Hey, Mom, do you have any cash I can borrow? How many times have we heard this question. With great conveniences such as checking accounts and credit cards that the banks have created for us, cash around the house is usually as rare as whiskers on a duck. So it seems like the guy who lives in the house that just happens to have a few dollars cash in his pocket automatically becomes the first loan officer of the friendly down home banking corporation.

Have you ever noticed that just about everything that happens to us, happens in three’s? Whether it is something good or something bad, three always seems like a magic number. When we are lucky enough for the first good thing to happen, we can relax and wait for the other two, but when the first bad thing happens, we have to brace ourselves for at least two more earth shattering events.

Everywhere we turn we are reminded of years gone by. From the new craze in 50’s furniture and long skirts to 99 cent double, double, cheese, cheese, burger, burger, please and cherry cokes. I certainly don’t agree with the nostalgia in 50’s furniture or long skirts, but bringing back the 1955 version of double, double. cheese, cheese, burger, burgers please (for a limited time only) and cherry cokes is alright with me.

It is a pleasure to watch kids grow and develop their own unique personality. Seems like “Clark” is changing everyday now. First grade has brought on some fun changes in his personality. Being a “mature” mother, I seem to notice the changes more than I did when my older daughter was growing up. Having a little kid around the house when you are on the brink of social security is completely different than having a little kid around the house when you are trying to grow up yourself.

Brace yourselves Moms, it’s almost here. Summer vacation is just around the corner Let us start preparing ourselves for three long. long. LONG months of having kids around the house all day. The time for such thought provoking conversations as questions that begin with… “Can I?” and “Why”? along with There’s nothing to do around here” and .Tm bored”, will be here before we know it. It doesn’t seem too early to start practicing our standard responses such as… “No’”, because”, “That’s too bad” and “close the door, the flies are coming in the house”.

Like millions of other people, the Massey’s went away for the weekend. Mr M and myself took one of those nice relaxing trips that we all like to take every once in awhile, to escape the same old grind of everyday living. Three days is not a very long time for a vacation so the logical thing to do is try to cram a two week vacation into the matter of 72 hours.

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone. I had a very nice Mother’s Day and I would like to share one of my special Mother’s Day gifts with you. With summer coming, I feel that all Mom’s will enjoy reading this Mother’s prayer that was given to me by “Clark”. And if your kids are raised and away from home, Mom, I am sure you will remember having these feelings and thoughts many times in the years when your kids were growing up.

This week, this column is going to take on a serious side. Every mother will probably with one, two or maybe all of the abilities and disabilities that and kids have. There is no known cure for these aggravations, so a mom has to and bear it and try not to lose her cool. First on the list is, “helpless-itis.” this is a rare, but never fatal, disability that enables husbands and kids to open cupboard doors and drawers, but prevents them from closing them.

When I find the time, one of my past times is watching game shows on television. I don’t have a good explanation for my fascination with this kind of entertainment other than maybe the thrill of seeing someone get somethin’ for nothing’. Or maybe it’s the thrill of seeing all those people with all those straight shiny teeth that game show contestants seem to have. Straight teeth and the ability to scream and squeal must be the first requirement you have to meet when applying to be a game show contestant.

With the onset of summer and after experiencing a couple of scorching days like we had last week, it is time to start thinking about getting out of the hot kitchen and making plans to eat out this summer. There aren’t too many Moms who enjoy slaving over a hot stove in the summertime. Having a backyard BBQ is one way to beat the heat, and is an all American pastime.