Flying

As many of you know, Hubby was once an Airline Pilot. When I packed his bag and sent him off, I never really thought too much about ‘if’ he would would come home, just when.

I really had a lot of confidence in his ability to fly an airplane, and having flown with him all over the Americas and Europe, I just never gave it any thought, that perhaps the plane might crash. I knew how well trained he was, and how serious he was about his work.

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Oh there was one day in the early years of our marriage when I was out doing errands and Hubby was off on a trip. I was listening to WBZ Radio and they did a typical news tease…”Pan Am Flight Crashes…Details In A Moment”.

My heart skipped several beats (Hubby was off on a trip) and I drove home as quickly as I could. I raced into our house, put on the big satellite dish we had back then and there is was, a 747, blown to bits in Lockerbee, Scotland.

Hubby called me to let me know that things were crazy in New York and he was staying down there for the night, but he was fine.

We did lose a few people that we knew, and it was a bad time for many Pan Am families.

A little bit later Hubby was flying out of Barbados when there was a problem with an engine. He and another pilot we know very well, turned back, landed safely and waited until the next day until the plane part from New York arrived and all was well.

Meanwhile, Hubby called me to tell me he was fine, and in this case going wind surfing. When he returned home, he had the sunburn to prove it!

Hubby said the closest call he had was flying over Germany back in the 1970’s. He was sitting in the Engineers seat, and had turned to speak to a cockpit pass rider. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught site of another large aircraft. He hollered at the Captain, who put the plane in a nose dive, but Hubby said he held his breath, as he was sure the tail of the plane was gone. Thankfully it wasn’t.

I guess things happen. All you can do is hope that on that day, when something like this happens, that it is not your day to go and meet your maker.

Meanwhile, at this point, I’m happy that Hubby has retired and is home with me. When something like this happens, I have my own airline expert to give me his personal opinion.

Ben & Jerry Are Not My Friends

Have I mentioned that I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back to following the Weight Watcher’s diet?

Well, yes, seems I am a ‘stress eater’ and with all that’s been going on Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia Ice Cream, has made far too many stops at my house!

My weight really became problematic, when I no longer could zip up my pants, even with the assistance of Vaseline and pliers!

So, last Wednesday I not only returned to class, but started to act like a newbie! I stayed after class, listened to my Leader, Pam explain the program and went through all the literature again.

It’s amazing how sloppy I got. Not writing things down, sort of cheating by not writing things down and then saying on Monday, oh, I’ll be better Tuesday and then Tuesday would come and so did the ice cream container of Ben & Jerry.

I need to knuckle down, eat healthy foods and most of all…WRITE IT DOWN!

I also need to stop feeling sorry for myself, which is the main cause of my depression fueled eating.

Now, Monday will be my next operation. Dr. P.  will start working to redo my face. He will start with the bottom of my nose and work his way up. I keep telling myself to relax and not expect miracles. I know this will take a long time and I must have patience.

Just like I need with my weight loss.

So stay tuned!

93 & Nowhere To Go But Up!

Thursday was a weird day. I mean any holiday that occurs during the weekdays always throws me off. For instance, all day I have thought it was Saturday and wondered why some of my favorite Saturday shows are not on!

So I keep trying to acclimate myself to the day at hand. Since it is so sunny, humid and hot, 93 degrees, I decided that my day would be spent close to all the good working air conditioners in the house. And since Hubby has fixed them all, the house is wonderfully cool!

Our Fourth of July ‘special meal’ is barbecued ribs (my secret recipe which can be found HERE. I kid you not, these are the best way to prepare baby backs ever! Print this recipe out and you will use it over and over and over again!

Don’t these look good?

Good Ribs from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Since tomorrow is Friday (I am writing this on Thursday night), I plan to do laundry and prepare for next week. Monday will be my first surgery in Boston, with Dr. P. Hubby is driving me, as I cannot drive to my cousin’s or Mandy’s house on the relay. We have hired a dog sitter for the day.

So Happy Fourth of July, belatedly on the Fifth!

Well Look At That!

Since I am never at a loss for words, it shocked me to see, at 4 PM on the 4th of July no less, that I had forgotten to post for today!

Forget the face or foot or my Mom not doing well. Wait, that is probably why I forgot! I have simply too much on my mind!

Since my foot is keeping me down, I decided to keep the fourth of July simple. I had ribs marinating in the fridge, potato salad all made and corn ready to be shucked and eaten.

Aside from that, I’ve watched Wimbledon Tennis, and reruns of movies I have already seen, but have become like old friends.

It is simply crayon meltingly hot, and also super humid! Hubby has all the air conditioers cleaned, and running. Our electric bill will not be good at the end of this month but, oh well!

I also got the best picture of my daughter holding her daughter today. They are at the beach and she put this on her Facebook wall.  I just love it!

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Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s one simple small pleasure on your summer ‘to-do’ list?

I want to go for fried clams. I know it is not everyone’s desire, but I sure love it!

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2. Do you have strong feelings or opinions regarding the immigration debate in your home country? Feel free to share your thoughts, but please play nice.

