Nature Songs ~~~~

OCTOBER, 2001 ~ continued ~

October 10, 2001 - It was a second miserable night for me. My stomach burned and hurt so much, any amount of tossing and turning, propping up on pillows or trying in the process to relieve the thorn piercing my peaceful night was not to be. Apparently, what I have is not the same as what Tbird and her group were experiencing. Their trials and tribulations only had to be endured for twenty-four hours.

I once again dragged myself to workout in the water, but with my knee still swollen from the stab at doing Yoga and not feeling well, I took my time and did everything at a slower pace. One of these days I shall get back in better shape....

When Lady arrived to spin her magic within the walls of the house, I was feeling no better. Her birthday present to me helped take my mind off how I felt. A purple ribbon tied around some beautiful purple paper with butterfly designs and flowers was wrapped so prettily I hated to mess up the paper, but open the present, I did. Inside was a small purple Liz Claiborne handbag! Just the thing for me to carry on the days I go out with the Red Hatters! I love my purple handbag.

Having promised Mother I would make a short visit with her, it was already getting dark by the time I drove over that direction. My stay was short, but she was okay with that since I left her watching the baseball playoffs.

Maybe tonight will go better for me.

October 11, 2001 - A phone call from Allan last evening and plans were made for me to go back to Morganton with him to pick up his truck. It was fixed and ready yesterday, but since he worked EMS, he couldn’t go over to get it. He sounded awful on the phone. The allergy season is getting to him and he broke down and phoned his doctor to get some medicines to help him.

The new early water class was worked into my schedule for the day - which is one of THOSE days again. Thankfully, I am feeling a bit better today, but still not wanting to eat.... I took (well, okay! He drove.) Allan to Morganton to pick up his pickup. Good thing the work done was covered by the warranty. The cost was over $600! That’s an expensive diesel leak....

Burke County needed my assistance today. Tbird was tied up with things at work and with the boys. Dad had an appointment in Blowing Rock and Giggles had an appointment as well. Dad didn’t have time to leave work to pick her up and get to the office on time. He was not able to watch her during his appointment as well. I was only about two blocks away from her daycare while in Morganton, so instead of having to drive back later in the day, I stopped on the way back home to pick her up from daycare. She was one happy youngster when she was me. A quick hug of my leg and she lowered her head to make a beeline to her cubby to retrieve her stuff. She was coming home with me - no matter what! There she was dragging the diaper bag and her blanket across the room, weaving through the other children. She was ready to go.

We spent a delightful afternoon together and then she slept as we drove up the mountain. I sat in the truck with her and allowed her to get most of her nap out while Dad went in to see the doctor first. About fifteen minutes before her appointed hour, she had to be awakened, and we walked into the office so she would be ready for her turn. That was a turn she didn’t want to take, so I went into the room with her. Now, is she spoiled or is it that she just loves her Grandma!!! She cried to stay with me when I was brought home before they headed back into Burke county.

I’m excited. Cotton is supposed to fly in to Charlotte in the morning. She is to judge an agility trial there. Her plans are to fly in early in the morning and rent a car to drive up here to spend the remainder of the day. She has a work related conference call to take part in before she drives up, so it will be midday when she arrives. I won’t be here when she arrives since our Red Hat group will be at the Expo together for food and shopping, so Allan will be here to greet her. She will spend some time with Mother and when it’s time to return to Charlotte, I’ll ride with her and spend the night there. One of the others will give me a ride back home since we all plan to get together there in Charlotte for Supper Saturday evening. She will also be tied up on Sunday with the trials and plans to fly back home early Monday morning. Just hope all goes well for us. Rain is supposed to fill up the weekend - hope the building at the dog agility place is large enough to have the event indoors. There are around 200 dogs signed up for the event .... I can see me now ... sitting out in the rain watching the events of the day ....

October 12, 2001 - This is the day! My daughter arrives in North Carolina from New Jersey. The Red Hatter’s Group is coming together to wear the red hats and purple outfits for the first time. Just hope and pray that all goes well. Tbird called before 7 am to ask me to pick Giggles up from daycare so she could spend more time with her Aunt Cotton. After all the ones here at home all refer to her as “Little Cotton.” There is a strong resemblance between the two of them - both in action and movements.

