I found the words from that day when I sat in a chair to one side and he sat next to her stroking her hand. They have the ability to hurt as much as they did when I wrote them one year ago.
"I saw my Father grow old today-60 years loving, fussing, laughing and crying. Keep her breathing. Sitting in silence when once it was "JIM" until you wanted to scream. Please holler at him-can't you hear me? Stay with me. I am not ready for her to go, he said today."
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
ELECTION SCENES
Our question this week for the Lansing State Journal was "What is the number 1 Issue that will influence your vote for President in November?" Duhh-though I agree and concede the economy and the endless costly war, I wrote something different which even my more conservative spouse related to:
"We need a government that recognizes what made America great. The freedom to achieve whatever our aptitude and daring allow. A government that focuses on national issues and stays out of our churches and bedrooms. Stop destroying and over-regulating our ability to choose our own path. Take care of those issues that we as individuals cannot. Take care of the hopeless, the children, the working poor. Otherwise leave us alone to forge our own way without detours. Do I get to vote for that?"
"We need a government that recognizes what made America great. The freedom to achieve whatever our aptitude and daring allow. A government that focuses on national issues and stays out of our churches and bedrooms. Stop destroying and over-regulating our ability to choose our own path. Take care of those issues that we as individuals cannot. Take care of the hopeless, the children, the working poor. Otherwise leave us alone to forge our own way without detours. Do I get to vote for that?"
Thursday, July 17, 2008
ANNIVERSARY OF SORTS
Today marks one year since Mother electrified us all with her first, tentative visit to the other side. Only a strong set of genes and unwillingness to let go brought her back as we now understand.
For a year I have carried a notepad with the thoughts that were going through my head as I watched Dad stroking her hand and asking her to come back. It is easier for me to write than to think what I cannot bear. But oddly enough today when I wanted to write it, the notepad has disappeared. It will be painful to write and even more painful to read if I do come across those words.
Apparently my butterfly has decided this week of play and celebration should not be marred by thoughts of sorrow. Ok you win again my dear......
For a year I have carried a notepad with the thoughts that were going through my head as I watched Dad stroking her hand and asking her to come back. It is easier for me to write than to think what I cannot bear. But oddly enough today when I wanted to write it, the notepad has disappeared. It will be painful to write and even more painful to read if I do come across those words.
Apparently my butterfly has decided this week of play and celebration should not be marred by thoughts of sorrow. Ok you win again my dear......
MORE BIRTHDAY SCENES
What a birthday week. Mother would have had a fit! Roy boy played golf Monday and Tuesday on leagues and then came over to pick up Burt Man. They proceeded to bang another 18 holes in. Dinner was succulent pork chops and general collapse on the couch after Dad and I killed a bottle of red wine. He really likes wine, when you give him some good stuff. He even drank it at room temperature. I made a reservation online for Golden Ide and Diamond Jim for early Wednesday and they were not too proud to take advantage of the 84-years young birthday boy's senior discount. They hit the road before I left for work!
They had a lousy breakfast on the way and had to wend their way through the Junior League at the Emerald; playing through when they could and whining old age when they couldn't. Finished in record time and meandered up to Soaring Eagle for a little entertainment. Dad of course had "freebies" coming for his birthday that covered gas and lunch and, oh I don't know, a little bit of gambling. Waiting in line to get B man a Players Club card they read a sign indicating another $10 when you sign up a friend-I suppose it can be an enemy or relative or dog or whatever-$10 is $10. Consequently, Dad ended up losing $2 and Burt made $15. I arrived home to find them collapsed on the couch again in the fetal position. The first cocktail of the evening had already been drunk.
