Merry Christmas from me and my merry band of misfits!

So I suppose you wonder what the title to this year’s Christmas blog means?  How many of you immediately thought of the movie “Rudolph” and it’s “land of misfit toys?”  (Insert quote “nobody wants a Charlie in the box!”). Anyway, regardless, that’s what I always used to think of when I heard the word “misfit.”  However, this year brought a whole new meaning of the word to myself and our little family and as such, I will dare to explain here.

 

The year began normally.  I had a (routine for me) surgical bladder procedure and subsequent bladder “treatments” that caused an alarmingly wicked chemical smell to emit pungently from each and every pore of my skin.  (yea, I'm gonna go there) I’ve been through this procedure before and aside from the unsettling smell  (ask my colleagues who were lucky enough to sit next to me in our weekly faculty meetings) I consider it to be no big deal.  (Can you believe we're not to the "misfit" part yet?!). That was January and February.  Alex later had his own medical procedure which has nothing to do with being a misfit, I just like his expression.  It’s a look I get a lot.  I call it his “pre-wisdom teeth removal I hate-you-for-taking-my-picture” look. (And no, he’s not giving me the finger with his pulse-ox hand.  He would still be grounded.)

 

 

Later in February James and I went to our church’s annual “sweetheart dinner.”  Here I am with my friends Amy and Ilene at our table that night.  I of course am looking like a total misfit sitting in between them with braces on my teeth!!!

 

 

In March we travelled to Florida to spend time with my parents (all 4 of them). Here are my three men feeling like misfits because I forced them to take this picture at the airport.  Alex’s expression says it all.

 

The boys (now teenagers in EVERY sense of the word) had fun playing in the pool and hanging out looking “cool” in the hot tub but may have felt slightly like misfits when they went with grandma Sue to an art studio to make fish out of coconuts.  Nothing like arts and crafts hour for teenage boys with the retired crowd. 

 Here’s a picture taken before I drug mom out to the bingo parlor.    (Yea, I just typed that and you just read it)

 

Not only do we LOOK like complete societal and perhaps slightly demonic misfits, but we were REALLY in the misfit crowd at the bingo parlor if you can believe that.  Seriously, I want to go back to birthday party bingo because playing bingo at the actual bingo parlor gets a little dicey.  Those people get REALLY into it and actually, it’s a little frightening.  (Can’t wait to go back this year?  LOL).

 The only thing bigger than bingo with the Floridian retirement crowd is the flea market.  Here’s a picture of James looking like a misfit standing next to a polar bear at the flea market.  And why?  Well, why not really…..

 

 

Later that week we celebrated all of the people who had March birthdays that were together in Florida (Mom, Bob, James, Alex).  Check out this band of four misfits.  

 

While in Florida we travelled to another part of the state to spend the night with my dad and his wife there.  They own a motor coach and had just invested in a concrete slab of their very own (Yea, turns out people sell those and other people actually buy them) and a “cottage.”  James and I got to be the first “house guests” in the cottage and we felt like quite the misfits as once the love seat sofa bed was opened we could conveniently remove items from the mini fridge with our feet.  It was kind of like spending the night in a very tastefully decorated doll house.  Only we clearly aren’t doll size LOL.

 

 

I’m sure the boys felt like misfits playing shuffle board in the retirement community.

 

They were very good sports though and actually had a good time, only quitting once we lost the light.  Misfit or not we were fortunate to be able to spend another week in Florida this year.  The skies were a beautiful blue and my band of misfits always enjoys the trip.

 

 

In March Alex officially turned 17.  Hers a pic of him and his misfit cake celebrating the big 1-7 with candles that don't match.

 

 

In later March and April we took a couple of short trips to Omaha where we were complete misfits at both the “spin stops here” tour and the Neil Diamond concert.  I’m pretty sure we were the youngest in both crowds but we still had a great time at both.