Only three of us had the nerve to follow through with wearing the red hats, but we found lots of interest from others and really had a wonderful time together. Yes, we did call a lot of attention to ourselves and had to answer bunches of questions. Several ladies had already heard of the group and were eager to join us in future ventures. It was a good feeling to bring out a smile and pave the way for others to join us. We also got some good discounts on some of the things we purchased and the mall manager happily held doors open for us as we entered the “flea market” or open stores. He was there to open those same doors for us as we left that area and went back through the regular retail stores section that is open all week. There is much for me to explore after my first two visits. I don’t hold up for very much walking around on the concrete floors.

My first Christmas present in hand along with some candles, my first “America” shirt to wear, and a few ornaments, I anxiously walked in the house to celebrate my daughter’s arrival.

She was telling about being apprehensive about flying, but once she saw the dinky plane, she knew she was safe and immediately relaxed. Since fewer people are flying the Airway is using the smaller planes for many of the flights to save money. There were two incidents to share with us. One - doing a lot of AKC judging, she keeps her travel bag handy with the equipment she might need. She grabbed it up to bring with her this trip. Only after she got here did she remember that she had a pocketknife in the bag! When her luggage was checked, it was not found. It was not that small.

Two, the check points require picture ID’s. She went through four checkpoints and showed her New Jersey driver’s license. The unusual thing about this is the fact that her active license has no picture on it. She uses an expired card because it has a picture on it and not one of the checkpoints bothered to check the card itself. There are some loopholes in the system being used for checking people out.

Before long the house was full of children and adults sharing back and forth. The time passed much to fast and it was time to leave.

October 13, 2001 -
I sit and ponder
I savor the moment
There’s quiet and aloneness
A solitude of renewal

No duties to carryout
No person expecting
The phone will be silent
As the morning progresses

Breakfast provided
A large spread for choosing
Beds will be made up
But not on my terms

Another cup of coffee
Feet up on the bed
Pillows to prop on
Car awaiting my beacon

Life out of town
A stop on the road
Night in a motel room
Time spent - ALONE

It was like old times. Cotton and me. We travel well together and have done so in the past.

She and Wes cooked a big pot of spaghetti sauce and noodles for supper yesterday. NascarKid came carrying in the bag of ready mixed salad and jack p’ lantern cookies for dessert. We all sat around the house talking and watching the small ones till time to move along.

Each went their own way. Cotton and I stopped to see Mother a few minutes and then headed down Highway 321 to Charlotte. Our destination was the Carowinds exit and Sleep Inn.

The Dog Trials Officials had the room ready and waiting. A bright red bag of goodies and snacks awaited signaling Welcome.

This morning, I drove the leased white Oldsmobile over to the course and left Cotton to get her judging things underway. Nothing could begin until she arrived to give out her map for setting up the course and give her stamp of approval.

Personally, I headed back to the motel where I took advantage of the breakfast bar and decaf coffee. Choosing a small blueberry muffin, toasting a small bagel while drinking some orange juice, I carried them back to the room to eat.

Driving a midsize white car with Florida license tag was a bit unnerving. Those are the type cars stopped more often for inspection since they are often tied in with drug runs and such.... Now they are more importantly associated with terrorist activities. Surely one look at me or my daughter and they would immediately know that we don’t fit the profile.

Around midday the others are coming down to see Cotton in action as she judges the running of dogs. We will all go out for supper this evening before I head back home to check on my own two dogs that are in charge of the house while I am gone.

Cotton will be alone tonight. Tomorrow more trials and then she’s off to New Jersey once again.

October 14, 2001 - No church this morning. I know the importance of going and I am here watching the service on television. The legs are hurting again. The same knee is tender and swollen. Poor Cotton is having to deck out in her rain gear today and station herself in the midst of the trial run judging the dogs even as it rains. At least today’s time will be shorter than yesterday. Weather couldn’t have been more perfect yesterday. We got sunburned a bit, but that’s okay. We enjoyed a good day.

