Helping Local Kiddos: A Grandma's Mission

My friend Melanie's grandson is in need of some medical help. Read all about it HERE on Gritty City Woman. It's a story you'll want to check out.

It's Cold Outside

Decided to head on down the hill, cross the street, and go to Target to pick up my medication. I was trying to hide behind my desire to stay inside and avoid the cold, but I had to let that go when I heard that the snow is coming. So I headed out and I was astounded to see wonderful young folks outside just enjoying the grey skies and the afternoon sunshine but what was on the horizon...

Grey skies, very cloudy, and I had to face the possibility (after all tv reporters and the Tacoma News Tribune was being perfectly clear) that SNOW WAS COMING!!!I'm from Texas. Left Houston when I was twelve years old. I remember getting lost one snowy day when I was coming from school, missed my bus stop and had to figure out how to back track to my home... scared, you bet, but I was not smart enough to ask for health. Cold, getting dark, and then it started snowing.
Oh I was cold and scared. One house looked like another and I was not used to figuring my way by knowing the names of various streets. Never, never occured to me to knock on anybody's door, calling home, and asking mom or grandmom to come get me.

Kept walking, getting tired and feeling hungry and then I started thinking that I was going to die out here. But I kept walking and finally made it home and I was so very happy to see the light shining on the front porch. I cannot remember telling mom or grandmom what had happened. Probably didn't because I kept a lot of fears and pains to myself.

So I have had hard times in the cold and snow in Texas, but nothing like the Northwest.

Still I had only a few blocks to go and I was used to walking to the pharmacy so I strolled on down the road, listening to rhythm and blues on my ipod, and doing my best to not start swinging my arms and doing little dance steps to the music.

Got my medication and headed back to Bellarmine. As I headed up the hill I started snapping my fingers and doing little dance steps. Cold it was, but I had decided to really dress up... heavy jacket, gloves, nice little cap, and I was feeling ok. As I came up the hill, little flakes started coming down. By the time I got up the hill the snow had stopped. But I know that the snow is coming and I am going to make sure that I am dressed warmly and ready to do some little dance steps.

South Sound Sports: Don’t Count Out Us Middle Age Sports Warriors

Sports have changed haven’t they? In the last most recent decades, people in their forties (and well beyond!) are visible sports warriors. Packs of bike riders, runners, walkers, gym patrons, dancers, swimmers, skiers, soccer players, baseball players, and basketball players are seen all over the place, rain or shine, winter or summer, day or night. Lots of those folks are middle-agers and older who are moving their bodies to benefit their bodies and minds.

Living in the South Sound, with it’s rich outdoor beauty, scenic trails, and sporty spirit, offers much to the sports minded no matter what age. I used to think Portland had fitness and health nailed over the Puget Sound, but I don’t think that’s the case. We South Sounders get moving, and with the evidence I see of my generation and my parent's generation on getting in shape and taking charge, it’s inspirational.

Sports Warriors (or wanna bes) age 40+: Give me your thoughts on fitness for middle age and beyond. What do you love about exercise/sport/fitness at this age? What are challenges? What’s your favorite sporting activities in the South Sound?

Bonus material! Here’s a mini-interview with Shirley Phillips, team manager and soccer warrior of the indoor soccer team “I Don’t Know” (love that name!) at the Tacoma Indoor Soccer Center. Shirley captures the pulse of the sports fun at any age. Read on. 

1. How did the team come together originally? How long has the team been around? What's up with the name (which I love by the way)? The team came together by way of me talking with other parents and friends about if they would be interested in getting a team together.  This session right now is the second session - so three months.  The team name came about when one of the players who said they wanted to join the team (Joe Horn) asked me one day at my sons game what is the team name going to be....I replied...hmmm...I don't know.  he said that sounds good.  I laughed and said yeah right....and it stuck as I could not come up with anything original.

 

2. There are a number of folks that are brand spanking new to the game. How does that work with the more experienced players? I don't think it matters at all and the more experienced players are happy to have newbees on the team to spread the word as to how much fun it is.

 

3. What's the difference of playing back in the day and playing NOW? Not too much difference. I always played outdoor - which is a HUGE difference from indoor.  Being older and slower is the only difference I see:)

 

A Moment Of Clarity

When I was sixteen years old I went to see the film, The Robe, ten times. That film gave me a chance to think about what God mean to me. There is a scene in the film that focuses on the death of Judas... dark sky, solitary man hanging from a tree.
I needed to think about despair, guilt, and death.

Sunday night I watched the HBO move, Sunset Limited. Once again I am thinking about despair and guild and death. Sunset Limited is one of the best films I have ever seen.

Tommie Lee Jones, executive producer, director, and actor in Sunset Limited,got me looking at my own thinking... given so much violence I see in life around me and know that, given my own weaknesses, I could, in word or deed, do to others, in what ways does my head move me to respond to my aging and dying.

Samuel L. Jackson's wonderful acting in Sunset Limitedgot me considering my own prayer life and spirituality and wondering in what ways my heart move me to respond to my mortality.


Sunset Limited is one of those films which will help adults to take a good long look at what counts in life and how much we need other people in our lives who can support us in thinking honestly, looking at our feelings closely, and choosing to live positively and lovingly in the moment.

Front Page News: Tacoma PTA Celebrates 100 Years

It's front page news this morning! Tacoma PTA celebrates 100 years of activity and activism. Celebrate tomorrow afternoon. All the details are right HERE . 

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Gritty City Woman Explores Valentine's Day (Meh)

Happy Valentine's Day, Tacoma and South Sound! Or is it? Gritty City Woman explores Valentine's Day. Check it out HERE and weigh in. 

 

Preschool's Humble Beginnings--Look No Further Than Tacoma!

Did you know that the concept and phrase preschool was born right here in Tacoma? The Tacoma PTAChild Study Clubs in 1916 (otherwise known as preschools, a phrase developed in 1915 here locally). By 1917, the state convention adopted the phrase preschool. Later, the California Congress took it a step further and created what was known as a Family Life Education department. Credit was given to Tacoma for coming up with the concept as that was the foundations of our current day kindergarten system. As we can see locally, this concept has grown by leaps and bounds considering all the rich preschool options we have.  discovered a need amongst mothers with young children that weren't yet school age and what can be done for them. This lead to the formation of

Want to learn more about this exciting piece of history and many other amazing good works by Tacoma PTA? Check out the Tacoma PTA 100 Year Birthday Bash held at Lincoln High School on February 17th. Details are just a click away, right HERE.