Come On People

Since I first watched a mesmerizing and funny man demonstrate his Picture Pages on children’s television, I’ve been a fan of Bill Cosby. That might make my only claim to fame the fact that I’m Bill Cosby’s oldest fan. I’ve eagerly enjoyed his stand-up comedy, his Fat Albert cartoons, his own brand of Kids Say the Darndest Things, and then the show that made everyone else sit up and take notice--The Cosby Show. Bill Cosby proved that you can make people laugh on an intelligent level without taking your material down into the sewer. He reminds us that we are flawed humans but he doesn’t leave us there. Bill Cosby goads us into change and then into teaching others that they too can change. Bill Cosby is the reason I went back to school and finished my master’s degree.

Following my years volunteering in the inner cities of Baton Rouge, I became aware of how enabling through hand-outs rather than mentoring in a reciprocal fashion was what the parents needed more than our free milk and shoes (although it felt good to provide them--but ministry should not be focused on a "warm fuzzies" theology). At the end of the documentary The Boys of Baraka, Bill holds court with a litany of opinions that has, for some really strange reason, made him a lightning rod of controversy. But since I’m a person who agrees with most everything he says, I’m ordering his book Come on, People.

The Happy and Sad State of the Empty Nest

Jared, our youngest, is moving onto the UNCC campus today. He's the caboose. I was excited when our first two moved into college dorms, but there is something about
packing up the youngest that leaves a mom both sad and elated. If I could bottle this feeling, I'd be rich.

We parents gathered our sons for a final dinner out here in Birkdale Village where we live. As the guys scarfed down pizza, we parents discussed our melancholy. We had all resolved
as parents to keep our homes open for the boys throughout highschool as a safe place for them to gather. Therefore, they could only group date and absolutely no drinking--they said they
wouldn't have done that anyway. So while our friendships have formed a bond as guardians of our coming of age sons, we've all gotten so close that we're going to start fellowshipping
outside of proms and PTO's. We're going to plan some biking and picnic outings.

So the empty nest is not just a place of good-byes but also of some new doors to walk through. But as I look at Jared sleeping in this morning with his Pokemon critters packed away and his
iMac ready for heavy duty, I can't help but smile through the tears and thank God for the blessing of a son who loves Jesus and the life God gave us on loan.
sniff. . .

In Memory of Elizabeth Mae Moore

Photo is of my nephews and nieces. L to Right, Tim Moore, Elizabeth, Michael, and in front, my little namesake, Patricia. Elizabeth passed suddenly, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008. Lizzie, you are missed so very badly. We will see you on the other side.

(Info on donations/memorials, just run cursor over header and click.)

love

Aunt Patty

Stranger Than Fiction: Patty's Story Behind Her Story

Painted Dresses the Most Talked About Book on the Internet

I’m back from the Windy City. If you can possibly get away mid-summer, I encourage you to wade into the Karitos Festival of the Arts experience in Bolingbrook. I enjoyed our fiction “tribe” immensely. And we liked each other so much, I organized a Fiction 201 workshop for the returning group next year.

On the home front, last week Technorati, a blogger tracking site listed Painted Dresses as the Number One Talked About Book on the Internet. But to my great surprise, Earthly Vows was listed in the number 2 slot while right behind in number 3 slot was Whisper Town.

If you’ve already devoured Painted Dresses in a week, then the townfolk of Millwood Hollow would like to invite you to drop in and pay them all a visit, especially if you like to follow series. I recommend starting with book one, Fallen Angels. This series has gotten top reviews from critics and readers across the board.