The boys and their families arrived about two o’clock and watched the events until the last one was run about three. Since Cotton had some of that judging bookkeeping following the runs, we loaded up and headed back to her motel room to await her and Tbird. Tbird has been attending a “Ladies of Faith” meeting at the Charlotte Coliseum and joined us for supper at the Texas Steakhouse. There we were six children and five adults in one motel room waiting. It doesn’t take long to learn how close the quarters are and what good toys beds become to small ones. The older boys had their Game Boys and were busy challenging each other. The younger ones migrated from one thing to another. It was only after they brought an electric toothbrush minus its battery to be put back together that we realized what the noise we heard was along with the “Let me! It’s my time now.” I’m sure they have clean teeth for now.

Supper was a bit of a challenge as well. We were seated at six o’clock. Our party of twelve had to sit at two separate tables - with the aisle between us. Our waitress was dealing with her first ever big party of people. We had to step in and guide her several times since some of each table happened to be at the separate tables. One hour and twenty minutes later, we were served. Overall the children did very well through the long supper, and we had to admit that the food was good. I brought home my sweet potato and half my steak for enjoy today.

NascarKid came home with me and decided to do an all night marathon at the computer. I look for him to sleep a long time today. I will need to go over and see Mother and tell her about our trip Meanwhile, there is a downpour of rain outside. I have to wonder about Cotton and how she is doing out there in the rain today.

October 15, 2001 - What a phenomenal method of beginning a new week! If it’s to be something out of the ordinary, I’m the one to do it. One has to wonder at times if there may be a touch of Alzheimer beginning to take hold of my thinking process. On the other hand I’ve heard that if you are aware that you have forgotten anything or done a deed out of the ordinary then you don’t have Alzheimer. The old mind is only getting forgetful.

To begin with, I didn’t want to get up. That meant that I was a bit late delivering the dogs over in the country to get their nails clipped and fur washed and shiny. From there I drove to Q4L for my regular water workout. Yes! There was a parking space for me right up close to the door. I got out of the car, turned around and opened the back door of the car. As I reached in to pick up my gym bag, there was no bag to pick up! Then I remembered. After putting Charlie in his crate for the trip, I forgot to go back for the bag waiting there right beside the backdoor of the house.

No need to think about rushing home to retrieve it and return. By then, the class would be over. Instead, I drove up the road a short ways to Hardee’s and proceeded through their drive-through. A large cup of decaf coffee and sausage biscuit took the place of working out. When I arrived back home with coffee and biscuit, Allan was there and wondered why I left the back door wide open when I left ... So began my week ...

The drive back through the country about noon to pick up my two babies was a bit more leisure. I had time to take in all the beautiful colors of Fall gleaming in the bright sunlight. The newspaper’s written report of Fall colors reported that they would not be as bright as last year’s showy array. The trip up the mountain last week and the drive today seem to prove that report incorrect. The reds and yellows are ablaze with stunning brightness. Dogwoods have never shown in such glory as they do this year. The brilliant orange colors are not to be forgotten. They dazzle with light and richness of color, adding depth to the reds and yellows.

An answer to my e-mail to Cotton this morning, assured me that she had made the trip back to New Jersey safely this morning with no hitches or delays. This evening she called and we talked for a long time about all the fun we had over the weekend and wandered off into other topics along the way. Seems, even though her nephews think her to be “Cool,” they really wore her down with all the activities they did together. She took a long nap yesterday afternoon when she got back to her motel room at the end of the dog trials. Her supper was a carryout from the KFC a short distance from the motel - quite a difference from the night before.

I ended up with four Grandkids for a spell last night. BingoKid had played with DynoKid and when time for Tbird’s choir practice at church neared, BingoKid’s parents were not home and Dad had about reached his limit with Giggles antics for the day. She called to see if I would take the three of them along with NascarKid who had been here since the night before. It was about nine o’clock when all were gone.

I brought in a small bike Allan left here that BuddyBoy had outgrown. With training wheels still attached, it was ready and waiting to be rode. Giggles immediately took a liking to it. She does not have the strength to make the peddles go completely around. That will quickly come with more practice. For the evening she sat on the seat and toes barely touching the floor the bike was weaving its way throughout the house. “Happy, happy, happy, happy ! I’m riding my big girl bike!” She sang through the evening and every once in a while, she called to a brother or cousin, “Hey, look, look! See? My big girl bike! I got a big girl bike.” Now to get a helmet on her and make it legal for her to ride outdoors. Helmets are now the law here in North Carolina.

