Roots and Wings

I took David to the airport early this morning. He is flying to Hawaii to join Lisa and her family at their annual Spring break time-share . Meanwhile, Kevin is sleeping upstairs since Jen's mother is staying in their tiny apartment while she visits this week. Both of their cars are in our driveway. Roots and wings.

It's easy to do the "roots" part. Kevin and David both know that they, as well as Lisa and Jen, are always welcome, can always arrive unannounced and be fed, that there's always a bed available, and that we will always love them. No matter where they live, this is always home.

The "wings" part is not so easy. They are both literally away most of the time, living elsewhere and often traveling for work and pleasure. This year they are both in the Chicago area, but it is extremely likely that Kevin will end up in some other city. What else could we want than for them to find joy in their chosen careers and to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way?

Maybe because I was an "older" mother who had seen class after class of 8th graders move on to high school, I was acutely aware of how quickly those pre-school years would pass and how soon my totally dependent babies would move into independent adults. As much as I was thrilled with each step - nursery school, kindergarten, middle school, high school, college, career - with each milestone there was also a sad feeling of being one step closer to "losing" them. I know now, of course, that I'll never "lose" them - that's the "roots" part.

My mother has often railed against what she sees as "wrong". Her family being scattered across the country is "just plain unfair". "It isn't supposed to be that way." Her feelings are understandable. In her youth it was unimaginable that sons or daughters would move away and extended family was always nearby. People took the safe route and settled for whatever work could be found locally....and, of course, women always stayed home.

We've lost that physical family togetherness, but none of our children are "settling".... and what a blessing for these young family members and friends.

• Tom who has found musical and lifestyle opportunities in cool, rainy Seattle that were unavailable to him in sunny Phoenix.
• Nancy who has found the joys of living on Chesapeake bay after her youth in the desert.
• Randy who, by age 26, is a professor and museum curator in Salt Lake City
• Lauren who intended to spend a year or so in Paris and found herself married to a frenchman and raising their bi-national daughter
• Margaret who spent a year in Argentina and now contemplates a graduate school program possibly leading to international work.
• Rebecca who, before using her physics degree, is spending two years teaching English in Japan....fulfilling a long time goal to learn more of the Japanese language and culture.
• and so forth, and so forth......
  

The funny thing is---not only are the young people following their dreams and using their talents, but their parents are spreading their wings as well. Lauren's parents have mastered "Skype", travel as easily to Paris as others travel to the next town, and are becoming somewhat comfortable in French. Margaret's parents have traveled to Argentina as well as other Latin American countries they never considered visiting before. Randy's parents can speak with authority about myriad scientific topics. We've all learned a lot about technology and the use of frequent flyer miles.

When it's a holiday and someone isn't sitting at the family table, it's easy to react with my mother's "It's not fair.", but what a blessing that our children have the opportunities to use their "wings" and find the place where they can best serve and grow.

As long as they don't forget to come back to their "roots".

Stuff

Stuff is overwhelming!

When we visited my cousin Steve in Seattle we reminisced about the trip that Steve, his brother Don, and his parents made to Chicago in - we think - 2002. As part of that reunion, we all went to Bridgeport to see the old family house as well as the Lutheran church across the street which was built, in part, by my great-grandfather. The pastor of the church gave us an extensive tour and we walked the streets and I took lots of pictures of everything. Steve bemoaned the fact that both his camera battery and his video-camera battery died in Bridgeport and he has no pictures, so I confidently said, "I have all those pictures. I'll send them to you."

Guess what I can't find!

The first problem was realizing that I got my digital camera in 2003, so I'd have to find actual prints! I've been through all our family albums from those years and, today, went through my mother's photo albums, her genealogy records, her file cabinet, and her various storage boxes. Nothing.

What I did find, however, are approximately 2,000,000 important papers mixed in with approximately 6,000,000 unimportant papers.....and that's just my mom's stuff. In addition to her file cabinets, bookshelves, and plastic storage boxes in our basement, there is still a storage unit filled with her furniture and household stuff to be dealt with. I can get physically ill just thinking about all that stuff.

Most days I can totally avoid all the stuff. After all, my mom's stuff is in the basement and off-site. Most of our stuff is also in the basement or in Ken's home office.....both of which I avoid as much as possible because of all the work and tool stuff in those locations.

All the above being said, I am actually pretty much a "thrower-outer" but I'm married to a "keeper" and am the daughter of another "keeper".

My mom periodically asks me where something is. Even though she doesn't need her stuff in her living situation, it is still important for her to know where her microwave or jewelry is. Her missing clothing has still not been found. She misses those particular - very ordinary - pieces of clothing. I'd say, "Oh good. Now I can get new clothes!"

I care about pictures and writing, but not so much about the other stuff. I hope I someday can leave David and Kevin with only a bunch of CD's and little more.....except for the five or six boxes filled with all the papers they wrote in elementary and high school!

Meanwhile, back to the search...............

I'm Humbled Again!

After church today I chatted with my friends Norm and Alice (Yes! the first friend I have ever had who shares my rather uncommon name). They never cease to amaze me.

Norm's loves include poetry and German. I have read beautiful love poems Norm has written to Alice in English. I have read his incredibly sensitive religious poems that have been used in our worship. Norm has also written poetry in German. Did I mention that Norm is Korean? He can write POETRY in two foreign languages!

Norm and Alice are runners. They both completed the Chicago Marathon last fall. Alice came in first in her age range. Did I mention that they are a little older than I?

Norm and Alice are both stalwart choir members. Through her running connections Alice became involved with a multi-ethnic choir that last year presented a series of concerts in China. My Korean friend proclaimed her faith in English to Chinese audiences.

Norm and Alice have three grown children. One of them is a pastor. They told me this morning that he and his wife are preparing to be missionaries in Jordan. In preparation for their new ministry, they have been studying Arabic in Jordan for the past nine months. Norm and Alice are excited about an up-coming trip to visit their son and daughter-in-law in Jordan.

Norm told me of the struggle their son faces learning Arabic. The son has been told by his teachers that Arabic is a very "disorganized" language. He feels that, when he finally understands one aspect of the language, he finds the next topic is totally different. As a language teacher, I know that no language is "disorganized". Even what we would consider a "primitive" language is highly structured....but Alice's and Norm's son is learning a totally different type of language and writing system in addition to English and his native Korean.

On top of the language issues, Norm's son and daughter-in-law face something I would never have imagined. According to Norm and Alice there is strong anti-Asian prejudice among Arabic people in Jordan. Norm thinks this is because the first Asians that Arabs came into contact with ages ago were prostitutes or swindlers. It sounds like all Asians, no matter what country they call home, are lumped in the same category as those early arrivals.

