Yes, I know it is after Christmas, but I hope you all had a wonderful day (and season) I know I did.
For the past several years, Christmas has not meant much to me, but for some reason this year it turned out very nice. I wonder if maybe it was because I didn't expect much. Of course having moved just a month before, left me kind of wondering just what would happen. But, I have been truly blessed. It has been just wonderful.
Special occassions often lead to traditions, and such has been the case with my family and Christmas. From the time I was a little girl, Christmas always meant spending Christmas with my Dad's mother, Grandma Arcand, and that side of the family. We often spent most of Christmas day with my Mother's Mom and Sister who lived in the bay area. After that part stopped for some reason, we continued to spend Christmas Eve with Grandma A, until she passed away in 1947, and then it was still Christmas Eve with my Aunt & Uncle. My uncle died in the 50's, but my Aunt continued with Christmas Eve. The last one we had was in 1971. She passed away the next week in Alaska. Then the Christmas tradition kind of went by the wayside. Then in about 1989, after HRR and I had seperated, we stated trying the get the family together again, but the older girls were married and having families of their own, so there was much conflect for Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day. So, we started getting the family together on the Sunday before Christmas. This we did for years, even when I was living in an apartment in Woodland for two seasons. When I moved into the Senior Aparttments in Yuba City, and could no longer host such a group, the family took over. Michael had us for a couple of years, Becky had it one year, Judy had it one year, and then we had it at the Odd Fellows hall in Yuba City one or two years. We had stopped exchanging gifts, for a number of reasons, and somehow, it just lost a lot of the feeling, at least to me. I think the fact that I was no longer working, and could not afford to "gift" the way I had, probably had a lot to do with sppoiling Christmas for me. So this year, even after the invitations had been sent out, it was decided not to have the "family" gethering again. Of course, I was sad to see it happen, but I had been expecting it for a couple of years. And, on my part, I think it turned out better, even doing it this way. All of the sisters did not get to spend Christmas together, but that wouldn't have happened anyway; one was in Texas with part of her family; another lives in Nevada; so they would not have all been together anyway. But by doing it this way, I spent Christmas Eve with one daughter and her family (eleven out of a possible 16), Then I went over to a granddaughter's to spend the night and have Christmas morning with her family - 7 of us here, and then we went to another daughter for Christmas day - 24 here. We really got to visit with each other much better, without trying to have all of us together at one place. Later in the evening, the daughter I had spent the day with brought me home. All in all it was a wonderful Christmas for me!!
And really, that wasn't all. Three different times during the week before Christmas, friends from church had taken me out to see the lighted houses. This is something I have always enjoyed, and man, they really do it up right down here. Although I was told, things were not as decorated as they have sometimes been - good old "economy" you know. There is one section in Rocklin where there are about five or six blocks where every house is really lit up. And, all with themes - "Precious Mements", "Popeye", "Snoopy" and just about every children's story you can think of. They had music playing, and there were people walking up and down the street. It was very imprssive, and a beautiful night to do it. Oh, yes, we also had a very nice Christmas party for the OASIS group of the church. We have about one hundred people who are considered "members" of this group and there were between 40 &50 there. Members of the church had prepared a Prime Rib dinner. Very good. It was a dreee-up party and really had a holiday atmosphere. We exchanged gifts (each person brought an ornament to exchange) and it was just a very nice evening.
So, it has been a very pleasant Christmas for me. I hope each of you have some special memories to keep about this year, too. And may your New Year be the best you have had. Right now, things are pretty tough for a lot of people, maybe even one of you. My prayer is that this next year will be a very good one for each of you, and as I said, may you keep many good memories with you. God Bless you all.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
I've moved, cont'd
I was just rereading my post from the other day, and I cannot believe the errors in it. I must not have proofed it before I posted it. But, I hope you understood what I was saying. There didn't seem to be anything that changed the context or meaning of the phrase or word.
I mentioned that I was still having some problems with my computer, but I think they are all worked out now. It is so good to be playing my games again.
Artymae is a lady a little bit younger than myself, with many physical problems. Actually, she is probably more able to do things than I am, but she has a multitude of health problems. She has the normal old-age problems of high blood presure, and a couple others, but she has leukemia, a heart condition, a disease called Hashimoto's (have no idea what it is), and I don't know what else. She almost independently supports a pharmacy. Her daughter, Diane, and her husband, Larry help. Last summer Artymae took a very nasty fall at Target, hurting herself badly. She has not fully recovered from that, and it is one of the reasons they were glad to have an opportunity to have someone with her. I try not to make any more work for her, because I can do so little to help. I do most of my own cooking, take care of my own room, unload the dishwasher, etc. , but most of the normal housework, she does. As she says, "I would be doing it any way, and you are not adding to the work". She has a couple of granddaughters who help her out quite a bit. And her daughter and son-in-law provide most of her transportation, (and mine).
