Last night my husband and I took our daughter and her boyfriend to dinner as they were leaving this morning for LA and bringing in the New Year at Disneyland. Sounds like fun and a great way to end 08. Had a nice dinner and better company, paid up and exited the restaurant. Well, almost exited.
My husband did a superman off the last two steps down to the street level, flew off into the double doors with his head, punched through the doors landing outside on his hip. The same side as his 6 months old knee replacement! Long story short, I am writing this as I wait for him to come out of surgery to replace his hip. No, there was not excessive alcohol involved. Truly one beer each. That's it. As he lay in the rain vocalizing his pain, not one single employee of the Racoon Lodge stepped forward to help us. Total strangers put their coats on him, covered his face from the weather and helped us get the ambulance on it's way. Even when we asked for someone from the establishment if they had a procedure for getting help there, they stayed away and said there really isn't any sort of manager available! Is that something? Am I crazy? The four people who helped us were as dumbfounded as I. If my daughter and her boyfriend had not been there for my moral support, there would have been no one to assist the great strangers with getting help while I was trying to comfort my husband as much as I could.
The positive of all this is the amazing help offered by strangers to us. They were just great and gave me hope for human kind. I am thankful one of them slipped me a small peice of paper with their names and phone numbers on it so I will be able to let them know how really greatful we are.
We have had a long day and night but hope that the surgery will begin a rapid recovery for my husband. He has had so much more than his share this year that it is time for a new page in his health status.
So ends my saga for now. More to report after he gets out of surgery. But do me a favor if there is a Racoon Lodge in your area...forget about it!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
let's get on to the New Year
There has been just something strange about this holiday season and I have not been able to put my finger on exactly what it is. Sometimes I think it's the state of the economy, but that's not enough to have placed a funk on the endorphins that usually rampage through my family this time of year. I think it may be a combo of the gloom of the last 8 years of a vengeful and greedy man as our president running our country into the ground. I also think it is a post election hangover. The energy of working the election and all the expectation was so heady that it took a while to get back to normal.
I think it has to be not having the family in the same space and dynamic as in years gone by. It is so hard to see our loved ones age out of some of their most dearly held traditions. I do know this: The incredibly beautiful snowfall made a huge difference in my perspective during the holiday. It lifted my spirits, cleaned the cobwebs off the joy of the season and put the meaning of Christmas to the forefront at last. I was fortunate to have my daughter, her BF and his sister and husband at Christmas dinner that filled the house with laughter at last.
I am looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year and hope we all get our perspective back to having realistic expectations of one another and life in general. Maybe this time has forced a lot of us to seek a little more simple slice of life and appreciate it more. I don't know. I know my New Year resolution will be the same as it has been for a few years. I will continue until I finally achieve a modicum of success at "being more patient" with myself and others! I know, I know...good luck.
I think it has to be not having the family in the same space and dynamic as in years gone by. It is so hard to see our loved ones age out of some of their most dearly held traditions. I do know this: The incredibly beautiful snowfall made a huge difference in my perspective during the holiday. It lifted my spirits, cleaned the cobwebs off the joy of the season and put the meaning of Christmas to the forefront at last. I was fortunate to have my daughter, her BF and his sister and husband at Christmas dinner that filled the house with laughter at last.
I am looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year and hope we all get our perspective back to having realistic expectations of one another and life in general. Maybe this time has forced a lot of us to seek a little more simple slice of life and appreciate it more. I don't know. I know my New Year resolution will be the same as it has been for a few years. I will continue until I finally achieve a modicum of success at "being more patient" with myself and others! I know, I know...good luck.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Winter Wonderland
We are in the midst of the biggest snow storm in 40 years here in the Northwest. It is at the same time spectacularly beautiful and throwing a wrench in the works for Christmas celebrations. We are one of the lucky families that have a well equipped 4 wheel drive with studded tires so have been able to get the necessities and take neighbors with us for groceries and good fellowship. We do have to wait for breaks in the storm to do these things but at least can when we need too.I had the added benefit of having my daughter stuck at he house with us while her boyfriend was snowed in in the countryside. We made Italian Christmas cookies and fudge and watched three really good movies. My favorite was "Under the Same Moon" (La Misma Luna), a Spanish film with subtitles. It was very moving but the little boy stole the show. Super sensitive actor that I hope to see again in something. Worth a look for sure.
I have included a photo of my Rico enjoying the snow like he's part otter! Cannot believe he is of Latin decent!
After several days snowed in with us, the daughter finally was able to transfer to the country with the boyfriend for a few days of snow fun out in a beautiful place with really good people. They came all the way in to get her! She'll be back for Christmas day if the weather allows. We are now preparing for more white stuff Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Who would have thought it. I am hopeful that we can get up the hills to our parents for our usual celebration Christmas Eve and morning and for our wonderful "roast beast" dinner. If not, we'll just pull something together with other stranded neighbors and enjoy the true meaning of the holiday. Either way, I have not lost the feeling that this is a special time and the snow is perhaps a way to remind us of what is real and necessary to this life. It's the feeling of fellowship and the smiles on peoples faces I haven't seen in a while that surprise me the most. This is not adversity, it's opportunity to come together and enjoy the beauty of this holiday.
