*I found out recently that one of the major differences between depression and grief is that with depression, a person does not want to get out of bed to face another day, but if s/he does, more activity lessens the depression.
With grief, a person starts out the day with energy, but only a few hours later, mental and physical exhaustion set in and s/he has to retreat and rest.
*I've been mulling over what happens as I get older. The wisdom I have is sometimes not welcome, as it inhibits what little adventurous spirit I had. I worry about mortality of myself, friends and relatives in an entirely new way. Any little injury gives me shivers, as I know the possibilities of what could go wrong, as well as what should go right.
*Family becomes more and more important. As I said before, mortality becomes more apparent. Life is recognized as being very fragile and small 'magic' moments of peace and beauty are treasured. My friends are vital to my well being, strength and growth. The love of my dear children (4) and my precious grandchildren gives me a reason to keep going.
*I realize how tentative this life is and what an incredible hope we have to look forward to our eternal home with Jesus: The one, true, caring father who offers us eternal, unconditional love. I pray that I, that we'll be ready for that soon coming day.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Christmas with a Little Boy
Two years ago, at 3 months of age, he slept through Christmas, giving his parents a break while they enjoyed their newly remodeled home and beautiful Christmas tree that Daddy surprised Mommy with. One year ago, he spent Christmas, after a harrowing, bad weather trip, in CA with his Abby-Grandma. This year I came to visit him (and his parents, of course!)
When he saw me arrive at the airport, he yelled, "GA-MA!" and ran straight into my waiting arms, and hugged my neck. It was a heart tugger, I tell you. He didn't want me to put him down; of course, I didn't for a few minutes.
At 27 months of age, he is full of the wonder of Christmas. He says "Kwismas Yites!" and "Mewwy Kwismas!" over the phone to adoring relatives. He knows exactly what he wants and lets you know with phrases like the following:
Do you want (for your bath) plain water or bubbles? "Pane wader."
When we are playing together on the floor, he will get up, sit in a chair and say,
"Ga-ma's turn pay" (grandma's turn to play). Cracks me up! He understands interlocking puzzle pieces and put the last four pieces in a puzzle of 12 pieces. He and daddy had done the puzzle together several times before.
He uses "-ing" forms and uses a wide variety of verbs. He even uses descriptive words such as colors, wet/dry, sticky, bad/good, scarey, and phrases like, /ready, set, go/, /please/, /thank you/ /hot, spicey, cold/. He even understands and uses /one/, /one more/, /lots/.
He played with a little toy doll in his bath water and said, "Spash" (splash) each time it fell, using "ready, set, go!" before dropping it in the water. He uses positional words like on/off, in/out, behind/under, all appropriately. I'm amazed that he knows his colors; he uses the color words in his conversation naturally or when making choices of what he wants. He follows 2 step directions...amazingly! He is really into feelings, copying mommy's "bad kitty" when the kitty attacks the Christmas tree, labeling other things 'bad'. He used the word "scawey" (scarey) when we were joking about what a low groaning noise was (turned out to be some of the new house construction settling in the extremely cold weather). He crawled over to sit on mommy's lap "Hug you?" after cuddling close to grandma while this conversation was going on. He has begun to be afraid of the dark and asks for a flashlight. He likes his "taggie" blanket for cuddling and talks about "Thomas" (the train). He tries to imitate 4 syllable words on command most of the time. He asks "(Wh)ere it go?" "(Wh)ere is it?" and "What dis? or "What dat?"
We were sitting in church, and as I looked at the bulletin he pointed to it and said, "words?" You could have knocked me over with a feather!
He sings, "Jingle bells, jingle bells" over and over while ringing his Christmas bell.
He rode his little train car while waiting for me to finish a task and, as he rode along, he said, quite clearly, "Chug-a-chug-a-chug".
He pretends daily routines with his doll house people, such as "Eat now, "Eat pancakes." Then he went to find a spoon from the real kitchen to feed the little dollhouse people. After feeding them,He said, "all done, bye-bye, Work" and he drove them away in a toy car. "Come on, Ga-ma, p(l)ay".
Daddy played hide 'n seek with him. "(Where)Are you Daddy?" With the cutest intonation for a question!
We lost a little F-P doggie figurine. "Doggie go?" "Up Esine's(Einstein's) Rocket." later, "doggie outside." "doggie all gone now. (I) Miss doggie". (Einstein's rocket is in the Baby Einstein DVDs.)
As I'm on the computer. he's saying, "No, Gama. Top payin." (stop playing) He sits beside me and fingers his taggie blanket.
He has a horrible runny nose. Poor thing. Still likes to blink lights off and on. Grrr. Do you think he's trying to get my attention? Hee, Hee.
I had trouble unlocking the front door and finally got it. O said, "We did it!"
We're driving down the road and Oliver sees a Christmas decorated window and says, "Ginger-man, Santa K(l)aus, Ga-ma!" His articulation is so clear!
Then we stop at a light and he says, "gween...GO!"
After we drop off daddy at work, I say, "After we play at home, we'll go to the store." And O says, "Book 'Tore? P(l)ay twain? (They have a train table). He's got it down, that's for sure!
On another car trip, O said, "Home Depot," Sure enough, there it was. He and his daddy's favorite store! Pause. Then, "Daddy, Home Depot, all done." I replied, "You and daddy don't go to Home Depot very much anymore?" "No," he answered. (Many of their home projects have slowed to a stop for the winter.)
And the clincher of the day: O had a huge messy diaper and had to go home from the store without pants. We put his shoes and socks on and laid a blanket over his lap. Later, driving down the road, he had taken off his shoes and socks. "Nekud," he declared! I had to LOL at that one!
As we are in the kitchen together, "Ga-ma, pig unner frizh. get fash-ite" and proceeded to run into the other room to get his 'cow' flashlight to help us find and retrieve the little magnet pig he was playing with. Success!
When he took a toy apart or a piece fell off, he said, "Fix it, Ga-ma."
We made bird seed cutouts for the Christmas tree that had been put outside. I cut out cardboard squares and circles, attached yarn to them and we spread on lard and coated them with bird seed. It took him about 4 times to get the sequence down of spread, dip into seeds. Then he's doing it. Mostly he really enjoyed playing in the bird seed!
After hanging the birdseed ornaments on the Christmas tree which had been taken outside to the front yard,he decided a snowball fight with grandma would be fun. He ended up throwing little chunks of icey snow backward every time, until he finally started running over to me and plopping the snow on my pants. Lots of uproarious giggles.
Icey fog today. Brrrrr. We only stayed outside about 20 minutes.
We had "hot shawkut" (hot chocolate) for lunch with his favorite...(vegan) hot dogs. He's begun to stuff his mouth and then spit out this big hunk because it's too hard to chew...at least it's on his napkin! The hot dog this day ended up being chewed twice, swallowed once....I didn't make him!
When I told him that in a few minutes it would be nap time, he covered his train track set with a road rug and said,"nite-time. twain seepy."
The most beautiful times were when he let me read stories to him at night and let me rock him to sleep. I loved nuzzling the crown of his head and smelling his hair. In fact, a couple of times he wasn't fully asleep and awoke, calling out, "more sing, Ga-ma" until he had finally closed his eyes for the long haul.
We began the process of potty training. Not in earnest, but to see if he would do it. We bought him pull-ups (that allow the kid to feel the wetness) and he liked his 'big boy' pants. Two times on Thursday (I left Friday) he realized he was wet. One time he pulled his pants down himself and the second time he brought me a clean pull-up and said "new diaper, Ga-ma." He'll get there!
He's a precious little soul. I'm so glad to be his 'Ga-ma.'
When he saw me arrive at the airport, he yelled, "GA-MA!" and ran straight into my waiting arms, and hugged my neck. It was a heart tugger, I tell you. He didn't want me to put him down; of course, I didn't for a few minutes.
At 27 months of age, he is full of the wonder of Christmas. He says "Kwismas Yites!" and "Mewwy Kwismas!" over the phone to adoring relatives. He knows exactly what he wants and lets you know with phrases like the following:
Do you want (for your bath) plain water or bubbles? "Pane wader."
When we are playing together on the floor, he will get up, sit in a chair and say,
"Ga-ma's turn pay" (grandma's turn to play). Cracks me up! He understands interlocking puzzle pieces and put the last four pieces in a puzzle of 12 pieces. He and daddy had done the puzzle together several times before.
He uses "-ing" forms and uses a wide variety of verbs. He even uses descriptive words such as colors, wet/dry, sticky, bad/good, scarey, and phrases like, /ready, set, go/, /please/, /thank you/ /hot, spicey, cold/. He even understands and uses /one/, /one more/, /lots/.
He played with a little toy doll in his bath water and said, "Spash" (splash) each time it fell, using "ready, set, go!" before dropping it in the water. He uses positional words like on/off, in/out, behind/under, all appropriately. I'm amazed that he knows his colors; he uses the color words in his conversation naturally or when making choices of what he wants. He follows 2 step directions...amazingly! He is really into feelings, copying mommy's "bad kitty" when the kitty attacks the Christmas tree, labeling other things 'bad'. He used the word "scawey" (scarey) when we were joking about what a low groaning noise was (turned out to be some of the new house construction settling in the extremely cold weather). He crawled over to sit on mommy's lap "Hug you?" after cuddling close to grandma while this conversation was going on. He has begun to be afraid of the dark and asks for a flashlight. He likes his "taggie" blanket for cuddling and talks about "Thomas" (the train). He tries to imitate 4 syllable words on command most of the time. He asks "(Wh)ere it go?" "(Wh)ere is it?" and "What dis? or "What dat?"
