Blog

With summertime officially here, many families are packing their bags for a summer vacation. Finding something for everyone is the key to an unforgettable enjoyable experience for all. I never thought of Las Vegas as a destination for a “family vacation,” but, when we were there a few months ago with the law firm, we found a resort that had no gambling machines and all the things we look for when we go away including palm trees and a lazy river.  So, we went for it.  We booked a vacation for our entire family in Sin City. We just returned home from vacation and we all had a blast!  From the little 6-year-old running around Madame Tussauds wax museum in amazement of how lifelike the sculptures appeared to us girls enjoying the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden Dolphin and Tiger Expedition. The guys checked out Counting Cars and every luxury car exhibit you could imagine.  I think my son was serious when he asked his dad if we could rent a Lamborghini for the day because, after all, it was only a grand for six hours - (he forgot momentarily that money doesn’t grow on trees, at least not at our house). It didn’t matter. It was too small for all of us anyhow, which seemed like a better answer. Each day we enjoyed floating in the pool and lounging about the lazy river with temperatures on the average of 109 degrees.  We’d bounce around the town as late as we could keep on the move.  We were able to experience shows, rides and found so much to do - just as we would have anywhere else. The highlight for us was the Criss Angel Mindfreak show because we have all been fans for years.  Criss levitated, sawed someone in half (we covered the little ones eyes) and even appeared right next to my husband when he had been on the stage just a moment before. He was covered in a drape and then POW, there he was.  We were completely amazed.  It was like nothing I had ever seen before. This was truly a great vacation and every single day was filled with fun and surprises.  We truly were able to find something for everyone.  I can tell you this was my third trip to Las Vegas and the first there with my children, and it was the best one yet.  We plan to take them back, there is so much more to do. Now we’re home and back to reality. The first thing we noticed that made us realize vacation was over was that multiple cicadas pummeled my car on the drive back from the airport. While being back home is a good thing, we are already ready to plan our next excursion because the fun in the sun has just begun. If you have planned a getaway this summer, I hope nothing but the best for you and your families.  Everyone deserves a break from reality, a getaway from the stress.  If you haven’t made plans, I hope you are able to relax a bit more than usual this summer, enjoying the warmth while it’s here.  Happy and safe travels to all wherever you may go.

Growing up in a house with three girls undoubtedly has its ups and downs. We steal clothes and we argue. We team-up against my parents to get what we want for dinner instead of what they have planned. We make each other laugh and sometimes make each other cry. Above all though, my sisters are my best friends. Recently, I completed my 17th and final dance recital weekend - a weekend I realized would have to happen, but never really imagined. Out of all the routines, however, nothing was more special than dancing in a trio alongside my two sisters. In preparation for the annual Turn It Out Dance Academy recital, dancers practice routines for the majority of the year. Choreography is taught typically between August and October and performed at various competitions and outings between February and the June recital. Our family trio, however, was choreographed in May leaving us just three weeks to perfect the routine before the big performance. That’s an easy task for veteran dancers to the competition scene like my 13-year-old sister, Kamryn, and me, but Karringtyn, who recently completed first grade, struggled to remember the dance and her technique. To make up for the lack of studio rehearsals, Kamryn and I, who had performed duets in years prior, took matters into our own hands by turning our living room into a practice facility each evening. The day before our recital, Karringtyn could not have been more excited for our sisters performance. The day of the actual show was a different story; nerves seemed to have gotten the best of her 7-year-old self as she hysterically cried and became sick before taking the stage just at the morning rehearsal. At that point I believed she had no chance of walking on stage for the actual show. Thankfully, I was wrong. Karringtyn completed our rehearsal flawlessly, boosting all three of our confidences. While Kamryn and I each made a minor mistake in rehearsal, Karringtyn remembered each step and turn as if she had known the routine for months. As we watched the acts before our routine in the actual show that evening, I could watch the nerves come over Karringtyn again. Before we walked on stage I asked if she really wanted to do the dance or if she was too nervous to which she answered, “Yes, Kayley. We have to do this for you and Mom. This is our last dance together.” The lights dimmed, we hit our beginning pose and the tears started rolling down my face. Our song, “Sisters are Doing It” spoke for itself as the dance was flawless. Kamryn executed every turn, and Karringtyn remembered her steps. I could not have been more proud of both of them for pulling off what seemed impossible. As we hit our ending pose, all three of us then cried and embraced one another in a hug on stage. We hustled off the stage as the next act was ready, but our hug continued. Out of the dozens of routines, venues and performances, that was my only opportunity to dance alongside my sisters. From my first recital to Karringtyn’s last (assuming she dances until her senior year), my parents will attend 29 years of shows. It seems pretty crazy that in 29 years, we were only to share the stage once, but the moment was unforgettable. In the audience I know my parents and grandparents could not have been more proud of all three of us for working together and sharing the stage. I’d like to think even my dad shed a tear as he watched us together for the first and last time. Living and dancing with two sisters is definitely eventful. There’s always an explanation for a missing shirt or headband, and there is always something for us to do. As I look back on my senior year and life in general, I am glad that we have moments like my final recital to share. I could not be more thankful for dance to be an activity we each love and my dance teachers for giving us the opportunity to be together on stage. Now I leave the stage to them and hope they continue the legacy of the Miller sisters in recitals to come.

