Graduation Party Fun??

If Abbott & Costello or Laurel & Hardy were alive today they could have made a movie about my son's High School graduation party which we hosted last Saturday! Yes, my son graduated from high school a couple Saturdays ago. We had a nice party for him at the K of C Hall in one of the bigger cities nearby where all our Family Bashes are usually held. Ofcourse, no "Family" holiday bash or in this case, graduation bash, would be complete without some glitches, i.e. my daughter's boyfriend calling her up a couple hours before the party telling her that his entire family might be moving away to the state of Washington upsetting my daughter and leaving her looking like Alice Cooper (floods of tears with mascara running). I took care of him for doing that!

My husband insisted that the food could be warmed up at the Hall then when we got there not only did we find out that our party wasn't on the calendar (I had to verbally fight my way through the parking lot gates past the K of C member attendant), but this was a simple misunderstanding. In the end, we were on the calendar and did have the rooms reserved. We couldn't use the kitchen, however, as a large party of African-Americans were using the other side of the Hall for a wedding reception. The wedding party caterers paid for the use of half the Hall (my brother-in-law got the other half of the Hall for us to use for free) on the other side, therefore, the caterers had full use of the kitchen. Several of our relatives weren't able to show up due to work or other conflicts, and many of Greg's classmates said they would come but forgot about work schedules conflicts - or - their own parties their parents were giving them! My son's friends thought they could actually attend both! Ah, the young!

Earlier in the day I stood off to the side with our grocery cart that held my son's beautiful graduation cake and several packages of block cheese. I had a coupon for the cake, and my husband brought a raincheck for the cheese which gave us a wonderful deal. The clerk didn't ring it up right, however, so I had to wait while my husband worked everything out with the store director which netted us $15.00 back in cash for overcharges/and probably just to get us out of there!

Later on at the Hall, the food finally warmed up with the help of one of my sisters-in-law' roasting pans, alot of stirring, praying, a crockpot one neice brought by later, and some good sterno cans! Guests started arriving right on time, so we just told them to relax and make themselves at home until the meat could be heated thoroughly which seemed to take an eternity!

My son loved watching the DVD/slideshow that I had to fight earlier to get as well. A man I used to work with at the Market does media work on the side. He told me to expect to get the DVD at a certain time then forgot about the business trip he was scheduled to take, so I couldn't get it that Sunday. He went on the business trip and got the flu and head cold combo, but he was finally able to deliver the DVD to me the Thursday before the party. The DVD turned out wonderful, and everyone there seemed to enjoy it.

In between all the planning I somehow managed to pull a muscle in my left lower rib, but several Excedrin came through in the clinch to help me work despite that! Good ole' Excedrin!

My daughter was in top form at the party teasing my son's best friend both physically and mentally. She fancies herself as a future stand-up comic, you know, in addition to a possible immediate career as a bio-defense researcher and administrator of vaccines to our troops to protect them against chemical warfare by going into the Army after she graduates next year?? Our church's former Youth Director came to the party. Both of my kids just love her! The Youth Director told me later that my daughter told her she reminded her of Jesus because of the way this Youth Director acts then added, "Lisa, you are like Jesus with boobs"!

Everyone who did come was very generous with their gifts. My son got a goodly amount of cash which he can truly use! And we survived! When we came out into the parking lot to go home it looked like one of my old high school reunion--only at my class reunions the African-Americans are ALL dressed to the nines, and a few of the white kids/adults are the ones who get the most drunk!

Hope you have enjoyed reading all about my son's graduation bash! More "Family" Holiday Bash stories will follow in the future, I'm sure!

Wake Up Calls Come in Strange Forms!

My daughter is really into Marilyn Manson, so as one who tries to be a responsible parent I decided to check this guy out further. As it turns out that is what this guy is all about! He wants parents to check him out further and at the same time stay more on top of what our kids are doing! When I was growing up that was called "being an instrument"!

Way back when I was young and listening to rock music less intently (more for the dance rhythm) my generation enjoyed folks like Alice Cooper whom our parents probably thought was pretty bizarre. Fortunately, the former "Vincent Furnier" from Detroit, Michigan got rid of his inner-demons (learned how to control them), found God, and found a healthier outlet for his pent-up energy--playing golf! In the meantime we all grew up and, hopefully, figured out that his job back then was strictly to "entertain" us! Only we can take the credit or the blame for how we turn out as adults! After all, it's so much easier to blame someone else for our shortcomings, isn't it!

