This time of the year always brings back to my mind the reality of Lisa's death. It was exactly 8 years ago today
- August 23, 2001, that I last saw Lisa. We went to a mother-daughter evening at church. I can even remember what she was wearing, a red shirt and jeans. I spoke to her after that night, but that is the last time I hugged her while she was living and breathing. Lori's last conversation with her by phone was on Lori's birthday, August 22, when Lisa called to tell her "happy birthday". Lori said that while she was talking to Lisa that Sam pulled the cord out of the wall and broke the connection.
- August 23, 2001, that I last saw Lisa. We went to a mother-daughter evening at church. I can even remember what she was wearing, a red shirt and jeans. I spoke to her after that night, but that is the last time I hugged her while she was living and breathing. Lori's last conversation with her by phone was on Lori's birthday, August 22, when Lisa called to tell her "happy birthday". Lori said that while she was talking to Lisa that Sam pulled the cord out of the wall and broke the connection. We began rehearsals for our new two-person play and feel we made some progress. I have read thru it several times and sat with John as he wrote and re-wrote, but when we did a read-thru, it was difficult to hold back the tears.
We are toying with some different titles for this play. Our first title, "Drifted Off to Sleep" was deemed to be "too passive" and I tend to agree. It sounds like a bedtime story and it is anything but that. Other suggestions have been, "Control, Alt, Delete" which I believe is very clever but sounds like a show about a computer geek. We know that "CONTROL" is the center of abuse, so that will be our focus as we decide on a title. Maybe, "Control, Abuse, Delete". Labels, titles, names are so important. Will keep you posted.
My Cheerleaders
Lori called last night to tell me about her experience with a young man in her neighbor
hood who is mentally challenged, he is known by everyone as Pancake, and is about 17 years old. According to her, "his parents just left him here in a home for mentally handicapped people and they never come to see him". Her concern about him and his feelings were sincere and touching. She downloaded some music on his MP3 player and when she took it to him, all the residents were gathered around and he announced, "you know who this is (speaking of Lori), she's a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader". Well, he is not far off, she truly is a cheerleader for the downtrodden and those that appear to be tossed aside. My other children are very compassionate as well. Lindsey and Lane will always stop to assist someone who needs their help. Lane was always bring someone home when he was a teenager, someone that had no place to live and needed a bed for a few days, weeks. Last Christmas, Lindsey was deeply concerned about a family that she feared would not have presents and went shopping for food and toys for that little family. She stepped up when her neighbor was being abused by her husband and she found the right person to help her and went with her to talk to an advocate. Lisa was sensitive to the needs of anyone that crossed her path, once I remember she was walking home from work and came across a man that was homeless. He fell and she got medical assistance for him and stayed with him until the ambulance took him away. My children may not be Cowboy cheerleaders, but they are certainly cheerleaders for those in need. I am their cheerleader.
hood who is mentally challenged, he is known by everyone as Pancake, and is about 17 years old. According to her, "his parents just left him here in a home for mentally handicapped people and they never come to see him". Her concern about him and his feelings were sincere and touching. She downloaded some music on his MP3 player and when she took it to him, all the residents were gathered around and he announced, "you know who this is (speaking of Lori), she's a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader". Well, he is not far off, she truly is a cheerleader for the downtrodden and those that appear to be tossed aside. My other children are very compassionate as well. Lindsey and Lane will always stop to assist someone who needs their help. Lane was always bring someone home when he was a teenager, someone that had no place to live and needed a bed for a few days, weeks. Last Christmas, Lindsey was deeply concerned about a family that she feared would not have presents and went shopping for food and toys for that little family. She stepped up when her neighbor was being abused by her husband and she found the right person to help her and went with her to talk to an advocate. Lisa was sensitive to the needs of anyone that crossed her path, once I remember she was walking home from work and came across a man that was homeless. He fell and she got medical assistance for him and stayed with him until the ambulance took him away. My children may not be Cowboy cheerleaders, but they are certainly cheerleaders for those in need. I am their cheerleader.
1 comment:
Like parents; like children. You and John are excellent role models.
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