Social Networks

Okay, I know that's two words, but really it's a single concept. If they aren't put together, they mean something entirely different. So I'm just expanding upon my word rule a bit. It's my challenge, so I guess I can take liberties with it when it makes sense to. :)

As a kid, I would never have fathomed the capability of computers today. I remember when my boyfriend got a Commodore 64. I made fun of him for being a weirdo. The term geek didn't even exist back then! When I asked him what he was going to do with it,  it was mostly to play games. 

Now we have hand held devices that do magic. Part of that magic is keeping in touch with our friends and family. We have email, texting, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, and Pinterest to name a few. The apps for a phone change daily and unless you're a teenager, or have one to tell you what the latest is, you're lost.

As a parent of a minor, I have become quiet the cyber stalker. She hates it with a fiery passion. But I do this for a few reasons. One, it's about the only way I know what goes on in her life. Two, I want her to realize that if I can see it, the rest of the world can, too. And three, if she does something that causes harm to someone else, I'm the one responsible.

Parenting is so much more than making sure they brush their teeth and do their homework these days. Just read your news stories. "The majority of teens suffer from anxiety if they're away from their phone for more than 15 minutes", "If you unfriend someone on Facebook you will most likely lose them as a real friend, too", and "You know how cool you are by the number of likes you get". It's crazy!

And then there are the uses of these tools. Cyber bullying is out of control. Back in the day, the worst bullying was when you took someone's lunch money or wouldn't let someone sit at your lunch table. There are kids killing themselves these days because they are being tricked into doing and saying things online for the purposes of using it against them with their peers. It's completely out of control.

I do look forward to the time when I can stop being a helicopter Mom and use these tools for my own enjoyment. Cassidi will be 18 in two weeks. She'll legally be responsible for her own actions. Unfortunately I don't think her brain will magically develop fast enough in these two weeks for me to hang up my cyber stalker mom title just yet.

Stamina

I've always been somewhat of a work horse. I have always drunk from the fire hose vs the water fountain. In high school I played sports in addition to my studies. I always insisted on making As and wound up salutatorian missing an A by one point in the final semester in my favorite subject, history, that would have made me valedictorian. That memory always gets me.

In college I found the same fire hose. I was married, had a baby, took a full course load, worked 20 hours a week, and managed to graduate in 3 years. Again my grades were highly important to me, and I graduated magna cum laude. Juggling was something that just came naturally.

When I started my job with the bank, I was one of the very few that had a child. Networking and working long hours were always very important to success, and I sometimes didn't get to do that because of child care issues. But through the years we found close friends to watch the girls. I put in many 60 and 70 hour weeks.

Moving to the mountains and co-owning my own business has been somewhat of a slower pace, but still fairly challenging. I don't work the long hours that I once did behind a desk. Doing massage is far more physical demanding though. I have some days that I wonder if I'll be able to move the next day.

The older I get, the less I'm able to keep up. The stamina that I once had is slowly dwindling. When you use your body as a tool, it eventually retaliates. This cold weather has reminded me I'm not 16 anymore. But that doesn't keep me from telling people I am. Maybe if I say it enough times, my body will listen.

Nostalgic

Tonight was the last basketball game of the regular season and it was at home. That made it senior night. It all happened pretty fast and it was over before I had a chance for it to really register. That's a good thing, because I would have been crying like a baby if it had.

I did cry at the start of the game. The coach decided to start an all senior team. We have six senior, so that meant someone had to sit out. The most gracious player of them all let the others play. That's what team work is all about!! Cass got to be a lucky recipient of that decision. She started in four other games throughout the season, though. But one of our seniors has gotten very little time her entire varsity career. Seeing her get to start in her only varsity game did wonders for my heart!

I think another one of the reasons I didn't get too emotional is I know we still have district and regional games left. That all starts next week. The girls have really come on strong here at the end in the district. We need a miracle to happen in a game two other teams in the district are playing this Friday to win it outright. But hey, lesser miracles have occurred. If the outcome doesn't go in our favor, we'll have to have a play off game. That just  means yet another game. So I haven't cashed in all my basketball chips just yet.

