I'm Unlucky

I always try to go grocery shopping, well, do ANY shopping, without children but still had to take kids with me to Kroger on Sunday. While there, I noted the 10 for $10.00 with $5.00 rebate sale so decided to take advantage of it. I thought about getting some school supplies (Marble composition books would have been $0.50 each) but then remembered that Wal-Mart has great sales on that stuff in August (same composition books were $0.20 each last year), so bagged that idea much to my children's shagrin. However, we did buy chewy bars, frozen pizza, and other favorite items that fell into that 10 for $10.00 bargain (you could mix and match). I am going to price the stuff at Wal-Mart the next time I go to see if I really got a deal. But, anyway,....while I was checking out, Kyle, Charlie and Joanna decided to check out the little toy and candy machines. (Marcie was "helping" me at the self-check-out.) They always turn the knobs first and check the dispenser to see if a toy (or candy) will pop out and they check the change return to see if some quarters just might be there. They didn't find any quarters but Kyle figured out that by turning the knob of one of the machines, toys would come out without putting any money in. They did have a few quarters of their own that they used but by the time I got over there, Charlie and Kyle had about 4 or 5 toys each. Kyle said, "look Mom, they keep coming out!" Marcie got in on it and as Kyle demonstrated, she got 4 toys. I told them that they needed to tell the sales clerk because the machine wasn't supposed to do that. They did, and were allowed to keep the booty. Charlie was so excited and kept saying, "I'm unlucky Mom, look how much I got!" I corrected him on that and taught him a new expression, "I hit the jackpot!" He had to call my mother when he got home to tell her that he hit the jackpot and then also to tattle on the mis-deeds of his siblings. Some things just never change, but all in all, the grocery shopping trip wasn't all that bad. Still, though, I really prefer shopping without kids!

King of Pop

For nearly 2 weeks there has been so much media attention on the death of Michael Jackson that I can't imagine that anyone hasn't heard. His funeral yesterday was a marvelous tribute to the life and creative genious of such a prominent figure. I grew up with the Jackson 5, the Osmond Brothers and the Partridge Family, and of all of those groups, it seems the Osmonds have had the most normal adult life (if you can call any performer's life normal!) ....seemingly free of addictions and controversy. The most tragic thing is that Michael Jackson's music has been ingrained in our consciences for slightly more than 40 years and spanned continents and yet he still couldn't find fulfillment in his adult life. I know he deeply loved his children and I admire how he protected them from the harshness of a life of performing and made sure they had what he felt he never had -- a childhood -- positive, free of criticism and full of love. There was a beautiful photo taken yesterday of his 3 children together -- the older 2 standing over the younger as if protecting him.

In spite of his shortcomings and other things that cast a more negative light on this controversial figure, there is no denying that his contributions to the music industry and his stature as a performer are among the greatest ever. He has left an undying legacy and with the unreleased works coming to life, his voice will be heard for years to come. He has also left 3 beautiful children who loved him deeply and a family reeling from his untimely demise. We must pray for them, especially his kids.

There is also another poignant lesson in this. Entertainers, and others we revere like Princess Diana, are humans who search for love, acceptance and peace. Those Christians in their sphere of influence need to minister to them and share the love of Christ, in whom there is perfect peace. The rest of us need to keep them in our prayers. We must celebrate their talents but remember that they have the same needs as all of us.

Michael, rest in peace.