The house is in a Del Webb senior development. It is really very nice - much nicer than any I have ever lived in. She has it so nicely furnished, and it is very comfortable. She has this adorable little dog whose name is Foxy Duncan. We just call him Duncan. He is a Chihuahua/Pomeranian cross, about 10 years old. And we are such good friends. He is really sweet. Being designed as a senior retirement home, it has only two bedrooms (mine is the spare, and that is why it is quite small), but hers is very large. The living area is almost like a great room. It has a lovely kitchen. The range has gas burners, but an electric oven. And I have never liked gas to cook with. I was told yesterday that there is another room which is supposed to be a third beroom, but it doesn't really fit that description. She has it set up as a computer room, and she has a futon in there, so she does have an extra bed if she needs it. It has a nice front yard, with a courtyard just outside the front door. The back yard is fairly large, with a wrought iron fence all around, nice lawn and beautiful patio. The view out the back yard is very nice. There is a ravine right behind the house, and by looking off to the southwest, you can see over a very large area, and this will never be blocked by other buildings, by the way the land lays. This is southeast of Lincoln, in the foothills. It is nice to sit out on the patio in the evening and see the lights and watch planes land at a local airport. We saw a small bear in the ravine a few days ago. I didn't realize it was a bear at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I believe that is what it was. Last night I sat in my room, and I could hear an owl. First one I have heard in years. Last week we had SNOW. They tell me that doesn't happen very often. But, it was so neat to wake up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground. It fell during the night and was all gone by about ll am. But it was so pretty.
I think this is about enough for now - catch you later.
I mentioned that I was still having some problems with my computer, but I think they are all worked out now. It is so good to be playing my games again.
Artymae is a lady a little bit younger than myself, with many physical problems. Actually, she is probably more able to do things than I am, but she has a multitude of health problems. She has the normal old-age problems of high blood presure, and a couple others, but she has leukemia, a heart condition, a disease called Hashimoto's (have no idea what it is), and I don't know what else. She almost independently supports a pharmacy. Her daughter, Diane, and her husband, Larry help. Last summer Artymae took a very nasty fall at Target, hurting herself badly. She has not fully recovered from that, and it is one of the reasons they were glad to have an opportunity to have someone with her. I try not to make any more work for her, because I can do so little to help. I do most of my own cooking, take care of my own room, unload the dishwasher, etc. , but most of the normal housework, she does. As she says, "I would be doing it any way, and you are not adding to the work". She has a couple of granddaughters who help her out quite a bit. And her daughter and son-in-law provide most of her transportation, (and mine).
The house is in a Del Webb senior development. It is really very nice - much nicer than any I have ever lived in. She has it so nicely furnished, and it is very comfortable. She has this adorable little dog whose name is Foxy Duncan. We just call him Duncan. He is a Chihuahua/Pomeranian cross, about 10 years old. And we are such good friends. He is really sweet. Being designed as a senior retirement home, it has only two bedrooms (mine is the spare, and that is why it is quite small), but hers is very large. The living area is almost like a great room. It has a lovely kitchen. The range has gas burners, but an electric oven. And I have never liked gas to cook with. I was told yesterday that there is another room which is supposed to be a third beroom, but it doesn't really fit that description. She has it set up as a computer room, and she has a futon in there, so she does have an extra bed if she needs it. It has a nice front yard, with a courtyard just outside the front door. The back yard is fairly large, with a wrought iron fence all around, nice lawn and beautiful patio. The view out the back yard is very nice. There is a ravine right behind the house, and by looking off to the southwest, you can see over a very large area, and this will never be blocked by other buildings, by the way the land lays. This is southeast of Lincoln, in the foothills. It is nice to sit out on the patio in the evening and see the lights and watch planes land at a local airport. We saw a small bear in the ravine a few days ago. I didn't realize it was a bear at the time, but the more I think about it, the more I believe that is what it was. Last night I sat in my room, and I could hear an owl. First one I have heard in years. Last week we had SNOW. They tell me that doesn't happen very often. But, it was so neat to wake up to about 2 inches of snow on the ground. It fell during the night and was all gone by about ll am. But it was so pretty.
I think this is about enough for now - catch you later.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
I've Moved!!
Well, it has been over two weeks since I last posted on here. That was the day before I moved from the senior assisted living facility, and now it is about time I got started on catching up.
The move went very well, and I quickly got established in my new home. I'll tell you more about it in a minute. I had trouble getting my TV hooked up. Finally got that done about mid-week last week. I am used to Comcast and here in the house they already had Direct TV, so I was kinda stuck. We actually had to have a tech come out and get it started. Although there was a hookup in the room, there had never been active service to this room, but that is all OK now. Now I just have to get used to the different locations of my favorite channels. A little time and practice will take care of that.
The computer was another story. There was only one phone line into the house, so the family "tv guru" finally set me up with a wireless hookup thru her computer. I guess it is OK. At least I can send and receive emails again. I haven't tried to do any internet research yet. But there are aeveral new problms which have shown up. I hope we can get them straightened out. It has to be the result of something that happened in the change-over, because all these things were working OK before we made the new connection.
