Crab Mentatlity...Don't let it pinch you!

Hello People! 

How the heck are you doing? I hope this writing finds you well!

It's been a while since I have been on here and a lot has happened since I was on here since I last talked about Scott's passing.  Still sad that he is gone but I know that he is a better place with no pain.  BUT since his passing another friend died, and  the one time I turn on the news the first thing I hear is 'The Voice' took her last breath too.  The Voice being Whitney Houston and everybody and their grandma seems to have something to say about her death. Not that I am a follower but I do have something to say about her passing.  I think it's an absolute tragedy that she is gone and left so abruptly.  But we all know that she had many 'demons' she was fighting and not to say that the demons won, only to say that God wanted her to be at rest so He called her to come home.  I have heard many people since her passing trying to pay tribute to her by singing her songs, but no one can sing them like she did, especially when she sang I LOVE THE LORD! Yolanda Adams sang it for her at the NAACP Awards...I like Yolanda Adams, she has a gifted voice but she didn't even come close.

I have read some of the old articles and stories that were brought back up after Ms. Houston died and the one that struck me as truly sad was the one with excerpts from an interview she did with Katie Couric:, " Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the “Soul Train Awards” in 1989. “Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?” she told Katie Couric in 1996. “You’re not black enough for them. I don’t know. You’re not R&B enough. You’re very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them.”

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/02/11/whitney-houston-superstar-of-records-films-dies-at-48/#ixzz1nQe9RUAI

That is sad all the way around.  Speaking as a person of 'Color' it amazes me how often that comment is made, by other people of Color regarding someone who is doing well for themselves or who chooses to use proper grammar and 'good' English. Instead of being applauded for their achievements they are talked about and ridiculed as 'trying to be white'. Instead of being held up as someone to aspire to be like, they are instead looked down at as someone who is trying to be something they are not. I've been told it's called the 'crab mentality'. How apropos. I am sure it is found in every race but I can only speak about mine.  In light of Ms. Houston's passing one would hope that this race would get a clue and figure out that this mentality is something we don't need.  I could go on and on with the Black/White difference and make comments about racism in America, but that is another blog and another story.  Ms. Houston lived a tormented life of sorts, now there is talk of her being a lesbian and that because she was not able to love freely her one true love it hastened her death.  'Because she couldn't be with her soul mate, her one true love, she indulged in narcotics to dull the pain'.  Whatever the reason...whatever the cause of her death....in my opinion she left way too soon BUT she will never be forgotten.  RIP Whitney Houston.

 

*** The term “crab mentality” is used to describe a kind of selfish, short-sighted thinking which runs along the lines of “if I can't have it, neither can you.” This term is especially widely used among Filipinos, who use it specifically to refer to people who pull other people down, denigrating them rather than letting them get ahead or pursue their dreams. As a general rule, an accusation of having a crab mentality is a poor reflection on someone's personality.***

See ya when I see ya! 

Peace! Mattie

Godspeed Scott...

So today my friend Scott passed away, and I am sad. I talked about him a while ago and he finally succumbed to the cancer that was eating him alive. He fought a good fight lasted longer than anyone should have with Pancreatic Cancer. Even until the end they were saying he is going to pass today and much to their surprise the next day he would still be here. The Doctors talked a lot about Scott being the model patient, never complaining or saying a mumbling word about his situation or of the ultimate end result of his disease. I wish I could say the same. Just for me dealing with 'normal' pain I can be unpleasant to be around. I can get a headache and snap someone's head off just for saying HI!

I met Scott through his sister, Stacey, and even though I say he is my friend sadly I can't really say I knew Scott but I loved him just the same. Scott kept to himself and every time I would go over to his mother's house for dinner or to visit Scott and I never talked. But I found that Scott and I had a quiet bond. When I say quiet bond, that is to say that Scott and I sat quietly while his sisters, mom and sometimes his stepfather would loudly discuss things or yell at each other. They are Italian so I gathered that was just the way they 'rolled'. I met Stacey when I was 18 or 19, she is a year younger than me and 2 years older than Scott. So I've known Scott since he was 16 or 17, which means I have known him 27 years, might as well say his whole life. In that time we didn't really have any deep conversations or discuss politics, religion or life, we simply acknowledge each other when we were in proximity to do so and lived our separate lives. Now Scott's life is over and I sit thinking of all the things I should have said, things we could have done and the promise I made and didn't keep. I am sorry Scott I never came down to go to the movies with you or send you the pack of movies tickets no excuses just an apology, I am truly sorry.

