my old idols

Yesterday, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett past away. I can't believe it. I was a huge fan of Farrah Fawcett when I was in elementary school. HUGE. I had every magazine that had Charlie's Angels or her on it. I had that poster that made her hugely famous. Books, bubble gum cards, you name it, I had it. Even the spelling of my daughter's name is from Jaclyn Smith (although she was named after my dad, Jack).

And then Michael Jackson. What a loss to the world. He was an incredible talent. Yes, he was odd...but he was an amazing artist. You gotta give him credit for that. He had a hard life with all the media at him. To this day, his concerts were the best concerts I have ever been to.

I still can't believe he's gone.

Always Tell the Truth

I was reading Jaclyn "The Tale of Desperaux" and at the beginning of the book, it introduces a mouse that loves honor & justice and always tells the truth. So I asked Jaclyn if she always tells the truth. "NO!" she said. Then I told her that she should always tell the truth like Desperaux. Her reply to me was, "Well, nobody's perfect."

And then the other day, she tattle-taled (again) on Madison. "Mom, Madison is drawing all over herself with a pen." When I looked at Madison, Jaclyn was right. There were pen marks all over her body. Legs, arms, tummy, back, on shirt. Wait a minute! BACK? How would Madison be able to draw a flower on her back? Wait another minute! Since when is Madison able to write a single letter let alone her own name, and upside down? "JACLYN...did you write on your sister?" "We both did." (So much for always telling the truth.)

Vancouver. Spectacular by Nature.

Vancouver is still the most beautiful city to me. I went boating today with the girls, Geoff and buddy, Alan. The Vancouver skyline has changed so much over the years but it is still a spectacular sight. The new convention centre is absolutely gorgeous. I just loved seeing the seaplanes & helicopters fly in & out of the harbour, the kayakers, the aquabuses, the sailboats, people running or riding their bikes along the Stanley Park seawall, the huge cruiseships, and the odd seal pop its head out of the water. I am sure there is no other city where you can go boating and skiing all in one day, if you wanted to.

"Vancouver. Spectacular by nature."

cute prayer request

Madison's night time prayer tonight included, "I want to live in the big white house. The big white house has pretty flowers."

A day at Alki

We celebrated Michael's birthday at Alki Beach. It was a beautiful day...lots of folks playing in the sand and riding pedicabs. We had the best fish & chips at Sunfish (I think it's called that). The water was cold but that didn't stop the kids from running into it.

Little Bird

I said to my mom in the car:

"Chrissy told me that a little bird told her that I was in town. That little bird must have been Auntie Vera."

Jaclyn in the backseat eavesdropping: "Auntie Vera is not a little bird. She doesn't fly."

Jaclyn Graduates

I cannot believe that Jaclyn graduated from preschool today. Where did the years go? I wish, more than most things, that I could freeze this time where my two young daughters are so full of joy and have not been tainted by the challenges of life. (The other thing I wish is for my dad's mental health to improve.)

Jaclyn got the Friendship Award because she is always willing to be friends with whoever needs one. And that she is...just like her mom. I am so proud of her and so happy in what she has achieved in the past 5 years and who she is as a person. Full of heart. Full of love. Full of joy.