Of course I wouldn't force the B man to make dinner after "playing" all day, so we went to Dads favorite Italian place for dinner where we indulged in further martini time and good food. Kristen joined us and we ended up talking about babies and labor, etc for some odd reason.... hmmmm. With Dad's selective hearing, all he heard was baby and exclaimed "What you're pregnant?" No, no, but nice of you to drop into the conversation. After an extremely hilarious dinner we trekked back to the ranch and indulged ourselves with "Birthday Pie"-who needs cake. However, I had to make a mad dash to the store for ice cream as apparently whipped cream is not what you put on "birthday pie". Who knew? After stuffing our turkeys, dead silence reigned as the three of us lay in stupors digesting the day. Fortunately our couch is big enough for three.
Dad finally tootled off to bed and the boys were back up and at it again this morning for another 18. I saw the fading taillights of the big red "Broozer" heading down the street as I came back from exercising at 6:10 am. I am speculating that the big guy arrived home and has not been heard from again. How many years can he pull off this birthday caper. RIGHT ON DAD!
They had a lousy breakfast on the way and had to wend their way through the Junior League at the Emerald; playing through when they could and whining old age when they couldn't. Finished in record time and meandered up to Soaring Eagle for a little entertainment. Dad of course had "freebies" coming for his birthday that covered gas and lunch and, oh I don't know, a little bit of gambling. Waiting in line to get B man a Players Club card they read a sign indicating another $10 when you sign up a friend-I suppose it can be an enemy or relative or dog or whatever-$10 is $10. Consequently, Dad ended up losing $2 and Burt made $15. I arrived home to find them collapsed on the couch again in the fetal position. The first cocktail of the evening had already been drunk.
Of course I wouldn't force the B man to make dinner after "playing" all day, so we went to Dads favorite Italian place for dinner where we indulged in further martini time and good food. Kristen joined us and we ended up talking about babies and labor, etc for some odd reason.... hmmmm. With Dad's selective hearing, all he heard was baby and exclaimed "What you're pregnant?" No, no, but nice of you to drop into the conversation. After an extremely hilarious dinner we trekked back to the ranch and indulged ourselves with "Birthday Pie"-who needs cake. However, I had to make a mad dash to the store for ice cream as apparently whipped cream is not what you put on "birthday pie". Who knew? After stuffing our turkeys, dead silence reigned as the three of us lay in stupors digesting the day. Fortunately our couch is big enough for three.
Dad finally tootled off to bed and the boys were back up and at it again this morning for another 18. I saw the fading taillights of the big red "Broozer" heading down the street as I came back from exercising at 6:10 am. I am speculating that the big guy arrived home and has not been heard from again. How many years can he pull off this birthday caper. RIGHT ON DAD!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
RANDOM SCENES
SCENE 1
Yes, we attended the SEX in the CITY en masse-the committee-great fun. We were pleasantly spread out in the first row of the upper deck feet comfortably resting on the railing in front. In marches a lady and her 10-11 year old boy. How stupido! This show was never for children and the movie has quite graphic sex scenes every 10 minutes (my bod should look so good at their age). Well the lady will have a wonderful time explaining that to the boy.
Oh heck no. This is GR where you get sued if you teach anything except abstinence, but heaven forbid if you actually explain anything to your own children. I imagine "just don't do it" should be sufficient-look at how well that works....
Anyway good show-lots of cliches, fabulous clothes, giggles and tears while ingesting that famously diet killing movie popcorn. Well I did drink designer water with it. Then the four of us marched out side by side exactly like the ending when the camera kept popping from the four of them to foursomes around New York city and the four of us (oh yeah we probably weren't on camera). Over to a local bistro for the requisite cosmos-pretty in pink.
SCENE 2
What started out as a $100 fire pit to roast, oh I don't know, marshmallows and stray branches, became $500 plus many hours of back-breaking labor to create a place to ahh ahh put it. In retrospect, I think it would have been cheaper to pay to dump our branches at the local landfill, however roasting the marshmallows would have been a tad tricky. Although the Burt-man did the majority of the heavy lifting, I assisted in the sand leveling (why one must drag that 2X4 47 times to make sure it's flat explains why I would never choose landscaping as a career-or perfectionism for that matter), loading, and unloading and laying blocks. I finally wised up and put on gloves as these lily white hands are made for writing not laying stone. Trust me there was a pattern involved and it is there, it's just that you have to make it all fit don't you know-so ease up on the critiques thank you very much.
