You're A Part Of Me

For as long as I can remember, my mother has had dry cracked heels. I remember her using a pumice stone every night by her bed. Sometimes she would have to pumice so much that there would be a little pile of skin dust on the floor by her bed.

I can't remember how old I was, old enough to remember this story but young enough to be extremely gullible (so, probably 17 or so...!!), but one night I walked into her room to talk to her. I saw a little pile of white powder on the wood floor. I asked her if it was sugar. She said, "I don't know, why don't you taste it and see?" Then, as now, the promise of sugar won out.

So when I say that my mother lives on in me, you can take that to the bank.

Happy birthday, Mother!


P.S. My mother's sadism was passed down to most of her children. It appeared in Eric, when he told me to put the "big ice cube" (read giant salt ball) from the homemade ice cream machine into my mouth, and in Andrew when he made me lick his big toe before he'd give me a Chocodile. Oh, and also when Andrew told me to put my face down by the garbage disposal when the dishwasher started running, because something "magic" was going to happen. (Amy somehow escaped the sadism gene.) I'm sure my children will write a similar blog post about me in 10 years...

Letter From Stephen

Transcription:

"Hey Crackie Dack. Mom told me you sent a package to me from your daughters school or girl scouts but don't be disapointed if I dont get it. Sorry I can't seem to remember her name. I remember Zach and Coleson though. Yeah and funny Eric not like our brother Mr. Serious. There are alot of Lewis out here. I haven't found a female lewis out here yet but I wouldn't be supprised.

I can't wait to come home. I probably will sleep alot. I always have to wake up to an alarm here and I hate it. I miss having my own time every day just to waste away. Poor people in America dont know how good they got it. Iraqi people live in huts made out of mud or trash.

There is a trash dump outside of Baghdad with roads plowed through the dump. Familys living in a brocken down school bus, in the back of a cement mixer, or a pile of trash neatly stacked. This dump is called Trash City. Iraqi Terp's (?) tell us how Iraq used to be beautiful but now it's just a piece of crap. They say that the war is over but they don't want the American soldiers to leave because when we do the bad guys will come back to take over again. There is no clean water in the canals here just murcky swamp water.

So far the weather has been nice. Only once it reached to be 105.

Today was about 95 and breezey. Tack on an extra 10 degrees when whereing all that heavey gear. It roughly ways about an extra 60 lbs.

When I get home I am going to reclass. Which is changing my job as a soldier. I have been talking to dad about it and he has some good ideas on which route to take. I am looking into either dog handler or chaplen assistant. No I don't want to be a preacher. I don't see myself in that position. He pretty much is a runner or a PSD. A PSD is a personal security guy. I can't remember what the D stands for.

PFC Stephen Lewis

soon to be specialist SPC Lewis.
Please make sure everybody has the correct address and give out the secondary.

Option A
PFC Stephen Lewis
HHT 2nd 104 CAV (RSTA)
Unit #6260
APO AE 09378

Option B
PFC Stephen Lewis
BTRY C 1/108FA
Camp Tavi, Unit #6260
APO AE 09378"



My favorite part is Stephen describing the worst part of his tour of duty as having to wake up to an alarm. Ah, the horrors of life on the front.......!!

Horticulture Lesson

Eric went on a little rant on Sunday, after leaving the nursery where we bought Mother's Day plants for my mom.


"You know what really annoys me? The fact that "annuals" aren't plants that bloom once a year. I mean, that's the definition of annual! Why would you call a plant that only blooms once and then dies an annual? And really, why would you ever buy an annual anyway? It's like taking your money and burying it in the ground, instead of buying a house.

So really, perennials should be called annuals, and annuals should be called a waste of money..."

Monday Mornings With Zachary

In today's interview, Zach talks about the plus side to being orphaned. He also invites a guest in at the end, to offer a differing opinion.

I Must Have Done Something Good

When I was little, I just assumed all girls were as close to their mothers as I was. I assumed everyone's mother was quick witted, graceful under pressure, and always understanding. I thought every girl wanted to grow up to be just like her mother.

Then I grew up and looked around at everyone else and their mothers and realized there but by the grace of God go I....



(Of course, I'm sure every other mother out there looks at me and thinks the same thing..!!)


Happy Mother's Day!

Soulmates

Colson and Ava then....




...is no different from Colson and Ava now.






Their future spouses each have big shoes to fill.

My Stephen King Day

Some pictures and video from the aftermath of the bug poison spraying....