A day of emotion

On my desk is a sales flyer from K-Mart where I never shop, so wonder how come I find myself leafing through it. These 'packs' of ads come via the mail for those who do not subscribe to the local paper. This was told to me by Connie, our maintenance lady, and she got it likely through the letter carrier, who lives in fear of me!

As I page through, there before me are the little kids' outfits for Easter, which makes my lip curl under as I remember buying such outfits for my little guys. Mom made them their every day outfits, or many of them, but for church, they often got store-bought vest outfits. Timmy loved his vests and wanted to wear a neck tie like his brother and father did. My church/work friend, Rebecca, who also was the preschool teacher, gave me a bunch of clip-on ties for Timmy, since she knew he liked them so well. One of the ties is in his memory box under the portrait, clipped to his uniform shirt worn for "Monday dress" day.

**********

Tuesday morning found me in the dentist chair once more, this time to be fitted for my new crown. As I wrote on Facebook: "I am soon leaving The Palace to be fitted for my new crown...perhaps I should get some bling, or a very nice wood!" It turns out there is gold in the crown, to use as an anchor so the bling will be there, visible only on an x-ray!

I enjoyed my time in the chair, nitrous oxide strapped to my nose, deeply breathing and relaxing. Peggy numbed me up perfectly, gums only, as she removed the temporary tooth, packed the area for making the impression (I like to make a good impression!), but had to do it twice. It seems somehow, I have bubbles, both times! Oh well...

The chairside assistant was not Yvonne although she was the one to prep me for the happy gas. The other lady, whose name I did not get, was thinking I was having too much after effects from the gas, but the staff assured her that this how I really am. "She even smiles when in pain!" Not too sure about that one! Peggy gave a nice discount on my bill, thank you, and I was on my way. 

My upstairs neighbor, Nancy, had taken a tumble upon leaving a show downtown, seeing "The Jersey Boys", unescorted. While folks helped her get back up and dusted off, she drove herself to the ER to be checked over, having a bloody lip and black eye as a result of the fall. Hearing this on Sunday, I sent her note expressing my sorrow over this news and asked what I could do to help her out during her healing time. She asked me to come and play Scrabble with her. OKAY! 

Nancy is a gracious Southern lady and allowed me to win---that's how nice she is! We played one game and she wanted a chance to beat me, but I took leave. "Always keep 'em wanting more"---a good author like Nancy should know this!

When I came home from the dentist, I met my downstairs neighbor, Tracy, in the courtyard. I asked her how she was, and she told me that MamMa was basically near death, and no one is sleeping in their house except MamMa. Oh my goodness! The Monday that Linda was here I saw Willie Mae coming home on a gurney and she told me she'd been in the hospital. I did not even know this, nor did I know she'd taken a bad turn since getting home. Oh my!

I offered my spare room to any over flow guests they get, family coming to town to see her once more, or after she passes away. And then I went down after the Scrabble game with a devotion book, and my new prayer book, a gift from the Elders. 

Her caregiver, Virginia, was standing at the bedside, as Willie Mae snored loudly. Assured that she could still hear, despite what seemed like deep sleep, I read to her, and to Virginia. What a difference a week made, but certainly at age 91, she was done fighting. Medical folks come and go, Hospice comes and goes, and naps by family are caught in between.

Before I went to play Scrabble, my friend, Joanne, called to tell me that her father, Clyde, had passed away. When we spoke on Thursday, she said he was hanging on by a thread, 'something' was keeping him alive. Since no one in her family could confirm it, Joanne's pastor had baptized him. This had made me weep then, and did again after Joanne told me he was gone. 

From the left is Clyde, Joanne, me, Olivia, Justin, Richard S., with Owen as the photographer

Clyde was a character, almost gruff in personality, but I only knew him as an old man. He was in the Air Force, graduated from UW-Madison at a doctor, and worked with NASA for the space launches. His daughters were all raised in Belgium, where he was stationed, as they used to visually track the space crafts. He also was involved in the selection of the chimps for space, and Joanne has the black and white photo array to prove it! In later years, Clyde worked for Upjohn, which is how they ended in MI rather than back in WI. He will be buried in Racine, next to his wife and his parents.

