Back to Blogging

Well, it's been a while since I've done this. My daughter, Laura, complained yesterday that I hadn't updated my blog in a long time. I pointed out that she hadn't posted on hers for even longer (like a couple of years). In typical fashion, she responded maybe 10 minutes later (instant message) with a link to her new blog which included a new post containing photos. She was at work but said she was bored. Apparently.

Okay, so I guess I've been challenged. I suppose the problem is that I feel like I need to post something related to a particular subject instead of just rambling. Something coherent. I feel like I've been a bit brain dead lately. Then the sun came out today and as I was driving to the Y after work, I realized that the rain and clouds had slowed me down. Good thing I don't live in Seattle.

My last post was in June. I was not an empty nester at that point (my excuse?) since my college student daughter was home for the summer. It seems like the summer began late and then finished way too quickly. I worked in the yard and the squirrels ate my corn again. We took a vacation in Glacier National Park (beautiful) and attended an out of town family wedding. My daughter went back to Boston in September, having never found a summer job. And here it is the middle of November. What happened?

I hope to defog my brain and post more often. I feel a need to do something creative, too. Don't know what that will be. We'll see. . .

A Kind Word

Yesterday I received a call at the church where I work from a man seeking help. Now, this is not a new thing; I often get such calls. However, I don't receive as many as I did when we were handing out $10 gift cards. The church was overwhelmed and we had to stop. A new policy is being put into place which includes restrictions limiting help to people living in the area immediately surrounding the church. David is from out of state and got stuck here with no funds due to a medical condition. I had to tell him we couldn't help him. He had received similar replies from many other churches and agencies. I tried to give him suggestions. I thought that was the end of it. Some time later he called me back, seeking more suggestions. And I believe he called me back once or twice more.

David said that I was the only one who was nice to him - the only one! He made calls and visits to many agencies and churches, and his contacts included pastors. This makes me so sad. How much effort does it take to say a kind word to a person in need? What is the cost of a little compassion for a fellow human being? Has this community seen so many hurting people that we are becoming jaded? Already? With the state of the economy, I'd say that we are just seeing the tip of the iceburg. It's going to get a lot worse. Yesterday, a woman stopped by looking for help with gas. I couldn't help her either. She works full-time at a convenience store for minimum wage. She said that she and her coworkers are having a hard time affording gas. This minimum wage worker was no kid - middle-aged and nicely dressed. All I could give her was my sympathy.

David called me again today, desperate. The help he had hoped to get from another church hadn't come through. I gave him a couple more phone numbers. He called back - no luck. I was out of ideas so I called my friend, Judy, for suggestions. She didn't know where else to call but told me she'd call him personally and help him. (David called me back to say thanks.) Judy called me tonight to tell me that her husband had taken David to the store for food (he hadn't eaten for 3-4 days) plus some needed laundry supplies and other items. Ron listened to his long, sad story. On top of that, Judy's mom donated $100 of her own. And Judy is still trying to figure out what we can do to help David. Judy positively overflows with compassion for others. I wish it would rub off on others in this community. We may not be able to personally help everybody who needs it but a kind word and the willingness to listen comes cheap.

One Down, One to Go

Recently we went to visit our daughter and son-in-law in Raleigh. Later, I realized that it was a first - the first time we stayed with our child in her home. Both of them now have permanent jobs which they like. We were there while our son-in-law was baptized and they joined a local church. We met their coworkers and friends. And we happened to be present for a very big step in their young married lives - they put an offer on a house. Both sets of parents toured and checked over the house. We all sat and waited with the realtor to find out if the offer would be accepted. Success! Such an exciting time. I wish we could be there to celebrate with them when they move in. Unfortunately, we won't be back until Thanksgiving. However, I am developing a pile, which is gradually growing, of all her things that we will be sending to her this summer via Uhaul and a friend. I am looking forward to more space in our house, attic, and garage. Really looking forward to it.

Daughter number one is on her way in the adult world. We are proud of her. One down and one to go.