My son’s wife sent me a text on Saturday morning asking what I was doing on Sunday.  My son had a motorcycle race, and she asked if I would like to go.  She also said they were going to the pool/waterpark that afternoon if I was interested.  I had just come in the door from working out in the yard.  It was only 10 a.m. but it was already hot.  I intended to work in the yard all day and get the grass cut.  So I elected to go to the pool with my son, his wife and my 2-year-old grandson. I think we got to the park around 1:30.  There were four pools at varying depths and with various features.  There were slides for adults and for kids, various fountains, a really big bucket that would fill up and then dump over and also a lazy river.  Since I have decided to face some of my fears and live life to the fullest now that I’m 60, I said I would go down the steep slide.  After playing in the water with my grandson and going down the lazy river with my daughter-in-law, and all the other things I could find to put off the slides, the time came! First I went down the not so steep, twisty-turny slide.  Whew! Got that one of the way.  My son and I climbed back up the stairs and I nervously stood in line for my turn to go down the steep slide.  This steep slide is nothing like what you see at the big water parks but for me – it was a steep slide.  My turn came and I nervously sat at the top of the slide.  Normally it would take me 10 minutes just to get the courage to go down but in all my elderly wisdom, I just went for it.  I screamed all the way down which seemed like a very long way.  My son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson were thrilled.  They cheered and cheered.  Then my son got the brilliant idea of sending me down the slide with his Go-Pro.  If you don’t know what that is, it is a very small video camera.  He bought it to attach to his helmet when he goes dirt bike racing. I went back up the steps to take the Go-Pro down the steep slide.  This time I couldn’t muster the courage so he sent me down the twisty-turny slide instead.  The video was very silly. My son took the Go-Pro down the big slide and then he went down another slide that is short but dumps you into 12 feet of water.  He wanted me to do that one, too.  I had no problem.  I took the Go-Pro and held it in my hand while I went down the slide.  It was super fast and you hit the water hard.  I felt the Go-Pro leave my hand!  As soon as I came up out of the water I shouted to my son that I had lost his Go-Pro.  We could see it laying down in the bottom of the pool.  The life guard didn’t want to stop the people from using the slide so my son decided he would just go down the slide again.  He hung onto the sides and went down the slide very slowly.  When he got to the bottom he stood up and dove for the camera.  Fortunately for me he was able to retrieve it.  He said the camera was facing up! He was really excited to see me go down the slide, the camera go flying in the air and sink to the bottom of the pool.  People continued to use the slide so there would be multiple people going over top of the camera and then it would show him diving for it.  When he went to re-play the video, the camera wasn’t even on!  He was disappointed and I do think it would have been hilarious to see all the activity that went on while the camera was at the bottom of the pool. In spite of the whole camera debacle, I had a great day with my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandson.  The poor little boy was so tired at the end of the day.  We took bets on how long it would take him to go to sleep in the car.  His mom won with her prediction of seven minutes!  Thanks for the great time guys!  One more item off the bucket list!