When I lived in Yuba City, transportation to church, or anything in the Lincoln area was quite a problam for me because I had only three people to ask for help. And I just hate having to ask someone for a ride. I was afraid that might continue after I moved down here, and it seems that is just exactly what is happenig. Most of the people at church know I still have a transportation problem, but they are still not checking with me to see if I need transportation. I'm hoping that situation will improve as people becone more familiar with my situation.
My room is very pleasant. It is just a little bigger that the room I had at the Manor in Yuba City, but I guess it is the way it is arranged, there seems to be more room. And, it is very cozy. I always am concerned about mixing my furniture with someone else's. But it is working out well. All her furnitute that I am still usuing is light aok. And all but one piece of mine is light oak (or at least it looks like it). The room realy kooks quite coordinated, and not really cluttered. The room is about 12 x 15 and you would not believe what all I have in it. The one end wass lost space where the entrance door folds back against the wall. Then there is a space that is room for a small knickknace stand. The rest of that wall is taken up with skiding glass doors on a nice large closet. Turning the corcer, there is a round table which is actually there just for oranamental purposes. Next to that is my computer armoire (Kathy got this for me when I moved here), there is a short three drawer chest upon which we have put the printer Steve and Judy loaned me. It holds the 4-way printer, and has three drawers. The next thing is my large bookshelves. My recliner (which is were I sleep) is in the corner, and behind it is a very nice plant. On the third wall, are two nice windows with lattice blinds on them. In front of those windows is a very nice desk. In the next corner is a straight chair (dark wood, but it has needlepoint cusion on it that Mom did, and there ain't no way I'm getting rid of that chair). Next is a piece that I'm not real sure what it was intended to be used for, but it works very well for storing my magazines and some other things in binders, and then the next thing is a five drawer chest, which gives me lots of drawer space. Nex to the chest is my "entertainment center". It consists of a cabinet on wheels which I believe was originally a TV table. It has two shelves in the lower space. One shelf holds my DVD playrer, my VCR player, the controll box for the TV, another snall unit that goes with the DVD player. Then at the end of this equipment, I have some binders of CD's.
The bottom shelf right nw has only a rather large figurine of Arty's, but only time will tell how long that will stay there. The TV sits on the top of the cabinet, and we put a levelling shelf on top ot the TV holds my 3-disk CD player, with the speakers on the chest of drawers. Of course you have to add a few knicknacks, flower arrangements, wall hangings, and you have a niily furnished room. I know. it sounds crowded/cluttered but it really isn't. Oh yes, I have a nice big artificial Boston Fern on top of the computer cabinet. I am really very comfortable.
My bathroom is just outside my room and has to be used by all visitors to the home. So when I want to take a shower I have to use Artie's bath. Neither of us can step into a tub to use a step0in shower, That seens to be the only proproblem so far, and we seem to be working around that. I think this is a good place to call this blog to a helt. I will tell you more next time about Artymae herself, the house and the environment. This coukd take at least a couple of posts to tell you all about where I am, but I think I will call it quits for now..Bye Bye
The move went very well, and I quickly got established in my new home. I'll tell you more about it in a minute. I had trouble getting my TV hooked up. Finally got that done about mid-week last week. I am used to Comcast and here in the house they already had Direct TV, so I was kinda stuck. We actually had to have a tech come out and get it started. Although there was a hookup in the room, there had never been active service to this room, but that is all OK now. Now I just have to get used to the different locations of my favorite channels. A little time and practice will take care of that.
The computer was another story. There was only one phone line into the house, so the family "tv guru" finally set me up with a wireless hookup thru her computer. I guess it is OK. At least I can send and receive emails again. I haven't tried to do any internet research yet. But there are aeveral new problms which have shown up. I hope we can get them straightened out. It has to be the result of something that happened in the change-over, because all these things were working OK before we made the new connection.
When I lived in Yuba City, transportation to church, or anything in the Lincoln area was quite a problam for me because I had only three people to ask for help. And I just hate having to ask someone for a ride. I was afraid that might continue after I moved down here, and it seems that is just exactly what is happenig. Most of the people at church know I still have a transportation problem, but they are still not checking with me to see if I need transportation. I'm hoping that situation will improve as people becone more familiar with my situation.
