judilake.comJudi Lake (2,489)     Judi Lake    Judi Lake Advertising Maria’s Last SongPosted Tuesday, July 08, 2008 (1 day 6 hours ago.) Viewed 60 times. It was mid-morning and Maggie and her husband, Howie, were in the kitchen eagerly preparing the food for their annual Forth of July barbeque. While meticulously carving out the watermelon for her signature fruit salad, Maggie sternly makes an appeal to her husband. “How’, I want you to behave today; Maria is bringing over that nice new boy and I don’t want you, or anyone else, to scare him away especially after the last disastrous relationship she just ended." Stunned, Howie responds, “You think I’d embarrass our Maria? I can’t believe you! I’m just happy she kicked that other guy out on his a—“ “I get it, dear! Oh, babe one more thing?" Glancing at his attractive wife, Howie impulsively shuts her up with a passionate kiss on her mouth. As if on cue, their youngest daughter, Becky, interrupts their romantic interlude and beckons them to the phone. Without looking at either of her parents, a disgusted Becky quickly leaves the kitchen while muttering, “You guys are so gross!" Within minutes, a troubled Howie hangs up the phone. “Everything alright?" Maggie asks. “Yeah, I guess. Sam has been trying to contact Maria for the past three hours and she’s not answering the door or phone. I think I’m going to go to her place and check in on her." “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that dear, she’s probably soaking in a nice bubble bath and making herself pretty. Hey, if you’re going that way, I bought her a bottle of Channel No. 5 perfume — can you please give it to her?" Taking his wife in his arms once again, Howie looks deeply in her eyes and says, “Have I told you lately how much I love you?" Maggie places her arms around her husband’s neck and, in a sexy whisper, responds, “No, Mr. Botti, I don’t believe you have but if you hang around, you may tell me all you want tonight after everyone leaves." *** “C’mon Maggie, outa the kitchen — everyone’s here already!" “Okay, Lorraine, I’m just checking the ribs; I’ll be out in a few minutes." While Maggie pours the last of the barbeque sauce on the ribs, she glances at the clock and wonders why Howie hasn’t come home from Maria’s yet. In a moment of panic, she calls his cell phone one last time. “Hullo?" “Who’s this?" Maggie asks. “It’s Sam. This Mrs. Botti?" “Yes, Sam, it is — what’s going on? I have a houseful of guests but no husband here to help me." “Mrs. B—“ “Maggie?" “Howie? What’s going on? Where are you? Is everything alright?" In a shaky voice, her husband replies, “No, Maggie, everything is not alright. Our girl’s —." Inherently, Maggie interrupts her husband, “Where are you?" “Maria’s." “Don’t go anywhere—I’ll be right there." Although her granddaughter lives only seven blocks away, each city block seems a mile long. Desperately sensing danger, Maggie runs the entire distance while pushing everyone in sight out of her way. At long last, she breathlessly arrives at her granddaughter’s apartment building and is immediately terror-stricken when she spies policemen and an EMT crew entering the front lobby. Once inside the apartment building, an agitated Maggie opts for the stairs instead of the crowded elevator and hastens up the entire fourteen floors until she reaches Maria’s apartment. Similar to a tigress protecting her own, she forcibly pushes her way through the crowded open door and looks for her Maria. Oblivious to the crime scene tape and everyone around her, she follows the bloodstained path on the plush white carpet straight to the bathtub and bellows out a scream that could be heard throughout Manhattan. Sometime in the early morning, Maria’s ex-boyfriend, Tom, who is bipolar and overcome with jealously, sneaks into her apartment and slits her throat. An aspiring songwriter, Tom writes his final love song in Maria’s own blood entitled, “Maria’s Last Song." *** As I pen this true account, my heart aches for the senseless, tragic ending of an extraordinary young woman and her family. How does one comfort those who have experienced such violence? What words of wisdom console? Right now, I know of none. A woman of faith, I know of no prayer, no advice nor any acts of kindness that will console this grieving family. I choose silence and cry with them and allow them to “feel" their pain. Silently, I fervently pray to the Lord to bestow his healing love upon this grieving family. I am ashamed that my compassion does not extend toward the murderer. I do not understand mental illness but I do understand that many violent crimes are committed with attorney’s pleading the insanity defense. What does this mean? Sadly, I seek no literal meanings at this time. I can only see a senseless crime that was viciously violent. Did Tom not take his meds? I don’t know, but I do know that Tom is a heavy pot smoker and likes to snort an occasional line or two of coke. Any connection? Maybe. I don’t do drugs so I don’t know. At the request of a friend, I try to seek answers in the Bible. The terms “bipolar" or “manic depression" refer to a condition described as “a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. It is diagnosed based upon particular characteristics. The Bible does not address the issue of medical treatment for this condition. However, the Bible does provide accounts of those individuals that exhibited bipolar characteristics. The Bible also provides instructions for dealing with many of the characteristics. Typical characteristics associated with bipolar are considered either manic or depressive. Psychology considers bipolar to be a disorder of the brain. Without debating the accuracy of that statement, one should still conclude that regardless of the affliction that might be upon the physical brain, there are certain responsibilities placed upon an individual to choose what things will be the focus of attention. I believe that we all have the indwelling ability to be either good or bad. I also believe that living a righteous life is a choice. Tom made his choice when he committed murder. In sadness, I am not ready to pray for Tom yet, but perhaps someone else is. ©2008 Judi Lake. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. 
