Changing Countenance

           Rudy Giuliani did some great things for New York before becoming mayor (here) and after the terrorists attacks made on the city September 11, 2009.  The media made him sound like a hero at how he handled the situation (here) but somewhere over the years that seemed to get pushed aside as the media would constantly criticize his every move because of how he supported Trump. And now he owes over 140 million dollars in damages (here) What happened? How does someone who was so admired become such a huge disappointment due to one's choices?  What made him change?  Why does anybody change?

          I do not know Rudy Giuliani personally but I do know several people who had so much going for them and made such a positive impression on those around them and yet somewhere along the way their light went out and their hearts are blackened.  Why would they choose to misery?  Are they so far gone that they have forgotten what they once had?  Would sending Ghosts to them during Christmas even make a difference?

          I suppose it works the other way.  There are people who have wreaked havoc so much of their life before they make the change to service of others and transforming from the curmudgeon Scrooge to the repented Scrooge.  You can see their countenance.   

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" – Mahatma Gandhi

 

Next Time We Both Go

 Richard missed me a lot during my absence from Oregon. 

I don’t know if there will be a next time but I won’t be going at it alone.  

But I know there will be way more expense involved if he comes along.  

He won’t be staying overnight at anyone’s house but will get a hotel. 

But on the plus side we may not have to fly – 

he would/will just drive us there.

Don't know where or when.  

It will be a while.

Not Again!!

I don't care for warm water or hot tea.  I like to gulp.  I can't always gulp.  Right now there is something pressing between my gum and my tooth which causes pain whenever there is cold.  It is about this time last year when my mouth felt a sensitivity to cold.  I thought it was a dental thing at first but then realized it was probably a sinus infection as I could brush my teeth without feeling pain.  

A sinus infection. Joy.  It must have been just before Christmas when Richard drove me to the clinic in Roseburg so that I could get a zee pack to make myself feel better.  I think that’s what’s happening now.  Oddly enough it is all on my left side.  My infections have always started with my right.  This may have started in Utah.  Lesson learned.

Welcome Back to Facebook

 I have had many friends who have left facebook - 

some permanantly but I have noticed 

just as many return.

Decorations and a Movie

         We left to drive to Ashland about 3:30 yesterday.  It got very dark before we collected Jaime just before 5:30.  We stopped at a Cracker Barrel on the way home.  Today we put up the tree and decorated.

At 12:00 we left to go to the big city of Roseburg where we saw “Wonka” – I absolutely LOVED how a few of the songs from the original production (with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka) were incorporated into this production - along with the original Oompa Loompa appearance.  So many scenes reminded me of other movies: Les Miserables (except the girl was called Noodle rather than Cozette), a Whoville type scene,  La La Land or the Greatest Showman,  and at least two others I can’t remember as I write this post.  I think the thing I enjoyed most about it was hearing Jaime’s enjoyment.

We then started to tackle the trees in the yard.  Our Mountain Goat was up for the challenge.  We decided that we aren’t completely finished.

A Fur Coat

 I don’t know what triggered this memory, but I was thinking about a time when my great uncle had told my mom and aunt that they should go get measured for fur coats.  I think it was some kind of bet he had won and offered the coats to the wives of his two nephews.  I don’t know what my aunt’s reaction was to her fur coat, but my mom was not comfortable about wearing what one might perceive as luxurious.  She said it wasn’t even that warm.  And it shed as I recall.  I don’t know how long she had it or what became of it. 

No More Spontaneous Jaunts to Utah

 I wish I had planned better and just taken two weeks after Thanksgiving and then returned.  Three weeks may have been too long on my immune system.  Ryan says I was a tremendous help.  I'm grateful that he thinks that.  I did not feel as productive as I was hoping for. I suppose I did do at least one productive thing each week I was there. 

The day after I had arrived one of my granddaughters had expressed having missed me while she was at school.

Ryan and Chelsey's youngest was born two days after I arrived. Chelsey had already made arrangements with one of her brothers to take the kids while they were at the hospital.  They did return to take the girls to the school on Monday.  Because I was there the aunt was free to drive each girl without having to load up the car with everybody else (as she has three of her own). 

