The Observation Deck

Hey all you moms out there, Happy Mother's Day.

You are the hardest working people I know of. In these times, you are holding the fort. Our world seems crazy, our country seems crazy, parts of our city seem crazy. Our children are watching, our children need examples of what it really means to be a grown up, a good citizen, an honest and moral human being. The center of all of these things is love. Love of your neighbor, your community, your family, yourself. You don't trust that someone actually loves you unless you know that they actually know you. To be known involves telling the truth. To tell the truth involves trusting the person you're talking to. Mothers and children know all about this. Moms know that we have to prepare our children for the world. This world. Who would have thought it would be like this?

I want to wish Happy Mother's Day to each and every one of my fellow moms. The hardest and best job we've ever had. I have learned a lot from a lot of you and I am blessed and lucky to be in your company. Keep the faith, baby.

Betsy Voinovich

Thanks Betsy, and a Happy Mother's Day to you.

Some years back, I wrote a column for the Lakewood Observer called "The Mother's Flower Of Love" regarding Mom's favorite flower and her special day. Here's an edited excerpt from that column...

Years ago, I decided to apply some weed-control stuff to the family lawn. Much to my chagrin, about half of the lawn died off! The dandelions, however, were indeed history. (at least temporarily) I put down the new grass seed and waited.

This might have been the end of the story, except for something that happened. When my dear late mom found out about her yard suddenly becoming a glorified dirt farm, she was filled with sadness. When I told her that at least the dandelions would be gone, she turned to me with an expression of great wisdom.

"Gary," she said, "those are Mothers' flowers. They are the first flowers that a little child picks for their mother." She went on to say that they were the first flowers of spring, and the last to leave us in the fall.

I will admit that in the broad scheme of things, I probably will not find a great deal of sympathy among some of you for the humble dandelion. Nor do I particularly expect to, in this topsy-turvy, value-conflicted society of ours.

Still, I will never ever forget the words of my mother, regarding those beautiful little flowers; so maligned and despised by so many in this world.

Don't get me wrong. I certainly have plenty of appreciation for the dedicated gardeners of this world who want a dandelion-free lawn.

To me however, the little dandelion remains the most beautiful flower of all.

Happy Mother's Day to moms everywhere!

To you too, my dear mom in Heaven...

Every time I see those little golden flowers, they remind me of you.

Back to the banjo...

Mom comes flying in.




One of the two babies, "come on mom!"






Dad, enjoying Mother's Day from afar.

These are from Redwood Elementary School, in Avon Lake.

The Emerald Canyon nest that was blown down has been rebuilt, south of the original location on private property.

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