Permalink Comments (6) Why Is Saving An Unborn Child NOT “Politically Correct?”Posted Saturday, June 28, 2008 (11 days 6 hours ago.) Viewed 486 times. In an age where it is chic to be “politically correct," animal activists have emerged far and wide. The once ingeniously brilliant What Becomes A Legend Most? Blackglama advertising campaign which highlighted many Hollywood legends such as: Sofia Loren, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Denuve, Diana Ross and more is now considered contemptuous by many today. Why? Because The American Legend Cooperative is the exclusive marketer of the world’s finest ranch raised mink in the world. In 2005, Elle Macpherson of Elle Magazine, tried to get out of a $2.3 million contract to promote fur after receiving a threat from animal rights activists. The then 42-year-old model, who signed on as the new "face" of Blackglama mink in July of that year, was convinced that she would be terrorized by anti-fur extremists. Macpherson, a mother of two, did in fact receive a letter from PETA vice-president Dan Matthews, warning that she would become a "target" for agreeing to promote Blackglama. American Vogue editor and fur supporter Anna Wintour also was a target of PETA campaigners, who have thrust carcasses in her face. Carcasses in her face? I guess they’ve never slipped on a luxurious Blackglama fur before or they’d have rethought their actions…. Personally, I am as much of an animal lover as anyone; in fact I am often the brunt of many jokes because of how I pamper my dog, Shadow. My dog is so spoiled that I honestly don’t know if he even realizes that he is an animal… …but I honestly don’t think I’d ever refuse the opportunity to own a Blackglama fur. To quote Jerry Seinfeld, “not that anything’s wrong with that," but I choose to keep animal rights in perspective. I am a meat-eater and, politically correct or not, love the feel and smell of leather. Somehow, my “guilt-level" isn’t quite as strong as is harming our innocent unborn babies. As a woman who has had four miscarriages and birthed one child, I know that the unborn “fetus" is human and is not, as science puts it, a "product of conception." Within reason, let’s examine the nine stages of pregnancy: The First Month: (1/2 inch, less than 1 ounce) • The fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. Some of these cells will grow into a baby while other cells will form the placenta. • Arms and legs begin to form. • Brain and spinal cord begin to form. • Heart and lungs begin to develop. The heart begins to beat near the end of this month. The Second Month: (1 inch, less than 1 ounce) • Eyelids form, but remain closed. • The inner ear begins to develop. • Bones appear. • Ankles, wrists, fingers, and toes form. • The genitals begin to develop. By the end of the month, all major organs and body systems have begun to develop. The Third Month: (3-1/2 inches, just more than 1 ounce) • Twenty buds for future teeth appear. • All internal parts are formed, but are not fully developed. • Fingers and toes continue to grow. Soft nails begin to form. • Bones and muscles begin to grow. • The intestines begin to form. • The backbone is soft and can flex. • The skin is almost transparent. • The hands are more developed than the feet. • The arms are longer than the legs. The Fourth Month: (6–7 inches, 5 ounces) • Eyebrows, eyelashes, and fingernails form. • Arms and legs can flex. • External sex organs are formed. • The skin is wrinkled and the body is covered with a waxy coating (vernix) and fine hair (lanugo). • The placenta is fully formed. • The outer ear begins to develop. • The fetus can swallow and hear. • The neck is formed. • Kidneys are functioning and begin to produce urine. The Fifth Month: (10 inches, 1/2–1 pound) • The sucking reflex develops. If the hand floats to the mouth, the fetus may suck his or her thumb. • He or she is more active. You may be able to feel him or her move. • The fetus sleeps and wakes regularly. • Nails grow to the tips of the fingers. • Gall bladder begins producing bile, which is needed to digest nutrients. • In girls, all her eggs have formed in the ovaries. • In boys, the testicles begin to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. The Sixth Month: (12 inches, 1 to 1-1/2 pounds) • Real hair begins to grow. • The brain is rapidly developing. • The eyes begin to open. • Finger and toe prints can be seen. • The lungs are fully formed, but not yet functioning. The Seventh Month: (14 inches, 2 to 2-1/2 pounds) • The eyes can open and close and sense changes in light. • Lanugo begins to disappear. • The fetus kicks and stretches. • The fetus can make grasping motions and responds to sound. The Eighth Month: (18 inches, 5 pounds) • With its major development finished, the fetus gains weight very quickly. • Bones harden, but the skull remains soft and flexible for delivery. • The different regions of the brain are forming. • Taste buds develop and the fetus can taste sweet and sour. • The fetus may now hic-cup. The Ninth Month: (20 inches, 6–9 pounds) • The fetus usually turns into a head-down position for birth. • The skin is less wrinkled. • The lungs mature and are ready to function on their own. • Sleeping patterns develop. • The fetus will gain about ½ pound per week during this month. Every unborn child has rights; why on earth is saving a baby not “politically correct?" *** Prayer for the Unborn Child Almighty God, our Father, You who have given us life And intended us to have it forever, Grant us your blessings. Enlighten our minds to an awareness And to a renewed conviction That all human life is sacred Because it is created in your image and likeness.
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