Today I made my annual pilgrimage to my favorite nursery, still in search of something to fill in the bare flowerbed in front of the house where Nicholas helpfully dug up two shrubs weeks ago. This wonderful nursery sits between Albany and Corvallis and it is pure delight to stroll about the large area it covers, not only because of the huge selection and variety of plants, but because of the very satisfying organization and layout. Perennials are in alphabetical order. Sun-loving and shade-loving are separated. Shrubs are in two separate sections, evergreen and deciduous, also alphabetical and further categorized by mature size. The price is a bit more, which is why I generally only buy what I can't find elsewhere. It is a destination where I can spend hours just looking, experiencing pure joy.
As I drove into the parking lot, eagerly anticipating meandering around on the first warm sunny day we've had in ages, imagine my chagrin as I noticed signs proclaiming, "Welcome to Pet Day!" Indeed, everywhere I looked people had dogs on leashes. Vendors were set up showing off special pet products. Signs were posted that sternly instructed people to clean up after their pets.
I have often been unfairly accused of not liking dogs, so I need to once again clarify: I do like dogs. In fact, I think pictures of dogs are absolutely wonderful. It's just that I don't like many of the things that dogs do. I don't like dog saliva to touch my skin. I don't like to hear barking and yipping. I don't like the way they dig holes. I don't like hair shedding or fleas. I really hate being jumped on. But in spite of all that, if only there were special dog toilets that they could all be fully trained to use, I think I might like them very much. I will never forget returning to work one day more than 20 years ago after visiting my sister at lunch and wondering for several hours what the horrible smell was that followed me everywhere I went. Eventually I noticed dog doo-doo on my shoe and on the carpet under my desk. Icky icky icky. Completely uncivilized.
I was still able to enjoy the beautiful plants today, in spite of the need to constantly scan the ground as I walked. I stopped to chat with some friends, Mike and Vicki, who had brought their little foofy dog because Vicki said he needs more opportunities to socialize with other dogs. After we had been chatting awhile, the dog started to do its dirty business. Amazing how much dirty business a tiny dog can have. Although I would not have known as I was trying to avoid looking in that direction, but Vicki had to mention her surprise at the amount because the dog had already done its' business earlier. Vicki of course sent her husband to go find something to clean it up with because they forgot to bring any baggies. They had no idea where to dispose of it, because the signs failed to mention official disposal sites. When Mike returned with nothing but a paper towel, it was time for me to tactfully say goodbye and move on, watching my feet even more carefully than before! I felt very fortunate that I completed this outing with my shoes undefiled, at least to the naked eye.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Fun Day!
Yesterday was the annual “Fun Day” year-end celebration at the middle school where I work. For the first time, it was an all day event instead of just a half day and included a talent show and two hours for yearbook distribution and signing.
A little extra thrill was added to this day when the librarian came at 7:00 am with a list of students whose yearbooks would be withheld because they had outstanding books and/or fines. I gasped in horror when she said that 305 of our 660 students were listed. Usually this list is plastered all over the school for the week before yearbook distribution so that kids will take care of it, but we have a new librarian this year. She sent out bills to students and we made announcements, but many kids did not pay much attention. We quickly decided to change the rules a bit, eliminating the names of students who had turned in books but still owed fines. Students were calling home, turning in and paying for books all morning, and by 11:00 our list was cut to about 200 students, still far too many.