When it comes to the end of your life or someone you care about there should be no 'I am sorry' to be said. There should only be memories of all the things you shared, the fun you had, the love you expressed and the I love yous that you said to one another. I did get the opportunity to tell Scott that I loved him the last time I saw, and for those of you that know me you know that was a feat in itself(not real big on mushiness). My parents didn't tell us when we were growing up that they loved us there were no 'I love you, have a nice day' being said. But we all know that everything we do is LEARNED and you are going to do to others what has been done to you. I don't know if I love you is something that my parents heard from their parents, but I bet the behavior was learned. I don't have any children (thank you God) but the cycle at some point needs to be broken.

I have learned a lot from Scott and his family, just tidbits here and there but they are things I needed to learn. People come into our lives for many reasons and hopefully we learn what those reasons are before they gone. I think what I learned from Scott is that despite your circumstances you should be humble and if you don't have anything good to say you shouldn't say anything at all. I learned from Scott's family, some dinner etiquette and to say I love you. The first dinner I went to at mom's (Momma Louise) house we were all sitting around the table with the spaghetti and sauce on the table, salad and bread, etc. We said grace and then sat there...finally Stacey said I am hungry can we eat, and mom said well we will as soon as Mattie takes her food and passes the rest. At my house when we were growing up my mom fixed our plates and gave them to us, then as we got older we fixed our own plates and ate in front of the TV. On the holidays even when we were old my mom fixed our plates, so taking some food and passing it around was new to me. Stacey and Scott's mom always said I love to me when I would leave even though I never said it back. I think the first time she said it I just sat in the car thinking...she loves me? Now when I talk to mom and she says I love you I say it back no hesitation at all. Before I think I said thank you. Important lessons learned from my Italian family.

Now that I have learned these lessons it's time to break the cycle....so let me say to you whoever you are reading this message....I LOVE YOU! And if you come to my house for dinner, I hate to say it but, everybody who comes to my house for dinner the first time I will fix your plate. After that you are considered family and from then on the plates are in the cabinets help yourself!!!

I am sad that you are gone Scott but I am glad you are no longer in pain, I hope you are at peace!

See ya when I see ya

Peace! Mattie

I Feel Like I Should Say Something....

Hello People!

How the heck are you? I hope this blog finds you well and warm!!! It has been COLD in the morning lately and this is only the beginning.

I am on my way to walk 60 miles for Breast Cancer research in hopes of finding a cure and as I prepare to do this walk, I feel like I should say something....anything even if its the wrong thing... I feel I have to say something!!!

As I get ready to start this walk I can't help but think of a friend of mine, Scott, whose walk on this Earth is not long to be. I went down last weekend to see him, he has been fighting pancreatic cancer for the past 4 or 5 years. Unfortunately, the Doctors say there is nothing they can do now but make him comfortable and hopefully pain free. It is just a matter of time for my friend, but as he has shown time and time again throughout this whole ordeal, what the Doctor's say and what actually happens is not always the same. I can't help but wonder if it were me in this situation would have been as strong as Scott? Would I have gone through all the treatments, chemotherapy and radiation and been as positive as Scott about everything that was happening. Mom (Scott's mom) said that Scott has not said ANYTHING! "He has taken the treatments and everything they have given him and never complained." I am about to walk 60 miles and I know at some point along the way I am going to be whinny and complaining about my feet or back or knee or something before its all said and done. Yet Scott has endured years of chemo and radiation, surgeries, shunts, etc. and never said a mumbling word. AMAZING! I am sure there was always this intense determination that one day I will be better and won't have to do these treatments anymore and can get on with my life.

I didn't know what to say when I was down there and when it came time for me to go all I could do was just hug him and hug him and keep hugging Scott before I left. I told him that I loved him and hugged him again. I am sure he was thinking would you please get off me! It is hard to believe that I may not see my friend again...but regardless I hope that Scott knows that he is loved and that he feels that everyday.

