Matthew and the Soldiers

Grandpa teaches Matthew how to salute.

At Bamberg Germany. Soldier on left is German;
soldier on right is American.

You don't have to be around Matthew long to realize he loves his heroes.  He'll show you any program with Chuck Norris in his TV Guide.  You'll likely catch us watching JAG or NCIS if you come by.  Of course, if Walker's not on, any hero will do and Matthew knows them all.  He has absolute faith that there are good guys who protect us from bad guys.  And bad guys better watch out.

Swiss soldiers. One let Matthew wear his beret for picture.

 We don't remember when this admiration began.  It could have been from years listening to Grandpa and the expression, "Once a Marine; Always a Marine."  All Marines we know do have that certain air.  They are fearless.  We do know Grandpa is a real hero to Matthew.

Luke AFB Chaplain and Matthew

It might have started after 9/11.  The kids watched the towers fall and then we heard President Bush vow to catch those responsible.  It could be that those days following the tragedy sparked a patriotism that caught Matthew.

With Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeau

French soldiers under the Eiffel Tower.

Whether it's Firefighters, Police or Military Matthew admires our protectors.  Because he likes to look over and over at pictures we started taking shots of some of his heroes.  As Matthew's number one fan I've had to overcome my own feeling silly and will now walk up to a total stranger, generally pulling Matthew along to ask if they'll pose for a picture.  

If you think it's tough for me to talk to a stranger imagine poor Matthew.  Autism makes emotion very difficult to handle. He'll cover his head or run and hide when something is 'too exciting to bear.'  But, in every case, our 'heroes' have been more than willing to allow the picture.  Often even calling Matthew to join them once they realize his shyness holds him back.

An Honorary Army Infantry Soldier

This week Matthew received a package from a new friend who is a soldier.  This hero had heard that Matthew was a big supporter of the troops so he sent one of his jackets and hats that he wore while serving in Afghanistan.  The jacket has the regiment emblem, US flag and of course says US Army.  What a treasure! The friend made Matthew an Honorary Army Infantry Soldier!  As you might imagine, Matthew only takes he jacket off at bedtime and even then under duress.

I wanted to finish this on a light note with something humorous...like the fact that I'll have to wash the jacket when he's asleep because I can't pry if off him otherwise.  But really, the truth is when we have been to poor areas in countries like Mexico, we have seen the handicapped begging for money, food, any kind of help.  Due in large part to our brave men and women in uniform we are safe in this country and able to provide a comfortable living for those with special needs.  To be a serviceman, to run toward danger when the rest of us are running away is truly humbling.  This country is strong because our our military and our first responders.  

New Year's Resolutions

We enjoyed Christmas dinner so much that my New Year's Resolution is to have dinner in the formal dining room from now on.  In European fashion, we shall dine promptly at seven.  This will give Robert time to change into dress clothes for dinner.  Our manservant, Bennington, will serve a gourmet meal each evening including a fine wine, appetizer and dessert.  Yes.  This is my plan.

What?  You don't believe me?  Well, then you know me too well.  Our real New Year's Resolution is much more practical.  And it doesn't involve eating.  Instead we are going to go back in time about three years and catch up on something important.  Things that happened before I was diagnosed were sneaky.  I was tired a lot and took a nap almost every afternoon.  Matthew and I would sit down to watch one of his shows and I'd immediately fall asleep . Before I knew it our exercise program had slowed to a snail's crawl. But because it happened so gradually we didn't realize there was a problem.  It was not until after the diagnosis and surgery that Mom reminded me she had told me something was wrong (note to all: Listen to your mother.)

According to Matthew: The secret to walking nowhere
is to have great distracting television!

That was then and this is now.  Today I am recovered from all that but realized that both Matthew and I became used to a pretty sedentary lifestyle.  So our real New Year's Resolution is to get back into shape.  As soon as we took down the Christmas decorations we brought in the treadmill from it's dusty retirement in the garage.

It's almost the end of the month and we've been pretty faithful using it.  We've gotten into the routine of getting on the treadmill first thing.   I discovered that Matthew is much more agreeable to walking if he can be distracted by television.  It works out well that Matlock and Andy Griffith are both on first thing in the morning.  The treadmill has a 'Hill' program that automatically increases the incline as we walk.  We're not to the running stage...and, honestly, we're not that keen on running (unless there's a fire...or tidal wave...)  I haven't told Matthew yet, but our goal is to become fit enough that we can hike down into the Grand Canyon.  I think we can do it.

So, now you know...the fancy dining and cloth napkins are already by the wayside.  We'll save them for company.  Besides, the Bennington won't stay past five.

The Christmas Tree

Do you like decorating your Christmas tree?  It's a trip through time for me.  I'm always reminded all the way back to our first Christmas as newlyweds. The tree was tiny and looked much like it belonged to Charlie Brown.  My sister-in-law felt sorry for us and brought over some spare lights and ornaments. Then the tree looked pretty good...as long as you didn't look at the back side.  Sparse is the word that sticks in my mind.

The next couple years I made it my goal to get more ornaments.  If it was on sale after Christmas I snatched it up. If there was 100 in the box I was even faster putting it in the basket.  Everything was unbreakable; first there was the dog, then kids.  The tree was always pretty but I thought it was lacking something.

Over the years, I've figured out what that something is.  First, I thought it missing a theme. You see the beautiful trees in the magazines all decked out with lights, ornaments, bows and ribbons all one color. Or the ones with all one style of decorations; Western was always popular around here. I remember one year telling the family our tree would have only red and white decorations. It sounded good. But when I opened my box of ornaments I saw the truth.

A bell? A manger? I don't remember but it was made by a very young Matthew.