And, of course, there is the minor issue of proclaiming Christianity in a country that is in the midst of huge political and religious turmoil.

One's first impression of Norm and Alice is that of quiet, unassuming, friendly people. As I get to know them better, I'm awestruck by their abilities, their faith, and their humility. What models of faith and perseverance they are...and I am humbled.

Remember Me?

This afternoon my manicurist asked me, "How was your trip?" When I said, "Fine, thank you.", she followed up with "East coast, right? And you wanted clear polish in case you chipped a nail while traveling." That manicure was two weeks ago!

When I dropped something off at the cleaners the clerk wrote down my name - spelled correctly - before I could tell her. I go to the cleaners maybe once a month.

Ken's barber suggested that he use my shampoo since "Alice highlights her hair and is bound to use a gentle shampoo." I last saw Ken's barber at least ten years ago and he remembers my hair!

I consistently use that cleaners and that nail salon in part because I'm known there. Ken has followed his barber from Northbrook to new locations - each farther and farther away from home - because that barber truly cares about him.

It's both humbling and motivating to be known and remembered.

Humbling in that I'm not half as good at remembering as these folks! At BER seminars I try to use people's names throughout the day, but usually have to refer again and again to their name tags. I remember interesting stories, but often can't remember who told them. As a teacher I usually remembered either the student's real English name or their pretend Spanish name...but too often not both. I can't remember a phone number EVER!

Motivating in that I'm so aware of how good I feel when I'm known and remembered and want to show that caring to others. A fellow "ding-dong" (hand bell ringer at church) had to leave right after we played last Sunday to take her son and husband to the airport. At rehearsal this week I asked if her "boys" had gotten off on time. She positively glowed as she answered, her body language saying, "Yeah, someone cares!" Such a simple thing to ask, but such a hard thing to literally remember or remember to do!

Now I will try to remember how to post this blog, then I have to prepare dinner for that tall guy who seems to show up hungry every evening :-)

France, 1973

This morning my friend Donna sent me images of this incredible bridge, the Millau Viaduct, which is part of the new expressway connecting Paris and Barcelona. It is the highest bridge in the world - taller than the Eiffel tower - and often hidden in the clouds. Amazing!

The Barcelona to Paris connection, however, brought back memories of quite a different trip from Barcelona to Paris in 1973.

My District 62 friend Annie and I spent the summer of 1973 studying in Barcelona. Meanwhile, another friend, Barb, spent the summer assisting missionary friends working in a suburb of Paris. Annie and I decided to meet Barb and spend a few days in Paris before returning home.

For the trip we rented a VW bug with German license plates and set off from the Costa Brava late in the day. By the time we crossed the border, it was dark and we could only exchange the pesetas in our wallets for Francs. We didn't cash any traveler's checks. (Remember, this was 1973.)

We drove into a tiny town just across the border and found a small hotel. Speaking Spanish, we two Germanic looking blondes driving a German car successfully negotiated a room, although the owner wouldn't let us see it because it was "so late" (8:00 p.m.) and extracted our promise to be very quiet. We retrieved our luggage and then showed the owner our passports. I can still picture the horror on her face as she discovered that the women she presumed were Spanish-speaking Germans were, in fact, those despised Americans! She was stuck, however, and let us into the room where we were, obediently, verrrrrry quiet! We did our part for Franco-American relations the next morning when we had a very cordial conversation over breakfast.

Then the real adventure began. We got on the tollway and drove along quite happily noting how French hay stacks differed from Spanish hay stacks. About noon we realized three things: we were running out of gas, the tollway was really expensive, and we had almost no cash! In the France of 1973 banks closed midday. Annie had one virtually unusuable credit card since it was accepted almost nowhere. We both had traveler's checks. We had dollars. We had U.S. checks. We had NO place to exchange anything for francs!

Being the brilliant young women that we were, we did think to get off the tollway and, to no avail, stopped repeatedly to attempt to buy gas using traveler's checks. Finally, with the gas gauge hovering on empty, we found an elegant hotel/restaurant and asked if we could exchange traveler's checks to pay for a meal. To our great relief, they were willing to cash the checks. Feeling somewhat guilty, we set off on the road again without dining at the expensive restaurant....but with Francs in our wallets and petrol in our tank.

Having lost a few hours to the money fiasco, we approached Paris in the late evening. We had Barb's address and earlier had actually gone to the French consulate in Barcelona to find out exactly where it was located. Unfortunately, Barb was staying in a very new suburb and, even with the detailed maps at the consulate, we only had a vague idea of where she was. Relying on our limited French, we somehow arrived in her suburb about 10:00 p.m. but had not the slightest idea where her street was. Almost no one was outside in this neighborhood consisting entirely of large apartment blocks. Annie was driving around aimlessly and, whenever we saw a person on the street, I would yell to them in Spanish asking if they could help us. After several attempts, someone actually understood me and, unbelievably, pointed to the building across the street! We rang the bell and a disbelieving Barb, certain that we would not be arriving that night, let us in.

Fast forward 36 years. Ken and I will arrive in Paris armed with Stella (our GPS unit), multiple ATM and credit cards, Rick Steeves (in book form), cell phones, and MUCH MORE common sense. Will it be as much of an adventure? I sort of hope so!

Thankfulness

On Monday I had a routine mammogram. Today's mail had the much hoped for letter stating that all is well in that department. No reason to suspect a problem but, as the technologist diplomatically put it, "with each advancing year there's a stronger possibility of change." This potential bullet dodged makes me think of other things - big and small - I'm thankful about today.

1. Things lost, found, and still lost

At the end of my last water aerobics class before recent travels my plastic fee card was not on my towel where I had left it. Yesterday it was found and, best of all, no one had used the $60 worth of classes it held!

My mother's missing batch of clothes, however, has still not been found. I'm still betting the Monahan family has the Mohrman clothes. I'm also betting that the social worker is dragging her feet on calling them because it is difficult to call a grieving family with a seemingly trivial question. I thankful, however, that my mom is handling this loss fairly well and that Rosewood has assured us they will reimburse us if necessary.

2. Balance

This morning was the first time in the pool for three weeks. It felt SO GOOD to move and exercise again! We did a lot of novel movements today, many involving balancing on a submerged "noodle". I was the only one who maintained balance for all the activities. We take balance for granted, but shouldn't, and I'm thankful that I could do that today!

