Unfortunately as I read any paper or magazine editorial lately I am seeing a common thread. When you break it down to the lowest common denominator it equals  fear.  

    I have empathy for the employees in the area that are losing or have lost their jobs. I too am facing that situation. At first I was angry. Angry at those that I worked for, at the people that I felt started the problem and then finally at myself. I could not imagine how people could decide that a service was no longer needed or that it wasn't good enough. Then I thought about how this could ultimately take away my American dream. I cried like I have never cried before. How could I have foolishly not prepared for this? Everyone else that is facing unemployment is going through the same thoughts. It is a terrifying time. I have never "lost" my job before. I don't like it. Although it appears that some of the employees associated with South Beach have experienced this "loss" before, it doesn't make it any easier fo them either. We fear.

     The economy has tumbled. I don't need to describe what has happened to any of you. Even my children have a grasp of the problem now. My husband and I have sat down with them. We have been honest about the things that they might understand. Mom and Dad won't be able to buy this or that at the store unless we really need it. That does not mean that they will suffer. Valentine's Day will bring them cute trinkets and candy. It does mean that they won't always get a book or a toy when we leave a store. They  will learn to appreciate what they have and work for what they don't.

     I have told my oldest daughter that she must make decisions on what is more important to purchase. Does she really need the 30th notepad that she will use for a week and then lose interest in? Would it be wiser to think about  saving it to buy a friend a birthday gift later? She has been told that we will contribute 50% of the cost of a gift. She must pay for the rest. It has taught her to be more fiscally responsible.

     Straw poll time. I know how you all like them. Raise your hand if you watched your retirement account dwindle. The funny part is I don't remember spending it. Do you? My parents and yours are depending on that money to be able to live.  They aren't looking for filet mignon or caviar. They will appreciate chicken breast and vegetables. Their nest eggs are gone. They don't have the luxury of time to recoup  the losses. 

     I haven't spoken to a person that is not apprehensive about the economic stimulus package. The first stimulus package did very little to boost the economy in my opinion . This one makes the first look like the president was playing with monopoly money. How will we ever pay it back? Who are we actually borrowing it from? Look at your children, nephews and nieces or the grandchild who lives down the road to find that answer. Will it even make a difference? President Obama will either go down as a hero or a zero.

      Times are going to be tough for all of us. It doesn't matter what your age is. The kids looking for summer employment are going to have a tougher time finding work. The people my age will be worried about providing for their kids. The seniors are concerned about buying their medications and staying warm. The small business owner will have to make tough choices. Belts can only be tightened so far. 

     As I write this, I am listening to the backround noises in the house. My kids are playing with a friends' daughter. Her mom and I have made a pact. If I am not working I will watch her daughter. In return I get to torture her with my two smaller ones if she isn't working. We save a lot of money doing this. One might think that we are crazy taking on more duties but I look at it differently. My kids are playing upstairs while  I am downstairs. There is playful happy noise. Everyone is happy.

     Plant a garden this year. A few extra plants dedicated to giving away the produce won't take any longer to care for. Share the bounty with the neighbors. Years ago when I had chickens  I used to bring fresh eggs to my neighbors. In return one neighbor Charlie would supply us with raspberries and pie. How could we go wrong? You will be  teaching your children a valuable lesson. They will learn the joy of a job well done by helping others. Sharing is a valuable commodity in these times. 

     Instead of going on an expensive trip far away, look to the area around you. Go to the county park. Get a membership to Godfrey's Pond.  You can do everything there from fishing to walking the trails to looking at exotic birds or feed the fish in the hatchery. Ride bikes or just walk to the neighbors house.  Camp in the backyard under a midnight sky filled with glittering stars. Throw snowballs in the winter and chase fireflies in the summer. The ideas are endless. The internet can provide a list of daytrips for you.

     By helping each other, we help ourselves. We will get through this tough time. You  will enjoy the more simple things in life. Cherish the moments and experiences as they happen. The fear will be overcome. Life will continue and the smiles will return.

     I will keep this short and to the point. My hats off to the staff at Denny's Restaurant  in Batavia today.  I could not believe how well they survived the overwhelming crowd that formed early this morning and continued through the day.

     One of the ads for the Super Bowl announced that between 6am and 2pm you could receive a free Grand Slam Breakfast meal at Dennys.  After searching the internet to confirm this, I decided that I would give it a try. I loaded up my two toddlers and headed out.

     When we arrived at Dennys I thought for sure that I had made a mistake. The lot was full. Total strangers were helping to direct traffic. The waiting area was full to beyond capacity. The crowd was calm and patient. The staff took names and the number of people in the party. We waited about an hour. I didn't think that was too bad for the crowd. The staff was better then some fine quality restaurants I have eaten in.

     Thank you to my waitress Lori, The busboy that would play peekaboo with my son,  the lovely Mom/Son (Sue) group that ate with us, and everyone in the kitchen. I applaud the job very well done.

     By the way, we did not know Sue and her son when we entered Denny's. I offered to have a couple join us in order to make room for another group at another table. It was a great experience. It was a delight for my kids to have someone elses attention for awhile too. Thank you.

     A toast to friendship and find something old in something new.

     Earlier this week I went out on a limb. I had heard about My Space and Facebook but I didn't know much else. I decided that while the the snow was blowing and the kids were down for a nap I would wander through one of these sites. I chose Facebook just because it was the first one alphabetically.

