The Glass is Half-Full

When my nest was full and a flurry of near-constant activity, I had it together. I could nearly effortlessly balance the demands of being an overly-involved mother of three,supportive spouse, community volunteer, freelance writer and social butterfly. I was often busy  but I felt focused. I could handle the demands of many; many people and many organizations. If someone needed a volunteer - I was their woman. And I would get the job done. If the kids needed a chaperon for a field trip they'd often volunteer me without asking knowing that I'd do it. Now the nest is emptying, with only one not-so-little Piggins at home. And she is rarely in the nest, busy with the life of a high-school senior. That's the way it should be, I know, yet it seems so strange.  I know that a lot of my fellow moms know about which I write. Can I get an Amen?! I've been anticipating these days. But it doesn't mean I prepared for them. When I was expecting Michael, I read every book or m

I have listened to the Great Consolidation Debate and done little more than soak up information from both sides. I have kept my opinion to myself believing the issue has become to many as toxic to discussion as politics, religion or who is responsible for the government shut-down. Yet, after listening to a man at church on Sunday, (one who has been in support of consolidating Saugatuck and Douglas for many years) tell me he was opposed this time because it meant the 'abolition of Saugatuck' - that it would exist no more, and be completely absorbed by Douglas, I felt I could be silent no longer. Where, I asked him, did he hear this about consolidation? He replied to the affect, "Well everyone knows that's what those people on the committee want?" His problem wasn't consolidation, he still thought it was a good idea. His problem was with a rumor he saw as fact. And that made my Irish and blood pressure go up. There are too many rumors being thrown, and unfor