3. Buds and Birds

It's damp and in the 40's, but there is hope for Spring. Robin sightings are frequent, the forsythia along our driveway have buds, and there are green sprouts appearing where we'll soon have daffodils and irises. Costco even had big buckets of pansies for sale yesterday!

4. Good news about "kids"

In spite of internal hassles regarding financing, David is registered for his next class at NU....and is very excited to take this class on cement! Seems like a "hard" subject to me! (Groan!)

David and Lisa are off next week to their annual trip to Hawaii, compliments of Lisa's parents' time-share. They have incredibly busy schedules so I'm thankful they have special opportunities to relax together

In spite of rain, Kevin had a fun week in Miami playing with the New World Symphony and connecting with a good NU percussionist friend.

Jen had a not so fun, but lucrative, week regulating harps in Bloomington during her Spring break.

All four of them will be home for Easter. It's been several years since that happened and the Easter Bunny is excited!

5. Sense of Humor

Our senses of humor have gotten Ken and me through a lot of things over the course of 30 years. This morning I left a sleeping Ken to go to water aerobics. When I returned Ken had left for work. On the microwave was the following message: "It's hard to believe....After 30 years of marriage you get up one morning and your wife is gone, not even a note left behind."

I responded via e-mail (our main form of communication some days), "At least she didn't take the family jewels or empty the bank accounts."

He answered, "So far."

....and we both are thankful to know we both are joking!

30 Years Ago Tonight

Thirty years ago tonight I was single! Ken and I picked up his brother Bill at the airport, went out to dinner, then on to the wedding rehearsal. Following the rehearsal we went back to my parents' house in Mt. Prospect for snacks and champagne. Seems like yesterday.....but not.

I can't imagine or remember life without David and Kevin....and now also can't imagine life without their special women, Lisa and Jen.

Ken's sister Kris turns 50 this week. That means she was just turning 20 at our wedding. She hadn't yet experienced years in Arizona, years in Alaska, and now a new home in Boise.

Ed and Judy were young parents. Four year old Nancy was excited to be in a frilly dress and two year old Tom was decked out in a ruffled satin shirt. Now Nancy's sons are almost those ages!

The Club 62 crowd was all at our wedding. Grade and high school friends Diane and Jeff were there. Church friends were there. Ken's fraternity brothers were there. Our parents and many of their relatives and friends were all there.

Three of our parents and most of their relatives and friends have passed away and we miss them, but we are so blessed to remain close to the rest of the people who shared our wedding day. Our blessings have multiplied as we have made new friends over the years. Can't imagine life without all of the old and newer friends!

It was exciting to envision our life together 30 years ago. It is even better to look back on the gifts of the past 30 years and look forward to all that is to come. God is good!

My "Bucket List"

On tonight's episode of The Simpsons Homer convinces his family to buy a hot tub. All five of the Simpsons spend the entire weekend relaxing in the hot tub and completely forget that Grandpa Simpson was expecting them at the retirement home's family day. Watching Grandpa cry when his family wasn't there for the wheel barrow race was probably funny to most watchers. To those of us with family actually living at a nursing home, it wasn't.

Homer and Marge made it up to Grandpa Simpson by taking him to Ireland to return to the pub he frequented as a young man. Returning to this pub was an item on Grandpa's "bucket list" --- his list of things he wants to do before he dies.

I'm not as old as Grandpa Simpson, but do have a strong desire to do some of those things that I've always wanted to do while young enough to fully enjoy them. At the same time, I feel guilty about "spending a weekend in the hot tub" when my mom is counting on family visits. I love traveling for my BER seminars and my mom is supportive and proud of that work. If the week I am out of town, however, also ends up being the week that her laundry goes missing or her roommate has a tantrum she needs family support and I feel guilty. The guilt is worse when I'm not able to visit for a completely fun reason.

Ken and I have a wonderful and completely fun reason for being out of town. We have an opportunity to stay in a private home in Paris for free and have enough miles to travel to Paris for free, so we are going to do something that has been on my "bucket list" since I was last in Paris in 1973. I vowed then that I would get back to Paris someday with someone I love. Well, early June will be that time! This will be our 30th anniversary treat.

It's important to be there for my mom's needs, but our needs are just as important. So, between now and then, I will make this my mantra. "I will not feel guilty. I will not feel guilty."

Actually, I will have to learn how to say that expression en francais!

You're So Lutheran

One of the many nice things about working for BER is the "program manager"who travels with me and handles all of the details of the week: gets my lunch, drives the rental car, registers the people, sets up the equipment, handles any problem with the meeting room or travel, and so forth. Everyone I have ever worked with has also been an extremely nice person.

This week's program manager, Annie, was no exception. Unlike all the other program managers who are from Washington state, Annie is from Edina, Minnesota and has a Catholic mother and Lutheran father. Since we spent MANY hours together in cars and airports, we got to know each other very well. We talked politics, we talked religion, we talked morality, and talked about "following the rules". Annie goes by the book---she's always in the meeting room before the 7:00 a.m. magic hour, she always dresses in the approved style, she's concientious about every aspect of her job. Of course, as Ken often says, I, too, can be quite "rigid". As I told Annie, I feel guilty if I show up at 7:05 instead of 7:00!

Annie heard my reactions as I read each day's evaluations in the car. She heard my troubled reaction to any negative comment I got on evaluations. Even one unfounded, off the wall, negative comment out of a group of 40 positive comments bothers me. I would love to do what a few presenters do -- tell the participants that "I'm hoping to get all 7's today" or do something else to "encourage" high marks---but I just can't.

I also find it difficult to "self promote". Today a participant commented that she would have liked me to begin the day by presenting my "credentials". My reaction to that is that I just wouldn't be comfortable doing that and, besides, there's a written "about the presenter" section in the brochure. Annie's comment to my reaction was, "You're so Lutheran."

Annie, of course, was both teasing and approving. Her comment reminded me that if doing the right thing doesn't result in a reward, it is still the right thing to do---just what my church has taught me all my life.

I don't get all 7's. But I'm quite proud of the 6.7's or 6.6's that I get without manipulation.
And I'm proud to be accused of being "so Lutheran".

Juxtapositions

If this is Wednesday, it must be Connecticut.....but actually it's now New Jersey. The Connecticut teachers were wonderful....translation, they were very appreciative and gave me great ratings. Yeah! No one complained that it was cold, no crabby German or Latin teachers, but ---this is a new one--the complaint (a totally legit one) was that the water in the bathroom was scalding hot!