 

 

Adam had a good time at the Mary Immaculate athletic banquet though I’m sure he felt like a slight misfit because aside from the coach he was the tallest kid there.  (Privacy note:  I'm electing to blur his friends faces as some of them I do not know. Feel free to draw them in)

For you animal lovers out there I'd like to pause here and take note of our misfit furry family members.  We have three misfit dogs who were all adopted from a variety of misfit circumstances.  They are all different breeds and have three completely different personalities yet they fit in very well in each of their own misfit ways.  Here they are waiting for us to come home from one of our adventures.

 But here's what they usually look like.............

 

I had fun at the MSHA convention once again this year at Tan-Tar-A.  I always enjoy seeing my friends Gina and Cindy.  We were behaving like misfits because I am fairly certain we were supposed to be paying attention here. 

Here I am with my merry band of CMDS misfits! 

 

Alex and his misfit-looking tennis team took home the Camdenton team tennis title in their invitational while Adam bagged a turkey. 

 

Talk about the ultimate misfit?!  Here is Adam portraying Jesus during the live stations of the cross this year.  WOW. 

And here he is as Jesus with all of the other bible cast member misfits. I'm not blurring their faces hoping that his class mates’ families won’t mind.  I mean really, who doesn’t love a good grade school bible picture?  I'm choosing to show you the picture of him smiling versus, well, dead Jesus.  Besides, smiling while on the cross makes him look like an even bigger misfit!

LOVE THESE KIDS!!!

Adam decided to try track this year.  Here he is running the hurdles.  He looks like a misfit because of his rather untraditional hurdle form.  Check it out……

 

 

Alex and his girlfriend Abby went to the junior prom last Spring.  There is nothing misfit about this photo because they both look so darn cute.  Love them!

Here he is with his band of tennis team misfits.  They clean up pretty well.

I came home one night to find my misfit family in true misfit form………….

Alex and his doubles partner Bennet took second place in district doubles.  They felt like huge misfits compared to the size of their medals. 

In May I celebrated 25 years at Truman.  I continually feel like a misfit because I spend all my days with college students.  (Seriously, why aren't they aging at the same rate I am?!)

 

 

Also in May, Adam turned the big 1-3 and officially entered his teen-age years.  Here he is with his misfit cake and non-matching misfit candles………..

 

 

Speaking of misfit cakes, here's a picture of a combination cake celebrating Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and my sister and my birthdays.  Hey, we were all together at one time so why not just hit all of those occasions as once?!

 

Later in June, my friend Amy’s daughter threw her a surprise party for her 50^th birthday.  Here are my misfit collections of friends on that occasion.

 

 

Later in June, I had the surprise of my life when my husband and girlfriends surprised me with a 50^th birthday bash at my friend Andrea’s winery.  There was amazing food, a band, a photographer, a Raggedy Ann cake and a CAR!!!  I felt slightly like a misfit because as a 50 year old woman I had a Raggedy Ann Cake that said "Happy Birthday Missy tu-tu" which is what my grandmother used to call me when I was little. Here are some misfit pics from that amazing day!

 

 

I had the BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!

 Later in June I attended two meetings, one in D.C. with my ethics and certification friends and one in Princeton NJ with my ETS SLP NAC friends.  I always feel like a misfit when standing among these super smart and talented people.

 

 

However, it was during one of these meetings that I lost my hearing completely in my left ear.  I'm talking DEAF.  I WOKE UP DEAF PEOPLE!!!!  My SLP peeps will appreciate this audio gram of my hearing?!  OMG!!!!!!

Seriously, it was terrifying, isolating and eye-opening.  I have a whole new appreciation and respect for “sudden sensorineural hearing loss.”  Ultimately, with high dose steroids administered at just the right time (THANK GOD I was flying into St. Louis) my hearing did eventually come back. (Mostly).  I still don’t hear quite right but compared to what it was I am LOADS better so I am happy. Just excuse me if I say "huh?" more than usual!

 In late July we took our annual family trip to my dad’s place in Arkansas and we thought we’d try our hand at a selfie on the boat.  I don’t need to explain why we look like misfits in this photo as we attempted our first Arkansas “selfie.”

