I've been in kind-of a reflective mood the past few days. Friday was my mother's birthday; she would have been 84, had she lived. She died this past November, so this was the first of her birthdays since she died. It felt strange, wanting to call her to wish her Happy Birthday, and knowing that I couldn't. I felt as though her birthday should be commemorated somehow. In the days leading up to her birthday, I considered texting my sister and suggesting we both find a card Mom would have liked, then sending it to each other. Or maybe simply a text to each other on her birthday. I don't know...
In the end, I bought a cake mix and a can of frosting. It was a yellow cake and chocolate frosting, the type of cake Mom always baked me for my birthday. I figured I'd bake it Friday afternoon, but Friday got away from me, as did the weekend. Maybe tomorrow.
I brought a few things out to the recycling bin this evening, and thought back to when we moved to Florida, a life-time ago. We left upstate New York the last week of February on a day when the wind chill index made it feel like 40 below. Mom and Dad were getting divorced, which is seldom an easy thing. Mom had her brother, my Uncle D., accompany us in his car as far as Springfield, Massachusetts, a city that took us about 250 miles out of the way en route to Florida. Don't ask me why; the logic escapes me. Maybe it was the map-reading thing; maybe it was...well, who knows why.
The next day, Uncle D. headed back home to Aunt N., while Mom, my sister A. and our brother G. headed south. Mom had mentioned she felt horrible. She had debated whether to have us take her to the nearest hospital, but figured she had just enough money to get us to Florida without an extra stop. So she handed me the car keys and the map of the eastern U.S., reminded me that I had a New York state learner's permit, then told me to get us to St. Pete. Fortunately, I can read maps just fine, otherwise we might have ended up in Nome, Alaska. (Passing through customs twice, though - once going into Canada, once leaving - might have tipped me off.)
Mom seemed a little strange during the trip, but A. and I chalked it up to a combination of three major life changes: Mom was turning 40 (a big deal back when she hit 40), she was divorcing Dad, and we were moving a little more than 1,300 miles (and numerous states) away, more than 1500 miles, if you include the side-trip through Massachusetts. By the time we got to Grandma and Grandpa's the day before Mom's birthday, she was in bad shape. In fact, she spent most of her birthday in the nearest emergency room.
Finally, a week or so later, she started feeling better, more herself. It wasn't until years later, while in her early 50s and married to my first step-dad, that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Apparently, when we'd thought was a bad case of what my younger two and I call the ditzy doodles on the trip was really her introduction to MS, which soon went into a long remission.
During the first month or so in Florida, we stayed with Mom's parents, who lived in an apartment on the second floor. Every evening, after dinner, I'd walk along the long attached balconies in front of the upper floor apartments, descend the stairs at the end of the building, then walk the second floor balcony on the building behind Grandma and Grandpa's, eventually ending up back where I'd started. The weather was exactly the way it is now: definitely warmer than upstate New York, while nowhere near as hot as it gets here during the summer. The air even smells fresh.Whenever the weather is like this in the evening, especially in March, I can't help but remember our first Florida March, and Mom's first Florida birthday. Now it's Mom's first birthday since she's been gone. And while our relationship had been difficult most of the past few decades (I'd always been a Daddy's girl), we'd slowly gotten somewhat closer, almost friendly the last couple of years. I miss her.
The cake gets baked tomorrow, even though it's a few days late. Happy Birthday, Mom.
Showing posts with label emergency room. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emergency room. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2015
Friday, November 1, 2013
Halloween, or Someone Save Me From All This Chocolate!
I'm glad that October is over. I wish October was still here. I know that may sound a little strange, but there are times when most of us feel that way, the wanting time to fly while standing still.
October had been one of my favorite months since forever for a variety of reasons: it is the first full fall month; my birthday is in October, as are my granddaughter's and my youngest niece's; Halloween is in October, which with its passing kicks the holiday season into gear; the weather cools, the days shorten. What's not to like? And yet, it's the same month when my late husband, Paul, died. So the ambivalence is understandable.