My room is very pleasant. It is just a little bigger that the room I had at the Manor in Yuba City, but I guess it is the way it is arranged, there seems to be more room. And, it is very cozy. I always am concerned about mixing my furniture with someone else's. But it is working out well. All her furnitute that I am still usuing is light aok. And all but one piece of mine is light oak (or at least it looks like it). The room realy kooks quite coordinated, and not really cluttered. The room is about 12 x 15 and you would not believe what all I have in it. The one end wass lost space where the entrance door folds back against the wall. Then there is a space that is room for a small knickknace stand. The rest of that wall is taken up with skiding glass doors on a nice large closet. Turning the corcer, there is a round table which is actually there just for oranamental purposes. Next to that is my computer armoire (Kathy got this for me when I moved here), there is a short three drawer chest upon which we have put the printer Steve and Judy loaned me. It holds the 4-way printer, and has three drawers. The next thing is my large bookshelves. My recliner (which is were I sleep) is in the corner, and behind it is a very nice plant. On the third wall, are two nice windows with lattice blinds on them. In front of those windows is a very nice desk. In the next corner is a straight chair (dark wood, but it has needlepoint cusion on it that Mom did, and there ain't no way I'm getting rid of that chair). Next is a piece that I'm not real sure what it was intended to be used for, but it works very well for storing my magazines and some other things in binders, and then the next thing is a five drawer chest, which gives me lots of drawer space. Nex to the chest is my "entertainment center". It consists of a cabinet on wheels which I believe was originally a TV table. It has two shelves in the lower space. One shelf holds my DVD playrer, my VCR player, the controll box for the TV, another snall unit that goes with the DVD player. Then at the end of this equipment, I have some binders of CD's.
The bottom shelf right nw has only a rather large figurine of Arty's, but only time will tell how long that will stay there. The TV sits on the top of the cabinet, and we put a levelling shelf on top ot the TV holds my 3-disk CD player, with the speakers on the chest of drawers. Of course you have to add a few knicknacks, flower arrangements, wall hangings, and you have a niily furnished room. I know. it sounds crowded/cluttered but it really isn't. Oh yes, I have a nice big artificial Boston Fern on top of the computer cabinet. I am really very comfortable.
My bathroom is just outside my room and has to be used by all visitors to the home. So when I want to take a shower I have to use Artie's bath. Neither of us can step into a tub to use a step0in shower, That seens to be the only proproblem so far, and we seem to be working around that. I think this is a good place to call this blog to a helt. I will tell you more next time about Artymae herself, the house and the environment. This coukd take at least a couple of posts to tell you all about where I am, but I think I will call it quits for now..Bye Bye
Friday, November 27, 2009
Time for a Change
It is 12:05 am, Friday, November 27, 2009. Yesterday, Thursday, was Thanksgiving, and for me it turned into a wonderful day. We have become such a large family, and most of us live right here within less than 50 miles of each other, so it is very difficult to get altogether for any special occasion, so for a holiday like Thanksgiving, we seem to split up into several smaller groups. Today was one of those days. I spent the day with Judy and her family (Steve and Ruth, as the other two kids live in Texas), and was pleasantly surprised to have one of her sisters and her family with us. Just a small group, but we did have a wonderful time.
Today, Friday, I will be finishing up my packing for the move tomorrow. You would think, by the way I have been going at this for the last couple of weeks, that I had a whole house full of stuff to move miles and miles away. Actually, I only have one very small room, and I wll be moving into one room, only 30 miles away. But, when it came to packing, you would not believe how much I have acculumated. When I moved in here, I did not have very much stuff, because when I had my stroke in 2006, we weren't sure just what was going to happen to me, so the girls cleaned out my apartment, and only brought here what I really needed at the time. Over the past 3 1/2 yesrs, I have gradually brought in things that I had or needed, until I can't believe how much "stuff" I have. And I don't want to put most of it back into storage, so it will go with me. Doing the packing mostly by myself has made it seem like a major project, plus the fact that I cannot work for long periods of time. So, I pack a little, then I have to stop and rest awhile. I am really glad I started packing over two weeks ago. Thank goodness, I expect I will have plenty of help unpacking things, so it won't take me two weeks to get that done.
This move was such an unexpected thing to happen, but I think it will work out very well. The lady I will be living with is really very nice. I went and spent about l0 days with her a few weeks ago, and we seemed to get along very well. We will be excellent companions for each other. The move idea came from her, and her family, and they seem to be very pleased that I accepted her invitation. So, that also helps to make the move easier for me.
So, I will be off line for a few days. I have not set up a phone line down there yet, and won't until some time next week, and until I get that taken care of, I will not have email. So, I don't know just how long I will be away. Maybe not even long enough for you to miss me. I hope not, 'cause I think I would go bonkers if I had to be without my internet very long again.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and until I get back to you, be happy, and God Bless You all.
Today, Friday, I will be finishing up my packing for the move tomorrow. You would think, by the way I have been going at this for the last couple of weeks, that I had a whole house full of stuff to move miles and miles away. Actually, I only have one very small room, and I wll be moving into one room, only 30 miles away. But, when it came to packing, you would not believe how much I have acculumated. When I moved in here, I did not have very much stuff, because when I had my stroke in 2006, we weren't sure just what was going to happen to me, so the girls cleaned out my apartment, and only brought here what I really needed at the time. Over the past 3 1/2 yesrs, I have gradually brought in things that I had or needed, until I can't believe how much "stuff" I have. And I don't want to put most of it back into storage, so it will go with me. Doing the packing mostly by myself has made it seem like a major project, plus the fact that I cannot work for long periods of time. So, I pack a little, then I have to stop and rest awhile. I am really glad I started packing over two weeks ago. Thank goodness, I expect I will have plenty of help unpacking things, so it won't take me two weeks to get that done.
