Remember Who You Are!

Look at that determined little face! That's not the face of a toddler, that is the face of a girl with something to say, with the attitude of "I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, so deal with it!" I didn't know then that that is exactly the kind of woman she would turn out to be. That little munchkin turns 28 today. I also didn't know when that picture was taken what that little girl would go through in just a few short years. Leah was the apple of her Dad's eye, and when he left when she was 5, I don't think her little brain really knew how to handle it which led to her NOT handling it. However, you would have never known because we Moore girls "suck it up and deal with it!" I think sometimes that was not the best example to set for you, as your mom, I didn't let you guys see me fall apart very often, and, I think that made you feel that you couldn't do that either. I hope you know that you can always come to me with anything, and you can cry, or scream or whatever you want, but I am also glad that you are strong and stand up for what you believe in! I say all the time that our lives, good or bad, shape the people we become. When you go through the fire, you come out stronger for making it through. I know this past year has been a bigger fire than most for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is a global pandemic that literally blew your world and dreams apart (boy, this is really sounding depressing, but stay with me here) but I know you will come through the fire because you have proven time and time again that you can! I am so proud of you for diving into a new business with your hair products, and I get tickled at all the new ways you put your products out there through Social Media. That's the result of walking through fire. You can't sit in the middle, you'll get burned. You find ways to make it through. That's what that little determined toddler knew. She knew what was inside, and that one day she would take on the world! No one knows what the future is for Actors and theatre, but I know you will find a way through the fire and reinvent what you do. We all have to do that! It's a new world. To quote Mufasa, "Remember who you are!" You can make it through this. Your dream might be taking a detour, but it's just a detour. Many paths, same destination! You will end up where you are supposed to be! Tap into that overalled, sock-footed little munchkin. She knew! Happy Birthday, Leah! I love you!

You're Gonna Make it After All

When I was a kid, there was a sitcom on called The Mary Tyler Moore Show. It was about a young single woman moving away from the comfort of her home to the "big city" to live on her own and all the situations she encountered as she lived her life. The opening sequence shows her leaving her hometown, the goodbyes, and then a shot of her driving her fully loaded car away into the sunset off on life's journey. A little over a year ago, I watched a young single girl do the same thing, but this girl was my daughter, and she was off to New York City to chase the proverbial dream to be an actor. The beginning of the lyrics to the Mary Tyler Moore theme song are, "How will you make it on your own? This world is awfully big, girl, this time you're all alone." I have to be honest, as a Mom, I couldn't help but think about that and worry, but, boy, has she proven me wrong! She loves the city! She has fallen into the rhythm, and seems she's been there all of her life. It helps that she's there with friends. So, this is the part where I thank all of her friends and roommates for making this adventure a little bit easier, for taking care of her and loving her, and being the arms around her because I can't reach that far. I am so proud of you "making it on your own!" The rest of the song goes like this, so take it as my wish for your life and your birthday as you turn 27 today and living life on your terms. Love you so much!!!! Happy Birthday.
Love is all around, no need to waste it,
You can have the town, why don't you take it?
You're gonna make it after all!

What's in a Name?

It's February 1st. February usually means decorating with hearts and cupids for Valentine's Day, or people getting a 3 day weekend when President's day comes. For me, it means something else because every February since 1996 I get to start the month off with a celebration, a birthday celebration. 21 years ago I had my second child, a little girl. I've written many blogs about her before on her birthday and other times. It is no secret to anyone who reads this blog that I am a very proud mama and I love her very much. This post will be a little different. I want to tell you a story. I grew up very close physically and emotionally to my maternal grandparents. They lived 6 doors down the block, and I spent every weekend there and most summers at my Gram and Grampy's house. When I was in 8th grade, we all moved into one house together. We lived in the same house until I moved out when I married in 1982. I was especially close to my Grampy. He was a little bit goofy, and he had this great laugh. He never met a stranger, he could talk to anyone. He loved to sing, and he had a little bit of a temper, but more than anything he was one of the kindest people I've ever known. I can't remember him ever speaking a malicious word against anyone. He would give every one a chance, sometimes 2 or 3. To say that I adored him is an understatement. Sadly, we lost him way too soon, in 1983 when I was 19. It was long before I ever thought of children. When I was pregnant with my second child 13 years later, I decided not to find out what sex the child was. It would be a surprise! I did know, however, that I wanted to somehow honor my grandfather and his love for me. My grandfather's name was Alfred John, neither of which I wanted to use, so I wanted to think of something else. Now, remember, I said he was a little goofy. One of his goofier habits was the fact that he called everyone George, friends and strangers alike. We picked the name Georgia if we had a girl, and we decided we would call her Georgi. That little girl arrived at 8:16 AM on February 1st in 1996. Now, why did I tell you that story about my Grandpa? Because his namesake is so much like him. She has every quality I named above, and if he were alive today, they would be the best of friends. I can't pay my baby a higher compliment than to say she embodies the spirit of her namesake. I know she will continue to do great things, but more than that, she will touch everyone she meets, and their lives will be better for having known her, just like my Grampy!

