I have a developing cold today, so I used it as a convenient excuse to opt out of the day. Have you ever done that? In the name of public health, of course? Anyway, I caught up on sleep, mostly, and got some waiting church assignments done. I'm in the middle of a few weeks at home, with my next trip commencing 2 weeks from today. This one is for the sheer adventure of it. I'm finally going to England! In honor of my half-century mark. I'll be visiting a friend and her family, and that will definitely be part of the treat.
Mom and Pop
A Tangential Association
August 12, 2015 • 2015, choosing optimism, family, illness, Mom and Pop, mom's cancer
Some weeks ago, my mother had a bad fall down some stairs. In the aftermath of that, it was discovered that she has breast cancer. There are masses in her breast as well as in her lymph nodes. She's still being tested to find out any other places it might be. Next week she gets an infusion port installed and thereafter will begin both chemo and radiation therapies to shrink the masses. In a few months, it's likely that she will have surgery to remove what is left.
A Visit and a Journey
May 13, 2011 • family, garden, kids, Mom and Pop, travel
We found out last weekend that my parents would be coming in from Arizona to visit the area because of the funeral of a dear old friend. My dad would be speaking at the service. I thought maybe they would come in for a night or two then head back, but they stayed all week! It was such a lovely surprise and a wonderful time with them.
We realized that they had never stayed as guests in this house because, well, up until last year, they had their own house in the area. So we got to haul out the air mattress and get them all set up in our family room. They are very easy-going about things like that and everything worked out great.
Monday we just visited and ran errands and such, then Tuesday was the funeral, which was perfect since that was my last day of class (more about that in another post). That night was a fun family dinner at Cheeburger Cheeburger, a favorite spot.
Wednesday a gorgeous day so we decided to get away to Brookside Gardens. It was actually my first visit to the gardens. I've been to the playground nearby at Wheaton Regional Park, but never here. It was lovely. I got all my love of gardening and flowers from my mom, and a deep appreciation of the natural world from my dad so it was great fun to walk the paths and hear them identify all the plants they knew and curiously note all the names of the unfamiliar ones. I saw many, many things I want to find for my own garden. There was so much in bloom and it was an altogether pleasant way to spend the day with my mom and pop. I love seeing my mommy in her pink hat!
After I got my folks out the door to the airport very early this morning, I got on task to get my kids out the door for their latest adventure. Since Sam is leaving for his mission in a couple of weeks, he wanted to see his cousins in Kentucky. So we planned a quick trip since today is a day off school. Everyone got up and got themselves together so they could leave as soon as Johnathan got home from taking a final. The goal time was noon and I was really proud of their work to get ready. Sam kept hollering a friendly countdown to keep everyone aware of the time and they drove away at 12:14. Amazing. I was going to go with them, but it just worked out better to stay home to help with some things here. So, Eric and I get a surprise weekend all to ourselves with an empty house. He asked me what I wanted to do tomorrow and all I could think of was jobs around the house. I need to be more creative.
It's weird to think that I can just pack my kids in a car and let them drive 540 miles away all by themselves and know that they'll be fine. I'm a little anxious about the long drive, but they are good kids and seemed thrilled at the prospect of an independent road trip. I don't know if it is wise or macabre that I wrote down all the details of their outfits and took close-up photos of them (like I used to do whenever we visited a big tourist attraction or amusement part) before they left just in case there is an emergency, but I did and I feel better knowing I have that information.
Hopefully, they'll remember to take a few photos while they're with the family.
We realized that they had never stayed as guests in this house because, well, up until last year, they had their own house in the area. So we got to haul out the air mattress and get them all set up in our family room. They are very easy-going about things like that and everything worked out great.
Monday we just visited and ran errands and such, then Tuesday was the funeral, which was perfect since that was my last day of class (more about that in another post). That night was a fun family dinner at Cheeburger Cheeburger, a favorite spot.
Wednesday a gorgeous day so we decided to get away to Brookside Gardens. It was actually my first visit to the gardens. I've been to the playground nearby at Wheaton Regional Park, but never here. It was lovely. I got all my love of gardening and flowers from my mom, and a deep appreciation of the natural world from my dad so it was great fun to walk the paths and hear them identify all the plants they knew and curiously note all the names of the unfamiliar ones. I saw many, many things I want to find for my own garden. There was so much in bloom and it was an altogether pleasant way to spend the day with my mom and pop. I love seeing my mommy in her pink hat!
