Vegas Voice May 2023 Edition

By: Gayla Kalp / Life is Laughter
was visiting my daughter and grandchildren
I in Colorado Springs. I watched as she worked
so hard to
meet all
of her family’s needs.
It also struck me that her
family didn’t have a clue as
to how hard she worked and
sacrificed, (without a word)
to meet those needs. It then
reminded me that I did the
same thing!
I finally realized I was
invisible when I saw the blank
stares, the lack of response to
a question, the way one of the
kids will walk into the room
while I’m on the phone or even
in the bathroom to ask to be
taken somewhere or do something.
Inside I’m thinking. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” Obviously, not.
I’m invisible. The Invisible Mother. Some days I am only a pair of
hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you find this?
12
The Invisible Mother
Vegas Golden Gals
Belinda Potts had a dream. A vision, to have senior women sparkle
and shine in Vegas. With 16 members and growing, the dream for a
senior PomPom team is now a reality.
The Vegas Golden Gals are currently in their 2nd year. The squad
ranges in ages 55-73.
Lucky enough to have BeLVMedia photograph the magic and
run their social media platforms, the Vegas Golden Gals are being
recognized throughout the community.
They perform in local parades, sporting events, fundraisers and
private events. They were chosen to perform on the main stage at
“Enchant” over the holidays.
Currently seeking sponsors to help with expenses to cover costs of
entry fees and such. To learn more about the Vegas Golden Gals you
can visit vegasgoldengals.org.
May 2023
Some days, I’m not even a human being…..I’m a clock to ask,
“What time is it?” “When do we have to be there?”
I’m a Detective…”Where is the remote control?” “Where are my
socks?”
I’m a Taxi Driver…”You
have to pick me up from
practice at 5:30…Oh, and you
have to take Kristen home too.”
It seems like just yesterday
that these were the hands
that once held books and the
eyes that studied Art and the
mind that graduated and had
a successful job – but now
they had disappeared into the
peanut butter and dirty laundry
never to be seen again. She’s
going..going..gone.
One day, my good friend,
who led a life like mine, but
discovered she could hide in a
special place in the garage to escape her children and enjoy her passion
- reading, gave me a book of the great Cathedrals of Europe. She said I
would find my value and greatness in this book.
At the time, I had no idea what she meant. After reading the book (in
my own special place I found in the garage) and devouring it a
second time, my life became full of pride and beauty.
It told of all the workers and artisans who sacrificed daily to
build these magnificent cathedrals and expected no credit. They gave
their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
No one can say who they were because there is no record of their
names.
The book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while
being built and watched as an artisan carved a beautiful bird inside of
a beam. He asked why he was spending so much time carving that bird
since it will be covered by the roof, and no one will ever see it?
He replied, “Because God sees.”
It made me realize that the sacrifices I make every day, even when
no one around me sees them, no act of kindness I’ve done, no sequin
I’ve sewn on, no cupcake I’ve baked, no lack of sleep watching over
my ill child, no giving up my buying myself new shoes so my daughter
can have ballet lessons is too small for ME to notice and smile over.
I am building a great cathedral, but I can’t see right now what it
will become.
And one day, the world will marvel, not only at what I and other
Mothers have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world
by the sacrifices of the “Invisible Mother.”
Happy Mother’s Day to all the Invisible
Mothers.
Gayla is a speaker, author, psychologist and humorist. She also
happens to be Ms. Sr. California, Nevada and Universe England.