technique was helpful when it was time to exit the river to have lunch from our floating cooler.  We were so hungry that our sandwiches and chips tasted like a steak dinner.  The rapids were fun but not scary.  Thank goodness there was no threat of head trauma from a rock.

We floated past vertical rock walls, mountains, jumping fish, turtles, rope swings and people in canoes and kayaks.  The river level was high and the current was fast so we ended the trip in a few hours.  Watch for the numbered trees to signal the exits with a waiting bus.

The best part of the trip was no cell phones, iPods or electronics.  The only activities were chatting, giggling, munching, splashing and admiring nature.

TACKLE a Surprise Visit

There was a knock on the door.  My husband was told it may be a solicitor.  Since he is the guard dog, he answered the door.  Surprise!  It was our Air Force daughter home for the Memorial Day weekend. 

I had been sworn to secrecy but, in the final hours the news had leaked to everyone but her dad.  It had been 4 months and our little girl was home.  Friends and family enjoyed visiting while listening to her stories of evolving from a local girl to an airman. 

The visit was short but the memories will linger until our next meeting.  Back to tech school for months of learning and continued building of new friendships and experiences in the military life.  

TACKLE Senioritis

Every spring an epidemic hits high school seniors across the country.  Senioritis is a disease that can cripple 12th grade teen children.  My senior daughter's symptoms began after Christmas break.  Signs that seniors are affected include deafness to alarm clocks, repeated absences and tardiness and a decreased interest in grooming. Their wardrobe consists of sweats, athletic shorts, t-shirts and flip flops.

Grades can slip causing panic attacks in parents.  My daughter insists that she can achieve good grades under pressure.  

In elementary school my child cried if she missed the bus in the morning.  Now she is threatened with the punishment of riding the bus to wake her up in the morning.



In the last month the only time she was awake before 7:00am was to call AT&T for an emergency cell phone issue.  I almost had a heart attack when I saw her in the kitchen in an upright position.  


She is the fourth of seven children in our family.   Experience has taught me that the only cure for senioritis is a graduation ceremony.

Our high school gives awards to their seniors for their achievements.  My daughter proudly announced her anticipated award: "Worst Case of Senioritis."


The Senior and the Bearded Dragon

  

She starts college in the fall and she plans on scheduling only afternoon classes.  Every college freshman has that same desired class roster.  She also thinks she can smuggle her pet, Germin, the bearded dragon, in her dorm room.  Good luck!   
  

TACKLE the Globals

  

Theresa Ellis with John Zogby, who currently sits as Chairman of the Board and Chief Insights Officer of IBOPE Zogby International.   Mr. Zogby was formerly founder, President and CEO of Zogby International.

Super pollster John Zogby was the keynote speaker at the Community Associations Institute (CAI) National Conference in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida on May 5, 2011.  My husband and I enjoyed his entertaining and interesting presentation highlighting his book, "The Way We'll Be: The Transformation of the American Dream."  His book points out where we are headed--politically, culturally, and spiritually based on thousands of surveys and polls.      
  

John Zogby notes in his book that he is not trying to predict the future for us, but polling does point the way.  He lists four dominant adult age groups:

1. The Private Generation born 1926 to 1945: loyal and faithful. 

2. The Woodstock Generation born 1946 to 1964: the baby boomers.

3. The Nike Generation born 1965 to 1978:  just do it.

4. The First Global Citizens (The Globals) born 1979 to 1990: our future.  

Our seven children are primarily "The Globals".  Their ambitions range from serving their country to saving the elephants to keeping us informed to finding their coveted iPhones.  They are a humble group, many changed by the misfortunes in today's society.

They are connected with the world with social networking.  Their friends are their network. They are storing information in their heads with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google on a daily basis to use in their future.  This generation, "The Globals" will be an incredible generation, leading the way to a better tomorrow for the world. 

   
IBOPE Zogby International is a premier global public opinion polling and market research firm that offers timely, accurate results at http://www.ibopezogby.com/
John Zogby's book can be found at  http://www.randomhouse.com/book/196060/the-way-well-be-by-john-zogby 

Hipsters, part of the "First Global Citizens (between the age of 18-29)

   

TACKLE Grandchildren

There is truth to the saying that "grandchildren are different".  Yes, you can give them back to their daddy or mommy when you are exhausted.  However, when you have them in your possession, you don't want to give them back.

Grandparents get joy in every milestone.  Smiling, sitting, crawling and walking are amazing because this innocent being is a part of your own child.

There is also something special about seeing your own child emerging as a parent.  That is when they suddenly have flashbacks of your parenting skills and are grateful for what you have taught them.  



TACKLE Kids Growing Up

It was thirty years ago when I was eight months pregnant and only 21 years old. My water broke in the wee morning hours. The previous day the OBGYN said that the baby was in the breech or feet first position. This position could cause possible strangulation if the chord descended before the baby. My immediate reaction was to lay flat and call my mom, who knows everything. She said to call the doctor.

I was rushed to the hospital. It was a grueling 8 hour labor with women lined up in the hall to deliver. The baby flipped and was now in the head first position. The baby was delivered with forceps, a big no no in today's birthing suites. My boy was a healthy 6lbs 11oz and would have been a giant if he was born at full term!

 He is my only boy. He is the perfect son, a 6"2' outstanding athlete and sharp as a tack. He has a charming personality with eyes that will melt your heart. He is a brave American who joined the Air Force nine years ago. He has earned tons of medals and ribbons but is modest and genuine. He married a wonderful woman and together, they gave me my first grandchild, a son. Tomorrow my hero turns 30 years old. Happy Birthday, Son!