Nature Songs ~~~~
SEPTEMBER, 2001
"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
~~Abraham Lincoln
September 1, 2001 - Lazy!! One should not be so laid back and carefree. Absolutely nothing on the agenda - absolutely nothing accomplished all morning. No one to drop by since all the kids and their broods are at Family Camp in Virginia enjoying togetherness. The only real contact for the whole day was with Mother.
The Album got the attention and most of what I had chosen to use is now in place. The many collages of the little foster child, his growth and activities are woven together as I pieced and wove parts of pictures together showing him interacting with family and friends from age four months, May, 1998. A few pages are saved for adding the last beach experience this summer and his trip to Virginia over Labor Day. I’ve picked out a recent picture to use inside the front cover along with a poem I wrote:
Our Miracle
A baby came to our house
He was a sorrowful sight
His little leg was broken
His body in a cast
We took that little baby
And showered him with love
We taught him how to do things
As our families watched in delight
Now he is growing
We love him even more
The sadness has turned to Happiness
In which we’re all enthralled
written by foster grandmother
Midafternoon, something jarred my mind into remembering that I had a trip to make. I promised Tbird to check their mail so it would not have to stay in their mailbox over the long weekend. I needed some gas and noticed as I pulled into the local station that the price had leaped up to $1.34 over night! I rebel at having to pay so much when I can get it cheaper in Hickory, so I didn’t fill up; getting only enough for the day. When I go to church tomorrow, I’ll top it off at a cheaper rate. The round trip there and back was 35 miles.
I stopped at the grocery store and got some bananas to see if they will help my stomach to feel better. It is still sore and bothering me from those few days I went without my prevacid. Any time now, it can get over it’s rebellion and settle down. Another stop to visit with Mother who decided today was not a day to get out of bed and it was time to get back home.
My book arrived today which heralds the fact that I’m now an official published poet! An Eternity of Bliss, published by the International Poet’s Society was stuffed into my mail box with a bunch of other stuff. It’s a beautiful book with red covers and a picture of red tulips on the front. There on page 197 in the upper right-hand corner is my poem, Pin-to-Point. Some poems are on pages with fifteen or so poems, but mine being a little longer, is on a page with only five others. When Mother looked at the book she left an oily print of her hand on the back of it - making the book truly one of eternal bliss....
September 2, 2001 - I got up plenty early enough to make it to church this morning. I even turned off the alarm before it blared into action. The music from the radio is enough for me , without that beeping noise that can erupt when the alarm is pushed that second notch. I miss having a clock radio alarm that also has a light connected which comes on with the music. I used to have the music turned down low and the light would be enough to awaken me from a good night’s rest. I would even enjoy having a good night’s sleep and rest more than the light.... dream on ....
Our new pastor was not there. His daughter that he had taken to Florida for college not long ago was in an accident Thursday. He and his wife had to make an unexpected trip back to Florida to see about her and take care of some things. She will be okay according to what I understand, but is having more tests tomorrow. This is the same daughter that had to have her high school graduation delayed because of illness in the city where they lived in Ohio. Hopefully life will be easier and happier for her from here on out. The church will be praying for her and her family. All of this has to be extremely rough on the pastor and his wife as well. They have been through a lot lately. On the plus side, the church came together and did quite well putting together the morning service since the pastor had planned something special that could not be done without his being here.
I can’t believe I opted not to stop and get gas in Hickory. It cost $1.29 there which is a savings from what I spent yesterday, but I felt I had too much in the tank to take time to stop and finish filling it up today. My new pattern came yesterday for the quilt I want to make for Giggles. Chances are I will have to get the material in Hickory. I can get more gas then. I may check in Morganton first, since there is the Rag Bag Shop - if it is still open, that is .... which has the best price on material. The only place here in Lenoir for cloth now is only at Wally World. Their supply is not very large and I need a motley sort of colors which is light colored for the main background of the quilt. The pattern is Fairies in my Garden and it should really be a joy for her. It will be made up of nine different panels depicting fairies and flowers with a few bees and butterflies flitting around.