 

 

In early August I had a fabulous cutting edge procedure on my leg to alleviate severe plantar fasciitis.  I wound up in a walking boot for a month and felt like a misfit every time I ventured outdoors wearing my new apparatus.

 

 

In late August I had one child begin his senior year in high school and one begin his 8th grade and final year at Mary Immaculate Grade School.   I felt like a misfit for having children who were growing up way too fast!!!  Below you'll find a side by side of Alex from Kindergarten to senior year and then a pic of their first day this year.  How did they get so tall? (I ask as I break out into a chorus of Sunrise Sunset from "Fiddler")

 

Alex and Adam both played foot ball again this year.  Here is Alex feeling like a misfit as his mother makes him pose with his picture at the stadium.  He really does love me he just hasn't realized it yet. ;-)

 

 

 Here are some other random misfit football pics from this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex’s girlfriend Abby plays varsity tennis as well.  Here is a picture of them on her senior night.  He is posing with her because she felt like a misfit standing in a picture alone holding a picture of herself. LOL

 

September and October came and went.  Alex and Abby had a good time at Homecoming.

 

Here's the photo proof of Alex’s school senior pics.  I feel like he’s a misfit because he is wearing a St. Louis Blues tie with that suit!  On another note, I feel like a misfit for not getting his senior pics taken this fall.  They will now be senior pics taken in the spring.  Pray for early blooms.

 

 

We attended a family wedding in St. Louis in October and felt like misfits taking these pictures because seriously, we are not this cool.

 

 

 Among the misfit photos at that wedding there were a few "keepers"

 

In October James and I celebrated 20 years of marital bliss (it’s okay, you can laugh and shake your head here…I am).  We had a very nice few days in New Orleans where we felt like complete misfits most of the time.  We were typically in bed by 10 or 11 and we ate in a few super fancy-shmancy restaurants and tried hard to “look like we belonged” there.  Can you tell we have serious issues trying to take selfies?!  That is SO NOT us.  But just for you all, we tried.

 

 

Later in the year Alex was inducted into the National Honor Society.  He felt like a misfit sitting in the front row.

 

 

Adam and James each got a deer this year so they did NOT feel like misfits among  their hunting friends.

 

 

 Alex and his friends got confirmed in the Catholic Church this year in late fall.  He felt like a misfit because our diocese completes this sacrament at such an “old” age.  Many of us went through this in middle school.  But, nevertheless here they are…….

 

(Is it me or does it look like Mary has her hand on Alex's shoulder?!)

 

We attended a Halloween party at the Kuttenkuler Home where we went as Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, Richie and Potsie from Happy Days.  The boys felt like misfits because they had no idea who we were portraying. 

 

 

We had fun celebrating my Aunt Polly’s (yes, I actually do have an aunt Polly) 60^th birthday in November.  If you check out some of our faces you will see why we are photo misfits.  Honestly, I often wonder why we try and take photos…….

 

 

In early November my friends and I attended the ASHA convention and took in "Hamilton" while in L.A.  One of these photos is a selfie.  Let's see if you can spot which one. What can I say.  We’re old but we tried………

 

 

Here is a pic of Alex and Adam at my mom’s for Thanksgiving.  Can you tell why they are misfits?

 

In contrast, my sister Molly and I decided to stay upright for our photo——-You’re welcome!

Here is our annual “misfit” bottom of the steps pic taken Thanksgiving evening.

Here is Adam looking like a misfit as he is so much taller than the tree he decorated for grandma Sue.

Adam was lucky to be chosen to be a "student of the month" recently.  He felt like a misfit in this photo because he looks like a giant compared to the others.  (Monsignor actually stood on a step above Adam to look taller!)  Faces are blurred to protect the innocent.....LOL

 

 

And finally, most recently, while not a misfit picture, Alex and Abby enjoyed attending their winter formal.  I say again---Love these two.