But I know it is coming. The day when I sit and ponder all the games, the lessons learned, the injuries, the coaches, the players, the road trips. It's amazing how much effort gets put into this thing we do to keep our kids busy with what we want them doing so they won't do the things we don't want them to. And even more amazing how it becomes engrained in our hearts along the way.

As a previous basketball player, I have loved watching her play. She's grown so much in the sport. She could have had a great year if she had just tried. But she got completely burnt out and the spark was gone. She had moments of glory, but they soon fizzled. I can't say that I blame her considering they play 10 out of 12 months. It's like they're pro athletes. But again, it kept her focused and out of trouble.

I'm thinking when that last game is over, the winds will completely drop out of my sails. But there is a player that is in 8th grade that I've fallen in love with. She is going to be absolutely amazing to watch in the next four years. She might not be my girl, but I'll cheer her on just the same!

Congratulations Cassidi on an amazing ride called basketball. It will be a part of your life forever. You will dream of it and wake up wishing for one last game for years to come. Thank you for all of the entertainment and hard work. We love you!

Victory

Tonight we played Richlands for the last time in the regular season. For Carroll County, the rivalry isn't anywhere near as important as it is to Tony and me. Since we've been living in VA, we have bled blue for Cassidi. But when we play Richlands, we bleed green!! As Tazewell County High alumni there is no bigger rival than Richlands.

The first game we played them at home this year.  We were up at the end of every quarter going into the 4th. We were tied with seconds left. A girl that had been open all night but never shot fired up a 3 pointer. It swished away our hopes of overtime. It was as if all the air was sucked out of the gym.

Tonight's game was just the opposite. We were tied after one, but down by a lot at the half and the 3rd quarter. It was looking like the blue tornado was going to level us this season. But as luck would have it, we were tied and the same three point girl shot another 3 pointer with about 20 seconds to go. Fortunately she missed this time. They fouled us with 5 seconds left. Our player sank both shots. We were on pins and needles until that buzzer rang.

CCHS brought home the W with a score of 37-35. We will most likely have to face them again in district tournament play. I don't know that I can take another close game. I'm so proud of our girls for digging deep and not losing faith in themselves. It is just a game, but revenge is sweet. GO LADY CAVS!!!

Champions

It's Super Bowl Sunday. A day that little boys dream of from their pee wee days on. Every backyard football game is set in the context of the two minute drill for the game winning Hail Mary. A game of and for champions.

Tonight I watched the behaviors of the players, coaches, and fans in disappointment. The players are over paid prima donnas full of trash talking and disrespectful actions. The coaches meltdown worse than temper tantrum throwing two year olds. The fans boo and hiss when plays or calls do not go their way. I am ashamed to admit I was doing my fair share of whining from my comfy couch location at times.

 So much attention is placed on these sporting events where millions of dollars exchange hands. Meanwhile our nation is nearly $17 trillion dollars in debt. Does anyone else think it's ridiculous we glorify these events while there are millions of people in this country starving and freezing to death?

When I watch football, the majority of the time I am reminded of the Roman Empire days and the gladiators. These big brutes are in the middle of the arena pummeling each other for our entertainment. No, the players aren't slaves. But if you consider the amount of money most of them are paid in comparison to the long term injuries they receive, slavery might be a better option. The almighty dollar is their master and they are willing to do anything for it.

The other disturbing part of the Super Bowl is the half time show. It is further evidence that the standards of society have gone down the drain. A women scantily clad, rolling around on stage and shaking her booty is praised. Meanwhile this is the same person that just sang the most important song to Americans, the national anthem, at the inauguration. I just don't get it.

I realize I'm dating myself when I wish for the times when the social standards were based on respectable behavior. When people acted with dignity in the presence of others and especially when they were in front of a crowd. When champions were hailed for their superior performance and humility. When leaders led by example of integrity and sportsmanship.

I'm glad I grew up in a time where I can remember those values. I worry about our future generations that are watching the standards of today and won't know any better. I hope and pray respect can somehow make it back into the two minute drills being executed in back yards across America. Only then will we see true champions.