No trip was made to the nursing center today. Someone was not happy about that fact. Aches and pains discouraged me from leaving the house once I got home from church. All during church my arms, neck, head, eyes, back ... on and on.... bothered me....bla, bla. The left arm is especially sore real deep down and radiating back into the shoulder. Weathermen/women are predicting rain and flash flooding so perchance it is only PRAIN roughing up the innards. It’s got to get better before Wednesday. Whether or not, I’m still taking the trip up the mountain.
Miss Allie phoned this evening to double check and make sure I still plan to go with them Wednesday to see the Tammy Wynette Story at the Flat Rock Theater. (I have to drop by her house and pay my share of the trip and play before we leave.) We leave her church at 9:30 a.m. and stop for an early lunch in Asheville
The play time is 2:15 p.m. and we will probably have a little time to browse around to sightsee or shop a bit before show time - that means a necessity to take along my cane in case it’s required . Carl Sandburg called Flat Rock home and did much of his writing there ... We probably will be back home by dark
The album for Buddy Boy is complete all but the few pictures from the past two weeks. Hopefully they will be added to the rest; only have to hope time is on my side there since Allan will not return home until tomorrow and the trial is on Wednesday. The pictures from the past few days will have to be developed. The poem I wrote is yet to be decided on for how it will be presented. There are some pictures I can use along with it showing the difference from the first day to now. That may be the best way to go with it, but should I use the real pictures on the back of the front of the book or make a brochure type poster instead? I’ll play around with that tomorrow. If I make a poster, copies can be made for others to have a copy to call their own.
September 3, 2001 - 09/03/01 Mon.
Labor Day - Prainy Day! It has rained all day long. Many a picnic and cookout had to be canceled today with all the rain and flash flood warnings out for the day. When I drove up to Wally World to look at fabric and pick up a few things, the traffic reminded me of the fall leaves changing with traffic to and from the mountains coming through. It was traffic bumper to bumper going in both directions. A few trucks were mixed in with the cars, RVs and campers headed back home earlier than planned because of the rain.
Having to pay Allie for my ticket for the play we are going to on Wednesday, I stopped by her house. It was the first time I’ve seen he new bull terrier puppy. He looks huge next to my own dogs and he is only about four months old or so... He loves attention and let us know that we were ignoring him as we talked. It was so good to catch up on things with Allie. While we talked we decided to see about starting up a new group in Lenoir. She had seen a segment on TV this morning on the Red Hat Society. I already knew I would enjoy doing it and it wasn’t long until we were making plans about what we might do. Now to go in search of a red hat. I have the purple clothes to go with it.
Having bought Mother some cokes on special at Wally World and some more candy as well, I drove on over to see her before going back home. Around mid afternoon, all my children were checking in with me as they arrived back from family camp in Wise, Virginia, at Camp Bethel. Allan called to check in, while the others came by the house. Tbird and her crew had to pick up their mail and wanted to share with me that they had won the award for designing their shirts they wore this year. Little Giggles is growing so much with each visit. She is no longer a baby.
Wes and his family had to come over to retrieve Bingo after they unpacked everything at home and taken home a friend that BingoKid took along with him. As usual, Bingo had to be carried out as he refused to follow them out the door. He really seems to like the company of other dogs around him. On the other hand, he was ecstatic to be back with BusyKid and Wendy. He and BusyKid played together the whole time they were here.
Once all were gone and things were quiet, it seemed good to have them back close and a part of the environment here at home. I missed them for those few days.
September 4, 2001 - Twas strange this morning having to load up the dogs with no help again. I miss those times that Ms. Jay rode with me. She’s a lot of company as I drive through the curvy country backroads to the groomer’s home. It has been raining a lot since yesterday and I had to watch the road more carefully since it was still so wet as well as a bit foggy-like. Gear in hand, I was ready to drop off the dogs and head on up to Quest for a good workout this morning.