We were sitting in church, and as I looked at the bulletin he pointed to it and said, "words?" You could have knocked me over with a feather!
He sings, "Jingle bells, jingle bells" over and over while ringing his Christmas bell.
He rode his little train car while waiting for me to finish a task and, as he rode along, he said, quite clearly, "Chug-a-chug-a-chug".
He pretends daily routines with his doll house people, such as "Eat now, "Eat pancakes." Then he went to find a spoon from the real kitchen to feed the little dollhouse people. After feeding them,He said, "all done, bye-bye, Work" and he drove them away in a toy car. "Come on, Ga-ma, p(l)ay".
Daddy played hide 'n seek with him. "(Where)Are you Daddy?" With the cutest intonation for a question!
We lost a little F-P doggie figurine. "Doggie go?" "Up Esine's(Einstein's) Rocket." later, "doggie outside." "doggie all gone now. (I) Miss doggie". (Einstein's rocket is in the Baby Einstein DVDs.)
As I'm on the computer. he's saying, "No, Gama. Top payin." (stop playing) He sits beside me and fingers his taggie blanket.
He has a horrible runny nose. Poor thing. Still likes to blink lights off and on. Grrr. Do you think he's trying to get my attention? Hee, Hee.
I had trouble unlocking the front door and finally got it. O said, "We did it!"
We're driving down the road and Oliver sees a Christmas decorated window and says, "Ginger-man, Santa K(l)aus, Ga-ma!" His articulation is so clear!
Then we stop at a light and he says, "gween...GO!"
After we drop off daddy at work, I say, "After we play at home, we'll go to the store." And O says, "Book 'Tore? P(l)ay twain? (They have a train table). He's got it down, that's for sure!
On another car trip, O said, "Home Depot," Sure enough, there it was. He and his daddy's favorite store! Pause. Then, "Daddy, Home Depot, all done." I replied, "You and daddy don't go to Home Depot very much anymore?" "No," he answered. (Many of their home projects have slowed to a stop for the winter.)
And the clincher of the day: O had a huge messy diaper and had to go home from the store without pants. We put his shoes and socks on and laid a blanket over his lap. Later, driving down the road, he had taken off his shoes and socks. "Nekud," he declared! I had to LOL at that one!
As we are in the kitchen together, "Ga-ma, pig unner frizh. get fash-ite" and proceeded to run into the other room to get his 'cow' flashlight to help us find and retrieve the little magnet pig he was playing with. Success!
When he took a toy apart or a piece fell off, he said, "Fix it, Ga-ma."
We made bird seed cutouts for the Christmas tree that had been put outside. I cut out cardboard squares and circles, attached yarn to them and we spread on lard and coated them with bird seed. It took him about 4 times to get the sequence down of spread, dip into seeds. Then he's doing it. Mostly he really enjoyed playing in the bird seed!
After hanging the birdseed ornaments on the Christmas tree which had been taken outside to the front yard,he decided a snowball fight with grandma would be fun. He ended up throwing little chunks of icey snow backward every time, until he finally started running over to me and plopping the snow on my pants. Lots of uproarious giggles.
Icey fog today. Brrrrr. We only stayed outside about 20 minutes.
We had "hot shawkut" (hot chocolate) for lunch with his favorite...(vegan) hot dogs. He's begun to stuff his mouth and then spit out this big hunk because it's too hard to chew...at least it's on his napkin! The hot dog this day ended up being chewed twice, swallowed once....I didn't make him!
When I told him that in a few minutes it would be nap time, he covered his train track set with a road rug and said,"nite-time. twain seepy."
The most beautiful times were when he let me read stories to him at night and let me rock him to sleep. I loved nuzzling the crown of his head and smelling his hair. In fact, a couple of times he wasn't fully asleep and awoke, calling out, "more sing, Ga-ma" until he had finally closed his eyes for the long haul.
We began the process of potty training. Not in earnest, but to see if he would do it. We bought him pull-ups (that allow the kid to feel the wetness) and he liked his 'big boy' pants. Two times on Thursday (I left Friday) he realized he was wet. One time he pulled his pants down himself and the second time he brought me a clean pull-up and said "new diaper, Ga-ma." He'll get there!
He's a precious little soul. I'm so glad to be his 'Ga-ma.'
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
An interesting Thanksgiving this year. I'm in the middle of moving from one house to the other and decided that I would fix Thanksgiving dinner for my dad so he would not be alone on the anniversary of my mother's death. I went to his house to do it, but had made pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and prepared ingredients to make dressing (all vegan). I gave him a grocery list. He decided he wanted to roast two cornish game hens he had bought (because they were little) instead of a turkey. I used my DIL's recipe for marinating and received compliments on their taste. So the menu ended up being: roasted hens, dressing(my Grandmother's recipe), mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans, yams(fresh baked), natural olives/fresh veggie relish plate, ww rolls, butter and jam, with homemade pumpkin pie for dessert.
Now what was interesting is that with all the flowers my dad buys for people, I assumed he would get a centerpiece for the table. But he said he didn't think about it. Then, I asked him to set the table. Now I don't know if he was baiting me or not, but he put the spoon on the left and the knife with the blade laid out on the right. He set out a beautiful white tablecloth and put on these horrible plastic placemats. He used the good silverware, but got out his everyday plates. So I helped him. I think he didn't want to use the good plates because they were in a bottom cupboard and he couldn't bend to get them. After showing him how to set the silverware, he copied my example...I actually saw him looking at my 'sample'. Then I had to remind him to get serving dishes and flatware to match the rest of the place settings. We got out nice glass dishes for relishes instead of using the plastic tray they came in. He put on simple everyday paper napkins when he had linen ones to match the tablecloth (which I found after dinner). He had invited a neighbor over who was not having her family till the next day. (She had been a school cook and I invited her to make the gravy....SO glad I did that! It was yummy!) Her kids had helped me move the week before.
Disturbing was the fact that my dad is really losing his short term memory. I can't even describe all the times he made comments that related to conversations we had just finished. Then that evening, the neighbor's family arrived and she invited us over to visit. He was interested in the baby, but didn't remember she was with us all day of my move. He couldn't even remember whose baby she was.
At the end of the day, as he was resting in his recliner (which he can hardly get out of) he told me, with tears in his eyes, "Thank you, you've become a good woman; (took me 60 years to get there, I guess), "I didn't know you could cook (What?!?!?). This was the first time in 25 years I've had company on Thanksgiving." Of course, all those other years he refused to join friends who had invited him to dinner. He is remorseful and still grieving in many ways for my mom. I am working to totally forgive him for the demeaning meanness and stress he thrust upon her, adding to her chronic (I believe) depression and illness.
I'm thankful to have beautiful, wonderful children and grandchildren who have taught me so much about how to love unconditionally and provided me with the personal growth and maturity that God wishes me to have. I thank God for the beauty and love He has given me. I continue to ask for His forgiveness for my big and little mistakes. As I grow older, I am thankful for the bits of wisdom He gives me. I pray that as I grow even older, I will be filled with grace, truth, gentleness and kindness in preparation to meet Him when He comes.
In the afternoon, after dinner, I walked along roads I walked and rode my bike as a child. They are changed, yet are the same. The houses have been "upgraded", trees are old and I reflected that they were like me. The church next door has changed denominations. The fence that once corraled a beautiful horse is broken down and the pasture has reverted to dry dust and tumbleweeds. The mountain view is still the same and I remember sitting on the edge of that hill drawing scenes of the beauty for my high school art class.
Down the street, the old barn has survived; I'm surprised to see it still standing; some repairs must have been made during all these intervening years, but it is still weathered and very old. I drew and painted it, also, way back then. I remember having to chase chickens back into the fenced area near the barn to feed them for the vacationing neighbors who had entrusted me with their care. The lawn of that house is gone, too. I remember loving to go over there to water it and sit under the trees for those same vacationing neighbors. (My summer 'job' as a preteen. $15! Wahoo!) The trees? Gone; with the grass I guess. That neighboring house was one in my romantic dreams where I'd sit on the porch steps watching the sprinklers and reading Louisa May Alcott books. It is an old Victorian home with spiral staircase and window seats inside...or did have these when I was a child. I understand the grandson has kept the house to its original, true form. I always wanted to live there. Now, it looks even older, from the eyes of an older woman, perhaps, rather than from an imaginative, romantic child's eyes. How those summer responsibilities and dreams shaped my life now, I wonder. I suppose it has shaped how I continue to treasure the outdoors, enjoy the quiet of nature, reading, and having time to reflect and plan for the future.
Happy Sabbath!
Now what was interesting is that with all the flowers my dad buys for people, I assumed he would get a centerpiece for the table. But he said he didn't think about it. Then, I asked him to set the table. Now I don't know if he was baiting me or not, but he put the spoon on the left and the knife with the blade laid out on the right. He set out a beautiful white tablecloth and put on these horrible plastic placemats. He used the good silverware, but got out his everyday plates. So I helped him. I think he didn't want to use the good plates because they were in a bottom cupboard and he couldn't bend to get them. After showing him how to set the silverware, he copied my example...I actually saw him looking at my 'sample'. Then I had to remind him to get serving dishes and flatware to match the rest of the place settings. We got out nice glass dishes for relishes instead of using the plastic tray they came in. He put on simple everyday paper napkins when he had linen ones to match the tablecloth (which I found after dinner). He had invited a neighbor over who was not having her family till the next day. (She had been a school cook and I invited her to make the gravy....SO glad I did that! It was yummy!) Her kids had helped me move the week before.