I think that if someone wants to come here and goes through the proper channels, then this is a good thing. Now, that being said, I actually have friends who have come here from other countries and it has not been easy for them, even though they have gone through the correct channels.

So, we need to have one set of rules, and anyone climbing a fence can’t be allowed to stay, especially when people who do the form work, have sponsors, etc. still have to wait and wait.

PS: My Papa was from Germany, and came through Ellis Island. He was just a boy of 9, but loved this country as if he had been born here.

3. What’s something in your home or wardrobe that could be described as ‘star spangled’?

I have a three dish, red white and blue set that I use on the fourth of July!

4. Is your house set up for a party?

Yes. We have an open concept kitchen and family room and this opens onto a patio with an awning.

5. What one never-before-visited city in America, would you most like to see?

I think New Orleans. I have never been and would like to go, see the place, and eat!

6. Your favorite red food? White food? Blue food?

Red food? Boiled Lobster.

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White Food? Mashed potatoes!

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and Blue food? Blueberries!

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7. What freedom do you value the most, and why?

The freedom of speech! I love writing my blog and putting down my thoughts. However, it is a scary time in our country, as more and more people are losing their right to “Free Speech”.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hubby finished fixing the air conditioner in the bedroom! I have a hairline fracture in my foot. Mom has been moved to a rehab center near my sister. Easier for all. And I am thinking it may very well rain all summer long! Yuck!

Life Goes On

We started the day with no air conditioning in our bedroom. I thought we should just go out and buy a new one, but Hubby felt we needed to clean it thoroughly and all would be well.

We found mus in the evaporator and everything was clogged up, so we used the compressor to blow the crap out, and then used the hope to clean the filter.

Now the problem we have is, in this humidity, nothing is drying out! We have not been able to get it to start again…which of course means we will be sleeping with no air conditioning again tonight! That will be tough.

Hubby, me and the dogs are all in a grouchy mood today, because we did not sleep much last night in the heat!

Oy, please have that sill machine work before bed!

Mom has been moved to a rehab center now. Not that there is much they can do to rehab her, but it is sort of a stop along the road. It is close to my sister’s house and will be easier for her to go to.

Meanwhile, life goes on.

What I Did This Weekend

Miss Marple 2

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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The last weekend was my trip down to see Mom. I needed to see her, to talk to her, hold her and kiss her. I celebrated her 84th birthday with her, my sister and two cousins, and most of all, Mom and I needed to say a few things to each other. Important words of love.

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The drive was long, the heat was intense, but it was all worth it because it made Mom happy. I gave her a little Beanie Baby Monkey with some Birthday Balloons.

Mom liked the monkey so much, that she holds onto it all the time now. She says it makes her feel calm holding it. I am so glad.

Once they decide where she will be going next (nursing home or hospice) I will either send down or bring down a little cape for her, to keep her from getting cold.

It is great to be back and my puppies and Hubby are happy to have me here. But, my heart is torn. I would love to see my Mom each day, but I just cannot do it living so far away. I am there in spirit.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

Back Home

I’m back from Connecticut. I spent time with my mom. I held her, I hugged her and kissed her. I listened to her talk about her life, I listened to her talk about those who have gone before her, and how she has missed those special people in her life.

She is not afraid to die. She has a wonderful deep belief in God, Jesus Christ and the afterlife. She knows where she is going.

I spoke with her doctors, I heard what they had to say, and although I think it is harder for some of our family to hear, mom is not going to get better. The cancer is spreading, she is getting weaker, and soon she will slip away.

My mother and I found a peace with each other. We were able to tell each other that we love each other.

It is good to be home again. The heat has been brutal, and now I am home I am sitting with my feet up, in the air conditioning with a couple of dackels around me. Yes, it’s good to be home!

Joyous!

On Friday we went to the hospital and set up to celebrate the birthday of our mother. Mel had baked an Angel food cake, and our cousins, Janet and Larry came, and we had flowers and balloons and sat telling stories and jokes. We laughed and we cried, but it was a good day for Mom. She was the belle of the ball! As it should be.

Her doctor and the Physicians assistant brought her flowers and a card. These two women have been truly wonderful and respectful, caring for Mom. They have made her feel special.

I showed her videos of Savannah as well as pictures. We got her a meal from one of the food trucks outside the hospital. Have I mentioned how much I now love “Food truck Food”?

After singing Happy Birthday and eating cake, the nurse came in to put a heparin lock in Mom’s arm. I was scooting my chair forward and slipped and landed face first on the bedside table! Yes, it hit my scar and yes, it hurt so badly that I couldn’t breathe, talk or move! The nurse just about fainted, I think and ran off to get ice.  She also wanted to know if I needed a doctor.No, but the ice helped.

I managed to take some pain medication I had with me (I wasn’t driving), but still have pain tonight! Everyone was teasing me that I should have been named Grace-less!

When I left, it was with bittersweet feelings. But Mom knows how I love her and that I hope to see her in a couple of weeks when they settle her in hospice.

This birthday was not perfect, but for Mom it was joyful!