Not a "Regular Person"

This evening, as the trusty mutt Kilmer and I were taking our daily walk, we went by my friend Jean's house. Her car was in the driveway, so I headed up to the front door to ring the bell.

Two sweet neighbor kids of Jean's came around the corner from the house next door and greeted Kilmer and me ... patting the dog and telling me all about their cousins who were coming to visit for the next four days. As we talked, I rang the doorbell and got no answer ... Jean was not home.

I chatted with the little girl for a few more minutes and I was getting ready to leave, I said to her, "Next time you see Mrs. A, tell her Lisa and Kilmer came by to say hi!"

She said, "I know someone named Lisa." And then she thought for a minute and added, "Well, actually, she's on TV. But she's a regular person, not a grandma like you."

Really? Ah, c'mon. Really?!?

Who knew "Mom" was a swear word?

"____________, Mom."

Who knew that the sweet nickname for the woman who gave birth to you could become a swear word? Typically uttered by a teen or young adult at the end of a response, this particular usage of the name "Mom," when added with a certain tone of voice and great inflection thereby giving it more than one syllable, can be a replacement for a myriad of colorful phrases. Around here it most often replaces the phrase "I know already, shut up now." (Isn't it my responsibility to remind my kids to watch for crazy teenage drivers when they ride their bikes to school or to bring up their dirty dishes so they don't attract rats in the basement?) "Okay, Mom." "Gotta go now, Mom." "Yes, Mom." And off they go, pedaling away with their headphones on or taking a full meal down to the basement on my plates with my forks and cups. Really?

It is then that I close my eyes and fantasize about getting all new dishes that go into the dishwasher after they've been used, tweezers without bent ends, scissors in the kitchen drawer, laundry baskets with clothes in them, carpet that you can actually see, and everyone home safe and tucked in around me.

All too soon my fantasies will come true ... except for the last one. And then it will be quite lonely and I will miss hearing my name "Mom," no matter how it is used.

Yep, I'd much rather have the kids around. And their slang. And no clean dishes in the kitchen.

So, get over it, Mom.
You've got laundry to do.

On that Proverbial Limb

I'm going out on a limb. Low these many years I have helped other businesses find an identity, communicate their business to the world, and attract attention from would-be customers. After 23 years of being Bookman Graphics, I figure it is about time to begin marketing my business ... a little.

I have created a post card I can send or hand out that shows most of the things I love to do. This may sound like an easy thing for a graphic designer to do, but for me, it was not easy. Did I pick the right photos? The right fonts? The right colors? Should I put my photography skills out there? Will anyone call me? Yikes ... what if they do?

I decided to step out and I have even been brave enough to send it to the printer. And who knows, I might even set them out in public places to be seen by other humans.

Here it is ... revealed to the world ... well, to my 8 Blog Friends:

Scripture Unwrapped -- Bookman Graphics

I have a new project. 

(That will come as no surprise to people who know me ... 

     I have Artistic A.D.D.)

I have started a new series of drawings called "Scripture Unwrapped." 

Below is my first one from Paul's letter to the Philippians. 

These three sentences have had a huge impact on my life.

Thank you, Lord, for the inspiration.

Next up, Romans 12:1-2. 

Have any verses you would recommend? Let me know!