Last night, I sat on the front porch, waiting for trick-or-treaters. The first couple of kids showed up shortly after we'd finished dinner. After handing a couple of candy bars, I grabbed the bowl of candy and headed for the porch.
It took a little while for more kids to arrive. While I waited, I watched the kids playing across the street. Apparently, a bunch of parents had decided it would be more fun for everyone - adults, kids - if several families' worth of parents brought all the kids around trick-or-treating. There were times when several families in our last neighborhood did that when my kids were young enough to go out collecting candy. Parents would catch up for a good hour or two in the relaxed way that most of us usually didn't have time for in our hurried lives while our kids had a blast.
As a few more parents wandered into the neighbors' house, as their kids played in the front yard. It was kind-of a peaceful thing, waiting on the porch to see who'd show up, seeing the kids running around the yard across the street as they shrieked in anticipation of Halloween! and all it entails.
Slowly, the sky above their house changed color. There was one brilliantly deep-but-bright blue streak showing behind the branches of the huge oak in their yard; between the blue and the horizon were several shades of orange and red, ranging from pastel orange, through a shade best described as that of a Creamsicle, through red-orange on to deep red. Soon, the colors shifted so that the sky almost looked bruised. That streak of brilliant blue remained until just before the families across the street headed out at dark.
The first place the group headed was directly across the street to see what goodies I was passing out.
"Hey, Robin," our neighbor, H.G., said. "How's it going?"
"Okay," I told her. "How about you?"
"Not bad," she smiled.
The group wandered off, heading south, no doubt hitting up other houses throughout the neighborhood.
Later, the lady next door called over. She, too, was out on her porch, passing out candy. "Any idea what's going on at the park?" R. asked. The back entrance to one of the city's larger parks is only a few houses away from us. It's close enough that it takes me all of a minute to get there. We could see the lights on at the park. While the city's website had mentioned a family-style Halloween gathering at a large field near the city's main fire station, replete with candy for the kids, I'd seen nothing about anything going on at our neighborhood park.
For the next couple of hours, R. and I passed out candy, getting a kick out of different groups of trick-or-treaters, commenting back and forth between bursts of vampires and princesses.
At one point, my son M. mentioned that someone had called but he hadn't gotten to the phone in time. After dialing voicemail, I listened as an automated voice reminded me of my doctor's appointment on Monday. It was funny in that 1) the doctor's office had called around noon to reschedule the appointment to next month, and 2) it was probably 8:00 p.m. while I was outside, passing out Halloween candy. Definitely one of those That's the crazy part of automation for you moments. Then, not five minutes later, the phone rang again. It was a fund-raiser, seeing if I'd donate to..."Nope, not now," I told the fund-raiser.
"But it's for a good cause!" he told me.
"Put me on your Do Not Call list," I said, then hung up as another group came up the sidewalk.
Finally, candy gone, R. called out her good-night and I called back. I watched as the group across the street wandered home. And finally, I wandered in, turning off the front porch light.
This morning, I noticed that H.G. had posted pictures of the kids trading candy on the living room floor. The years my kids did that - "I'll trade you all my Snickers for you Now-And-Laters!" "Okay!" - were years ago. And my sister and brother and me doing that are but a dream.
But as long as there are kids who love candy and dressing up, and parents willing to take their kids around, and neighbors willing to see what kind of cool costumes the kids are wearing while passing out candy, Halloween will remain part of our culture.
I'll still think of it as the beginning of the holiday season.
October had been one of my favorite months since forever for a variety of reasons: it is the first full fall month; my birthday is in October, as are my granddaughter's and my youngest niece's; Halloween is in October, which with its passing kicks the holiday season into gear; the weather cools, the days shorten. What's not to like? And yet, it's the same month when my late husband, Paul, died. So the ambivalence is understandable.