Community Ed

One of my goals, as an empty nester, was to take some classes for fun and to expand my horizons. A few nights ago I took the first step. Our local school district offers community ed classes in the evenings, taught by volunteers for a nominal fee to cover expenses. These classes cover everything imaginable from belly dancing to computers to bird watching - you name it. I signed up for dutch oven cooking and Bob signed up to learn more about the senior volunteer program. I think I got the better deal because they fed us - and well! Although I have done some dutch oven cooking, I gathered more info, and recipes from a husband, wife and their 14-year-old son who cook competitively. They served us a chicken casserole, lasagna, and pineapple upside down cake. Yum! Now I'm inspired to start cooking outside again (after all of the snow melts). And I think I'll sign up for more classes on other subjects.

From Lionhead Lodge

Over the years, our rapidly changing technology has dramatically altered the way movies are made. I am especially aware of this since I have a daughter with a degree in visual effects. We now watch the movie credits all the way to the end. It is really amazing what movie makers can achieve.

However, less than a century ago, movies were silent. There is certain charm to the films from that time. And in some cases, these films were amazing in their own right. About a week ago we attended the Nell Shipman Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise. We experienced a showing of her short film "White Water" and the full length feature, "The Grub Stake" complete with organ accompaniment by a professional theatre organist from New York on one of the few original theatre organs left in the country. What a special evening! Nell Shipman was an amazing woman - writer, actress, co-director, editor. The truly incredible part is that these films were filmed in northern Idaho at Priest Lake in the 1920s, much of it during the winter. This was wild country at that time. She had a large menagerie of animals which she used in her films. There were no stunt men or special effects. Nell canoed down rivers, fell in, and clung to rocks; she jumped into the frozen lake, multiple times (along with her reluctant son); she trudged up and down snow covered mountains; she climbed up rock walls. Nell Shipman was a true film pioneer.

It's a Small World

Sometimes I just have to step back and marvel at our ability to communicate with each other, whether it's from one state to another or across the world. When I was in college I made occassional long distance phone calls home via the phone in my room and sometimes I wrote letters (a lost art). Tonight I was simultaneously communicating with both my daughters. I was instant messaging the daughter in the Netherlands, an 8 hour time difference (yes, she stays up late). At the same time I was talking to the other daughter in Raleigh, NC on a cell phone then we moved on to e-mail and instant message to discuss something. At the same time I was instant messaging my son-in-law while I was talking to my daughter on the phone (his wife) and trying to help him connect with his sister-in-law in Europe. Now they all take this for granted but I can hardly keep up with this. You don't have to look back many years to realize how amazing this is. Our world is getting smaller all the time.

My baby is off to Europe!

As I write this, my younger daughter is on a plane over the Atlantic between Boston and Amsterdam. What a mix of emotions I'm feeling. I'm excited for her but also concerned for her safety. She will be spending a semester at her college's castle, "Kasteel Well". They will take classes Monday through Thursday then will be free to travel on the weekends. What an adventure! It will be strange not receiving her cell phone calls at all hours. I'm really back to being an empty nester now.

55

Most years my birthday gets lost in the holiday craziness. December birthdays are like that. However, this year was different, partly because my birthday was on a Saturday. Bob had given me a gift certificate for a spa on my previous birthday but I hadn't used it yet. I decided that it would be a perfect way to begin my day. It was a cold, gray day but the spa was warm and inviting. I had an hour massage followed by a half hour spa facial. Ahhh - very relaxing. (I think I'll return at a later date.) Not wanting to undo the effects of the massage, I returned home to spend a quiet day there. I worked on Christmas cards, especially the ones going to the east coast. This year all of my family remembered my birthday and sent nice gifts that actually arrived before my birthday. The most special one was from my hubby; years ago he gave me a star garnet and he had it set in a necklace - beautiful! Laura and Ian gave me a cozy robe that she embroidered. One sister gave me a colorful scarf that she knit herself and the other sister gave me a soft white turtleneck. (Erin brought me her gift when she returned from college - a colorful "nose" glasses holder which I use daily). In the evening we went to the Olive Garden where I ordered my favorite - the portobello mushroom ravioli. Afterwards, we headed to Edwards Cinema where I now qualify as a senior citizen. Sigh, yes I am 55 years old. (How did that happen?) I figured that I might as well take advantage of one of the few benefits of growing older. We saw "The Golden Compass" - very entertaining. We returned home late and celebrated with birthday cake, chocolate, of course!