My Weekend With Marley's Dad

So what does this Christmas stone 

have to do with John Grogan ? 

 

Christmas '05 

 I'm guessing Hubby was clueless as to what to get me that year. 

 With this gift... how could he go wrong? 

 I was pretty excited about being able to 

'create a weekend' of my very own.  

So I tucked it safely in my lingerie drawer waiting for the perfect opportunity.

The gift was just what it said it was.  

A weekend anywhere, doing anything. 

No limits.  

What would you choose?

Early in 2006 I began paging though one of Waldenbook's best sellers 'Marley and Me'. 

The book went home with me... 

Through laughter and tears I felt everything the author must have felt, especially with Gracie having just turned a year old and the  puppy horror still fresh in my mind.  

Though the book was sprinkled with the funny antics of the author's dog Marley, there was a deeper and more meaningful message that I took away from the book.  For me it was about relationships, hurts, loving, and letting go. 

 I could relate.

 I didn't even have to think about it.  I was in the 'There's no greater book ever written (not counting the Holy Bible of course) than Marley and Me mode'.  

And so several months later I cashed in my weekend stone and we packed our bags and reserved a room at the Hilton on Airport Road in Allentown Pa.  

Emmaus was not only John Grogan's hometown, but my hubby's mom resided there as well... so I had every right to be near the infamous author without being labeled 'stalker'. 

 His book signing wasn't there, but in another town about an hour away at a Walmart. 

I was second in line.  

My inspiration for 'Gracie's Diary, A Memoir'


www.graciesdiaryamemoir.blogspot.com 

Lehigh County Courts Unfair to Disabled Dad

When divorced with children, it's a man's obligation to pay child support for their child. 

 But what happens when a man becomes disabled and is unable?  

  

Oh, there is so much I want to say...  but I can't put the words together right now.  

Once again Gary has been denied to do a telephone conference, which means he would have to drive 8 hours round trip for a 30-40 minute conference.  He offered a doctor's note saying that he should not travel and a disability doctor's appointment on that same day, but the courts say 'denied'. 

He is not behind on his support.  He's trying to get a modification.  

 The stress alone is more than he can take.  

It's almost four years since his surgery to remove a part of his intestine.

He had just lost his father, and his daughter was being kept from him.  He tried to call her every night.  No answer.  Parental alienation is cruel.

Finally he was ready to go home. 

It's hard to believe he's been fighting the courts ever since.  Visitation/Custody/Child Support/Getting help for his daughter

Everything failed. 

 I was  present at the last hearing when Judge Ford told Gary that he didn't believe that Dr. Mark's signature was valid on the letter Gary presented, proof that he was unable to work.  

"Contempt!" the judge proclaimed.  

Gary's not a deadbeat dad.  He's always paid his child support on time... up until last year when he became disabled.  Now the only way he can pay is through credit cards.

This was his last visitation with his daughter.  

Family courts destroy people!

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

About my brother. 

 Jimmy was a Marine who served in Vietnam and received a purple heart.  

He doesn't do well with life in general...  he's had addictions, several marriages that ended in divorce, and health problems.  

He's lived in shacks, hotels, houses and cars.  He's always been a hard worker but has never known quite how to 'have a life'.  He has a beat up old car that barely runs and lives a few hours away from me.

  He is now disabled.  

His medal might be purple...  but his true heart is made of gold.  If Jimmy had ten dollars to his name and you asked him for it... he'd give it to you.  His generosity is probably why he has absolutely nothing to this day. 

I love my brother Jimmy, and I missed his birthday last week.

That is why I'm baking his favorite cupcakes and sending them out to him tomorrow.

Grandma's Chocolate Chip Muffins

Action shot

Another action shot

Shhhh...  don't tell Jimmy I'm sending him cupcakes.  It's a surprise.

Ready for the oven

Golden and Delicious.  

Happy Birthday Brother!!!