As each of my children left the nest, I thought of this old phrase. I said it myself when I learned to ride a two wheeler at the age of seven and proudly yelled ‘Look Ma…no hands’ when I also mastered that.
All three of my kids have gone their separate ways; one still here in my city, the other two, far away. Now, the youngest is going even further away. Not permanent, mind you, but still to a place that is frightening to me because of the civil unrest and terrorism in that country.
As a celebration to herself for getting her Master’s Degree in Special Education, she has decided to do a special ed internship at a school in Africa. It will only be for a month but when she announced it to us and wanted our opinions, I had to bite my tongue. While I’ve always tried to support them in whatever choices they made, this one terrifies me.
She will be leaving Sunday evening to go back and finish up the final semester and graduate. I’ll be flying visiting another daughter, then we will drive in for the graduation, drive back to home, then I'll fly back home.
Suzy will be off to Africa after she graduates.
To all my friends, please accept my apologies for my absences. After the flooding in North Dakota where one daughter lives, issues involving the child here in Arizona, and now this……well….my mind is spent. I’m having difficulty sleeping, thinking or commenting. When things are a bit more settled, I’ll be catching up with everyone.
Thank you.
p.s. The program she will be volunteering for is a very good one. She will be working with children and young adults with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
Below is part of the travel advisory from the U. S. Government. Here is the link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1151.html
"Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
——————————————————————————–
This information is current as of today, Thu Apr 09 22:36:59 2009.
KENYA
November 14, 2008
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Kenya. American citizens in Kenya and those considering travel to Kenya should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime. This replaces the Travel Warning of August 22, 2008, to note increased security concerns in northeast Kenya near the Somali border.
The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of potential terrorist threats aimed at American, Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. Terrorist acts could include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports. Many of those responsible for the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in 1998 and on a hotel in Mombasa in 2002 remain at large and continue to operate in the region. In November 2008, armed groups based in Somalia crossed into Kenya near the town of El Wak and kidnapped two Westerners. Travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to border areas of Kenya northeast of the town of Wajir has been restricted until further notice." …..
thesnakeandiandthebutterfly 
And sitting up and begging?
That shampoo and conditioner made by same people, I believe, as the Udder Balm. It is called Mane and Tail and was developed for horses and cattle. Guess someone used the shampoo and conditioner for horses by accident, as you did with the doggy shampoo. I have heard that the Mane and Tail conditioner is really excellent. Can buy those in the human section of shampoos and conditioners here at Wal-Mart.
PEE?!!? on the Hair? euuuuuw! You just had to go and read the label didn't you? It sounded all good till you just HAD to go look! :faint:
IN hair color too, no wonder your hair feels so soft and full after getting your hair colored.
I remember both my grandmothers telling me that in their younger days when they were working with fish and their hands got very sore the thing that used to help was to soak their hands in urine. So there must be something good in it. I also saw a comedy once called Cosmetic Revolution where some people used urine from cows in their products. :cow:
That is interesting about soaking hands in urine. Not sure if I would do it but back 75 to 100 years ago, all our relatives probably did something similar. The ingredients in the things we use everyday, like shampoos, soaps, etc. would be a very interesting topic for a post. Some of the scientific names in these products make you wonder what they really are. One that comes to mind is 'methylparaben'. My list of ideas for post topics is a mile long so I probably won't add this. If any of you would like to take on the research for a post, let me know. I'd be very interested. In my 30s, I was very health conscience, probably overly so. I used to spend two hours or more at the grocery store reading labels before I bought anything. I still do that a little but now I'm in and out of the store in about half an hour.
Popping in to say :hi:And I hope you're feeling better about all these scenarios. :heart:
Yes, Issy, I do feel better. I don't have the feeling of panic that I did.Hi Jill. Yes, her coming home with the same enthusiasm and excitment is all that I am going to force myself to think of. Thinking the worst will only be detrimental to my health. Yeah, the dog shampoo thing was pretty funny. That was a first. I have put my coffee in the fridge instead of the milk jug before. Then another time I poured dog food in their full water bowl. That's why I take mornings slow. I can do the goofiest things.
Suzy is a lovely girl and I hope and pray she will be just fine and come home entirely refreshed and just as excited as she left… and I understand her enthusiasm and also your concern. I see both, mother and girl. :)Pam, about the dog shampoo. Classic! My brain is failing me, I served my 7 year old the coffee this morning… she knows I am completely mindless in the morning and said nothing. It took me awhile before I realized it… perhaps we both need a vacation?
I've got the same probs as you. We want to do too many jobs at the same time and too quickly as if we were always in a hurry. The other day I lost the key to my greenhouse and it took me hours to find it back. Have a nice day,Pam.
Pam, As a mother I understand your concerns, but there is one consideration you've left out. GOD goes everywhere and IS everywhere. TRUST in HIM to do what you can't. He will keep your daughter safe. KEEP the FAITH! We, your friends, will keep her continually before the 'Father' with prayer and all will be well.BTW Have you started chasing your tail? lmao
Jean, I continually lose my consctruction tape measure so I bought two others. At the moment, I can't find any of them. You have a nice day too.Doris, I agree, keep the faith. And no, I haven't started chasing my tail yet. 😆