Monthly Archives:February 2011

Even though it’s a holiday, I went to work for a bit this afternoon. Something special was to happen and I was to be there for that.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski visited my workplace – a domestic violence shelter – to meet with staff and take a tour of our building. It was her first visit to our agency and I was glad to be there for the occasion.

She and her aide spent quite awhile with us asking great questions about the dv issue in our area, the homeless issue here, and how we were working to fight the problem. She also asked about our funding sources. In addition to our director and myself, our shelter manager and a board member were also present.

I asked permission to take pictures and Sen. Murkowski graciously agreed. She also gave me permission to post it here and on facebook. “We’re friends, right?” she said and gave me a big hug.

Now, how cool is that?

It’s part of my job, you see; talking with kids whose lives are so horrific it would make a sane person curl up into a fetal position.

They say I have the touch. Kids seem to open up to me. They talk about inane things; their pets, their toys, friends at school. Not so much that last. Abused kids don’t tend to make too many friends. They can’t take friends home when they know there’ll be trouble if they do.

They say I’m good at my job. What “they” don’t know is that I’m a frightened kid at heart, too.
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Written for the 100 Word Challenge – word of the week is frightened.
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No, not autobiographical. I do work in the domestic violence field, but not directly with children.

Now, it’s YOUR turn . . . what’s your take on the word? Write away . . . .

41 years ago today . . . my first baby girl entered my life.

Lessa, you have been a constant source of joy, fun, and surprises in our world.

We have “grown up” together and see the world through similar eyes . . . although . . . you do surprise me still.

🙂

I hope your day is special in every way.

love, your mama
(more…)

Headed off to men’s group last night – pulled onto the side road behind a pick-em-up hauling a snowmachine trailer – big enough to hold 4 machines. We both stopped at the light before going onto the highway.

And then . . . .

He backed up – I started honking my horn and yelling – neither of which he apparently heard as he continued backing up and into my little plastic bodied saturn.

And then . . .

the light changed – and he pulled forward and through the intersection. I had unhooked my seatbelt and was getting ready to get out of the car to see what damage might have been done – thinking he was going to get out and check out the damage himself.

Instead he drove off toward town – with me in hot pursuit – still honking the horn and yelling. He pulled into the middle lane – I pulled into the outer lane next to him and finally came even with the front of his truck – the young woman in the passenger seat looked at me and I yelled YOU HIT ME – PULL OVER!

They did – at the entrance to the nearby wally-world. I pulled in behind, got out with notepad in hand and asked his name – as I pointed to the front of the car and repeated – this time where he could hear me – you backed into me at the light – and then you drove away.

He gave me name and number and asked me what I wanted to do – checked the damage and said “I’ll fix it and give you some money, too.”

Sigh – yes, he has that kind of money and money talks – but I am deaf. I did call the police to make a report – they asked us to stay where we were and came out – one officer to write the report – then another with a new office along for the ride – and the learning experience. She took several pictures and wrote in her log book before leaving.

The officer in charge took our documents, called us in with license check, gave us the paperwork we needed to send in for proof of insurance, checked with me to make sure I really didn’t want to see the guy cited, then sent me on my way. I arrived at class only a few minutes late.

I snapped some pictures today – the main damage is confined to scratches on the bumper where the trailer came up and over, then scraped as it pulled away . . . and the license plate holder which was popped out of the bumper.

The other driver talked with hubbymoose today and will come over Sunday (after he gets home from snowmachining with those machines in the trailer) to get the car and “fix it.” We’ll see.

The adrenaline has gone now – and I can even smile about it. After all, I live in Alaska – I make my own fun.