Mary Pierce

TODAY’S LAUGH: Have you heard the latest? A new term describes the newest driving offense: DWT for “driving while texting.”  I’m not coordinated enough to get arrested for this. Besides, texting costs a small fortune on our cell plan.

I’m not a DWT-er, but there are other driving offenses. I have been guilty of DWE (Driving while Eating). Who among us hasn’t had a near-miss while wrangling a double cheeseburger and fries? Who hasn’t swerved in and out of harm’s way after spilling that scalding hot frappa-mocha-chino-latte-grande into her lap? Yikes!

I’ve also been DWR (Driving while Repairing). Applying makeup is fine when you’re sitting in gridlock, but it’s hard to get that lipstick on right when your lips are flying along at 60.  Curling your hair is trickier. (Yes, the curling iron will heat with the proper adapter for the car cigarette lighter. Just be sure your hair’s not smoking when you’re done.)

And I’ve committed DWD (Driving while Disciplining). You know the scene: “Don’t make me stop this car!” as you wrench your shoulder socket to reach into the back seat for a young offender. (Note to car designers: Do moms a big favor and make the back seat passengers easier for the driver to reach.)

But my worst and most common offense is DWS (Driving while Stupid). I leave the house, and a half mile down the road I realize that I forgot my cell, the fast food coupons, my makeup and one of the kids. At least I can’t commit DWT, DWE, DWR or DWD that way!

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: FOCUS, people, FOCUS! It’s amazing any of us arrive alive! With all the “crazies” on the road, defensive driving is more important than ever.  You never know when a DW-something will be in the next car. (Avoid them at all costs, unless they are willing to share their fries.)

There. Confession is good for the soul and before I get behind the wheel again, I vow to stop my bad driving habits.  You probably don’t have any bad habits, but I’ll bet you’ve seen some. What have you seen? Who are the world’s WORST drivers? We’d all love to hear about them!

Thanks for blessing my life. Now go bless somebody else today. (And drive carefully, please!)

//// STARTING NEXT WEEK: The  “Is it HOT in August or Is It Just Me?” AUGUST MELTDOWN FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY: I’ll be giving away mass quantities of When Did I Stop Being Barbie & Become Mrs. Potato Head?  and Confessions of a Prayer Wimp AND When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister?! Stay tuned and thanks for your continuing support!

Tune in to “Next Stop: Traffic Court” on A Brand New Day

I’ve updated the “Resources for Caregivers” and the “Just Write” pages as well.

TODAY’S LAUGH: My son called from Colorado yesterday on his birthday to say, “Hi Mom. I’m standing at 14,000 feet, looking over this cliff into a lake…” I said, “Cool! It sounds beautiful.” But my inner worrywart screamed, EEEEEK! You’re WHERE? Doing WHAAAAT?

And when he said, “I’ll send you pictures,” I said,  “Great! Can’t wait to see ‘em!” But what I really meant was, Oh great! As if imagining you risking life and limb for a little birthday adventure isn’t bad enough!

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: It’s a mother’s lot, isn’t it? We work so hard to give them courage. We want them to try and to fly, at the same time wanting to protect them from the risks. “Go for it” we say as our heart says, No, wait! Don’t go!

Who among us hasn’t applauded a “Watch THIS, Mom!” with her heart in her throat? “Climb every mountain,” we say, “but don’t get too close to the edge. And be sure to look both ways. Slow down. Wear your helmet. Don’t forget your sunscreen. Be sure to call when you get there.”

A mother’s job is never really done. My son the mountain goat turned 34 on that mountaintop yesterday. This wasn’t his first mountain and won’t be his last. I should be used to it, but at times it feels like the day I put him on the school bus for kindergarten.  “Go for it!” No wait, don’t go…

God gives us children to keep us on our knees, I’ve heard. And that’s where I’ll be, no matter how old they are, praying for divine intervention and deeply grateful for the delightful and terrifying privilege that is motherhood.

Happy Birthday, Catbox Boy! (Ay-yi-yi! Just what a mama wants to see!)

//// COMING NEXT MONTH: “Is it HOT in August or is it just me?” AUGUST MELTDOWN: I’ll be giving away copious quantities of When Did I Stop Being Barbie & Become Mrs. Potato Head?  and Confessions of a Prayer Wimp AND When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister?! Stay tuned…

Thanks for blessing my life. Now go bless somebody else today!