Everything is so close together on the East coast. The rapidly occurring juxtapositions of rural, suburban, urban, rich, poor, industrial and residential assault my mind. We left rural Connecticut and within a half hour were driving through the lush (even with winter's naked trees) Hudson valley north of New York City. Next thing we knew, we were driving through the Bronx approaching the George Washington bridge to cross into New Jersey. As we sat stuck in traffic surrounded by BMWs and SUVs, we saw police officers chase away a man on the side of the ramp holding a sign saying "Homeless Hungry". Just a couple miles to the east was the glitter and excitment of Manhattan.

Travel is funny in that I get caught up in the day's events and really do forget my "real" life....until I get to my next hotel and read my e-mail and call home. The "high" after a successful presentation is followed by my mother's missing clothes still being missing, the life insurance agent having no record of my gall bladder surgery in spite of providing that information several times, the neighbor's daughter needing a dose of Spanish tutoring, "mobility papers" to read about several potential pastoral candidates, and being reminded of serious events in some friends' lives.

I guess life is always an interesting juxtaposition of highs and lows, successes and failures, joys and concerns....all happening at the same time. That very juxtposition, however, is what keeps me sane and grounded. Those who think I'm neither sane nor grounded feel free disagree---and we'll have another juxtaposition!

Four Tuesday Themes

So I didn't actually set foot in Rhode Island, but did drive through it again on my way to Hartford, CT. this afternoon. Four interesting themes to this day.

1. A woman at today's seminar told me she had to jump through hoops to attend. She submitted her paperwork indicating that she would pay for the seminar out of her own pocket ,but her principal did not want to pay for her substitute. He finally relented. She said that this principal actually makes notes of when BER seminars are in town and has actually threatened to fire any teacher who takes a sick or personal day on the day of a BER seminar! I know we are in serious economic times, but this administrator's attitude is galling! Punish a teacher for wanting to pay her own money to learn new techniques to help her become a better teacher and better serve her students???????

2. I had my first Portuguese teachers at a seminar today. Two of them!

3. NO ONE said it was too cold! NO ONE was crabby! Well, no one was crabby about the seminar, but many were crabby because there were no pastries or bagels. BER has eliminated them as one of many cost cutting strategies as states and districts have vastly reduced funds for inservice education. Taking food away from teachers, however, is a dangerous thing to do!

4. As we approached the hotel entrance I noticed a very tall tower that looks someting like a prison with tiny windows. It's not a prison. It's the Otis Elevator Research Facility...and the 3rd tallest building in Connecticut! Sounds like just the sort of place that the Kosnik family would visit on vacation! Within five miles of this location are also the following incredible sights: The New England Carousel Museum, the American Clock and Watch Museum, and the Lock Museum of America! So many museums, so little time!

Random Travel Observations

After today's seminar in Boston we traveled for only 45 minutes and are now in a new state....but we aren't. Tomorrow's seminar is advertised as "Providence", but we are actually in Seakonk, MA which is, I guess, a suburb of Providence, R.I. I have now driven through Rhode Island twice in my life...neither time actually getting out of the car and stepping on actual Rhode Island land! I need to stop at an ATM tomorrow since I spent all my cash on yesterday's cab driver. Hopefully my program manager will be willing to take me back into Rhode Island for this transaction! (I think she will since I owe her money for today's lunch.)

We are staying at the Johnson & Wales Inn which is affiliated with the Johnson and Wales University, a major school of hospitality "science". The hotel is completely run by students. It's fun to see all the young wait staff, desk staff, and managers in this very nice facility.

Another good thing was having my favorite dinner on both coasts within a week. Clam Chowder and crab cakes....Seattle Style and Rhode Island style. Yummy!

This week's program manager, Annie, is a real delight. She regaled me all the way here with her stories of life as a Fullbright teacher in Germany last year. We hear so much about how other countries are far ahead of us in test scores. As Paul Harvey used to say, "Now, the rest of the story." Annie taught English at a middle school (grades 5-8) in a town in former East Germany. Students are separated into college bound and non-college tracks in 4TH GRADE! She taught in a non-college school, trying to teach English to kids who had, by age 10, been told that they had no academic future...and it was miserable. The teaching she observed in her school was boring lecture, copying, sitting and listening. She visited academic high schools in the area which were endowed with all sorts of wonderful labs, technology, and high expectations. I think of all the students I have known who were not academic superstars in elementary or middle school but blossemed somewhere in high school or college. What an absolute waste for their German counterparts!

At the seminar today one teacher said it was too cold, several people were potential "Not getting it" types but they asked enough questions that they "got it", NO crabby German or Latin teachers, but a couple of crabby upper level teachers who were looking for advanced level conversation ideas that I simply don't have (and don't advertise that I do).

I was humbled by a second year teacher who is struggling with juniors and seniors in Spanish 1. In her classes are true beginning students, recently arrived well educated Spanish speaking students from other countries, and non-literate Spanish speaking students who have grown up here. They are eating her alive and her principal is on her case for "not using the book he bought for you"....a book that is inappropriate for at least 2/3 of her class. It's probably not professional, but what fell out of my mouth in my conversation with her was "I'll pray for you.". She seemed to appreciate that and our lengthly conversation about ideas for dealing with this crew. What a truly miserable situation.

Finally, we Chicago folks need to be thankful for our television offerings! First of all, we in the central time zone are the only reasonable folks regarding TV schedules. Who can stay awake to watch CSI or Law and Order starting at 10:00 p.m.????? I have now encounted CBS broadcasting nothing but directions for changing to digital TV 24 HOURS A DAY (in Spanish and English) in two separate cities (Tulsa and here). Hotels seem to get approximately 24 versions of CNN and Fox News, approximately 43 all sports stations and, MAYBE one or two stations with the shows I watch in Chicago. This hotel seems to get Fox, so with any luck I'll see "House" tonight. This hotel doesn't get TLC. How am I going to get through lunch tomorrow if I can't have a mindless 1/2 hour of "What Not To Wear" to accompany my sandwich?

Now that I've degenerated from the somewhat sublime to the totally ridiculous I'll say "Good Night"

An Air Travelogue

I had a wonderful flight from Chicago to Boston this afternoon. I had a window seat, the sky was clear and I saw land for the entire flight. Having driven to the east coast numerous times, I relived many travel experiences as I flew over special places.

• After a eye-popping view of downtown Chicago, we flew across Lake Michigan and soon were right over Sister Lakes. I even saw the islands on Magician Lake where my dear friend Bonnie lives. Bonnie has often hosted the entire Club 62 bunch for a multi-day gab fest which we affectionately call "El Escape"--in fact, "El Escape '09" is scheduled for April and I can't wait! "El Escape" began when I was single and in my twenties. At Bonnie's we have talked ourselves through dates, marriages, babies, teenagers, and now we're working on the dates, marriages, and babies of our children. Thank you, Bonnie, for all those very special past and future times!