If you have been reading our staff blogs, you know that I have a passion for everyone who can donate blood. If someone needs a blood transfusion and I can help, I’m there. Or if the Blood Bank is dangerously low and I can help, I’m there as well. Well, there is a Blood Drive from noon to 5 p.m. today, June 21, at Wheeling Hospital - Basement Level.  Please consider going to this drive to donate your blood. THEY DO ACCEPT WALK-INS. You never know when a family member or friend may need a blood transfusion, so go ahead and “do the right thing” by scheduling an appointment or just walking in tomorrow.  It will make you feel better knowing that you are helping out someone in dire need.  You won’t know who, but you can possibly help someone in need of a blood transfusion from a traumatic event or even a health problem. Come on, don’t be afraid. It only takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish.  You can do it. You can help your neighbor, friend, co-worker or even a STRANGER!!

Boo Bear is my 10-year-old Siberian Husky who sometimes gets bored easily, and can be a little destructive. Several years ago, my husband and I were planning a late night out, and prior to leaving we told our son to make sure he put Boo Bear back in his crate before he went to bed.  We got home late from our party, went to bed and just a short while later woke up to some strange noises in the house. My husband went to check it out and found that my son had forgotten to shut Boo in his crate and Boo had managed to get himself shut in the bathroom.  My husband got him out of the bathroom (without turning on the light) and put him in his crate.  At that point we thought everything was fine and we all went to sleep—little did we know. The next morning, I discovered that I couldn’t get the bathroom door open.  When I finally did----OH MY!!!  What a scene of destruction!  The shower curtain was torn down and ripped to shreds, wallpaper was chewed off the walls, the wooden trim surrounding the doorway was torn down, a section of carpet was chewed off the floors and there was toilet paper all over everything.  Boo apparently got a little bored when he was stuck in the bathroom.  We had wanted to remodel that bathroom anyway…Boo’s demolition of it just got us started a little earlier than anticipated.  Recently, he decided that, while he was on his tie-out cable in the yard, he would just go ahead and chew up the satellite cable….this would explain why I didn’t have any TV in my bedroom.  It took me a couple of days to figure out what was going on, but without a doubt he was the culprit.  A call to Direct TV was made, and we were back in business within a few days. About a week after the TV cable incident, he also decided that instead of just lying on the wicker loveseat and chair on the front porch, he would just destroy them.  Well, those got replaced too because, after all, they were old weren’t they?  He’s quirky---he likes to sleep on his back in the bathtub or in his newest sleeping place, which is in the closet.  He also has a thing for flip flops---he’s destroyed several pairs!  I make excuses for him a lot because I love him unconditionally, and he keeps us entertained, always on our toes and he has an unconditional love for us as well.  One thing I have learned over the years is that with some dogs you need a lot of patience, and you should always expect the unexpected.  I’m not exactly sure what he will get into next, but I’m sure he’ll find something and we’ll end up eventually laughing over it.

For those of you into reality television, do yourselves a favor and tune in Sunday night for the season finale of the year's most dramatic television series. Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Following a record-setting, 73-win season and leading the series 3-1, NBA MVP Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors find themselves on the brink of elimination thanks to the back-to-the-wall heroics of LeBron James, whose Cleveland Cavaliers evened the series and stole all the momentum Thursday night in Cleveland. For the high-drama fan, Game 6 had it all. Conflict. (Arguably the league's two best players, who play vastly divergent styles, squaring off.) Trash talking (Lebron James' emotion-fueled, cathartic scream in Steph Curry's face). Stare downs (Steph Curry's finger-pointing "we'll see” laser stare after being ejected at the end of Game 6, with LeBron under his skin the whole way). Jay-Z and Beyoncé cameos (Self-explanatory). If that weren't enough, everything got amped to 11 Thursday night after Steph Curry's wife, Ayesha, tweeted that the NBA was "absolutely rigged" after a series of highly questionable foul calls and no-foul calls went against Steph Curry in the second half on Cleveland's home court on the path to the Cavalier's second straight win of the series. Now, for casual sports or non-NBA fans, what makes this all so compelling is the genuine human emotion behind all this. First and foremost, LeBron James and Steph Curry are excellent representatives of the NBA and ambassadors of pro sports in general. They are both seemingly, genuinely outstanding fathers