TODAY’S LAUGH: DaMama (she’s 94) sat in her room on Saturday afternoon watching a rerun of the old Lawrence Welk Show. (Mr. “A One and a Two” is one of her favorites.) I passed her door on my way back from the garage and heard Welk’s orchestra playing “Sentimental Journey.” I went in and stood in front of her. “Want to dance?” I asked.

“Oh no,” she protested, “I can’t dance anymore!” She paused a beat and then added, “Well, I guess I couldn’t dance any less either!”

“Let’s give it a whirl,” I said, taking her hands and pulling her gently to her feet. “Just sway from side to side.” She swayed. A smile touched her lips. DaMama always loved to dance. I remember her at wedding dances, on the floor with the polka, Schottische, butterfly and waltz, smiling. Always smiling as she danced.

I moved my feet and encouraged her to do the same. “Just a little step, one foot at a time.” She swayed and stepped. The smile grew wider.

I reached my left arm around her waist and, arms extended ballroom style, we moved a little more. She protested– “Whee! Not so fast!”—but didn’t stop moving. Soon we were laughing.

We laughed and danced through the song and as we danced, a still small voice whispered to my heart, Remember this.

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: The time is short. I sense it. Remember this, I hear and I promise to remember.

Time is short. Make a memory today, while you can. Dance with somebody.

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“Old times” never come back and it’s just as well.  What comes back is a new morning every day in the year, and that’s better.  ~George E. Woodberry

A heartfelt “THANK YOU!” to those who reviewed When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister? on its blog tour. (Click the “TWISTER SIGHTINGS” link at left to check some of them out.) I am humbled and so very grateful to all!

(BTW, I update the blog every Tuesday morning and “Just Write” and other pages as the spirit moves me. Thanks so much for visiting my site! MP)

TODAY’S LAUGH: I was in a cleaning mood this week so I called a friend I knew would help me. “Quick,” she said, “pray that it will pass.” I prayed. It passed. YES! Dodged another bullet.

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: My friend shared her summer motto: Whatever needs doing today can be done tomorrow. Or after Labor Day. “Why waste a beautiful afternoon scrubbing toilets?”

I’m taking her advice this week. Oh, I’ll put in the minimum hours at the desk, but then I’m off. I’ll do the minimum required around the house, but then I’m off. Heavy cleaning - the heavy lifting of life - can wait for another day.

Dust bunnies keep. Summer doesn’t. (The latter also applies to children, by the way.)

Today I’ll breathe and enjoy the blessings of the moment. What will you do on this wonderful day? Whatever it is, may you be blessed with a little time “off.”

P.S. Honk if you remember this flash from the past–I had it framed on the nursery wall–written by Ruth Hurlburt Hamilton:

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I’ve learned, to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby, and babies don’t keep.

P.P.S. A huge THANK YOU to all the bloggers who participated in last week’s When Did My Life Become a Game of Twister? blog tour for the nice reviews (check out the Book Review page). And a huge thanks to my publicist Shanon Stowe of PS Media for making it happen! You’re the best!

TODAY’S LAUGH: I have the picture around here somewhere. It’s the town band of Kingston Minnesota, posing in the early 1900’s in front of a huge American flag. My grandfather (DaPapa of DaMama) is there holding a cornet. The men are recent immigrants from Finland, gathered there in front of the flag, all dressed up in their clean white shirts, to play a concert on the American holiday they called, in their second-language English, “Forchuly.”

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Family lore says that my grandfather left Finland to avoid conscription into the Russian army. He and some of his friends there in the picture were Communists. And my grandfather was an atheist. And he loved America. He was free here to be who he was.

And here I am, the descendant of this draft-dodging, leftist atheist - leaning in the opposite direction in every way (Can you imagine the discussions we could have had!) - loving America too!

How can it be? Because this is America and we are free to be who we are here. This is America and there’s no other place on earth I’d rather live. I’m proud to be an American, and grateful to have the privilege. I’m grateful my forebears were welcome here.

This is America and this Forchuly, I’ll be singing the prayer that’s in my heart. Sing along if it’s your prayer, too.

God bless America, land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America, my home, sweet home.
God bless America, my home, sweet home.

Amen, amen… and again I say, amen! And a happy “Forchuly” to all!

(”God Bless America” written by Irving Berlin)

FINAL BIRTHDAY MONTH GIVEAWAY: This week’s free book winner is JUDY STRIGEL. CONGRATULATIONS! Check back in coming weeks for more great giveaways. Thanks to all who participated this month!