Sunday, August 31, 2008

Traveling the Highways & Byways

So divinely is the world organized that every one of us, in our place and time, is in balance with everything else.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe




I left the grandkids & Dau#2 crying in the driveway as:
I started out the driving trip to Florida with great aplomb only to have it vanquished about a football field away from Dau #2 home! EEK the trailer fell off the Pacifica, in the rain of course! It was 7am so much traffic was seen going by, rubber necking! The trash guys actually stopped to help, but alas! the trailer was under the Pacifica a little and would damage the bumper if they pulled it out or I drive the Pacifica forward.

I have to call hubby to call dau #2 as she recently changed her phone number and I hadn't either remembered it or put in my cell phone!

She came quite quickly to rescue mom in her dilemma! She is quite smart and figured it out effortlessly. Lift the car with a jack and roll the trailer back where it should be! O yes, easy! HAHA, the trailer is filled to the max! but of course she did it!

I was off again in less than 30 minutes. My thought was to just leave the @!#& thing, but she had other thoughts. SO off! next thing was the traffic! Have ya ever travelled on 270?? It's a twelve lane road going to & from DC or Va! AND it was FULL. I travelled about 5-10 mph the entire route! Is it 12 or 15 miles long?

So then onto 495 to Va to get myself to Richmond airport to pick up my friend coming from Fla to ride with me to Fla (now that's a friend!) Did I tell ya it was raining? well when I got to Va it decided to deluge the highway!

Well I was almost 30 min late picking my friend up- luckily she is a good sport. By cell phone we tried to find one another. Expecting Richmond airport being big with post signs for airlines. I found myself confused! There were no signs! She was at one end and I was at the other.

So far on the trip I thought I was in a very bad nightmare! BUT! the trip turned out to be a great time of laughter, joking, eating & shopping. The first night we went to a motel that was housing the entire 120 rooms over the weekend to the "Warlocks". They motorcycles arrived all night long!

We took an extra day of travel just to shop! We arrived here in Florida just 3 days later Safely!
Labor Day weekend!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

noting Tuesday

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955), (attributed)

Yes, there were tears as the littlest of the grandchildren started his first day of school. The back pack nearly looked as big as he, and he is a tall kiddo, probably tallest in his class. he did look a little fearful as he departed, but I am sure he will do well, he is also very smart.

The day is cool here. I thought they should have sweaters but was reminded they are hot kids?
Can't wait for the homework to start, it's always FUN!

Grandson #1 had his first football game- they lost by a touchdown in the final seconds of the game. OWELL more wins to come. We look at it as a game even the losses-builds character.

Yesterday, I made homemade spaghetti sauce/gravy. We still have loads of tomatoes. Dau #2 children don't like tomatoes. Of course we have so many. Other children take apples to the teacher- we send tomatoes. The twins brought a birds nest they found in the yard- they are gonna be studying science the first part of the year.

Yesterday after school we built a campfire of sorts on the driveway. Grandson #2 has been begging to build it since he put the wood in the driveway, and went to my brothers who has a fire pit. My dau kept looking at me 'letting them start the fire', but finally got into it and helped. We just didn't have any marshmallows to roast- fun was has by all. We told the little one it was the 'end of summer fire' so he wouldn't think he could build it daily! Isn't this how wonderful memories are made? What granny in her right mind helps the grandchildren build a fire in the yard? Yes this one!

Well I gotta go get more stuff packed for the trip to Florida. Does packing ever stop. me thinks no!

Oh and thinks for the support on my last post! I am sure I will cry more, but it has to be!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

tears of saddness & joy

To perceive is to suffer.
Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

This weekend I went to my 40th Nursing school reunion- a good time was had by all. We laughed and cried together.

I packed up the very last of the things of the house and said a tearful good-bye! As I looked around the house(by myself), I remembered many of the things which happened there. Ambivalence growing in my heart about selling the house altogether! I looked about the yard/garden and said- those were my moms rose bushes, I have bulbs from her and also from my grandmother in this yard. How can I leave them behind? It's like leaving a piece of me behind! BUT my hubby and daughter await my arrival in Florida.