and citizens. Neither of them are the trash-talk, stare down types they've occasionally become in this series. This series is all about competition and the raw explosion of emotion it creates. Emotion that, try as one might, can't always simply be contained or managed. But containing and properly channeling that emotion is the key to prevailing in a tug-of-war slugfest like the one on display here. Unless, of course, Ayesha Curry is right and it's all fixed. It's hardly just last night's officiating that has fueled similar speculation of the fix being in amongst some fans. Golden State was in serious trouble last series against the Oklahoma City Thunder when one of the Warrior's best players, Draymond Green, struck an Oklahoma City Thunder player in the groin with his foot. Many thought Green's actions were intentional and that he should have been suspended for the next game.  But the league decided to let him play and the Warrior's came back and won that series after it looked like they had no hope. Then in Game 4 of the Cavs series, Draymond Green was again involved in a groin incident when he took a swipe at LeBron James, who let his emotion get the best of him when he stepped over Green who had fallen down. A tangle (LeBron's actions were widely viewed as a "Dis" move on his part). The tables were then turned on Green, when he was suspended for the incident with James in yet another controversial decision by the league, given James' actions that precipitated Green's response and the fact that the Warriors looked poised to win the Finals in 5 games at that point, thereby depriving the league and network of two additional, multi-million viewer Games 6 and 7. James did his part to take advantage of Green's suspension and fuel the conspiracy speculation, by exploding for a 41-point triple double performance in Game 5 and riding that momentum to another 41-point outing in Game 6 to set up the must-see reality television event of the Year. So is Ayesha Curry right? Is the NBA "absolutely rigged?”  As a devout believer that most, if not all, reality TV is highly manipulated, in a word, no. At least not in the way Ayesha Curry implied in her tweet, which she quickly deleted by the way. While I think it's impossible to argue that the officiating and league decisions are not a factor here, at the heart of all of these decisions and consequences beats the intensity of the player emotion that is unleashed by competitors operating at the elite level. When the players can't contain it, it's up to the officials and the league to manage that emotion. Sometimes that means punishment. Other times that means understanding. It's complicated by nature. Therefore any decisions are going to carry a certain amount of contrarianism, and I think the officials and league are simply doing the best job they can to weigh and account for the multitude of factors at play in a high-emotion drama.  But that's part of what makes it all so juicy. So Sunday night, sit back, strap in and enjoy what looks to be a wild ride to glory for either a record-season defending champion or a city who hasn't won a major league championship in 52 years. If that's not dramatic reality television, I don't know what is.

This past weekend, my family held our 5 th Annual Sonny Palmer “Sunshine Classic” Golf Tournament. The event was organized shortly after my brother-in-law’s untimely death back in January 2012.  Sonny was a veteran of the Air Force and also passionate about the needs of our wounded vets.  So, in his name, we began the Sunshine Classic, which is now a yearly tradition. As in the past four years, the golf tournament was held at the Fairway River Links Golf Course in Rayland, Ohio, which is a beautiful course along the Ohio River.  I feel this is also becoming a tradition for the River Link’s owners as we are asked each time if we are coming back the following year.  We try to keep the participants to 25, four-person teams.  This helps keep the tournament manageable, as it is well organized and the teams move along the course in quick fashion with each team having the use of a golf cart, and the golfers are then finished by late morning. This, our fifth year, the weather was as beautiful as the four previous. This year, the post-tournament luncheon was held at the PAP (Polish American Patriotic) Club in South Wheeling where we were welcomed with open arms by Shotgun (who is President of the club) and we are already making plans to host the event next year.  As I said, this is a family event and all the food is prepared by Sonny’s family for the golfers to come and enjoy after the 18-hole round of golf.  The PAP Club is spacious and has an outdoor (covered) veranda that is perfect for our event. All golfers receive a gift bag and a ticket for a door prize donated by our generous business community.  We also raffle off many other donated items.  We have a grand door prize and a 50/50 raffle that we sell tickets for prior to and during the event. We have a Chinese raffle with all baskets put together and donated by each of Sonny’s siblings and in-laws.  