"I am the true vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them will bear much fruit." John 15:5

Saturday, February 20, 2010

RIP Alexander Haig


Alexander Haig, the four star Army general who served three Republican presidents, including a stint as secretary of state, died Saturday of complications from an infection. He was 85 and surrounded by family in his last hours.

Haig, who held top White House posts under presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan, launched his own candidacy for president in 1988, but his campaign never took off and Republicans chose George H.W. Bush.

Fairly or not, he will be remembered for his over-reaching remark after the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, when, as secretary of state, he declared, "As of now, I am in control here in the White House, pending the return of the vice president." Haig later acknowledged he had used a poor choice of words and would have a hard time living down the line.

He sometimes came off as a taciturn, hard-nosed military man but he had a lighter side. During the run-up to one of his confirmation hearings in the 1980s, the late Sen. Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, a political foe, presented him with a box of nails. Haig got the joke and laughed along with the senator.

The Associated Press, citing his family, said Haig died about 1:30 a.m. at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
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Monday, February 1, 2010

H is a Rascal!



We take our children to Church every Sunday and believe me. . .for a little 5 year old that is not an easy task. She tries to sit patiently but she is a rascal and gets into trouble easily. The glare doesn't work, separating the kids doesn't work. . .finally usually after a few threats of some sort I have to drag her out of church til she calms down.
This past Sunday she was not letting my son sit in his seat. Every time he moved to another spot in the pew she was behind him. She wanted him to sit in her lap but his was becoming distracting for me, Rami and the rest of the church members behind us.

Finally. . .I took her hand and dragged her into the waiting area in the back of the church. I could hear the priest read the gospel and she was ignored by me until she came to her senses.
She came up to me and pointed into a room off to the side. "Momma, what is that room?" The very dark room was the reconciliation room, where you go to confess your sins to a priest. I told her that.
Hmmmm. . .I could see her wheels turning.

After a while she told me she was ready to go back inside and be a "good girl."
I told her she is always a good girl but sometimes she makes poor choices.

As usual after a scolding, H is my best buddy. She climbed into my lap and cuddled with me quietly for the rest of mass.
At one point she whispered into my ear. . ."When do I go to recoliciation( she mispronounced)?"
I told her not until 2nd grade.
She whispered, "Then I am going to have a lot to tell the priest!" She was beaming with a silly grin ear to ear!
That rascal!


My children teach me every day. Even when I think I am teaching them. . .
R and I have been reading Huckleberry Finn together every night. It is fun to read together especially since it is a book I never read either so we are discovering a book together!
As you may know, Huckleberry Finn takes place when there is slavery and they Mark Twain uses the "n" word to say black man or black woman. I have been just saying "black person" or what ever in place of reading that word.
We decided to go to the library half way through the book to borrow the movie to watch. During the movie they use the "n" word. I finally had to explain what that meant because R doesn't have any idea of prejudice or slavery.
So, we are back to reading to book and again I say "black man" in place of the "n" word and R says "Where does it say "n"?" I point to the word and he begins to look for it in the book. "There it is again Momma!" "Why do they say that?"
So we again have a discussion about ignorance, fear, prejudice and the like.
He asks me if we know anyone who feels that way toward black people. . .and I hesitantly say yes. He asks who? I mention someone who he really admires. Then without a blink he says the most Christ like thing I have ever heard come out of his mouth. . ." Mommy. . .was he just never taught that we are all sons of God?" "We are all connected! So, if he feels that way about a black person. . .he obviously never learned we are all connected!"
Lesson #1000 from my son. . .Judge not lest you be judge!