She’ll be your girl for all seasons
Yesterday was something. It’s a few days past the first day of Spring and what happened? We got about 7″ of snow. Gotta love a white Easter! I’m pretty sure it’s not the first time this has happened in Michigan and Easter is early this year so I’m not surprised, actually. Weather can be dicey even in May around here. I remember for Gracie’s first birthday party we had to put the tables inside because on the 18th of May it was 42 degrees and drizzling. That’s why we’ve had the parties at the gym for the last few years. You get fun for the kids, no worries about the weather, no set-up or clean-up and it’s safe. I have no idea what we’ll do this year. I’m not even sure where we’ll be living so maybe we’ll put some money aside for another indoor party. I wouldn’t mind the gym but the kids are probably tired of it by now.
Gracie lost a tooth last night and she was so excited. It’s probably one of the last she’ll lose so her toothfairy days are numbered and I think she probably realizes it. Being stealthy, Jeff performed his fairy duties and Gracie woke up to a crisp dollar bill under her pillow. She came in our room this morning all excited and woke me up to show me. Now, the next part chokes me up every time I tell it or think about it. I acted surprised and excited for her and she looked at me and said, “Momma, I’m going to give this to you so we can get another house.”
Yeah.
I’d like to take some credit for doing something right but I feel kind of guilty doing so. That little girl is something really special. They all are. Iain has found coins and given them to me for my porcelain piggy bank to save up to move and so has Iz. The kids received $5 bills from my in-laws for Easter and when they asked the kids what they were going to do with the money Gracie told them what she told me this morning. That reminds me — last week before school let out I went to visit with Gracie’s teacher for a few minutes and when I was done I stopped to glance at the short essays the kids wrote that were displayed in the hallway. The theme was “What would you do if you had $100?” Gracie wrote that she would buy a house, a washer and dryer and give money to the poor children who don’t have homes or toys. I thought I was going to die of gooey proud feelings knowing my daughter would put our family and those in need before herself. I mean, at almost seven it wouldn’t be uncommon for her to want an iPod or Hannah Montana gear but that’s not what came to mind for her and that makes me so proud. I’ve tried to teach them that things aren’t what’s truly important and there are others who don’t have anything at all. I try to teach them that it’s people and goodness that matter and it seems something has sunk in.
Also on the topic of Gracie and her sensitivity — we were watching Grease 2 (yes, yes, I know it’s really bad but it’s a classic and I don’t apologize) and the poor girl actually cried when Maxwell Caulfield’s character, Michael Carrington, was thought to have died after supposedly jumping his motorcycle off Dead Man’s Curve into a construction site. (I can’t believe I’m typing this.) She cried right through the June Moon Talent Contest and Michelle Pfeiffer’s brilliant and gripping rendition of “Love Will Turn Back the Hands of Time” (ahem, instead of the Winter portion of Girl for All Seasons! — “I’ll be yours in winter, when the snow is on the ground. I’ll warm you through December, and I’ll always be around. We’ll kiss below the mistletoe, when Santa comes to town.” — you know, in case you were wondering what the words were). Stephanie Zinone, of course, wasn’t singing as planned because she had the Cool Rider on her mind and fantasized about singing a duet with her mystery biker in Biker Heaven. We thought she was doing better until the Rock-a-Hula Luau (luau luau) and in roared the Cycle Lords. 
Once Cool Rider a.k.a. Michael appeared and revealed himself to Stephanie proving all was well, she calmed down. Now, she has seen the movie quite a few times so she knows how it turns out. The girl is just that sensitive. I don’t know where she gets it from. Alright, I confess it’s me. I cry like a damn fool at anything remotely sappy including various Disney movies and cartoons. I can’t go to the movies unless we go see a regular comedy or a true boy action adventure film because I’ll cry at almost anything. I did not, however, cry during G2 and tried to contain my laughter as Jeff was making goofy faces during the sappy parts since Gracie was crying and none too pleased that Daddy was making fun of the movie.
Well, Easter baskets are hidden and it’s time I turned in. If you celebrate, have a Happy Easter and if not, have a good Sunday anyhow.
