Sunday, May. 11, 2008 - 10:58 am

Happy Mother's Day to all my mommy and step-mommy friends!

In the past, I have written about my Mom and my grandmother's on Mother's Day. I usually go to the cemetery today to perform my the ritual tradition that I've taken up of cleaning the headstones after they've taken a winter beating and bringing flowers to my aunts and grandmothers, but the weather might just keep me from it this year. I usually run into Cindy and Sharon there (in their lawn chairs) and Flea has come with me a few times too. We manage to have fun even at the cemetery.

Lately, I have been really thinking about Flea and what a great mom she is.

The Little Nutjob Girls are spoiled silly, but never rotten. They are two intelligent, dynamic, hilarious and beautiful small people that are a pleasure to be around. Samantha and Emily are absolutely the most wonderful reflection of what a great mother Flea is. (I certainly acknowledge that the Bean has had a hand in all this too, but this isn't about him.)

My heart does flip-flops when they run to me and put their arms around me. They can make my whole day just by telling me that I smell good. I like talking to them on the phone and hearing about what they've been up to. I am having so much fun watching them grow and I look forward to seeing how much these amazing little women are going to accomplish and if I can help them at any time, in any way along their path, I will be honored to do so.

But Flea's mothering doesn't stop there. She and her family are very involved in their neighborhood. They don't just live in a house next door to people they wave at now and again. They actually know their neighbors, they are friends with them. Their children play together every day. There always seems to be something going on from community yard sales to cleaning up the neighborhood park.

Flea's household is a popular spot for the little neighbors and there always seems to be a 'kid exchange' going on. Running here to pick up that kid from this practice, dropping another kid off over there in time for that school function. Keeping track of her own two children would be enough to have me running in circles, but she takes on extras too. She has made great friends of her neighbors and since it is an exchange, they take her girls sometime too. Somehow through all the chaos, it is very rare that I have ever heard her have to raise her voice to the little ones. I've heard her yell at the Bean (her Darling Husband) but not the kids.

You know, because the kids actually listen.

She doesn't stop at having to take care of kids at home. She also has kids at work...teenagers! I've often seen her bring work home when there's just not enough time and resources at school to take care of it there. It's always fun for me when we run into some of her students outside of the classroom. I remember feeling awkward and guilty, like I'd been caught doing something wrong even if I wasn't, when I ran into my teachers outside of school. It gives me a giggle to think that those kids feel the same way running into her. They always smile when they see her and make it a point to stop and talk to her. She tells them they shouldn't be smoking or that they should be dressed warmer.

She's the caregiver to a variety of household pets that put even more demands on her time. One, of which, is an insane escape artist hamster that she rescued from an animal shelter in Illinois rather than purchasing one from the local pet store.

Flea has a few other things going on too. A marriage to continuously cultivate, a household to run, poker night every other Friday, yoga one night a week, an extended family to take part in...the list goes on and on.

I don't know where she finds the time, but she does.

Oh, there's one more thing.

She manages to make time to be a best friend to me and all of you know what a handful I can be.

Flea, I love you and want to thank you for all of the things you do for me and for everyone around you. I will do my best to make sure that you never forget how much you are appreciated.  There will always be a bottle of Jack and some Pepsi in my home for you and every now and again Flea's Secret Cookie Bars...with nuts...that you don't have to share with anyone.

Happy Mother's Day.

Where I've Been. - What's Next.