Sometimes it is what you don't say...

Tonight my family and I went to a local kids pizza restaurant for dinner.  We had a great seat, in front of a bank of windows, sunlight streaming in...  Really nice...  I got up to get a drink refill and passed a man and woman bickering in the lobby.  Woman was nagging at the man about not being at her house when he was supposed to be.  Man was telling her to get out of his face in a not very pleasant manner.  A few minutes later, the woman and the man left the restaurant.  The bickering continued into the parking lot, right outside our beautiful sun-dappled table and my three young children.  Seconds later, the man began beating the woman about the head and shoulders.  I was absolutely floored!  I told my husband and just as we were going to call 911, two other men in the parking lot called 911 and interceded in the fight.

The fight ended up out of sight of the restaurant, and I got to explain to my children why hitting a woman, hitting ANYONE, is against the law.  No, it's not just morally wrong but LEGALLY wrong.  Later the woman was standing alone in the parking lot, outside our window again.  I wondered if she was waiting for her attacker or someone else because she did not seem at all phased or altered by what she had gone through.  I got the feeling it wasn't the first time -nor would it be the last.

I did find an upside to the whole event -two of them actually....  I am from California where rioters beat a man they dragged from a semi truck because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I am so grateful to be living in a community where people get involved and recognize that it is empowering to help each other.  Secondly, I am grateful that I have children who were appalled and willing to discuss it with their parents and to share their opinions and their fears.

And I am hoping they apply those lessons they learned when they see bullies of any age taking advantage of someone else.

I'm going to try Random Thoughts Thursday....

My friend Allison does a great job posting her Random Thoughts Thursday, so I am going to give it a try...  I may never have anyone read my blog again (I often sanitize my brain dumps, believe it or not!) but here goes nothing...  I mean, after all, I am nothing if not Random, right?

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Why is it my kids can't get along when they are doing stuff I need them to do but when they are doing stuff I would rather they NOT do, they get along famously?  And if they are getting along, it must be at the highest possible volume, guaranteed to split ear drums.

For someone who does not have a paying job, I have a lot of work on my plate.

Why is every reference I know related to food?  Slower than molasses... work on my plate...   And since we are talking about food, how come whenever I gain weight or stay the same, more people compliment me on how much weight I have lost?

I am convinced laundry leaves the main level of my house for the basement and mates...  and they send my socks to boarding school...  We have way to much laundry for a house with three kids who wear uniforms and pajamas all school year and swimsuits all summer.

The grass is always greener in someone else's yard.  No, literally.  I refuse to water my grass in Oregon.  It rains 9 months out of the year here -the grass always comes back nice and green by November, so why bother?

Sometimes, I wander my house when everyone is asleep.  I used to think it was because I couldn't sleep but now I think its because it's the only time the house is quiet.  Well, it used to be until we got that second cat...

I am 7 years from 50.  This was not nearly as alarming as I thought it was.... until my kids said, "you are really old mom!"  I think I have been in denial....   And suddenly I feel like I am aging rapidly...  It's the kids...  I turn 50 the same year my 10 year old graduates from high school and my 8 year old gets her learners permit.  I am sure this is no accident on God's part.

Most of the people who are my closest friends now I met because of a medical condition or through a website.

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Ok, that's enough for now!  I have a whole bunch of blog ideas I am working on so I will get back to those for now...   Happy Thursday!  And let me know if I should keep doing the randomness.  Oh -and go check out Allison's blog too by clicking the link above....  Have a great Thursday!