Here it is, Thanksgiving evening, all is quiet - well, except for the occasional cat growl, hiss, and/or whine, depending on which of the 7 felines currently residing here is expressing their dislike of something that one of the other of the four-legged creatures has done around here....Sara isn't here right now, so it can't be her fault!!!
Today, like many of the two most major holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas, in my world) I found myself headed south - to the family farm, where my grandmother, our Grammy still lives....even though today she is on the acute rehab until of the hospital recovering from her broken hip. I found the all Christmas music, all the time local radio station (quite by accident) and that music was playing softly in the background.
As I barreled down I65 my brain was something of a movie reel, recalling those hundreds of times I've made this trip - car trips when I was just a little girl; how my brother and I use to make sport of 'picking' at each other for the entire trip making our parents crazy; how we use to have to drive down US 31 until the 'interstate' was built; remembering the last Thanksgiving my mother went to Columbus, her very last Thanksgiving was spent in a hospital; remembering the last Thanksgiving Dad was alive - it was right after finding out he had multiple metastatic brain tumors, and I remember what an unusually quiet trip it was that day - we all knew (in our hearts) this would be Dad's last Thanksgiving with us.....the next thing I knew it was time to 'cut across the country side' on the rural roads to get to my grandmothers - and the corn fields were picked, and most plowed, and there were a couple of fields where the winter wheat is beginning to peek through....and I remembered some of Dad's agronomy tutorials - during the many trips we made across those roads.
All this to say, the real essence of Thanksgiving became clear to me - all that I have to thankful for, and the richly blessed life that I am allowed to live. Really, I have very little to complain about, though I can usually find something at least once a day....which isn't something I'm proud of.
The last 11 years or so have taught me that the most important 'things' in life, really aren't 'thing's or the 'stuff' I have - what really matters are those that are priceless. The list isn't exhaustive, to be sure, but here is the 2009 edition of what I'm thankful for...what is really important in my life:
- God, and living in a country where I am free to worship and express my faith
- having parents who often loved me in spite of myself, and taught me what 'family' is, and means
- parents who may be gone physically, but, whose lessons I still seem to be learning
- a husband who died too young, but taught me what love is, and the deepest love is often difficult
- CJ and Amy
- Sharon and Rob
- the triplets, Kelli and Beaux, and Tony
- Sara Hope
- my large extended family, especially my grandmother and aunts and uncles
- my very smart, funny, and loyal friends
- my step-children and their spouses
- amazing grandchildren
- the gleeful laugh of an almost three year old
- Tinkerbell and the joy 'she' brings to a little girl
- living in a place where I get to enjoy the changing seasons
- living in a country where I can speak my mind, express my thoughts, and move about as I choose
- having a warm, safe, comfortable home to live in...that will be getting 'bigger' soon...hopefully!
- living in a time and place where medical care is accessible and the quality is good
- the opportunity to learn something every day
- laughter - especially in challenging and 'difficult' situations
- cardinals and how their bright red color brightens even the bleakest fall or winter day
- every day, really God's daily gift
I like to think that daily I am a grateful, thankful person - but somehow, Thanksgiving brings it in to sharp focus for me...and though it does sound corny, really being thankful needs to be something I'm more intentional about, everyday.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hospitals and Retail Therapy
First, nobody has to be a smarty pants and point out to me this is three posts in less than a week - maybe, just maybe I'm getting the hang of this, at long last. Though when I was in Texas our oldest got me all signed up with 'Facebook' so I could go there....are you kidding me...I've barely figured this out!!! But, who knows, maybe I'll really develop my cyber-skills!!!
Well, yesterday morning my sister and I packed up and headed to the hospital - to get eyes on my grandmother's unfolding situation. Since my brother-in-laws mother is in town, we could go and leave the two year old at home (which allowed my sister the option to make the trip!)...the two year old, Sara, is all about the 'adventure'; but really I'm not sure that any of the rest of us were up for a hospital adventure with her.
