One day, long after my youngest stepson (Nick) had finished high school and was out of the house, I found out when it really became them against me!

Back in Nick's junior year in high school, he came downstairs dressed in a suit and tie for school. When I asked him what in the world was going on with that, he told me that his shop class was having a photo taken for the yearbook. He went off to school, as did my other kids, and I really never thought about that morning again.

Several years later, my eldest daughter and I were having an experience which involved her driving my car with me as a passenger while she had her learners permit, and she got pulled over by a policeman for running a yellow light. He let her off with a warning, and as we drove towards home, I commented that I was really surprised that Nick made it through his whole beginner driving experience without ever having gotten a traffic ticket.

That was when my daughter smirked and said: "Well, Mom, that's not exactly true!" She went on to ask if I remembered the day that Nick went to school in a suit and tie. She then revealed the true story about that day.

Nick had gotten a speeding ticket on the way home from school one day while driving his truck a little too fast. Trying to avoid being punished by parents as well as the law, he (with my daughters/his stepsisters' help) came up with the class photo story. Then he went to court instead of school that day, paid the fine for his ticket, came home at the usual time after school and I was none the wiser!

The fact that all of that deception went on, and that he had broken the law as well as having skipped school and gotten away with it, was amazing and shocking. But the strongest feeling that rose up in me was not anger, but extreme satisfaction. After years of the big stepbrother being against my biological daughters, those same kids stuck together and turned against me! Hallelujah! My kids, biological and step had bonded into regular siblings without me even knowing!

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I was deeply moved by comments in a report from former U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona in his testimony before Congress on childhood health and obesity. His most alarming statement was this: Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.   In my travels, I see many bright, smiling faces, but all too often, I also see evidence of unhealthy lifestyles among our young people. As we look ahead to our 100th Anniversary, we need to be mindful of the surgeon general's startling observations about the health and well-being of our younger generation. Among the findings in his report were the following:   Over the past 20 years, the rates of overweight young people doubled in children and tripled in adolescents. Today nearly two out of every three American adults and 15 percent of American kids are overweight or obese. That's more than 9 million children-one in every seven kids-who are at increased risk of weight-related chronic diseases. Today pediatricians are diagnosing an increasing number of children with type 2 diabetes-which used to be known as adult-onset diabetes. Research indicates that one-third of all children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. Tragically, people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and blindness. These complications are likely to appear much earlier in life for those who develop type 2 diabetes in childhood or adolescence. Our role is clear; we must continue to aggressively build and promote programs that help build healthier lifestyles for our Scouts. Increased daily physical activity and healthier eating habits are key solutions here, according to the surgeon general's report. As Scout Leaders, we must do all we can to mirror the surgeon general's initiatives and set the example for encouraging these healthy choices, not only for our Scouts, but for their parents and peers as well. Their future is Scouting's future. I encourage you to offer any ideas you have in this direction.

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A suggestion for the "Ladies Night Out".  I haven't been to The Darling House, but I have been to The May Street Market at 1010 N. May Street in Southern Pines and can recommend it to you!  On Friday nights, there is a live band from 7:00 - 10:00.  There are lots of friendly people who have a great time!   Last Friday night the band was Joyner, Young and Marie and people were dancing in the aisles!   The band is loud, but that seems to be a part of the fun.  I can recommend The May Street Market Burger and the popcorn on the tables is great!  The website for The May Street Market is http://www.maystmarket.com/.  On the website, you can find the schedule for the bands, the menu, etc.  I recommend that you plan ahead and call The Market for reservations, 910-692-4110.   Morris Pennington, the owner, will reserve a table for you and your friends.  I have seen tables for 2 and tables for 10 or more.  Morris will remember your name and make you feel welcome and appreciated.  The atmosphere is casual and comfortable.   Friendships have been made and there have even been weddings and birthday celebrations at this unique place in Southern Pines.   Breakfast and Lunch are also served.  If you decide to give The Market at try, I hope that you have a great time. 

Lucretia Pinnock - Realty World - Pinnock Real Estate - 910-692-6767

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Friday, July 11 was Ladies Night Out.  For 6 years my 2 friends and I have gone out every month for Ladies Night.  Sometimes there are just the 3 of us, sometimes there are as many as 10 of us.  Usually we have 4 or 5.  Last night 6 of us went to The Darling House in Pinehurst.  My recommendation:  Don't go.  The food is good, not great.  The place is VERY small with only 1 table (maybe 2) that can accommodate more than 4 people at a time and smokey.  The service was good - our waiter was very nice and did a great job.   And it was very loud.

