Shirley Ristau Featured in AP Wire Story!!!

Well, we never had to be convinced that Stephen's mom deserves national recognition but finally the rest of the world has caught on. Shirley was featured in a local story picked up by the AP wire service and distributed nationally. She is a regular at the various exercise programs held at the Manchester Senior Center and serves as the new national poster child for the benefits of exercise and balance training to prevent falls. Here is a picture that ran nationally! You GO, girl!!!!!

Shirley Ristau, right, coaches Johanna O'Neill, center, through a balance obstacle course while O'Neill's sister, Mary O'Neill, watches during a fall-prevention demonstration class at the Manchester Senior Center.

To Our Moms and all the mothers out there...thank you!!!!

JUST A MOM?
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a......?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom." "We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar." "What is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it? I do not know.

The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) And already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood!

What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the women we know and love!

May 10, 2007

Phew! Living in the Now Can Be Tough!

The last ten days have been full and exciting- going through the inspection on our new home (it passed with flying colors!); arranging for new home and auto insurances, applying for Oregon driving licences and registrations- that's the FULL part- AND hiking in old growth forest and along the Salmon River (see pics below) and coming upon mother bear and her two cubs! Fortunately for all concerned, we were far enough away to be safe and close enought to get a good look. Talk about adrenalin! (EXCITING!)

This morning (May 10), we hiked the Flag Mountain Trail, a ridgeline going east toward Mt. Hood for the third time. The first two times, it was cloudy and rainy (and the mountain obscured) but this time, sunny and clear with spectacular views of Hood.