I know it should be, and it is a a sad occasion but I reflect back on when my Uncle Riley died and the things that happened just before. My cousin told me that a Minister came in to talk to my Uncle at his request because my Uncle wanted to get baptized and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior before he went to meet Him for himself. Mike said that Uncle Riley was saying 'Holy is His name. Holy is His name!' His eyes were closed as he was saying this, seemingly in response to some question the Minister had asked him. I can only imagine at that time what Uncle Riley was seeing...I wonder if he was in God's presence then? I bet it was an awesome sight to behold. My sister said that Steve Jobs, sister wrote that his last words were 'oh my. OH MY! Oh my.' I wonder what awesome things he saw that made him utter those words. I hope Scott gets to see some awesome things as he transitions out of this world and into the next. I hope he has accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and that he knows that the end of this life is just the beginning of his best life.

I can only imagine how angry and confused Scott must be as he is only 44 years old and has been told that his life is all but over. I can only imagine the hurt mom must feel knowing that she will out live one of her children. BUT in the midst of all these emotions, I can't help but think Scott is going to meet God, and hang out with Jesus. Now just how cool is that?!

If I were computer savvy I would upload/download Mercy Me, 'I Can Only Imagine' so it would be playing in the background as you read this, but I am not that cool. SO instead I will just put some of the lyrics here. "Surrounded by your Glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for your Jesus? Or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in Your presence? Or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing Hallelujah? Or will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine!"

Until we meet again my friend perhaps on this Earth perhaps hanging out with Jesus. I wish you Godspeed Scott! I wish you all the love you heart can hold and that you know more than all the love we have for Jesus loves you more. And as much as we will miss you, Jesus can't wait to see you! I love you!!!!

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

Time to Walk

Hello People!

How the heck are you doing? I hope this blog finds you well and in good health. It is almost time for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure Breast Cancer walk and I am not ready! I have not trained as I should and the walk starts on Friday, November 11, 2011!!! OUCH! It is going to be interesting... I have a source of inspiration someone I am going to be writing about soon who has been diagnosed with cancer (pancreatic) but has never said a mumbling word about his situation or what he is going through. AMAZING!!! I went to see Scott on Friday in the hospital and they let him go home while I was there. I said that I was going to drive home that night which would have meant driving from Phoenix to Williams, and Scott showed more concern for me driving than he did for himself. Scott has a shunt in his stomach, was on a feeding tube and can only 'eat' ensure, WHICH he uses to wash down the liquid morphine because one he can't take it in pill form and two it has a bad after taste. My understanding is that most people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die within the first year of diagnosis, Scott was diagnosed I think 4 or 5 years ago and is still fighting. If he can keep up the fight while having his stomach stop functioning and enduring chemotherapy, what the hell would I look complaining about walking 60 miles. Seriously!!!

Once I get this walk over with I hope to start blogging again on a weekly basis. I hope to do a blog about Scott soon once I can get my thoughts and words together. What can you say about a man who has endured more than most of us can imagine and has never asked the question 'why me?'

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

Question

Hello People!

How the heck are you?! I hope this blog finds you well and happy.

This blog is going to be short and to the point. It is a simple question but the answer will not doubt be complicated.

Are you making an impression or an impact on people's lives? If you are just impressing them is that enough? Let's all make an effort and go for the impact.


See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

Writer's Block

Hello People!

How the heck are you doing?

I am falling WAY behind in my resolution to write a blog every week....I have things to say but I find I just say them to myself and wonder why nobody gets it...just kidding! I do talk to myself a lot which I think is a sign of genius or crazy, I'll get back to you on which one it turns out to be.

I haven't been paying attention to the news I try to avoid watching it actually at all costs as there is never anything good to be said. Children are starving in places across the world, the United States included, wars, rumors of wars, violence in the streets (the United States included), unemployment, homelessness and on an on...WOW! People will no doubt begin to envy the dead as they are no longer here and a part of the atrocities that are going on... they have 'no worries'!

I have a book that I need to write not necessarily for publishing sake, but for the sake of purging, there are some things I need to get out. I am told that once you write down something it frees you in a sense, you have gotten it out of your system and now you can move on. Is it that simple? And if it is that simple then everyone should be writing/journaling/purging.

I have lots to say but I can't seem to get it on the page...I look at people and things and think that is a story right there. But the script plays out in my head and never makes it to the page. I have to work on getting it on the page and out of my system. When I finish this blog I am going to pick up on the book I started writing and see if I can knock out a chapter or two before the little bunny in the corner catches my attention and I am off to do something.

True writers write....I have the gift of writing just not the concentration to get it done.

Oh look a bunny...................

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

Happy Birthday!!!

Hello People!