I drove yet again down I95, and even took pictures of the traffic to remind myself I won't miss I95. The traffic was unusually heavy this weekend. Bumper to bumper going both ways the entire stretch of Delaware!

I arrived at #2 daughters and the floodgates opened! How am I gonna say good-bye even for awhile to my cherished grandchildren and daughter on Thursday? I know they will all be ok without me hovering over them, but they are my babies.

When the kiddos arrived from their dads we hugged and hugged! The girls have been away for only 2 weeks. I then called my hubby and I just haven't been able to stop crying! The 5 year old bless his heart, came in and said what's wrong gran ma? I'm gonna lock your door, you look like you need some 'alone time'. The granddaughters knocked on the door too, asking whats wrong grandma? Why are you crying! I just couldn't answer. Dau#2 explained it to them.

This weekend has been quite a tearful time! I see long time friends and said good-byes, I said good-bye to my home of over 30 years, and have come to the realization SOON I will be saying good-bye to my grands & dau. To start a new season in my life. I will get threw it but no one said it was gonna be easy!

Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849)

Friday, August 22, 2008

Not Green Tomatoes

There are so many tomatoes in the garden, #2 dau decided to make ketchup. Yes ketchup! Why you say? Well her 5yr old son LOVES ketchup- he puts it on everything. I have even seen him put it in ice cream of all things! She even asked the doctor one time if something were wrong with him he eats it so much. Doc said as long as he is eating something with it don't worry!

When she started I thought it would be a horrible process, but it wasn't really-we were able to do laundry and other things while making the ketchup.

We'd picked the tomatoes the day before so they needed to be cleaned, diced and boiled down. Onion cut and boiled down separately. Young son even helped cut up the tomatoes! After boiled down we got to smell ketchup in the house the rest of the day. The condiments were added you see. 12 1/2 pounds of tomatoes yielded 7 pints of ketchup!

I always kid her she lives on "lil house on the prairie of Maryland". I started to make a rhyme about her panties hanging on the line all pink and pretty in the sunshine, but she chastised me into stopping!

It's like history repeating itself- the canning, cooking, simple life in the prairie house. She reminds me often of my mom. Her determination of making things work!

History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC), Pro Publio Sestio

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Changes

There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.
Nelson Mandela (1918 - ), 'A Long Walk to Freedom'

Last week dau#2 and I made changes to our home in NJ(mostly she did). She changed the plumbing, faucets, did a bunch of caulking in the bathroom, fixed the water softener system. Not much seems too daunting to her except climbing on the roof to clean the gutters. I thought once she got up there and a bit used to it it would be ok, but no. She kept telling me I would have to call the fire company to get her down. I was able to get her down with coaxing. She refused to do the ones out front, but finally did with the ladder and a cutter cleaner tool.

I waxed all the hard wood floors- humm they look nice now. We had other things planned but time didn't allow.

We went to Atlantic City for an hour and let the boys play on the beach till we had to go to a christening. Of course we had to go get new clothes cause they got WET! We also went to a local park over the weekend for a picnic. They also waded in the water there. It's a place called Weymouth Furnace, where they made munitions for the Revolutionary War. A river runs through it where canoeing can be done. You aren't supposed to swim there, but! Can ya keep a 5 & 9 yr old out of the water on a hot summer day in New Jersey?

Next weekend will mark my 40th nursing school graduation. We will be having a reunion at one of the gals homes. Talk about change! 4o years of nursing has definitely made change! Yet somehow we still get together after all these years! We are more like sisters than school mates.

Then the end of the month I will make the final change to a Florida resident. We haven't sold the house in NJ, but time marches on and I need to be with my hubby. I will driving I95 south till I hit Safety Harbor! Time everflowing......

OO almost forgot, got a call today and the other guys insurance is gonna pay for my vehicle to be fixed! yeah!

Monday, August 11, 2008

LOST?

