Beneath the Wraps

          I’m not really sure why I was the privileged one put on the mailing list for Alpine Ridge.  Perhaps I had made the request – but it would have been over four months ago.           I received a letter last month informing me that I would have the opportunity to meet with a director and nurse if I had any questions concerning mom.  I assumed that my three sibs would be getting the same letter.  They never did.           And just the other day, I received a calendar schedule for this month – first one that has come in the mail since January when we took mom there to live.  Really?  I remember asking about them back in March – but I never received a hard copy of one.  I did find one on the web and have looked at it and will still refer to it as I sometimes misplace my hard copy – but I am still puzzled at wh...

--> If the school should call while school is still in session, I’ll answer ASAP but if the school calls after school hours, I usually just let it ring until it goes to voice mail.   There have been a few times I’ve answered, but had wished I would have had the voice mail recording so that I could listen to the message again.   Usually it is either the principal or her secretary who leave the message.   Both have made announcements as though they mean it.   But yesterday I got the final message of this season.               The voice was less than enthusiastic.   Somewhat monotone and robotic sounding. It sounded like a school marm who had just been dismissed from teaching and at the last second had been asked, “Oh, could you do one final announcement before you go?”    It also had the feel of a spliced recording made from the 60’s on one of those old reel-to-reels. T...

As a child, I was pretty much on the gullible side – or perhaps just wanted so much to believe in the unreal that I tried to make it real. I recall an Easter when my Aunt Alice purchased two white bunnies.   She gave the bunnies to the children of her two brothers.   Patrick and I called ours “Pinky” (though Patrick himself most likely didn’t have anything to do with the naming; it sounds like I came up with the name and forced him to go along) and Kevin and Michelle named their rabbit “Greenfeet” or so I believed. I was fascinated by both Dr. Seuss “Horton” stories – in the latter, the egg hatched at the end of the story and out came a bird that had Horton’s head.   How fascinating.   I wondered if it would work on rabbits as well.   It doesn’t. Never mind that Pinky was only three or four weeks, totally uncooperative and wouldn’t sit on the egg unless I was holding her on top of it (or him.   I don’t think I really knew if Pink...

Whenever the Wind Blows When I fall asleep I sleep quite hard Whenever the wind blows Slumber invites me Into worlds beyond this one When I fall asleep My eyelids become heavy My thoughts are put on hold Whenever the wind blows My husband can’t believe How quickly I drift off When I fall asleep How the trees dance And leaves often fall Whenever the wind blows There’s a calm cool breeze That surrounds me but I miss it When I fall asleep Whenever the wind blows                                                                                  ...

I mention my discovery of Mr. Terupt in this post .   Rob Buyea makes reference to several books throughout the two books that I’ve read and I have made my journey into some of those books. So here are my reviews on “Belle Teal” by Ann M. Martin and “Belle Prater’s son” by Ruth White “Belle Teal” is told in first person by a girl who’s been named after her grandma – Belle Teal.   The story takes place roughly 1961 – 1962 I’m guessing in Virginia. Two things stand out for me.   One is that Belle’s grandmother has Alzheimer’s or another form dementia.   It isn’t explained.   Even back then – there wasn’t the same understanding that we have now – and are still trying to explain. The other is/was the relationship between her classmates.   One is a black student who has just transferred into an all white school.   Another is a high and mighty princess, also a first timer for that particular school. The other is the son of an abusive drunkar...

When we first moved into the ward, our ward had been assigned to clean the building the last four months during the year.   It was finally changed to every third month – which is what I thought should be done all along.   But who am I? Before we left the house, I took something for my allergies, as I knew we’d be going to the garden, which would probably make my sneezing act out even more. Usually our family is there at least three or four Saturdays to assist.   When we arrived yesterday, I figured it was the Elder’s Quorum that was in charge, as there were doughnuts, juice and chocolate milk to reward the cleaners afterwards.   Jenna handed me a vacuum cleaner and told me that “we” were going to vacuum. “I” started out with the Relief Society room and then worked my way to the nursery and then the primary room.   I didn’t have to get any of the rooms on the other side of the chapel as I was told somebody else took care of that. The vacuum cleaner ...

