New Series: Greeting Cards – Some Dysfunctional Humor
April 29, 2010
Have you ever found yourself in the middle of the greeting card aisle picking up card after card and not finding one that is honest enough (about how you feel) to put your name on it? It happens to me ALL the time. Mother’s and Fathers day, especially are two of my favorites!
I am sure that I am not alone with regard to being “greeting card challenged.” What do I mean by that, you ask? Well, take Mother’s Day for example. It’s fast approaching and as is typical, I find myself perusing the Mother’s Day card section at the local CVS store. I begin very quietly reading card after card, after card……..and after card! Inevitably I forget where I am and start laughing and talking to myself out loud! I never seem to be able to catch myself BEFORE noticing that annoyed person glaring in my direction and wondering why I am having so much fun with myself in the card aisle. Now while I am not really close with my mother, I do believe sending a nice card is that little something that I can do to put a smile on her face. I like knowing that it will make her happy to find a card in her mail box. So what is the problem? I have this thing about emotional authenticity. It’s a pesky little thing that makes finding a card very difficult for me because I cannot send a card that says warm and fuzzy words that I don’t feel. I spend lots of time searching for generic type messages with wording like “wishing you a wonderful day” and “may your day be filled with sunshine and flowers.”
I’m all about the idea of sending well wishes for today and tomorrow, I just cannot use cards that are based on “thanking” for a great past that was not my experience. Are you with me? I have actually had some friends suggest that I just pick a card, sign it and send it off without reading it!
Here is another example – imagine picking out a Birthday or Father’s day card for a man that you did not know as a child, and are now getting to know as an adult? While I am thrilled that I now have him in my life and I love my father very much, most cards say things like, “thanks for always being there and for all those years of great advice” and, “you taught me right from wrong.”
Now, back to the laughing out loud part. I created a Mother’s Day card, inserting the typical warm and fuzzy wording you’re sure to find at your local card store and then hand wrote the changes that I would need to make in order to apply it to my past experiences.
Now For The Real Fun….
This new section is appropriately named: “Greeting Cards – Some Dysfunctional Humor” because we can all relate to dysfunctional families, right? You are in one, come from one or know one. This is your chance to have fun, get creative and say exactly how you feel on greeting cards. Email cards to Jennifer@fostercareinamerica.com and I will post them. A card is included below (front cover, inside and back cover views) to get it going and to show as an example. Here’s the best part, you don’t have to worry about offending anybody since all cards will be posted anonymously. Only a title will be included so make sure to give your card a unique and fun name.
Random Thoughts from Childhood Series – Potato Chips
April 5, 2010
Mat's Memories From Childhood
POTATO CHIPS
It was late summer 73’ and I had gone down to the office and entered the lower level which was a basement. I walked down this tight narrow hallway and noticed on the left wall three buttons lined top to bottom next to a wood door with a handle. I stopped and grabbed the handle and pulled up to see what was inside. The door hit the top and inside was dirty dishes. A couple of different size plates, a coffee cup, and silverware. I realized it was a miniature elevator, a butler elevator. I had never seen one in person before but, had seen them used in some TV programs and movies. I ran out of the building to find my brother and to tell him what I had found.
I found my brother and in great excitement, I told him about the mini elevator and he went and grabbed two other kids and we headed back to the office basement. I pointed the elevator out to them and opened the door so they could see what was inside. Suddenly, one of the kids said take out the dishes and let’s see where it goes. It sounded good to me so I removed the dishes and placed them on the floor around the corner. We all stared inside the empty elevator and realized that it was an extremely small area. Who was going to get inside? Then the other kids and my brother at the same time turned their heads and looked at me. My brother said I was the smallest one and told me to climb up inside. I climbed inside and it was very tight. I had to pull my knees to my chest but, I fit! Someone pulled the door down and just as it shut I heard an adult yell “What are you boys doing?” followed by “You do not belong down here and need to leave.” My heart starts to pound! I think “Did he see me climb in?” I sit completely silent and can hear the other kids exit the building and hear the door close behind them. I wait for several minutes and hearing nothing, I pull the door open and sneak a quick look and notice the coast is clear. I jumped out and ran for the exit. I burst through the door and ran to find the other kids. I had just dodged a bullet.
I met up with the other kids later in the evening to formulate a plan on how we can use the elevator and for what. An older kid was brought in and he recommended that we use the elevator to get into the kitchen and raid it for goodies. I thought that was a great plan! I automatically had visions in my head of cookies, cakes, and candy. It was decided the raid would happen tomorrow evening after the staff left for the day. I went to bed in great excitement thinking about the well crafted plan we had come up with and felt that I could barely wait for tomorrow.
