Beneath the Wraps

Mom did not go to Anna’s third birthday party.   She may not have known about it.   I wondered who would bring her – or if she’d be there at all.   I learned that the last time Sunny and her family had collected my mom for a Sunday dinner was probably the last time she was out. I had taken her out on Memorial Day .   I don’t think she would have come if Harold hadn’t given his approval. “Mom, you have to come.   Your brother, Bruce, will be there.” She hadn’t seen Bruce for years.   He actually looked the same to me – but in her eyes he was still 29 or 35, certainly not an old man.   She didn’t recognize him. But she was active and attentive and helped provide Corey with names to go with several photos he had found.   She enjoyed herself and we enjoyed having her there.   But that was over a month ago.   I haven’t taken her out since, and from what I understand, she doesn’t want to go. Well, that’s a far cry f...

As I have previously mentioned here and here , mom and Corey both have collected tons and tons of books over the years. Before we sold mom’s house, Corey and I took very few books to add to our own collections.   But the majority were boxed up for the uneventful yard sale (at least that’s how it appeared) and donated to charity. Most Americans in the 1730s had limited access to books. Books in early America were rare and expensive.   Only the wealthy and clergy had access to several books.   There were no public libraries.    In July 1731 Benjamin Franklin introduced his idea of borrowing books to a group of members. 50 subscribers invested 40 shillings each to start a library.   They committed to continue investing 10 schillings a year for the purchase of additional books and maintaining the upkeep of the building that would house the books which were donated.   Thus the library was born          ...

Today I read a conversation that took place between Corey and my mom.  She's upset that the workers at the facility seem to be sticking their noses into her affairs.  She wants her privacy and doesn't want the world watching her through open windows or open doors.  Therefore she keeps the blinds closed and leaves the door to her bedroom closed because she doesn't want anybody watching her.  Those who do are perverts.  And she swears when she returns to her room to find her blinds have been open.  Evidently she used the word "damn" in almost every sentence she said to Corey this afternoon. Evidently Harold is NOT her boyfriend.  He is an old man.  Mom doesn't even call him Harold anymore.  He is that guy.  He is old enough to be her father - so she says.  I learned that he is twelve years older.  Mom is on the younger end of those who reside at assisted living.  Harold's physical health seems to be far worse than mom's ...

  Noel took Jenna for half the day two Saturdays before Christmas.   In the process Jenna fell in love with Noel’s dog, Hallie.   Later, when Noel was traveling out of town, she was looking for a sitter to take Hallie for four days.   I volunteered – more for Jenna than Noel.   Unlike our dog, Highness, who’s only preferred activities are sleeping and taking walks, Hallie is an active four year old lab who LOVES to play – possibly more than Jenna.   I don’t know why Noel has her on such a strict diet, but I can’t leave food out for Highness to eat at his convenience as Hallie is supposed to eat certain foods at certain times – and Highness is such a fussy eater that he usually chooses NOT to eat what’s been left in his dish. Last week I watched Lacy – who belongs to Frank and Marie.   Normally I’d have said “No” except for they’ve watched Jenna on several occasions – not overnight, but several hours each time. Unlike Hallie, Lacy i...

On Monday I created this post . On Tuesday it was windy.        Not just a cool breeze.   Powerful winds – almost like before a storm. The skies were grey but appeared almost cloudless and yet I could not get this song out of my head Since then the temperatures have been in the three digits.   It’s not supposed to go down until Wednesday.   And then it’s still supposed to be 97 Biff said he is unable to sleep because it’s so freakin hot and we have taken out the air conditioner that was in his room and put it in the main room.   Roland says he can’t give it back until Biff’s room is clean.   And if it’s not clean, we will be moving him into Jenna’s room and Jenna can have Biff’s room.   We did set up a small inflatable pool.   It has been somewhat helpful.   But theoretically we’re not supposed to be using so much water.   There is a drought. Grass is dry and we’re no...

-->   I recently   took out my pocket tape player in order to listen to a talk I had recorded.   Apparently I never put it away as Jenna discovered it this morning.   I gave her a tape that could be used for a blank and she has been singing and playing and laughing.   Not expensive entertainment.   It’s fun listening to her enjoy herself.     Reminds me of when Corey used to do it.   He could keep himself occupied for hours.   I suppose I enjoyed it too.   But the reel-to-reel was not something I could just pull off the shelf and take control.   That was a heavy beast – and we didn’t have blank reels at hand like we had with cassette players.   

