A Star is Born

Saturday afternoon I made my 4th trip to the State Fair. Many years we didn’t go at all so I think I made up for some of those missed times. Yesterday’s trek was for 2 specific reasons; to check out the photography and visit Paul’s 13 year old granddaughter, Katelyn, who worked this year at the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. On my way to the Center, her parents were dutifully waiting for her in the Bud Tent..(alright!) saw and flagged me down, so I joined them for a few refreshments. Afterwards we headed to the Center see ‘kid vet’ in action. Her duties included helping one of the Veterinarians, Dr. Hoy, an extremely nice man. (But then, have you ever met a Veterinarian you didn’t like, or a cute little girl following him?)
We spotted them right smack in the thick of things, the Dr. in his green scrubs and Katelyn, becoming as ever in her magenta staff uniform. They had their eye on a mama cow who was preparing to give birth to her first born. Our timing couldn’t have been better for front row positions to witness the blessed event. If you can believe, even at my tender age of 39 (OK, + 21) I’ve never seen a live birth up close and personal so this was going to be a brand spanking new experience for Auntie C.
Mom Cow’s labor process seemed rather odd to me. She quietly stood awhile, then paced some, then focused on the demonic camera man in her pen, stood some more, and paced and focused more. There was no screaming nor swearing obscenities at the poor bull who did it to her, or how she would make his life eternally miserable because of the pain she was having to endure at his doing.
Finally, after about a half an hour she laid down. That was the tip off the birth was eminent. The Dr. kept attentive with the hope nature would take it’s course and he wouldn‘t have to intervene. The wide eyed audience was practically breathing in tandem, teeth clenched, three separate inhales and quietly exhaling PUSHHHH, but in reality, she didn’t appear stressed at all, nothing close to the mental images of human birthing situations.

Then, suddenly, with a big contraction that produced a rounded, white, filmy, translucent sack, we saw a foot. Doc was looking for two and after a few minutes we saw the second little hoof. Soon after, we saw a nose, and not a small one, rather, a large nose that seemed to declare, “yes, I am a NOSE attached to a soon to be living, breathing life force so step aside, I'm coming out!"

At that point, mama was trying her best but things seemed to come to a standstill. So Doc bent down, stuck his fingers through the sack (that one kind of got to me…I’d have needed a hazmat suit) and pulled the two little feet towards him. That’s all it took and suddenly the complete body of a black, wet newborn lay in the hay. Mama was up in a flash and began to clean her small bundle of joy because, as you know, many pairs of eyes as well as two cameras were focused on her new little film star.
Because it was a she and since we were all thinking of Paul and his building, it was decided her name would be Paula. So on 8-21-10, at 4:20 PM,new baby calf Paula presented herself into the world. Today she is surely up, nursing like a pro and no doubt is the prettiest little calf in all the land. Soon she will head home to somewhere in rural Iowa with no realization she is a film star….“that’s a wrap. In the can," as they say!

Kids who grow up in a farming environment see this stuff every day, but as a city slicker, I found it so remarkable. So many people have commented on how much they have enjoyed the building and the attractions within. And because of yesterday’s event, I'm here to tell you that a quick, simple stroll through the building will, in no way, provide the real purpose of the Center. Next year, I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen a live birth to go and spend some time if you want to experience the true essence of the Learning Center. The organizers plan for pregnant animals to be on call, so to speak, therefore, plenty of opportunities exist to see new babies come into the world.

Just all in a day’s work for the animals, Dr's and staff. What a nice finale to my 2010 fair experience.

And speaking of stars, what a great way for starlet Katelyn to begin her community service career. Well done, kiddo!

Let Freedom Ring.....and soon, please?

A few weeks ago, in Council Bluffs, IA., my nephew Ben was called for his 2nd deployment in three years, this time Afghanistan. We may have guessed he had a calling for living on the edge sometime around age 4 when he would, without warning, take a leap of faith off anything high. Somehow he always landed upright and solid and that is what defines him today, upright and solid. He is a captain, an officer and a gentleman.

The men and women in this country who agree to leave for months on end to defend us certainly have far more courage and dedication than I. My courage and dedication is put to the test by simply attending a deployment ceremony. You can't believe what it is like to witness the stamina of the soldiers and their families as they say their final goodbyes in the 45 fleeting minutes before the bus pulls out. Little kids clinging to Moms and Dads, asking for the 1,000th time why they have to go away? It's impossible to keep one's mind in the moment because two thoughts completely take over. The first is the realization of the extreme sacrifice and safety factor of the soldiers. The other is wondering how those left at the station return home to immediately shape new life styles alone or as single parents for the next 12 months. They wake up alone Monday morning and know they own all the home front responsibilities for the upcoming year. Single handedly, they now must get the kids to daycare and school, go to work, pay the bills, unclog the toilets, shovel the snow, and nurse sick babies while suppressing all the nagging fears. What exactly are the calming words to explain why Daddy is halfway around the world in a foreign war zone and why he will be OK? How does one ensure the television never gets turned to an evening news channel so a 7 year old doesn't hear the negative media reports describing where her Dad now lives? The news scares the living daylights out of me, imagine being 5, 6 or 7 and hearing it? That has to be the hardest part.

Ben is 6 foot two and looks as rugged as the jagged mountainous Afghanistan terrain. But as rugged as he appears on the outside, inside he is beautifully balanced by a gentleness as a father and man.