Young Brian Warner who hails from Canton, Ohio is the "instrument" I was talking to you about earlier. Yes, Brian Warner changed his name to Marilyn Manson taking Marilyn Monroe's first name and putting it with Manson to give a new name to himself and his band! Doesn't Ohio get joked about enough?? I think it's safe to say that Marilyn Monroe would do several flips in her grave over this one! Fortunately, for her she no longer has to deal with her demons as she is in a better place! As for Charles Manson, he is no doubt enjoying the fact that his philosophy of insanity lives on--a man who master-minded the murders of innocent people--again playing the part of the Devil's advocate and getting away with it--still living (albeit in confinement) unlike his victims!

The kids believe that Marilyn Manson doesn't believe in Satan when in fact the story of Lucifer is one of his favorite bed-time stories!

Without going into horrid details about what young Brian Warner saw behind closed doors or on the street while growing up at home, I have come to know that he came to deal with surprises and horrors as best he could. He was very close to his mother who tried sending him to a Christian school for awhile. We all know that sending kids to an ultra-conservative Christian school can either make them or break them! In Brian Warner's case it only served to make him more rebellious and angry! It's hard to believe, but one of his biggest heroes was Willy Wonka!

So what are we supposed to make of this "instrument"--an instrument who denies Satan exists and yet has been "ordained" by Dr. Anton Lavey into the Church of Satan claiming Satan is merely "symbolic of self-endulgence"! I would strongly advise the parents not to listen to or read the lyrics to Mr. Warner's songs--you will have a heart attack or gasp yourself to death--that's safe to say! The band's song, "Portrait of an American Family" was partially recorded in the very house where Sharon Tate and her family and friends were murdered!

Mr. Warner is giving parents a warning! We must head this warning and make time to re-connect with our kids. We can't afford to be blind and give up on our kids! I know alot of parents have to work to make ends meet. Unfortunately, parents come home at night-time, and they are tired. The last thing we want to do is re-live our own confusion and pain through what our kids are experiencing now! If our kids are listening to Marilyn Manson, why is that? Talk to your kids! I know it isn't easy to bridge the gap, but we have to be good listeners. If we don't listen to the kids, they will find someone who will. If we don't try to give them guidance, they will seek out someone who will. The words the kids listen to most intently are the ones that hack off their parents the most! The kids can't see God, so many turn to someone they can see! One of Marilyn Manson's band members is named Twiggy Ramirez after Twiggy the fashion model we all know from the 1960's and the famed "Night Stalker" (Richard Ramirez)--again the living Twiggy would not be impressed! He says that he and the other members of Marilyn Manson band "want to raise the children the parents aren't raising"! Hey everyone, the parents he is refering to aren't the parents of yesteryear--they're US! Mr. Warner has written "Marilyn Manson is the harvest of thrown away kids, and America is now afraid to reap what it has sown"! I don't know about you parents out there, but I don't want Marilyn Manson raising my kids. He does have a point about America and our kids, though! Our kids are watching the News on TV, too, and are being affected by it. They see adults making mistakes! They have been told they are supposed to look up to the adults, but adults do bad things to others and make war! None of the good parents get attention by the media--everyone would rather hear bad news than good! Bad news sells newspapers and books! Our kids can grow up and make a difference in this world, though. They are getting a message that life is hopeless! We have to encourage them to be better leaders than some of the adults of today have been!

Today's parents have to work even harder at parenting and nurturing their kids. It's not about us, it's about the kids! We need to nurture them not only physically but spiritually. There are plenty of folks out there standing by to teach/show them the wrong way to do things. It's our mission as parents to try our best to teach them the right way in hopes that they will go out and make this world a better place!

Satan does exist, and he loves all this confusion! Mr. Warner is definitely an "instrument". You can choose to hate him which will draw your kids closer to him and his philosophy (even if he, himself, doubts what he says later, i.e. Alice Cooper), or you can choose to see him for what he is--an instrument who is trying to give us a wake-up call! Hug your kids, tell them you love them, and listen to them even when their words shock the heck out of you! Keep trying to guide them in the right direction even if you grow weary. When you get really tired take a load off by bending your knees in prayer asking for God's help with your kids! God exists, too! If you can't believe in Him because you can't see Him, at least see the instruments before you!

I always say that God gives me "dope slaps" to get me going in the right direction. Recognize "instruments" like Marilyn Manson as your "dope slap"!