Disturbing was the fact that my dad is really losing his short term memory. I can't even describe all the times he made comments that related to conversations we had just finished. Then that evening, the neighbor's family arrived and she invited us over to visit. He was interested in the baby, but didn't remember she was with us all day of my move. He couldn't even remember whose baby she was.
At the end of the day, as he was resting in his recliner (which he can hardly get out of) he told me, with tears in his eyes, "Thank you, you've become a good woman; (took me 60 years to get there, I guess), "I didn't know you could cook (What?!?!?). This was the first time in 25 years I've had company on Thanksgiving." Of course, all those other years he refused to join friends who had invited him to dinner. He is remorseful and still grieving in many ways for my mom. I am working to totally forgive him for the demeaning meanness and stress he thrust upon her, adding to her chronic (I believe) depression and illness.
I'm thankful to have beautiful, wonderful children and grandchildren who have taught me so much about how to love unconditionally and provided me with the personal growth and maturity that God wishes me to have. I thank God for the beauty and love He has given me. I continue to ask for His forgiveness for my big and little mistakes. As I grow older, I am thankful for the bits of wisdom He gives me. I pray that as I grow even older, I will be filled with grace, truth, gentleness and kindness in preparation to meet Him when He comes.
In the afternoon, after dinner, I walked along roads I walked and rode my bike as a child. They are changed, yet are the same. The houses have been "upgraded", trees are old and I reflected that they were like me. The church next door has changed denominations. The fence that once corraled a beautiful horse is broken down and the pasture has reverted to dry dust and tumbleweeds. The mountain view is still the same and I remember sitting on the edge of that hill drawing scenes of the beauty for my high school art class.
Down the street, the old barn has survived; I'm surprised to see it still standing; some repairs must have been made during all these intervening years, but it is still weathered and very old. I drew and painted it, also, way back then. I remember having to chase chickens back into the fenced area near the barn to feed them for the vacationing neighbors who had entrusted me with their care. The lawn of that house is gone, too. I remember loving to go over there to water it and sit under the trees for those same vacationing neighbors. (My summer 'job' as a preteen. $15! Wahoo!) The trees? Gone; with the grass I guess. That neighboring house was one in my romantic dreams where I'd sit on the porch steps watching the sprinklers and reading Louisa May Alcott books. It is an old Victorian home with spiral staircase and window seats inside...or did have these when I was a child. I understand the grandson has kept the house to its original, true form. I always wanted to live there. Now, it looks even older, from the eyes of an older woman, perhaps, rather than from an imaginative, romantic child's eyes. How those summer responsibilities and dreams shaped my life now, I wonder. I suppose it has shaped how I continue to treasure the outdoors, enjoy the quiet of nature, reading, and having time to reflect and plan for the future.
Happy Sabbath!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Okay, I don't need THAT Much Excitement
Tonight I was merrily watching reruns and making soup of all the half-gone veggies in my fridge when there was a wild ringing of my doorbell. I went to answer it thinking some kid was acting up again. I opened the door to the middle school neighbor boy shouting, "You've got to evacuate!!! The skillet started burning and is out of control!"
Well, you know they always ask, "What would be the one thing that you would take from a burning building?" Here's what I grabbed: My cat, in her cat carrier(thank goodness God reminded me it was handy), my purse, keys, cell phone and the nearest pair of shoes (sometimes it's Good to not put things away) and my CO teacher's license application! Those of you who are near and dear will know why I took that!!!!
I ran out of the condo, turning off a few lights and thinking, man, I might need my car, so I sat Lilo and stuff on the grass, yelled to the kids "Did you call 911?
and then saw their mom (whom I'd just formally met an hour before) on the phone yelling (yes, I'm talking to them now). I opened the garage, drove out away from the condo to the other side of the grassy area, put my stuff and Lilo in the car and put on my shoes. Just as I finished that, 3 firetrucks pulled up and two extra vehicles. It was dark, so I think one was the fire master and the other a police car. The people whose condo caught fire had a new kitty and a dog who'd just come back from the vet's after being fixed. They'd also brought the cat and dog out safely. Their two parakeets were still in the smoky kitchen. The firefighter checked to be sure all the people were out, then went in to check on things. (And the birds were okay, too.)
Evidently the fire extinguisher the mom used had put the fire out, but she didn't realize it. She thought it was still burning when she emptied it and left the house. Their kitchen cupboard fronts will have to be replaced and one wall refinished, but other than that, everything was just really smoky. The firefighters stayed to monitor the carbon monoxide levels to 'safe' before they left, but advised the family to stay somewhere for the night and asked them if they needed assistance. They said they were fine and do have renter's insurance and there is home owner's insurance as well. The home owner is a close friend of theirs.
I was afraid my place would be really smoky, but it isn't. I could smell it a slight bit, but now the smell is gone. Since I don't have a really good sense of smell, I'm leaving the doors open. Thank goodness it isn't really cold or wet. So I feel very blessed. When I finally get that soup going, the smell will be replaced, I'm sure.
So that's my excitement for the night. SHEESH!!!!! Much more than I wanted.
Footnote: While the firefighters were here, I called Keith (my cousin landlord) and he said I could stay there if I needed to and invited me to supper. Even though I'll make that soup tonight, I doubt if I eat any. Way too much adrenalin!
Well, you know they always ask, "What would be the one thing that you would take from a burning building?" Here's what I grabbed: My cat, in her cat carrier(thank goodness God reminded me it was handy), my purse, keys, cell phone and the nearest pair of shoes (sometimes it's Good to not put things away) and my CO teacher's license application! Those of you who are near and dear will know why I took that!!!!
I ran out of the condo, turning off a few lights and thinking, man, I might need my car, so I sat Lilo and stuff on the grass, yelled to the kids "Did you call 911?
and then saw their mom (whom I'd just formally met an hour before) on the phone yelling (yes, I'm talking to them now). I opened the garage, drove out away from the condo to the other side of the grassy area, put my stuff and Lilo in the car and put on my shoes. Just as I finished that, 3 firetrucks pulled up and two extra vehicles. It was dark, so I think one was the fire master and the other a police car. The people whose condo caught fire had a new kitty and a dog who'd just come back from the vet's after being fixed. They'd also brought the cat and dog out safely. Their two parakeets were still in the smoky kitchen. The firefighter checked to be sure all the people were out, then went in to check on things. (And the birds were okay, too.)
Evidently the fire extinguisher the mom used had put the fire out, but she didn't realize it. She thought it was still burning when she emptied it and left the house. Their kitchen cupboard fronts will have to be replaced and one wall refinished, but other than that, everything was just really smoky. The firefighters stayed to monitor the carbon monoxide levels to 'safe' before they left, but advised the family to stay somewhere for the night and asked them if they needed assistance. They said they were fine and do have renter's insurance and there is home owner's insurance as well. The home owner is a close friend of theirs.
I was afraid my place would be really smoky, but it isn't. I could smell it a slight bit, but now the smell is gone. Since I don't have a really good sense of smell, I'm leaving the doors open. Thank goodness it isn't really cold or wet. So I feel very blessed. When I finally get that soup going, the smell will be replaced, I'm sure.
So that's my excitement for the night. SHEESH!!!!! Much more than I wanted.
Footnote: While the firefighters were here, I called Keith (my cousin landlord) and he said I could stay there if I needed to and invited me to supper. Even though I'll make that soup tonight, I doubt if I eat any. Way too much adrenalin!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Life Musings
This last weekend I traveled to WA to be with my family and my too-precious-for-words grandson. Here are a few random thoughts:
I treasure the relationship that exists among the members of my daughter's family. They show such respect, love, and caring for each other, all seasoned with seriousness and laughter. They are not sarcastic, mean or bitter. They take time to help and enjoy each other. Each parent's relationship with their son is such pure joy to watch.
Seems nearly everyone on my air flights showed nervousness during take-offs and landings. I just don't think people are very comfortable (literally and figuratively) flying anymore.
I cannot describe how much I love my grandchildren. I have especially bonded with my grandson, just because I interacted so much during those first two years. I thought I could not love more than I loved my children. But grandchildren? Over the top!
My ex and his wife were part of a family dinner to celebrate the little boy's dedication to God at church. I felt only curious as to what was happening in his life. What a peaceful place to be.
My dear sister, despite her present illness, created a marvelous dinner; prepared and served with her artistic, caterer style. She and her hubby are the consummate hosts. I cannot adequately describe the respect and love I have for my talented sister. She is the better sister.
I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with my daughter, her hubby and grandson. What precious, memorable times.
On top of all that, a best friend from River City drove to WA just to visit and spend time with me.
I truly am blessed and grateful for what God has put in my life.
I treasure the relationship that exists among the members of my daughter's family. They show such respect, love, and caring for each other, all seasoned with seriousness and laughter. They are not sarcastic, mean or bitter. They take time to help and enjoy each other. Each parent's relationship with their son is such pure joy to watch.