Lady

The McCann household is an animal abode. It has always been that way. First it was fish, because we weren't allowed to have any other pets in the apartment we were in. Then we got a black cocker spaniel named Sable. Jennifer loved her. But we moved to Charlotte and again couldn't have pets.  We gave her to a friend of Tony's Dad. Once we moved, we missed her so Much we decided to pay the pet fee and got Domino, a black and white cocker.

Domino got really aggressive, and I was afraid he was going to attack me or Jennifer. He knew Tony was the Alfa male of the house, but we, on the other hand, cowered when he showed his teeth. We ended up giving him to my parents. He was such a joy for my Dad.

We went a long time without any pets. We once had a cat that ended up moving to the neighbors, because they let him inside one time when we were on vacation. That poor cat got bitten by a snake and they spent untold sums on saving him. When they moved, we told them he was more their cat than ours, so please take him. Just recently she told me Whiskers died. He lived a LONG and loved life.

One Christmas, we decided it was time for another dog. Tony was working from home all day then. He had done all the research to find out what breed was the best foot warmer.  Everything pointed to a male chocolate lab. He did some searching and found a pup that had been returned, because the owner couldn't take his puppy phase anymore. It was perfect timing as we got him two days before Christmas. A neighbor helped us with his name, Mocha. We lovingly called him Mo.

We loved Mo to pieces. He held true to the foot warmer predictions. He never played favorites with any of us as he loved most whomever was patting his head at the time. He contracted Lyme's disease a few years back. To make matters worse, he was attacked by a pack of dogs and nearly killed. We nursed him back to reasonable health for his age. But he kept deteriorating, and we unfortunately had to put him down a couple of years back. We miss him terribly. We did however breed him to carry on his blood line.

Currently, we have three labs, a coon hound, two bunnies, and a cat. Cassidi is always yammering for more. I am constantly on the defense of adding to the brood. She now wants to get a female lab to breed Hunter. All I need is 10 puppies to add to the mix!

But try as I might, I have a soft spot for animals, too. The last couple of days that I've gone to work, I noticed a golden retriever laying in an open field beside a house on the way to work. It couldn't have been more than 8 feet from the side of the road. I've seen the dog wandering in the road on that stretch for a while now. The dog is older and moves at a senior pace. I've always been very patient with it and often thought something bad might happen to it.

The dog was laying there Friday morning when I went down. I just caught it out of the corner of my eye. I thought it odd because it was so cold. But then it was in the exact same spot when I went home and it was even colder. This morning when I went down, there it was again - same spot and colder still. I told myself if it was still there this evening, I was stopping. I just couldn't believe the owner of the dog wouldn't check on it.

The little house by the dog put me in mind of being owned by someone elderly. And that made me worry that they didn't even know what was going on with the dog. So, again, I vowed to stop. Around 2:00 I headed up the mountain. And there was that poor dog. That was it, I stopped.

I approached the dog and it was clearly not capable of moving on its own. I did the presentation of the back of my hand and let it smell me. The ears were down, the eyes were sad, and it wouldn't have bitten a flea. I petted the dog and tried to let it know I was its friend. I had hope me stopping would draw someone's attention. But alas, no one came. So, I put on my big girl panties and told the dog I was going to see that it was taken care of. 

I have a friend from high school that has actually become a "real" friend via Facebook strangely enough. She is an animal lover like no other. She posts some difficult pictures and stories at times, but her heart is an animal loving heart through and through. She was my inspiration for standing up for this sweet dog's life. Thank you Jena for guiding me. You were the confidence I needed to do what came next.

When I approached the house, I wondered if I'd be met with a shot gun. Or stone cold silence. But whatever the case, I was determined to get to the bottom of this dog's story. I rang once, heard shuffling, waited. I rang twice, more shuffling, waited. I wasn't going anywhere. I heard a television and would not be ignored. Finally, the door opened. As I imagined, it was a little old lady on oxygen and a walker.

I apologized for the interruption. I asked if it was her dog and if she knew it had been there two days in the cold. She was sort of oblivious, but said the dog belonged to the neighbor. Well, not exactly because it was really a stray. She went on to say that the owner was sick, had checked on it a time or two, but couldn't do anything with it.