So why do I say don't go?  Because of the extremely rude customers and an owner who allowed the customers to be rude to us, who did not handle the situation as it should have been handled.  When we go out for Ladies night we ALWAYS stay at least 2 hours.  We order appetizers, main meals, drinks, coffee, and dessert.  We talk and laugh and have a GREAT time.  We had been at The Darling House for maybe 1.5 hours when we noticed an older man standing very close to our table, pretending to watch the tv, but mostly glaring at us, giving us nasty looks and commenting loudly about how long we were taking.  At the 1.5 hour mark we were just finishing up our desserts, but still drinking coffee.  The customer stood there off and on for at least 30 minutes.  No one at the restaurant, employee or owner, asked him to stop or even seemed to notice what he was doing.  About the same time we noticed the owner also staring at us, not smiling, not saying anything, just looking.  We were seated near the kitchen so he would walk over to the pickup window but then turn around and stare at us.  I was pretty sure it was the owner because he looked like the man pictured in the Pilot when they first opened.  Our waiter confirmed that it was the owner.  

As we were leaving the incredibly rude customer, who had been seated at a table, said loudly "FINALLY."  That annoyed 1 of my friends enough that she went back and told the waiter about what happened and told him that if they had nicely asked us to leave, we would have been fine.  The waiter pointed out the owner whom she also spoke to.  He did not apologize but gave excuses.

None of us would have been insulted if the owner or the waiter had politely asked us to vacate the table because they had customers waiting.  I have been asked that before after sitting at a table for 2 hours.  It is completely understandable.  But to just stand around and glare at us and to allow customers to do the same is completely unacceptable.  You can be sure that not one of us will ever go back there.  And we will all be passing the word about what a terrible place it is.

If you are looking for great food, great atmosphere, a place where you can spend 2 hours enjoying the food and company, owners who are friendly and speak to every customer and who would NEVER let a customer bother another customer, then head over to Chef Warren's in Southern Pines.  I would suggest that the owners of The Darling House head over there and take some notes.  Maybe even ask for some advice from Marianne and Warren because they won't last long in the customer service industry with the attitude they have.

I sent a letter to The Pilot about this but they won't print it.  They consider it a "private dispute."  I consider it letting people know when there is a bad restaurant out there.  

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I hope that you had a wonderful time when you celebrated the 4th of July.  Tell about your celebration and you can win a prize for your story or picture! 

What did you do on the 4^th of July? What are your traditions for the Birthday of America?  As I watched the fireworks with my family, I reflected on our Independence Day celebrations.   Our history as a nation is one of strength and courage.  And, I began to wonder if our children know the history of The Star Spangled Banner, the History of Our Flag, and the stories of the Revolutionary War.  With that in mind, I went to The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines.  This is a wonderful bookshop, and worth a visit for sure!  I found some beautiful books for  my grandchildren that tell the stories of the men, women and children who have been a part of making The United States of America the great nation that it is. 

I decided that it would be fun to hear about the traditions of other families.  Then, I had the idea of a contest.  Everyone loves a contest.  So, draw a picture, write a poem a song, or write a story about your Independence Day Traditions.  Mail it or drop it by my office, Realty World - Pinnock Real Estate  at 115 E. Pennsylvania Ave. in Southern Pines, or 15 Dawn Road in Pinehurst.  Or send it to me in an e-mail -  lucretiapinnock@nc.rr.com.  The prize is a beautiful book  AMERICA   THE MAKING OF A NATION  by Charlie Samuels and a trip for Ice Cream! 

On the 4^th of August, the winner will be announced and the prize will be awarded.   Be sure to include your name, address, e-mail address and phone number with your entry.

Following are some quotes that I found in several books that I purchased at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines.

"On July 4, 1776, the original thirteen colonies declared their independence from Great Britain. This new United States of America adopted a constitution in 1787.  The next year, on the fourth of July, the citizens of Philadelphia held a parade in celebration.  Over the years, this practice continued.  The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, has become a time for flags, parades, picnics, and fireworks."

"The diligent Stars and Stripes waved on through the long and pounding night, while patriots prayed that they would see their flag at morning's light"

"From a boat in Baltimore Harbor, Francis Scott Key observed the British bombing of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.  During the night he saw only glimpses of the American flag through the smoke and flare of light.  The next morning, he was so happy to see the flag still flying that he began writing a poem.  Later, this poem was put to the tune of another song and became America's national anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner".  The flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner" was made by Mary Pickersgillo and her daughter, Caroline.  It measured thirty feet by forty-two feet.  It was wide as most two-story houses are tall!  Today, that restored flag is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D. C."