After getting in the general vicinity of the community where my grandmother lives/the hospital we stopped for some lunch. Had a nice cuppa soup and half of my hamburger....needed to use the lew before we left....oh my gosh, you could almost see your breath in there is was so cold, it was nutz. I had a little chill, thought it was because it was like Antarctica in that bathroom - so after packing up leftovers from our lunch, be skedaddled to the hospital.
This regional community hospital has 'free' valet parking...and for the record, it really is 'free'!!! Since it literally was freezin' cold yesterday and I'm due for an infusion in just a couple of days, and it really was 'free' we had this fresh faced young man (really, could he possibly have a drivers license???) park my car. As we walked in the front door we glanced up and who should be see walking across the second floor...all of our family walking... So the youngest aunt (a couple of years my senior) waited on us, and guided us to our grandmother's room.
We hung out for about an hour and then she made her entrance. My grandmother is a very dignified, proper woman - I've never heard her utter a curse word, I'm not even sure she knows what they are to even think them! She will wear pants - after all she has been the sole caretaker of the family farmhouse - you know, ladders to climb, cabinets to climb on, gutters to clean....and I'm NOT kidding!!! Well, let's just say, I'm glad that my grandmother probably won't remember yesterday - she was miserable. After a hip replacement they put this giant triangular pillow between your legs to keep your hips in 'proper alignment - this has to feel 'awkward' if not uncomfortable. Add into this she had/has a catheter, had just laid on a hard uncomfortable operating table for several hours, and that she's 94 (hello...94!!!) and has osteoporosis (her picture is by the word in the dictionary) - she had to be uncomfortable. Add to this litany of woes the fact that she is deaf as a door knob without her hearing aides and needs glasses (have I mentioned, she's 94) - she was just generally miserable - and there was no making it better, or convincing her it was going to be better....she just wanted the pillow and catheter gone - and to go home!!! Simple, huh?!?!?!?
I personally, was lobbying hard for some pain meds, from the get go. She may say she's not in 'pain' (that's really hard to believe, since she'd just had her femur sawed on and screwed into) - but if nothing else, she wouldn't be restless. Let's just say the tiny about of medication they gave her - which did knock her out, was barely a whif!!! But, it made her more comfortable - and therefore helped the rest of us feel a little bit better about life - at least for a few minutes.
Throughout these several hours I visited the ladies room several times....let's say the chill I had at the restaurant wasn't entirely because the temperature in there was igloo like. I needed to get going (in more ways than one....my kingdom for a Sprite) - and Amy really wanted to 'hit' the outlet mall that is down there.
So, off we were...only to be weigh laid by the fact that the 'valet' who parked my car was no longer on duty and there was no one else in sight. So, I checked with the lady at the front desk (it was her first day - I'm not kidding, I can't make this stuff up), and eventually she tracked down the right person...of course, there had been a 'change in shifts'!!!
Then it was off to the outlet mall for a little retail therapy!!! My niece is the beneficiary of some really, really cute clothes. Amy bought her daughter her Christmas ensemble complete with hat and purse, her Christmas Eve/morning jammies, and a couple of other cute outfits. I too got Sara some cutie clothes and leggings! And then, Amy and I each got our selves a few things, I got a pretty sweater and a blouse/sweater vest combo...Amy got pants, sweaters, shirts (she needed more clothes than me!).
Finally we headed home - I got my coveted Sprite. As a bonus I was able to buy gas for $1.54/gallon - it almost feels like stealing!!!!
Today - I've been laying low and taking it easy...kind of a nice change of pace.
Well, yesterday morning my sister and I packed up and headed to the hospital - to get eyes on my grandmother's unfolding situation. Since my brother-in-laws mother is in town, we could go and leave the two year old at home (which allowed my sister the option to make the trip!)...the two year old, Sara, is all about the 'adventure'; but really I'm not sure that any of the rest of us were up for a hospital adventure with her.
After getting in the general vicinity of the community where my grandmother lives/the hospital we stopped for some lunch. Had a nice cuppa soup and half of my hamburger....needed to use the lew before we left....oh my gosh, you could almost see your breath in there is was so cold, it was nutz. I had a little chill, thought it was because it was like Antarctica in that bathroom - so after packing up leftovers from our lunch, be skedaddled to the hospital.
