tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126615452024-02-19T17:54:22.408-05:00Marmie's MusingsLearning and growing on the journey called life...YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-68823552087128133792010-10-30T15:32:00.000-04:002010-10-30T15:32:49.619-04:00Enchanted - and they pay me to do this?I tell people all the time, foster kids are like your kids, like my grand kids, they are just kids. Chloe loved princesses just like my granddaughter Lucy does!. Her mother was a wanderer, who meets the wrong guys, isn't very stable and ends up in the wrong places, she makes too many bad choices and comes home one day to find her kids in foster care. This isn't a violent story, it isn't one YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-84641732536684889892010-10-17T22:58:00.000-04:002010-10-17T22:58:20.008-04:00Goodbye Rita....my sweet Rita
It was days before I was to leave for Richmond and I still didn't have a plane ticket. I'm a procrastinator but it was getting ridicules! Prices were rising! Somehow I think I was afraid Rita would slip away if I left town, and somehow buying the ticket made it so. For years there were times when I watched her slipping down but she ALWAYS rallied!!&YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-62889302304204325842010-08-07T16:27:00.002-04:002011-11-20T15:33:47.852-05:00My Friend DavidYFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-66827351008008071062010-07-11T08:25:00.009-04:002010-08-07T16:26:48.305-04:00Saying good-bye to a FRIENDI took this picture the last time I saw my dear friend David. He was surrounded by his grandchildren, they were so bright and fresh, so engaging, so lovely. Everyone seemed to be enjoying each other. He went around the circle introducing everyone and at the end, he turned to me, then holding my hand, he announced to everyone, "This... is my friend!!" I felt so proud in that moment and so very YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-34683505746112310172010-07-05T13:35:00.008-04:002010-07-12T01:33:47.873-04:00Life is Hard I was not happy to be riding the "bad bus" vs the "good bus" ...with valid reasons of course. Remember this? http://marmiesmusings.blogspot.com/2009/04/just-boy.html But the ride on the 38 never fails to bring me into some kind of reality about life. On a crowded bus we have to look at each others faces and literally rub against one another, like it or not. There are mean people, kind people, YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-39078951053969206342010-07-05T11:40:00.006-04:002010-07-05T18:26:13.789-04:00A Princess in My EarThe child takes the otoscope from the doctor's set and announces she was going to check my ear.ME - Okay, I was just thinking I needed my ear checked (as she moves forward I wonder whose ear it had been in last, but I cannot resist this cheeky little four year old.)HER - Hmmm.........(she was so contempaltive)ME - What do you see in there?HER - I see a princess, a beautiful princess!ME - Really? YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-2563686967116895812009-10-25T08:05:00.023-04:002009-10-25T14:19:40.390-04:00Rachel & the Camera EpiphanyIt was a lovely night, a small celebration for Tizita and Eyerusalem. The air was rich with scents arising from the pot filled with our Ethiopian dinner. Soon I gravitated outside to the party in the warm, inviting West Coconut Grove yard. The girls, dressed in their Ethiopian garb scampered around as Isaac, gave strong instructions about the dangers of a fire pit, as he stood much too close! YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-9053500176988104982009-09-03T01:19:00.010-04:002010-07-05T18:37:27.384-04:00My Friend JosephWhen I saw this man sharing the little he had with Moe, the police horse, I was reminded of the many things street people have taught me: 1) They don’t always want a handout 2) Sometimes they just want to tell their stories 3) They are not all mentally unstable 4) Many share the little they have, with the animals & birds 5) Everyone is a teacher to a learner.....And then I remembered Joseph..YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-8539611912836804382009-08-24T12:02:00.008-04:002009-08-24T14:09:06.402-04:00Eat Pray Love All Day! Today I am sick, no…maybe just exhausted from imagining my husband having an abdominal aortic aneurysm. I take my Ziacam and cough less, snuggling in bed with “Eat Pray Love”… enjoying the read!I remember lying on our old plaid couch in our family room in Elverson reading, it was probably something girly and nonsensical like an old Grace Livington Hill book. The sun would drop behind the trees YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-62148255560594891092009-05-10T09:16:00.004-04:002009-05-10T11:42:11.046-04:00To My Girls On Mother's Day!Being a mother to our four girls, was what I dreamed of my whole life. Well, actually I dreamed of having 4 boys, but when each daughter arrived, there was no disappointment, we could not have been happier. In those days, most moms did what I was doing, I didn't know a lot of working mothers and the few I knew, well, I felt badly for them that they had to leave their kids all day, most didn't YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-62236103483531669282009-05-09T12:46:00.024-04:002009-05-09T17:10:49.154-04:00Things I LoveThe way my husband loves me and cares for meDaisies in June along a PA country roadNighttime starry skies when you can see the Milky WayThick newly cut grass Florida morning skiesMy Krissy’s heart Crocus pushing through the snow in late FebruaryStories old people tell The genuine laughter of children, especially those who have suffered great pain Flying at sunrise when the clouds beneath are YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-69328877116567020862009-05-06T01:15:00.007-04:002009-05-06T02:53:18.718-04:00I Love Blogging! My kids put me on to blogging…they were on the ground floor when it took off. I thought our daughter invented it but that shows how naïve a proud parent can be. Now it seems EVERYONE has a blog for just about everything! A year or two ago, I attended a Health Foundation event where Steve Marcus (CEO) asked how many organizations and agencies present had a blog. Few hands went up but I was proud YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-19557230967238888422009-05-03T15:26:00.006-04:002009-05-03T16:51:58.778-04:00Thanksgiving