Secretly, that was what I was hoping for. I wanted to load her up and take her home! I asked her if that would be ok. She didn't see any problem with it. I gave her my name and number to contact me if there was a problem. She watched me head back to the car and wished me luck. She also said not to hurt my back lifting her. Oh, and I asked what her name was. She said they just call her Lady.

Armed with all the ammunition I needed, I moved the car back to her. I tried to lift her up, but she definitely couldn't stand to help me. Always improvising, I remembered a blanket I had in the car. I got it out, shimmied her on top of it, and used it to lift her up. I got her in the car in no time, afraid the little old lady was calling the neighbor to come and stop me. I assured Lady she was going to have a much better night than she had previously, and we were on our way.

Even though I couldn't see her as she was in the back, I jabbered to her the whole way home. I told her how we were going to get her warm and something in her belly and some water. I told her about animal loving Tony and Cassidi and all the sniffing she was about to endure from our dogs. I had on my best sales voice trying to convince her all was going to be well. All the while, she never made a peep.

I called Cassidi to meet me at the garage with some food. I got her transferred into the garage with no problem. She wasn't interested in food or water. I figured it was best to leave her alone until Tony got home to evaluate her. He should have been a vet as he has a way with animals. Actually, he has the same way with people. He's truly an angel!

Tony took longer than I expected to get home, so we went back up to check on her. It was still cold and she was actually shivering. We built a fire and moved her close to it. All the while, we petted her head, spoke lovingly to her, and tried to get her to take nourishment.

When Tony still hadn't gotten home a couple of hours later, I went up alone to to check on her and the fire. She was in the exact spot we left her. All this time she had never made even a whimper. She has the sweetest eyes that have some sort of green infection goo and are matted. I can only imagine it's from being out in these brutal temperatures. Her head also felt warm, but I couldn't figure out if it was from fever or the fire.

I got down on the blanket with her and we started talking. I apologized that she had had to endure this ordeal. I apologized that I hadn't stopped sooner. I told her that I knew she was in a lot of trouble and hopefully she'd get to go to doggie heaven soon. The little old lady that looked to be one hundred herself had described Lady as being OLD, probably 100. I had to chuckle.

But I told her I was sorry that she probably had not gotten the love she had deserved her whole life. And that soon she could be chasing butterflies again. I told her she could find Mo and the two of them would make fast friends. I sobbed and sobbed with her, my tears mixing in with her beautiful golden coat. I finally told her that Tony would be home soon, and he'd figure out what we needed to do.

Tony finally did come home. I had told him about her and he went straight to the garage. They got acquainted and he thinks her spine is broken, probably hit by a car. He says we're going to let her get warm for the night and see what tomorrow holds.

Lady lives up to the class and dignity of her name. I hate our meeting had to come in this way. I don't know how her story will end, but I guarantee it will be with more love and caring than laying in that field freezing to death. Our fur friends hold as much space in our hearts as our human friends. When the time comes Lady, may you rest in the peace of chasing butterflies in doggy heaven.

Integrity

There once was a time when two people struck a deal, a handshake was all it took to seal it. A person was good for their word and there was never any changing of minds or backing out. If you made a mistake, you were responsible for it. And most times if it was truly a lopsided situation, the other person was decent enough to let you out of it. Long gone are those days.

The same was true for your word. If you said you'd do something, you did it. Or if you said you wouldn't do something, you didn't. It didn't matter if you were dealing with your best friend or a perfect stranger. There was no consideration of what's best for me or what do I get out of the situation. You agreed to something and thus were accountable. Gone again are those days.

I'm a fairly black and white person. What you see is what you get. There is no guessing what I'm thinking or feeling.  I wear my emotions on my sleeve and make no bones about communicating them. I attempt to be diplomatic, but sometimes fail miserably.

I attempt to do the right thing because it's the right thing to do, not because I'm going to get something in return. I go into every relationship giving the other person the benefit of the doubt. I give them every opportunity to display their integrity. Many times I'm left disappointed. A few times, I'm pleasantly surprised. I wish the latter happened more often than not.