This regional community hospital has 'free' valet parking...and for the record, it really is 'free'!!! Since it literally was freezin' cold yesterday and I'm due for an infusion in just a couple of days, and it really was 'free' we had this fresh faced young man (really, could he possibly have a drivers license???) park my car. As we walked in the front door we glanced up and who should be see walking across the second floor...all of our family walking... So the youngest aunt (a couple of years my senior) waited on us, and guided us to our grandmother's room.
We hung out for about an hour and then she made her entrance. My grandmother is a very dignified, proper woman - I've never heard her utter a curse word, I'm not even sure she knows what they are to even think them! She will wear pants - after all she has been the sole caretaker of the family farmhouse - you know, ladders to climb, cabinets to climb on, gutters to clean....and I'm NOT kidding!!! Well, let's just say, I'm glad that my grandmother probably won't remember yesterday - she was miserable. After a hip replacement they put this giant triangular pillow between your legs to keep your hips in 'proper alignment - this has to feel 'awkward' if not uncomfortable. Add into this she had/has a catheter, had just laid on a hard uncomfortable operating table for several hours, and that she's 94 (hello...94!!!) and has osteoporosis (her picture is by the word in the dictionary) - she had to be uncomfortable. Add to this litany of woes the fact that she is deaf as a door knob without her hearing aides and needs glasses (have I mentioned, she's 94) - she was just generally miserable - and there was no making it better, or convincing her it was going to be better....she just wanted the pillow and catheter gone - and to go home!!! Simple, huh?!?!?!?
I personally, was lobbying hard for some pain meds, from the get go. She may say she's not in 'pain' (that's really hard to believe, since she'd just had her femur sawed on and screwed into) - but if nothing else, she wouldn't be restless. Let's just say the tiny about of medication they gave her - which did knock her out, was barely a whif!!! But, it made her more comfortable - and therefore helped the rest of us feel a little bit better about life - at least for a few minutes.
Throughout these several hours I visited the ladies room several times....let's say the chill I had at the restaurant wasn't entirely because the temperature in there was igloo like. I needed to get going (in more ways than one....my kingdom for a Sprite) - and Amy really wanted to 'hit' the outlet mall that is down there.
So, off we were...only to be weigh laid by the fact that the 'valet' who parked my car was no longer on duty and there was no one else in sight. So, I checked with the lady at the front desk (it was her first day - I'm not kidding, I can't make this stuff up), and eventually she tracked down the right person...of course, there had been a 'change in shifts'!!!
Then it was off to the outlet mall for a little retail therapy!!! My niece is the beneficiary of some really, really cute clothes. Amy bought her daughter her Christmas ensemble complete with hat and purse, her Christmas Eve/morning jammies, and a couple of other cute outfits. I too got Sara some cutie clothes and leggings! And then, Amy and I each got our selves a few things, I got a pretty sweater and a blouse/sweater vest combo...Amy got pants, sweaters, shirts (she needed more clothes than me!).
Finally we headed home - I got my coveted Sprite. As a bonus I was able to buy gas for $1.54/gallon - it almost feels like stealing!!!!
Today - I've been laying low and taking it easy...kind of a nice change of pace.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thanksgiving
I am about as "all American" as it comes. No, I'm not overly crazy about baseball (it's like watching paint dry) - but I do love football...think pointy ended ball, the Indianapolis Colts, etc and you've got the picture. I love hot dogs and chips, an icy cold Diet Coke, the Fourth of July, and John Phillip Sousa.
Now, it doesn't get much more 'American' than Thanksgiving - Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, the Maria, Pinta, and Santa Maria And really who doesn't love a perfectly cooked turkey; a mound of mashed spuds with a heaping spoonful of homemade noodles nestled down in the taters; fresh cranberry salad; and, a piece of my mother's famous pumpkin cream cheese pie - followed by the obligatory carbohydrate coma?!?!?!?!! Certainly, not me - I love it all.
My whole life we have literally traveled over the river and through the wood (though the wood has shrunk considerably!) to grandmother's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It is my father's mother, and it is the house her father built - we like our 'roots' in my family! It is a wonderful old farm house, and when I'm there I often think, 'if these walls could talk'......
