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 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 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!