Comfort...

The inside of my home is ready for Christmas. I just love it decorated for Christmas.

When Claude was visiting his mom, I started carrying the boxes of decorations up the stairs and collecting them in the guest bedroom. Thanksgiving I had the missionaries bring up the big boxes with the tree in them.

Then I took part of each day to do a bit of the decorating. Friday I got everything out and placed in the house except the tree. Saturday I put the tree together. Then I put on the lights, garland and decorations.

Then I sent a picture to my hubby of the decorated tree and told  him it was 'safe' for him to come home now. He was one happy camper.

Saturday morning I looked at my home decorated with the exception of the tree and realized how much difference that tree makes. It just fills up and finishes off the decorating in the house.

I've turned the lights on during the day every day and totally enjoyed walking by or sitting in the living room with the tree decorated and lit.

Yesterday Claude had an afternoon and evening at home.  At the end of the day, just before bedtime, he commented about how nice it was to be in our home and enjoy the feeling that is here.

Here is my tree.

Now my time will be spent finishing all those things that make December feel like December. And, they will be much easier to do because of this tree and the joy it seems to bring with it each December. 

A Night at the Airport...

Last night my honey returned from his week long visit to Utah. He had a great trip.

The drive to the airport was fun in its own rite. With my left arm mostly non-functional, a pouring rain, and an idiot truck driver weaving in and out between cars already going 70 mph in that rain, I was extra grateful to pull in the parking garage at Cincinnati's airport.

I entered baggage claim which is the level where you can first meet your returning passenger. Then I checked the board to be sure which baggage claim area his stuff would come to. That is when I noted his plane was about 15 minutes late. No problem, I found a chair, whipped out my Sudoku book and settled in for a bit of quiet.

That is when I became aware of life when the airport is closing down. I've seen this before but it was amazing to watch it again. We're all so familiar with life during the day in businesses we frequent. Sometimes we don't remember that many of those same places of business have a different flavor when the guests leave.

The first thing I noticed was the guy riding the lawn mower type vacuum/carpet cleaner. I'm musing...I think that might be a fun job. He definitely had a certain pattern to his work so he knew where he had vacuumed and what was left. I also noted he was really cruising on that vehicle. He had his head tilted to one side and it stayed that way the entire time I was in the airport. Made my already sore left side more so. Still, I think that might be a cool job.

It was closer to time for Claude's plane to land so I tucked the Sudoku book in my purse and headed to the escalator to wait. There was another couple there so I picked a spot to stand on the other side of where you step off the escalator.  They were a bit more fidgety about their guest getting there than I was. They kept walking back and forth to that board to be sure the plane was still landed and then to the baggage claim to see if the bag got there before their family member. In addition there were two limo drivers with their little signs at the ready to pick up their charges. The big guard was walking around with his clipboard checking off things.

I was a bit alarmed when I saw all these bodies coming to the base of the escalator and stepping on to ascend to the baggage claim area. They looked like a military unit. It made one wonder if something was amiss at CVG.  Then it came into context. Claude's was the last plane to land. They had just finished parking the plane. They were the ground crew. They had a much more robust personality to their group than those on the cleaning crew. Maybe part of it was their shift was over and the cleaning crew's shift was just beginning. I was relieved there was no emergency.

Then...enter my dream job...

In Terminal 3 there are four escalators. Two coming up from the underground walkway and two going down to the underground walkway. On either side of each of these sets of escalators there is metal framing about one foot wide. This shiny metal surface is at foot level. It needs to be dusted and polished. How to do that you might ask?  A strapping young man with a dust mop places said mop on the flat metal surface, steps on the escalator, and while the escalator ascends he holds down the dust mop. Then he gets on the first down escalator and repeats the process. Now is that a cool job or what?!?!?

Meanwhile the lawn mower/vacuum/carpet cleaner is looping around the carpets at the escalators. Such a ballet of cleanliness. I just grinned while watching it all happen.

Soon my honey was at the base of the escalator grinning as he ascended to a very happy wife.

I was able to report to him that the doctors office called. My X-rays, taken that morning, revealed no broken bones in my shoulder. Yeah!!  It is severely strained and twisted and needs about 4 days rest to start its healing process. If it is not better in that amount of time, I'm to head back to my doctor.

Life is now back to whatever is normal of Claude and me. He is off to the Family History Center with Papa and I'm awaiting the arrival of my annual piano tuning with Daniel Kidd.

Splat!!!

I had a great Sunday morning until...

I've said this before and I'll say it again, my worst fear as I age is falling. So, what did I do today...

We had great meetings today at Church followed by a good choir practice.

With choir practice over, I was walking around the front of the stand and did not notice the little step for kids to stand on when they speak. It is covered in carpet just like the carpet on the floor of the stand. I wanted to practice the organ for the bi-stake choir practice tonight. I was looking up and not down.

I stumbled and began to fall and could tell there was no way to stop it. I stretched out my left arm it hit the floor first. I heard a little pop sound. Then I realized I was stretched out across the stand in front of the chairs where the bishop and his counselor would sit during meetings. Geez!!!

Fortunately I wore a long skirt today and I was still covered.

Unfortunately I immediately felt nauseous. The last thing I wanted was to be stretched out there and hurl in front of everyone.

Immediately there were many people there to help me. I assured them I was most concerned about my left arm and just felt like I was probably in a bit of shock.

Someone took the books of music I was carrying. Then I slowly tried to stand. I tried putting pressure on my left arm and realized that was not a good idea.

Standing brought the men around. There were several offers for a priesthood blessing. That was so very sweet. I declined until I could tell if I was really hurt.