• Next Lake Erie appeared. Although David thinks that Ohio should somehow be eradicated from the U.S., I remembered traveling to Cleveland with Kevin to visit the Cleveland Institute of Music when he was a high school junior. It ended up being the first "grown up" trip I made with Kevin--the first time he could help with driving, first college interview, first experiences of dining in interesting restaurants with an almost adult child, first clear view for me of what being a music student would entail.

• Near the eastern edge of Lake Erie is Ashtabula, a town with a cool name and the scene of one of my most embarrassing snit fits. Many years ago the family "dined" at an Arby's which had recently started serving deli type sandwiches. Mine came slathered in mustard - which I hate. Hating mustard, however, was not a valid reason for my tantrum! My family, of course, frequently reminds me of this tantrum, as well as the tantrum I had about some new technology a few years later. For some strange reason, a teacher shouting "I DON'T WANT TO LEARN ANYTHING NEW" is a family classic.

• Next we were over western New York which brought to mind Kevin's two summers at the Chautauqua Institution. Memories of seeing him play in the huge outdoor ampitheatre, memories of staying overnight with a Chautauqua family who happened to be parents of an Olympic skier, memories of meeting Kevin's girlfriend Jen for the first time, mixed-up memories of this lovely intellectual summer community that, nevertheless, made me uncomfortable with its extreme wealth and lilly whiteness.

• The Finger Lakes then came into view. New York wines, yum! Then Albany - site of one of our many family trips through unsavory neighborhoods. Then Schnectady, another cool name, and another memorable Kosnik episode of getting lost.
  

• Western Massachusetts brought back the memories of driving home from dropping Kevin at graduate school. Ken and I decided to take a state highway instead of the interstate across Massachusetts. David had just been married and Kevin was now in a distant city, so we were feeling like true empty nesters for the first time. It was a perfect time to dawdle at local sites such as a "flower bridge", stone monuments, and old mills. Guess this trip was one of our rites of passage.

• Then Boston came into view. I got a terrific view of the Charles River and its famous bridges, the downtown sky-scrapers, and the inner harbor. Then the plane went way out into the ocean giving a wide-angle view of all the harbor islands. Then the airplane circled south, even giving an air view of Cape Cod, before coming in for a landing. As we approached Logan from the south I searched for, but did not see, the IKEA at which Ken, Kevin and I spent most of a day in August of 2006. Let's just say that our inexperience with the "culture" of IKEA, 50,000 new college students needing furniture, and a bunch of wierd snafus resulted in the longest, most exhausting shopping day any of us had ever experienced.

Then came the cab ride to the hotel.

• Good things about the cab ride: It was a beautiful day in Boston. We drove along Storrow Drive which parallels the Charles River. People were jogging and there were even a few sailboats in the river. I remembered Ken and my highly entertaining and funny "duck" boat ride in the Charles, walks through the Common and Back Bay neighborhoods, and, of course, all the concerts at New England Conservatory and Boston Symphony. Another memory (which did not seem good at the time) was getting stranded in Boston by a nor'easter and struggling through LOTS of snow to take the "T" to Kevin's apartment for an unplanned overnight.
  

• Bad thing about the cab ride: $100.30 cab tab!! Cab driver mysteriously doesn't have any credit card slips, so I have to use up my entire weekly stash to pay him in cash.

Oh, well, an almost perfect travel day!

Circling the Wagons

Today was the funeral for my friend Gail's mom, Gertrude. It was an all day affair - travel to Milwaukee, a visitation time, the funeral service, the interment, a lovely luncheon, then return home. Long days at funerals, however, provide a multitude of opportunities and gifts.

Today's opportunities and gifts obviously included showing Gail and her family that we care. Friendship is sort of like marriage - for better or worse - and being there for each other in all circumstances is a gift. My Club 62 friends talk about "circling the wagons" whenever someone has a problem. I am so thankful to have friends ready to "circle the wagons" when needed, and know that Gail and her family are thankful for their friends tonight.

Although I've known Gert for 27 years, I obviously missed out on her first 70 years. The officiating pastor is Gail's cousin. She affectionately referred to "Aunt Gertrude" throughout her sermon. Wow! Did that make the Biblical promises personal and real! A profound gift.

In the midst of sadness, it was a joy to also have time to be excited about what's ahead. Today it was especially exciting to hear Gail's and Charlie's daughter, Margaret, tell of potential graduate study. Three hours in the car provided lots of time for Lisa to tell some important family and work stories and for David to share good news of his potential graduate study and work plans.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that life is a constant juxtaposition. Today it was grieving the loss of someone who lived a very long meaningful life, while at the same time rejoicing in what's ahead for young people and appreciating the gifts of long-term friendship with others in our age range. Although no one looks forward to spending a day at a funeral, there is something to be said for spending a day away from the normal hubbub to think about and appreciate these gifts of time, friendship, and love.

Still Her

I recently read a book called Still Alice. It told the story of a 50 year old Harvard neuroscientist who developed early onset Alzheimer's Disease. The story was told mostly from her point of view, starting with early symptoms such as becoming disoriented in the middle of Harvard Square and proceeding to meeting her newborn twin grandchildren and not understanding why. As confusion sets in Alice is still Alice, her personality is still there in spite of increasing inability to remember. It was moving, but it is fiction, and I could dissassociate.

Today I heard that a former colleague/friend probably has early onset dementia or Alzheimers. Super organized, super efficient Chris began being a bit less efficient a few years ago. She was diagnosed with a rare neurological form of MS, but now they are doubting that diagnosis. Chris is still Chris, but friends who see her note differences. It is tremendously moving, and it's not fiction, and I can't dissassociate.

If I had any skill at math - which I do not - I could very well have gone into medicine. I read every medically based novel I can get my hands on. I currently watch Grey's Anatomy, House, all the CSI's, Bones, Mystery Diagnosis and any other slightly medically related show. I'm fascinated with figuring out diagnosis. I was even fascinated with my own episode of pancreatitis and gall bladder "stuff" last year. However, when it's a real mystery, it gets scary. I still am a bit apprehensive about all my itchy welts, but that's nothing compared to what Chris' family is dealing with these days.

