Wrapping Gifts

           After more than two weeks of keeping Ally at home they finally sent her back to school.  I suspect more just to get her out of the house than to believe that she was well enough – but Clair had wanted to wrap gifts and has asked Jaime to assist.  I did not assist as I was in the back room listening to Roland.

          Clair says she has always hated Christmas – though I don’t know if “always” is really the case or if perhaps she found something good about it when she was a child.  When she met Biff and Ally she fell in love with Ally and started to look forward to spending Christmas with her.  I didn’t see what gifts they brought but I suspect may have gone over budget – but maybe not.  They did not purchase all that is intended for Ally.  But still . . .

          When the boys were younger we always had simple Christmases.  That is what we could afford.  Of course there were three of them and only one of Ally.  We may have gone overboard on Jaime’s gifts when it was just her.  And other people would also contribute.  There were many years that we were the recipients of “sub for Santa”. 

          It’s going to be an interesting Christmas this year.

Decorations

         Richard and I picked Jaime up from school on the 6th.  A few days later Jaime and I put up the tree and finally started decorating but left oodles of space on the tree so that Ally could also decorate.  She's been running a fever, learned that she has a kidney infection among the many health problems that she has already been blessed with.  She did manage to put up a few ornaments before she returned to bed.

        On Friday we did the yard.  Well, mostly Biff, Clair and Jaime.  Richard supervised - or at least said that is what he was doing.  Jaime wrapped lights around the pine tree.  She is a mountain goat and was able to step on the rocks and unbalanced ground without slipping.  She put up some ornaments and I put up some.  Still room on the outside tree for more ornaments but we've had rain and wind in addition to the near freezing temperatures.

        Biff and Claire (though mostly Claire) put lights up on the house.  I'll have to have Jaime send me some pictures as I have been having problems retrieving pictures off my phone since our return from Disneyland.  I text them to Jaime and she messages them back to me through facebook.  I do not nor ever will have internet on my phone.

That Cough Has Got to Go

               Neither Richard nor I slept well last night

        I don’t think he’s slept well for the last two months

        I’ve had some regular sleeps

off and on

We both take cold medicine

cough medicine

sleep medicine

and so forth

        We’re driving down to Ashland tomorrow

to get Jaime and bring her home

for a month

        I want Richard to be well

        I want for both of us to sleep again.

What May Feel Like the Duration or Released Before Your Feet are Wet

               Scouting is no longer a calling in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but there was a time when it was – which is still a sore subject for some.  I remember when Richard had been called to be a scout leader for the primary youth.  He was told that it would be a five year calling.  I don’t think he was in for even a year before he called to be first counselor in the Elder’s quorum.

         I think it was just April of this year that Richard had been called as a Sunday School teacher for the 11-14 year-olds.  In July he was called to be the Sunday School president.  Just now he was called as first Counselor in the priesthood quorum.  Wow.  I wonder who the new Sunday School president will be?

         It’s funny how it seems there are some people stuck in callings as though it is a lifetime position and there are others that are released before they’ve had much opportunity to even be recognized as having ever served in that position.  Richard is great at accepting callings regardless of position.  He seems to serve his position longest when he has been second counselor.  Interesting.

A Time When Things Lasted

         I’ve been searching through flash drives in search for some misplaced memory pages I had designed for Jaime.  During my search I have come across scads of photos in which I see different pieces of furniture in the background.

Steven on the lap of my grandpa Ralph

        This couch for instance was reupholstered three different times.  This is how it looked as I was growing up.  The second makeover had similar flowers but in green and orange.  The final also had a green/orange theme but with birds.  It was my least favorite of the three.

same couch in background - the final makeover

        The painting above was removed when mom went into assisted living.  I heard that my niece had taken the couch.

        There is this photo which my brother had posted to his wall and wrote memories about each of the items on the knickknack shelf which remained in the house for over 40 years and still in the same condition – well, with an added feature.  Seems like a combination lock was fastened to the woodwork and remained there as no one knew the combination so that it could be removed.

Keith with Steven one Halloween; me several years earlier

        There are other memories I have as well and will share when I am more focused.

Enjoying the Ocean and her Peeps

 Our Thanksgiving still has not taken place.  

Biff and his brood mostly stay confined to their room - 

even when they are well.  

Richard and I both went to church yesterday - 

though he should have stayed home.  

Jaime spent her dinner with some members of 

our ward and brought home left overs - so that was nice.  

She left the next day to spend her weekend with 

some high school buddies.  

I am so grateful that she was able 

to enjoy her holiday.

Thanksgiving Postponed

         I was feeling fine when I woke up on Tuesday.  I don’t know what I had encountered before noon, but I had a throbbing headache just after 12:00.  Probably Richard and I should have not gone to the temple, but we did.  We left the house before 1:00 but did not get to Central Point until 2:40. Traffic was horrible.  It doesn’t take that long to get to Ashland.

        We were signed up for the 3:00 session. Just after 5:00 we were on our way to Ashland to pick up Jaime.  We met her at a 7-11 and I had gone inside to get something for my headache.  Richard and Ally got sick first and then Biff and then me and Clair – I think Clair may have been hit the hardest.  She looks terrible.

        Jaime has spent many a Thanksgivings feeling sick.  Ironically, she is the only one who is well.  None of the rest of us even want to eat – let alone a feast.  Biff made chicken soup and I took Jaime to a friend in the ward so that she could have a real Thanksgiving – not just dinner but in the presence of company that give reason to thank.

        Meanwhile there is a turkey, yams and pies waiting to be had.  Maybe early in December?

It's Not the Flu

 Tomorrow is Thanksgiving 

and our household is sick.

Jaime has returned for four days.

Fortunately she will be with friends

for three of them.

I need to be well by Sunday

for I am scheduled to teach RS.

Shadows

 This is us at Stewart Park.  I find it interesting that there are only five ducks and no pigeons.

What is Up with my Left Arm?

 

              First it was my feet

            Then it was my ears

            And now my left arm?

            Why not both arms?

            Why does my left arm

feel like it’s caught   

in a draft?

What is up with that?

Seriously.

It’s as if I have no blood flow. 

Why is my arm always cold?

I had three layers on my arm this morning!

My right arm seems okay.

Perhaps my left arm just 

doesn't get enough exercise

Lost in the Sauce

 When we lived in West Valley

I rarely used covers at night

Maybe 10 times a year

Maybe

Even after we moved here

And I would fall asleep on

The recliner,

Richard would cover me

But the covers would come off

Long before morning

And then we moved into a

Different house

And suddenly my toes were always

Cold

And so I would keep them

Covered

But lately it seems like I

Am covering all of me.

I think the earth is spinning

Nearer to the sun and then

To the other extreme

So far away from the sun that

Its always cold

Hard to imagine that just over

six weeks ago I was complaining

about the heat.

Ten weeks ago it was in the

Three digits in California

We had moved to Oregon for

The constancy – which

We have never had.

I don’t want three digits and

Then near freezing (or

Below freezing) 

At this point I don’t

Think it even matters

In what state or nation

Autumn is still producing

Gorgeous colors

That’s nice.

There’s a perk.

The High Cost of Living

 When Steven was in his senior year of high school he had the opportunity of going back to New York with the high school drama department.  My mom and dad also took the opportunity of going as there was a need for chaperones.  I don’t recall how much the trip costs or how many plays they were scheduled to see.  

They were gone for a week and spent more in one day than Shelly and I spent in the entire week including our excursion to Lagoon (an amusement park near Salt Lake City, Utah). 

First two pics are of Shelly and Me at a picnic area off pioneer village.  The other two were taken upon the return of the rest of our family.