October 20, 1971-2009

Back in early September my oldest son called me for a little help looking up information for my oldest grandddaughter's homework.  Seems the school wouldn't let them bring home the textbook.  Not sure how that works for families that don't have computer access.  During our struggle with the specific site designated for this assignment, and his confusion in trying to get to the same page I had managed to access, I told him to just type in the very long URL as I called it out.  We're talking L O N G web address!  It was getting late and we were already frazzled, so he says "Crap, Mom... let me get wifey, tell it to her, she types way faster than I do... I'M A PECKER!"  Hey, he said it, I didn't.  One of the rare times he and I are in total agreement.


Here it is October 19th, the eve of his birth, 38 years ago.  Can't believe it's been that long.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PECKER!"

Daddy Sandwich with Pipper, Pecker and Special

Holy Cow, I'm Exhausted!

I'm so tired even my tired is tired!  My feet feel like they are stove up into my knees and throbbing like a son of a gun.  Tile floors may be for some of you, but I hate them.  My feet never touch my tile floors.  One of the biggest (home) mistakes we've ever made.

Babysat with "Tink" at her house today and yesterday.  Daughter and Son in law have tile floors.  Took my sneakers and should have been smart enough to put them on, but stayed in my flip flops because they were cooler.  Big mistake!  I'm paying dearly for it.

Don't normally babysit anywhere other than my house, but my beautiful Granddog, Lucky, had 10 puppies in the wee hours Thursday morning.  Mother and babies are doing great.  Granny, on the other hand, has seen better days.  Every time they squeaked, Tink was right there to make sure they were okay.  Between doing head counts, herding strays, finding teats, letting Lucky out, wiping her yuck, refilling the water bowl, keeping Lexy away from the puppies, entertained, fed, snacked and keeping the drag outs to a minimum, dishes, sweeping the patio... Calgon, take me away!  I much prefer being at my house, where the mess is the last thing I worry about and at least I know where everything is and have TVs and appliances that I know how to work.  I felt like a fish out of water that got stepped on while I was flopping around.  I can barely walk.  Hope tomorrow is better.  "PLEASE LET ME FEEL BETTER TOMORROW!"

Tough Decisions

Hubby and I have been discussing some tough topics lately.  We've been having to muddle through some issues we aren't sure how to deal with, nothing earth-shaking, just out of our range of knowledge.  His dad left some bonds to him and his brother.  About a third of them are already mature and the remainder will mature throughout the next few years.  Like I mentioned, nothing earth-shaking, just something that needs to be dealt with.  Dealing with this has brought up another issue that needs to be dealt with, that has managed to be put on a back burner for way too long.  

When my parents passed away within three weeks of each other, back in 1997, that was tough!  I am SO grateful they had made all their arrangements, ahead of time.  Earlier in their marriage, my Dad wanted to be cremated, so my Mom made her plans to be buried with her family in North Carolina.  When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, he changed his mind and decided to be buried, instead of cremated.  He was able to convince my Mom to change her plans and transfer her burial here, with him.  I can't even imagine what turmoil our lives would have been in, had these arrangements not been made in advance.  My Dad was in the hospital, when my Mom died.  We were able to get him out and take him to the funeral.  We still feel like he only lived as long as he did, to make sure my Mom, his wife, was taken care of, so he could follow her.  If her funeral hadn't been changed, the majority of the family could not have afforded to attend, plus, there was no way my Dad could have made that trip to say his goodbyes.

Having dealt with that and being so determined our kids would not be put in the position to make decisions in the event of our death, we knew we need to plan ahead.  We didn't.  We let it slide.  

Five years ago, my Father-in-law passed away.  This renewed the idea that we needed to make our plans.  Once again, we didn't.  We let it slide.

Now, dealing with the will and the bonds has brought up just how lax we have been, in making our own plans.  It's such a depressing topic and very hard to think about, but I refuse to leave it to the kids, when our time comes.  Also, admitting to my husband that I don't want to have a funeral, or be buried, is hard.  He, on the other hand, wants that.  If I die, before he does, I want to be cremated.  When he passes, if possible, I want my ashes buried with him.  If he passes before me, just sprinkle me over his grave and be done with it.  I don't need a headstone, I don't want ANY flowers, give them to someone living.  When my time comes, don't make calls to people that haven't been around me for years.  If it hasn't mattered in years, it shouldn't matter when I'm dead.  I do NOT want my survivors coming to a cemetery, to remember me.  Remember how much I love you and that won't stop when I die... I won't be lingering in the cemetery, waiting for you to visit... I hope to be in Heaven!