Seems nearly everyone on my air flights showed nervousness during take-offs and landings. I just don't think people are very comfortable (literally and figuratively) flying anymore.
I cannot describe how much I love my grandchildren. I have especially bonded with my grandson, just because I interacted so much during those first two years. I thought I could not love more than I loved my children. But grandchildren? Over the top!
My ex and his wife were part of a family dinner to celebrate the little boy's dedication to God at church. I felt only curious as to what was happening in his life. What a peaceful place to be.
My dear sister, despite her present illness, created a marvelous dinner; prepared and served with her artistic, caterer style. She and her hubby are the consummate hosts. I cannot adequately describe the respect and love I have for my talented sister. She is the better sister.
I feel blessed to have been able to spend time with my daughter, her hubby and grandson. What precious, memorable times.
On top of all that, a best friend from River City drove to WA just to visit and spend time with me.
I truly am blessed and grateful for what God has put in my life.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Walking, Viewing, Reminiscing
Went on an evening walk this evening in that hour before sunset. The color on the surrounding mountains was beautiful and the emphasis from greens to blues to pinks and purples changed in succession. There was even a brilliant rainbow and as I sit here writing this, the thunder and lightning are right overhead. Sure glad I made it home before the storm!
The scenery reminded me of a portion of my childhood when my mom would throw a dishtowel over her shoulder and my sis and I would walk with her "around the hill". We saw many of the same mountains I saw today, only from a different locale. As a child, the houses on that hill were ones build in the early 1900's with other smaller homes sandwiched between in later years. The hill had a road that went around the perimeter, not traveled much except for the people who lived close by. So it was a nice walk with cool evening breezes, mom swatting at the knats and mosquitoes with her dish towel, my younger sis running ahead of us and me jabbering to mom or all of us just walking beside each other in silence.
I relished those walks, as it was a time I could have mom's attention, her walking was slow and easy after a hard day's work. Mom usually spent a good share of her summer days in the kitchen: canning, baking, making jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys and preserving whatever kind of fruit or vegetable was given us by our kind neighbors and friends. Many of them had orchards or truck gardens with extra produce. I loved to see the bushels (yes, bushels) of fresh cukes, tomatoes, green peppers, summer squash, as well as smell the nose tickling aroma of the pickles and chutneys, and see the gleaming globes of red, peach and plum colored jars of pure jelly. I always felt important in helping mom listen for the decided 'pop' of the jar lids as they cooled and sealed those jars of goodness. (Now, there was a mom who was inventive in keeping her girls busy!)
As I got older I helped with the canning process......(I hate canning to this day, but have done my share of it for my own family!) I remember the beauty of all those rows and rows of canned goods in our basement pantry. Dad was the handyman and turned the coal bin, after it's demise to natural gas heat, into a really well built pantry. Now that I think of it, I believe it doubly served as a fallout shelter during the cold war! Those glass jars of fruits and vegetables graced our table during dark, cold days of winter with apricot pies (with homemade crusts that melted in your mouth), thickened peaches on waffles (made from scratch), plum jam on toast (of homemade bread) and spaghetti sauce made from scratch using home canned tomatoes, just to name a few favorites. Usually, some of the meat we used was venison from dad's deer hunting in the fall. The meat was ground into burger, steaks, roasts, etc. I never have developed a liking for venison, by the way. Sometimes we had beef from local farmers. We had a huge freezer, and in the 60's froze lots of those earlier canned fruits and made fresh freezer jam...yum! Our pantry and freezer were our larder for winter.
Wow....I started out talking about our walks. I was nostalgically thinking of my mom's presence. I guess a lot of her presence was represented in the kitchen and with the good nutritional meals she prepared for us.
Okay, I got sidetracked. Those evening walks were good for mom to relax and cool off after spending those days in a hot kitchen with only fans to cool her. It was a time to bond and share my thoughts with her. I really don't remember any sage advice or particular content. It was just good to be together in a peaceful atmosphere.
I told you I'd have these moments of nostalgia. Just remind me not to repeat myself when we get together, okay?
The scenery reminded me of a portion of my childhood when my mom would throw a dishtowel over her shoulder and my sis and I would walk with her "around the hill". We saw many of the same mountains I saw today, only from a different locale. As a child, the houses on that hill were ones build in the early 1900's with other smaller homes sandwiched between in later years. The hill had a road that went around the perimeter, not traveled much except for the people who lived close by. So it was a nice walk with cool evening breezes, mom swatting at the knats and mosquitoes with her dish towel, my younger sis running ahead of us and me jabbering to mom or all of us just walking beside each other in silence.
I relished those walks, as it was a time I could have mom's attention, her walking was slow and easy after a hard day's work. Mom usually spent a good share of her summer days in the kitchen: canning, baking, making jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys and preserving whatever kind of fruit or vegetable was given us by our kind neighbors and friends. Many of them had orchards or truck gardens with extra produce. I loved to see the bushels (yes, bushels) of fresh cukes, tomatoes, green peppers, summer squash, as well as smell the nose tickling aroma of the pickles and chutneys, and see the gleaming globes of red, peach and plum colored jars of pure jelly. I always felt important in helping mom listen for the decided 'pop' of the jar lids as they cooled and sealed those jars of goodness. (Now, there was a mom who was inventive in keeping her girls busy!)
As I got older I helped with the canning process......(I hate canning to this day, but have done my share of it for my own family!) I remember the beauty of all those rows and rows of canned goods in our basement pantry. Dad was the handyman and turned the coal bin, after it's demise to natural gas heat, into a really well built pantry. Now that I think of it, I believe it doubly served as a fallout shelter during the cold war! Those glass jars of fruits and vegetables graced our table during dark, cold days of winter with apricot pies (with homemade crusts that melted in your mouth), thickened peaches on waffles (made from scratch), plum jam on toast (of homemade bread) and spaghetti sauce made from scratch using home canned tomatoes, just to name a few favorites. Usually, some of the meat we used was venison from dad's deer hunting in the fall. The meat was ground into burger, steaks, roasts, etc. I never have developed a liking for venison, by the way. Sometimes we had beef from local farmers. We had a huge freezer, and in the 60's froze lots of those earlier canned fruits and made fresh freezer jam...yum! Our pantry and freezer were our larder for winter.
Wow....I started out talking about our walks. I was nostalgically thinking of my mom's presence. I guess a lot of her presence was represented in the kitchen and with the good nutritional meals she prepared for us.
Okay, I got sidetracked. Those evening walks were good for mom to relax and cool off after spending those days in a hot kitchen with only fans to cool her. It was a time to bond and share my thoughts with her. I really don't remember any sage advice or particular content. It was just good to be together in a peaceful atmosphere.
I told you I'd have these moments of nostalgia. Just remind me not to repeat myself when we get together, okay?
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Home Again
I'm so glad it's the weekend so I can let my head wrap around my new geographic abode, physical home and new job. I feel like I've been in a whirlwind since I arrived on July 28. My ACE spent time with me which I treasure, my Dad has been calling me constantly (I had to beg off going on a local road trip with him this weekend so he could get 'sand plums' to make jelly.) I just have to stay home and finish getting unpacked and the house cleaned. I haven't vacuumed really good since I got here and with family in and out and moving stuff in, it really needs it. Of course I might have done it in the week or two I didn't have company, but couldn't find an essential part of the vacuum....if it had been a snake... well, you know the rest. Good thing my ACE returned to tell me where it was!
When I get stressed my memory and problem solving skills just are not there...Beware my children, as I continue to age.
Age, yes. Sixty. S-I-X-T-Y! I can't believe I've lived that long. Parts of my mind are still young, the rest of me, well, slowly going down hill. I am so thankful for the good health I have at this moment!
I'm looking out my patio door (one of four in this place...there are no windows, only Four patio doors) and I see cute messy finger marks about 2 feet up. I don't know if I want to clean them off right now. It is a visible reminder of my little El as she walked in and out onto the balcony to play with the rocks, marbles and water in my fountain.
My condo is really spacious and I am getting used to the new color scheme. I am having trouble getting my new sofa moved in, but a couple of possibilities have popped up this week. I just need to follow them through. I have lots of 'left-over' room in cupboards in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. The garage, too, is spacious and holds my preschool stuff, Christmas decor, garden things, and my car with room to spare.
I took a walk this morning. YES! I can walk about 2-3 blocks and be on a nice walking path that leads up toward a ritzy golf course community at the base of the mountain. The 'mansions' are spread thin and the natural red rock, high mountain desert beauty in the bright sunshine fills my soul. I do miss the moisture and beauty of the PNW, but this is comforting. Partly because I really need a place to walk regularly and partly because this is, after all, where I spent my childhood...the most impressionable portion of my life.
In fact, during the week when I am so busy with my 'nose to the grindstone', as it were, trying to find my way around the area as I drive and make sure I'm not missing appointments, etc., I look up and suck in a breath, realizing that right there, RIGHT THERE, is the mountain beauty that is a part of me. Mountains and Ocean. Nature to fill my soul, to ground me. Thank you God, for the beauty you bestow on us.
And to think He tells us this is NOTHING compared to what He has in store for us! Truly, Amazing Grace.