Best Birthday Present EVER!!!!

Yesterday was my 52nd birthday. Yes, it was also Halloween.Growing up with a Halloween birthday and having a flair for the dramatic made every birthday party a dream. Of course they were always costume parties. As  I grew older, each year became a challenge as to what my costume would be. Consequently, as I grew older, and had children it became about the perfect costumes for them. To say we love Halloween in this house is an understatement. We start planning next year's costume almost as soon as the last trick-or-treater has left the house.  This year was no different. We started planning early and had a theme. Then something happened. Surgery was going to change my Halloween and birthday plans this year. I didn't get to dress up. I didn't get to go out. I couldn't even put fun make-up on because of the swelling in my lips and nose. You know what? It was still a great birthday! My youngest spent all morning decorating the house. I had a visit from one of my very best friends. Topping it all off, strawberry shortcake for my birthday.
Those are not the reasons this birthday is different than any other. At the risk of sounding corny, this year I got the best gift I have ever received. I got my sight back and maybe my life. Not a bad trade for not being able to dress up. I'll take it!

I Hope You Have One Just Like You

Have you ever heard these words uttered by a parent to their child in frustration after the child has done something less than stellar, "I hope you have one just like you?" The parent usually means it as a sort of jinx as in I hope one day you'll know just how I feel today with your own kid. Well, I don't remember if that was ever said to me by my parents. It probably was because God knows I did some majorly frustrating things when I was little, but if they did, thank the Lord it came true. In so many ways, my baby, Georgi, is just like me. We are both stubborn. We are both very independent. We both like to cook. In so many other ways she is totally her own person, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Georgi wasn't really planned, not in the sense of exact timing. I had had one baby who had just turned 2 in September, and her father and I had decided that we would stop using birth control, and if it so happened that we got pregnant, it was meant for us to have a second child. I was playing the Ugly Duckling's Mother in a children's show the following May, and I found out I was expecting another baby. As with my first pregnancy, I didn't want to know what I was having, so the following February, in the blizzard of 1996, I traveled early one Thursday morning on February 1st to have my scheduled C-section, something my doctor and I had decided after complications with my first pregnancy. At 8:16 am, my OB announced in the surgical suite, "Indoor plumbing!," another little girl. I was very happy!
So many things have happened in the last 19 years, and I have shared stories before in this blog. My little snow angel baby is now a college girl, and I am so proud of all she is doing! I never worry about her! I totally trust her! How many moms say that about their 19 year olds? In so many ways she is all grown up, but in other ways she's still my little girl. She still calls me Mommy sometimes, and it's hard to let go of that tiny munchkin who drew on the wall with marker, but what an amazing friend I have gained! Happy Birthday, sweet girl! It's your birthday, but I'm the one who got the present.

21 and 364 Days

At the beginning of this month I took a part-time job at a day school working as an assistant to 2 year olds to help make ends meet. The first day I walked in, the Assistant Director commented that I looked terrified. Truth be told I was. After all, I hadn't even been around a 2 year old in 16 years. That's a really long time, and I am not 34 years old anymore, but then she said something that was so true, "You'll be fine! They just need some extra loving." I have now been working there for 3 weeks, and I adore all of them. It thrills me when they see me in the afternoon and run to hug me, or hear them try to pronounce "Miss Terri" in their sweet little voices. They are amazing in what they do, and I marvel at how smart they are and how quickly they learn things. It has also make me think of my own daughters who are way past two but still my babies. One of those babies will turn 22 tomorrow. 20 years ago, she was the two year old. , and I was a stay-at-home Mom, and I was teaching her the alphabet on a Magna Doodle. I can remember sitting in the living room in the big ice blue recliner drawing each letter and asking her what it was, thrilled when she got it right, even when I mixed them up. I was already so proud! She was so gracious and thoughtful of others. At her 3 year birthday party dressed in a little red dress from the Disney Store with Minnie Mouse on the front and her long brown hair tied back in a half ponytail she was walking around the room with a bowl of potato chips almost as big as she was telling each guest, "Everyone, have a chip." I had taught her to do impressions, yes, you read that right, impressions. Mrs. Doubtfire saying "Helllooooo", Ray Charles, rocking back and forth saying, "Georgia, Georgia," and my favorite Clint Eastwood. We would say to her, "Do Clint Eastwood," and she would close her eyes until they were slits and say, "May my day!" She was good as gold. In fact, once I left her in time-out for 30 minutes because I got a phone call and forgot she was sitting there because she was so quiet and still. She has always loved Disney movies. My hand to God, when she was 3 months old, she laid on her stomach beside me on the couch and watched every frame of Beauty and the Beast. Anytime she was upset, all I would have to do is begin singing, ♪♫ Little town, it's a quiet village. Every day like the one before...♫♪ and she would immediately stop crying and just stare at me as I was singing. Now, tomorrow she will begin her 22nd year on this earth. So much has happened in these last 2+ decades. I am so proud of her still. She began her Junior year in college this year as a Theatre major and has already been cast as one of the leads in the Fall musical. She's really talented, and she knows what she wants, and I know she will go after it, and if anyone will achieve their dream she will. I mean, she has to, right? How can we waste such endearing talk show fodder for an interview? I can't wait to see what's around every corner for her, and I am so glad she lets me be a part of the ride! Happy birthday, Leanna Moore! Mommy loves you!

