Over the years I have been a saint, and a rebel, a giving person but a troublemaker, and a fiend, but an angel as well. (sounds like that hit song of which I have now forgotton the name of the singer). These are the words that would most likely come from the mouth of my Mother. I have probably given her a few periods of indigestion and heart attacks over all those years ago that I used to live with her.

We had our ups and downs, and there was a period of time that she did not talk to me, nor did I speak to her. There were times I would just walk away and give up as far as trying to get her to understand me!! It was so very frustrating. Many times I could not understand her at all, either!

I was cleaning out my office and bedroom this weekend, hoping to get rid of a lot of unneeded junk. It takes forever to do that, because you spend precious time perusing over all your garbage and deciding whether to toss it or preserve it. You think to yourself that you ultimately will cry in a couple of months when you realize you threw "something very important" away. I ran across a Birthday card my mother had given me about three years ago. The Birthday Card is a cutout of a beautiful little 18th century Austrian Teapot. The writing inside reads:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a daughter who no less was born in a Fort, that always housed defenders of the BEST Country in the world! You are for so many reasons the Treasure of my Life!!! And no matter what the reason, I love you with all my heart and soul. May the Light shine upon you forever my sweet - Diana-
From your loving Mother.............April 6, 2000

I will always try to put myself in someone else's shoes, (no matter if they be friend or family or stranger,) before I pass judgement. When you do not understand someone, maybe you can figure out where they are coming from by trying to imagine what it would feel like to be them. (i.e.- a 65 year -old woman, a teenager). Unfortunately most of us cannot remember what it was like to be 14 and we don't know what it's like to be 65. I say you can do it. Just pretend you are so old, that no one pays attention to you any more, so you become invisible. This will especially be a good exercise for women. Just think of yourself as not having doors open for you anymore and you are too wrinkled and uninteresting for anyone to pay attention to you.

I'm not sure exactly when or where I actually learned the "putting yourself in someone's shoes" emotionally. ( We all know that stuff intellectually since we were kids. But no one really practices it.) Don't misunderstand me. I am not going out in this world pondering over the 'poor' driver who almost shaved off my bumper on the Freeway. But I will think about it more closely than I have. My relationship with my Mom has led me closer toward understanding it as I get older.

Thanks, Mom