Mom's 'Labor' of love

Though this weekend has always brought bittersweet feelings for me, it surely has been one of Mom's favorite weekends through the years.

For me, Labor Day weekend brought an end to summer, school back in session, baseball season nearing it's final out, and wearing winter clothes again...though I adore the Jerry Lewis Telethon and would stay up all night long to watch the entire show (still do!).

Mom loved the planes. Since she was a small girl and her Dad took her to the air races at Hopkins Airport, she's loved the planes. She wanted to parachute from a plane and be a pilot. I'm sure up in Heaven, she's tried both!

Having her baby brother as a big wig in the Air Force brought her great joy as well bringing her love of airplanes and her country together in perfect harmony.

So come Labor Day Weekend, Mom was in her glory. If the Indians were in town, we'd be at the games and watch the planes buzzing. What a hoot watching the ballplayers eye the planes above rather than the balls flying around or get spooked and caught off guard when a surprise attack forced miscues on the field or in the batter's box.

With my job downtown, we've been very fortunate to be able to have the best seats in the house to watch the air show year after year.

We never missed a show.

Until this year, as a team. The dynamic duo which we were. I know Mom was watching from above. And I was fortunate to have to work Labor Day and then zoom up to the roof to join my family to watch the festivities!

It's amazing sometimes what I remember and what I don't. I remember exactly what Mom and I were doing last Labor Day. I won't lie. It was a hard one. Mom had dialysis but we still made the Indians' Game. We also did not miss the Air Show.

This weekend was especially bittersweet for all the same reasons and one bigger looming reason. I never dwell on the past. I never sit around moping about Mom. I am so proud that I have continued living, I've not skipped a beat, and carried on just as Mom would have wanted me. I inherited Mom's zest for life. She loved life and lived it 'til her very last breath. But I won't lie. When I do something for the first time without Mom, it's sad and makes my insides hurt like you would not believe.

And having people tell to move on, not remember, or other ridiculous advice I continuously get day after day just makes me outright angry.

This Labor Day I was fortunate to spend a lot of the weekend with my family, which was very nice.

I also attended the Train Concert, which would have been much better if my best friend would have been in town from FLA...but he was not. I could not pass up the chance to see one of my favorite groups, and they did not disappoint. It's amazing what a few cocktails can get you through time and time again!

Overall, an ok weekend. I'm sensing the next few months will be more difficult than the summer has been in light of the upcoming anniversary. But, I will press on and live the way Mom lived, loved, and do what she would have wanted me to do to be happy!

Jerry's kids

It's that time again.

Labor Day weekend is synonymous for the Jerry Lewis Telethon for MDA.

When I was a little girl, I'd make a fort in the living room with pillows, blankets, my books to do my homework, snacks, and stay up all night watching Jerry Lewis and his telethon for Muscular Dystrophy.

I liked seeing all of my favorite stars, but believe it or not, I understood what the true meaning behind this event revealed.

It's truly amazing what one man can do.

When I am feeling down, hopeless that I am not making a difference in this world, or sorry for myself, I just think of Jerry Lewis.

He is one person who started a cause which has helped millions of people to date.

He was extremely ill himself and has overcome that malady.


I'm not quite sure where I got the energy or what possessed me, but this year I stayed up all night long again watching my favorite entertainers, hearing the stories of hope, and witnessing the good will still left in the world today by CEO after CEO handing over checks in the thousands and millions for Jerry's Kids.

If the heart-warming stories don't get you (and they should), it's the performances like Jerry singing a wonderful song to his daughter or Jack Jones singing a duet with his daughter. You have a cute girl group from Texas belting out a great song, violinist Joshua Bell, or the jump rope team amazing the crowd.

If one of these scenes does not evoke any type of emotion and urge to make this world a better place, well, there's a problem.

Keep your eyes to the skies

Bittersweet times ahead.

Labor Day weekend ushers in the 'unofficial' end to Summer, though we may have weeks if not months left of nice weather!

I love Cleveland.

We always have a blow-out Labor Day weekend with the Indians usually in town, the Air Show, the Taste of Cleveland, live music all weekend long, the Oktoberfest, the Geauga County Fair, and so much more!

Speaking of bittersweet times, you know Mom is not feeling well if she skips the Indians Game.

Today was one of those days. Mom passed on the game and I went with a dear friend of ours.

I really enjoy the Indians' games this weekend because more than not, you will have air show planes buzzing by throughout the entire game!

You better keep your eyes to the skies: for the planes and the foul balls!

Sure enough, the roar of the planes kept the Indians and Twins on edge for half of the game but gave the crowd something to cheer.

What a treat!

I am determined NOT to let this weekend be the end of my summer. We've still got a lot of Indian summer living to do!!!!

I will continue wearing white shoes!

I know Labor Day has passed, but I will continue wearing white shoes!

First of all, I am a rebel at times (ok, stop laughing those of you who call me miss goody two shoes!)....

I have a very cool pair of white flip flops with some bling that have a few more fancy steps in them!

And most importantly, on a day when it hits 92 degrees, anything goes! I certainly hope we continue having these balmy temps deep into September, October, and further!

Ahhh, Cleveland will soon sprout palm trees everywhere, and oh, how I would love that!!!!!

For Jerry's Kids

This time of year has always been bittersweet for me, even as a little girl.

Whoever the infamous 'they' are claim that summer is over come Labor Day. I think that is poppycock. I was in my cousin's wedding at the end of October wearing this wonderful long, hot purplish dress in 87 degree temperatures!

I don't like to see Spring and Summer go. I am a girl of the tropics!

As a youngster, this time of year meant back to school. Now, I loved school but that meant vacation was over.

As an adult, it still means back to school --waiting for buses to and from work...and 20 mph school zones whenever I go anywhere throughout the day!

It meant baseball season was almost over, which is an awful time of the year.

It also meant and still means the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for Jerry's Kids. I would get set up in the living room like a sleepover stocked with blankets, pillows and snacks (and of course my homework because many times school had already started) and 'try' to stay up all night to see my favorite performers and listen to the testimonials from people suffering from this horrible disease. Jerry was and is one of my favorite entertainers. What a story he has to tell. A few years ago on the telethon, he too, was suffering from an illness. Today he looks wonderful after battling back himself.

Times have changed. The telethon used to be on so many stations including WJW. Now, it's hard to find. It was an 'event,' though for a sad cause. There were more firemen out collecting money as we ventured to the Indians' games and Air Show each Labor Day Weekend.

I loved the Jerry Lewis portion but always cherished coming back to Cleveland and seeing Big Chuck and Lil John performing crazy skits to get the giving people of Cleveland to help this cause. And through the good and rough economic times, we did! WJW also had 'local celebrities' galore who I always loved seeing. They may be Cleveland celebrities, but they made us proud. The likes of Drew Carey, Michael Stanley, Barnaby, Del and Tom, Jack Carlin, Klinger, and so many more....

God Bless Jerry Lewis for taking a cause he believes in and making it one of his life's missions. He and all of his 'dedicated' who donate their time, efforts, talents, and so much more for his kids have made a difference in this world, whether they know it or not.