My mother doesn't have Alzzheimer's but she does have some dementia. Mildred is quite sharp in verbal areas but, since a small stroke a few years ago, she can't "do" math. She can't add, can't count the play money she "wins" at games at Rosewood. Today I told her about Gail's mother's death. She reacted appropriately, but could not sustain the conversation. After about two sentences she started talking about something totally unrelated. I'm sure that her inability to focus is part of her dementia. She understands her math disability, but does she realize that she sometimes has inappropriate responses? Mildred is still Mildred....but there's a real mystery there, too. I hope it's not scary for her or for Chris.

Coming Home

I admit that for me traveling is fun, but there are a few downsides....like coming home.

Like coming home to search the bowels of Rosewood Care Center for my mother's missing clothes which never were returned after being sent to the laundry last week. The head of housekeeping is ill, so the maintenance guy, the social worker and I descended to the land of laundry and went through the unidentified clothes----none of which were hers. This afternoon they were going to go through all the closets in Mom's wing to see if her clothes were delivered in error to someone else. Failing that, the social worker gets the lovely job of calling the family of Mrs. Monahan who just passed away to see if Mrs. Mohrman's clothes are in Mrs. Monahan's things. Just what a grieving family wants to deal with!

Like watching the mail carrier walk right past our house when regular delivery was supposed to resume today. Then going to the post office and being told that the carrier has our mail. Then going back home and still not having any mail. I need all those flyers, catalogs and bills.......TODAY!

Like finding out I may have scabies! On Saturday morning I woke up with a few huge itchy welts on my neck and arm. Sunday morning there were more on my arm and on my abdomen. Monday morning they were on my butt and back. Tuesday morning they were on my legs. Tuesday morning I made a doctor appointment for today. Dr. Wong thinks they are insect bites but is treating me for scabies "just in case". I do hope Dr. Wong is wrong! Scabies is usually contracted in third world countries and I don't think Seattle fits that billing. I do imagine, however, there is one very upset spider or other disgusting insect who last night found himself rolled up in laundry instead of feasting on Alice.

But there are also very good things like finding Kevin at home when we pulled in last night. Like then finding out that Kevin had changed every single clock in the house to daylight savings time! Like sleeping in my own bed......without any insect!

Freezing in Seattle

That has a nice ring to it, right? Oops, guess it was Sleepless in Seattle. Today at various times it was sleeting, snowing HUGE flakes which melted on contact, sunny, cloudy, but never warm. In spite of the weather we had a great day. (By the way, did you know that the house boat that Tom Hanks lived in is on an inland lake? No house boats on the sound! There's also no Seattle Grace Hospital!)

The Space Needle was first thing on our docket this morning. In spite of being overcast we had a great view of the harbor and city, although we mostly ogled from the inside. Man, the outside walkway was cold! We then went next door to the Geary designed Museum of Music, a multi-colored strangely shaped building on the order of Geary's other buildings - very cool! I now know the history of the guitar in our culture, have seen a huge cone-shaped statue of playing guitars, and relived a lot of the 60s and 70s music and culture. I recommend it!

Our tour guide, Tom, then got us on the monorail for a quick ride downtown and to the Pike Street Market. We passed on buying the famous flying fish, furry knit hats (though their warmth was tempting), second hand books, raspberry honey, or gorgeous tulips but enjoyed people watching as we shivered along. At the flower vender, Tom gave $10 to the sales person. Seems he had selected flowers for his girlfriend a few weeks ago and then discovered he was out of cash. The salesperson had told him to take the flowers anyway and pay her back next time he was at the market. Think that would happen in Chicago?

Then it was down the STEEEEEEP hill to the wharf area and the Seattle Aquarium. I do not believe Ken and I have missed any major aquarium in any city we have visited...and this was a good one to add to our list. Did you know that octopi can change color almost instantly? Did you know that they squeeze "milk" out of female salmon as the first step in the salmon fertilization sequence? Did you know that sea otters are unbelievably joyful in the lousy Seattle weather of today?

We then went up the STEEEEP hill to a seafood restaurant for our dinner splurge of the trip. Yes, seafood was eaten by all and Sous Chef Tom decreed it was all very good!

Spending time with Tom has also been very good! He took a big leap coming to an unknown city six years ago, has established himself well at his work, is pursuing his musical dreams successfully, has a depth of knowledge of myriad subjects, has a great sense of humor, and is just fun to be around.

Of course, apples don't fall far from trees and I'm very partial to his "trees".

Re-Connections

Last night we picked up Tom and drove to Sammamish, an eastern suburb, for dinner with my cousin Steve and his family. What a wonderful evening!

My mother was close to her sister Arlene and our families spent a lot of time together when we were young. My cousins Don and Steve are six and ten years younger than I respectively which is a fairly large gap when you are young, so it has been fun to re-connect with both of them in recent years. My cousins lived in St. Louis during much of their childhood and eventually all of them ended up in California. A job with Microsoft eventually brought Steve to Seattle.

The fun last night was getting to know their son, Scott, who is a high school senior. It was fun looking at old pictures and sharing remembrances of our grandparents and other relatives. It was fun figuring out all the relationships.....if Tom is the son of Steve's cousin, they must be first cousins once removed....and so forth. It was fun seeing the family genes in action - there is a strong, strong strain of people who like to write and read, people who like photography, people who like scientific "stuff", people who are musical. Fascinating!

What I want to write about today, however, is my Uncle Herb. Herb is Steve's dad who will soon turn 90. Aside from some difficulty with his feet, he is in wonderful shape physically and mentally. On the way back to Seattle Tom wondered aloud what Herb had done throughout his life to bring him to such a healthy old age. I commented that Herb is the consummate calm person. He had a horrible work history through no fault of his own. His wife, my aunt Arlene, was the absolute love of his life but had a manic-depressive streak and things could be somewhat dramatic at times. Herb just calmly said "How about that!" to just about anything that happened and was sort of in the background of my childhood memories.

Since my aunt died two years ago, I have been in sporadic contact with Herb and have come to appreciate some incredible gifts Herb has....gifts I never knew about.

1. His truly romantic love for Arlene Looking at Steve's computer monitor last night, we saw many pictures of Arlene posing in rather sexy (for the 40's) poses on the beach, on vacations, on their front porch. With each picture Herb commented, "She was so beautiful.", "Look how happy she looks", "I sure miss her", and so forth. After 57 years of marriage and two years of widowhood, he still talks like a newlywed. That's inspiring.

2. The war As I child I didn't even know Herb had been in the service. Like so many other men of his age whom I have known, he never talked about war experiences, just returned home and resumed life. Until earlier this year, I didn't know that Herb was administrative assistant to Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay. Herb said good-bye to Tibbets and stayed in the office on a Pacific island while Tibbets went off to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. They reconnected at a fifty year reunion a few years ago. That's amazing!