At 12:30 just as students were returning to classrooms in preparation for the exciting yearbook release, my principal radioed me from the cafeteria, “Call 911, call 911”. With my fingers poised over the telephone, I waited a few seconds for more information then asked what I should tell them. I could just imagine calling 911, they say “What is your emergency” and I would say, “I’m at Memorial Middle School and my principal told me to call you. Hold on a minute until I find out why, and please don't ever tell my husband that I made this uninformed call that I'm probably going to have to cancel in a minute.” I’ve called 911 from school before, and those dispatchers expect you to know why you are calling. I've also been told to call 911 and had the order rescinded before I could get to a telephone. Anyway, she radioed back that a student with a heart condition had passed out in the cafeteria and was not breathing, and they were starting mouth to mouth. I instantly got the word to 911, telling them to pull up in the bus lane and come in the open cafeteria door. My principal came flying over and made an announcement for students to stay in the classrooms until released because we had a student with a medical emergency. A teacher raced in and shouted, “Call West Albany and tell them we need their defibrillator.” I called, they said they would send it over, no questions asked. Our Health Room person was gone and the binder with the student’s medical protocol was in her locked office in a locked cabinet. I grabbed my key ring to open the door and went to the safe to get the cabinet key. It was not hanging on its hook! I desperately started shuffling through the papers that had collected on my desk through the hectic day, digging in my desk drawers, searching my pockets. Helen was on the phone trying to reach a parent, who no longer worked at the number listed in our information. I caught her eye asking if she knew where the key was. She had it in her hand because she was headed back there when our boss told her to call the parent. I arrived in the cafeteria with the protocol at the same time the paramedics got there and handed it over to them. The student was breathing and somewhat alert by then. He was able to tell us where his mother currently worked.
In the middle of all this, I get a call from a staff member asking me if we are on lockdown. No, we aren't on an official lockdown but everyone is supposed to stay in their classrooms because we need to keep kids away from the cafeteria. He says "Well, I was just wondering because your office aides are out in the hall delivering messages." I was well aware of what my office aides were doing, I sent them out because this is the only time all day when students were in their regular classrooms for me to get messages to them. It was also better to have them out of the office with all the urgent activity going on there. The only good thing about this situation was that it kept the kids in the classrooms long enough for all the messages to get delivered. I had to exert a lot of effort to be nice to this annoying person and did not even ask him to please limit his calls to the office to emergencies only right now because I was a little too busy to answer ridiculous questions.
We finally reached the mom as the paramedics were leaving our building with the student en route to the hospital. He was released about 3:30 that afternoon, doing fine. Kudos to our teachers and staff who kept their heads and did everything that needed to be done.
After that little adrenaline rush, the students were released to pick up their yearbooks. Our office quickly filled up with angry students wondering why their yearbooks weren’t out there. I made repeated loud announcements to check the list outside the door and go to the library if their name was on it. In spite of that, many students remained in the office. I found their names on the list and sent them to the library. Many of the students had paid that morning and had a receipt, so we gave them their yearbooks. Many others soon returned with a note from the librarian to release their yearbook. Others thought they had purchased a yearbook at the beginning of the year but actually hadn’t. I pulled their receipts to show them they had only paid the activity fee, which also happens to be $10. In spite of repeated announcements to check the yearbook list which I posted two months ago, they had never bothered to look. Other students came to buy a yearbook at the last minute. It was so much fun. I believe they call it bedlam.
Two of the adult children of my co-worker had stopped by to visit just after the ambulance left, one of them visiting from out of state. Great timing. They seemed to be entertained by all the Fun. The 40-year-old son made himself comfortable in her chair. After the hubbub of students died down a bit and phones were ringing, I found my co-worker was at my desk answering the phone and I had to awkwardly reach over the many plants at her desk to answer a phone call. I gently mentioned to her son that it would be helpful to us if he would let his mother have her chair. I didn’t say anything like, “Hello, have you noticed we are extremely busy here and she doesn’t have a lot of time to visit you right now?” I am constantly aware that I must work very hard not to let my natural assertiveness wipe out all tactfulness. I often fail.
(When my 16-year-old son visits, he makes himself at home in my chair if it’s vacant, but he knows enough to leap right out of it when I head toward it! It is well known that I am not nearly as nice as my co-worker. He managed to get through the crowd and come behind the counter to check in when he got out of school at 1:15, was smart enough to say “hi and good-bye, I’m out of here!”)