He was sort of an agnostic, would not admit, with his vast intellect, to being a religious man. But Joanne, and me also, is comforted with the fact that he recited The Lord's Prayer at his wife's memorial service. She also believes that he saw the glory of the Lord before he breathed his last, as the nurses reported that he had tears running down his face when he died. I pray for everyone's sake, he is seeing the glory of the Lord in heaven.

Referencing once more the movie "The Bucket List", there is a scene on the private jet which comes to mind for this situation. The rich man, Edward, is arguing about the Creator, filled with doubt that someone could just say "Let there be...." and create such wonders as those seen through the plane window. Carter, on the other hand, a man of faith, believed that the Creator was responsible for it all. Edward, sort of surrendering the argument, said, "I don't know--I just can't wrap my head around it." Carter, resting against his seat, sighs, and says, "Maybe your head gets in the way..." Oh, yeah, you nailed it, Carter!

Bright spots

At the risk of encouraging disaster or unexpected excitement, I have thought of a few things to mention which are bright spots.


After church on Wednesday night, the Ladies' Group, with me as their queen, had to assemble for a quick meeting in the back of the church to address our Befriend a Mission monies. As the 7-8 ladies gathered 'round, our pastor's daughter, Anna, stuck her head into the circle and asked, "Miss Kim, would it be okay if I put you down on job applications as a reference?" SURE!!! I told I would be honored and would give her a good reference. 


She was second person to ask me this in a couple days' time so my phone should soon be ringing off  the hook (a cliche which means little to most people these days!). It is an honor, I believe, to be asked this. My friend's daughter, Erica, who returned mid-year from WLC, asked me about being a personal reference for her, but she went on her interview with a company, and was hired on the spot in January. I never got a chance to tout Erica's good qualities.


Last week was the fashion show/luncheon/fund raiser at The Club, for the Quigley House. Before it began, I was 'working the room', saying hello to folks I had not seen in a while and so on. Everyone was dolled up which is fun to see when some I only know from the pool in swim wear! One lady came up to me, gave me a big hug, and told me she had sought me out. Katherine said something to the effect of "I knew you were coming so I had to find you"...talk about a warm fuzzy. Another lady, also a Realtor with the first lady I mentioned, greeted me before she had to leave to get back to work. We agreed it's nice to be able to touch our friends in the flesh instead of only via the Internet. So near, and yet so far!


I had been asked to move to Table #1 to sit with The Club owner and her group, to make room for a lady who had no seat. There were ladies whom I had not been introduced to at the table, and because the event got started, we had to wait until afterward. One lady seated across from me came up to me, and I thought she said she knew me from somewhere. Due to the commotion in the room, I misheard her, but as our conversation grew, it seems she did not know me, but said she wanted to. Oh my! 'Laureen' got a kick out of me, she said, and said I was bright and cheery. She should see me when I hit a bag of rocks!

A Sunday sad saga

...or a sad Sunday saga! Whatever, it was pretty upsetting to me. I am getting quite good at being upset, it seems.

My car got torn, and torn up, as the Southerners like to say. Here's the story:

As I drove merrily along on the way to church, getting closer and closer to Blanding, I saw the car in front of me swerve around something but I failed to miss the debris entirely, catching the bag with my right rear wheel. This happened between the entrances to Home Depot, across from the Mall, near the light to HD/Target. Rats!

There was a horrible BANG! BANG! BANG! as I pulled to the curb, expecting some of the rocks were caught or something. Oh no, no rocks---but a steel rod was sticking out from my tire, extending out from the tire and striking my car in the rear panel, tearing it. I could not pull the rod out, which was about 24" long, with four inches of it in the tire. 

Frantic (there's that word again!) I tried to dial 9-1-1 as  my car was sitting in the lane of traffic on what would normally be a very busy road. It took me a couple tries to push the right buttons and finally connected with dispatch. I explained my situation and she said someone would come. In the meanwhile, I stood on the sidewalk and waved people around my disabled car. Fortunately people did not have a good head of steam up after leaving the stop light and allowed others to merge over to avoid hitting my car. Not like anyone could miss me in my purple top, arms flailing in the air....

A young man from the cell phone business near where I was sitting came up to try and help me but he could not manage to pull it out. We both felt it would cause more damage to move the car so he said he was going to look for more tools. In the meanwhile, a wrecker pulled up behind my car. Nice!