This all goes over very well and we have lots of fun. As I have said in a previous blog, this event not only helps our wounded warriors who come back from horrible situations and find they struggle with daily life, it also helps our family deal with Sonny’s loss that is still painful to this day.  Most who participate in this golf tournament knew and loved Sonny.  If they did not know him prior to participating in the tournament, they know all about him now and many have said they are coming back next year. I again want to thank the businesses in our community for the many donations.  Bordas & Bordas has sponsored a hole at the tournament for five years—another tradition—that we are so grateful for. To date, Sonny’s family, through the success of the golf tournaments over the past four years, has made donations to The Wounded Warrior Project that total $13,725.  Once again, my sister, Debby, and Sonny’s siblings, Linda, Dink, Mike and Mark are contributing this year’s proceeds to WWP in hopes that in some small way our wounded warriors will benefit.   Sonny would be pleased about that. Susan

He’s never asked me for a thing and he’s never given me false expectations. Rather, he’s taught me a few things and he taught me with consistency. He taught me with discipline and he taught with love. He taught me honesty.  Why?  Because no matter how hard and tempting it can be from time-to-time, honesty and ethics builds credibility.  He taught me that at the end of the day, you can look in the mirror and know you did the right thing.  Sometimes that makes for a rough journey, but it’s the only way. He taught me responsibility.  He taught me that we all have choices in life and no matter the choice we make, we must be responsible and remain responsible for that choice.  Walking away is not an option.  You make the best of the situation.  Don’t blame others.  Responsibility leads to accountability.He taught me to be reliable.  Be the person someone can count on even if you can’t always count on others.  Follow through and be trustworthy. He taught me that I have to work hard and keep my nose to the grindstone.  He taught me to set goals and keep those goals high.  Maybe re-arrange them from time to time, but never give up. He taught me that even when I do these things, the world may still not always be kind and that I will always have to face those challenges, but I can do it with a strong backbone. Even though he taught me these things, I didn’t always listen. There were times I gave him a run for his money.  I made him throw his hands up in the air and say, “Where did I go wrong?”  He even drove me to church in my hot rollers once because I was dillydallying.  He was not going to miss it and neither was I! Regardless, this wise man has loved me unconditionally. Who is this man? My Father. I am a grown woman who, still to this day, when I am sad, afraid, concerned and need direction, I look to him.  He has never steered me wrong, nor will he ever. My father recently turned 71 years old.  He works and looks like he is much younger and can work as hard as a 20-year-old. He still takes exceptional care of himself and he never complains.  He isn’t a father who is always hugging and telling you he loves you.  He is a father who shows you his love. My father still checks on me to see if I need anything.  Sometimes I call and, in the conversation, I may mention something is amiss with an appliance, my car or the yard, and complain because my husband won’t be home until late and here I am with another thing I have to deal with and next thing you know, he shows up.  He just says it’s no big deal.  He always shows up no matter what. My father has always been my greatest strength in this world.  He has taught his children by showing them an example that never wavered. I know how lucky I am to have my father alive, in good health and able to engage in the lives of his children and grandchildren, something that many fathers never get to do perhaps because  they can’t retire or because of an illness.  My dad has been a pillar of support from the day he married my mother and started our family.  Family has always been the single most important thing this man has ever had.  I try to let my father know how much we love him, how lucky we are to be his children and how thankful we are for his guidance. My father spends no moment idly.  He spent years working long, hard days and driving quite a distance to make an income that would allow him to comfortably provide for us in this Valley.  As a child, you don’t realize how long and grueling it can be to leave the house at 5:30 a.m. and get home after 7 p.m., only to attend one of the children’s activities or work on a home project. It continued once he became a grandfather.  He told me one day I would learn, one day I would understand and he was right.  The sacrifices he has made for our family have not been fruitless. My dad means the world to me and to my children.  This weekend is only a symbolic day to appreciate our fathers, but we need to cherish every day we have with them. Thanks, Dad, for everything.  May you have a wonderful Father’s Day and know I am the luckiest girl alive! Happy Father’s Day to All!