Today I plan to slowly unpack boxes, hunting for pictures I want to hang, knic-knacs to place around (artfully, I hope!) This place is so expansive, my little do-dads may not be very appropriate. We'll see. For now, I'm also interested in decorating with live plants. We'll see how far that goes! It seems to fill my longing for 'green'...as a transition from the PNW.
Lilo loves the front balcony as she can look down on all the goings on..which consists only of 3-5 elementary aged kids playing in the grass or riding bikes and a family with a little toddler (remarkable coincidences with El)who walk back and forth. A hummingbird comes often to sip from the feeder I put up and there are new species of birds in the trees next to us that she watches. This is a quiet cul de sac. I'm liking it more and more. Lilo also loves running at full speed from the back of the place to the front. She is so funny! She's still exploring all the nooks and crannies. She has hiding places that are so good, I can't find her sometimes. She is getting a bit more brave about going down the stairs when I go down. I have to watch that I don't let her into the garage, as I would Never find her in there! (As happened on the first night here!)
This place does have it's problems. Being on a hill, I am wondering how hard it will be to drive to town in the winter; the bathroom fans really need to be reconditioned, I found a little pile of wood sawdust on the back porch that I think is the result of termites or carpenter ants and the back porch lights and fan don't work (my fault, as I think I shorted out the light switch when I got a little carried away hosing everything clean. :} I'm still trying to find the electrical panel.
Andy fixed a LOT when he was here and I am SO GRATEFUL!!! What would I do without him? God has blessed me with outstanding children, spouses and grandchildren. What more could I want?!?!?!?!
When I get stressed my memory and problem solving skills just are not there...Beware my children, as I continue to age.
Age, yes. Sixty. S-I-X-T-Y! I can't believe I've lived that long. Parts of my mind are still young, the rest of me, well, slowly going down hill. I am so thankful for the good health I have at this moment!
I'm looking out my patio door (one of four in this place...there are no windows, only Four patio doors) and I see cute messy finger marks about 2 feet up. I don't know if I want to clean them off right now. It is a visible reminder of my little El as she walked in and out onto the balcony to play with the rocks, marbles and water in my fountain.
My condo is really spacious and I am getting used to the new color scheme. I am having trouble getting my new sofa moved in, but a couple of possibilities have popped up this week. I just need to follow them through. I have lots of 'left-over' room in cupboards in the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms. The garage, too, is spacious and holds my preschool stuff, Christmas decor, garden things, and my car with room to spare.
I took a walk this morning. YES! I can walk about 2-3 blocks and be on a nice walking path that leads up toward a ritzy golf course community at the base of the mountain. The 'mansions' are spread thin and the natural red rock, high mountain desert beauty in the bright sunshine fills my soul. I do miss the moisture and beauty of the PNW, but this is comforting. Partly because I really need a place to walk regularly and partly because this is, after all, where I spent my childhood...the most impressionable portion of my life.
In fact, during the week when I am so busy with my 'nose to the grindstone', as it were, trying to find my way around the area as I drive and make sure I'm not missing appointments, etc., I look up and suck in a breath, realizing that right there, RIGHT THERE, is the mountain beauty that is a part of me. Mountains and Ocean. Nature to fill my soul, to ground me. Thank you God, for the beauty you bestow on us.
And to think He tells us this is NOTHING compared to what He has in store for us! Truly, Amazing Grace.
Today I plan to slowly unpack boxes, hunting for pictures I want to hang, knic-knacs to place around (artfully, I hope!) This place is so expansive, my little do-dads may not be very appropriate. We'll see. For now, I'm also interested in decorating with live plants. We'll see how far that goes! It seems to fill my longing for 'green'...as a transition from the PNW.
Lilo loves the front balcony as she can look down on all the goings on..which consists only of 3-5 elementary aged kids playing in the grass or riding bikes and a family with a little toddler (remarkable coincidences with El)who walk back and forth. A hummingbird comes often to sip from the feeder I put up and there are new species of birds in the trees next to us that she watches. This is a quiet cul de sac. I'm liking it more and more. Lilo also loves running at full speed from the back of the place to the front. She is so funny! She's still exploring all the nooks and crannies. She has hiding places that are so good, I can't find her sometimes. She is getting a bit more brave about going down the stairs when I go down. I have to watch that I don't let her into the garage, as I would Never find her in there! (As happened on the first night here!)
This place does have it's problems. Being on a hill, I am wondering how hard it will be to drive to town in the winter; the bathroom fans really need to be reconditioned, I found a little pile of wood sawdust on the back porch that I think is the result of termites or carpenter ants and the back porch lights and fan don't work (my fault, as I think I shorted out the light switch when I got a little carried away hosing everything clean. :} I'm still trying to find the electrical panel.
Andy fixed a LOT when he was here and I am SO GRATEFUL!!! What would I do without him? God has blessed me with outstanding children, spouses and grandchildren. What more could I want?!?!?!?!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Deja vu
Here I am in Colorado, in my new place, still trying to get totally unpacked, settled, going to work every day and trying not to miss any detail they tell me....they may only tell me once, yet expect me to remember it as a priority. It is like going to another county when you've only had a couple years of the language and generally know the layout, but all the details are overwhelming.
ACE have been staying with me since last Thursday and I have been blessed to have them here to take the shock out of the long move and all the changes. Yet, everywhere I go, there are these little deja vu instances.
For example, I may be driving along, concentrating on road signs and directions, then, look up a little and see the awe inspiring mountains in the background and think: "Oh, yeah, I'm in CO!" Or I'm at work and I overhear someone giving directions to a nearby place, using names and landmarks that I haven't heard about or thought of in years. I'll say to myself, "Wait, that sounds familiar!" Then, "Oh, yeah, I'm in CO!"
It's like: 'Where in the world is....Grandma?' or .....'Can you see/hear me now?'
My mind hasn't quite caught up with my physical self; so I still think about my little Oliver and how he tries to give me hugs and kisses through the computer or hand his train car into the computer screen so I can play with him. Okay, I'm tired and miss my little boy! I'm so glad Ella has been here to give me some precious little hugs and kisses! ACE is leaving tomorrow. I already have painful family withdrawal!
ACE have been staying with me since last Thursday and I have been blessed to have them here to take the shock out of the long move and all the changes. Yet, everywhere I go, there are these little deja vu instances.
For example, I may be driving along, concentrating on road signs and directions, then, look up a little and see the awe inspiring mountains in the background and think: "Oh, yeah, I'm in CO!" Or I'm at work and I overhear someone giving directions to a nearby place, using names and landmarks that I haven't heard about or thought of in years. I'll say to myself, "Wait, that sounds familiar!" Then, "Oh, yeah, I'm in CO!"
It's like: 'Where in the world is....Grandma?' or .....'Can you see/hear me now?'
My mind hasn't quite caught up with my physical self; so I still think about my little Oliver and how he tries to give me hugs and kisses through the computer or hand his train car into the computer screen so I can play with him. Okay, I'm tired and miss my little boy! I'm so glad Ella has been here to give me some precious little hugs and kisses! ACE is leaving tomorrow. I already have painful family withdrawal!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Delicious
There is a delicious hour or so here that slowly fades into twilight where the wind is calm, the air is cooler and people go out walking. I've found many trails that are wonderful for being just next to the wilds of the high mountain desert. Cacti, sagebrush, sandstone boulders, mourning doves, quail, crickets singing their nighttime songs; fading reds, oranges, pinks and yellows in the sky meld into violets and blues with the tree silhouettes in the foreground. Awe inspiring. As I write this, I sit on my front balcony, listening to the muted sound of water bubbling in my fountain and those crickets. Lilo has joined me, gazing out at the neighborhood between slats in the fence railing. A few muted voices of neighbors on their balconies.
Oh, how I wish summer could start now. I've begun to walk in the evenings (not far, of course considering my being out of shape and the high altitude,) but it's a beginning. I hope it will continue!The TV is OFF. So much better to fill my mind with the evening sounds God gave me instead of the cacophony of TV shows...even if its the news.
I started my new job today. I think I'm going to be ultra busy, but starting within parameters that are more familiar. It's all for the kids. I have to remember that. Keep the kids as #One Priority, everything else, secondary.
Speaking of kids, I SO miss my Oliver. I think he thinks I've abandoned him. Oh, how I miss the little sweet boy! If only I could have a good job and my grandkids close by, as well!
Time to go in. Sigh. Happy sigh. Good night, all.
Oh, how I wish summer could start now. I've begun to walk in the evenings (not far, of course considering my being out of shape and the high altitude,) but it's a beginning. I hope it will continue!The TV is OFF. So much better to fill my mind with the evening sounds God gave me instead of the cacophony of TV shows...even if its the news.
I started my new job today. I think I'm going to be ultra busy, but starting within parameters that are more familiar. It's all for the kids. I have to remember that. Keep the kids as #One Priority, everything else, secondary.
Speaking of kids, I SO miss my Oliver. I think he thinks I've abandoned him. Oh, how I miss the little sweet boy! If only I could have a good job and my grandkids close by, as well!
Time to go in. Sigh. Happy sigh. Good night, all.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Sunday morning
Getting up late after a good night's sleep.
Perfect weather.
Functionally moved in.
Watching CBS Sunday morning.
Hummingbirds coming to feeder.
Lilo playfully running through house.
Deliciously lazy feeling.
Able to enjoy it...at least for a few hours!
All Priceless.
Perfect weather.
