My photo
No longer on the river and, again, an empty nester. Back to living on Fleming Island and making some more friends!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

The sun on the river

It is incredibly bright as the sun shines on the water and attempts to blind me, looking deceptively warm when the thermometer reads "only" 37 above zero! My sis-in-law's sister and family are down here in Orlando on vacation and I apologized to Mona yesterday for the terribly cold weather. I recall a vacation we took over 20 years ago to Florida where we froze and my mom was so upset about it. "It's not supposed to be cold in Florida!" People in a bayside restaurant in St. Augustine were ogling and rejoicing the snow in the air, and Mom was furious! Once we got to our destination of Ft. Lauderdale, of course, it had warmed considerably and from our experiences living here since 1988, we do know it gets cold in Florida!
*
This morning I woke well rested and ready for the day. Many thanks to family and friends who offered their good wishes and support as well as their company on this mission, I believe my attorney, Nancy, and I will be just fine. It would be 'out of order' and awkward for me to show up with my posse, but thank you all anyway---save the airfare and/or time off work for a fun time, okay?
*
My boy bought me dinner last night and as we sat, enjoying our Chinese food (I will have Asian dreams again!) we discussed what our futures hold, at least our financial ones. While real grown-ups ponder the longer range issues such as condo fees and toilet paper (not really), my pseudo-grown-up boy wonders if he can live without Netflix! I try not to make comparisons to his father but sometimes it simply comes out---what his father was doing already at the age of 21, compared to wondering if one can live without Netflix. But, his father was not in college at this age, so I guess that argument fades.
*
Mona and I talked about this a bit yesterday, the growing up on a farm 'work ethic', the benefits of having this instilled from early on versus the "entitlement' mindset some kids have. Allie, my niece, recently got her driver's license (yikes!, I am getting old!!!) and now takes herself to school and related events. At first, John and Mona were not going to allow her ready access to the older minivan but have since permitted it, due not in small part to the wretchedly cold weather and window scraping involved. But, Mona's point was that it seemed almost natural for Allie to simply "assume" she'd have that car free and clear---it was hers, an "entitlement" mentality. We speculated upon whether or not we, as parents, foster this type of thinking or does society have the stronger influence....hmmmm.......Like I tell Sandy H. about Olivia and Justin and their classmates---we created monsters!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

God morning,
I agree, we have created monsters. We were just talking yesterday about how our childhoods were so different from the children today. We were poor and didn't know it! We didn't have everything we wanted, by we had everything we needed, especiall the love of family, and our Christian faith!!!
I hope all goes well with you today.

Love and hugs,
Linda

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim--Boy I'm so glad to hear you like cornbeef and cabbage. Claudine always asked for that as her birthday dinner, who by the way, just turned 40.WOW!! All three girls are now in their 40's. Where did the time go??? My other two girls can't stand that meal. Of course, Hal & I enjoy it.

Enough about food. My continued prayers are with you as you deal with things today.

The weather here has really warmed up. Your mom answered my e-mail. We are having a nice e-mail exchange.

Prayers, love, hugs & even kisses,

Rosalie

Kim Lahaie Day said...

Hi Rosalie!

I do like the corned beef and cabbage, and surprisingly, so does Justin! I am so not accustomed to compliments on my cooking and then he even asks me to make it for him! Do you still make your famous spaghetti sauce on Sundays or has that gone away?

Thanks for the prayers, and for reaching out to my mom like you have. How nice that miles prove no boundaries for such friendships!

Blessings,

Kim

Anonymous said...

Yes Kim--I still make my spaghetti sauce; however, now that it is just Hal and I, we do not have it every Sunday as we did in past years. I hope I have room to tell you this. Claudines birthday is 1/29; Ravi's 2/2. I cooked two birthday dinners; sauce for Ravi, cornbeef,etc. for Claudine. Hal ate with Ravi; I had the cornbeef with Claudine. Donna will be arriving 3/20. Her birthday is 3/31; she wants sauce for her dinner. Well I made it! Continued prayers from this end. Love and hugs,

Anonymous said...

Good morning sister! it is 37 above zero here today! for us that is warm. Jamie said it was just beautiful by him yesterday and probably just as nice if not warmer. I just want the snow to disappear. I think it is a combination of parents, society and peers that give children the right to assume. Of course my children aren't like that. Ha ha!!!
Dan is finding out that not everything is going to be handed to him on a silver platter. He is taking it pretty well. Another sign of maturity! Time to finish getting ready for work and school. Have a great day! Love you!!

Kim Lahaie Day said...

Hi Rosalie!

So glad you still get to make your sauce every now and again, and that the kids request it when they come!

Have a great time with Donna and family when they are there with you, and eat well!

Hugs,

Kim

Kim Lahaie Day said...

God day to you, Linda!

In speaking with my atty., Nancy, today, she related growing up with parents who lived during the Great Depression and their stories, and to this day, her elderly mom refuses to accept help from anyone! We are not that noble or independent---we ask!

It was not until my friend, Suzy, ate dinner with us one time and was stunned that we each got our own pork chop did I realize how blessed our family truly was!

We must not let anyone or anything try to erode our saving faith! This is my confidence, Jesus Christ, our sure defense!

Blessings,

Kim

Kim Lahaie Day said...

Hi Jill!

You know that parents from after WWII forward wished things for their families that they didn't have growing up, and that is what happened. Now, we do not want to go backward in our lifestyles, me included! But, it might not be what we want that figures in here, right?

Congrats on Danny getting some responsibilities! It requires maturity on every level, does it not?

Have a warm day!

Kim