This move was such an unexpected thing to happen, but I think it will work out very well. The lady I will be living with is really very nice. I went and spent about l0 days with her a few weeks ago, and we seemed to get along very well. We will be excellent companions for each other. The move idea came from her, and her family, and they seem to be very pleased that I accepted her invitation. So, that also helps to make the move easier for me.
So, I will be off line for a few days. I have not set up a phone line down there yet, and won't until some time next week, and until I get that taken care of, I will not have email. So, I don't know just how long I will be away. Maybe not even long enough for you to miss me. I hope not, 'cause I think I would go bonkers if I had to be without my internet very long again.
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and until I get back to you, be happy, and God Bless You all.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Miss me?
Sorry I've been away, but - it seems I've done it again - open mouth, insert foot. And, I have been bothered by it so much, I just haven't felt like visiting. I guess I really offended someone this time. I really didn't mean to, but that is what often happens to me. I express myself for one reason or another and wind up hurting someone very much. I am so truly sorry.
There hasn't been too much happening around here. I've been kinda busy, packing. In case you haven't figured it out, I am moving. I have been living here at the retirement center for 3 1/2 years, but now I am moving on. I never expected this to happen, but I think it is going to be a good thing. Quite a difference, that's for sure. Instad of living in an assisted living facility, I will be living in a private home, with another lady about my age. We have spent some time together, and I think it is going to work out very well. She has such a lovely home, a beautiful back yard with a patio. She lives in the hills southwest of Lincoln, CA, and from the patio there is such a beautiful view of the valley. At night you can see airplanes landing at an airport not too far away. It is so nice and peaceful there. People ask me if I am going to miss where I am. Of course I am. There are some very nice people here, and there are some not so nice. The old saying goes that you can miss anything. Even if you live with someone who is cruel, or you live with or next door to a barking dog, or a crying baby, you will miss that. Sometimes it will be in a sad way, and sometimes it will be something you will be glad to miss. I have both feelings about leaving here. But, I am looking forward to the move, and think it will be a good situation.
Yes, fall is definitely here. The weather has cooled off, to where it is in the 30's and 40's at night, and in the 60's usually in the daytime. One thing I always like about the fall is that as soon as the nights begin to cool down, the leaves on the trees begin to turn color. I went to town today, and the leaves are so pretty - there are whole trees that are bright yellow, some are dark red, some almost purple, and many that are mixed colors. They always talk about the trees in New
Englnad being so pretty in the fall. Well, maybe they are, but I think around here, they can be almost as pretty. If you travel east maybe 25 miles, more or less, you can get into the foothills, and then you get some really pretty trees. But, the ones right here in the valley, and even the city, are nothing to be scoffed at.
Well, I really didn't have much to say tonight, so I think I am just going to say goodnight, talk to you later.
There hasn't been too much happening around here. I've been kinda busy, packing. In case you haven't figured it out, I am moving. I have been living here at the retirement center for 3 1/2 years, but now I am moving on. I never expected this to happen, but I think it is going to be a good thing. Quite a difference, that's for sure. Instad of living in an assisted living facility, I will be living in a private home, with another lady about my age. We have spent some time together, and I think it is going to work out very well. She has such a lovely home, a beautiful back yard with a patio. She lives in the hills southwest of Lincoln, CA, and from the patio there is such a beautiful view of the valley. At night you can see airplanes landing at an airport not too far away. It is so nice and peaceful there. People ask me if I am going to miss where I am. Of course I am. There are some very nice people here, and there are some not so nice. The old saying goes that you can miss anything. Even if you live with someone who is cruel, or you live with or next door to a barking dog, or a crying baby, you will miss that. Sometimes it will be in a sad way, and sometimes it will be something you will be glad to miss. I have both feelings about leaving here. But, I am looking forward to the move, and think it will be a good situation.
Yes, fall is definitely here. The weather has cooled off, to where it is in the 30's and 40's at night, and in the 60's usually in the daytime. One thing I always like about the fall is that as soon as the nights begin to cool down, the leaves on the trees begin to turn color. I went to town today, and the leaves are so pretty - there are whole trees that are bright yellow, some are dark red, some almost purple, and many that are mixed colors. They always talk about the trees in New
Englnad being so pretty in the fall. Well, maybe they are, but I think around here, they can be almost as pretty. If you travel east maybe 25 miles, more or less, you can get into the foothills, and then you get some really pretty trees. But, the ones right here in the valley, and even the city, are nothing to be scoffed at.
Well, I really didn't have much to say tonight, so I think I am just going to say goodnight, talk to you later.