So, that about wraps up the year for me and my misfit cast of real-life characters.  Why the misfit theme?  Well it's like this………

 In late August I was driving back to the ‘ville from St. Louis.  I was exhausted.  I was deaf in one ear, had a post-surgical boot on one foot, had pores in my skin that smelled of nasty chemicals and was wearing retainers on my teeth.  I pulled off in this bustling metropolis for gas.

 

I missed the exit to get back onto the highway and found myself driving the wrong way down several  tiny one way streets................ and I just lost it.  I was driving around lost and crying.  Sobbing actually.  I was driving around lost and sobbing. I was feeling pretty pitiful and honestly quite broken.  Blurry-eyed I turned down a side street and quite by accident ended up in the parking lot of this place………………

 

 

And there my friends, sitting in my van looking out the window I was made whole again.  I laughed until I couldn’t breathe.  In fact, I had to go back to the gas station to pee because I was that hysterical.  I had indeed truly found my people. 

 So, there you have it.  As we all celebrate the birth of our Lord this Christmas season, please know that we "misfits for Jesus" will be celebrating in big ways too.  MISFITS FOR JESUS BABY———WE UNITE!

Merry Christmas from me and my band of misfits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My life today: "Miracles" in Chillicothe IL; My Hometown

My life today: "Miracles" in Chillicothe IL; My Hometown: Andy Taylor:    "Am I right, or... or-or-or wrong? Uh, you... you never have been in Mayberry before, have you?"        ...

"Miracles" in Chillicothe IL; My Hometown

Andy Taylor:    "Am I right, or... or-or-or wrong? Uh, you... you never have been in Mayberry before, have you?"

           Ed Sawyer:       "No, never."

           Andy Taylor:    "But you figure to be happy here?"

          Ed Sawyer:       "Are you kiddin'? Why shouldn't I be?"

Andy Taylor:    "Oh, I... I don't know. Why should you be?"

Ed Sawyer:        "Why, because Mayberry's my hometown. So long, Andy."

 (From the Andy Griffith episode “a stranger in town” December 26, 1960)

I know it's been awhile.  I know I was WAY behind on my road to 50 campaign blog updates and that I’ve told so many more of you that  I promise to write their special blog topic soon. And I will get caught up!   Really………, I will.  But this is so much better.  I have to stop in the middle of my vacation day to blog about it.  Seriously.

I grew up in the 70s and 80s watching one of three (four if you count PBS) television channels.  My favorite shows were always those that featured small town life.  To this day I DVR “Little House on the Prairie” and “The Waltons.”  I live for re-runs of “The Andy Griffith Show.”  In fact, when James and I were first dating we talked about how we hoped to have a little “Opie” one day and eventually I DID give  birth to a tiny, freckled red-headed boy.  Our very own Ronnie Howard you could say.  You can always find me in a large crowd of people by calling me on my phone.  The ring tone (for everyone) is the theme song “(the fishing hole)” to that same show where Andy and barefoot  Opie walk hand in hand down a dirt road, fishing poles in hand.  I grew up in one small town and now live in another.  It just “feels” right.

Lately I've been plagued by an overwhelming desire to take a time out from my busy life to write about the town I grew up in. I’ll try and explain why here.

As I said, I’m from a small town-----Chillicothe, Illinois.  It's mostly just another example of middle America and full of hard working down to earth people. There are only around 6,000 people who live there.  It's got everything a small town has………………a “downtown” with a movie theater, a central town park with a bandstand, a few fast food restaurants, an old brick post office, an annual carnival and good people.  It's got a whole lot of good people. 

I’ve been meaning to write for some time about just what makes this little town so extraordinary as I have two amazing examples that are SO worth noting.

My brother and sister-in-law lost a son to osteosarcoma when he was just 11 years old.  (You can scroll back many years and read my Christmas blog about that.). After he passed, his parents wanted to do something to continue to help those children and their families who so courageously confront pediatric cancer on the front lines every day.  My nephew’s name was Brad and he was an outstanding athlete.  They decided to have a little league tournament in our small town and to donate the proceeds to St. Jude.  That first year, the tournament had 8 teams arriving in Chillicothe to play.  They designed tee shirts, talked a lot about Brad and just generally had a good time.  The tournament was staffed with volunteers and when all was said and done they raised a little bit of money for the cause. 

