Nature Songs ~~~~
SEPTEMBER, 2002 ~ continued
September 15, 2002 ~ Riddle Me This ~~ Here we are experiencing the worst drought ever in our area and no one knows for sure how long it will hang on with its tenacious tentacles. Now we have some rain as the scattered bits and pieces of Tropical Storm Hanna pass through the Foothills. Sounds good to be getting some rain. We need every drop that we can gather. That is where the riddle appears. Why would we be in desperate need of water and when it finally arrives, there is a warning for flash flooding? It's not like we would be receiving buckets full falling all at once. It is a gentle rain without all that much accumulation.
The explanation is so simple! We have grave warnings of flash floods with only a few inches of rain. Over the past months as the water is depleted from the earth, a transformation takes place. The hot sun acts as an oven and bakes the red clay covering the surface forming a tough crust. In reality, as the rain hits the hardened dirt, it bounces off the same as if it were paved and runs off instead of soaking into the ground. Thus, even though there is not a boudacious amount of rain, most of it runs off and collects in the streams and low-lying places. North Carolina has 100 counties and 96 of them are under flash flood warnings. Personally, I feel that the huge cracks such as in my yard, would have to collect some of the water before it runs off down the hill, through the pipe under the boulevard and on its journey toward the river. Pity it doesn't head toward John's River. When I crossed it Friday going to and from Morganton, I couldn't help but notice that only a tiny stream of water was meandering along a dry bed of baked mud and rocks. Generally, it is so much wider and a great play for canoeing or kayaking.
I'm still wondering about the actions of the city when it sent out the water truck to wash down the streets. Letters were mailed out to the whole county since parts of the county have purchased water rights from the city. We are officially on a Level 1 water restriction. The list contains: water flowers only enough to keep them alive - between 9 PM and 4 am; use washers and dishwashers as little as possible and always be sure to have full loads; take showers of less than five minutes and turn off water when possible during that five minutes; turn off the water while brushing teeth; recycle used water as much as possible for flowers, etc. It would be nice if we could all use the water from the clothes washer and dish washer for the yard. You could go a long way with that water.
September 16, 2002 ~ We got rain - three whole inches - and it even kept up the gentle drops into today a bit. But, considering that we are around fifty inches short over the past four years the amount was more like a tiny ding compared to a dent on a car. We are over seven inches short of the average for this year. We will have beautiful trees this fall as a result of the dry conditions. What price we have to pay for the beauty of trees this fall. Is it worth it?
It's Just The Way We Are Guess all parts of the world have their own little quirks which set them apart from others. North Carolinians are no different. You can always pick us out of a crowd, no matter where we may be. On our first trip to the World Trade Center, Allan decided to dress in the traditional garb of those born and bred living here in the Foothills. He seemed to get more attention from sightseers than the famous Twin Towers as people from other lands stopped to snap pictures of that strange-looking guy. He had a beard at that time which he preened for our trip ahead of time by allowing it to get bushy. The bright red in it glistened in the hot summer's sun. His hair was badly in need of a cut as it was most shaggy, to boot. His ever present cap never left his head even as we ate in crowed dining areas. To finish off the attire, he had on his overalls and the most worn out and dirty tennis shoes of all times. Oh, it seems that I remember he also sported a wad of chaw'n 'bacca protruding from one jaw. Seems a lot of people had never seen the likes of him. Little did they know that he deliberately dressed this way to make a statement of some sort.
Other lesser known facts are quite evident throughout our area if you were to watch and listen. Some of them have been cropping on in e-mail around here. The Charlotte Observer got hold of some and printed them as "You know you're from North Carolina if ..." - Of course, I can't list any of them without adding comments of my own along the way.
¶ You've ever had to switch from heat to A/C in the same day. ER ... Seems I've been doing this the past few days what with the nights down in the sixties or lower and the days shooting uo to the eighties. Today will be up in the nineties. 'Course some folks did it off and on during the day. It's easier to move one button from "Off" to "On" than it is to adjust the temperature gauge. These confangled new gadgets aren't easy to learnt, you know.