Friday, November 13, 2009
My Dad, cont'd
I didn't realize that the last time I posted was Sunday, and here it is Thursday already. But, I've been busy. It is late (12:30 am) but I did want to finish my story about Dad, so here goes.
Continuing from my book -
Dad made a couple dozen little chairs for the Baptist church for their Sunday School rooms; he made new station pedestals for the Lodge hall; he made a dozen or more of one kind of sewing cabinet and several of another kind. He made quite a few cedar chests. All but one of them were solid cedar. The last one he made, and gave to my daughter, Georgia, was pine with cedar lining. They were beautiful. Dad gave the one to Georgia for Christmas of 1981, and he passed away in February 1982. He never got to make one for Becky. The one he had made for me for my birthday several years before, he had sold before he got to give it to me, so the one I had, I actually won in a raffle, and when I began living in tiny apartments, etc., I gave it to Becky so she would at least have one that her grandfather had made. Of all the cedar chests he made, he only made two alike - the one he gave Judy and the one he made for me to raffle when I was Grand Matriarch of the Grand Ladies Encampment Auxiliary. Also, he completely redid the cabinetry in the kitchen of their home, as well as redoing the closets in the bedrooms and the hallway. He was an amazing cabinet maker.
A family ritual that went on as long as I an remember, was washing Dad's hand and sweeping him down with the broom. If he had been working out in the field, plowing or harvesting, anything that made a lot of dust, (remember farm equipment did not have air conditioned cabs then), he would stop outside the bak door. One of us would grab the broom and proceed to sweep the dust off him, and sometimes there was a lot of it. One of the things I remember was washing his hand. From the time I was so small I had to stand on a stool to reach the kitchen sink, I remember Mom, my brother, or me, washing Dad's hand before he would eat a meal or maybe get ready to go to town, lodge ot somewhere else. As greasy as he would get, I can't imagine how he would ever have gotten his hand clean without our help. We didn't have running water in the bathroom, so we always washed up at the kitchen sink. This meant drawing a pan of good warm water, rolling Dad's shirt sleeve up (he always wore long sleeved shirts) about midway on his arm, and getting the Lava soap and scrubbing away. His biggest delight was to jerk his hand or twist it around - anything to make it more difficult for us kids to hold his big massive hand and scrub it. Some times, it would be necessary to use a hand brush to get the grease off. But we always managed some way. After washing his hand, we would dump the water out of the pan, draw freash water and he would proceed to wash his face and neck - always the back of his neck. This was such an everyday occurrence in our household that none of us thought anything about it. But one time, long after I was married, I remember a friend of my brother telling me that he had witnessed in our home, one of the greatest demonstrations of love that he had ever seen. I couldn't imagine what in the world he was talking about. Then he mentioned watching us wash Dad's hand and what a feeling of warmth and love he got just from watching us. So, I guess what was just natural to us was really something special to other people.
Dad continued to live alone after Mother went into the hospital and finally a convalescent hospital. Even after her death, he stayed on in the only home they had known together. When his time came, he called to tell me he was having spasms in his right arm. At first I thought it was just reaction to his amputation - these things can haunt a person for years. But when we went to check on him, I found that the spasms or seizures were of such a nature they could not be controlled, so we took him to the doctor. He was admitted to the hospital and a couple of days later the doctor told me there was no hope for him unless someone came up with a brain transplant real soon. He was in the hospital five dayds, then moved to a convalescent home where he lasted another five days. I believe, and I will always believe, he heard Mom calling him. He had made no sign of recognition of anyone, me, the nurses, or anyone else for several days. All of a sudden he sat up in bed, looked all around, and laid back down and he was gone. I believe Mother called him home.
And so ends my story of my Dad. Those are some of my best memories. Of course, there are many things I could tell about him - but this is enough for now. Next, I will introduce you to another special person in my life - my Mother. But for now, I think it is time to say "goodnight".
Continuing from my book -
Dad made a couple dozen little chairs for the Baptist church for their Sunday School rooms; he made new station pedestals for the Lodge hall; he made a dozen or more of one kind of sewing cabinet and several of another kind. He made quite a few cedar chests. All but one of them were solid cedar. The last one he made, and gave to my daughter, Georgia, was pine with cedar lining. They were beautiful. Dad gave the one to Georgia for Christmas of 1981, and he passed away in February 1982. He never got to make one for Becky. The one he had made for me for my birthday several years before, he had sold before he got to give it to me, so the one I had, I actually won in a raffle, and when I began living in tiny apartments, etc., I gave it to Becky so she would at least have one that her grandfather had made. Of all the cedar chests he made, he only made two alike - the one he gave Judy and the one he made for me to raffle when I was Grand Matriarch of the Grand Ladies Encampment Auxiliary. Also, he completely redid the cabinetry in the kitchen of their home, as well as redoing the closets in the bedrooms and the hallway. He was an amazing cabinet maker.