Oreo was chipper and obliging as he hopped right out of the car and went into the groomer’s little workspace behind her house. The worker that does most of the washing of the dogs in preparation for their cuts and grooming always meets me at the edge of the porch outside the building and saves me a few steps. This morning I went back to the car to get Charlie from his crate. Aha! He had other ideas. He reminded me of an irascible child rebelling a parent’s demand. Charlie would not come out of his crate without a struggle first. He took his hind legs and caught the edges of the door, wedging himself. By the time I got him to come out, the helper was at the car door waiting for him and my instructions on what I wanted them to do for the dogs today.
It felt great getting back into the water today. The new early class started this morning and I missed it. I plan to start coming then, but it changes my plan for going three days a week and stay home on Tuesday and Thursday. (Now to work out another plan.) Everyone clapped when I came into the pool area today... it was nice to have been missed.
The rest of the day has been topsy-curvy. I had to go by EMS to pick up pictures he had taken at the beach and in Virginia from Allen’s truck. Then there was a stop at Eckerd’s to get two rolls of pictures he dropped off for one hour service to be developed and headed home to search through the new pictures to choose some for the Album. I was supposed to go to the dentist to get my royal crown set, but his receptionist called to say he had an emergency come up with another patient. She had a filling to fall out and her bridge came loose. She had decay under the bridge and required some emergency repairs. I will go Thursday afternoon for my own crown and that other filling. That meant I could pick up the puppies earlier than planned.
While the canines were all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, it was a good time for Mother to see them so I drove by the center with the two of them. Mother’s roomy’s daughter was outside at her car when I arrived and she led Oreo inside for me and showed him off to her Mother. All the folks gathered around Charlie as he pranced and begged to get petted. Oreo hung back behind me and watched more from afar. He cared not for the attention being doted on Charlie while Charlie wanted more. It didn’t bother Mother that I only stayed for a short time, but she did tell me that my brother said he would come up to see her tomorrow since I will be out of town. This made her happy.
It’s back home and work on the album for me.
September 5, 2001 - It’s bright and extra early this morning. Early to the tune of before 4 a.m. Yes, I slept a few hours and am very thankful for those few hours. This is the day the special CCATS bus will be taking about two dozen of us Seniors up the mountain to Flat Rock, NC. We are to leave the church at 9:30 and stop in Asheville for an early lunch before taking a left turn toward Hendersonville and on to Flat Rock for the play, The Tammy Wynette Story, which begins at 2:15.
I took time to round up my canvas bag, hand painted with bright red apples and a touch of gold, and changed over some of those things we ladies feel we must have with us all the time to carry on the trip. It’s to be a long day since we aren’t expecting to be back till about dark. If there is time we may do a little shopping before the show. Hence, my larger bag, in case I find something with a note on it, “Stormy Jeanne, buy me!”
I finished up the picture album last night for Allen’s family to take to court with them this morning. I came up four pictures short filling up the slots on all the pages and went to the computer to scan through a CD full of over three hundred pictures - unnamed - in search of four more suitable for using. Once I had it finished I took it up to the Emergency Base since he was working, to leave with him. He had just finished looking through the pages as he stood out on the sidewalk beside the car, when his wife drove up with Buddy Boy. She took time to stand beside my car and looked through the pages several times with delight. They both seemed please with their birthday present from me....
One said, Charlie Dog appears to be pouting. He has kept to himself ever since he got back home from grooming. He heard Oreo growling a while ago when I tried to take off Oreo’s little orange neckerchief because it is tied too loosely around his neck. Oreo wasn’t ready to have it taken off. Charlie came in the room long enough to look over the situation; turned; went back to his little round bed in the living room. Generally by now, he has jumped up on the bed to get warm under my blanket.
Maybe I can snooze off and on another hour before having to arise for the day....
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©2001 by Stormy Jeanne
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