I thought this must be what the police do in cases such as this, have a wrecker come to remove the offending vehicle in the roadway. He pulled the rod out and immediately the tire went flat. "Mike" directed me to very slowly pull into the parking lot ahead of us and he would change the tire for me. Great!

In the meanwhile, I had called Justin to tell him and also let Judy C. know what was going on. After I spoke to Judy, she called me back to see if she should come and get me. I was fine, just save me a seat in church! In order to access the spare tire, I had to relocate six 12-packs of soda to the back seat. Fortunately, there was little else to move. Mike informed me he was on call, normally works out of a shop on Old Kings Road, which is far away, but he lives in OP. 

He took care of changing the tire, first filling the spare with more air as it was low, and then replacing it. He put the flat one in the back of the car, and basically sent me on my way. "No charge, Ma'am" but he did find himself on the receiving end of a hug and a smooch on the cheek. He told a story about how he helped a young lady on Blanding once, and three years later she saw him out somehere, giving him a giant hug and extra thank you for helping her. I thought this was very nice of the police dept. to have this guy come to my rescue!

I went up to church, so glad to be there. As I walked across the parking lot, my phone went off. It was Clay County Sheriff's department, wanting to know where I was, as their officer was now on the scene. It was nearly an hour after I called them and I thought I was done. I explained all this to the nice lady and she was dumbfounded that this wrecker came along. "I thought you guys sent him!" "Well, did he charge you, ma'am?" and when I said he did not, she was astonished along  with me. I did have to go back to the parking lot at Target in order to get the paperwork filled out for insurance purposes. 

He was waiting for me, a nice young CCSO guy, who took care of my paperwork after I showed him what happened. He said he could see the remains of the bag and its contents 'throwing up dust' as cars drove over it yet. I said to him, "Somebody's going to be missing a bag of landscape rocks when they get home..." and he looked at me, and asked, "Are you from WI?" I swear he did! Evidently the way I said 'bag' tipped him, because I don't think he saw my Packer license plate frame, since the trunk was opened by me. Funny!

He was so nice about it all, and was also surprised by the man who just showed up to rescue me. I told him, "Mike told me he was on call, but God must have sent him!" Usually that means he is on call via telephone or radio, but Mike had a direct line from God...When I told the officer that Mike did not charge me, he was stunned also. The officer told me this was no one's fault, except for not securing the load, it would seem, but not my fault. 

He also told me about his friend who recently got into the FBI and was sent to MN to work. I joked about what in the world there was for the FBI to do in Bemidji, but it seems he supports the Indian reservation law enforcement. Imagine that! His biggest gripe so far was that "they don't drink sweet tea up here!" How funny is that?

Once again, I was sent on my way and got to church in time for taking attendance. Justin got there a bit late, singing was underway but I was yet at the podium when he came in. He found us a seat on the left side and I joined him. At one point, we were invited to offer our private petitions but I hope that the Lord won't mind my prayers of thanksgiving that this car incident was not worse, and no one was hurt. The questions or concerns in regard as to whether or not to replace my tires has been answered---at least two of them being done today!

Now, the insurance will have to get involved and hopefully my rate won't go up. If I need the entire bumper replaced, all one piece, it seems, certainly that will be more than $500, my deductible. My one tire might be covered by the road hazard coverage that came with the tires, but I am not holding my breath on that one. At first I was going right away this morning, but now decided to go after lunch. They had to order them anyway which made my decision the right one. 
*****
My sainted grandmother, Lily, liked to rain on our parades. My sisters and family would laugh and have a good time, get silly and all that. Her caution would be, "Laugh today and tomorrow you will be crying..." Talk about a downer! 

Well, I find myself feeling like this more and more often. Not to that degree, of course, but I remember coming up in the elevator recently with my neighbors and answering their inquiring as to my well-being with "fantastic!" Then, I thought to myself, "don't let your guard down, something terrible will happen." Sure enough, the next day was the flood from the 5th floor. 

When I was in the process of buying this place, my friends came over to see it. Christine, who is now a partner in real estate with Joanne, stood at the railing and looked out over the river, and said, "No!" She didn't want me to move in here because "you will become a recluse for sure!" Everyone pooh-poohed her for that, but truly, it has gradually come closer and closer to being true. Not that being a recluse is a bad thing, but I see being content where I am, and in my own company, as a positive thing.