A family ritual that went on as long as I an remember, was washing Dad's hand and sweeping him down with the broom. If he had been working out in the field, plowing or harvesting, anything that made a lot of dust, (remember farm equipment did not have air conditioned cabs then), he would stop outside the bak door. One of us would grab the broom and proceed to sweep the dust off him, and sometimes there was a lot of it. One of the things I remember was washing his hand. From the time I was so small I had to stand on a stool to reach the kitchen sink, I remember Mom, my brother, or me, washing Dad's hand before he would eat a meal or maybe get ready to go to town, lodge ot somewhere else. As greasy as he would get, I can't imagine how he would ever have gotten his hand clean without our help. We didn't have running water in the bathroom, so we always washed up at the kitchen sink. This meant drawing a pan of good warm water, rolling Dad's shirt sleeve up (he always wore long sleeved shirts) about midway on his arm, and getting the Lava soap and scrubbing away. His biggest delight was to jerk his hand or twist it around - anything to make it more difficult for us kids to hold his big massive hand and scrub it. Some times, it would be necessary to use a hand brush to get the grease off. But we always managed some way. After washing his hand, we would dump the water out of the pan, draw freash water and he would proceed to wash his face and neck - always the back of his neck. This was such an everyday occurrence in our household that none of us thought anything about it. But one time, long after I was married, I remember a friend of my brother telling me that he had witnessed in our home, one of the greatest demonstrations of love that he had ever seen. I couldn't imagine what in the world he was talking about. Then he mentioned watching us wash Dad's hand and what a feeling of warmth and love he got just from watching us. So, I guess what was just natural to us was really something special to other people.
Dad continued to live alone after Mother went into the hospital and finally a convalescent hospital. Even after her death, he stayed on in the only home they had known together. When his time came, he called to tell me he was having spasms in his right arm. At first I thought it was just reaction to his amputation - these things can haunt a person for years. But when we went to check on him, I found that the spasms or seizures were of such a nature they could not be controlled, so we took him to the doctor. He was admitted to the hospital and a couple of days later the doctor told me there was no hope for him unless someone came up with a brain transplant real soon. He was in the hospital five dayds, then moved to a convalescent home where he lasted another five days. I believe, and I will always believe, he heard Mom calling him. He had made no sign of recognition of anyone, me, the nurses, or anyone else for several days. All of a sudden he sat up in bed, looked all around, and laid back down and he was gone. I believe Mother called him home.
And so ends my story of my Dad. Those are some of my best memories. Of course, there are many things I could tell about him - but this is enough for now. Next, I will introduce you to another special person in my life - my Mother. But for now, I think it is time to say "goodnight".
Sunday, November 8, 2009
My Dad, cont'd
To continue my story about my Dad from my book -
When Dad lost his hand, that put an end to his playing the violin and doing other things that required both hands. He was still living with his mother, so never had to really get used to doing things for himself. He and Mother were married just six months later, in September 1917. He was naturally right handed, and it was his right hand he lost. He never did get used to writing with his left hand. We always used to say he had never written a complete check after he lost his hand, but I have found a few he wrote when he and my mother were first married. He could not button the cuff on the left sleeve of his dress shirt, tie a necktie, or lace or tie his shoes. He could tie his work shoes fine. The first pair of work shoes he bought after he lost his hand, the salesman at JC Penny taught him to lace his shoes and fasten them, so he could do it by himself. I tried many times to get him to wear slip-on dress shoes, but he was not about to wear "house shoes" for dress, so he always had to have someone tie his shoes. Even after Mother went into the hospital with her final illness, if he went anywhere to wear dress shoes, he would have to have someone tie them after he got where he was going. Same way with his shirt sleeves. On his work shirts, the cuffs were loose enough that he could slip his hand through without the cuff being unbuttoned. Of course, with no hand on his right arm, there was no problem with that cuff. I tried to get him to learn to wear clip-on ties, but he wouldn't do that either. He was a stubborn man. Dad made his living as a farmer, and there was very little he couldn't do around the farm. The only livestock he ever raised were chickens, pigs and sheep, and they did not require any special treatment that required two hands (like milking a cow).
Some of the things Dad did learn to do were really amazing. He learned to buck 100 pound sacks of grain without any problem. He ould use garden tools just as well as anyone else. He never let his lack of a hand stop him from doing almost all the maintenance on his cars and farm erquipment. He became friends with the head of the San Francisco office of the state Department of Rehabilitation, who filmed him doing some of the chores around the yard, the farm, and the work on his machinery. This was to be used in the training of people who had lost a limb. I never knew how this turned out. If there was something he had a problem with, Mom or one of us kids was usually there to help him out. Some of my best memories are of the times I spent working on the cars and tractors with Dad - getting all dirty and greasy. It always bothered him that I would never cover my hair. But it was just easier to wash my hair than to mess with a scarf or hat. And I used to wash the parts of the engines in gasoline and then let the gas dry on my hands without washing it off. That really bothered him too. He worried about me a lot.