Functionally moved in.
Watching CBS Sunday morning.
Hummingbirds coming to feeder.
Lilo playfully running through house.
Deliciously lazy feeling.
Able to enjoy it...at least for a few hours!
All Priceless.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Hitting the Wall; or, Is This 60?
That's today. I think all the stress and tiredness just hit me big time. I have a pounding headache, could sleep all day and my bank account is dry, dry, dry. New sofa will have to wait.
I'm partially settled, still boxes lying about half unpacked. The carpet really needs a good vacuuming (thank heaven for my Rainbow vac!). The kitchen and bathrooms are fairly done, I'm working on the bedrooms and the living room is still in disarray. I've rented my cousin Keith's condo. It has its ups and downs (stairs, literally!) My dear, dear son moved me from WW to here and was superman in dealing with the packing, loading, driving, unloading, and doing a LOT of fixing up when we arrived.
I hope to be more permanently settled in before Monday, as 'new teacher orientation' begins then. Regular teacher inservice starts Wednesday and then the students return the next Monday.
Yesterday was a marathon of errands: driver's' license, duplicate keys, fingerprinting, taking paperwork back to district office. Because my dad was with me we also had to stop at his bank, a thrift store, and have a 'birthday lunch', as I turned the big 6-0 yesterday. I attempted to get new tags for my car, but did not have the proper paperwork, duh. All of this at an 83 year-old's speed. Then, at 5 p.m., I had a meeting with the school district to sign my contract, learn about all the benefits (not so good as OR, WA). I found out that my fingerprints were suppposed to be sent somewhere else and were probably done on the wrong form, so I may have to do those again (the dist. will pay, thankfully) and the paperwork never seems to be finished. But I'm here and I must try this out before I decide if it is good or bad.
I'm just worn out today, so I will take it easy putting things away and just trying to make the place look more organized! Being tired colors everything a little negatively!
My story would take a book sized blog, but suffice it to say I'm here, safe, and mostly of sane mind!
I'm partially settled, still boxes lying about half unpacked. The carpet really needs a good vacuuming (thank heaven for my Rainbow vac!). The kitchen and bathrooms are fairly done, I'm working on the bedrooms and the living room is still in disarray. I've rented my cousin Keith's condo. It has its ups and downs (stairs, literally!) My dear, dear son moved me from WW to here and was superman in dealing with the packing, loading, driving, unloading, and doing a LOT of fixing up when we arrived.
I hope to be more permanently settled in before Monday, as 'new teacher orientation' begins then. Regular teacher inservice starts Wednesday and then the students return the next Monday.
Yesterday was a marathon of errands: driver's' license, duplicate keys, fingerprinting, taking paperwork back to district office. Because my dad was with me we also had to stop at his bank, a thrift store, and have a 'birthday lunch', as I turned the big 6-0 yesterday. I attempted to get new tags for my car, but did not have the proper paperwork, duh. All of this at an 83 year-old's speed. Then, at 5 p.m., I had a meeting with the school district to sign my contract, learn about all the benefits (not so good as OR, WA). I found out that my fingerprints were suppposed to be sent somewhere else and were probably done on the wrong form, so I may have to do those again (the dist. will pay, thankfully) and the paperwork never seems to be finished. But I'm here and I must try this out before I decide if it is good or bad.
I'm just worn out today, so I will take it easy putting things away and just trying to make the place look more organized! Being tired colors everything a little negatively!
My story would take a book sized blog, but suffice it to say I'm here, safe, and mostly of sane mind!
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Lookin' for that Rocky Mtn. High
I can't begin to describe all that's happened since I finally arrived at my CO destination. My skin is finally adjusting to the dryness, Lilo the cat is still exploring, but with energy and fun. I've finally figured out how to get to my place in 15 min. from the Mall. :D
Our actual trip was long and full of blessings and ordeals. I locked my keys in my car as we were getting ready to leave the motel on our 2nd day (1 hour delay from driving forward!), then on the same day, at the rest stop, a tire pressure check resulted in the discovery of a ripped out side wall (FLAT) of the inner passenger-side dual tire in the back. We thanked God we were safe, at a rest stop (with a building that provided some shade)and the Budget people came to change out both those tires in about 1 1/2 hours (more delay in traveling!). But we got on our way finally. Took us 3 days to arrive, what will all our delays in leaving and problems on the road.
We arrived about 5 pm Tuesday night and unloaded the truck into the garage so we could take the Budget truck back the next day. We put my car and all my belongings in the garage! This place is wonderfully spacious. We slept on air mattresses on the floor. On Thursday Andy's family arrived and we were late picking them up from the airport because we got lost...oh, well. Andy worked himself to the bone fixing things up. Recaulking around tubs and sinks and on some tiles that had worked loose. He replaced the kitchen faucet, the shower heads in both baths, put in a new garbage disposal and helped me hook up wireless. He carried all my boxes up 14 steps and manuevered large items up the steps and around the corner at the top. I thought he would have a heart attack and multiple hernias. He did multiple other little things for me. He missed his family and were thrilled when they arrived. It is such a deep sense of gratitude and thing of beauty for me to watch him love his wife and little girl.
I was shocked at the color scheme of my new place. Not my colors at all, but I am adjusting and putting my spin on them. I'm trying not to buy a lot of stuff and fill the place to capacity just because it is so spacious!!!
I'm going to the school today to give them my ID. Tomorrow evening I have a short meeting to sign my contract and look at benefits available.
I start working on Monday with new teacher orientation and on Wednesday with teacher inservice. The students begin the next week.
Andy and family are popping back through sometime the end of next week, I think. They were blessed to buy a Honda Odyssey in River City and will drive it back home to TN. I really hope they can relax at some point. They haven't yet!
That's it in a nutshell.
I may do individual blogs on settling into my condo and one about school.
Our actual trip was long and full of blessings and ordeals. I locked my keys in my car as we were getting ready to leave the motel on our 2nd day (1 hour delay from driving forward!), then on the same day, at the rest stop, a tire pressure check resulted in the discovery of a ripped out side wall (FLAT) of the inner passenger-side dual tire in the back. We thanked God we were safe, at a rest stop (with a building that provided some shade)and the Budget people came to change out both those tires in about 1 1/2 hours (more delay in traveling!). But we got on our way finally. Took us 3 days to arrive, what will all our delays in leaving and problems on the road.
We arrived about 5 pm Tuesday night and unloaded the truck into the garage so we could take the Budget truck back the next day. We put my car and all my belongings in the garage! This place is wonderfully spacious. We slept on air mattresses on the floor. On Thursday Andy's family arrived and we were late picking them up from the airport because we got lost...oh, well. Andy worked himself to the bone fixing things up. Recaulking around tubs and sinks and on some tiles that had worked loose. He replaced the kitchen faucet, the shower heads in both baths, put in a new garbage disposal and helped me hook up wireless. He carried all my boxes up 14 steps and manuevered large items up the steps and around the corner at the top. I thought he would have a heart attack and multiple hernias. He did multiple other little things for me. He missed his family and were thrilled when they arrived. It is such a deep sense of gratitude and thing of beauty for me to watch him love his wife and little girl.
I was shocked at the color scheme of my new place. Not my colors at all, but I am adjusting and putting my spin on them. I'm trying not to buy a lot of stuff and fill the place to capacity just because it is so spacious!!!
I'm going to the school today to give them my ID. Tomorrow evening I have a short meeting to sign my contract and look at benefits available.
I start working on Monday with new teacher orientation and on Wednesday with teacher inservice. The students begin the next week.
Andy and family are popping back through sometime the end of next week, I think. They were blessed to buy a Honda Odyssey in River City and will drive it back home to TN. I really hope they can relax at some point. They haven't yet!
That's it in a nutshell.
I may do individual blogs on settling into my condo and one about school.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Memories of Walla Walla
Sunsets. Walla Walla has beautifully colored sunsets.
The track...I should have walked more!
'Life Trails' just added to track, cool!
The 'cht, cht, cht' of the big sprinklers going round and round.
Playful squirrels and
Tall shady trees everywhere
Lilo enjoying the back yard
The back yard,
Transplanting roses, lilacs and rhododendrons from Caryns'.
Watching their little tiny house evolve into a bigger home.
Flowers. (The Hispanics have the most magnificent gardens.)
Gardening and adding flowers to the back yard.
Huge tomato plants I have! Lots of blossoms.
Last years' voluntary pumpkin vine with Two pumpkins for Oliver's first Halloween!
Weird bunker architecture of school.
My work. I did it. Successfully. Hard work.
Learned a lot about being a special education teacher.
Two-faced, melodramatic principal.
Devoted assistants.
Learning to love the children and their quirks.
Delighting over their learning new ways of coping.
Grief over losing original assistant injured in car accident.
Supportive teachers' union president and reps.
Relief upon resigning.
Fence knocked down by powerful windstorm.
Dust storms.
Snow, two feet of it.
Ice not removed from school parking lot. No broken bones or car accidents.
Physical work-out of shoveling it out of driveway every day for 2 weeks.
Exhilarating, yet exhausting...good exercise!
Sunshine! Lots of it!
Hot weather, air conditioning.
Safe warm house. Continued support by home owner!
Oliver. Oliver. Oliver.
Joy in watching him be born and grow.
The smell of his baby-ness.
The soft touch of his roly-poly baby skin.