How the heck are you doing? Summer is here and that means schools out, vacations, traveling playing outside and HEAT! Lots of HEAT!!! It seems to be getting hotter up here in the mountains, I don't remember it being this hot when I was little and outside running around playing....BUT in that same token I would rather have the heat than 6 feet of snow!!!! Snow will be here soon enough I am sure, as a matter of fact it was snowing here in May!

June is my birthday month and I am sure that my friends look forward to it coming if for no other reason than for me to shut up announcing my birthday! In my family there are SIX kids and all my sisters and brothers were born in September, within a two week period of each other. My oldest sister and brother are the same age for two or three days! But what does birthday mean anyway??? An annual celebration of the birth of a living thing...that is my guesstimate of what it means....I couldn't get the dictionary to pull up. I make a big to do about my birthday each year since I have gotten older because when I was little it was mostly forgotten. I guess when you have five other kids in one month to remember, it is easy to forget the odd one out. BUT that doesn't make it right. Everyone deserves a celebration at least once a year if not more often.

ANYWAY birthdays are also a time to reflect on another year gone, and the possibility of another year of things to come. I am knocking on half a century and in looking back at my life I can't see what I have accomplished? Half a CENTURY that sounds old when you say it out loud.... DAMN! Anyway...since I have been BLESSED to be here so many years I think it is about time I figure out some things. Remember those Infinity commercials with the guy from Fantasy Island, asking the question, where does this road lead? Why are we here? Do you know where you are going to? I think that last question was a lyric from a Diana Ross song....Valley of the Dolls theme or something. Does anybody have the answer to these questions whether the questions are philosophical or otherwise? I have been trying to figure out my purpose in life, another thing I have been bugging my friends about. My friends tolerate a lot from me now that I think about it, but that's just me!

My birthday has come and gone so now I have another year to make things happen. According to my goals my book should be almost ready for publishing and I should be completely back into shape. I have been told by doctors that the weight I was in High School and throughout my twenties and early thirties was not actually a healthy weight. My BMI (Body Mass Index) was in the unhealthy range....oddly enough though when I went to modeling school they told me I was overweight. Let that be a lesson to all you girls out there idolizing models they are UNHEALTHY and you should NOT want to look like them it is not healthy. SO instead of shooting for the weight I was back then I am aiming for the low end of the spectrum on the BMI scale.

I hope by this time next year I have figured out what I am doing and why I am here. I hope that the book is where it is suppose to be and that I am healthy. I hope the same for those of you who are reading this blog. I hope that you are healthy, happy and exactly where you want to be. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

Happy Father's Day

Hello People!

I know...I know I am slacking on my blogging....I can't seem to get motivated but my intention is to do better. SO how is everyone? I hope this blog finds you well and that you all had a wonderful Father's Day hopefully you still have your fathers around to celebrate with...sadly that is not the case for me!!!

ANYWAY since it is Father's Day I thought I would jot down a few memories I have of my dad. One of the things we put in the obituary for my dad was that he worked at the same job for 35 or 38 years and never once called in sick. Talk about a serious work ethic or at least a determination to make sure his children were taken care of....I don't recall my dad taking time off work other than for vacations with the family and we would travel to Texas every summer. My dad's parents lived in Texas but not just Texas they lived in Southeast Texas which meant we had to drive across the ENTIRE State of Texas to get to their house. INSANE! A station wagon full of kids (there are six (6) of us) and two adults plus luggage for all eight people! My mom also packed food for us to eat along the way as my dad did not believe in stopping at restaurants or hotels when we traveled, it was a 24 hour trip and we drove straight through.

Before we started going to Texas for summer vacation I remember my dad taking us to see the sights in the area in which we lived. We would pack up a picnic lunch and take off in the car, all 8 of us, and go to places like Petrified Forrest, Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater, the Grand Canyon, etc. I am sure that each kid has a different memory of these trips, my oldest sister likes to tell the story of how my parents tried to get rid of us kids by telling us to "back up...back up...back up" as we stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon to take a picture. I don't recall that happening but I do remember seeing the Grand Canyon on several occasions and I appreciate the fact that I saw it then, versus seeing it now. When we were little I remember as we were driving up to the Grand Canyon there were places you could pull off and see the canyon before you got to the area where you were required to pay to get it. Kind of like on the Brady Bunch when they went to the Grand Canyon and as they were driving up to the park you could see the canyon. Nowadays, the park is overrun with buildings and there is a train that runs right up to the lodge and it just seems so busy there now. I remember when we went when I was little it seemed there was lots of open areas....rangers to tell you about the park and it was quiet. On my last trip to the Canyon I could hear Native American music being played, CROWDS of people....long lines no where to park.....and it was HOT! Gary, my sister and I ventured down a little ways on the path that you can hike down into the canyon, even though I have been there many times I have never walked down into the Canyon not even a few steps. We went for my birthday a few years ago and we went maybe a quarter mile in and then we turned around. It was really hot and my sister just stopped walking...I mean STOPPED! No matter what we did we couldn't get her to move any further and when we tried she would jerk/pull away...and since the walking area is kind of narrow and the edge is right there I was thinking....THIS IS NOT GOOD! We finally persuaded her to move by putting her arms around our shoulders and basically carrying her out...I was thinking if she falls or we can't get her out of her my mom is going to be MAD. BUT I bet my dad is laughing at this entire picture.