One of my good friends signed in to volunteer first thing that morning and I asked her if she was up for a girl’s night out. She was. I sent out emails to a couple more friends, and three of us were able to go out to Los Dos Amigos where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and sat talking and laughing until the restaurant closed at 11:00. It was just what I needed to end my Fun Day!
A little extra thrill was added to this day when the librarian came at 7:00 am with a list of students whose yearbooks would be withheld because they had outstanding books and/or fines. I gasped in horror when she said that 305 of our 660 students were listed. Usually this list is plastered all over the school for the week before yearbook distribution so that kids will take care of it, but we have a new librarian this year. She sent out bills to students and we made announcements, but many kids did not pay much attention. We quickly decided to change the rules a bit, eliminating the names of students who had turned in books but still owed fines. Students were calling home, turning in and paying for books all morning, and by 11:00 our list was cut to about 200 students, still far too many.
At 12:30 just as students were returning to classrooms in preparation for the exciting yearbook release, my principal radioed me from the cafeteria, “Call 911, call 911”. With my fingers poised over the telephone, I waited a few seconds for more information then asked what I should tell them. I could just imagine calling 911, they say “What is your emergency” and I would say, “I’m at Memorial Middle School and my principal told me to call you. Hold on a minute until I find out why, and please don't ever tell my husband that I made this uninformed call that I'm probably going to have to cancel in a minute.” I’ve called 911 from school before, and those dispatchers expect you to know why you are calling. I've also been told to call 911 and had the order rescinded before I could get to a telephone. Anyway, she radioed back that a student with a heart condition had passed out in the cafeteria and was not breathing, and they were starting mouth to mouth. I instantly got the word to 911, telling them to pull up in the bus lane and come in the open cafeteria door. My principal came flying over and made an announcement for students to stay in the classrooms until released because we had a student with a medical emergency. A teacher raced in and shouted, “Call West Albany and tell them we need their defibrillator.” I called, they said they would send it over, no questions asked. Our Health Room person was gone and the binder with the student’s medical protocol was in her locked office in a locked cabinet. I grabbed my key ring to open the door and went to the safe to get the cabinet key. It was not hanging on its hook! I desperately started shuffling through the papers that had collected on my desk through the hectic day, digging in my desk drawers, searching my pockets. Helen was on the phone trying to reach a parent, who no longer worked at the number listed in our information. I caught her eye asking if she knew where the key was. She had it in her hand because she was headed back there when our boss told her to call the parent. I arrived in the cafeteria with the protocol at the same time the paramedics got there and handed it over to them. The student was breathing and somewhat alert by then. He was able to tell us where his mother currently worked.
In the middle of all this, I get a call from a staff member asking me if we are on lockdown. No, we aren't on an official lockdown but everyone is supposed to stay in their classrooms because we need to keep kids away from the cafeteria. He says "Well, I was just wondering because your office aides are out in the hall delivering messages." I was well aware of what my office aides were doing, I sent them out because this is the only time all day when students were in their regular classrooms for me to get messages to them. It was also better to have them out of the office with all the urgent activity going on there. The only good thing about this situation was that it kept the kids in the classrooms long enough for all the messages to get delivered. I had to exert a lot of effort to be nice to this annoying person and did not even ask him to please limit his calls to the office to emergencies only right now because I was a little too busy to answer ridiculous questions.
We finally reached the mom as the paramedics were leaving our building with the student en route to the hospital. He was released about 3:30 that afternoon, doing fine. Kudos to our teachers and staff who kept their heads and did everything that needed to be done.
After that little adrenaline rush, the students were released to pick up their yearbooks. Our office quickly filled up with angry students wondering why their yearbooks weren’t out there. I made repeated loud announcements to check the list outside the door and go to the library if their name was on it. In spite of that, many students remained in the office. I found their names on the list and sent them to the library. Many of the students had paid that morning and had a receipt, so we gave them their yearbooks. Many others soon returned with a note from the librarian to release their yearbook. Others thought they had purchased a yearbook at the beginning of the year but actually hadn’t. I pulled their receipts to show them they had only paid the activity fee, which also happens to be $10. In spite of repeated announcements to check the yearbook list which I posted two months ago, they had never bothered to look. Other students came to buy a yearbook at the last minute. It was so much fun. I believe they call it bedlam.