His learning curve.
His likes and dislikes.
His smiles and giggles.
His trucks lined up in the window.
His delight and gentleness with kitties.
His learning to play in the water.
How he loves balls.
Playing with him on the park playgrounds!
Even his stinky diapers!
How he loves grandma and calls me MMa-ma (sometimes Ba-ma)
His imaginative play with trucks and trains.
His ability to function successfully in a restaurant at a young age.
His soul/heart warming hugs and kisses.
His cute little feet for which I was privileged to buy him new shoes.
His delight in looking out a car window.
His recognition of grandma's house when we drove near.
His recognition of the toy store when we drove past.
His delight in homemade pizza and fruit shakes!
His ability to baby sign.
His love of Sabbath School and participation even with putting toys away.
His love of me singing to him.
His soft little head and face on my shoulder, his warm little body snuggled against mine as I sang him to sleep.
Watching him play in the bathtub.
His attempts to sing along at church and at naps/bedtime.
His slow but steady ability to sit during church and delight in the music.
Watching him enjoy music with dancing, singing, and clapping.
Watching him sign and say /more/.
Being there to watch Oliver eat his first corn on the cob.
Watching him push his jeep (rather than ride it) around the block.
Watching and hearing him enjoy his first snowcone and ice cream. /Cold!/
Watching Caryn become a magnificent mother as she worked through the exhaustion.
Thankful I could be there for her.
Getting to know Ethan and appreciating what a wonderful husband and truly outstanding father he is.
Enjoying our comings and goings to each others' homes.
Enjoying Family.
Sitting in church with family.
Listening to magnificent music from choirs, orchestra, string ensembles, pipe organ.
Thankful to be in such a beautiful House of God, letting my weekly stress dissipate.
Walla Walla County Fair
Onion Festival
Balloon Stampede
Ducky Derby
Caledonian Games
Always going with family and watching one sweet little boy enjoy it all.
The track...I should have walked more!
'Life Trails' just added to track, cool!
The 'cht, cht, cht' of the big sprinklers going round and round.
Playful squirrels and
Tall shady trees everywhere
Lilo enjoying the back yard
The back yard,
Transplanting roses, lilacs and rhododendrons from Caryns'.
Watching their little tiny house evolve into a bigger home.
Flowers. (The Hispanics have the most magnificent gardens.)
Gardening and adding flowers to the back yard.
Huge tomato plants I have! Lots of blossoms.
Last years' voluntary pumpkin vine with Two pumpkins for Oliver's first Halloween!
Weird bunker architecture of school.
My work. I did it. Successfully. Hard work.
Learned a lot about being a special education teacher.
Two-faced, melodramatic principal.
Devoted assistants.
Learning to love the children and their quirks.
Delighting over their learning new ways of coping.
Grief over losing original assistant injured in car accident.
Supportive teachers' union president and reps.
Relief upon resigning.
Fence knocked down by powerful windstorm.
Dust storms.
Snow, two feet of it.
Ice not removed from school parking lot. No broken bones or car accidents.
Physical work-out of shoveling it out of driveway every day for 2 weeks.
Exhilarating, yet exhausting...good exercise!
Sunshine! Lots of it!
Hot weather, air conditioning.
Safe warm house. Continued support by home owner!
Oliver. Oliver. Oliver.
Joy in watching him be born and grow.
The smell of his baby-ness.
The soft touch of his roly-poly baby skin.
His learning curve.
His likes and dislikes.
His smiles and giggles.
His trucks lined up in the window.
His delight and gentleness with kitties.
His learning to play in the water.
How he loves balls.
Playing with him on the park playgrounds!
Even his stinky diapers!
How he loves grandma and calls me MMa-ma (sometimes Ba-ma)
His imaginative play with trucks and trains.
His ability to function successfully in a restaurant at a young age.
His soul/heart warming hugs and kisses.
His cute little feet for which I was privileged to buy him new shoes.
His delight in looking out a car window.
His recognition of grandma's house when we drove near.
His recognition of the toy store when we drove past.
His delight in homemade pizza and fruit shakes!
His ability to baby sign.
His love of Sabbath School and participation even with putting toys away.
His love of me singing to him.
His soft little head and face on my shoulder, his warm little body snuggled against mine as I sang him to sleep.
Watching him play in the bathtub.
His attempts to sing along at church and at naps/bedtime.
His slow but steady ability to sit during church and delight in the music.
Watching him enjoy music with dancing, singing, and clapping.
Watching him sign and say /more/.
Being there to watch Oliver eat his first corn on the cob.
Watching him push his jeep (rather than ride it) around the block.
Watching and hearing him enjoy his first snowcone and ice cream. /Cold!/
Watching Caryn become a magnificent mother as she worked through the exhaustion.
Thankful I could be there for her.
Getting to know Ethan and appreciating what a wonderful husband and truly outstanding father he is.
Enjoying our comings and goings to each others' homes.
Enjoying Family.
Sitting in church with family.
Listening to magnificent music from choirs, orchestra, string ensembles, pipe organ.
Thankful to be in such a beautiful House of God, letting my weekly stress dissipate.
Walla Walla County Fair
Onion Festival
Balloon Stampede
Ducky Derby
Caledonian Games
Always going with family and watching one sweet little boy enjoy it all.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Vacation Musings
PNW:
American pelicans on the Columbia at east end of Gorge!
Precious friends together, laughing, sharing
Cool sweatshirt weather, feels good!
Shopped 'til we dropped
No sales tax
Fresh smell of rain
Cool, moist air,
Soft water on my skin
Luxurious, colorful plant growth
Old neighborhood sadly hit by bad economy
Eagles soaring
Waterfalls flowing far
Mist
Fingerling salmon in creek
Ocean:
Sun dappling the waves green
Waves outlined in white froth
Blue-gray of clouds, rain, sun
Roar of waves
Healing ions of fresh air breezes
Familiar smells, deep breaths
Small beach treasures of nature to pick up
Sea gulls scream and swoop
Sun rays peeking through clouds
Sun washed, shiny beach pebbles
Cormorants sail low over the sea
Cool, wet sand between my toes
Black oystercatcher(?)
Purple starfish, anenomes, orange starfish!
Tiny crabs skittering
Fingerling fish swim in tidepools
Snails, barnacles, sea weed
Walking, renewing,
Small golden agates
Walking, renewing
New Experiences:
Enter casino; uncertainty!
Girl friend laughs at me
Tickets to concert
Billy Ray Cyrus!
Fun
Just enough rock/country
Small venue
Crowd, mostly my age :+}
American pelicans on the Columbia at east end of Gorge!
Precious friends together, laughing, sharing
Cool sweatshirt weather, feels good!
Shopped 'til we dropped
No sales tax
Fresh smell of rain
Cool, moist air,
Soft water on my skin
Luxurious, colorful plant growth
Old neighborhood sadly hit by bad economy
Eagles soaring
Waterfalls flowing far
Mist
Fingerling salmon in creek
Ocean:
Sun dappling the waves green
Waves outlined in white froth
Blue-gray of clouds, rain, sun
Roar of waves
Healing ions of fresh air breezes
Familiar smells, deep breaths
Small beach treasures of nature to pick up
Sea gulls scream and swoop
Sun rays peeking through clouds
Sun washed, shiny beach pebbles
Cormorants sail low over the sea
Cool, wet sand between my toes
Black oystercatcher(?)
Purple starfish, anenomes, orange starfish!
Tiny crabs skittering
Fingerling fish swim in tidepools
Snails, barnacles, sea weed
Walking, renewing,
Small golden agates
Walking, renewing
New Experiences:
Enter casino; uncertainty!
Girl friend laughs at me
Tickets to concert
Billy Ray Cyrus!
Fun
Just enough rock/country
Small venue
Crowd, mostly my age :+}
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Musings about moving Again.
Yep. I'm moving. Away from the PNW and my grandson....to be close to my Dad? I am going crazy, I think. It's just that old 'responsibility'...do what's right, not what makes you happy...thing that gets to me. My sister would say that's an "old tape" playing in your head. Get rid of it!
Now my new job sounds much better than the one here. Perhaps one that I can better handle as I'm getting older. I've been through the furnace here. I'm truly not refined gold after the experience, but I've learned a lot. (Hey, I've faced it, I'll never be 'refined.')
I've finally become accustomed to WW and have begun to make friends here. Now I have to start all over again. And my flower gardens really look nice this summer after all my hard work. >Big Sigh<
I still don't have a place to live there and I'll have to use my poor little 12 year old car to travel in my work around the county. So I'll need a newer car sometime soon. Finances? Yikes. I'm one of the worst stewards around. I don't want any of my family/friends to follow my example. Don't get me wrong. I've never declared bandruptcy or anything, but I do have no retirement. Not that I haven't tried for the retirement thing. It's me, it's "the economy".
Maybe I have a deep, dark fault in my personality in which I cannot sustain anything forever....what does that say about my spiritual state?
On and on, round and round. Where I'll stop, only God knows.
Now my new job sounds much better than the one here. Perhaps one that I can better handle as I'm getting older. I've been through the furnace here. I'm truly not refined gold after the experience, but I've learned a lot. (Hey, I've faced it, I'll never be 'refined.')
