Las Madres '80 East
May 2002 NEWSLETTER

  Mother's Day Banner
 
 
Click to play an old-fashioned Mother's Day tune
Click to play an upbeat tune for Mother's Day


COMING EVENTS

May 3-5
Ladies Weekend in SLO
Contact:  Vicki

May 16
Meeting at Janis' House
Let's Get Potted! 
RSVP:  Janis

May
7:15pm
Craft Night
Contact:  Vicki

May 17-19
Los Padres' Golf
Forest Meadows 
RSVP:  Lou

May 25
Coffee in the Garden
Dee's Place 
RSVP by May 24:  Dee

July 6
50 is Nifty Party
Dee's Place 
RSVP:  Dee


MAY BIRTHDAYS Birthday Cake
3rd        Michael D'Agosta (Happy 24th!)
             Greg Castagnoli

10th       Betty Verhoeven

15th       Christian Corral (Happy 22nd!)
16th       Brandon Smith (Happy 20th!)
19th        Rob Verhoeven

27th       Leah D'Agosta (Happy 22nd!)
              David Gerlinger (Happy 15th!)
28th       Brett Nevoli (Happy 22nd!)
              Kurt Roessler (Happy 19th!)


May Meeting
What: Let's Get Potted
When:  Thursday, May 16, 7:15pm
Where:  Janis' House

We will be putting together porch pots (flower pots for your porch). We will use a terra cotta colored plastic bowl-shaped pots and three or four different types of flowers. Janis will provide the flowers, soil, and pots (let her know if you will provide your own) and show us how to put them together. Finished pots will be ready for your porch or deck. the cost will be around $12-$15 for everything. Please RSVP to Janis by the 10th if you will be making one.

Ladies Trip
The trip to San Luis Obispo, May 3-5, has been finalized. We will be staying at the Emabssy Suites, 333 Madonna Rd. where 2 rooms have been reserved. There are several departure times scheduled with the latest leaving at 2:30pm. If you are still interested in going, please call Vicki ASAP!

Dearest Las Madres Friends,
    We want to thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers in this very difficult time of our lives. It meant a lot to know you were thinking about us. I hope you will keep those prayers and good thoughts coming. We are bringing down Don's mom, Zelda, from an assisted living place to a nursing home in San Jose by ambulance on Tuesday. It took a lot to make the arrangements so we hope it is a good decision and that the trip will not be traumatic for her. We had bad news this morning about Don's brother, but glad to report he is ok. He went to the emergency room this morning with chest pains, but luckily it was not a heart attack nor pnemonia. They are keeping him overnight for observation. When it rains, it pours. It's a good thing we are strong and have so many wonderful people in our lives to support us. Thank you again for your kind words.  Love, The Pitcher Family
(Our condolences to the Pitcher family on the recent loss of Cindy's father.)


April Meeting Report
10 members arrived at Ginny's with dinner in hand to watch Bridget Jone's Diary. After a short meeting the DVD was started. It was a highly entertaining movie and the consensus was that it was more entertaining than the book.

Craft Meeting
The craft meeting for May needs a home. There is no planning necessary and snacks are optional. If you are interested in volunteering your house for this meeting or one in the future please call or e-mail Vicki. At this time there are no specific crafts scheduled. If you have suggestions for future craft projects, contact Vicki.


50 IS NIFTY
Remember to mark your calendar for our  "50 IS NIFTY" party on Saturday, July 6.  This will be a couples party, outside on the Castagnoli's patio, to celebrate the fact that (almost) ALL of us have turned, or will soon be turning 50 (not the years of the 1950's).  Start looking for a crazy hat or t-shirt to wear!  Dee would also like everyone to start brainstorming so that we can make this really fun and special!

Bocce Ball Highlights
19 people went to Pedro's for dinner and had a nice relaxing time. Beer and margaritas plus good food made for a good time. 16 of the Pedro's crowd wended their way over to Campo di Bocce. Even though the weather looked threatening, they lucked out and didn't get wet and heat lamps took the chill off as they were on outside courts. The Nevolis and the Brooke-Schulkes joined the group and 20 people played on the two courts. Everyone seemed to have fun. Merrilee gets the award for dedication to the sport as she played with an injury and did a pretty good job too! We might want to do this again! After Bocce, some people topped off the night by hitting Baker's Square for dessert.


Saturday Coffee Clatches Continue
Meet your Las Madres friends for some coffee and conversation at the Starbuck's at White and Aborn on Saturday mornings at 9am.  Every third Saturday is a "field trip" - check the Coming Events calendar for the location of this month's excursion.  This month we will be going to Dee's place  on May 25th and planning our 50 is Nifty Party.  Please RSVP to Dee by the 24th.
 

e-MAIL DELIVERY

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children
at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me.
Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what
you and I are?" she demanded.

Before I could answer, and I didn't really
have one handy, she blurted out the reason for her question.
It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's
license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman
Clerk to state her occupation.

Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
What I mean is, "explained the recorder,
"Do you have a job, or are you just a .....?"
Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife'
covers it," said the recorder emphatically.  I forgot
all about her story until one day I found myself in
the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like
official Interrogator or Town Registrar.

And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say
it, I do not know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development
and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair,
and looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most
significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my
pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the
official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what
you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I
heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of
research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and
in the field (normally I would have said indoors and
out).  I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned
family) and already have four credits." (all daughters).

"Of course, the job is one of the most
demanding in the humanities (any other care to
disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more
like it).  But the job is more challenging than most
run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in
satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's
voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally
ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new
career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months)
in the child-development program, testing out
a new vocal pattern. I felt triumphant! I had scored a
beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official
records as someone more distinguished and
indispensable to mankind than "just another mother."

Motherhood...what a glorious career.  Especially when
there's a title on the door.

 

The Images of Mother:

4 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mommy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE ~ My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.
14 YEARS OF AGE ~ Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either
16 YEARS OF AGE ~ Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.
18 YEARS OF AGE ~ That old woman? She's way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE ~ Well, she might know a little bit about it
35 YEARS OF AGE ~ Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE ~ Wish I could talk it over with Mom.


MAY WEB SITE
www.surprise.com
If anyone needs help finding a gift for Mom.

 

Sewing Mouse


CLUB OFFICERS

President & Treasurer - Vicki Rasmussen
Newsletter & Webmaster - Ginny Gomez
Co-Coffee Coordinators - Robin Nevoli & Tina Cuneo
Executive Committee - Randi Heinrichsen, Joan Wilson and Sally Brooks-Schulke

1