A Belated Birthday Present

"Surprise, surprise, surprise," as Gomer Pyle would say. Ronnie's last 2 trunks arrived at the beginning of May and they just found them yesterday. They had been sitting at the post office all this time. No delivery attempt was ever done on it. No little peach colored notice in the mail box, no nothing. Am and Km found them at the post office yesterday when they picked up another package. The wonderful "man" wheeled them out to the car, and watched while my Km and Am struggled trying to put them in the back of the car. People we are talking about a foot locker that weighs at least 75 lbs or more. What is wrong with men now? Well for that matter, in general? If my son had seen two women struggling to load something he would go directly to them and offer and insist on helping them as would my son-in-law. There would not be any question about it. (sorry venting again). Anyway I digress. As soon as my son got home he started going through it Inside was a flag that he arranged to have flown over Iraq for the whole day for my grandson, on his birthday. Real foreign soil (dust) and all. There was a certificate stating that this flag was flown in honor of my grandson. He jumped in his uncles arms and hugged him saying "this is the best est birthday present I ever got!" We all laughed, and Ronnie went on searching through his trunk. I looked up and he is coming towards me with another box in his hand. When he handed me the box I cried, because I knew that I had been honored also. The strange part about it was, he had left instructions to fly it "any day". They flew this flag on what would have been my Mom's birthday, April 16. My daughter saw it before I did and said "Mom, did you notice the date it was flown?" When I looked at it I cried some more. For some strange reason they had flown it on my Mom's birthday, there for honoring her and me at the SAME TIME. Ronnie was shocked to say the least. He said that was a pure accident, because he had stated "any day" for mine. But I know it wasn't an accident that that flag flew over Iraq on what would have been my Mom's birthday (God rest her soul). I think it was her way of saying that she is always with us, no matter where we may go in our life. WE MISS YOU MOM! Now I must dry my tears, again, and carry on with my day. So, if you are blessed to still have your Mom in your life, go to her today, if you can, and hug her real tight, tell her you love her, for me. I wish I still could.

Wicked Wednesday

Better known to the world as "Hump Day". But I feel wicked today. I woke up with a wicked headache this morning and the day has just gone down hill from there. It's very cloudy outside and my bones are telling me it is going to rain. I was going to water the plants today, but now I will just wait and see if God does it for me. My daughter came by this morning(the one bright spot of my day so far) and hung out with her old Mom before going to work. She has to pass my house to get to work, so that works out well for both of us. She drops the kids of at school, and comes here. We drink coffee, chat about the family events that are coming up, and any other topic we can think of. I have a great time being with her and I think she does too. I have finally become the Mother I should have been years ago. Long story there, but I have come out from the other side of my history, on the right side. I am where I want to be, with the ones I love around me, and I am at peace. The dogs are being quite for now. No monsters lurking about for them to attack. It's time for me to take my meds so I will leave you with this thought. Having the most expensive coffee alone means nothing. Having regular old coffee with someone you love, is priceless.

Candid Carrie: The Wienie Roast and The White Rabbit

Candid Carrie: The Wienie Roast and The White Rabbit

Frumpy Friday

Boy do we feel frumpy today. My daughter and I have decided that we don't feel like getting all dolled up today. She usually puts on makeup every day, but today we are being frumpy. lol We had a cook-out at my son's lasy night and then they came over to my daughter's for fun and games. John and Michael played Rock Band at the top of the volume button and we girls just talked. The they got down to a game of Cranium, with me as 5th wheel helping both sides. It was so funny. Michael guessed Wonder Woman that John had drawn. The funny part is that it was a stick figure with American flag underwear. We all laughed, and marveled at both of them. Then I came back with 90210 for the letter-line-up for the girls. I just pulled that one out of thin air, because I had seen it on tv last week. LOL Then I got one for the boys cameoed by Michael "hungry like a wolf" so I felt I had given my services fairly. They are all amazing at this game. They are so close its almost like they read each others minds. Its great to have a family that gets together and has fun with out fussing, fighting, or someone going home mad. I don't think a lot of familys have that now, and that is sad. I am living my dream life, smack in the middle of the ones I love. A little more money wouldn't hurt, but all in all its great.

He's Home

Yup, its really true. He's home. We picked him up yesterday,on base. It was 4 hours of unrelenting sun, and heat. The Corps had set up tents, and chairs, and refreshments for all. The sun beat down on the ones of us that could not fit in the tents. There was a bouncy house for the little ones and music for all. My daughter, daughter-in-law, an old friend from my son's ROTC unit in high school and my grandsons we all present to greet him. First one unit arrived, all cheers and applause, then another unit, same as before. It was so great to see the men grab their wives, and children and hug them like there was no tomorrow. Then they would slowly walk to the aged of us waiting in the background. More waiting till I thought my brain would bake inside my head, and then the announcement. The buses are here! Up rolls 6 buses, all with tinted windows. silent silhouettes inside, some sitting still, some waving. Everyone looks the same. Standing, cheering, waving we wait with bated breath, our eyes trained on the crowd looking for that first glimpse of HIM. Then this voice from behind me says "why is everyone looking up that way?" My heart stopped, I knew that voice. As I turned I saw him, MY SON, alive and whole and smiling at us. I screamed (I don't know what now) and ran, and jumped in his arms. Guess what? with the proper provocation an old cripple women can jump! His wife got second hug. (Sorry about that sweetie). But I think she has forgiven me now. (I hope) Will write more later, still feel ing the affects of yesterdays excitement.