Two of the adult children of my co-worker had stopped by to visit just after the ambulance left, one of them visiting from out of state. Great timing. They seemed to be entertained by all the Fun. The 40-year-old son made himself comfortable in her chair. After the hubbub of students died down a bit and phones were ringing, I found my co-worker was at my desk answering the phone and I had to awkwardly reach over the many plants at her desk to answer a phone call. I gently mentioned to her son that it would be helpful to us if he would let his mother have her chair. I didn’t say anything like, “Hello, have you noticed we are extremely busy here and she doesn’t have a lot of time to visit you right now?” I am constantly aware that I must work very hard not to let my natural assertiveness wipe out all tactfulness. I often fail.
(When my 16-year-old son visits, he makes himself at home in my chair if it’s vacant, but he knows enough to leap right out of it when I head toward it! It is well known that I am not nearly as nice as my co-worker. He managed to get through the crowd and come behind the counter to check in when he got out of school at 1:15, was smart enough to say “hi and good-bye, I’m out of here!”)
One of my good friends signed in to volunteer first thing that morning and I asked her if she was up for a girl’s night out. She was. I sent out emails to a couple more friends, and three of us were able to go out to Los Dos Amigos where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and sat talking and laughing until the restaurant closed at 11:00. It was just what I needed to end my Fun Day!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Work Work Work
It's that time of year. Only one week left of school. I have put in more 8 hours of extra time this week, working 6 am to 6:15 pm today. I wasn't done but left because people started coming to school for a play and I didn't want anyone coming to the office to bother me.
Normally from 7 am to 8 am we have three people in our office, plus one next door in the health room to give meds, first aid, etc. Today from 7 to 9, the three of them were gone and I got to run the show. I felt like Super Woman, checking in substitutes, taking money for lunch, yearbooks and lost PE locks, giving meds, fixing copy machines, writing tardy slips, taking constant phone calls on my headset, and finding time for a few sips of coffee from my handy large travel mug, all with a smile of course. As the day went on, I dealt with a boy who got a bad bump on the head. His eyes were dilated so mom took him to be checked out for a concussion. Several students had finger injuries and a diabetic had extremely high blood sugar. A girl was sent to the office for wearing a cloth book cover on her head and continued to argue loudly with both the principal and assistant principal that it was not a hat and only hats were against the rules, this is so stupid, I'm not taking it off, etc., until her parent was called and she was suspended for the rest of the day. Which I suspect is what she was hoping for.
But some good things happened. A teacher brought us some chocolate dipped strawberries. My principal sat down at the end of the day and told me how much she appreciated me. There were a couple of times this past week where she asked me to do something and I had anticipated the need and already had it in hand, including something today. That's always fun.
I also had a little fun yesterday at work. Some students brought in a Visa check card they found in the parking lot, which belonged to a young staff member who tends to lose keys a lot. He came through just before I went to lunch so I was deriving some entertainment from the situation for awhile before admitting that I had the card. He asked to have it and I said I left it right on the counter so I could give it to him. Oh no. It's not here. It was right here on the counter a few minutes ago. Oh, I hope nobody took it. Suddenly the sweet person who works in the office (no, not the office manager) said, "LeAnn, don't you remember that you put it in the safe?" She had no clue that I was kidding around. Just could not understand how I could appear so serious about it.
On my way home tonight I stopped by the Shell station so I could see Eric and fill up the car before gas goes any higher. I wanted to see what he looked out without all the hair that I found in the downstairs bathroom sink a few days ago. I called Eric immediately when I saw the disgusting sink and I told him, "Eric, for some reason I thought of you when I saw the bathroom sink covered in hair. What have you done?" He was so sorry, he thought he had cleaned it up. He shaved off the big bushy beard a few weeks ago and hadn't shaved since. Today I got to see the new look. He shaved about an inch between sideburns and goatee. He looks real cool. At least that's what his guy friends are telling him. For some reason the girls don't like it so much. Including me. But it's a million percent better than the enormous bushy beard. I decided to be a nice mom and took his order for a Subway sandwich, since Subway is just across the street.