¶ Stores don't have bags; they have "sacks." The strangest thing, the cashiers actually ask how you are and smile at you! It's not uncommon for them to share a bit of their day with you or take time to listen to things you have to say. Somehow, when you leave the counter, you will hear, "Now have a nice day." And you know they really do mean it.
¶ You've seen people wear bib overalls to a funeral - and a wedding or party. The strangest is probably the fact that here in North Carolina when folks see a funeral procession coming down the road toward them, they immediately pull over to the right of the roadway and stop.
¶ You've seen a car running in the parking lot at the store, with on one in it no matter what time of the year. Any more this is getting to be a dangerous thing to do. People aren't as trustworthy as in olden times. Cars are being stolen or things out of cars are being taken. On several occasions, a child had been left in the car and been stolen along with the car. More recently, a lady left her ten week old baby in the car along with a three year old as she ran into school to pick up another child from Kindergarten. No one knows what happened, but the car caught fire; the three year old ran into the school to tell his mother. No one was able to rescue the baby from the back seat of the flaming car.
¶ You've used "fix" as an adverb. Example: "I'm a'fixing to go to the store." That's pretty much what you hear all the time.
¶ You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked. ER, ... Once again .... I'm guilty as charged. After all, what are neighbors for? They always watch to see who comes and goes up and down the drive. If there wuz a stranger, they would investigate and do something about it.
Everybody knows what the major four food groups are. They are BBQ, sweet tea, giant homemade biscuits, and Jell-O with marshmallows. Who can go through a week without the benefit of one or more of these?
¶ You've eaten at all the following restaurants: Waffle House, Dairy Queen and Krispy Kreme. Who wou'dof known that one day the whole world would find out about our scrumpusous Krispy Kremes? For so long they were our secret delights.
¶ The local paper covers national and international headlines on one page, but requires six pages for sports. Ouch ! How can anyone do with out their sports. It's the national pastime here and starts out at a very early age
You think that a Coke is a "Coke," not a "soda." And for goodness sakes, never mention "pop." A pop is what you call a sucker on a stick or your Dad.
You find 90 degrees Fahrenheit "a little warm." That's the sort of weather we have round bouts here.
¶ Distance is measured in minutes. Directions are "take a right" or "left." Only after living here can you understand the sense in the way we give directions. The roads are curvaceous to say the least. One second you may go west and the next second will be south and there are those roads where you take a complete circle as you climb up or come down the mountainous roads. Thus, the time element. The type of road you travel may take more time than some of the other roads because of the curves or stops.
¶ Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a farm tractor on the highway. Not to mention maybe a logging truck overloaded with giants trees on their way to be turned into houses or furniture.
¶ You've seen all the big bands ten years after they were popular. Of course! And they are still making their rounds.
September 21, 2002 ~~ And This Is Retirement! ~~ Why is there not a “Beware of Retirement Fatigue” alert to clue the innocent newbies to the club? All those years leading up to this golden age is supposed to prepare you. Someone only failed to pass the word down throughout the ranks that all should work even harder in order to work up the strength to endure the rigors of those Golden Years ahead. Me thinks perchance, responsibilities only increase along with the years. A broader range of obligation forms a rainbow-like arc overhead.
How do I come to realize these things? Through on-hands contact with the situation. Time was when I was working I would look forward to getting back to work on Monday mornings so I could rest. A weekend of racing to meet the schedules of four children with moments of other matters squeezed between trips could have been a hint. I didn’t associate the activities to growing older. I mistakenly took the view of “when the children are through school and on their own, I’ll have time of my own.” Add to that an aging parent to care for and you are sandwiched between the two much like the new advertisement on TV. You know, the one where the creamy white layer gets smushed between the two chocolate chip cookies as bus riders pack onto the seat. I even feel sort of like that white smushed layer that also gets a huge chunk bitten out by the little kid.