After I got my folks out the door to the airport very early this morning, I got on task to get my kids out the door for their latest adventure. Since Sam is leaving for his mission in a couple of weeks, he wanted to see his cousins in Kentucky. So we planned a quick trip since today is a day off school. Everyone got up and got themselves together so they could leave as soon as Johnathan got home from taking a final. The goal time was noon and I was really proud of their work to get ready. Sam kept hollering a friendly countdown to keep everyone aware of the time and they drove away at 12:14. Amazing. I was going to go with them, but it just worked out better to stay home to help with some things here. So, Eric and I get a surprise weekend all to ourselves with an empty house. He asked me what I wanted to do tomorrow and all I could think of was jobs around the house. I need to be more creative.
It's weird to think that I can just pack my kids in a car and let them drive 540 miles away all by themselves and know that they'll be fine. I'm a little anxious about the long drive, but they are good kids and seemed thrilled at the prospect of an independent road trip. I don't know if it is wise or macabre that I wrote down all the details of their outfits and took close-up photos of them (like I used to do whenever we visited a big tourist attraction or amusement part) before they left just in case there is an emergency, but I did and I feel better knowing I have that information.
Hopefully, they'll remember to take a few photos while they're with the family.
Thoughts from a Far-Away Daughter
February 26, 2011 • Mom and Pop
My mom had to go to the hospital last night with some alarming symptoms. My dad was with her and my sister was in the know and awesome about keeping me up to date, and Mom didn't end up getting admitted, but it was a worrying time.
I'm really grateful for the ways that we can stay in touch so quickly. I was able to finally get to sleep as soon as my sister's text with the diagnosis came through and I knew that things were under control. I remember times when there was no way to get information if someone was in the hospital and all you could do was wait.
Sometimes I get annoyed with myself when I check my email constantly or look at an app instead of going outside to see what the weather's like, but in a situation like we had last night, I'm okay with instant gratification.
I'm really grateful for the ways that we can stay in touch so quickly. I was able to finally get to sleep as soon as my sister's text with the diagnosis came through and I knew that things were under control. I remember times when there was no way to get information if someone was in the hospital and all you could do was wait.
Sometimes I get annoyed with myself when I check my email constantly or look at an app instead of going outside to see what the weather's like, but in a situation like we had last night, I'm okay with instant gratification.
The Net Worked and I Didn't Fall
July 12, 2010 • family, friends, Mom and Pop, thinking out loud
Today things calm down. My folks are gone, and the goodbye was okay. For now it just feels like one of my mom's normal trips out to see my siblings. She has often been gone for a couple of months at a time, so for now, it's like that. Her house next door does look bare without her plants on the porch and all that. But the good news is that her plants are now all at my house, so it won't be so bad. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
The better news is that really I was so blessed today of all days. It could have been one big cry-fest, but it wasn't. I had something to keep me busy: A long drive to take S and E to a church camp near Roanoke, VA. Traffic was rotten for part of the time, so I had to really concentrate. That was good. While I was driving to Virginia, I got a text from my dear pal who knew it would be a hard day. She was just thinking about me. It made me smile and feel like I could make it through. Then I got to talk to my pal Gwen who called about business stuff but is fun and uplifting to talk to no matter what We always end up laughing and I always feel deeply of her warm heart and happy personality, just like when we're together in person. It was a good reminder that long-distance friendships are rich and wonderful. That got me through a long stretch of I-81 south. Later, on the way home, when I was all alone, I also got to talk to Amy all the way in Germany. She has a plan that lets her call here for no extra charges, and it was so nice to hear her voice and talk to her little girls. They both told me that they were having lots of fun over there, and they sounded happy. That makes me happy. That call got me through that long 60 miles of I-66 east to 695. THEN, as if I wasn't blessed enough, after the drive was over and I was facing a completely empty house, I got to spend a sweet, golden hour with a far-away friend who was in town visiting family. I am still all aglow that she made that time for me on her way back home. It was special and fun and again, the timing was perfect. And of course, I talked to my mom a couple of times, just like we always do-checking up on where each was on the road and chatting about the details. Nothing was different.
So even though I'm a bit left behind right now, I'm really not, thanks to women who become strands in a million different nets for so many people all the time. I'd be flat on my face most of the time if it weren't for the many strands in my Net.