Will is gone to Idaho with our new RV, parking it at his cousin's place and visiting his father in the hospital. He's also going to do a little camping with his sister.
I am so sick of this cold gray wet weather! It's June and I need some sun!
Normally from 7 am to 8 am we have three people in our office, plus one next door in the health room to give meds, first aid, etc. Today from 7 to 9, the three of them were gone and I got to run the show. I felt like Super Woman, checking in substitutes, taking money for lunch, yearbooks and lost PE locks, giving meds, fixing copy machines, writing tardy slips, taking constant phone calls on my headset, and finding time for a few sips of coffee from my handy large travel mug, all with a smile of course. As the day went on, I dealt with a boy who got a bad bump on the head. His eyes were dilated so mom took him to be checked out for a concussion. Several students had finger injuries and a diabetic had extremely high blood sugar. A girl was sent to the office for wearing a cloth book cover on her head and continued to argue loudly with both the principal and assistant principal that it was not a hat and only hats were against the rules, this is so stupid, I'm not taking it off, etc., until her parent was called and she was suspended for the rest of the day. Which I suspect is what she was hoping for.
But some good things happened. A teacher brought us some chocolate dipped strawberries. My principal sat down at the end of the day and told me how much she appreciated me. There were a couple of times this past week where she asked me to do something and I had anticipated the need and already had it in hand, including something today. That's always fun.
I also had a little fun yesterday at work. Some students brought in a Visa check card they found in the parking lot, which belonged to a young staff member who tends to lose keys a lot. He came through just before I went to lunch so I was deriving some entertainment from the situation for awhile before admitting that I had the card. He asked to have it and I said I left it right on the counter so I could give it to him. Oh no. It's not here. It was right here on the counter a few minutes ago. Oh, I hope nobody took it. Suddenly the sweet person who works in the office (no, not the office manager) said, "LeAnn, don't you remember that you put it in the safe?" She had no clue that I was kidding around. Just could not understand how I could appear so serious about it.
On my way home tonight I stopped by the Shell station so I could see Eric and fill up the car before gas goes any higher. I wanted to see what he looked out without all the hair that I found in the downstairs bathroom sink a few days ago. I called Eric immediately when I saw the disgusting sink and I told him, "Eric, for some reason I thought of you when I saw the bathroom sink covered in hair. What have you done?" He was so sorry, he thought he had cleaned it up. He shaved off the big bushy beard a few weeks ago and hadn't shaved since. Today I got to see the new look. He shaved about an inch between sideburns and goatee. He looks real cool. At least that's what his guy friends are telling him. For some reason the girls don't like it so much. Including me. But it's a million percent better than the enormous bushy beard. I decided to be a nice mom and took his order for a Subway sandwich, since Subway is just across the street.
Will is gone to Idaho with our new RV, parking it at his cousin's place and visiting his father in the hospital. He's also going to do a little camping with his sister.
I am so sick of this cold gray wet weather! It's June and I need some sun!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Happy 25th Anniversary to Us!
Twenty-five years ago today, in 100 degree heat, Will and I pledged to love, honor and cherish each other until death do us part. We are so glad we did.
Wasn't my niece Jody just the cutest flower girl! I cannot believe she is already more than 25 years old!
Last weekend we took a three-day anniversary trip in our new fifth-wheel to Twin Rivers RV Park down by Roseburg and had a lovely time.
We came home to find the house fairly clean and still standing, so all is well. Who would have thought 25 years would go by so fast? We are very blessed.