After Dad retired from farming, he took up cabinet work. He did a lot of that. He had a well equipped shop (everything except a lathe which he said he was afraid to try to use - didn't think he could hold things well enough). The only real problem he had with the cabinet work was that he could not "set" the nails. He usually had Mom come out and do that for him. Then, after Mom went into the hospital, the work would pile up until my husband or I could get over there to set the nails for him. I never did know whose idea it was, his or my cousin Bill's, but anyway Bill made a tool for him so he could set his own nails. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I guess that was the case here. Anyway what Bill made was from a simple steel strap, and a center punch (if you know what that is). It worked very well for him, and allowed him to ciontinue his wood work until a month or so before he died. Dad could make almost any kind of cabinetry you wanted. Just give him a picture, or a diagram, and he would figure it out.
(to be continued)
Today was my birthday. Other than a couple of phone calls from daughters, it was not a whole lot different from any other day. Judy & her husband and I went to church, and then they took me out to lunch. It was a beautiful day, with just scattered clouds in the sky. Steve likes to take some of the back roads home (and so do I), so we did that today - roads I haven't been on for years. It is really nice to get to just ride around the country. We used to do that a lot, when the girls were younger, and I have never outgrown my love for such a pass time.
Well, I will continue my story of Dad another time, along with "quickie" notes on other things, but for now, Good night -
When Dad lost his hand, that put an end to his playing the violin and doing other things that required both hands. He was still living with his mother, so never had to really get used to doing things for himself. He and Mother were married just six months later, in September 1917. He was naturally right handed, and it was his right hand he lost. He never did get used to writing with his left hand. We always used to say he had never written a complete check after he lost his hand, but I have found a few he wrote when he and my mother were first married. He could not button the cuff on the left sleeve of his dress shirt, tie a necktie, or lace or tie his shoes. He could tie his work shoes fine. The first pair of work shoes he bought after he lost his hand, the salesman at JC Penny taught him to lace his shoes and fasten them, so he could do it by himself. I tried many times to get him to wear slip-on dress shoes, but he was not about to wear "house shoes" for dress, so he always had to have someone tie his shoes. Even after Mother went into the hospital with her final illness, if he went anywhere to wear dress shoes, he would have to have someone tie them after he got where he was going. Same way with his shirt sleeves. On his work shirts, the cuffs were loose enough that he could slip his hand through without the cuff being unbuttoned. Of course, with no hand on his right arm, there was no problem with that cuff. I tried to get him to learn to wear clip-on ties, but he wouldn't do that either. He was a stubborn man. Dad made his living as a farmer, and there was very little he couldn't do around the farm. The only livestock he ever raised were chickens, pigs and sheep, and they did not require any special treatment that required two hands (like milking a cow).
Some of the things Dad did learn to do were really amazing. He learned to buck 100 pound sacks of grain without any problem. He ould use garden tools just as well as anyone else. He never let his lack of a hand stop him from doing almost all the maintenance on his cars and farm erquipment. He became friends with the head of the San Francisco office of the state Department of Rehabilitation, who filmed him doing some of the chores around the yard, the farm, and the work on his machinery. This was to be used in the training of people who had lost a limb. I never knew how this turned out. If there was something he had a problem with, Mom or one of us kids was usually there to help him out. Some of my best memories are of the times I spent working on the cars and tractors with Dad - getting all dirty and greasy. It always bothered him that I would never cover my hair. But it was just easier to wash my hair than to mess with a scarf or hat. And I used to wash the parts of the engines in gasoline and then let the gas dry on my hands without washing it off. That really bothered him too. He worried about me a lot.
After Dad retired from farming, he took up cabinet work. He did a lot of that. He had a well equipped shop (everything except a lathe which he said he was afraid to try to use - didn't think he could hold things well enough). The only real problem he had with the cabinet work was that he could not "set" the nails. He usually had Mom come out and do that for him. Then, after Mom went into the hospital, the work would pile up until my husband or I could get over there to set the nails for him. I never did know whose idea it was, his or my cousin Bill's, but anyway Bill made a tool for him so he could set his own nails. They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I guess that was the case here. Anyway what Bill made was from a simple steel strap, and a center punch (if you know what that is). It worked very well for him, and allowed him to ciontinue his wood work until a month or so before he died. Dad could make almost any kind of cabinetry you wanted. Just give him a picture, or a diagram, and he would figure it out.
(to be continued)
Today was my birthday. Other than a couple of phone calls from daughters, it was not a whole lot different from any other day. Judy & her husband and I went to church, and then they took me out to lunch. It was a beautiful day, with just scattered clouds in the sky. Steve likes to take some of the back roads home (and so do I), so we did that today - roads I haven't been on for years. It is really nice to get to just ride around the country. We used to do that a lot, when the girls were younger, and I have never outgrown my love for such a pass time.
Well, I will continue my story of Dad another time, along with "quickie" notes on other things, but for now, Good night -
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