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?
Epictetus (55 AD - 135 AD), Discourses

Today I feel lost
lost in my own thought and reflections
lost in who I am versus who I want to be
lost in worry the 'house' will sell
lost in thought of driving to Florida
lost in feelings of leaving my precious grandchildren
lost in what in the world should I do today-
pack, take paper off walls, laundry, tear up carpeting, fold socks
lost in remembrances of yesterdays Sermon
lost in thought of another war
lost in thought of the accident, insurance
lost in thought of the 40th reunion of my Nursing School class

OK just throw in the towel and take the advice of Epictetus as sited above.
Just sit in HIS light and find myself in serious contemplative prayer and I will be found!

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Saturday Rambling

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.
Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "Measure for Measure", Act 1 scene


Don't know why I chose doubt today, but sometimes I doubt myself too much. I know I have the smarts and "gut feelings" to aid me. but still doubt a decision made. usually find out it has been the right decision, but alas still doubt myself. guess somehow it's how I find my truths??

update on accident: haven't been able to get in touch with the other guys insurance company yet! doubt again- should I pursue or not? Yes, nothing ventured nothing gained. why should I pay my deductible to get it fixed? esp when hubby can prob fix.

both grandsons are playing football this fall. should the 5 yr old be playing? he likes it thus far and it's flag, hope it will teach him some things. the 9 yr old is into it, but his asthma like symptoms are on the rise. he complains about every bruise he gets-don't know why he is like that? he has practise every day except Sunday right now, but will slack down to 3 days per week when school starts. it can't interfere with his education. they start Aug 25th, I never started til after Labor day, so weird to me to start before then.

The twins are in Colorado with their dad. couldn't figure out what clothes to pack. colder in the mountains for sure. I saw snow in Colorado in Aug when I lived there, but only lasted a day. quite different snow there. why doesn't their dad call to say they got there safely? guess I can't make others do what I feel is right. I know they are ok but would be nice to hear from someones mouth!

Dau # 2 did plumbing this week! she had leak in the bathroom and decided she could do it all, and of course she did! She changed the pipes, sink, drains- when she sets out to do something she gets it accomplished. think she likes those kind of challenges.

Now I am off to making cookies with #2 grandson, doing some housework and maybe pack some stuff for my trip to FLA at the end of the month. O yeah he just asked me to fly a plane with him! guess I will do that too, all before I get dressed, owell whats a granny to do!

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

accidental meeting

One of the indictments of civilizations is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person.
William Feather (1908 - 1976)

I took dau #1 to the airport today to fly back to Florida. Reagan International. Had to fight morning rush hour traffic. Lost my way a bit even with GPS in the car. Was permitted to actually take her to the gate as she is handicapped. She had her precious peanut butter confiscated by the Security (haven't figured that out yet). She thought she could munch on with crackers in the flight.

Went to my car, very sleepily for the return trip. Had just had a couple of hours sleep. Got to an intersection in the parkade and was stopped by an attendant. The other driver (of a utility vehicle), was motioned forward. He shook his head NO and I was motioned to proceed. Slowly I did and crunch was hit by another driver on the drivers side of my vehicle. "O it's only a minor fender bender, Hubby can spruce the car back to its pristine condition" "should the authorities be notified?" "guess we'd better".

The other driver an Asian, very quiet gentleman, kept bowing at me. He looked quite dismayed at the whole situation. We exchanged salutations and "are you okays". Of course not a scratch was on his car.

The attendant came running over. She started yelling profanities at me- in my most enduring mommanator way I informed her, I had been motioned forward by her. She shut her mouth quickly when I told her there was no need for name calling everyone was ok. I'd have thought her car had just been hit with the way she was yelling.

After several minutes the officer arrived, we exchanged insurance info. I really didn't think we'd need to, but when I got home and looked at the damage a bit better, rethought that. When I perused the report found out the quiet man was 80 years old! I have yet to find out how to locate his insurance company. When I called him he told me his English conversation was not good, he hadn't reported the incident to his insurance and he would get back to me. I am still waiting-Tomorrow is another day!

It was a minor mishap, no one was injured. Actually if ya look at all the miles I drive in a year, I am quite lucky. And so it's just another day in the life of the mommanator!


Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty breadth of the universe, old age flowing free with the delicious near-by freedom of death.
Edith Wharton (1862 - 1937)