--> The school that Jaime attends is surrounded by three ball fields – one to the south, one to the west and one to the north west.   In the center is a parking lot where many parents will drop off and pick up their children.   For the most part the lot remains empty during the school season.   But on the last week or two the parking lot is filled with more cars than parking spaces. I told Jenna to come and look for me in the Church parking lot – which I learned has become the overflow parking for the softball fans.   I called out her name last night, for I could see her searching the Vantana parking lot.   I’m certain she’ll remember to look for the car in the Church parking lot for the remainder of school. Yesterday morning I had Highness as the sun made its way over the horizon and could take him for a walk without getting caught in the rain.   We left the house at 7:30 but school doesn’t start until 8:40. As I passed...

                    Jenna had a high pain thresh hold for many years and didn’t seem whimpy at all.   But now she seems to be the opposite – making mountains out of molehills (so to speak) She took a spill quite recently and landed on her hand.   In the process she may have sprained her wrist.   She wore an ace bandage to school and says she wants a cast – but I don’t believe that her wrist is broken.   But she says she is too weak and has a tough time with it.   One specific example that she used was in getting dressed. I reminded her about Katy Plumis who you can read about here and here . Jenna asked me to remind me about how Katy lost her arm.   I told her that Katy had been thrown out of a car because she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.   Katy’s cousin was killed in that same accident. Jenna then says to me that she’d rather lose her arm than h...

--> When Jenna was younger, we would go for walks ALL of the time.   I would point things out as we passed different yards.   “Oh, look at the flowers”   “See that pretty pin wheel”     The thing that she seemed to overlook with each yard I pointed out was the well.   I never understood why she couldn’t see them.   Several yards contained some form of a wishing well.   I don’t know how many walks we took before I realized she was looking for a “whale” ******************************************************************* Jenna was three the first time we had taken her to Arizona.   We were actually in the city part when Jenna asked, “Are we in a dessert?”   I turned around in disbelief.   How did she know that Arizona is a desert state?   “Yes we are.” I proudly beamed. Jenna appeared to be highly disappointed.   And here is why: “I have looked and looked and I have not see...

Amongst mom’s journals are more photos of – who are these people? Corey scanned the photos he had come across and emailed them to me asking if I might possible be able to identify any of members.   We didn’t actually know if they were photos from our family or my mom’s stepfather and the only grandpa that we ever knew. Uncle Bruce said he’d be coming to town to visit mom. I wasn’t certain what month he would arrive but said he could come to the Memorial Day BBQ if he happened to be in town at that time.   It wasn’t until we were at the BBQ that I learned he had initially thought he’d come in June, but changed plans for the BBQ. I had told Corey to bring the photos to the BBQ and ask Uncle Bruce about them – as he might be the only one with some clue – though Bruce doesn’t seem like the sentimental type – not at all.   Nor does he really know his dad or his dad’s side of the family – which is where it was decided that most of the photos were from.  ...

I recall a few of my birthdays were cooler than normal – requiring a sweatshirt or summer jacket.  Never a rain slicker!  Not quite a monsoon but certainly not what I’ve grown accustomed to.  I can’t see to drive on the roads.  There’s not enough light.           Corey and Joh offered to pay for new glasses – but I don’t know that a stronger prescription is really the answer.  The way the doctor explained it to me is that I have weird shaped eyes that just don’t seem to let in the right amount of light needed for me to see throughout each day.  I’m certain that I will go blind eventually.            Besides I’d rather have spent the money on shoes or new pants for Roland or something that seemed to take precedence for me.  And we have been blessed in major ways.           On Saturday Jenna spen...

--> I we nt to Alpine Ridge where mom is staying.   I was surprised to see Harold sitting on her bed and visiting with her.   He was saying that he has six boys – while mom has only four children – two girls and two boys.   But she claims to have a lot more pictures than Harold. I told her I had come to take her to a family dinner – but we had time to visit before we left.   Jenna’s eyes lit up when Harold mentioned Peanut Brittle.   He said he had been in a place before this one and they let him make peanut brittle in the microwave.   But one day the microwave started smoking and they never let him in the kitchen again.   And then he had to move. Jenna absorbed it all – hanging on to his every word.   I decided that his mind works the same as mom’s and his time frame is different as well as some of his facts.   He said he wanted to take mom flying – not that he’s a pilot.   He wouldn’t be driving the plane, but would...