"Betsy Ross, a seamstress, did sew one of the earliest versions of the flag for the Pennsylvania Navy in 1777.  As for who made the very first flag, it is still a mystery"

"There is nothing wrong with America that faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens cannot cure"  Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America

"Do not destroy that immortal emblem of humanity, the Declaration of Independence."  Abraham Lincoln

"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  Benjamin Franklin

"The Liberty Bell is a very significant symbol for the entire democratic world."  Nelson Mandela

"To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever accorded to the human race."  Calvin Coolidge

 

George Washington 1^st President  1789 - 1797 was "America's Greatest Commander"

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826.  Jesse Helms, Senator from North Carolina died on July 4, 2008

"American women stopped buying British stuff.  It was a boycott. (Maybe we should call it a girlcott. Or a ladycott.)  Buying British fabric became a big fashion "no".  Making homemade cloth was the cool thing to do.  Tea drinking slowed to a drip as patriotic families turned to chocolate, coffee, and cider.  Tempers started to boil."  The Boston Tea Party was in 1773 when 342 crates of tea were thrown into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.

"We possess a Spirit that will not be conquered.  Abigail Adams in a letter to her husband, John, who because the second American president in 1797."

"It is not in numbers, but in unity that our great strength lies...  From Common Sense by Thomas Paine. 

"The American Revolution lasted for eight long years. (1775 - 1783).  The end of the war, thousands of soldiers and regular people were dead.  Tens of thousands were hurt or disabled.  Houses were robbed and burned, barns and shops destroyed, animals stolen, and crops ruined.  Our world had changed forever" 

God Bless America!

Presented by Lucretia Pinnock, Realty World - Pinnock Real Estate, 910-215-6957, 115 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387

 

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Consistency and understanding......that is what you need to be a successful parent.  Over, and over, and over again!  That is what works for stepchildren as well as your biological children.  Treating everyone the same with the same age-appropriate rules will win you respect in the end.  Just know that the end could be five years out.

The way my youngest stepson finally came to love and respect me as his stepmother, was through all of the "trying" experiences we had.

One of the first times my stepson tested my word and consistency was over catching the school bus.  Nick was NOT a morning person and that made getting up in time for high school in the morning a problem.  Myself having lunches to pack, and two other kids who were already responsible for getting themselves up, Nick was fully aware of my expectations.  When he missed the bus the first time, I informed him that I would drive him to school that one time, and one time only!

Just a couple of weeks later on another early school morning, I could tell Nick was going to miss the bus if he didn't move a lot faster and told him so.  I left it at that and went about my business.  Sure enough, Nick came to me with a sorrowful look on his face saying that he had missed the bus.  I said, "You had better get your rollerblades on then or you will also be late for class!"  Nick was incredulous and asked if I was sure I could not take him to school.   I told him that he got his one and only ride the first time he missed the bus so he better get a move on.  His next excuse was that he was going to be all sweaty if he had to blade all the way to school (about 4 miles), and I told him to take an extra shirt.  When next I saw him, he was sitting on the curb in front of our house lacing his skates up, shirt off, back pack at the ready and I watched him skate off down the road with a smile on my face. 

 

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"Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la...." Oops, right sentiment - wrong month. Maybe I'll look instead to Alice Cooper for inspiration and belt out, "School's out for Summer, school's out forever!" - though maybe you'll agree that the correct celebratory tune is probably "99 bottles of beer."

Yes indeed Summer is here and school bells atop scores of fine institutions of higher learning will soon rest quiet while our roads, parks, and waters buzz with the excited sound of freedom. A freedom defined by that ever-so brief time when we enjoy an unbridled, innocent sense that the world is our oyster...the last days of school.

After taking the scenic route through my twenties - an adventuresome journey withlots of turns, twists, and Twinkies - I went from the surreal life to real life in my thirties, and now sit on the threshold of the big 4-0. Perhaps it's because Darling Hubby and I stretched that youthful glow out to ridiculous lengths, like a dwindling string of Silly Putty, that we now take such joy in reliving all the pleasures of childhood with our brood: especially the school countdown.

Not that those hardworking teachers weren't feeding that frenzy each day by X'ing off days on the calendar. Every afternoon, my tots would scurry off the bus announcing that magic number....eleven days left, ten days left!

Like an eminent shuttle launch, I could see the white cloud of smoke curling up around their ankles. By the final day, the fevered pitch of excitement was a volcanic spew.

For my money, being an adult just can't compare. Sure I look forward to vacations - but that enthusiasm is equally tempered with the knowledge that the week will inevitably end in an avalanche of dirty laundry, spent energy, depleted funds, and great piles of unopened mail. In fact on a day-to-day basis, it seems the only tangible benefit to adulthood is eating potato chips for lunch, at least when no one is watching.

