Sometimes Life Just Catches Up to You

Pardon the repeat but I felt I needed to delete a comment that had been made as it was inappropriately made here instead of using another forum (ie my email). I will however follow up with that individual by email to continue the dialogue if she wishes. But I won't stand for threats or bashing of anyone at this place - this place is to support and uplift not a political agenda.

The past 2 weeks or so have been a whole lot of chaos at my house. I love my kids dearly, but to go from near solitude most days to having 2 very active children around 24/7 is near overwhelming sometimes. We've had family visit from out of town. We've done our own bit of travelling and had several trips down memory lane. And in all, we're tired but happy. Very happy. Well, ok maybe not happy about the minor medical crisis that put the kabosh on our plans at the end of our first vacation of the summer. But other than that, we've had a great deal of fun getting to know more about each other and about family.

First of all, I have to brag on my kids. This is after all my duty and right as their mother to make sure the world knows that there are good kids still out there (and possibly in your neighborhood, if not in your home). They handle changes with much more aplomb than their mother does. When plans took a curve they curved with the situation. Sure, we had some disappointed looks or teary eyes, but they were momentary and soon they were finding the bright side in everything. Even girl child - sick and having to go to the ER for treatment of dehydration - said, "well, Mom, the good news is it's bacterial. At least all of the cousins and everyone won't get sick, too." And precious boy child, initially crushed because he didn't get his computer games as desired while sister was being tended to said "I got a chance to be a helper." (my bff picked him up from the ER and he had the opportunity to assist with limb removal, wood stacking, etc to pass the time). I love so much that they are learning that sometimes life is about more than what is happening at that moment, but at the same time are learning to find the good in the moments they are living.

We had the rare treat of a visit with my father. Grandpa took the kids fishing and gave them their first "real fishing lesson" - along with fishing poles and tackle to keep so they can go fishing again. (And yes, Daddy, I got the fishing license and promise to take them. But we also got the fake worms because you can't expect this little princess to change her ways and start handling bugs over night.) Girl child was the only one to catch a fish that day - an approximate 14", 2.5 pound lake perch. One of these days my dad will get the picture off his digital camera so I can post it. In the meantime, trust me, it was a beaut! This visit with my father was also treasured because we've now had 2 opportunities to make sure that the air is clear between us and that there is nothing left unsaid. This is especially important to me as he is going to be having surgery on Wednesday and I had not realized that his doctors would be pulling him off all of his heart, blood pressure and blood thinning medications a week before his surgery putting him at risk for another stroke or massive coronary problem even before his surgery. Needless to say I'm crossing my fingers but I'm very greatful that IF anything should happen (which I'm sure it won't) we had a chance to have this special weekend with him.

Although our visit with other relatives was cut short by girl child's illness, we did have a chance to visit with my grandmother (father's mother) as well and share some more stories of her youth with the kids. She taught them a new card game and it's been a big hit. We also had the opportunity to take her to lunch, along with both of my sisters and 10 of her great-grandchildren. Alas, I have to finish the roll of film and get it developed before you'll see any of those pictures. One gentleman at the restaurant jokingly asked if there was anyone at the restaurant who wasn't in our party. At least I hope he was joking. He did offer to snap a photo of all of us.

Following lunch Grandma left to tend the man she takes care of several hours each week while the rest of us were off to my aunt's home (mother's sister) to go through the other grandmother's (mother's mother) estate. We have some wonderful treasure - most of them in photograph form as well as some trinkets for each of the children. My daughter is the only one of the great-grandkids who had the opportunity to meet my mother's mother. Girl child was only 3 at the time and doesn't remember the trip to Florida but we do have lots of photos of them together (and even more now from the picture box in her estate). The experience also brought us a little bit closer together as sisters - making us realize that this woman who was so closely related was a relative stranger in many ways and that living the way we were and harboring old ills the way we were was making us strangers with each other more each day. It didn't fix everything but it gave us a starting place to call "do over" and try to have healthier relationships with each other.

We did a lot of running around. We did a lot of learning about "folks". We tried to just go with the flow, but sometimes, life just catches up to you - ready or not.