3. His talent From my father's point of view as a very steady worker for the same company for his entire career, Herb's many accounting type jobs were always somewhat dismissed by my family. Little did I know that Herb worked those jobs to feed his family, but is an artist at heart. I never knew he had taken classes at the Art Institute. I never knew how he could draw. Last night he brought his drawings to show - some old and some new ones of people he has met at his assisted-living residence. Incredible likenesses. As I observe Kevin begin a career as a musician and Nancy and Tom develop their writing talents, it is humbling to think of people such as Herb who--because of the economic realities of the times in which they lived---could not follow their dreams and develop their real talents. That's sad!

Getting Old Is.....

Wierd

Last night we went to see my nephew's band play at a bar/pizzeria in an very nice, sort of funky neighborhood of Seattle. As we approached the establishment at about 9:30 there was a group of 20-somethings being carded at the door. The bouncer just looked at us and signaled for us to just walk in - darn! We sat, ordered drinks and dinner. Our young server was very pleasant and attentive, but as we sat and sat, ordered second drinks and enjoyed the music, she obviously was very confused. It made some sense for these old people to come in early-ish and order dinner...but why on earth were they hanging around so long? She came by about every ten minutes clearly expecting us to ask for the check. About 11:45 the band took a break, we had a chance to talk with Tom, and finally paid our check.....and the relieved server could go back to the normal young crowd.

On a good "note", we enjoyed Tom's music. It's modern but mellow and they have some excellent video footage that fits the music perfectly. So we may have looked like old farts to the people in the establishment but we didn't feel like old farts.....except when people looked at us with that strange "why are you here?" look.

Sad

My friend Gail called yesterday to report that her mother had died. We were expecting this call and, as Gail said, "at age 97 this wasn't a tragedy", but it's still sad. Gert has been an adopted parent for the 27 years we have known her. Our family has spent a lot of happy weekends up at "the lake" in Wisconsin where Gert lived until a few years ago. Gert has been part of our Christmas Eve gathering for years and years. We will miss her.

Lonely

We are not lonely, but my mom is. She called at 6:30 this morning upset about her laundry not being returned and that they hadn't cleaned her room. It's Sunday, the nursing home's regular staff is not there on Sunday, she hasn't had a visitor for two days, and the issue is not really the laundry or the cleaning. She just needs attention. Getting really old is just plain sad. Losing control of everything in your life is just plain sad. I talked with her nurse later and she's understanding and will give Mom some extra TLC today. The wonderful people who work at places like Rosewood don't have a prestigious job, but everyone should be shouting thank yous from the rooftops in appreciation of their dedicated service.

Fun

Yesterday we went to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Dale Chihuly, the great glass artist from Tacoma, is just a few years older than I. Later we went to the Tacoma Art Museum because they had a special show about David McCauley, the author of Cathedral and The Way Things Work. McCauley is exactly my age. Pretty cool that people my age are have displays IN MUSEUMS!

Comforting

After our museum visits we ate at a funky restaurant recommended by our travel book. This huge bar/restaurant abuts the university campus and attracted a crowd of students and wanna-be students. Our order was taken by a young man with huge studs in his lips, spiked hair, and ear lobes that had been distended into big circles as you see in National Geographic Magazine articles about native tribes deep in the Amazon. I must admit it is comforting to know who I am and, in spite of sagging body parts, be comfortable in my own skin.

Splendid in Seattle

BER - day 4

Read yesterday's blog and you have today! My supervisor, Boyce, was observing and HE got tired of hearing the questions by today's person who "didn't get it". Today's cranky person was unhappy that one example on the power point was different from the example in the handbook. Today's two hearing impaired ASL teachers were absolutely delightful. And, yes, one person complained that the room was too cold.

Actually it was a splendid day. It started with "Fernando". Those of you who read my nephew Tom's blog know that he names many of the breakfasts he cooks at his restaurant job. Today I ate breakfast at that restaurant. Yes, I ate "Fernando"! (As an unbelievable coincidence, the seminar hotel is where Tom works!) And, yes, I got to hug the cook!

Following the seminar Boyce took me out to eat. We got a glass of wine, he spent an hour telling me how wonderful my seminar was, then we ate a delicious Greek dinner. Back in my room, I'm now hanging out awaiting Ken's arrival and a few days of vacation. Pretty splendid day!

BER Musings

Day three of this BER road trip. I'm at the point where I never look at my notes and sometimes forget that I haven't told this group something important - just like I used to do with period 5 when I taught the same thing 5 times a day. "Did I forget to tell you guys about this?"

I've now been pretty much all over the country making presentations and it's fascinating! Some observations:

1. Within 5 seconds of meeting another foreign language teacher I feel at home. No matter what, who, or where we teach there is an immediate common ground.

2. Someone in every single group writes on their evaluation that the room was too cold.

3. In every single group there is at least one teacher that is extraordinary. Today it was the young woman who is teaching Japanese 1,2 and 3 in the same class, also teaches ESL, and had a long coversation with me after the seminar to brainstorm ways she can help a very struggling student in Japanese 2. In Tulsa it was the Spanish teacher who left her job in Missouri and moved back home to help her sick grandmother. Grandma is doing better but she, meanwhile, is adjusting to a new teaching job gotten mid-year, is a newlywed, works part time at another job, and is taking night classes at college. In Lansing it was the teacher who has two very short flipper type arms but was such an engaging, upbeat personality that I totally did not see her disability. Tomorrow I'm told there will be two people with hearing losses who will be accompanied by a sign language interpreter. Every group has a number of heroes - women who are juggling a career with several little children at home. It's very humbling!

4. In every single group there is someone who simply doesn't get it. In Phoenix I had a wonderful conversation with a woman prior to the seminar. Seems she grew up in Northbrook and went to GBN. We "bonded." She later asked a couple of questions during the seminar that made me think she wasn't getting it and, when I saw her evaluation, I knew for sure that she hadn't gotten it. She rated me low because I used English for everything, that I seemed to "teach Spanish through English". What she didn't get was that my examples are in English so that the teachers of many different languges can all understand the activities - but of course everything is all done in the target language in the classroom. Duh!

5. There is always a "nitpicker". Today a French teacher was upset that I had an incorrect accent on a French poem. I acknowledged that I knew it was incorrect and would fix it for next year....but she couldn't let it go!

6. I'm embarrased to admit the next thing, but there is always a native speaking Spanish teacher who engages me in an involved conversation about methodology or something in Spanish. After years of teaching level 1 and having little opportunity for travel, I admit that I'm not as fluent as I was 20 years ago. Fortunately, I usually manage to fake it pretty well with these españoles.