Wasn't my niece Jody just the cutest flower girl! I cannot believe she is already more than 25 years old!Last weekend we took a three-day anniversary trip in our new fifth-wheel to Twin Rivers RV Park down by Roseburg and had a lovely time.Do not be misled by the bikes. In spite of Will's best efforts to replace and repair inner tubes and tires, there was one mishap after another and I never did get two working bike tires. Thanks for trying, Honey. Keep trying. Please.
It didn't really seem like camping, it was more like staying in a lovely suite in the middle of a park. And I always like a park where I can take walks and see a river.
The RV park had some creative landscaping. Almost made me wish we hadn't hauled away our old barbecue grill during the Tangent clean up day.
There was a county park next to the RV park with a rule posted that you don't see very often. I felt really bad for all the poor dogs who weren't allowed to go there. But I enjoyed my walk along the river anyway.
We took a scenic little drive to Glide to see the Colliding Rivers, where the Umpqua and the Little River or something like that meet. I always enjoy taking pictures of wildflowers.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
A Working Weekend
In spite of our wonderful new RV, we very responsibly stayed home and did lots of chores this weekend. It was the annual Tangent dump day, and once again we came up with some junk we were willing to part with. The boys helped haul stuff to the pickup and then got to put together a new wheelbarrow after Will decided the old one wasn't repairable. Nick and Craig worked surprisingly well together. They have both recently taken a course identifying personality types/spiritual gifts and at lunch they had compared notes, discovering that there is a valid reason they have had a hard time getting along at times in the past. (Nick: "You're an I?! I can't stand I's!") Whatever that means.
They decided they had to test it after complete the task. Don't tell Will.
We did manage to put our new RV to some use this weekend. Temperatures were in the 90s on Friday and there was no evening breeze to cool things off. No problem, we slept out there where it was air conditioned. We all took an afternoon break in there Saturday afternoon and watched the last two episodes of Lost in the air conditioned comfort of the RV living room. It was fun.
A lot was accomplished, but there was a slight mishap. I decided to get rid of a shrub in front of the house (an emerald euonymous) that sprawls all over the place. I am constantly having to cut it back and I realized I just don't like the way it looks. In fact, I had grown to hate it. I asked Nick to dig it up and I walked behind the house for something. When I came back a few minutes later he said, "I'm done." I was amazed because I thought it would take a long time due to its' size. I started to exclaim about how awesome he was, then I saw that he had dug up my fragrant, well-behaved, appropriately sized daphne odora that was next to the ugly shrub. Sorry honey, you get to start over. I put the daphne around the corner to leave more room for Nick to work digging up the nasty big shrub, thinking I would replant it after he was done. I'm pretty sure I even mentioned that I would replant it. I took off to run a brief errand. While I was gone, Nick and Will made the last trip to the dump. Upon my return, I saw that Nick had completed the job and went around the corner to get the daphne. It was gone. Can you believe, Nick put it in the pickup with the other junk and took it to the dump?!!
I was going to plant a variegated boxwood between the two daphne bushes, but I was unable to find any at Tom's, Lowe's, or Home Depot. Anybody have any good ideas for an attractive shrub that stays green all year, doesn't get too big, and does well on the east side of the house? I've had miniature rhodies and azaleas and there and they all failed to thrive. I transplanted the scrawny ones that survived and they have done well in other locations.
Monday, May 12, 2008
What a Mother's Day Gift!
Will and Nick took an exciting trip to Portland on Thursday to pick up the new fifth wheel. They thought it prudent to practice backing at the LBCC parking lot on the way home.
Will took it to the Posse Camp Friday and had it all set up and ready to live in when Nick and I arrived Friday evening. Wow. We agreed we feel like we are in a cabin in the woods instead of in an RV.
Interestingly enough, when Will and the sheriff were at the camp earlier this week, they followed cougar tracks and drag marks and found a very fresh deer carcass that had been dragged from the middle of the posse camp down near the creek. So Nick had a perfect excuse to sleep in the trailer on the couch bed with its air mattress in the lovely living room of the lovely new RV, instead of pitching a tent as usual. He encountered a slight disadvantage to this arrangement when Will brought the sheriff in for a tour at 9:30 am and awakened him. Of course, I was already up and having breakfast at the lovely table.