No More Babies

Today is bittersweet for me. It marks the day that I officially have no more "children." My youngest girl becomes a legal adult today as she turns 18 at 8:16 this morning. I cannot believe that 18 years have passed since I traveled to Henrico Doctors Hospital very early on a snowy Thursday morning for a planned C-section due to the fact that the delivery of her older sister 3 1/2 years prior had not been an easy one. She received one arrangement of yellow roses and a balloon and almost no visitors as  the blizzard of 1996 had hit. The yellow roses came from my sweet Daddy. In fact the name on the floral card decided how we would spell her name. Her name is Georgia, but we call her Georgi. Most people spell it with an "e" on the end, but as the story goes, when the clerk at the florist asked my father how to spell her name, he didn't know. She suggested that leaving off the "e" had a lot of personality and flair, and that is the way it has always been. It could not suit her more perfectly. She has tons of personality and fabulous flair. She is talented and entertaining, and she keeps all of us in stitches with all of her different characters and voices. I often think how much my father would love her humor, and I can hear him laughing and see his smile.
She is a true beauty inside and out! I look at her in awe, and sometimes cannot believe that I created her. She has dealt with adversity all of her life as we became a single parent household when her father left us just after she turned 2. She has never known anything but financial struggle, but you would never know it. She is giving and kind and compassionate, and she has never used the adversity as an excuse to behave badly or whine or fail. She has taught me more than I could ever have imagined, and I treasure her insight and her unique view of the world. She has opened my eyes to things that I never would have seen. I often say that we are the same person, and in many ways we are, but at 18, she is already a better person than I would have ever dreamed of becoming when I was her age.
People say you fall in love with a child as soon as they are placed in your arms. I don't know if it was that way for me, but every day has been an adventure. We have had our ups and downs, mostly ups, but my love grows deeper and deeper as the years pass, and I didn't think it would be possible for my love to be any bigger, but it just keeps evolving as we walk our journey together as Mother and daughter and more importantly best friends. My sweet, sweet, girl, I cannot wait to see how you tackle the world! But always know that I will be right here by your side not to hover but to be here if you need me. Happy, happy birthday! I am so blessed to have you in my life! All my love to you today and always!

21: Today it means more than Blackjack!

Today is a huge day in my little family of three's life. Today, my oldest daughter, my firstborn turns 21. Yes, I know legally she has been an adult since age 18, but there was still some uncharted territory that she could not enter into legally, mainly consuming alcohol. Now, this is not going to be a post about the evils of demon rum, and I know that nothing was keeping her from imbibing before this day if she had wanted to at one of her college parties, but now that last little barrier is down, and LEGALLY, she can do anything she wants. She's not a kid anymore, and where the hell have 21 years gone? In my house, we are BIG Gilmore Girls fans! There is a character on the show, Lane Kim, the best friend of Rory Gilmore. Lane's mother is extremely strict! No rock music, no make-up, no dancing...you get the picture. Lane is a rebel, and lives a double life hiding contraband under the floorboards in her room, employing all kinds of schemes to date a boy she thinks will not gain her mother's approval until finally her secret life is revealed, and she moves out to live her life the way she wants. However when she finally ends up in a serious relationship and things are progressing the way most relationships do, she announces to her boyfriend, much to his shock and disappointment, that they have to be married. Later on she meets her mother on the street, and angrily she says to her, "You're in my head!" My little girl isn't a little girl anymore. She's away at college living her own life, and I am not there with that watchful eye to say, "No you can't do that!" or "As long as you're under my roof..." All I can hope is that "I'm in her head," and when she is faced with decisions big or small, she will think of all the conversations we've had, and the arguments and the advice I've given, yes, even sometimes unsolicited, and she will make the right choices. She will always be my little girl, but my role has changed. The raising part is done. She is on her own in the world. Ironic that we, as parents, spend all of our lives preparing them for this moment, and when it comes, all we want to do is hold on. Happy Birthday, sweet girl! I love you enough to let you go!