My dad had a good sense of humor and he would LOVED music and doing a corny dance with his thumbs pointing up in the air....I often wish he was here still but in his later days he had to go to dialysis three days a week, which progressed into almost a everyday thing. He hated that machine and being poked by needles. That is no way to live and definitely no way to die! BUT before the machine and the needles....I can see my dad, big and tall STRONG. My dad was very slow to anger but when he got mad.....LOOK OUT!!!

I remember one time my dad was eating some cantaloupe which he had poured quite a bit of salt on...I was home sick from school that day and when my dad had got the cantaloupe and starting shaking the salt my mom started in on him about it...my dad told my mom that it was his cantaloupe and he would eat it how he wanted, my mom said "you are going to choke on all that salt!" and she went into the bathroom...my dad started eating the cantaloupe and watching Andy Griffin...all of a sudden I am not sure if he started to laugh or what happened but before you know it he was on his knees choking....my mom came running out of the bathroom with her pants down around her ankles yelling..."DAMN IT CECIL I TOLD YOU, YOU WERE GOING TO CHOKE!!!" As she is saying this she is beating my dad in his back and yelling....my dad finally catches his breathe and says, "Waterhead stop hitting me!" I was scared when my dad was choking but when he was finally able to speak I was relieved like I could finally breathe too!

Now when I think about this story I find it funny cause I just picture my mom with her pants down around her ankles yelling and beating my dad in his back, instead of seeing my dad on his knees gasping for air! Crazy what things you remember about your parents or people in general. I remember my dad talking us on trips whether it was to go sightseeing around the area we lived or to Texas. I also remember one of our neighbors always hitting me and running (Thelma)....another one being chased by the Principal almost everyday and being told to go home (Al)!

BUT good or bad I hope you were able to spend sometime either remembering or spending time with your father this Father's Day....before you know it sadly memories are all you will have left!

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

I am still here.....

Hey People! I know you thought I was gone but I am still here!!! I have been busy the past couple of weekends so I didn't get a chance to get on here and talk to you!

A couple of weeks ago we went to Monument Valley for our anniversary.....10 years of Holy matrimony! LOVELY!!!! It hasn't been all roses and sunshine I think it is a daily give and take but we are still together 10 years later. WOW who knew. I would have never guessed it, I would have put money on one of us doing time or something... Just kidding!!!:D)

Anyway Monument Valley was amazing, I don't know what was more awesome the views or the stories being told by the guide we had when we went down into the Valley. I was thinking about my dad when we were on our guided tour, I was thinking that he probably would have liked to have seen what we were seeing. BUT my dad is not here now and I wonder if he has traveled through time and space to different places that he perhaps would have liked to have seen when he was living, but didn't get a chance to or couldn't afford to do while he was alive.

Do you believe that when you die your spirit can travel to different places here on earth or even to the moon if that is where you want to go? I wonder. I wonder if you can still visit places and see things when you are no longer in your earthly body? We all know that the body is just a temporary shelter and that when you die your soul and spirit are set free. If you could travel anywhere you wanted to go, where would you go? There are a lot of places that I would love to see while I am yet alive BUT there are some places I do know if I will see, cause 18 hours in a plane just does not appeal to me.....although they do make pills for just such an event. I think we should all take the opportunity to see these United States and then expand out to other places, like Brazil....Jamaica....Africa....France....Italy....Greece....I have a friend who just came back from Italy, I think it would be interesting to see other cultures and experience their food, their sports and how they live....where would you go if you could go anywhere you wanted to go????

Travel safely.....

See ya when I see ya!