The recent cougar activity put everyone on high alert, and gave Nick another perfect excuse to carry a shotgun when he accompanied me on my daily hikes. That’s one way to get your teenage boy to go on a hike with you.
Will is never lacking interesting sites to point out with his walking stick. "The dead body found last year was over there about a mile and three quarters. And up that draw about a half mile is where the big marijuana grow was found last summer." He's a great tour guide.
Will had to work with the Posse members on Saturday, doing some sort of Search and Rescue certification. They were pretty much done by 4:00.
Saturday night after a rousing game of Backgammon, I returned home because I had worship team Sunday morning. Craig, Eric and Molly came back to camp with me after church for Sunday dinner, a pork loin cooked by Will in the Dutch oven with potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. Absolutely delicious.
But they are real campers, and a campfire soon drew them outside.
Everyone had a great time.
And the mother is never happier than when she is surrounded by her boys
and eating cheesecake.
I'd have to say my husband really outdid himself to please his children's mother on this Mother's Day! How can you ever top this beautiful spacious fifth wheel? Although when Father's Day comes along, I just might claim the RV as a Father's Day gift. Or maybe the quiet new Honda generator will count toward that.
Will took it to the Posse Camp Friday and had it all set up and ready to live in when Nick and I arrived Friday evening. Wow. We agreed we feel like we are in a cabin in the woods instead of in an RV.Interestingly enough, when Will and the sheriff were at the camp earlier this week, they followed cougar tracks and drag marks and found a very fresh deer carcass that had been dragged from the middle of the posse camp down near the creek. So Nick had a perfect excuse to sleep in the trailer on the couch bed with its air mattress in the lovely living room of the lovely new RV, instead of pitching a tent as usual. He encountered a slight disadvantage to this arrangement when Will brought the sheriff in for a tour at 9:30 am and awakened him. Of course, I was already up and having breakfast at the lovely table.
The recent cougar activity put everyone on high alert, and gave Nick another perfect excuse to carry a shotgun when he accompanied me on my daily hikes. That’s one way to get your teenage boy to go on a hike with you.
Will is never lacking interesting sites to point out with his walking stick. "The dead body found last year was over there about a mile and three quarters. And up that draw about a half mile is where the big marijuana grow was found last summer." He's a great tour guide. Will had to work with the Posse members on Saturday, doing some sort of Search and Rescue certification. They were pretty much done by 4:00.Saturday night after a rousing game of Backgammon, I returned home because I had worship team Sunday morning. Craig, Eric and Molly came back to camp with me after church for Sunday dinner, a pork loin cooked by Will in the Dutch oven with potatoes, carrots and mushrooms. Absolutely delicious.The boys love the RV.
But they are real campers, and a campfire soon drew them outside. Everyone had a great time. And the mother is never happier than when she is surrounded by her boysand eating cheesecake.I'd have to say my husband really outdid himself to please his children's mother on this Mother's Day! How can you ever top this beautiful spacious fifth wheel? Although when Father's Day comes along, I just might claim the RV as a Father's Day gift. Or maybe the quiet new Honda generator will count toward that.A lovely and relaxing weekend, with many more to come!
Monday, May 05, 2008
Dad is Home!
Sunday afternoon when I walked into my parents house, one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen was my Dad sitting in his recliner. After seeing him reclining in a hospital bed from Tuesday through Saturday, it was so heartwarming to have him up, awake and sassier than he's been in a long time.
Last Tuesday morning I was at work when I got word that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the Lebanon hospital after collapsing at home for the second time in two weeks. He had been very weak, dizzy and tired. I finished a few things at work and headed over to the hospital, where they ended up admitting him. I spent most of my waking hours over there with other family members through Friday.