Seventeen

No, not the magazine! It's a weird age, isn't it? You're not sweet sixteen anymore, and you have a whole year until you're a legal adult. Today, 17 means something very special. For today my baby girl turned 17. 17 years ago today with at least 2 feet of snow on the ground, I made a trip to the hospital to have my baby. She was supposed to be delivered by C-section on Groundhog Day, February 2nd, but since they were calling for even more snow, my doctor wanted to bump it up a day so he could get out of town. And so, the blizzard of 1996 became a very special time for me because it brought me my precious baby girl. Georgi's and my relationship is a special one! Perhaps that is because we are so much alike or it could be that I have been the only parent she has ever lived with. She was only 2 when her father left, and because of that, she has no memory of having a "dad" in the house at all. I have never remarried, and so it has remained that way for the last 15 years. I have been Mom and Dad. Georgi has always been the one to challenge from the time she was small. She was the free spirit. She is the epitome of asking forgiveness instead of permission. With all of that she has grounded me more times than I can say. She has been the voice of reason so many times when I had lost sight of what was really important. She has sacrificed, given up and gone without and never complained. When most kids are saying, "I want it", she's saying, "I don't need it!" It amazes me! I truly cannot believe how blessed I am. How is it that God picked me to raise this wonderful human being. For the past six months Georgi and I have pretty much been on our own as her sister left for college last August. I wasn't really sure how that was going to go. I mean, it's always been the three of us, but I am savoring every minute of "alone" time with my baby. Don't get me wrong! We miss her sister immensely, but our relationship has deepened and grown as we discuss our thoughts and feelings on everything! I recently started working with a new colleague, and in our conversations I have mentioned the different things that Georgi and I talk about and share. She said, "I don't think you know how lucky you are that you have that kind of relationship with your girls. I think it's rare." I suppose it is which makes me cherish it all the more. Georgi, you're my daughter, and I love you. That goes without saying, but you are so much more than that to me. You are an awesome woman with feeling and compassion for others. You're forgiving and level headed and strong and so smart about the things in life that really matter. I see so much of myself in you, but you are already 10 times the woman now than I ever hoped to be. I love you hug you more than bunnies! Happy Birthday!

48...gonna be great!!!

Yesterday, I turned 48. I am 2 years away from the big 50, but the funny thing is, I don't feel old. In fact, I feel better on this birthday than I have in years! I am happier, and one of the biggest reasons for that is I'm healthier. I am 45 lbs. lighter than I was on my last birthday, and I can't believe the difference in the way it makes me feel on a daily basis. My lighter self is not the only reason I feel like this birthday is the beginning of a wonderful journey. I have 2 of the most wonderful daughters that anyone could ever ask for. They love me, and I love them so very much. I am so blessed to have them in my life! I am living on my own in a house that's all my own to decorate as I please. I am also having an amazing time directing for the first time with a fabulous group of students at Tucker High School, my alma mater. It feels surreal to stand in that auditorium watching these high school students and their excitement as they create on the very same stage that I stood on 30 years ago. I am so proud and can't wait to see these young actors and actresses in the show on opening night! Something else has happened in the last week that is another step on my "new life, new me" journey. Those of you who know me, know that if I had my wish, I would be acting full time. I was bitten by the acting bug 38 years ago. Because of a whole set of circumstances, I have not been on the stage in a year and a half. It's like a piece of me goes missing the longer I go without doing a show. Back on October 1st I went to Barksdale and Theatre IV's open call for their entire season, but the show I was really interested in was "Always, Patsy Cline." This show drew my attention especially, for two reasons. One was the fact that it was being directed by someone that I admire greatly, Joe Pabst. Joe and I have worked together many times, and I really wanted the chance to work with him again. The second reason was that I would get to share the stage with a stellar actress and an awesome singer, Debra Wagoner. I got a callback two weeks ago, and last week I got a call offering me the part of "Louise" I am thrilled! I cannot wait to start rehearsing and to set foot on the stage again in such wonderful company! So...48? Old? Not a chance! I feel like my life is just beginning!