ONE DAY, THREE HOURS, AND COUNTING

MY SON WILL BE HOME TOMORROW! I am so excited I cannot breath or think straight. My son is in the air as I write this. Winging his way towards the states. He will be here around noon tomorrow. I have not been able to think straight since he IM us on his way out of Iraq. He is probably waiting in Germany or Ireland for his flight home now. They stop at various countries to connect. I kind of hope he got to go to Ireland. He had his heart set on walking the streets of his homeland. Germany would be homeland also, but he had a burning in his chest for Ireland. He has always been interested in his "melting pot" of a family. His father is German, I am Irish and American Indian, with a few other cultures thrown in for taste. This "melting pot" of cultures has caused some medical problems for my generation of our line. The younger generation seems to have fared better though. But he is a good son, and family is important to him and his sister. But I digress! He is coming home, whole, healthy, and happy and that is what counts.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

What a great and glorious day. It has been raining here all morning. My plants are drowning again. I must get them re-potted soon. They are starting to grow gills and fins. LOL I had planned to do that today, but God had a different plan. He won! But we need the rain, and so I am not going to be blue about it. I have already talked to my son from Iraq. He told me that they have just taken away their computer communications yesterday, so no more Mommie e-mails till he gets stateside. He called this morning to wish me Happy Mother's Day. My daughter came to visit this morning. So my day has been filled with the ones I love. This is what Mother's Day is all about. Its not the gifts, or the meal, but love. I' m very blessed that I am able to be so close to my kids and their family. My son will be coming home soon, and all will be right with my world again. So, here's to all us Mother's of the world, on our special day. May God bless you and keep you.

Sucky Saturday

This morning broke through bright and shiny. It had rained during the night, and the world was fresh and shiny and new. I on the other hand was grumpy, hungery, and needed a cup of coffee bad. So I fixed coffee, made toast, and converced with the dogs. After my second cup of coffee I felt I could face the world again. Am beat me up this morning. Said she had been up since about 4 I think. She felt horrible, and went back to bed asking me to not let her sleep all day. This was around 9:30. I don't usually sleep that late, but I guess the muscle relaxers and pain killer I took last night did their job.

Taking my coffee outside, I sat in my usual place (perched on the railing to the deck) and watched my growing plants swim in their pool of water from last night. They are in a pod tray and it has no holes in the bottom. After fishing them out, and placing them on the deck to dry out a little, I finished my coffee.

Wow this is so boring! I need to get a better life. Right? But actually I pretty much have the life I want. True, I would like to have a little more money each month. Be able to cure cancer. (That monster has taken more lives than is necessary in this world) Have my health back, and a few things that are gone now. But for me this is the life I choose. My children, and my grandchildren close by, my little companion (Bella), and all the other furbabies that my children have. A roof over my head, and food in my belly. That doesn't seem like a lot to some people I know, but for me it is heaven here on earth.

On that note, I will close for now. God's Speed and my prayers to you all.

World of Pain

OK. I am in a world of pain because:

I fell down the stairs night before last and landed on my butt.

Funny right?

To bad I didn't have a video camera at the bottom of the stairs. I could have made millions.

Soooo, after several hours in ER I was sent home with a broken tail bone, sprained neck and a swollen elbow. Pumped full on morphine, I was a sight to see, and listen to I am told. I passed out right after we left the ER. Woke up with my hand in a McDonald's bag, eating a sausage biscuit . Which isn't strange in itself except I was tearing off pieces of biscuit and putting them in my mouth. The funny part is, I never chewed it or swallowed it. When we got home I had a mouth full of biscuit and a diet Coke in my hand. I had to spit the biscuit out because my mouth was so dry I could not even swallow with the help of the Coke. My poor daughter-in-law (daughter of my heart) got me home safely and upstairs to my bed. Next morning I found the aforementioned biscuit still in the bag, uneaten. I guess she figured I wasn't in any shape to eat when I got here.

Bless her heart, I don't know what I would do with out her. We really didn't know each other that well when I came here to live, but now you cannot separate us with a crowbar. I would gladly lay down my life for her.

Anyway, to day I am in pain from my head to my toes. I am getting ready to take the dreaded pain pills and muscle relaxers they have prescribed. Ta Ta for now.

Blue Monday

Monday, Monday. Not feeling great this morning. Went to a birthday/block party yesterday. It was a beautiful day. Everyone had a great time. The "Birthday Boy" of 70 was indeed surprised, and the kids were all cute and adorable. I had a great time, met a lot of new people, played with the babies and promply ate to much. It felt good to get home and veg. This morning I am sore in places I forgot I had. LOL The dogs (Bella Login, and Susi) did not appreciate being in the house all afternoon and let us know about it as soon as we got home. Today I have the honor of waiting on the "Sears" repairman all day. He is coming to officially approve our defunked washer from "Sears" for a new one. The last repairman can not simply say, "Yes, I checked it and if it breaks again we need to replace it." NO! That would be to easy. We have been without a washer for 2 months now. Every time we call "Sears" its a two week wait. So today is suppose to be the day. So even though I detest "Sears" I must remove the litter box from the laundry room for the sake of the nice repair man.