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A Breath of
Fresh Air
By Mona Lease
Hi, all!! A reader called me. I've been mentoring her for a few years
now. She had to change her life - let go of old friends that did not
want to grow up and be responsible. One of her friends that did grow
up, called her. The friend's sister - Barbie Doll - loves the heroin.
Someone informed Children's Services...who made a surprise inspection
of Barbie's house. Barbie tested positive for heroin. Barbie called her
older sister Babs to come and get the kiddies - two of them - brother
and sister. Babs called the girl I mentor - Skipper.
Skipper takes the kiddies for the weekend so Babs can work the
mandatory overtime. Barbie Doll is supposed to use the weekend to get
"clean" and pass a second drug test on Monday (Not my rules!).
Skipper (my mentoree) fills the sandbox with sand, the kiddie pool with
water, buys food and watches the kiddies. She snuggled with the girl
and painted fingernails and toenails. They played in perfume and
watched the boys (Skipper has two boys of her own.) smear mud on each
other. (Before you get excited - people pay a high dollar for this
luxury in Hollywood and LA...yes it is "cleansed" there.).
They sat in the shade of a tree eating pizza rolls and drinking
Kool-Aid. After baths and dinner in the evening, they played Atari
games. Remember those? Xbox is the big thing now. Atari is a good 35
years outdated. (Hooray for virtual garage sales! ). "Did I do the
right thing?", she asked me. "Absolutely", I answered. No matter what
happens - the kiddies will remember her one-on-one time with them. They
will remember her - as an adult - squishing mud between her toes along
with them. I say, "Thank you Skipper...for your help to the kiddies and
your dedication to showing the kiddies that there are adults who still
care."
And in that vein - This is Memorial Day weekend. In my youth, it was
Decoration Day. I remember the cemeteries virtually exploded with color
and scent. That was a good 50 years ago, now. Lilacs, tiger lilies,
peonies, ferns for background greenery were cut from personal
flower beds. Old metal coffee cans were washed out and filled with a
shallow layer of sand or fine gravel. Flowers were arranged in the can
that had been decorated with a bow. Water was added for more weight and
helped the flowers to last a while longer.
To those Veterans still here, to those actively serving, to the
families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice - Thank you. Thank
you for serving, for laying your life on the line, putting aside your
own interests and trying to straighten out this country's freedom,
safety, and protection. You all have done the right thing. In the USA -
These colors don't run!
Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the
furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next
time. Ever Toodles!! MONA
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