This busy past week has more than illustrated the retirement dilemma facing many of the new-age retirement community.. I’ll back up to Thursday of last week. That’s when I had Giggles for one of the two days of the week I offered to keep her. That morning, Giggles and I packed into the car and headed off to pick up NascarKid from Middle School. He had broken one of the brackets around a tooth on his lower braces. We got to Morganton and when they checked his braces, there were actually four brackets loose. Seems he had been eating pretzels which is a definite no-no. After stopping for some lunch since he would be missing his lunch period at school, Giggles went to sleep as we drove down I-40 back to school. NascarKid sat in the car with her while I ran into the school office to sign him back in. Then he had to go by the office to pick up his hall pass which allowed him back into class. Security in schools is an issue not experienced back in my school days.
Good thing it was a cool day. I was able to allow Giggles to sleep two hours before waking her up. Mother had no candy for the staff at the nursing center and no Cokes for herself. Having promised her to get some, I knew if I went home it would be difficult to leave home later to get them. I sat in the parking lot away from the entrance, rolled down the car windows, and read the paper while Giggles slept. It was four o’clock that afternoon when Giggles had to meet up with Mom - in Morganton - to make a trip to McDowell County to watch NascarKid play soccer. ( I had forgotten to stop at the drugstore for myself.)
Friday was Mother’s day for attention. I had promised to paint her fingernails that bright red color she so loves. Her eyesight is almost gone and her world has closed in on her. She is becoming fearful and depressed. It bothers me so much to watch as her basic needs are being neglected by the staff in general. Talking with the nurses and CNAs is of little help. I have to come up with another idea. What do I mean by “neglected?” I walk into her room to find her in the wheelchair parked sort of mid floor. The table is pushed up against the night stand out of her reach. The phone is on top of the container of candy on the night stand. Her glass for Coke is on the night stand with the remains of lemonade from an early day when I fixed the last can of lemonade. Her water cup is in the basket sitting beside the television. Her TV is off. Mother sits - alone and neglected. This is one of the better nursing homes.
Mother ends up staying in bed for five days. She refuses to get up. She is depressed. She is left much too much to herself with her basic needs not served. Friday evening her nightgown is put on her for the night. Monday afternoon we discuss the fact that she is still wearing the same gown. The weekend help has not done anything much. Mother has a way of saying she needs no help. Tooooo many of the help take her at her word and leave her be! Their tactics and mine have to change. Luckily, we not only got her up today, but the doctor came to see her while I was there. I got to discuss her eyesight, sore heels, depression and need to be out of bed with the doctor. He has prescribed an antidepressant for her which I’m sure will help. I was able to point out the sign I placed on the wall reminding them to help her with things. In fact, I’ve about decided to move that sign to her door in an even more dominate place. It does have a really cute red dragon on it.
Sunday afternoon and evening I have the three grand kids while Tbird goes to choir practice at church. She picks up Giggles, but I keep the boys. I have them all day Monday since it is a work day for Mom. Tues. morning I meet in Burke County bright and early for that trip with Giggles to the dentist for her first fillings to get rid of those Sugar Bugs in her teeth. It’s after six before Dad arrives to take her home. I meant to get some prescriptions Sunday evening and forgot them. Monday was not a good day and I didn’t get them. I took my last blood pressure pill Monday morning, but not to worry I have another type BP pill to take as well. It has to cover for the one I’m out of. I finally get to the drugstore to pick up my meds shortly before closing time Tuesday. Once home, I open the bottle and immediately realize there are way too few pills. I count and find there are only thirty. There should be sixty-eight. No pill for the night, either. I take the bottle back Wednesday morning to get the rest of the prescription. This is one that costs me $40 because it’s not on the insurance company’s accepted list. Once I have the correct number of pills, I head back home and take a dose.
The phone rings. I’m needed once again. There is an 8:40 am slot open for NascarKid to have his eyes examined and get fitted with contacts. He is 18 months past due for the checkup and doctors say with his vision as bad as it is, the contacts are better for him at his age. He is fitted with the two-week-disposable lens since they seem to fit better. He practices and learns to care for them and I head back down I-40 to sign him in for school. Giggles and I head toward the nursing center where I meet the doctor. Giggles has her brand new Monsters, Inc. Video and shares it with Mother. Dad wakes her up back home about five o’clock and takes her home.
