How lucky we are...

To live here in America. Think about it. We can't fathom the fear that pervades the rest of the world regarding security and economic opportunity. Yes, there are places even here where there is economic despair, but we also have the opportunity to take action and change our situation if we have the will. What brought this on? I had occasion to take my son to yet another doctor visit (thanks to the Open Work Practice that Sun provides for their employees). I met a nurse who left Russia to come here with NOTHING. Didn't care that there was no job or family waiting for her here. She KNEW that when she got here she could work hard and become successful. She arrived with no English skills and availed herself of public education to learn the language, get nursing training, and get ahead. She started from the bottom. Only had a desire. Try that anywhere else!

You never hear about anyone moving elsewhere for the opportunities- not if they are the downtrodden of their culture. This woman was an illiterate unemployed youth in what she described as a desolate suburb of Moscow. If she can do it, then anyone can.

And the health care....it gives me shivers to think of the situation she described. We have it so good, and yet we complain. Snap out of it. I can live with a little extra work time, a little extra cost for my health care, a little extra inconvenience for my life, if it means my kids get access to the same opportunity she did. And my kids have far fewer disadvantages than she did- they speak the language, they "know the system", they have an economic position that puts them in position to get ahead easier. God help them if they complain. I'll ship 'em off to Moscow for the winter; see how they like their life here after that.

It was a treat for her to work with my son- her words. He has a disease that wouldn't even have been diagnosed in Russia. I know, the organizations I am a part of work in other countries to raise awareness about these kids and his disease. She was amazed that he was in such good health (relatively...) given his condition, and how much help we were able to get from KAISER for him. YES, KAISER. My son has one of the rarest diseases you have never heard of- Cystinosis- and KAISER is all over it. They have gotten him into studies at the NIH, Stanford, UCSD, and other private organizations. Yes, you have to be vocal and work (with) the system, but I have nothing but praise and accolades for the doctors and scientists who work with Joe, and the KAISER system on the whole.

Don't complain to dad that we don't have the 180 channel satellite package; Daddy's not in the mood!

Ice Skating

I know I said I was going to talk about the fourth. I will, but this was pretty good also.

The twins wanted to have an ice skating party for their 9th birthday. Hey, I'm game. They do all the work (the rink, not the boys) - feed the kids, give them punch, do the cake, and even write down the names for who gave what for the cards. That part the boys don't like. I am making them write thank you cards to everyone- not just thanks, but a personal note. Told them it was to keep their writing skills up over the summer. Pat did the Quasimodo "hunch over, drag the foot and act like an idiot" thing to emphasize that those skills had already gone by the wayside. Not fooling me.

Anyway, out onto the ice. All sorts of funny things. 13 yr old girl trying to look all abercrombie while trying to skate ends up pulling her best friend down as well as herself. Got a great video of her crashing into the glass and disappearing with that oh so shocked look on her face. Mental note- show it to the boyfriend. She (they) also played a pair of google eyed boys into buying them sodas and snacks. Show THAT to the boyfriend.

Back to the boys. They just had a ball. Pat took to the ice easily after a pair of flops, and Joe is such an incredibly limber monkey that he was able to execute incredible maneuvers without dumping. Some on tape, some not. The little guy was just having a blast, but never got the glide part- kept on taking those little tiny steps in rapid succession, all the while flailing his arms and laughing. Pretty darn cute.

They both got to ride the zamboni. Pat just dug it- smiling the whole while. Joe was persistent about DRIVING the thing. Every time it would go by I could hear the operator explaining to Joe how their insurance prohibited it, or how he couldn't reach the controls, or my personal favorite "for the last time, NO!".

Joe will end up as a salesman or a politician. He has never taken no for an answer, and he just never stops talking, even when he has nothing to say. Ever.

All in all a great time, made even better by the fact that we were indoors in a chilled environment when it was 108 outside. Cool.

VACATION!

I took everyone on vacation to Lake Tahoe for a week. We have a timeshare at the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge in Incline Village. God I love that place. Anyhow, the best part of the trip was a total lack of planned events. We did nothing for a week. No, wait, I lied. We did have a stable time for one day when we went horseback riding. Other than that, nothing. It was an amazing series of lazy days. I bought two two man kayaks to tool around the lake. That is the best thing ever to keep boys occupied. Well worth the cost. The trip stands out because there were no significant incidents. Everyone was well behaved. I don't get that very often.

Now the fourth of July, that's a different story.