We were all together Friday evening in Des Moines and Saturday evening in Council Bluffs. Afterwards, I wondered if, indeed, he is honoring his true calling. There was seldom a time he didn't have a child in his arms. Not only did he cuddle and spar with his own two, but also and often, he held close to his heart the small children of his sister, cousins and friends. It may be a rare quality to bark military orders by day and coo sweet nothings in kids' ears after the sun goes down. I wondered if his calling was to defend his country and help rid the world of the bad guys or own and operate a daycare? His love for kids is so obvious and pure.

So it hit me as I was writing my thoughts for this blog that maybe his motivation to fight and defend is quite simply for the purpose of trying to maintain the country as safe a haven as possible for our kids. Tall order, huh? Maybe he does see himself as a keeper of the kids, only in soldiers clothing.

I'm fairly certain Ben still gets his thrills jumping off high places, both mentally and physically. He has always landed exactly the way he should, perfect posture, upright and solid so I have no doubt he will continue to do so.

Let us pray for the safe return of every soldier. Also, pray this darn war can be won or controlled. It will be a very long year (again) for wives like Kyra, the kids, families and friends. And speaking of Kyra, like Ben, she has had to reach deep within to muster up the bravery to keep her worries in check and take care of their family. She is a survivor, amazingly strong and supportive and loves her husband very much. I am on TEAM KYRA.

To the best of his ability, Ben has promised his mother he won't see combat, but it isn't much comfort to the one who went through 12 brutal hours of combative labor to get him into this world. Therefore, she is a nerve ending to be reckoned with as well. I'm positive she would much prefer her son operate a daycare in Des Moines but she knows better. And underneath the worry is a woman who is extremely proud of the little boy she raised so well. His father, Tom, a military man himself, is a rudder, always calm and brings up the rear in true form every time. A good man can always be relied on and that is what defines Tom.

So, here's to my nephew and his fellow comrades who choose to serve the country. So far, it is a choice most of us wouldn't make in a million years. They are an elite group of amazing people. May God keep them out of harms way. And may the next 12 months go by in a blink. I'm looking forward to watching big Ben cuddle a little kid again. It truly comes natural to him...proof positive you are what you learn and a major reason why I am so very proud of my family's ability to raise such wonderful kids.

Hey Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?

What's a dime got to do with anything? Not much unless it is one of your most prized possessions. As usual, most mental roads continue to lead back to Paul...but that's OK. As time passes, it's a much smoother ride. Loving memories.

In November, 2008, after a long and emotionally draining day during the move out of the AZ house, my sisters and I were beaten, tired and in desperate need of comfort and amnesia. Our savior was friend Deb who indulged us beautifully. Under the stars in warm swirling water with glasses of wine, we discussed past loved ones and the theory of pennies from heaven. Deb's father had suffered a premature death and her mother had told her if she found a penny, it was from heaven. I commented if it involved Paul, it would at least be a dime. Afterwards, at our Scottsdale home we found dimes everywhere. The most significant one was underneath the liner in his shaving and toothpaste drawer, far removed from where any dime would ever find its way. I marked it and kept it as my dime from heaven.

Since then, I have carried it, lost it, misplaced it, but always with the faith it will come back to me, proven true numerous times. Many times I have opened a drawer and found a dime, walked down a street and found a dime, reached into my purse and pulled out a dime, fished for the last washcloth in the dryer and found a dime. But, at times, the finding of a dime has been much more blatant, like once on a plane underneath my feet while thinking of Paul the whole time wishing he was with me...etc.

So, back to my dime. I hadn't seen it for months but thought it was probably in a pocket of a pair of jeans put away months ago and replaced with summer shorts. The weekend we all traveled to Ben's deployment ceremony to Afghanistan, I really needed my lucky dime. I looked everywhere it might be to no avail. And then, randomly, I moved a clock in the laundry room and found it within the interior of the frame...a place I have no idea how it got there...(me, I know, but... how, what, when and, WHY?)

So, tucked away in my pocket like a winning lottery ticket we traveled to Council Bluffs with my special dime linking Paul to us and his angelic presence at our side.

Paul and I attended Ben's deployment 3 years ago when he was called to Iraq. We traveled in our plane to Sioux Falls that day and by no means was it easy, but we both knew it was so very important to pay respects to the 100's of soldiers called to duty. As difficult and tiring a trip as it was, it was so well worth it.

OK, back to this trip. We arrived in different cars in Council Bluffs, checked into the hotel and went to our rooms. The plan was to meet at my sister Lynne's room to join everyone for dinner. When I knocked on her door, she opened it and asked if I had put a dime outside her threshold. I said no. She opened her hand and showed me a dime....we are pretty certain it is from heaven.

Ben's career choice to serve our country in this day and age was pretty awesome to Paul. They shared a love for hunting and fishing and guns and other things, but most noticeable was the commonality of humble dispositions.

I know Lynne will keep that dime forever, the dime from heaven, a sign that someone from above is watching over her son and will be his wingman...heaven to earth...Houston...we have contact.

So, if you see a dime somewhere, sometime, feel free to pick it up and think of an angel. And also, feel free to be an angel to those who need our prayers. We have so many young people who are trying their best to defend this county the only way they know how...please support them and hope for some miracle to end the desire of our enemies to destroy. That is probably a pipe dream but the other pipe dream is to collect enough dimes to make a difference...

Hey, buddy, have you got a dime?

Yes I do, have you?