I don't know his name but everyone calls him Chief. He sits outside my local 7-11 on the side and greets everyone within hearshot with either How ya doin today? or Change!?!   Yes, he's a begger. Every so often I give him my pocket change however I'm now wondering if I should.   Last week while walking to my car, I turned around and saw him looking at his smart phone. He quickly put it away and smiled at me. Am I to conclude he's begging for money to pay his phone bill?  

One of my earliest memories is hiding my eyes, looking away and cowering behind a movie seat upon watching the appearance of the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz with my mother.  Truth be told, the shock and horror has never left me.   I looked away and my over stimulated youthful imagination nearly destroyed me.  The same thing happened years later while watching Psycho.  

There were nine of us around the conference table. As the meeting came to a close, we decided to schedule another meeting. Six smartphones appeared. Two laptops were opened. And my Personal Pocket Journal came out of my pocket. Yes, I have my iPhone and there’s a calendar application that links to my office calendar and our family “shared” calendar. But I have never been able to give up my Personal Pocket Journal.

Nothing better than spending the day with my son, Patrick. Last week my son called me complaining about his work load at school. Exhausted, he said “Mom, I just want to spend the day with you. Just you and me.”

  Some of you may know that my daughter has accepted a new job for the fall. She will be working at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor doing health economics policy research. We are all super excited -- but that is not the purpose of this blog.

 

A good number of us gather with family this weekend. Some gathered today for Easter. Others including members of my family gathered Friday and Saturday eves for Passover. Usually we host one night and visit with family or friends (Appreciate the invites). Periodically, if find ourselves out of town, we participate in communal seders.   This year, we hosted both nights.

Do you remember Natalie "Nadia" Suleman? I didn't until I ran across a follow up news story.   She is the Octomom, giving birth to 8 babies from one pregnancy. Well, they just celebrated their 10th birthday and all are seemingly healthy and well adjusted.