I've finally become accustomed to WW and have begun to make friends here. Now I have to start all over again. And my flower gardens really look nice this summer after all my hard work. >Big Sigh<
I still don't have a place to live there and I'll have to use my poor little 12 year old car to travel in my work around the county. So I'll need a newer car sometime soon. Finances? Yikes. I'm one of the worst stewards around. I don't want any of my family/friends to follow my example. Don't get me wrong. I've never declared bandruptcy or anything, but I do have no retirement. Not that I haven't tried for the retirement thing. It's me, it's "the economy".
Maybe I have a deep, dark fault in my personality in which I cannot sustain anything forever....what does that say about my spiritual state?
On and on, round and round. Where I'll stop, only God knows.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
It Comes Down to This:
What will really be best for me?
To leave my family and friends here:
to be with family there and make more new friends?
The job sounds so much easier there.
I would so much miss my Oliver!
To leave my family and friends here:
to be with family there and make more new friends?
The job sounds so much easier there.
I would so much miss my Oliver!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
A Moving Experience
Two years I've been in Walla Walla. Two years already! My heart has been completely taken by one little boy. Having opportunity to 'drop in' on my daughter and her family is priceless.
My job here? Less than pleasant by a long way. It makes me feel my 'oldness.' I'm so exhausted when I get home, I fall asleep on the couch by 7, waking up just in time to go to bed. What kind of life is that? I've attempted making changes to take care of myself through diet and exercise and have failed more miserably than ever. The weather here, true to my memory of my college experience, has proved itself to my expectations (dreadful in winter, dust storms, hot-hot-hot in summer, but beautiful autumn and spring.
Yet, I have found a place for myself here. I've come to appreciate and work with most of my colleagues at work and enjoy their camaraderie. I've overcome the scrutiny of the principal (she's leaving!) and feel at least a small part of the school community. I've learned more about the Walla Walla Community, though I'm not too participatory. I've become, well, settled here.
Even so, I put in motion a chance at a job in Colorado, where my dad lives. Why? The job sounds so much better than the one I have here; one I can handle with more grace (Pray for me on this one!). I feel responsibility toward helping my dad transition to more care as he ages, despite his negative, argumentative behavior. Dying alone just seems way too much. I have my dear, dear aunt and cousin there. I would dearly enjoy being close to them. My aunt's husband (uncle) and my male cousin? Not so much. They are in their own macho world, but i don't think I'd have too much to do with either of them.
So, it comes down to whether I take the job and move once again. The pros and cons are:
*Colorado is beautiful vs: *leaving the Pacific NW and the beach
*Aunt and cousin vs: *Leaving CEO family
*New job I can handle better vs: *Having to continue my disagreeable job here
*local shopping mall vs. little shopping choices here locally
*Higher living expenses there vs: *Just starting to get my financial feet under me.
*Being lowest on job security totem pole there vs: 2 years seniority here.
*less variety of health food there vs: lots of variety here
*less opportunity for a variety of beautiful sacred music in concert plus (radio/TV stations) and up-to-date church services there
* In Co I'd be close to dad to help him without making 'crisis' trips from here to there
* Being geographically 1/2 way between ACE and CEO
*better medical facilities for myself there vs: here
I don't really know how to weigh these to see how the scale tips. Would some of you offer your wise advice please? One of the most important questions are, which famiy piece should I focus on: aging parents or children and grandchildren?
I have to let them know by next Wednesday.
My job here? Less than pleasant by a long way. It makes me feel my 'oldness.' I'm so exhausted when I get home, I fall asleep on the couch by 7, waking up just in time to go to bed. What kind of life is that? I've attempted making changes to take care of myself through diet and exercise and have failed more miserably than ever. The weather here, true to my memory of my college experience, has proved itself to my expectations (dreadful in winter, dust storms, hot-hot-hot in summer, but beautiful autumn and spring.
Yet, I have found a place for myself here. I've come to appreciate and work with most of my colleagues at work and enjoy their camaraderie. I've overcome the scrutiny of the principal (she's leaving!) and feel at least a small part of the school community. I've learned more about the Walla Walla Community, though I'm not too participatory. I've become, well, settled here.
Even so, I put in motion a chance at a job in Colorado, where my dad lives. Why? The job sounds so much better than the one I have here; one I can handle with more grace (Pray for me on this one!). I feel responsibility toward helping my dad transition to more care as he ages, despite his negative, argumentative behavior. Dying alone just seems way too much. I have my dear, dear aunt and cousin there. I would dearly enjoy being close to them. My aunt's husband (uncle) and my male cousin? Not so much. They are in their own macho world, but i don't think I'd have too much to do with either of them.
So, it comes down to whether I take the job and move once again. The pros and cons are:
*Colorado is beautiful vs: *leaving the Pacific NW and the beach
*Aunt and cousin vs: *Leaving CEO family
*New job I can handle better vs: *Having to continue my disagreeable job here
*local shopping mall vs. little shopping choices here locally
*Higher living expenses there vs: *Just starting to get my financial feet under me.
*Being lowest on job security totem pole there vs: 2 years seniority here.
*less variety of health food there vs: lots of variety here
*less opportunity for a variety of beautiful sacred music in concert plus (radio/TV stations) and up-to-date church services there
* In Co I'd be close to dad to help him without making 'crisis' trips from here to there
* Being geographically 1/2 way between ACE and CEO
*better medical facilities for myself there vs: here
I don't really know how to weigh these to see how the scale tips. Would some of you offer your wise advice please? One of the most important questions are, which famiy piece should I focus on: aging parents or children and grandchildren?
I have to let them know by next Wednesday.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Found in an old file
Through the years I've collected tidbits that have inspired me, made me laugh or seemed to fit my current circumstances. I found that file tonight and thought you'd enjoy a couple of items. I don't know where many of them came from, as they are usually copied in large print...probably to hang on some office cubicle wall somewhere.
1."A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous."
2."Lord, Help me to meet this self-imposed and totally unnecessary challenge."
3. "Once upon a time there was this little nonconforming sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. But, when it got really cold, he decided he'd better head south. Well, the farther he flew, the colder it got and soon, so much ice formed on his wings that he fell to the ground.
Just as he'd decided that he was done for, a cow came along and dropped a patty on him. He just knew he was done for then, but all of a sudden he started warming up, his wings thawed out and he felt so good he started singing!
Well, a cat came along, heard the singing, dug him out and ate him.
The Moral to the Story:
1. Those who poop on you are not always your enemy.
2. Those who get you out of the poop are not always your friend
3. If you're in poop and happy.....KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!"
1."A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous."
2."Lord, Help me to meet this self-imposed and totally unnecessary challenge."
3. "Once upon a time there was this little nonconforming sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. But, when it got really cold, he decided he'd better head south. Well, the farther he flew, the colder it got and soon, so much ice formed on his wings that he fell to the ground.
Just as he'd decided that he was done for, a cow came along and dropped a patty on him. He just knew he was done for then, but all of a sudden he started warming up, his wings thawed out and he felt so good he started singing!
Well, a cat came along, heard the singing, dug him out and ate him.
The Moral to the Story:
1. Those who poop on you are not always your enemy.
2. Those who get you out of the poop are not always your friend
3. If you're in poop and happy.....KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!"
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Smart!
CEO and I were sitting around visiting last evening while O entertained us with his 18 month old cuteness. I commented, "O, you are so smart!" and he responded by giving the ASL baby sign for /smart/! So to make sure we were seeing what we were seeing, we made a couple other comments and he continued to repeat it!
CEO have been watching these baby signing videos on pretty much a daily basis and O has picked up an amazing number of these signs. He is using words too, but if he needs help getting his point across, he uses a sign. It's truly amazing to watch this work.
Now, my early childhood training has taught me that this is typical, and I've seen it work in a moderate way on my students with special needs, but to see it work on a child with typical development is truly amazing! He is learning language so FAST! Of course, I'm the grandma, and I think he's a genius, anyway. I wonder what the sign for /genius/ is? Hmm.
CEO have been watching these baby signing videos on pretty much a daily basis and O has picked up an amazing number of these signs. He is using words too, but if he needs help getting his point across, he uses a sign. It's truly amazing to watch this work.
Now, my early childhood training has taught me that this is typical, and I've seen it work in a moderate way on my students with special needs, but to see it work on a child with typical development is truly amazing! He is learning language so FAST! Of course, I'm the grandma, and I think he's a genius, anyway. I wonder what the sign for /genius/ is? Hmm.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Grandma Hugs
Yesterday I stayed home from work, ill with the latest bug going around. CEO had it, too. As C and I commiserated on the phone, I decided to go over with my box of tissues. O was just waking from a nap. I heard him complaining and whining to his mom as she attempted to change a diaper, so I popped my head in the door. He took one look at me, gave the mightiest grin I've ever seen and threw out his arms to me! I will never forget that little face and those arms reaching out. He really was quite ill with fever the night before. Life is so precious.
There's the special, special bond between parent and child that can never be diminished. But parents have such a heavy load of responsibility that joy sometimes gets lost in the mix. As a grandparent, I come and go, not expecting much, really, and get SO MUCH!
It is tritely true that it's too bad we can't be grandparents before we are parents!
There's the special, special bond between parent and child that can never be diminished. But parents have such a heavy load of responsibility that joy sometimes gets lost in the mix. As a grandparent, I come and go, not expecting much, really, and get SO MUCH!
It is tritely true that it's too bad we can't be grandparents before we are parents!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)