My mother was not treated well when she was a child. She was given away when she was four years old. I don't know the exact circumstances....how much it was discussed or anything like that. She was illegitimate....and I am sure that was much more frowned upon when she was born in 1904 than it is now. She said she was playing in a ditch in front of her house and a well to do man in the community drove by in his wagon. He asked her mother to give her to him. And she did. Like I said...I don't know how much thought went into that...or anything else about it, but she had a very difficult childhood and was treated more like a servant. She was never legally adopted and didn't inherit anything from that family. I do know that it stayed with her forever. The last words she ever said to me were, "When I was four years old, my mother gave me away." She was 97 and had been bedridden for several years. She didn't know anyone....didn't talk very much. But that was the last words she ever said to me. I am often surprised at how motherly she turned out to be, not having a good role model. So, I know it can be done, and Moni and those who didn't have a close relationship with your mothers, I think it is wonderful that you were able to over come that and have a close bond with your children.

Glenda you eat out every day as I recall. Do it YOUR way good Leo girl. You want what you want how you want it and why not? Cook on. It sounds good to me. I personally don't like to eat out so I for sure see why you want to eat in this one time on your Birthday so you can cook for somebody else as well as yourself and eat exactly what you want. Happy Birthday.

It is really great to hear about everyone. I have been a lurker, off and on for years, just joined a couple of months ago. i couldnt decide on a name, my name is boring, June, and i started to use my girls names ( we have two 4 year old Boxers Sasha and Bella) then decided to use the name Jenna, she was our other Boxer that we went to the Rainbow bridge when she was 11. anyway, the VA is for VIrginia where i live. didnt know you couldnt use caps. i am 58, my husband and i retired this year from our jobs, now i work part time in a medical office, love love love retirement.... have three grown daughters, 34, 29 and 29 (stepdaughter) and a son, 36. 7 grandkids the younger two are 21 months and 5 months and are visiting with their mom from california. i really love this KT, used to read the home dec and organizing forums mostly, but after i discovered KT, i try to check in every day. great bunch.

This is going to sound silly, but I remember watching "The Goonies" as a kid and thinking how cool it would be to live where it was filmed. Years later I saw parts of "Kindergarten Cop", even though I'm no fan of Schwarzenegger, and fell in love with the area. Imagine my surprise when I found a website listing both having been filmed in Astoria! That's when I fell in love with the area and after a few road trips, we have decided that when it's time for us to retire, that's where we'd like to move. We'll definitely have to stay at that Holiday Inn, Bee. Thanks for the tip!!