Revisited in MayLast week I saw the little Latino lady again. She seemed healthier but most likely is still living in the streets. She brushed past me with no recognition, but I remembered clearly the little lesson she taught me about being grateful.It was a brisk sunny morning right before Thanksgiving, a cold day for most South Floridians, especially if you are on the streets. I was in a hurry, at 7:30am I YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-14623326683664097472009-04-26T09:54:00.014-04:002009-04-27T03:45:17.425-04:00Aren't the clouds amazing???When our children were growing up, my Dad used to say, "Did you write that down?" He was referring to the amazing words that seemed to tumble daily from the mouths of our four girls. "That is so cute!" he would tell me. Even when I KNEW my kids were incredible, I was too busy to stop and write anything down. But in Dad's shirt pocket, he kept a small notebook which he pulled out frequently, YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-77248027459984329992009-04-25T21:44:00.001-04:002009-04-26T13:29:13.205-04:00I love this child...One morning while visiting in Virginia, I came into the family room to find Ethan pointing to his brother Nate's trike that had been placed at the end of the sofa. Since we had been talking about respecting people and things, I couldn't imagine what he was thinking."Look Marm, isn't this cool?!??" Totally enthusiastic, leaving me confused. I couldn't imagine what could be cool about a trike on YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-21393164632136251682009-04-14T12:52:00.002-04:002009-04-14T12:55:18.149-04:00 This is a rerun pic but I loved it....Happy Birthday Katie!!! We love you!!YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-63766488053430123932009-04-10T16:47:00.015-04:002009-04-14T12:38:29.478-04:00It's gone....right out of my hand! It happened in a second, as his small hands brushed roughly against mine. Immediately I felt instant possessiveness, like the smallest child must feel when another takes his/her toy. It's instinctive, "Hey! it's mine!!" I didn't speak those words but I felt them. For milliseconds I sat paralysed in shock, stunned, not moving from my seat on the 38 Bus at 220 Street. Then I jumped to my feet, YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-87798591485045293382009-01-09T22:00:00.000-05:002009-01-10T16:51:37.900-05:00 Sitting quietly on the metrorail, I was enjoying my book, hoping for no interruptions. Sitting on one of the two seats that are parallel to the train wall, I was right next to the exit doors. The man rolled in loudly and as the doors closed, he backed his chair into the exit space, grumbling about no place to park, directing his complaints to individuals! Someone snapped back at him , and an YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-22419329828943681752009-01-08T23:31:00.014-05:002009-04-15T14:44:15.184-04:00Going to the doctorI once knew a man who had bypass surgery. The first day we met, I walked into his kitchen and there on the kitchen counter lined up in a row, were his meds....oh so many! He explained, "I just told the doc, give me a pill for everything, because I'm not following any rules, no diets, no restrictions for me...." I was horrified! I thought how irresponsible, especially when he cooked a pound of YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-92096689624714856612008-11-29T12:45:00.009-05:002008-11-29T14:21:01.380-05:00Don't do as I did!Some years ago, while cooking, a pot caught fire. My future son-in-law reached for the faucet to fill something with water. I calmly but firmly said;"Jorgie!!...you never put water on this kind of fire""Hmmm...that's right...what is it you pour on it???"" he responded equally as calm as the phone rang. "I can't talk now...your mom started a fire in the kitchen...bye" he hung up.We both burst intoYFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-13942728247832481932008-11-26T14:39:00.006-05:002008-11-29T15:32:23.724-05:00Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday ...…it asks nothing, no gifts to buy, no costumes to think up, no cards to send, you don't have to do a thing….. it’s just there, a legitimate day for stuffing ourselves with good food, watching parades or football or just hanging out with friends and family OR doing nothing at all! I always loved cooking in the kitchen with activity bustling around me. There were a million calls to my sister YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-49163898875522772612008-11-02T21:09:00.001-05:002009-04-16T01:56:06.314-04:00The Butt-inskiAs the bus pulled up, a very big young man sauntered up to the front of the line. Oh my gosh, I thought, he's going to cut right in line! What a jerk!! Here in the USA no one cues up for public transportation. It's like a mad dash, it can get a little nasty too. The only exception is the luxury Commuter Express 34 bus; there is no standing, people line up quite nicely and are counted off as the YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-70956619839691805322008-08-24T14:14:00.007-04:002008-11-29T15:35:29.041-05:00What can I say...if it applies...apply it!This woman is my new best friend, she shook me out of my two week depression...she's Rosanna Guadagno, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama. Today I came across her study of three hundred student bloggers. While I was not willing to pay for her research paper, it states that women bloggers tend to be more neurotic. It was just what I needed to move me up and out! I set my little YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-47644546720814605012008-08-24T02:47:00.004-04:002008-08-24T09:36:08.910-04:00Aren't kids great?YFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661545.post-6222766040855463032008-08-19T00:23:00.014-04:002008-08-24T00:09:49.737-04:00Olympic AngstKindness Girl's take on the Olympics is where I have been camped all week! Good, bad....watching gives me so much angst (though I haven't had Braxton Hicks for 30 years! ) The emotions just pull me in till my stomach hurts. Like an alien with incredibly long spindly fingers and toes, Michael Phelp's lanky body smoothly forges ahead of the others; but I am still wondering about the swimmers behindYFGH..your friend ginny hammondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11209322743860935832noreply@blogger.com0