Last Tuesday morning I was at work when I got word that Dad had been taken by ambulance to the Lebanon hospital after collapsing at home for the second time in two weeks. He had been very weak, dizzy and tired. I finished a few things at work and headed over to the hospital, where they ended up admitting him. I spent most of my waking hours over there with other family members through Friday.Once again we learned how true it is that doctors practice medicine, as they ran tests and thought they had a diagnosis until the last test, an echocardiogram, was finally performed late Wednesday. This showed a problem with his heart, which led them to do another test, which revealed blood clots in his lungs, much to the doctor's surprise. Dad was so weak for awhile that the doctor was recommending his release to a nursing home until he regained some strength. Just when we became resigned to that and started to make some plans, he became much stronger and was able to go home Saturday.
I haven't spent so much time with my dad in years. He has always been a very kind and gentle man, with a sense of humor that did not lend itself to putdowns. Fortunately, I had nearly 50 years of that kind of treatment as a secure foundation to get me through the honesty of the comments I heard this week, no doubt rising out of the confusion of his old age!
My youngest sister Jean, the baby of the family, naturally has always enjoyed being the center of Dad's attention, and I certainly never begrudged her position. She was born when I was in my late teens, so we never had the opportunity for much sibling rivalry. Until now.
I believe it started when Dad began feeling a little better. The chair next to his hospital bed where Mom normally sat was empty, and as Jean sat down in it, she asked Dad, "Do you mind if I sit here?" He said, "Oh, sure, I don't mind looking at you." Without thinking I pulled up next to her and said, "Can I sit here too?" He looked at me and said quite seriously, "I don't know, your face is showing a lot of age!" I had to leave the room as I got to laughing pretty loud. Later I had to find a mirror and check out just how much age my face is showing! Yep, it's pretty much showing every single one of my 49 years. But I like to think a lot of them are laugh lines!
Awhile later when I came back into his room, he looked at me and asked what I wanted. I reminded him that I was his daughter LeAnn and that I was in and out of his room all day visiting him. He said, "I guess it's alright as long as you don't talk too much!"
The family went out to dinner Friday night. The beautiful little sister could hardly wait to tell me what he said to her after I left. She was helping him with something and he said she didn't need to go to any trouble for him. She said it's ok, I caused you a lot of trouble in the past. He replied, "But you brought me a lot of joy!" Wow! She had a witness so I guess she's not making it up!
Then on Sunday I sat next to him at the dinner table. He asked if there was enough room for me. I said, "Oh, yes, I'm just a little thing. At least that's what my husband is always telling me." Dad gave me a look and then said, "Well, he must not have very good eyes!"
When dessert was served, Dad received a modest portion of sugar-free ice cream. A big tub of regular ice cream was passed around and ended up by Dad. I noticed that he was helping himself to a few scoops of it and said, "Dad, you already have ice cream." His quick response was, "You need to mind your own business!"
So I was thoroughly put in my place while Jean continued to revel in her position as the beautiful young favored daughter, sitting at his feet and making sure he was comfortable. Until...late in the day, when she had little Baby Levi on the kitchen counter. This made Dad very uneasy and he went to find Mom to do something about it. Jean told Dad not to worry about the baby, he's just fine. Then she had the nerve to say, "Why don't you go back and sit down in your chair." She finally got her comeupance. Dad told her, "This is my house so don't be telling me what to do!" Yep, at last Dad put her in her place!
It was great to end the day playing dominoes with Dad once again, although he did say he'd rather play with little kids so he can tell them what to do! I am thankful the Lord has given us more time to enjoy with him when it could so easily have been different. It is comforting to see how the goodness of his character still shines through even when he is confused, how he is always offering to share everything from his cookies to his chair, and wanting to make sure others around him are comfortable and have what they need. We were there again this evening, and Nick learned that when you sit by Grandpa at dinner, he will notice when your water glass is empty or you need butter, and he'll make sure that someone will get you what you need!
My dad is a blessing, and I am very thankful for him. I'm even thankful for the beautiful baby sister that he gave me more than 30 years ago!
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