All those other adult perks come with baggage. You get to set your own bedtime, but work and bosses determine when the blasted, ‘stop-that-ringing-noise' alarm goes off. You get to pick your spouse, hopefully, but your mother - his mother - the travel agent - and the caterer all seem to get the final word on wedding plans. You get to pick what vehicle to drive, sort of.

Let's see, I need a car that seats at least half a baseball team, is easy to load, and can tow a camper a few weekends out of the year.

"I know what you are looking for, ma'am. You want the minivan, right?"

Wrong! No, dear car dealer, I want the zippy little two-seater, in red, with the convertible top and...hhmph,

"Okay the van. Does it come in red?"

Alas, at least my Mother Earth-size cruiser came with a moon roof and a reasonably hip sound system so I can blast my past: "Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do, but there ain't no cure for the summertime blues."

Laura Douglass writes for the Seven Lakes Times where this article originally appeared.

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Recently I saw a performance of the Drumming class from West Pine Middle School.  Wow - It was great!   Teacher, Marci Houseman, started this class this year at West Pine.  It is the only one at a middle school in Moore County.  The students make great music with lots of different drums and other percussion instruments.  Music touches people, and especially children, in such a positive way.  After seeing this performance and the result of the theme - Discipline, Respect United through Music, my real estate company, Realty World - Pinnock Real Estate will sponsor this class with the purchase of a drum that is needed.  It was a moving experience!  Congratulations to West Pine Middle School and Mrs. Houseman for your vision and dedication! 

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   In the end, it was a strawberry and I was quite surprised. For weeks there had been much wobbling, wiggling, and tugging, to no avail. That first little lost tooth was not to be yanked or hurried it seemed, much like its owner, Lindsay.

   Now I assure you reality television has nothing on the drama of raising a six-year old girl. Unlike my courageous son who lost his first tooth to a karate sparring match, my tiny princess of pink spilled many tears over the horrible pain of her "looth tooth." Luckily, that sweet strawberry finally saved the day.

   Per tradition, the tooth fairy was summoned that evening and produced something quite grand...girl money. Yup, a good old Susan B. Anthony dollar for my pink-wearing, tutu loving, Barbie lunchbox- carrying, Ugh - I'm going to make her a feminist if it kills me - daughter.

   For a chick who spends three mornings a week beating the stuffing out of punching bags and passionately enjoys throwing back a well-crafted brew, I know that someone up there must have had a great sense of humor when they sent me down this little angel to raise.

  We're like a cartoon team, Tough and Fluff.

   With seventeen months more experience at life and that wily creature, the Y-chromosome, on board, my son has also proved to be a mothering challenge. A much more jaded seven and half year old, recently when he lost another incisor Jack wanted to know if the tooth fairy would bring him $100.

   In my most understanding Mommy-tone I explained how that was a lot of money and the tooth fairy couldn't possibly lift it.

   "She could if it were a $100 bill," suggested my way-too-clever boy.

   Drat, foiled again. I think I liked Jack better last year when he got his first gift from the tooth fairy, a gold dollar. When he took that shiny treasure to Kindergarten for Show and Tell, a classmate exclaimed, "Now that is tooth fairy money!"

   Unfortunately, Darling Hubby and I expect to be on the tooth fairy's destination list for at least three or four more years. So far we've drained our coin cups of gold and silver dollars plus a few stray Loonies and Twonies from our frozen neighbor, the Great White North.

   At some point we may have to abandon our thrifty fairy route in favor of the more hip Hilton-esque model. I've heard the tooth fairy is known to toss around ten dollar bills these days. Yikes, and I thought my gas bill was outrageous!

   Thank goodness that economic stimulus check is in the mail - or is it? Maybe I'll just check under my pillow tomorrow morning. Come on, somewhere flying around there must be a tax fairy too, right?

Laura Douglass writes for the Seven Lakes Times where this column originally appeared.

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This past weekend my family and I went to New Hope Valley Railway http://www.nhvry.org/ for our first train ride.  We climbed aboard the No. 17 Steam Engine for our 1 hour train ride.  We rode approx. 9 miles and had such great fun. 

My daughter, Kaylee (14), seemed as thrilled as my son, Zachary(2), about the ride.  However he was not to thrilles with the noise of the whistle but other than that he had a  great time.

You can read about the Railway here http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1092992.html

The next adventure is coming this weekend when we will travel to Boone to see Thomas the Tank Engine.  I absolutely cannot wait to see his face when he sees Thomas in person for the first time and to learn he gets to actually ride on Thomas.  How exciting that will be!

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