Well, they are here. They are creepy looking.  They are annoying.  They are on everybody’s mind.  Kind of hard not to be.  I mean, even if you lived in a cave, every once in a while you would have to come out.  If the sight of them doesn’t get your attention, the sound surely will.  It’s a constant loud buzzing noise.  The only thing that seems to stop the buzzing for a while is a good hard rain. With a lifespan of 17 years, that means that I have lived through four cycles of cicada in my lifetime.  The first was around 1965 when I was a teen.  This is a disgusting memory, but I remember examining parts of their little bodies on my brother’s microscope that summer.  Then in 1982, they returned when my two daughters were very young.  I remember a lot of screaming little girls all summer long.  I can’t even remember them in 1999, so obviously they did not make a big impression.  And now this year--2016.  What’s nice about this time around is we have access to the Internet and are able to look up stuff about them.   It’s been quite interesting.  It is nice to learn that they are harmless, they don’t bite or sting.  They just come out of the ground when they reach adulthood, hang around for a few weeks, make their noise, do their thing, reproduce and die.  They get their nourishment from the trees and they actually urinate.  (I’ll let you think about that one for a moment.)  Oh…and listen, some people actually cook and eat them!  Oh, gag me with a cicada! I always wondered why their little bodies seem to be attracted us.  They love to dive bomb right into you, your face and your hair--which makes walking outside or riding around with your windows down in your car very unpleasant.  My daughter, Shannon, told me that she read that they do that because they think we are trees.  You would think with five eyes, a couple of which are quite large compared to their body size, they would be able to tell the difference between a warm moving object and a cold stationary one.  Perhaps since they have very short life spans making humans flail their arms around like a propeller and do a Mexican hat dance is right at the top of their bucket list of fun things to do before they die! I was surprised to discover that there are some places in the world that have never heard of them and even some areas of the United States that never get cicadas.  The heaviest concentrations of them occur in Kentucky, Indiana and southwest Ohio, southwestern and southeastern Pennsylvania, the western tip of Maryland, northwestern Virginia and most of West Virginia.  Lucky us, huh!  I can attest to this fact because I was in the northeastern part of Ohio and central Ohio this past weekend and I didn’t see or hear one.  When I drove back into Wheeling on Monday my car was bombarded left and right with the little creatures!  The buzzing sound was so loud.  Wheeling is saturated with them. So happy cicada summer everyone and don’t let them bug you too much!!!!

Throughout my career with Bordas & Bordas, I have had the opportunity to represent clients for claims stemming from false statements that greatly damaged their careers, companies and reputations. Additionally, I have spoken with many potential clients who were upset about lies being spread about them and were curious what legal recourse they may have.  Many people have heard the words libel, slander and defamation thrown around, but never actually understood the meaning of these words.  Since we are a firm that practices extensively throughout the tri-state area, I will provide general definitions of each of these claims, but please be aware that each state has its own specific law regarding each of these topics and this blog is not intended to provide a detailed analysis of each claim. Generally, defamation occurs when a false statement is made that is defamatory, meaning offensive, insulting or derogatory.  The false statement must be published to another person and the publishing of the statement must cause damages to the person who is bringing the claim.  Moreover, the damaged person’s status as a private individual, public official, public figure or if the matter was of public concern can change the state of mind the defendant is required to have acted with and the elements of the claim. Libel and slander are two different types of defamation.  Generally, slander occurs when the defamation is based on a false spoken statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation.  In contrast, libel occurs when the false and damaging statement is published through writing.  As with any claim brought, there are exceptions, privileges and defenses that can be alleged.  However, if someone has published a false statement that has caused actual damage to your reputation or career, you may have a claim.

