Writing in the Corner

What a day! In laws are coming for a visit Monday (staying through Friday) which means we have to clean. And clean. And clean. I did the bathroom and some vacuuming and cleared off the horizontal surfaces in the family room. Does anybody else have a problem with horizontal surfaces being a place to put things down, instead of away? DH cleaned the carpets. Older son washed the walls in the hallway. And small son…well, he played on the computer so we could work.

Tomorrow, we have to finish the kitchen, breakfast room, the office, and small son’s room, which is a nightmare. Day of rest, my foot.

One of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done was sing in front of a large audience.

When I lived in Lubbock, I tried out for the chorus of a musical put on by First United Methodist Church. They did Guys and Dolls; a great show. I was in the Mission Band, and had a great time marching while singing “Follow the Fold,” and even more fun doing “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat.”

That fall, I started singing with their twice-a-month choir at the early services, and wormed my way into the Music Minister’s good graces. The next year, I tried out for a couple of parts in Oliver. I didn’t get the part I wanted (the Widow) because…well, because. But I DID get a small solo in the “Who Will Buy?” number.

It was awesome. Me, unmiked, all by myself, singing for two shows in front of 1000 people.

That was when I knew I could do anything.

My grandma was born on Christmas Eve. She is 94 now, and living in an assisted living center near my parent’s house. She had a stroke two years ago, and can’t live on her own, but she doesn’t need to be in a nursing home, since she doesn’t need any kind of medical care. She gets around just great, though she uses a walker for balance. She takes coumadin to prevent blood clots and she’s humming along like a well-tuned machine. She’s always been active and busy, but her successful longevity can be attributed almost entirely to good genes. Her father died at 95, and he did NOT take care of himself…rolled his own cigarettes right up to the end.

Grandma’s stroke affected her speech centers, but over time she has recovered remarkably. She still has trouble expressing ideas, but if one is patient and gives her time, she is able to put together what she wants to say in a way that can be understood. I called her yesterday (a day late, ouch!) to wish her a happy birthday, and she was able to fill me in on all my cousin’s comings and goings. When I later talked to my dad, and he was filling me in on this stuff, I told him grandma had already told me. He was surprised. “You were able to get all that from her?” I told him I had a lot of recent practice being patient with someone trying to express an idea.

When my family we would all get together for Christmas, we would always drink a toast at the start of the meal: “Health, wealth and happiness.” And grandma would always add “Especially health.” Even at 94, she’s able to make the most of the life she has. To me, that’s health, and she’s got her wish.

Time so flies when you’re having fun…kind of.

Christmas has arrived, and the small boy was just delighted with his new bike and baseball glove. He got a huge set of wooden train tracks that have been the hit of the day. Santa took his socks out of the packages and wrapped them in various size bundles. He only got two packages of socks, but it seemed like every other present he opened was socks. We’ll have to talk with Santa about his wrapping strategy next year, before he starts wrapping.

Older son got entertainment for Christmas: several movies, DVD’s of old comedy shows, a classical music CD, and the requisite socks and underwear. Unlike small son, older son’s gifts were mostly consolidated into a single box. (Santa must have had a different elf do older son’s wrapping.) He had fewer presents to open, but he smiled from ear to ear when he opened the box with all the media inside. I’m hopeful that we will be able to watch “This Is Spinal Tap” together before the weekend is out.

The turkey is stuffed and baking. Pies are baked and covered. We had a big breakfast, and we’ll have a big early supper.

I’m so glad we were able to stay home this year. Extended family is nice, but I like my own house and my own bed.

This is my first time buying a local Christmas tree. We bought the tree from a “choose and cut” place just a mile or so from our house. But the trees were so different! In Ohio, I was used to imported firs, pines, and spruces. One year, we cut a very large offshoot off a blue spruce growing in my back yard and it was not only gorgeous, it smelled great and lasted forever. The local trees here, though, are cypress. Not at all what I’m used to. This year, we got a Carolina Sapphire, which is a pretty blue-green. It was shaped kind of funny - sort of like an upside-down chili pepper. But I’ve gotten used to it, and once it was decorated, it was just fine.

Tomorrow, DH and I will go buy a digital camera for ourselves - using some of our own money and some of the money we got from my parents.

Woo hoo! I got my grades! Two classes - two A’s!

I so rock!