The Thompson Trials and Travels

This is for those of you who have children........children who, at this moment, are getting on your nerves. Children who wake up before you are ready to do so. Chidren who spill their pancake syrup all over the table. Children who throw tantrums at the store because they can't get the toy they want. Children who cry when it's time to take a bath, brush their hair, go to bed. Children who get into your makeup to play dress up. Children who don't listen to you. Children who argue with you. Children who tell you things that aren't true. Children who drop nail polish all over the carpet. Children who dip their toes into drugs. Children who break your heart. Yesterday I had the privilege of hearing from my two children (who did all of the above) and just realized that it doesn't matter what they do. It doesn't matter that they wake you up before you're ready-you'll sleep a lot when they're gone. It doesn't matter if they spill their food, or milk, or ...

Our house is over 30 years old.....it was, however, probably regal in the 70's with all of the "gold" appliances and "wood" paneling. I can close my eyes and just see the potential buyers heart's swelling up at the hope of purchasing such a FINE home in 1975! Since we've owned this home (can you actually call it owning...if you still owe $50,000 on a mortage) we have replaced most of the "goldenrod" appliances, updated the paneling, and we've pretty much upgraded the house to a respectable 1990's home. It took a lot of work (mine) and a lot of money (Don's). If you're not familiar with a home from the 70's let me fill you in....someone, somewhere, thought installing entire fiberglass bathtub/shower units would become the trend of the century. It failed miserably, however.........that's what we have in this house. Sooooooooooooooo when you have a leak in the shower that cannot be repaired with washers.....you have to cut...