7. The more expensive the hotel, the more annoying it is. Tonight I'm in a Holiday Inn - not expensive - BUT the internet is free, there is an adequate desk, there is plenty of lighting and a nice easy chair in the room. The fancy Wyndham in Phoenix had extremely uncomfortable Asian style furniture, wall sconces that gave almost no light, NO desk, and charged $10 a day for the internet.

8. This final observation is nice. Every group laughs at the appropriate times in my presentation. No one has yet laughed at something that was not funny. Every group claps when I am finished. Yeah!

Tomorrow my supervisor is attending my seminar. He is a delightful, extremely supportive man and much like my first "boss", Dorothy Bishop, who had the uncanny ability to suggest an improvement while making me feel like a million bucks. Nonetheless, I still feel like an non-tenured new teacher when someone is in the back of the room taking notes! Some day maybe I'll feel "grown up" and get over such insecurities :-)

Sunsets

I've spent more time than I care to think about in airplanes the last few days, but have been given some incredible gifts.

On Monday as I rode into Tulsa from the airport I saw the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. The ten or so tall buildings of downtown Tulsa were silhouetted by a clear, bright, deep blood color sky---a color that never, ever appears in Chicago sunsets. It only lasted about five minutes.....but what a beautiful five minutes.

Tuesday I was treated to yet another beautiful sunset. As we approached Phoenix I saw a layer of gray clouds in the upper sky and another layer of clouds near the ground. In between the cloud layers, however, peeked the sun - not the red of Oklahoma but a bright, bright yellow-orange. As I watched through the little airplane window more and more of the orange sun appeared to the point where it really hurt to look at it....but I kept on watching until it finally sunk into the lower layer of clouds. How exciting to see a sunset sandwich!

Today, my sunset experience was different but no less exciting. We flew north from Phoenix passing over Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon before heading northwest to Portland. What an incredible treat to not see the sun but to see the sparkly reflection of the sun on the already orange hills of Sedona,,,,then a few minutes later see that same reflection of the sunset on the Grand Canyon. I remember how odd it is to approach the Grand Canyon by car - you drive along flat land for a long time and then, all of a sudden, you are at the edge of the canyon. From the air it is even more amazing. Gray flat land and suddenly there is this huge, huge hole and, from the air, you see ALL of it at once. Totally unbelievable!

Tomorrow we are driving to Seattle. It will be wonderful to not have to go through security, drag suitcases miles through concourses, eat lousy airport food, and be crammed in a airplane with hundreds of other people......but I surely have been gifted with wonderful reminders of the glories of creation in the midst of all the human hassles of airplane travel. And what a needed reminder! Thanks God!

Yeah Geography!

When I was a little girl my family often took driving vacations. I never understood how they magically found our destinations until I was about nine years old and started understanding maps. It was thrilling to sit in the back seat, map in hand, and know what town we were approaching or what river we were crossing!

Fast forward to adulthood. I married another map-aholic. When we make driving trips we engage in the dorkiest geographical behavior possible. We can't make a car trip of more than 3 hours without keeping a list of license plates - hoping to find a car from each state before returning home. We regularly circle hotel or tourist attraction parking lots to see if there are any "cool" states represented. The biggest thrill of Ken's and my trip to Mendocino, California last June was seeing (and photographing) a car with a Guam license plate! We've also been known to pass hours in the car naming all the state capitals, or naming the states in alphabetical order, or naming state capitals in alphabetical order.

Fast forward to parenthood. Most parents bring crayons or little toys for the small children to play with while waiting for food in restaurants when "on the road". Not the Kosniks! We would turn over the paper placemat and proceed to draw freehand maps of the United States.....for fun...over and over again!

So, now the kids are adults and the apples didn't fall far from the trees. Both love to travel. David is on a quest to visit and do a little dance on the steps of every state capital. Kevin once drove to California and back with some buddies on a college Spring break - 8 days on the road for 2 days in Monterrey. What could be better!?

Mapquest is helpful and so is a GPS....but I'll continue getting my jollies studying maps. Why else would I sit with an airline magazine map on my lap when I fly and spend every unclouded moment trying to identify whatever river, mountain, or town we're flying over.

A week traveling for BER is a fun professional gig - but it's really made great when I get to get an air born geography fix!

Sunday Snippets

A variety of un-related thoughts for a Sunday.

1. Our church is having a blood drive in a couple of weeks. This morning Marilyn told the congregation that she had never thought about the importance of giving blood until two years ago when she began needing 2-3 pints of blood and a couple pints of platelets EVERY month. I've given blood regularly for years and years, but her story put a face on the need. What a reminder!

2. Ken is type O so his blood is always very much needed. I'm AB which is pretty rare, so they need less from people like me. Both of us volunteered for a study on "Chagas Disease" the last time we gave blood. We were warned that there were a lot of false positives. A few weeks later Ken found out he is one of those false positives and, until they discover a test to weed out the false positives, he can no longer give blood. What a shame!

3. My mom doesn't need blood, but she needs Gatorade. She doesn't drink water but will drink the ubiquitous sports beverage so, in the interest of keeping her hydrated, I make frequent Costco runs. Usually I hit Costco on a weekday morning and it's bearable. Yesterday (a Saturday) I went at 2:00 p.m. You wouldn't know we are in the midst of a recession from our Costco. Every register was open, every line at least ten people deep, every cart overflowing. Yes, there were the necessities - the tp, the tissues, the cereal, the meat - but there sure were a LOT of non-essentials. What waste!

4. Tomorrow I go to Tulsa! I've never been in Oklahoma! All that's left on my list of states I've never visited are Idaho, Nevada, and Hawaii! Think BER will send me to Hawaii next year?
What a wild dream!

5. Today it's snowing a bit, windy and cold in Chicago. In Tulsa it will be 60º Tuesday, in Phoenix it will be close to 80º on Wednesday, in Portland and Seattle it will be rainy and maybe hit 40º. How strange it will be to experience all that different weather in just 4 days. What a strange assortment of clothes to bring on this BER jaunt!

6. David is now an approved Forest Preserve Chain Saw user! Having taken the training yesterday morning, he is no longer limited to removing the evil "Buck Thorn" growth by hand when he does his monthly Forest Preserve volunteer gig. David's "certifications" now include welding, bridge inspection and chain saw usage. What a hoot!

What can possibly follow the revelation that my son is a chain-saw buck thorn massacre-er????

Happy Sunday!