I woke up and started my daily routine and the day flew by. The time had come to place our plan into motion. We get to the elevator and I climb up inside and the other kids tell me to look for candy, cake and cookies. The door is closed and the elevator jerks into motion and slowly heads up to the kitchen on the second floor. The elevator comes to a stop and I pause for a moment and listen to make sure no adult was still inside the kitchen. I hear nothing and open the door and poke my head out and scan left to right before I climb out. I climb out and notice the counter tops, appliances, and food racks where made of shiny stainless steel. I have never seen such a clean room. I turn left and notice the evening sun setting and how beautiful the deep orange light was as it filtered through the trees outside and entered the west windows. The light struck the stainless steel which scattered into pieces, reflecting like a disco ball. It hits me that I see no food at all. The kitchen racks and shelves where empty and I could see no sign of food anywhere. I did not plan for this and was not sure what to do. I walked around and looked in every nook and cranny and nothing! What kind of kitchen has no food? I realize I’m taking too long and just as panic starts to swell up inside me, I notice a beam of sun light shooting across the room. The dust particles are swirling inside the light beam and seem to ride the light across the room. I follow the beam to its end and notice it was lighting up a large tin canister. I cross the room and notice it’s a container of potato chips. What a beautiful sight, it was lit up like a fine piece of jewelry inside a glass case. I get within grabbing distance from the chips and then freeze. It seemed out of place and what if it was a trap? Was I the mouse in this case? The moment passed quickly and I grabbed the canister and headed to the elevator but, before I placed it inside I decided to open and make sure there were chips inside. I pried the lid open and it was full of chips! I grabbed one and ate it and that was one good chip! I placed the canister in the elevator and realize there was not enough room for me and the canister. I quickly decided to send the chips first, so I closed the door to the elevator and pushed the down button. The kids below sent the elevator backup to me. I opened the door and climbed inside and pull the door down. It hits me that with the door closed, I could not push the elevator button! I open the door and reach out and push the button. Nothing happens! Dang! The door must be closed for the elevator to work. I close the door and just as I decide to yell, the elevator lurches and starts to go up. That’s the wrong the direction!
I knew the third floor held several bedrooms and figured an adult was calling the elevator to put dishes inside. I buried my face in my knees and did my version of the Wizard of Oz. I kept repeating to myself “I’m not here… I’m not here…” My heart is pounding and it becomes hard for me to breath. The elevator comes to a stop and just as the anticipation becomes unbearable, the elevator starts going down. I get to the basement and open the door and the other kids are laughing. They thought it would be funny to send me to the third floor and I guess it was for them but, not so much for me. It was dusk now and we hustle back behind cottage one and two. We place the canister of chips down by a tree that had a rope and tire as a swing and began to gorge ourselves. I think I had shiny lips for a week after eating all those potato chips and decided the overall experience was not worth ever doing again, so ended my only successful heist.
April 2010 Face of a Foster Care Graduate – Rozetta Mowery
April 1, 2010
Our April feature comes to us from Tennessee. She was in foster care for over twelve years and gives tremendous credit for her achievements in life to God and the Christian principles she learned from the United Methodist Home for Children that took her in. Please welcome Rozetta…….
Name: Rozetta Mowery
State: Tennessee
Occupation: Author/Motivational Speaker/Child Advocate
Book: Tragedy in Tin Can Holler.
Website: www.tragedyintincanholler.com
Rosie with her sisters when they entered the foster care system.
I spent over twelve years of my childhood in foster homes in northeast TN. It was a Holston United Methodist Home child in Greeneville, Tennessee. The Christian principles and teachings and faith in God, which I learned from the Holston United Methodist Home for Children, always remained with me and formed a strong foundation that helped me to survive all of the hardships I faced in my lifetime. Even though all the odds were against me, I survived and become a productive and responsible member of society. I was determined to prove to myself and others that there are no brick walls. I never wanted to be labeled, “one of those kids”, whether it was because I came from a place called Tin Can Holler or because I was a foster child. I graduated from high school in 1970 as a member of the National Honor Society and was on my own at the age of eighteen. In 1973 I moved to Florida where I became a Florida Realtor and worked in the executive field for major corporations in Florida.
In 2006, after raising my 3 children, I sold my home and quit my job in Florida and returned to the place of my birth in Athens, TN and to the little community where I lived that was called Tin Can Holler, to find out the truth about my family and why my father murdered my mother when I was 7 years old. I was traumatized with my findings and knew in my heart that God had brought me back to my roots for a purpose and that was to help others. I wrote my family story titled “Tragedy in Tin Can Holler” to help other people and to send a message to all those who are living in domestic violence.
Discovering the truth about my family sent me on a mission that I never envisioned. Today I am a writer, published author and motivational speaker for all ages. I’m also an advocate speaker against child abuse and domestic violence. I volunteer my time to assist with fundraisers that promote and support domestic violence programs and children shelters. I’m also a spokesperson for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children in the states foster care programs and the United Methodist Homes for Children nationwide. In addition, my book is required reading for all the foster parents in the jurisdiction of the Holston United Methodist Home for Children, which is in the Holston Conference.
Message to all Foster Children
Rozetta (Rosie) Mowery Today
My message to all foster children is for them to know and believe that they can do and be whatever they desire as long as they stay focused on their goals….it does not matter where they come from or what they have been through. They must not be afraid to ask for help. My best advice would be, “Get a mentor”….that could be a teacher, preacher, coach, a business man or woman that they admire who is successful, and always socialize with people who have also set goals for themselves. Always avoid drugs and alcohol and most important, believe in God and include him in your daily activities and devotions.
Rosie as a teenager in foster care.