Once they brought the baby home the kids were much more interested in their baby sister than they were in spending any quality time with grandma.

I did spend a few hours with the two sibs I have living in Utah.  I spent Thanksgiving with Ryan's family and three of her brothers and their families.  It was interesting.

Spontaneous Trip

I had told Ryan that I would come out to be with him if he and his wife needed my assistance.  Truth is that her family rallies around one another and I suspect that they would have been fine without me but realized that it is always her family, never his.  I know he appreciated my being there – even if it was just for him.  For the most part I didn’t feel useful, but both of them assured me that I had been. 

Though the weather was pretty awesome for this time of year and there was no inversion my throat dried up.  It got cold the second week I was there, but for the most part the temperature seemed above 50.  Happy to be home and nearly rid of my cold (or whatever it is) and happy that Ryan is happy.

Sharing Germs

 I have been highly allergic to most Christmas plants though the tree had never bothered me -

 but there are such a huge variety of trees.  

Ever since they had brought home their tree I started coughing.  

It may just be coincidence and it had really been the dry air which seemed to present 

a problem with my breathing. 

I obviously had not considered why we had moved to Oregon in the first place. 

Seattle welcomed me with the moist air that I had been missing

Still I carried those germs from Utah  to Oregon.

Richard shared in my cough, hacking and disrupted breathing.

We cancelled the temple trip we had made an appointment for yesterday.

Jaime was disappointed to learn we wouldn't be coming.

We stayed home nursing ourselves.

I never even did get dressed from my bed attire.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

 I keep a sweater, 

jacket, or

 sweatshirt next to the 

table in the back room 

that way if Bonnie has 

to go out during the night 

I can stay warm

Looking in the Mirror

 I see my husband in Ryan - 

when he's talking to his children - 

I remember Richard talking to his.  

Airports and Planes

 I left Oregon on November 15^th and went to Salt Lake to assist my son and his wife with their family.  I returned on December 5^th.  In that time I had seen four different airports and airplanes.  I went by way of Alaska Airlines which I like and have had a positive experience with in the past.

 My first flight was from Eugene to Seattle.  We chose to go through Eugene rather than Medford as the price was almost 200 dollar difference.  We had made a dry run the day prior just to see if we could find it first before attempting to do so in the dark.

Check in was not so bad.  An agent took my printed paperwork and issued me a boarding pass. My carry-on bag was pulled aside as I forgot to remove my kindle.  It didn’t seem like a big deal. 

I think that was the most comfortable of all the planes – though the one from Salt Lake to Seattle was not bad as the plane was not full.  But the plane from Seattle to Salt Lake was quite full and so was the puddle jumper between Seattle and Medford. 

For the most part the leg room reminded me of the same amount of leg room which Jaime and I had on the bus four months ago.  But the seats were wider.  One could actually put the seatbelt around the lap as the seats were designed for bigger butts than that of a middle schooler.

 I believe I had a window seat from Oregon to Seattle.  I was in row 6 or 7.  I could easily view those flying first class which didn’t seem all that different from coach.  I sat waiting at a gate in B or D as that was what had been written on my passport – but those passengers were going to Bozeman and I was told I needed to take the train to N.  Say what?

There was a definite difference in first class and coach on the plane from Seattle to Salt Lake City.  I sat squashed between two gentleman.  Overhead was full and we all had carry-ons beneath our feet.  I was asked to remove my fanny pack on the puddle jumper but it didn’t seem to matter on the larger plane which I’m certain held at least 100 people.

 Jai and I had attempted to play phrazel when I was at the airport, but it was awkward.  I had an hour and a half layover in Seattle both ways.

Ryan drove around the SLC airport waiting for me to come out.  But it took me a while to get from the gate to baggage claim.  It must have been a two mile walk.  I didn’t notice the signs until after my return but they advertise the long walk is to prepare visitors to hike from 5 national parks located in Utah.  I had dragged my coat and sweater and was so hot by the time I got out to the car.