Peace! Mattie

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Hey People! How are you doing?

I was thinking all day what could I blog about today since it is Mother's Day....I was thinking about the different kinds of mothers people have, good mothers, bad mothers, indifferent mothers, mothers who are no longer here and those mothers who have checked out and left their kids to fend for themselves. AND now-a-days there are fathers who are taking on the role of mothers. Interesting times we are in....BUT right now I am going to go out on a limb and tell a story of a friend of mine who is a mother, and who asked me when she was pregnant if I would be her coach for the birth, and she allowed me to be there when her child was born. AWESOME! I don't have any children so this was the closest I was coming to experiencing this truly BLESSED event. This is how the story goes.....

SO my friend comes to me and she says to me very timidly, "I am pregnant". Dead silence, then I say to her THAT'S GREAT! I think, do you want to be pregnant? OF COURSE! Cool... SO her pregnancy progresses and as time goes on she calls me and she says she is taking birthing classes and she needs a coach. I said SURE I would be happy to be the coach. We start the classes and they are typical classes that everyone has heard about....they teach you to breathe, and to focus and what to expect when you are in the delivery room. Well let's just say that things did not happen in our delivery room like most people. At least I am assuming this is the case since I have never been in a delivery room before I am pretty sure this is not what usually goes on. BUT back to the classes...during one of the classes the instructor tells us that the coaches, are responsible for keeping the mother comfortable and calm and as relaxed as possible, so that she can stay focused on her peaceful place and pushing. RIGHT! So part of doing this is taking a sock that is filled with tennis balls and rubbing them up and down on the back of the mother, sort of massaging her, or rubbing their legs or rubbing whatever is bothering them. I look at my friend and she looks at me and we say at the same time, "I am not touching you like that..." and she is saying "you ain't touching me like that..." and we both start laughing! Classes were cool and the information was good, but it turns out I didn't need any of it. Then the time comes for the baby to be born....

I get a call one morning from my friend's mother, and she tells me they are at the hospital and it is time for me to come over. I get there and go in and my friend is hooked up to these machines monitoring her pressure, heart rate and her contractions. My friend is asleep...I think this is kind of strange since she is having contractions according to the monitors. I asked her mom what was going on and she told me that they have been in and out of the hospital all night and that my friend is just worn out! WOW! So my friend wakes up and she looks at me and she says, "I feel like I have to push get the nurse...." I go out the room and tell the nurse that she wants to push and the nurse says "well we'll just see about that sometimes they think that but its not time." The nurse comes in and she lifts the sheet up...she doesn't say anything but the look on her face says..."OH SHIT!" She goes out of the room in a hurry and then there is a flurry of activity, the doctor comes in and everybody is moving fast but it seems to be slow motion. My friend's mom is in the room and she is trying to get out but there is no time for that now she is stuck in the room for the birth of her grandchild. COOL!

My friend starts pushing we do the count and she lays back down....waiting for the next contraction and the next time to push. I am wiping her forehead and giving her ice chips so I am not really paying attention to what is going on...until I try to give her the ice chips and I notice she is asleep. I look at her mom and I said she is sleeping in the middle of her delivery she is asleep...who does that?! Turns out that my friend had come down with a bronchitis just prior to going into labor. Since she was coughing so much the doctors had told her that the hard coughing was causing her to have contractions, but she was not really in labor. They gave her some cough medicine with codeine to calm the cough and easy the pain. They also gave her some other kind of pills or medicine to stop the contractions and sent her home, only for her to come back later that night with the same pain and coughing. When they finally decided she was in labor they gave her MORE medicine for the labor pains.

Now my friend is in labor and this is how the labor goes... contraction hits...she WAKES UP sits up and pushes for the count and then falls back and goes to SLEEP! Contraction hits....she WAKES UP sits up pushes and then falls back and goes to SLEEP! She basically slept through the delivery. I was always told that labor was the most incredible pain you could ever experience, NO MAN would live through it, and some women die during it....but my friend would sleep. Now granted she was drugged up with the different medicines they had given her, but it was just unbelievable to me that she could sleep through this....WOW! It was the most incredible thing I have ever seen, to witness the birth of a child. I was trying my best not to look but the doctor had glasses on and you could see the whole thing in his glasses. INCREDIBLE! A little baby girl was born....eighteen years ago and now she is graduating from high school. CONGRATULATIONS mom! Congratulations baby girl!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!


See ya when I see ya!Peace! Mattie