I went to the organ and tried to take off my shoes so I could play the pedals. Hmmm...that hurt. I also realized I couldn't lift my left arm to the swell keyboard. Well, I could but it was extremely painful.

Kathy Alexander came over and asked me a few questions. She is a nurse by profession. I had pretty good range of motion so we thought I may have just pulled something.

I practiced the organ using the great keyboard for my left hand so I didn't have to raise it. I also eliminated playing the pedal. That was just too much to watch out for as I tried to practice.

I finally said 'uncle' and headed toward my car.

Putting on my coat was not easy. I put my left arm in first and that helped. I carried my purse and my bag with my stuff to teach with my right arm. Out into the rain I went.

Driving was okay if I remembered to use the right arm for just about everything.

I visited Mimi and then headed to Papa's. We picked out songs for Wednesday. I headed home feeling queasy and sore.

My evening plans have changed from driving to Lexington for the choir practice to staying home and not moving my left arm any more than I have to.  A triple X sweatshirt was easier to pull on. I'm just staying tucked in my home until tomorrow when I may call the doctor.

To type this I have pulled the laptop close in front of me so my left are is bent but not raised.

Well, that is why this Blog entry is titled 'Splat'. That is what I did. I did it gracefully though!!

Sandi Reflects...

A few months ago, I awoke with a bit of sun coming between the curtains in our bedroom. As I began to roll over the sunlight struck my wedding band. My arms had been wrapped around my pillow and my wedding band was just barely within range of that ray of light. But, for some reason, the flicker of brightness off my wedding band seemed larger than life.

It is a simple plain gold band. It is the most perfect wedding ring ever. Never having a desire for a diamond engagement ring, my wish was always for a plain gold band. That is what I wear, a plain gold band, now a bit scruffed after 41 years of marriage.

As I looked at the light reflect off my ring, a phrase pop into my head, "A band of gold as I grow old reflects a life well spent".  This phrase struck me as very powerful.  I fumbled in my nightstand for pencil and paper and wrote the phrase down. Then I continued to try and really wake up.

As I got ready for the morning I felt the urge to build on that phrase and write about my feelings. I carried the paper in my notebook as we made a trip. I did not added to it. 

Over the past few months I did jot a note or two more. Today I have finished my thoughts and will record them here on my Blogger Journal.

Sandi Reflects

A band of gold

As I grow old

Reflects a life well spent.

Little fingers on a tiny hand

Lay within my worn palm

And speak of generations bound by love.

A bookmark placed to mark the spot

Of a journey of mind and heart.

The note of a melody pitched just right

For my voice to sing as it lowers with years.

The scent of a flower,

A breeze full of memories,

Bare feet on grass or sand,

Unmindful I am singing aloud

As daily life moves on.

Needles, hooks, thread and yarn

Crafted is some gift for another.

A treasure displayed from my past,

A reminder of heritage

And hope for a legacy left for others.

Traveling or safely inside our humble home

With my eternal companion.

Moments sometimes difficult, sometimes tender,

The strength of his arm will protect, care and love.

Children to laugh with, cry with, appreciate with,

To cherish their strengths and achievements,

And be grateful they call me ‘Mother’.

Grandmonsters with energy unbounded

Fill my cup to overflowing.

Parents who lived so far away

Now to spend their last years close.

True friends near and far

But always close at heart.

The love of my Savior confirms my reason for life,

Gives me purpose and direction.

Mine is a full life, a happy life, a blessed life.

Today I feel peace.

Thanksgiving My Way...

Claude really wanted to go visit his mom again this year. After perusing our calendars for the perfect time, we hit upon a Thanksgiving visit.

Many years ago we did this for Mother's Day. I visited my mom in Louisiana and he visited his mom in Utah. It was a great way to spend Mother's Day. So doing that again for Thanksgiving seemed like a great idea. We polled our kids and found that none were going to be able to come for Thanksgiving so I set to work finding flights for Claude.

This meant I had a Thanksgiving to fill as I pleased. I invited Papa out for dinner and also the missionaries from our Church. Papa would feed Mimi lunch and then pick up the missionaries and bring them out our home for the afternoon.

I had a morning in a clean home to putz at cooking as the day progress.  I had my menu plan all out and I wrote times beside each item so I wouldn't have to think about when things needed to be in the oven. This made for a very relaxing start to my Thanksgiving.

I set the TV on Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Turn the volume off on the TV. Set up Christmas CD's to play in Claude's office. I got lots of little things accomplished while I cooked and even made it through some reading for my Sunday School lesson.

Somewhere in the morning I realized I haven't cooked a turkey in 50,000,000 years. Claude usually smokes the turkey for Thanksgiving. No Claude here and I don't run the smoker. I felt a bit of panic and then realized I had peanut butter on the shelf. If worse came to worse with my turkey roasting, we could always have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!

Claude also left me a recipe for a pomegranate glaze for the turkey. That ended up being a great recipe. I've kept it for future use. I'm sure that glaze would be good on some other food as well.

Charlene was supposed to join us but she has diabetes and it kicked in big time and she felt she needed to stay close to her home. 

One of the missionaries, Elder Stephenson, lived in Hawaii. I had my Hawaii trip album out and the CD's of pictures and we started our visit with a quick trip to Hawaii.

When it came time to finish off the meal preparation (gravy, stuffing & potatoes all need help at once), I set my visitors to work.

Papa wanted to drive the missionaries back to Georgetown on the back roads. They left about 5:15pm with full tummies and left overs to enjoy.

I cleaned my kitchen and talked with Charlene. Then settled in for an evening of finishing a Christmas gift for a friend and watching some movies Andie gave me to give to Katelyn.

It was a very nice Thanksgivings...Sandi Style!!