Well today, in the midst of the pre-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas insanity I get a phone call from my sister-in-law....who just doesn't call to chat, especially during the work day. Thought everyone who needed my new e-mail address had gotten it....well, evidently not. Seems one of my cousins, my uncle's daughter tried to e-mail me and it got 'bounced back'....long story short, my 94 year old grandmother was en route to the hospital, seems she has fractured her femur and is going to need surgery. Look, nobody wants a 94 year old to have surgery...not doctors or nurses or families....AND certainly not my grandmother. But, really there is nothing 'elective' about this - so that eliminates all the head scratching and questioning about whether something 'should' be done...depending on your perspective, I guess this is could be a 'good' thing.
Historically Thanksgiving is kind of a dicey time in my universe for health issues....my father, with all his 'big' cancer announcements occurred around Thanksgiving, usually right before - when mom got sick, Thanksgiving was a disaster, she was in the hospital, and I've had my own health issues at this time of year....we just don't seem to have good Thanksgiving 'mojo'.
People who know me know I've developed the philosophy of 'don't going looking for trouble, trouble will find you soon enough' - it just really is a fact . But, that being said, I've had a 'feeling' for awhile about my grandmother and this holiday season (to cap it off, my sister tells me this afternoon she had been 'thinking' about our grandmother and Thanksgiving) - I didn't have a 'good' reason to have 'a feeling', but I did. And just for the record, my 'feeling(s)' are notoriously right.
So anyway, there you have it. She is a strong and somewhat cantankerous woman - she's going to have surgery tomorrow morning and I'm sure she will be fine...it may slow her down a little bit, but it's OK, she's earned the right....she won't like it....oh well.....
As 'All-American' as I am, I do have some 'issues' with Thanksgiving - I might pardon all those turkeys given the chance!!! (Does anyone but me remember the WKRP episode when they did the 'Thanksgiving promo' and dropped turkeys from a helicopter.....turkeys can't fly!!!)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
OK...so I'm not great at this....
OK, so I'm not great at this blogging stuff...let's say, inconsistent - OK!!!
Who would think that the life of a middle-aged woman (and that's all I'm willing to concede to!) would be of any interest, but, I guess it is to a few!
You know it's been a month...my sister, her husband and two year old have been here now for a month (really, I'm not exactly sure how long it's been, but I'm certain, it's been a month), they finally finished installing my railings this morning - on the back steps, and I'm inching ever closer to getting the required building permits so they can renovate my attic...talk about bureaucratic red tape and paper pushers....really, you don't want to get me started, it just isn't very pretty!!!
Just returned from a trip to Texas. The granddaughters are all amazing and smart and beautiful - and now there is a little man in the mix...Maverick (what can I say, they live in Texas!!!) - but, I think it's a name that will suit him just fine. He is a handsome little man, and has really only one little 'quirk'....really for this family, it's not so 'little' - he detests, hates, loathes, car rides - and I'm here to tell you, he wants his whole world, and the rest of the universe to know it!!!! His mother took him to the MD this Monday before I left and asked the pediatrician about this little 'quirk' and if there was anything that she could do about it...the answer was simple an concise...."stay home". OK...so, you need to be ready for the answer when you ask the question - that's really not the help our daughter was looking for - so I guess, 'go with it' for the foreseeable future is the 'solution'!!!
While in Texas I got to celebrate my first Christmas of the year - complete with Christmas tree, decorations, candles - it was great. And, it is the first Christmas I've 'been there' in person when everyone opened their presents - it was a lot of fun. The award for 'best present' seemed to go to the body pillow I got Isabel - the oldest granddaughter....everyone wanted a piece of the pillow and Isabel was really having none of it - at least not yet!!! Had I only known!!! The Nintendo DS clothes designing game also seemed to be a hit - as well as the decorate it yourself messenger bag I got Jill/granddaughter #2....and Maya/granddaughter #3 really liked the baby doll. Little Mav - as long as he didn't have to ride in a car, he loved it all!!!