While NascarKid remained here at home, the other three went with me to the nursing center to take Mother some Cokes. Sunday was another day she refused to get out of bed... Just as today, she refused to get up. She says she doesn’t feel good, but won’t tell us any other symptoms that may let us know what is going on with her physically. I pointed out today that her ice cup was still in the window where I had placed it a week ago Sunday past to her nurse. Then I turned around and took it out to go get some ice for Mother....

Now to see how the rest of the week progresses ... Much has already been planned including tomorrow when I make the rounds to pick up the three of Tbird’s brood since she and hubby are tired up in other appointments. There is an appointment to get my hair trimmed. Thursday is a workday at schools in Burke County. I’ll have the boys that day. Friday, is the day I go back to the doctor ... Not to forget about the Weigh Down Class tomorrow. I didn’t make it to the class last week.

October 16, 2001 - 2:05 am ... and I hear that muffler of the car bringing the Charlotte Observer to my box for my convenience. That reminds me that I saw a box the mail lady left at the front door yesterday afternoon when I left to visit Mother. I forgot to come back and bring it in the house. I have no desire to go out right now and get it. It will just have to wait until daylight. My two puppies are asleep. If I head toward any outside door all that shrill yapping will begin and they will be having their contest to see which one can out-bark the other. I’ve noticed that it is more a game between the two of them to bark than it is to be upset about the going and coming of people.

My intention is to make the eight o’clock water class this morning and stay through the next one. That will give me time to get ready for the new Weight class at eleven. I’ve had reports that the new leader is quite good and quite a few are registered for the ten weeks duration.

Perchance, I’ll have time to get my nails done before leaving to pick up the children. My false thumb nail that I flipped off over a week ago is still not replaced. I put a coat of nail polish on the stub of a nail so it would blend in with the others and so far, I can’t tell that many people have even noticed that it is different. Folks don’t really pay that much attention to things about me ... I’ve learned that when you are on the heavy size folks have a tendency to look away from you instead of noticing anything - good or bad- about your demeanor.

October 17, 2001 - Time was at a premium all day yesterday. I got to the two water classes and had time for about 15 minutes in the steam room before the new weight class. I think it is called Weight Management this time. I like the aspects of this class and where it is headed. Emphasis is placed on proper eating habits, exercise and good health practices. There will be no weekly weigh-ins! The instructor feels that puts too much emphasis on the actual weight loss and not enough on long term health benefits. Yes! I am in agreement with him on that issue. He also stated that if there is not some evidence of better weight along with what we are doing that we should contact a nutritionist to work with us on a solid and healthy food plan to supplement our program. Wonder what he will have to say when I tell him what the doctor told me about “not to expect more weight loss because I can’t speed up my metabolism enough to work off the extra weight ...”

It was a rush to go directly to the nail salon and get my fingernails renewed and make a quick stop at the grocery store to get a few foods for the Grandkids to have later this afternoon. I chose to paint my nails a purple fantasy, but they actually are more of a darker shade of pink - nothing like the dark iridescence of the purple just removed. When I arrived at the house to change from the truck to the car, my brother’s car was sitting in the drive. His oldest son had brought him by the house to give me a belated birthday card with a $50 gift certificate in it to be spent at Michael’s Craft Store in Hickory. We sat in our respective vehicles side-by-side in the driveway and visited a short time until he left to spend some time with Mother. I quickly parked the truck, carried in the few groceries and then took off in the car to make the backroads marathon run to elementary school, middle school and daycare.

Turns out NascarKid “needed” (as in wanted) a new beanie for hat day at school tomorrow. We stopped and let him look for something. At Kmart, there was not a covering for his head which suited him, but we picked up a floppy green hat for DynoKid. He didn’t ask for it, but it’s not easy to buy things for one and not let the other have a little something. With Giggles safely snapped in the carseat, DynoKid sat in the locked car with her, we stopped at a sports store and found a toboggan for NascarKid which we both agreed on as a good purchase for him. It cost more, but he will use it more.

It must have been around seven or so when all the children were packed up in Dad’s truck with all their school gear and headed home. I headed to bed.

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