Then fool that I am and obviously not one who learns from experience, I decided to buy a couple of stepping stones to transition from "High Patio" to "Low Patio". Of course several dollars and hours later, we now have a full pathway. ARRRGHHHH. But since the 4th of July extravaganza moved from Lansing to Spring Lake we will have to postpone the inaugural smashing of the champagne glass (accidents happen) until a later date. At least we have filled in part of the ungrowable to something besides dirt, but we have a way to go to finish the entire project.
Yes, we attended the SEX in the CITY en masse-the committee-great fun. We were pleasantly spread out in the first row of the upper deck feet comfortably resting on the railing in front. In marches a lady and her 10-11 year old boy. How stupido! This show was never for children and the movie has quite graphic sex scenes every 10 minutes (my bod should look so good at their age). Well the lady will have a wonderful time explaining that to the boy.
Oh heck no. This is GR where you get sued if you teach anything except abstinence, but heaven forbid if you actually explain anything to your own children. I imagine "just don't do it" should be sufficient-look at how well that works....
Anyway good show-lots of cliches, fabulous clothes, giggles and tears while ingesting that famously diet killing movie popcorn. Well I did drink designer water with it. Then the four of us marched out side by side exactly like the ending when the camera kept popping from the four of them to foursomes around New York city and the four of us (oh yeah we probably weren't on camera). Over to a local bistro for the requisite cosmos-pretty in pink.
SCENE 2
What started out as a $100 fire pit to roast, oh I don't know, marshmallows and stray branches, became $500 plus many hours of back-breaking labor to create a place to ahh ahh put it. In retrospect, I think it would have been cheaper to pay to dump our branches at the local landfill, however roasting the marshmallows would have been a tad tricky. Although the Burt-man did the majority of the heavy lifting, I assisted in the sand leveling (why one must drag that 2X4 47 times to make sure it's flat explains why I would never choose landscaping as a career-or perfectionism for that matter), loading, and unloading and laying blocks. I finally wised up and put on gloves as these lily white hands are made for writing not laying stone. Trust me there was a pattern involved and it is there, it's just that you have to make it all fit don't you know-so ease up on the critiques thank you very much.
Then fool that I am and obviously not one who learns from experience, I decided to buy a couple of stepping stones to transition from "High Patio" to "Low Patio". Of course several dollars and hours later, we now have a full pathway. ARRRGHHHH. But since the 4th of July extravaganza moved from Lansing to Spring Lake we will have to postpone the inaugural smashing of the champagne glass (accidents happen) until a later date. At least we have filled in part of the ungrowable to something besides dirt, but we have a way to go to finish the entire project.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
BIRTHDAY GIRL
Hey the Gypsy Marcia of the flashing eyes and ebony hair is celebrating her birthday today with eye surgery. Girl you so know how to party with them fancy pain meds! Just don't pull a Rush Limbaugh and blame the liberal press!
Yah Mon. Though the myth of the liberal media is actually some talking heads who scream a lot-both conservatively and liberally with no facts behind their rants and people think it's news - duhhhhh. Give me the hard working news buddy who actually does "RESEARCH" and strives to find the facts. Not entertaining enough I guess for the "people".
Fun weekend. Major storms dancing through town in the early evening for three days. Spectacular light shows and booming applause. Oh yeah lots of trees down and roofs ripped off too. Matt and Kristen were out of power Friday night and finally came over Sunday to get showers, get some air conditioning and go potty..... Had a pretty fun night especially when Matt started reading my 20 year old medical book out loud and adding his own editorial comments. We are all suffering from some major malady which is why we should never start reading the darn thing to begin with.
