Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

 Anybody that knows me knows that I'm not religious and definitely not a fan of the Catholic Church. But. I am a big fan of humility.  Of service.  Of kindness.  Of care. And Pope Francis did express those traits. When his transport came through, people stood on the road and carried babies up to him.  Whom he reached out and touched with a blessing.  Whether or not it's real or means anything to me, doesn't matter.  It meant something to those parents. He embodied the principles of Christianity in the sense of kindness, love, acceptance, graciousness, humility and service.  As a young social worker, I was taught that if "the church" truly did its job we wouldn't need social services in our world.  I guess in a perfect world, that would be true.   He broke with tradition by washing the feet of both women and immigrants.  Foot washing, a practice rooted in Biblical teaching and seen across Christian denominations, is the ultimate sign...

 My kiddo has always dug getting sick on Easter.  Not sure why, but from way back in his toddler days he had a propensity to manifest an ear infection that required an Urgent Care visit while everyone else was home dying eggs. This year was no exception. My kiddo is almost 23 now.  But he's still my baby, special needs or not, and I baby him as such when he's sick.  During our long Saturday night, I couldn't help but think of other sick nights.....trips to the doctor....to the hospital.....tests......the kinds of things that happen for "typical" kids and families and the kinds of things that are reserved for us special needs families.   This is the kind of thing that can send a mother down a really sad spiral if you're not careful (and I have my own opinions about RFK's recent statements) so I decided with my fatigued body and worried mind to take it another way.   I started thinking about gratitude. Grateful for the big and small things. Big thin...

 Today is the birthday of one of my oldest friends.  We met in line getting our I.D. badges made in college.  I guess we had been at school a day or two at that point.  That was over 30 years ago and here we are.  Both hitting 50.  Life has moved, changed, continued and gone on. When I think about my old friends, ones I've known since young adulthood and even childhood, I often think about how we're the same but different.  Our spirits and general nature stays the same, but often our behaviors and dispositions get a little more fluid.   I know women who were feisty spitfires as girls who are now fierce Mama Bears and conscientious movers and shakers in their careers.  I know gentle-spirited women who have raised very sweet, empathic children. I've seen friendly spirited, charismatic dudes become very good at selling the world and selling themselves.  I've seen shy guys come into their own in middle age and quiet women become ferocio...

 So I recently survived pneumonia.  And survived is the correct word to use.  But I'm not quite ready to talk about that.  Yet.  Right now I want to talk about what I watched while I was in and out of consciousness on my couch and shuttling between doc appointments.  Running Point was so good I've watched it about 3 times now.  It's funny, warm, empowering and strangely reminded me of Ted Lasso.  I've loved the beautiful Kate Hudson since "200 Cigarettes" and basically just loved the way this show kept me guessing throughout.  When you're sick, you need something that's going to make feel good....give you hope.....make you feel less alone.  This did that.   The Residence is brilliant, fast and witty.  I started with it and had to stop because, honestly, my brain fog was too great to follow during the height of my illness.  But once that cleared, I was all in for Uzo Aduba and company.  This show is like a modern ...