They had such a good time that they decided to continue the tournament the following year.  And the year after that.  And the year after that.  Friends, this little small town baseball tournament grew to the point of having 267 teams participate last year AND 293 are scheduled to show up and play this year-----in fact, THIS WEEK!!  All in honor of my nephew Brad.  All donations going to St. Jude and all supported by my little hometown.    

An endeavor of this sort is not for the faint of heart as it takes hundreds of volunteers and additional baseball fields now in surrounding communities.  To say it has grown is an understatement.  Last year the tournament raised 97,000 dollars with higher proceeds predicted this year. And all from a town of just 6,000 people.  It all started with one little family asking their friends to volunteer in order to remember one little boy and to raise money for pediatric cancer research.  That's pretty darn amazing.  That's my home town.

http://www.bradwallintourney.com

Speaking of St. Jude, the citizens of Chillicothe, Illinois ALWAYS go above and beyond to support pediatric cancer research leading to (hopefully) future cures.  These same people participate annually in the St. Jude run from Chillicothe to Peoria and are in the habit of raising over $300,00 dollars.  Compare that to some other (larger) cities and the amount raised by this small community is beyond respectable. 

And just when your thought the town had outdone itself…….

Last summer I was visiting my father in Arkansas on vacation when I read a Facebook post that stated that my little Catholic grade school in this tiny town was going to close.  Now my boys attend(ed) another similar little Catholic grade school in their hometown of Kirksville, Missouri and I am deeply committed to Catholic education.  It broke my heart to think of my hometown parish school, St. Edwards, closing after all of these years.  In an era where many small Catholic schools are having to close their doors based on dwindling enrollment and nearly non-existent financial stability it was not surprising news but personally devastating none the less.  And that's when the people of Chillicothe, Illinois rose to support yet another challenge and rallied.   

When word got out that the school was in danger of closing in just a few short weeks and would NOT reopen in the fall a very young (Optimistic? Ambitious?) St. Edwards alum started a Go Fund Me page just to see what would happen.  I mean it couldn’t hurt right?  And so we watched from my father’s house in Arkansas.  We watched online as first one person and then another donated/pledged amounts of all sizes.  We watched every hour and into the night.  We fell asleep, woke up and checked the page. We watched and we watched. Catholics donated. Non-Catholics donated.  Children donated.  Alumni donated.  People from surrounding towns donated. And on and on it went.  Finally, once the diocese took notice of the efforts being made in one tiny town they offered to throw in some money themselves IF the daunting amount of $400,000 could be raised independently. (I am quite sure feeling that the effort would never fully be realized). And it needed to be raised FAST if the school was to remain open for the 2016-2017 school year.   

But on the updates went.  I began that week of vacation crying because the school that helped to shape me into the person I am today was going to forever end and rob so many future community citizens and leaders (like myself and my grade school friends) of an experience that cannot be measured financially or otherwise.  But by the end of that week, I was sitting on my dad’s couch announcing the hourly progress of the campaign until finally, I read that they (WE) had made it.  The community had raised enough money to fix the roof and keep the doors OPEN!  My little alma mater school had a late start last fall and had to begin classes in another local donated space while improvements where being made to the roof and existing structure but soon enough, those students and teachers were all back in their school right where they belonged.  News stories called it the “Miracle in Chillicothe.”  And in a way, I suppose it was.  But to me, mainly, it was just another example of everyone in this special little town banding together in an extraordinary way to make a difference.  And a HUGE difference they continue to make.  These people.  These people in MY hometown.  I am so proud to say I am from Chillicothe, Illinois.  My hometown.  Saaaaaaa-lute!

http://thecatholicpost.com/2017/01/30/miracle-in-chillicothe-celebrated-as-reopened-st-edward-school-is-blessed/