Anyway I'm trying to talk the "committee" into a cosmo/Sex in the City escapade for the birthday girl. We have to go as our character. I'm Samantha, Marcie is Miranda, Kathy, Charlotte and Lori is Carrie. Should be interesting to see what we all wear especially since Lori would never wear mile high shoes, though I would LOL.
Yah Mon. Though the myth of the liberal media is actually some talking heads who scream a lot-both conservatively and liberally with no facts behind their rants and people think it's news - duhhhhh. Give me the hard working news buddy who actually does "RESEARCH" and strives to find the facts. Not entertaining enough I guess for the "people".
Fun weekend. Major storms dancing through town in the early evening for three days. Spectacular light shows and booming applause. Oh yeah lots of trees down and roofs ripped off too. Matt and Kristen were out of power Friday night and finally came over Sunday to get showers, get some air conditioning and go potty..... Had a pretty fun night especially when Matt started reading my 20 year old medical book out loud and adding his own editorial comments. We are all suffering from some major malady which is why we should never start reading the darn thing to begin with.
Anyway I'm trying to talk the "committee" into a cosmo/Sex in the City escapade for the birthday girl. We have to go as our character. I'm Samantha, Marcie is Miranda, Kathy, Charlotte and Lori is Carrie. Should be interesting to see what we all wear especially since Lori would never wear mile high shoes, though I would LOL.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
MOTHER'S DAY - 2008 The Count-Down Begins
Great day yesterday! The Sweet girls took over the salon in Grand Rapids that my sisters frequent. Our beautiful daughters Kristen and Colleen are the next generation of Sweet girls so they of course had to be part of the mix and there are "no flies on them" when it comes to having a good time and partying down. Nothing but laughter, jokes, pampering and remembering. A healthy dose of mimosas to get us started and delicious fruit parfaits in case our energy flagged. It started out as a rallying of support for the eldest Sweet girl getting her long hair clipped, but evolved into everyone having something altered, primped, polished or massaged. Hmmmm sounds rather naughty - but seriously it was all women! Then as Kathleen still wasn't done-GEEZ-we adjourned to the Sports Bar next door for some munchies and whatever. Well we were hungry!
Then on to the Davis' new abode in Spring Lake for massive injections of exotic cocktails coupled with barbecue in between booing the Ti-gres as they lost another one. For some reason we got into taking a shot every time someone would use the word, ahh, ahh, "di----hea". Well if you were there, you know. Amazing how many times various members could slide or slither (eww) that word into the conversation. At one point a cocktail was upset which led to the already hyper Jack Russell lapping up the rug - for FIFTEEN MINUTES! We hoped it would slow him down a little. As they were replacing the carpet on Wednesday, we felt no qualms about the various "accidents" that we were encouraged to have. No, no one wet the rug, we were just a little sloppy. Very quiet ride home, but fortunately our designated driver is a pop-aholic so we were good.
Today Burt and I went to church together so when they "blessed" the Mothers, I didn't look unwed - LOL. Offered the moment to my own Mother who we all still see and remember in various ways. Happy Mother's Day Mom- I miss you.
Then on to the Davis' new abode in Spring Lake for massive injections of exotic cocktails coupled with barbecue in between booing the Ti-gres as they lost another one. For some reason we got into taking a shot every time someone would use the word, ahh, ahh, "di----hea". Well if you were there, you know. Amazing how many times various members could slide or slither (eww) that word into the conversation. At one point a cocktail was upset which led to the already hyper Jack Russell lapping up the rug - for FIFTEEN MINUTES! We hoped it would slow him down a little. As they were replacing the carpet on Wednesday, we felt no qualms about the various "accidents" that we were encouraged to have. No, no one wet the rug, we were just a little sloppy. Very quiet ride home, but fortunately our designated driver is a pop-aholic so we were good.
Today Burt and I went to church together so when they "blessed" the Mothers, I didn't look unwed - LOL. Offered the moment to my own Mother who we all still see and remember in various ways. Happy Mother's Day Mom- I miss you.
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