Thursday, July 21, 2011

Prayer for Sis

My sister Lindy is one of those people who speak what they think and you can like it or not...  but you never have to wonder what's on her mind.  She's 8 years older than me and she was married at 15 and had 2 kids by the time she was 20.  Another came shortly after.  

As a child, I'd visit my married teenage sister and I can remember her making chocolate chip cookies and she'd make a huge one just for me.  

When I became an adult and married, I moved into the little green house right beside of hers.  We were neighbors for a very long time.  She introduced each one of my babies to their very first Oreo cookie...  and as they grew up, when she'd see them outside she'd rush out of her house with the cookie bag in her hand to treat them. 

 She visited me almost every day, giving me an adult to converse with amidst the crying babies and dirty diapers.  She was always giving - but on her terms.  I knew never to take advantage of her generosity or she'd let me know!  

We'd ponder over Days of our Lives and Friday's cliffhanger, and talk about what we thought would happen come Monday.   Our long talks would lead us to believe that we'd solved all the worlds problems at the end of the day, and that we were the only ones who had any common sense at all.  It was too bad everyone couldn't be like us! lol 

 Christmas lights would go up early and instead of being hung on the road-side of her big white farmhouse, the side facing our house would be brilliant and complete with Santa and his reindeer and tons of multicolored lights.  All this so my kids could see them when they looked out the window.  

The years have passed, and when I got divorced I moved and I'm no longer her neighbor.  Memories of quiet country summer evenings on the back porch swing watching the brilliant white stars dance around in the black night sky and laughing at each others jokes - are over.  Thanksgiving Day comes and goes now without one of us at the others house begging the poultry seasoning.   The Christmas Decorations have been sold at yard sales and our daily conversations with coffee and cake have become weekly phone chats with the subject being mostly aches and pains.  

Time stands still for none of us, no matter how 
unique we feel we might be.

 She doesn't like her picture taken, and would cringe if she knew it were on the Internet.  So I honor that request begrudgingly.  She wants her rotary dial phone back and wouldn't think of carrying around a cell phone.  When I tell her about my blog, she shakes her head.  She doesn't understand Facebook or Twitter and doesn't want to.

Lindy is a brittle diabetic with a lot of other health problems as well.  On the forth of July, something happened to her eyesight and now she can only see partial in each eye.  Thinking it was from her diabetes, she was sent to Morgantown for a surgery.  But yesterday she was told that it wasn't from her diabetes, but that she had had a stroke.  They wanted to keep her and run tests, but she refused to stay.  She said she gets homesick, but hopefully she will go back for the testing like she should.  

It must be horrible to lose your eyesight.  I can't imagine what it would be like to hear the sweet voice of my granddaughter and not be able to look into those big blue eyes.  

If you think about it..  please say a prayer for my sis.  

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Ear today... Gone Tomorrow?


Boy it's been hot.  But Gracie still insists on her nightly walk.  It's like being in an oven.  Whew!   I usually never have my camera with me anymore but I always have my phone so I count on it to give me a so-so picture if I see something I want to capture.


Like this sunset last night.  It was a lot prettier than the picture.  But hey, what do you expect with a camera phone?


 Gracie's still trying to get used to our running in and out of the house all day and disturbing her peace and quiet.  Today I walked in at lunchtime and she didn't even get up and grab a toy to greet me... she just laid there curled up at her window and looked at me like I was being a real pain.


Yesterday my ex boss called.   He was upset with me because I had left my customers know where I'd moved to, and they are coming to me instead of Miracle Ear.  The conversation did not go well, and in the end we parted on a not-so-good note.  Some day I'll do a post on that particular subject, but tonight I'm too tired.     


Rumor has it that our carved ear is getting complaints that it is 'advertising' our business, and may be going to the board -    One of the board members just purchased a set of hearing aids from us and doesn't seem to have a problem with it ... he lives right across the road... but Geesh.  People need to get a grip!  So, if we have to get rid of the ear, Do you have any other ideas of what we can put up to make an impact so people will know where to 'turn here' without actually advertising?  Gary was thinking maybe a big bear that points toward our house.  What do you think?

Business has been good...  and one of my biggest fears was that we would not get noticed where we are.  But we have had a lot of business from walk-ins.  Go figure.  

A customer and her hubby brought us lunch the other day after we heeded her advice and ordered a ramp with hand rails to be put out front.  The lunch was totally unexpected but appreciated just the same.  We meet some of the kindest people in our business !

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post...  It really made me feel good.

I hope everyone is having a great week!!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Summer Stuff and Killing Gracie

Sometimes it's hard to juggle life, and make sure to include those who mean so much.  


My husband is my best friend I can't imagine my life without him in it.  I probably don't tell him enough, and sometimes I take him for granted.  Gary, if you're reading this, "I love you."



Then there's Gracie, who demands attention 24/7 in her own little way.  What was my life like without her in it?  I seem to have forgotten.


The grandkids are a blessing so huge and I can't help but smile just thinking about them.  God has been so good.


My kids, my friends, my siblings.  The list goes on and on.  How did I survive before they were in my life?


But life is funny, you know.  When one door closes another opens, and when it's one person's time to leave another quickly fills the void.  


I've had people pass in and out of my life, but their memory stays. Mom.  Dad.  Uncles. Aunts.  Friends. Relatives.  All made an impact.  All have a place in my heart.   


Then there's you guys...  my Blogger friends...   
with so much wisdom, humor, and love to share...


It seems the older I get, the more I realize what's really important in life.


It has nothing to do with fine cars, designer clothes, or exotic vacations.  It's more like a close game of Scrabble with my hubby, a five minute conversation with my 3-year old grandson Jake, blowing bubbles with my Rissa...  


Or taking time to read and comment on blogs.  
Me - Bored?  Never!




Dear Diary,
Ok.  I think I have all the evidence I need.  Mom's going to spend some time in the big house after I turn her in for trying to kill me.  Yes, diary... you heard it right.  Oh sure, she tried to make it look sweet and innocent.  'smile big, Gracie...  we have to take a new picture today'.  Yea right.  Her hand went straight for my throat and that's when I knew for sure.  It was the Pooping on the floor or the  turning her in for the m&m's  I don't know what  could have led her to this extreme behavior. I never do anything wrong.  Gracie.