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Community Connection
By Pat Ravasio

Hoping for
Reincarnation

While it does feel good to know that your offspring are living better lives than you ever dreamed of, it can be a tad infuriating to be on the receiving end of that certain sense of entitlement which grows (like a fungus) on the personality of a pampered child.  I hesitate to get into this for fear of reprisal with the snap of a damp dish towel, but I’ve always been the type to go where wise men fear to tread.  And confession after all is good for the soul.  So keep in mind the following examples are just hypothetical ones.  The continued happiness of a certain family depends on it.  In other words…

The identities are withheld to protect the spoiled.

Actual words from a certain 17-year-old discussing her plane reservations to visit a college on the east coast: “Unless you send me on a side trip to New York to see my friend while I’m there, the trip just isn’t worth it!”  From a 12-year-old on the phone from a friend’s house:  “Mom, could you bring over some money?  We really need pedicures.”   Yes, the memories of Marin mommy madness flow easily:  “How come we never get to upgrade to first class?”  “Why can’t we take a limo? “A decent hotel room costs at least $300 a night.”   “Why don’t we buy a Hummer? The governator has nine.”  “$200 is the average cost of jeans in America, Mom.”  “I want a real haircut, and that costs at least $75.”

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t have a pedicure, fly first class, take a limo, fly to NYC to see friends, or pay $75 for a haircut until it came out of my own hard earned paycheck. I wouldn’t own a hummer if it came free in a box of cereal.

“You’re just jealous of my life, Mom!”

You bet I am.  In my next life I humbly request reincarnation as a Marin kid.  Let me be born to conscientious parents working diligently to raise enlightened, grateful creatures …. Surrounded by devoted teachers, supportive family friends, and with very few boring obligations to extended family …. Knowing little else than sunshine for months on end …  Being able to ski, surf, fly to family vacations, eat organic foods at pricey restaurants, and what the heck, while I’m at it, wear $200 jeans, have regular massages, pedicures and facials starting at age 10 or so. 

When you look at our children’s lives relative to the rest of the shaken up, drowned out, war torn world, the lack of gratitude is positively heartbreaking.  But then again, fish know nothing about water.  So we can only pray our children will look back as socially conscientious adults and realize how blessed they were. , Maybe they will end up intentionally giving their children less.  Wait, could that have been what my parents were up to?  Maybe it’s just a cyclical thing.

A salute to an amazing man.

I would have never met Jim Thomas if someone hadn’t blocked his driveway on West Baltimore with her car.  I played Good Samaritan for a moment and then got to know a true gentleman and a scholar, an octogenarian who moved to Larkspur when he was 13 years old.  A longtime docent at the San Francisco Zoo, Jim still conducts tours a couple days a week there.  He’s so active socially that it’s hard to keep up with him, and the ladies (of which there are many more around at age 80 or so) are pounding down his door.  I can see why. His company is delightful, and my life is much richer for having made his acquaintance.  I wish him all the best.

Flea Market and Craft Fair this Saturday.

You’ll see the lovely lanky Donna Shadowens in full attire on stilts in front of the Recreation Center this Saturday, helping us promote the autumn flea market and craft fair.  We’re asking all vendors to bring some Halloween costumes or items to sell, and asking all shoppers to stop by and look for treasures. We’re going to make parking easier this time.  This event isn’t a big fundraiser for the Women’s Club, but it seems to provide a nice community service to sellers and buyers, and it’s always fun to bring interesting people and cool stuff together.

The little school that could. .

The best thing about the new science room at St. Patrick School isn’t the snazzy equipment and cool techy look. It’s the fact that it was conceived, designed and built by a team of volunteer parents, led by the amazingly dedicated Rick Herrero, working with the school and parish.  That a school so small (only 250 or so students) was able to come together, and, in a little over two years, bring this dream to fruition, is testament to the strength of the community that supports this little school.  And guess what, they’ll be teaching evolution out of that science room, thus further spoiling our Marin children with real knowledge! 

Stay in touch,
Neighbor Pat

Write me at Pravasio@fhallen.com

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