      I found that registering was easy however I realized that I had already revealed more info then I would ordinarily prefer. No woman wants everyone to know her age and birthdate. I had put it out in cyber world that I was OLD.  This however was easily corrected.  I had dodged a bullet.

     Next came the question of how  and where do I go. How do I communicate with others? Can I really find anyone that I know? Amazingly enough it's easy. I put that I graduated from York Central and SUNY Fredonia.  To my amazement I found friends that I had long given up hope of ever hearing from again. With a few key strokes and an invitation, they were back in my life.

     Catching up after over 2 decades was easier then I thought.  We shared similar stories. There were moves, divorces, kids, and more kids, illnesses and loses. Some stories were suprising while others seemed to fit  just fine.

     The memories started to flood back of moments shared. How in my senior year a tight group of us did everything together. Instead of  individual crazy pictures for the yearbook, we chose to take ours together. We were in silly outfits because of spirit week. We hung upside down on the jungle gym. I remember almost passing out from having to hang there for minutes at a time. It is immortalized in the yearbook.

     As we share the stories of our lives, it is almost as if we have never been apart. Some people went on to do exactly what they had said they would. Others had wandered down different paths. Economics and hardship had also played a roll.

     I listened to one friend that said he left his chosen career on the day that an accident had almost killed him. He was one of the lucky ones that survived a roof collapse in a print shop. It killed three of his co-workers. He never went back.

     People asked how I had switched from Political Science to becoming a Paramedic. I told them my story. How on a dark night  just before Halloween, I was in a car accident. That moment was life altering for me. If it were not for the First Aid training a friend of mine had just finished I wouldn't  be here. He saved my life. When I asked him one day how I could ever repay him, he said "Lori Ann - Just take a First Aid class. Some day someone will need it."   I hope that I could make him proud.

     I have lost classmates too. In fact, we lost one the day I joined facebook. We as a "family" found out together. We were there to comfort each other, to send condolences to those Chris had loved.

     These past friends of mine were near and far. Some  were as close as the next town over. We wondered how our paths had never crossed. Then I found  that one of my dearest  friends from college was in Bahgdad. I didn't realize that he had returned to the military. September 11 had had a powerful impact on him. He felt compelled to re-inlist in to the Army. Now here we were, talking by IM (instant messaging) as if we sat across the table from each other. We laughed at things we had done in college. We remembered things that we probably shouldn't have done too. It was decided that some things should just stay in the closet. As they say, "No harm - no Foul."

     Facebook had done something that I could not. It had opened doors that long ago had been closed. So as I said in the first sentence. Something old came out of something new. Old friends are now in my life again. We are writing, talking, having fun and laughing.

     See - trying something new isn't so bad.  Hey, If you are bored try looking up an old friend. You might be pleasantly surprised.  I was.

     There has been alot of discussion this week over issues and incidents. Clearly, opinions have differed. Some in support and some against.  People in this country have the blessing of freedom of speech. Sometimes we take it for granted. When the storm of comments wained, one thing became clear. We need to focus on the important things. Our health, our loves and our life.

     I had time to take a breathe and plan my attack. Instead of wonder how much worse this could get, I changed direction. I went to the local stores and searched for plant seeds. Spring was about to come to my little house. The weather might have different plans but I didn't care. This is a way to focus and plan.  To plot where every plant would go and to wait for the results.

     My kids are an integral part of the planning. First, are there truly kid friendly plants out there? The answer of course is yes. Kid friendly isn't the issue actually. Peas, carrots, corn and the occassional fresh tomato meet with the occassional "Mom can I have another one?" I  have concerns about their welfare however as I imagine  my 17 month old re-inacting Godzilla scenes through the rows of plants.  Things are going to get crushed like the city blocks leveled in the movies.

     For the girls in my life, the pick was flowers. "Mom can we get this one?" or  "OHHHHHHH, thats soooooooo beautiful."  I prefer the sunny disposition of sunflowers myself.(I can't lie, I love johnny jumps ups and crocuses too.) They are rugged and friendly. These guys could survive my son and his antics. For my son, I picked peas and beans. I have never met a kid more crazy about his vegetables. This kid could eat a whole can of green beans at one sitting if given half a chance.

     Just imagine his delight when they are fresh from the garden. Picked as the dew drips from the leaves. Mmmmm. I can taste it now.  The peas will never make it to the kitchen.

     Seeds are a cheap fix to anyones woes. A couple dollars can buy you healthy snacks that will last all summer long. Especially if they happen to be in patio pots filled with Cherry Tomatoes. Yum.

     This year we are going for some larger and more exciting prospects. We have a huge lawn now. My plans for the garden will probably  start small but will end up  taking over an acre or so. Just kidding!! I want to try potatoes, bright lights swiss chard, corn and pumpkins. I have made attempts in the past to try some of these but I never had the right soil or location. This year it will be perfect.

    I can see that the hose will need to be ready and available at all times. Bath time for the babes. I'm not talking plants either. In the past my  daughters have been knee high in the soil and mud. Now I have three that I need to keep  out of trouble. Guess what, the hose will be alot easier.

     I look forward to the joy on their faces as the seedlings emerge from the ground. We will care for them, nurture them, and weed them. ( I have a feeling it will only be me weeding them though.) The kids will rig devices to protect the new plants from the rabbits and other critters. Then we will wait. Wait for the first of the crops. We will share them with friends and neighbors. Ahh. I feel better already.

P.S. Does anyone have a rotor tiller I can borrow? :) This is going to take some help.