Parenthood

October 30parenthood,beth,john,cupcake,oakley

I am thankful for parenthood. I am blessed to have two amazing children, John, 32, and Beth 22. Although I have blundered and stumbled my way through parenthood, there are two pieces of advice I am pretty certain about. One: encourage and support your children to be themselves and discover their talents and interests. Two: love them. Rather than trying to make them clones of yourself, let them discover who they are. I always wanted my kids to love golf the way I did and experience the relationship I had with my father and golf. Although they both dabbled in golf, and as sad as I was when it turned out not to be their things, I came to accept that I should support them in whatever endeavors they did. And golf was dad's and my thing, so we had that. Thankfully, John, Beth, and I developed our own things that we share.

With John it was basketball, cross country and track, music, and art. I do love basketball, music, and art, so I am definitely invested in those. I even coached a couple of his basketball teams. But, honestly, running is not my thing. But he so loves it so I came to love it too (at least when he was involved). I attended all his track meets enthusiastically and proudly. With track and field, you can wait several hours before your child has his/her event. Now that really takes patience. But the payoff comes when they run and do their best. That is MY son out there running! And you revel in their achievements. I have attended countless concerts by John's three bands, a solo appearance, and gigs he had with other bands. Although his music may not be what was my pidgeonhole of music, sometimes, I have always been proud of his playing. He amazes me with his guitar solos and the intricate arrangements. Thus, I have discovered new musical avenues through my son. And broadened myself because of him. Who says your children can't teach you?

With Beth, it has been dance, swimming, softball, and arts and crafts. I attended many many softball games and even coached her team once. I really enjoyed those games. Swimming was much like track was for me. You wait and wait and wait, until your precious darling has her one or two races. But when she was between those lines, I was the proud chearing father. I have attended something like eighteen annual dance recitals since she was four. She truly loves dance. And I, smartly decked out in black tuxes, proudly danced with her at two of them. One was to the song "Keeper of the Star" which will forever warmly be identified with Beth. It's great to see her on her discovery of her eventual career, which I am sure will be somehow connected with helping others. Because that's the kind of person she is.

So if your son or daughter wants to be a Suma mud wrestler, get in the mud with them. If they want to study the mating habits of the dung beetle, go through the dung with them! Kind of nasty visuals there but you know what I mean.

It has been so exciting to see my children develop their own talents and skills and become great loving, caring, honest individuals. And not clones of myself. My greatest crowning achievement!

This photo was taken for last year's Christmas card in December, 2012. I looked for one with Beth and John together and had few recent ones, so this one will have to suffice. It's a little on the wacky and humorous side, with them both wrapped in Christmas paper. It's actually quite appropriate now that I think of it. What better Christmas presents could one ask for?

parenthood

parenthood gives you the excuse

to pull out your inner child

no excuse any more

no time to be meek and mild

every son or daughter

can teach us so much

we learn by participating in their growth

they grow and we also grow much.

© rt tulley

Bee Gees Day

October 29bee gees day

I am thankful for Bee Gees Day. No, you probably have never heard of Bee Gees Day. It is a personal holiday for me. I have been a fan of the Bee Gees since their Bee Gees 1st album came out in 1967. I bought the girl I was dating a copy of it. She wouldn't let me record it so I bought another one for myself and found a replacement girlfriend. I since bought just about every one of their albums. I always liked their melodies, lyrics, and their beautiful three part harmonies.

The story of Bee Gees Day goes like this. I used to play their music in my lab. Unfortunately, although I can't understand why, not everyone shares my love of the trio. I think younger people today associate the Bee Gees with the disco era, a time when they made a resurgence, but which since caused them a lot of negative feelings because of the anti-disco movement. But to me, that was their low point, although they did do many good songs then. Personally, I like the pre-disco and post-disco eras of the Bee Gees much better.

My employees asked me not to play Bee Gees music all the time in the lab so they would not have to listen to it. But I was granted one day a year, my birthday, October 29, to play Bee Gees music to my heart's content. Thus, Bee Gees Day was born. I made a sign: "Bee Gees Day: 8 hours of continuous music from the genius that is the Brothers Gibb." I put it on the door of the lab. Somebody wrote on it: "Enter at your own risk" as a joke. But that sort of made the tradition more endearing. Since then, October 29 has always been Bee Gees Day in my heart.

The photo above is my re-creation of the sign along with a pile of my Bee Gees LP records and CDs. It is sad to me that two of the brothers (Maurice and Robin) have passed away (and another, Andy, who was to supposed to eventually join the group, also passed away). Happily, Barry carries on by performing and touring some. And I still have all my Bee Gees albums, which I listen to regularly, and fondly think of Bee Gees Day with a smile and heartfelt joy.

the bee gees and me

i have had many a Holiday

since i came them to know

they have been there to help me

To Love Somebody and grow

but I Can’t See Nobody

so I Started a Joke

it could have ended in Tragedy

without the bee gees for me

they taught me How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

and how to take the Chance of Love

can you have Too Much Heaven

with a glimpse of the above

I was the Child

but now am older and more Alive

the bee gees and me

every Emotion keeps me Stayin’ Alive

but when i have some Lonely Days

i sing a few Words and you Run to Me

we grew up and Saw a New Morning

i will never again be Alone

for there will always be

the bee gees there for me.

© rt tulley

Protection

October 28protection,awning,breaux bridge,old building

I am thankful for protection. Many things protect us in life, including family and friends that try to protect you from hardships. Windows allow for light to come through but protect somewhat against the elements. Locks on our doors offer protection from intruders. The police and fire departments protect us from crime and fire, respectively. And medical professionals help to protect our health. I hope you feel and receive ultimate protection or comfort from God. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23)

This photo was another that I took in Breaux Bridge. It is an old building across the street from the Bayou Teche Visitor's Center. I love this old tattered building but my focus from this picture is the awning. Awnings protect buildings from the heat and glaring light from the sun if over windows or doors and also protects us from rain. Therefore, I chose to use this awning photo to represent protection.

protection

Father protect me

from the ravages of the bad storm

shelter me like an awning

and not let me to evil conform

keep the waters of temptation

far away from my door

and shade me from blistering heat

a clean heart to restore.

© rt tulley