Yesterday as I drove to the assisted living I noticed the skies getting darker.   After we arrived in the parking lot, I took my sunglasses off.   The skies didn’t appear to be overcast, and yet the atmosphere was present.    By the time I returned home, the sky looked more overcast – like it does before it rains.   But the air itself said: IT IS NEVER GOING TO RAIN AGAIN – it was ugly and hot – not at all inviting.   I loved the cool breeze of the last two days before.   I’d love for the breeze to return and dwell for the duration.                                                             kfralc

-->          Roland had sent me this thought that brought humor to my mind when I first read it:   Mildred calls her neighbor and says, “Please come over here and help me.   I have a killer jigsaw puzzle and I can’t figure out how to get it started. Her neighbor asks, “What is it supposed to be when it’s finished? “ Mildred says, “According to the picture on the box, it’s a rooster.” Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle.   Mildred lets him in and shows him to the table.   He studies the pieces for a moment than looks at the box than turns to her and says, “First of all, no matter what we do, we’re not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster.”   He takes her hand and says, “Secondly, I want you to relax.   Let’s have a nice cup of coco” The he says with a deep sigh, “Let’s put all the corn flakes back in the box”   ...

It’s been almost a year since we were first introduced to Payton.   Frank and Marie had invited us to the annual Independence Day BBQ at the park hosted by Miguel, Cheryl and Sylvia who live just across the way.   Payton will visit on occasion, and she and Jenna hit it off right away.   And so often when Payton is visiting Cheryl, we will set up play dates for her and Jenna. I can’t believe how well they play together.   They can actually spend several hours without feuds or hurt feelings.   I wish Payton and Jenna could play together every day. Trume’s grandparents sent him to day camp – I’m guessing for the entire summer.   They have two incomes.   Apparently they can afford it.   Besides I think if Grandpa had to spend the entire day with Trume, he would end up killing him (or himself) It’s been equally nice for us not to have him knock on the door first thing in the morning or having daily confrontations between him and Je...

         My son Biff purchased a plane ticket and Roland drove him to the airport the other day.   His car sits in front of our house targeted by birds, unregistered, unpaid for.   He’s now in Texas – three hours from where Tony lives.          Meanwhile we’ve taken the A/C out of his room and put it in the front room.   We’ve rearranged the furniture a little bit and had to move the dog.   So Highness is temporarily parked at the end of the hall right in front of Biff’s bedroom door – which by the way is open.   And it smells bad in there.   Reeks.   I can smell it – and I have basically lost my sense of smell.   So it must be horrid.          Roland has Biff married off now – to a girl we don’t even know.   And Roland seems okay with it.   Randy (my youngest son ) is beside himself.   What was Bi...

           I remember seeing Magpies when I was younger.   Occasionally I would notice one or two – never an entire flock!   I thought they were a very interesting and beautiful bird.   I didn’t know that magpies are dirty birds with thieving habits.   I still don’t know much about them.              They must have flown here from Colorado as I have seen more magpies this year than in the first fifty combined. I now feel the same annoyance toward them that I feel toward mosquitoes. If the Magpies would just leave our gardens alone and go after the mosquitoes, Jenna and I would be willing to call the Magpies our friends.             Poor Jenna.   She’s received four to six times as many bug bites as I have.   Her blood must be succulent like Patrick’s.   No matter how many precautions ...

              My aunt Alice was 32 when she announced her engagement to Lynn Brown. Grandma Helen had a problem with it – I think her suspicions must have spread. He was okay.   I tried not to pass judgment on him.   He was an odd fellow.   But in time I could understand.             Of course Corey had his own reasons for not wanting to like him.   I don’t recall how old he was. Nine, I think.   He was already suspicious of any man who wore sunglasses or a beard or who had a bald head.   Uncle Lynn happened to have all three.              His mom gave birth to four boys before him.   I don’t recall how many years are between Lynn and the others – but it seems like it was six or more.   His mom had wanted a girl. She had planned for a girl.   She had picked out ...