I originally posted this on June 3, 2009, 2 years after my mother died.  I wanted to write about her again, so I re-read this post.  Didn't like how some of the sentences flowed, so I tweaked it a bit.  Hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think.… Read full post »

A conservative realtive of mine (while opposing anything the Obama administration tries to do) told me "I don't know anyone who doesn't think our health care system needs some sort of reform".

OK, then tell me....what have the Republicans done to introduce any form of health care reform?  For 6… Read full post »

On Sunday, Sarah Palin told the media to quit making things up.

May I remind her of some of the things she said on the campaign trail....

1.  Obama pals around with terrorists.

2.  I told them 'thanks, but no thanks' about the Bridge to Nowhere.

3.  Obama never wrote or sponsored… Read full post »

I've been away from OS for awhile.  Nothing serious.  I've just taken a break.  Haven't had anything to write about for awhile.  No big inspirations.  But PLEASE....DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME!!!! 

 I just wanted to check in. Read full post »

Two years ago today, on a morning when the scent of roses drifted sweetly through the air, my mother breathed her final breath, while being comforted by a young nurse‘s aide.

We were told that she was a little tired when the aide stopped by her room in the morning,… Read full post »

My Aunt Lilly saved all the the letters my siblings and I sent to her, Uncle Onnie and our grandmother (MuMu) throughout the years.  On a recent visit with her, she shared the letters with us.  Here is a sampling:  

To Aunt Lillian, circa 1957

T… Read full post »

.....and go away.............NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's all I wanted to say.

I live in the city, on the edge of a forest, so I think I have the best of all worlds.  My backyard is bordered by wild blackberries and butts up to another county, which allows for the raising of small livestock.   My neighbors on the other side of the… Read full post »

I don't know him very well. In fact, I have only seen him a handful of times. I married into the family late; My husband, the seventh of ten children, already had nieces and nephews who were grown and out of their parent's houses. So I met them all in… Read full post »

It's my fault, really.  I'm the one who took off my clothes.  Left them in a big heap by my front door.  Yelled my name out loudly to anyone who could hear me.  Here I am, I said.  Look at me.  Take a good look at me.

They had my address. … Read full post »

There was a twinkle in his eye, like there always was, when he greeted me with a hug.  "Hey, Aunt Sandi," he said.  Then he hugged my husband.  "Hey, Uncle Gerry.  What's up?"

It was January 12th, exactly one month before we would return to Florida to say … Read full post »

It was the wail that told the neighbors that something was wrong.  A blood-curdling scream that said a mother had just heard the worst of news.

Connie was drinking a cup of coffee, when out the corner of her eye she saw her husband John sobbing as he walked across the… Read full post »

I'm writing this post today with a heavy heart.  My youngest nephew, Nolan, died this morning.  He was 27-years old. 

Nolan was the best son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and grandson you could have.  And I mean it.  I know of no other person - who from the day he was… Read full post »

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Daddy, circa 1967, shortly before he left the family and about 11 yea… Read full post »

Aunt Lilly and I were standing at her kitchen sink washing the dinner dishes when she whispered to me “My heavens, you look just like your father”.

Although we had talked non-stop ever since I stepped off the greyhound bus that afternoon, I think that was the first time she really… Read full post »

Number 11 on my list of 25 things was   "I once took a bus trip across the US and sat next to a pimp, who offerred me a job.  I declined".  That was 35 years ago.  Today I am whoring.....Blogwhoring, that is!

I'm fairly new to OS, so I wrote… Read full post »

Merry Christmas from the Family of 'Proud and Progressive' Read full post »

What a difference a day makes.

We shovelled our driveway this morning, then decided we wouldn't go to work after all. So we put on our cross-country skis and explored the neighborhood. We headed up hill to the right, following last night's tire tracks, lightly covered with a new… Read full post »

Photo taken at 9:15 am Sunday 12/21

Ok, so I'm whining.

We've had a full week of snow, unusual for Portland. Right now we have a foot of snow in our yard, with 2 foot drifts in some spots. The car tracks in the street are covered over from last night's… Read full post »

Now that Christmas is around the corner, and you might be wondering what you should get the little ones....what toy will make them say WOW! and create lifetime memories....I'd like to share with you the toys I shared with my younger brother and sister. Clothespins. That's right. Plain o… Read full post »

On the heels of Obama's naming of General Eric Shinseki as Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, I'd like to recommend a book written by a veteran of the Iraq war - "Warrior King - the triumph and betrayal of an American Commander in Iraq" - by Nathan Sassaman.

Nathan Sassaman was a 1985… Read full post »

I didn't live during WWII, so I don't have any first hand knowledge of the sacrifices Americans made during the war. But my father was a proud military man who served stateside (much to his chagrin; he wanted to go into battle with his three brothers, but couldn't because he had… Read full post »