And, if I leave my home, there might be a leak and I won't know about it. Or, if I am driving, I might hit another bag of rocks! I know this feeling is a reaction to the incidents and also know that 'tomorrow you may be crying' is no way to live. But I am also just as content having people come to me instead of me leaving my recluse! Tomorrow, might be different....

The Ladies' Tea party event in pictures

Linda and I at Basketique for the Tea Social with the church ladies. We had 15 signed up and had 14 show. We will do this again sometime!

Judy J., Janet, and Judy C. at the table

Jean, Twila, and Jackie listening to Donna's story

 Linda, standing outside the shop, looking pretty with the flower backdrop

 Here is the third or fourth course of food, including pecan coated raisin bread with pumpkin butter, and the lettuce leaf wrap around picked asparagus, picked carrots, ham and cheese. Even I liked it!

 A fun shot of Janet, acting like herself and making Judy C. laugh! 

 Behind the ladies is the proprietess of the shoppe, Pat, doing some serving

I am so very much enjoying strawberry soup, sitting next to Ellen C.

The Schwarz Visit

 Rick and Laura posing in the dining room in front of the mural. They were now headed to DisneyWorld!

 I got up in time to see the sun breaking the horizon, and knew my guests were not up yet. I captured it for them!

 Little by little the sky got lighter, and pinker!

And then, it was morning!!!!

Broadcast in 1965---coming true today!

This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on April 3, 1965:

If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would, of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States.

I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.”   To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” 

I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”.  

In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. 


And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting. 

I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. 

I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. 

If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild. 

I would designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.” 

With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches.

I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. 

And then, my police state would force everybody back to work. Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day

Not more dreams!!!

Yes, another dream which has left me undone feeling this a.m.!  This time, in the dream, I was absolutely frantic trying to get things ready for a graduation party for Justin, at what seems to be the home I grew up in. At least it could be there...as dreams go. 


People were soon to arrive and I was frantic (love that word for it's true description) in my efforts but am the only one, apparently. I recall at one point my sister, Lynn, came into the kitchen to report that the boys are not all that taken with "Hugo".  It seemed as though the adults were, as not one came to help me. Not even Justin was in sight. My mom had made some chicken salad to serve, a large stainless bowl filled to the top, but it was still warm from preparation and we had to serve it that way. But all the dishes were unwashed, the vacuum cleaner was propped half in/half out of the laundry room so the arriving guests had to walk around it, etc. 
                                          

This type of thing would send me into a tailspin, especially with me going twice into the family room to ask for help. Guests were coming, I had nothing ready to serve to drink, and I didn't even know who I could count on to run to the store. (Linda and I were looking at my wedding album the other day. I remembered having to stop at Super Valu on the way back from the church to get 7-Up to serve at home. In hindsight, probably someone else should have stopped for it...not the bride and groom.) 


I know this was not a surprise party (ha!) because of sending out invitations! I couldn't hug people as they arrived because of my soapy rubber gloves! Kerry, who normally would have been the good helper, came downstairs wearing a towel on her head and a bathrobe around her, wanting to throw in a load of wash. (When Lori and David got married in our family room, the dryer buzzed during the ceremony, as Kerry had thrown in a load of wash!) This was back in the early '80's, and it showed up in my dream this morning!


I imagine this dream came because of getting things ready for my visitors, the Schwarz's, who arrive today from Manitowoc. The difference is---I am ready! The dishwasher needs to be run yet, but otherwise, we are good to go. Part of the dream might be from discussing the luncheon I had attended on Wednesday with Marlena, as she called me last evening. I tried to find out the type of dressing provided for my chicken salad, substituted at the last moment for the shrimp salad. She is going to see if Chef will share that info with me, or make me some!!!


When I got home from Bible study last night, Justin was busy with the vacuum cleaner, taking care of the floors and such. Together we made up the air bed in the guest room, after he took down the day bed trundle where Linda had slept. He stood it on end in his room for the time being. 
                                   

I had cleaned up in the bathroom, though it didn't need much. I polished the mirror, made sure there were towels and such, made sure there was additional toilet paper available and all things ready. Earlier in the day I was busy with the dust mop, a fruitless endeavor, but at least an improvement. And yes, I had the doors open again during the day....


All things are now ready, except, I should throw in a load of wash before the company arrives---just like Kerry!