Monday, next? DynoKid has to be taken to have his retainer checked out. And, yes, you guessed it! I agreed to take him. Anything can happen between now and then. Since a week ago Wednesday when I filled up the car with gas, I’ve run the car here and there nearly three hundred miles and maybe thirty of them has been for me. I told Tbird, she may have to buy me some gas. My retirement funds are running low.
September 22, 2002 ~~ Autumn Enters With the morn, the summer will be past forever for this year. A summer full of many firsts for our area. Never has there been so little rain. Never has there been so little water in the lakes and streams. Never has there been a sink hole which no one can figure out the best way for repairing the damage entailed. The changing colors of some of the trees is ahead of the fall weather due to the dry summer, Anticipation of experiencing a drier autumn then ever before brings much trepidation with the whispers of the many dangers of forest fires. The mountains and hills are filled with rotting trees downed way back when Hurricane Hugo came barreling through here when it turned inland once it came ashore at Charleston, SC .
I spied the very first hummingbird at the feeder outside the window this morning. I’ve kept my distance from the feeder to keep from scaring the birds should they come. Of course, I scared this tiny mite since I didn’t expect to see it this late in the season. Perhaps it was already traveling south and stopped by for refreshments before moving. I only got a quick glimpse, but it appeared to have a small amount of yellow near its neck. I’ve never seen a hummingbird as small, or with that coloring. Another week and it is time to put up the bird feeder and allow the hummers to make it’s way to the deep South.
The rain we’ve had here recently was enough that seemingly overnight the dogwood tree outside my bedroom window has an abundance of buds set on the tip of the limbs ready to bloom come spring. Nature has this way of making the most of what it is offered. The trees have been struggling through the arid summer to survive. The rain comes and the trees bounce into life making quick use of the time left. As the dogwoods form and deliver the beginning of flowers for next spring, the oak trees have put strength into producing acorns. By this time of year, generally, acorns are already beginning to change from green to yellow to brown. Now they are the lightest of green. Many of the rough caps which hold them to the tree dropped to the ground having never formed the acorn which insures new trees for the future years. Now we have the new acorns which give the hope of new life and a future.
Time with Mother was cut short this afternoon with a call from Tbird. She needed me to help her with two of the children. I visited with Mother long enough to get her fingernails trimmed and apply a coat of red polish which always lifts her spirits. With the promise of bringing the great-grandchildren back to see her, I left to meet them at their church. NascarKid had to been at church for a meeting with his youth group. Mom was supposed to have a counseling session with a client, but the client called and canceled at the last moment. I drove out to the church in a downpour of rain accompanied with thunder and lightening. Tbird was in her car waiting for me along with the children. Her client had called at the last moment and canceled the appointment. She agreed to meet me back at the nursing home to visit with Mother until time for her choir practice before church.
Back home with DynoKid and Giggles, we chose to have corn dogs for supper. Who would ever think that corn dogs could be served three different ways? Once they came out of the toaster oven which thawed them out and made them hot and juicy, I was ready to have mine straight from the oven. DynoKid went in search of the barbecue sauce to drown his in before eating. Miss Giggles would only eat hers if first a slice of cheese was draped around the corn dog and then it was micro waved to melt the cheese. Seems she enjoyed the cheese and cornmeal around the hot-dog more than the hot-dog hidden in the center. She was able to share with Charlie and Oreo some of that juicy meat and insisted on having one more slice of cheese for her own enjoyment.
Allen came by while the children were here and wanted his own specialty of the house - a peanut butter sandwich. Alas, there was no peanut butter since I forgot to buy more when I shopped for groceries. He had to settle for something else to munch. The one item that I need to keep on the shelf in the lower cabinet at the telephone is peanut butter. It is the universal food the whole family expects to find at any given time here. So popular in fact, I always buy the larger size jars and usual keep a spare on hand. Guess first thing in the morning I need to pick up a jar of peanut butter and not leave myself defenseless should another come in search of their favorite snack food ... Or is it really their staff of life!
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Lenoir,NC 28645
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©2002 by Stormy Jeanne