Sara, the amazing two year old (soon to be three) niece continues to be amazing and mystifying and amazing...have I mentioned amazing?? That little stinker (and she is!!) has me so wrapped around her tiny little, little finger - she just holds my heart in her hand.
Today I saw my first snow flakes, they were teeny tiny, and certainly not going to stick - but it was nice to see them. I am a mid-western girl at heart - I love the changing seasons and all that the seasons bring....although, given the choice I would 'opt out' of the sweltering, thick with humidity summer time.
So, now it is getting to be that 'ho-ho-ho' time of year. Since both Mom and Dad have now been gone for more than a year it doesn't feel quite as searing, to go through these family seasons without them, but they are missed - by me and I think my brother and sister too. It will be a little 'odd' again this year - since Amy and her family are going to be here for Christmas - and no one will be 'at home', where we all grew up....but, maybe it is a blessing in disguise, to have a true 'break' and then Amy and her family and our whole family will begin new traditions...that's what I'm going with!
I have errands to run, that I 'forgot' about when I was out earlier - and I think they will just have to wait until tomorrow when I go out to get my hair cut...there is a chill in the air, and it is wonderful.
Who would think that the life of a middle-aged woman (and that's all I'm willing to concede to!) would be of any interest, but, I guess it is to a few!
You know it's been a month...my sister, her husband and two year old have been here now for a month (really, I'm not exactly sure how long it's been, but I'm certain, it's been a month), they finally finished installing my railings this morning - on the back steps, and I'm inching ever closer to getting the required building permits so they can renovate my attic...talk about bureaucratic red tape and paper pushers....really, you don't want to get me started, it just isn't very pretty!!!
Just returned from a trip to Texas. The granddaughters are all amazing and smart and beautiful - and now there is a little man in the mix...Maverick (what can I say, they live in Texas!!!) - but, I think it's a name that will suit him just fine. He is a handsome little man, and has really only one little 'quirk'....really for this family, it's not so 'little' - he detests, hates, loathes, car rides - and I'm here to tell you, he wants his whole world, and the rest of the universe to know it!!!! His mother took him to the MD this Monday before I left and asked the pediatrician about this little 'quirk' and if there was anything that she could do about it...the answer was simple an concise...."stay home". OK...so, you need to be ready for the answer when you ask the question - that's really not the help our daughter was looking for - so I guess, 'go with it' for the foreseeable future is the 'solution'!!!
While in Texas I got to celebrate my first Christmas of the year - complete with Christmas tree, decorations, candles - it was great. And, it is the first Christmas I've 'been there' in person when everyone opened their presents - it was a lot of fun. The award for 'best present' seemed to go to the body pillow I got Isabel - the oldest granddaughter....everyone wanted a piece of the pillow and Isabel was really having none of it - at least not yet!!! Had I only known!!! The Nintendo DS clothes designing game also seemed to be a hit - as well as the decorate it yourself messenger bag I got Jill/granddaughter #2....and Maya/granddaughter #3 really liked the baby doll. Little Mav - as long as he didn't have to ride in a car, he loved it all!!!
Sara, the amazing two year old (soon to be three) niece continues to be amazing and mystifying and amazing...have I mentioned amazing?? That little stinker (and she is!!) has me so wrapped around her tiny little, little finger - she just holds my heart in her hand.
Today I saw my first snow flakes, they were teeny tiny, and certainly not going to stick - but it was nice to see them. I am a mid-western girl at heart - I love the changing seasons and all that the seasons bring....although, given the choice I would 'opt out' of the sweltering, thick with humidity summer time.
So, now it is getting to be that 'ho-ho-ho' time of year. Since both Mom and Dad have now been gone for more than a year it doesn't feel quite as searing, to go through these family seasons without them, but they are missed - by me and I think my brother and sister too. It will be a little 'odd' again this year - since Amy and her family are going to be here for Christmas - and no one will be 'at home', where we all grew up....but, maybe it is a blessing in disguise, to have a true 'break' and then Amy and her family and our whole family will begin new traditions...that's what I'm going with!
I have errands to run, that I 'forgot' about when I was out earlier - and I think they will just have to wait until tomorrow when I go out to get my hair cut...there is a chill in the air, and it is wonderful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