And I realized every ornament on my tree told a bit of our story.  What our tree was missing at first was life.  Today it is filled with our past and present; dreams of children; places we've travelled; and we're reminded of special people who gave us unique ornaments. Why don't you join me as I decorate the tree this year?

Riding the trolley in San Francisco...just like in the movies.

Love hand made ornaments like this reindeer made by a niece! A young Rebecca made this ornament in school. I love the smile!	Rebecca through the years... Celebrating her first Christmas and the pink dress represents her cool style in couture!
Matthew's pretty glitter angel using a tongue depressor (teachers are clever). Matthew loved to find ornaments with his name.	This gold foil ball is one of our original 12. There aren't many left, they are delicate and crumple easily. Found in a little store in the swamps of Louisiana. Too funny to pass up.
You have to look close but these are ballet shoes representing Rebecca's many years of dance.	Kids make great ornaments in Sunday School, don't they?

It's Santa on a seashell! From my sister at the beach
in very patriotic NC!

This one is my reminder of riding the people mover escalator past the Crown Jewels three times... it would have been more but the family thought they'd seen enough. When we first lived in Arizona my folks picked up these beautiful and unique tin ornaments in Mexico. We were never able to find more but I finally inherited some. They are uniquely Southwestern. Did somebody say FOOTBALL? Yes, we're fans. Have you seen Rebecca's Nutcracker collections? Of course, everyone between 10 and 30 will know that the Nimbus 2000 is the best and newest broom! A school picture captured as an ornament reminds of a young nephew. A reminder of trekking through and around the subway system of London. Matthew, lover of maps and globes picked this special ornament. Another Rebecca ornament celebrating her cheerleading.
Yep, our tree may not be pictured on the cover of a magazine but it sure is beautiful!

Where Do We Draw the Line

How much government intervention is too much?  When is too much of a good thing not so good?

Michelle Obama has made it her mission to combat childhood obesity.  No one argues that eating healthy and regular exercise is good.  Few argue the merits of providing nutritionally better school lunches or offering daily physical education programs.  But where do we draw the line?

Should schools be able to ban home packed lunches as in some areas of Illinois?  Does the school administration or board know better than mom what a child should eat?  What if a parent has concerns about processed foods, hormones in milk or meat as well as herb- and pesticides used on produce?

But what if a child is seen eating only chips and soda for lunch?  What if he throws the apple and carrots in the trash? Who takes responsibility?  Is is the school's responsibility?  Is it still the parent? Where do we draw the line?
Mrs. Obama wants kids to exercise.  Today many schools have cut out Physical Education programs.  Only 8% of elementary schools still offer regular PE for the students.  Even more surprising 20% of the schools have removed recess from their schedule.  It seems the government wants to tell us what to do but isn't following it's own advice.

One of this week's big stories is about a two hundred pound eight year old boy who was removed from his home.  He weighs too much and Child Protective Services decided his family is not working hard enough with him to lose weight.  "They say" while he has no imminent danger he could develop problems in the future. The child weighs three times as much as a typical child his age.  No one will argue that being obese, particularly to this extent, is not good.  But... Should the government take him from his home?  Because of privacy the public has limited information on this case.  We don't know what the family tried; what the child's genetics are; whether better food has been provided in the home or just suggested.  There are many unknowns.
Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that we agree this child should be removed and forced to exercise and eat healthy.  After all, we do agree that he will benefit by losing weight and becoming fit.  So the government is allowed to make the decision in this case.  But what about a child who weighs 50 pounds more than he should?  And it wasn't that long ago that bulimia was a top issue...  Does that mean the school should be watching our young girls to make sure they are eating enough?  What if a child is too skinny?  What government assigned BMI number might cause your child to be whisked away to a fat farm (or an anorexia clinic)?  Where do we draw the line?

If the school or a health clinic reports to the Child Protective Services that they observe a child either not eating right or maybe testing anemic (not enough iron) can the government agency come in to your home and check the cupboards or your meals for nutritional value?  Aren't we already seeing this in the push towards restaurant portion size and kid's meal offerings?

My farmer cousin once showed me how he managed feeding his many cows.  Each cow had a digital chip attached to its ear and at the food trough there was a reader that could tell which cow had eaten and which had not.  Food would be released only to the cow which hadn't yet had it's allotment.  It seems a far fetch that this same method could be used on people.  But is it really?

Does the Constitution give government agencies the right to make sure we grow up eating our vegetables and skipping cake?  Does the government have the right to take our children if it decides they might have health problems in the future?  If we say yes here, where do we draw the line?

Matthew Shares More Pictures

Apparently, some people, besides Grandma, actually want to see more of Matthew's photographs.  He has taken hundreds in the past few months since being given his own camera. Today we'll share a few fun pictures.

Taking a picture of Sadie's head. She is very cooperative.

These three pictures were taken up in the AZ mountains on the Mogollon Rim. It's beautiful up there. 

Tall Ponderosa Pines, a flower filled field, and pond.Or...what Matthew sees.

These two pictures were taken in the back yard. We were working on the landscaping under the Mimosa Tree. And picture two? The inside of a galvanized bucket.

The following pictures are taken at Grandma and Grandpa's home.
Matthew never takes pictures of people. I'm pretty sure the third picture is a hummingbird feeder...

A lucky dog's foot?

These last pictures are from a visit to France.

This rope borders the cemetery at Normandy

Paris honors Churchill with a statue.

A cathedral in Northern France. But Matthew is not looking at the Gothic structure.
No, he wants you to see the teeny, Gargoyles on the edges.

And that's enough for today! Come by and visit though, Matthew will be happy to share more with you!