And of course, thanks to my mom for the great privilege of spending nearly my entire adult life in your orbit. It has been a pleasure and a joy. I look forward to seeing you blossom and thrive in your new little home in the west.
The better news is that really I was so blessed today of all days. It could have been one big cry-fest, but it wasn't. I had something to keep me busy: A long drive to take S and E to a church camp near Roanoke, VA. Traffic was rotten for part of the time, so I had to really concentrate. That was good. While I was driving to Virginia, I got a text from my dear pal who knew it would be a hard day. She was just thinking about me. It made me smile and feel like I could make it through. Then I got to talk to my pal Gwen who called about business stuff but is fun and uplifting to talk to no matter what We always end up laughing and I always feel deeply of her warm heart and happy personality, just like when we're together in person. It was a good reminder that long-distance friendships are rich and wonderful. That got me through a long stretch of I-81 south. Later, on the way home, when I was all alone, I also got to talk to Amy all the way in Germany. She has a plan that lets her call here for no extra charges, and it was so nice to hear her voice and talk to her little girls. They both told me that they were having lots of fun over there, and they sounded happy. That makes me happy. That call got me through that long 60 miles of I-66 east to 695. THEN, as if I wasn't blessed enough, after the drive was over and I was facing a completely empty house, I got to spend a sweet, golden hour with a far-away friend who was in town visiting family. I am still all aglow that she made that time for me on her way back home. It was special and fun and again, the timing was perfect. And of course, I talked to my mom a couple of times, just like we always do-checking up on where each was on the road and chatting about the details. Nothing was different.
So even though I'm a bit left behind right now, I'm really not, thanks to women who become strands in a million different nets for so many people all the time. I'd be flat on my face most of the time if it weren't for the many strands in my Net.
Hi
July 8, 2010 • busy, lists, Mom and Pop, thinking out loud, writing
I haven't written for a while and I realized today what a soothing thing it is for me to write. I was at camp and did some paper and pen journaling and then a bit on my knitting blog, but right now, in the middle of everything, I feel the need to calm myself down a bit and check in.
Today is the beginning of the end of my parents' 40 year sojourn in the wilderness of Maryland. Except for our family, it hasn't been a punishment but a great and nearly inexpressible blessing. I can't imagine my life if my parents hadn't come out here in 1970 with their little family of 3. Now that family has grown to nearly 40 people, with the first grandchild about to get married.
And so the need for calming. On this day I'm switching back and forth between helping mom pack, trying to keep my emotions in check, making hotel reservations in California, changing airline flights, finalizing plans for a big multi-family dinner at a restaurant that I only know from the internet and about 15 other things. I hate it when my posts make my life sound so crazy, but I think that I don't need the act of writing so much when things are quiet.
It will all get done and every phone call that I check off my list brings a little sigh of relief. (hate phone calls in general) They always go better than I think they will (am usually pretty sure I'll make a fool of myself or make a wrong decision-what if that Holiday Inn Express really is skanky?) and if I do make a mistake, well, I guess I can either live with it or fix it.
Thanks for reading. My heart rate has just gone down about 20 points and I'm breathing again. And just to remind me and have a smile, here's what it's all for:
Today is the beginning of the end of my parents' 40 year sojourn in the wilderness of Maryland. Except for our family, it hasn't been a punishment but a great and nearly inexpressible blessing. I can't imagine my life if my parents hadn't come out here in 1970 with their little family of 3. Now that family has grown to nearly 40 people, with the first grandchild about to get married.
And so the need for calming. On this day I'm switching back and forth between helping mom pack, trying to keep my emotions in check, making hotel reservations in California, changing airline flights, finalizing plans for a big multi-family dinner at a restaurant that I only know from the internet and about 15 other things. I hate it when my posts make my life sound so crazy, but I think that I don't need the act of writing so much when things are quiet.
It will all get done and every phone call that I check off my list brings a little sigh of relief. (hate phone calls in general) They always go better than I think they will (am usually pretty sure I'll make a fool of myself or make a wrong decision-what if that Holiday Inn Express really is skanky?) and if I do make a mistake, well, I guess I can either live with it or fix it.
Thanks for reading. My heart rate has just gone down about 20 points and I'm breathing again. And just to remind me and have a smile, here's what it's all for:
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