A very Merry Christmas to you and a healthy and happy New Year.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Fake Trees
My daughter posted a protest over my choice of trees this year.
In my defense of the fake Christmas Tree: I too hate them, and never would have believed I would have one in my house; except that I found myself in circumstances this year that almost negated the tree altogether. It is impossible to cut, put in the stand, do the lights and decorate by myself! My husband has pretty much retired from Christmas although he has always been one to piss on the mood of the holidays (birthdays too). He doesn't do ANYTHING. Oh, he did complain that I had not done enough outdoors. I only went around the lower roof sections with the lights, did the porch and shrubs, put out the lighted candy canes, etc. But the critic needed to move a bulb or two to make it just right. Soooo, this year I got a fake tree and at least got into some of the mood for Christmas. It is not the same. I know that. But had to get it done and took the bull by the horns. I hate seeing my mom slow down. This is HER season, one she dominated and love with a passion. She keeps her Christmas clock up all year round. It's July and we hear CHRISTMAS CAROLES! I was able to get my mother's tree up too, and decorated. I swear it lifted her spirits when we had visible Christmas in the house.
I am being boycotted by my youngest elf in protest of the "fake". She doesn't live here any more is not expected to take over my duties as well as her own. I am hopeful that she is having the happiest holiday season she has ever had because she is incredibly happy. I love it! SHe hates that it doesn't smeel like Christmas at our house(me too). The Glade just doesn't do it. But if one were to read the old Christmas letter I wrote when babies were new, the family all available (I mean like 10 of us) tramping out for the trees, having breakfast, doing the lights, laughing, watching Chevy Chase....well, it certainly isn't the same, I agree. So much of the family dynamic has changed that I almost am anxious for the new regime to take over and let me join the new traditions that they will create. It's a little hard to roll out a 86 year old who wants to do all the old stuff but can't. My answer was to do what I could. Oh well. Maybe next year I'll be able to get back into the spirit without synthetic assistance. The new snow is the one thing that is helping me cope with a very weird and strange feeling I have this year doing the holidays. I want this to be a good one for mom and for her to feel the special attachment she always had for "her month".
In my defense of the fake Christmas Tree: I too hate them, and never would have believed I would have one in my house; except that I found myself in circumstances this year that almost negated the tree altogether. It is impossible to cut, put in the stand, do the lights and decorate by myself! My husband has pretty much retired from Christmas although he has always been one to piss on the mood of the holidays (birthdays too). He doesn't do ANYTHING. Oh, he did complain that I had not done enough outdoors. I only went around the lower roof sections with the lights, did the porch and shrubs, put out the lighted candy canes, etc. But the critic needed to move a bulb or two to make it just right. Soooo, this year I got a fake tree and at least got into some of the mood for Christmas. It is not the same. I know that. But had to get it done and took the bull by the horns. I hate seeing my mom slow down. This is HER season, one she dominated and love with a passion. She keeps her Christmas clock up all year round. It's July and we hear CHRISTMAS CAROLES! I was able to get my mother's tree up too, and decorated. I swear it lifted her spirits when we had visible Christmas in the house.
I am being boycotted by my youngest elf in protest of the "fake". She doesn't live here any more is not expected to take over my duties as well as her own. I am hopeful that she is having the happiest holiday season she has ever had because she is incredibly happy. I love it! SHe hates that it doesn't smeel like Christmas at our house(me too). The Glade just doesn't do it. But if one were to read the old Christmas letter I wrote when babies were new, the family all available (I mean like 10 of us) tramping out for the trees, having breakfast, doing the lights, laughing, watching Chevy Chase....well, it certainly isn't the same, I agree. So much of the family dynamic has changed that I almost am anxious for the new regime to take over and let me join the new traditions that they will create. It's a little hard to roll out a 86 year old who wants to do all the old stuff but can't. My answer was to do what I could. Oh well. Maybe next year I'll be able to get back into the spirit without synthetic assistance. The new snow is the one thing that is helping me cope with a very weird and strange feeling I have this year doing the holidays. I want this to be a good one for mom and for her to feel the special attachment she always had for "her month".
It's Snowing!
It is so beautiful to look out on the fresh winter white of overnight snow. We don't get it that often so when it falls on a Sunday and we can get out to enjoy it before everyone gets into trying to go to work driving without the right equipment (or experience for that matter), this is special. My dog loves it! He was out rooting through the snow, chasing birds and squirrels in for their daily feed, sliding to a skidding stop. I swear, if he could laugh out loud he would.
The "varmits" (squirrels & birds) have spread the word that the feeders are full. They have been here all day plumping up. It is a joy to watch. For those of you who are used to it, or live in it all winter long, forgive my cheap thrill. I'll get over it in about an hour when company from out of town arrives here for a visit. Hpoe the kids are ready for snowman construction.
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