The story of the little boy who got into the gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo has received widespread press in the last several days. I have read numerous accounts, have seen raw footage, have found blogs on the unfortunate death of the massive creature, and most surprisingly to me, have read comments of people criticizing the mother. Appalling! I cannot fathom in my mind, how we have stooped so low as a society that we put blame on a mother for this horrible accident. How can any mother point the blame at another mother for this? How can someone's first response to this horrific accident be blame on the mother rather than pity or thankfulness? Personally, my first response when my husband came into my bathroom that morning to show me the footage was "Thank God that sweet child is ok!" Because that is exactly what that little boy was --- a child, a curious child. A little boy, who if he is anything like my four little boys, hardly ever stays in one place very long! I watched that video in horror. With a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach, I envisioned my own four-year old on that video with that ginormous animal thrashing him around, with those big gorilla eyes staring into my sweet little boy's scared face. I couldn't shake the awful thought. So after thanking God that little boy was ok, I quietly thanked God that it wasn't me or one of my children that was involved in that accident --- that I didn't have to live through that. Next, I commented to my husband how calm that mother was on the video. I said I would have been screaming like a maniac. Crying. Yelling. I would have been a mess. He told me that it was probably her calmness that saved that little boy's life. And from what I read, he is likely right. It seems that noise and unfamiliar sounds agitate silverbacks. And a raging maniac mom like myself would have caused detriment to that little boy. Well, thank God that boy had a mom like her and not like me! Because if my screaming and crying would have gotten my son killed, then I would certainly be left with one less son. Maybe instead of blaming that mother for her curious little boy getting away from her for a split second, we should be commending her on how she conducted herself and handled the intense situation. I have read Facebook comments that start out "I have 5 kids and I would never have let that happen to my child." Really? I have five kids too. And I assure you I wouldn't LET that happen to my kid either. I guess we assume here that by LETTING that little boy in the exhibit, the mother endorsed his behavior. Much like we LET our child go play at their friend's house. "Sure. Ok. Go ahead over to Johnny's house. Yeah. Go play in the gorilla exhibit!" (Sense the sarcasm here?) How about the articles that state "the mother had two other children with her at the zoo." Is this suggesting that us mothers with multiple kids can't watch our kids as well as those with fewer kids? That we are just statistically less vigilant because we are outnumbered? Imagine the headline if this mom had LET her ONLY CHILD get into that exhibit. Then what would we blame it on?  Her taking a photo to document their memory together? Her tying her shoe? Her blinking? My point being that no matter how many or how few children you have, things, unfortunately bad things, can happen within a split second that can change our lives forever. Because I realize that, I thank God that wasn't one of my children! Maybe those of you who find this mother to be "negligent" or "unfit" have simply gotten to this point in your life with luck on your side. You've never looked into the pool to find your child's head and when you can't see them, suddenly feel like you can't breathe until you see them coming up from under the water and realize they were just swimming in the pool. Perhaps you have never walked out of the bathroom and your 9 month old who had been sitting there playing was gone. He had suddenly crawled away and you frantically search the house to find him just sitting in another area quietly playing with his toys. You must not be the mom who has kids who like to play in the clothes racks at department stores. You certainly don't have a kid who has ever gotten distracted looking at something more interesting to him as you slowly walked away in a public place and leave him a ways behind. You've never experienced the horror of imagining the worst for your child in a situation. LUCKY YOU!!! How especially lucky you must be to have never had any accidents happen to you or your child-an ACCIDENT. By its very definition, an accident is 1- an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally...2- an event that happens by chance without apparent or deliberate cause. So how can this mother be to blame for an UNEXPECTED (so she couldn't plan for it), UNINTENTIONAL (so she didn't mean for it to happen) CHANCE (happens because of luck) happening? Let's face it moms, we beat ourselves up enough. We guilt ourselves over everything daily. Isn't that enough torture? Isn't it enough that we lose sleep wondering whether we did all we could, whether we were the best mom we could be? Isn't it enough that we pray for the safety and longevity of life for our kids, that we would sacrifice anything for their health and happiness including our own lives? Shouldn't we be building other mothers up, supporting them, empathizing with them, instead of tearing them down, blaming them? Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. I don't know this mother personally, but I am pretty confident that most mothers that haven't had the misfortune to have experienced such unspeakable and unfathomable pain and worry, are just lucky. It's a product of their better luck, rather than their better parenting. So while those lucky moms are blaming this poor, unlucky mom, I'm counting my LUCKY STARS and praying that my luck doesn't change for the worse some day!

One of the newly identified causes of mesothelioma is cosmetic talcum powder. One of the powders being identified most frequently is the “desert flower dusting powder,” which is a product manufactured by the Shulton Company.   A number of women throughout this country used this product when they were very young and have recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma. There have been successful suits brought against Proctor & Gamble, and Whittaker Clark & Daniels, which supplied talc to the Shulton Company during the 60s and 70s.  A couple of these cases have gone to trial, with some people recovering damages in the millions of dollars. I would urge those of you that suffer from mesothelioma and have used talcum powder to contact us to see if perhaps you may have a claim against those responsible for your disease.