Husband's 70th birthday

My husband will be 70 years old in early October. He has aches and pains and life is difficult. He is irritable more often than pleasant. He wakes me up grumbling at CNN. So, I mulled over the past way to mark this tremendous occasion. A big party with friends and family? No, he is not a party animal! Dinner with just the family? Yes, an Amish thresher's meal. Special things to do along with dinner? Such as a wagon ride around a pretty farm, a live musical, shops to browse in, one night away from home? Yes! We are meeting in Nappanee Indiana at Amish Acres and Resort. It is a 2 to 3 hour drive depending where my children live. Well, and a flight in from Washington, DC. As I write, my husband does not know of our birthday plans. It is a surprise. My children and I will have to figure out a creative way to tell him. Also, on Sunday, I will be a spectator at a horse show. Excited to see what my horse and rider can do. And then Sunday afternoon, we are having a family reunion. My dad's brother and sister will be coming in from Florida along with some of my cousins and their family. We have never had a reunion before, so it will be a once in a lifetime opportunity!

14 Years Ago

I was teaching first graders when the school secretary quietly told me about the terrorist attacks. Quietly, because the principal chose to have the parents inform the children. I came home and my 5 year old daughter drew chalk pictures of jets crashing into the World Trade Center on our driveway. Innocence gone in one day. Now, 14 years later, I still cannot think of that day without tears. I remember the Budweiser commercial of the Clydsedale horses paying tribute to New York City. I remember the long list of names read in honor of those who lost their lives. I see photos and the words "We will always remember," on facebook. It's painful to remember the innocent lives lost that day and the suffering of their friends and family. So many lives affected by terrible acts of terrorism.

A Perfect Vacation

I returned home last night after spending several days with family and friends "up north." A bit of an adventure with my 87 year old mother, 89 year old father and 70 in a few days husband. When you think of it, there were 22 of us on this adventure, and there were no problems. Amazing! On Saturday morning, I was astonished when my son, his partner and their very good friend arrived from the Windy City to surprise me for my birthday! I truly had no idea they were coming, because I had had a long pleasant birthday chat! 11 of us went to the Mackinac Grille in St Ignace. I chose whitefish, steamed with fresh vegetables and it hit the spot. We then meandered down the walkway overlooking Lake Huron. Walking back we saw a most beautiful sunset. On Labor Day, we headed by bus across the Mackinac Bridge so that we could walk back to the south side. My husband and I walked across the finish line to receive our certificates. Pouring down rain for the first hour of the drive home, but then clear skies. A most memorable vacation!

Seminar at Work

On Thursday and Friday, I attended a work seminar. The company president decided to bring in a trainer to help with increasing sales and minimizing complaints. I appreciated a meeting that we had several years ago because I learned some helpful hints. The first session lasted 3 1/2 hours and today's meeting lasted 2 hours. I think it will be helpful. I was feeling a bit disgruntled because I made a comment, the facilitator brought the meeting back to focus, and when he asked me if I was on the same page, I felt put on the spot. I felt that the "test" and role playing at the beginning was to demonstrate just how awry my thinking was. However, there were some areas where I was spot on. I came out of the meeting with a headache and had to stop on the way to work and get some pain reliever. Today we practiced taking phone orders, trying to implement the new ideas.

Daughter Moves into Apartment

I asked my son for help on Sunday loading the van with furniture for my daughter's new apartment. He made the day special, bringing over some steaks and grilling them. Husband made deviled eggs, corn on the cob and baked potatoes as side dishes. We loaded the van with a futon, bookcase, small 3 drawer dresser, footboard and box spring along with other paraphenalia. The pillow top mattress went on the top of the van secured with 100' of rope. Clothes, shoes, computer and other personal belongings were packed in my daughter's yellow Mustang. Needless to say, we were a bit uneasy with the mattress on the top of the van! So early on Monday morning my daughter took off in her car, and after stopping for gas, I got on the expressway and headed to the university about an hour away. The sun shone, roads were clear. I made a mistake as I got close to her apartment so had to drive to an easy off, easy on road to turn around! Was in the wrong lane near the apartment so had to turn right and come back straight, but it all worked out. Was so pleased that we had brought appropriate furniture, because this house was built in 1900 and the stairs went up for 6 or so steps, had a landing, and then turned for 6 more steps. Has a 3' bannister. The most difficult piece to get up was the futon. The crazy thing is, as much as my daughter hates it, the other girls begged her to leave it in the living room! We set up her room, making a shopping list as we went...vacuum, shower caddy, night stand, bulbs for the touch lamp, clear light string sets for decoration, mattress pad and sheets for pillow top mattress, hangers, food. Dashed off to the store and ran into an apartment mate! I bought the women a plant as an apartment warming gift and my daughter treated me to a burger and frosty. I left her as prepared as possible, but was driving home when she called and told me that her bite guard (jaw was throbbing from stress) and meds were at home. That was unnerving! Fortunately her friend is going up today and can take tenting gear, the printer, guard and meds. A milestone in my daughter's life.

Haiku morning

Glancing at the clock

Mistake setting the alarm

Rushing out the door.

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No breakfast this morn

A struggle to be on time

Cookies for breakfast.

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Cloudy summer sky

Fat raindrops on the windshield

Feels and tastes like fall.

Well, fortunately a friend googled how to denote paragraphs. What a mess it was before she helped me. Live and learn!

Invisible

Somewhere I read that elderly women are invisible. The statement made sense to me because I know that given a choice to help a male or a female at the store, the male wins every time. Males come into the shop, explain the purpose of their visit, and leave smiling a few minutes later. The elderly female customer dillies over the colors and freshness of the flowers, goes back and forth about cost and preference of flower type. She uses her arthritic fingers to find the 72 cents change and takes forever to clasp her purse. She slings her purse over her arm, gathers her flower bouquet and limps out the door. Now, I know that I do not like to be invisible, and many years ago a colleague was dishing out compliments to the younger associates, noticed I was there, searched his thoughts and told me that I have a pretty smile. And even though my eyelids embarrass me because they hang low, it is quite true that when I smile, it is pretty. How I appreciate that he took the time and effort to include me in his compliment session. After reading the article, I decided to do something about the invisible elderly woman, to let her know that I see and appreciate her. I greet her as she enters the store and I listen and share my time. I hope in some small way that for a brief minute or two, the elderly woman feels noticed, her presence on this earth, acknowledged.