Last night, I sat on the front porch, waiting for trick-or-treaters. The first couple of kids showed up shortly after we'd finished dinner. After handing a couple of candy bars, I grabbed the bowl of candy and headed for the porch.
It took a little while for more kids to arrive. While I waited, I watched the kids playing across the street. Apparently, a bunch of parents had decided it would be more fun for everyone - adults, kids - if several families' worth of parents brought all the kids around trick-or-treating. There were times when several families in our last neighborhood did that when my kids were young enough to go out collecting candy. Parents would catch up for a good hour or two in the relaxed way that most of us usually didn't have time for in our hurried lives while our kids had a blast.
As a few more parents wandered into the neighbors' house, as their kids played in the front yard. It was kind-of a peaceful thing, waiting on the porch to see who'd show up, seeing the kids running around the yard across the street as they shrieked in anticipation of Halloween! and all it entails.
Slowly, the sky above their house changed color. There was one brilliantly deep-but-bright blue streak showing behind the branches of the huge oak in their yard; between the blue and the horizon were several shades of orange and red, ranging from pastel orange, through a shade best described as that of a Creamsicle, through red-orange on to deep red. Soon, the colors shifted so that the sky almost looked bruised. That streak of brilliant blue remained until just before the families across the street headed out at dark.
The first place the group headed was directly across the street to see what goodies I was passing out.
"Hey, Robin," our neighbor, H.G., said. "How's it going?"
"Okay," I told her. "How about you?"
"Not bad," she smiled.
The group wandered off, heading south, no doubt hitting up other houses throughout the neighborhood.
Later, the lady next door called over. She, too, was out on her porch, passing out candy. "Any idea what's going on at the park?" R. asked. The back entrance to one of the city's larger parks is only a few houses away from us. It's close enough that it takes me all of a minute to get there. We could see the lights on at the park. While the city's website had mentioned a family-style Halloween gathering at a large field near the city's main fire station, replete with candy for the kids, I'd seen nothing about anything going on at our neighborhood park.
For the next couple of hours, R. and I passed out candy, getting a kick out of different groups of trick-or-treaters, commenting back and forth between bursts of vampires and princesses.
At one point, my son M. mentioned that someone had called but he hadn't gotten to the phone in time. After dialing voicemail, I listened as an automated voice reminded me of my doctor's appointment on Monday. It was funny in that 1) the doctor's office had called around noon to reschedule the appointment to next month, and 2) it was probably 8:00 p.m. while I was outside, passing out Halloween candy. Definitely one of those That's the crazy part of automation for you moments. Then, not five minutes later, the phone rang again. It was a fund-raiser, seeing if I'd donate to..."Nope, not now," I told the fund-raiser.
"But it's for a good cause!" he told me.
"Put me on your Do Not Call list," I said, then hung up as another group came up the sidewalk.
Finally, candy gone, R. called out her good-night and I called back. I watched as the group across the street wandered home. And finally, I wandered in, turning off the front porch light.
This morning, I noticed that H.G. had posted pictures of the kids trading candy on the living room floor. The years my kids did that - "I'll trade you all my Snickers for you Now-And-Laters!" "Okay!" - were years ago. And my sister and brother and me doing that are but a dream.
But as long as there are kids who love candy and dressing up, and parents willing to take their kids around, and neighbors willing to see what kind of cool costumes the kids are wearing while passing out candy, Halloween will remain part of our culture.
I'll still think of it as the beginning of the holiday season.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Walking/Running/Getting Out of the House
I went out for a walk this morning. I used to run and hope to get back into running.
Unfortunately, I haven't been out walking or hitting the gym the way I used to and the way I know I should. I'd started walking a little before friend hubby and I got married, when we were simply seeing each other. Back then, I walked maybe all of half-a-mile, then got ready for work.
Sometime after P. and I got married, I started running. Actually, I think it started off as walking Osha, our Cocker Spaniel. She loved going for walks. For her, it was a big deal. But then, I got to the point where I'd walk her several days, then go out for a run on the other days. Got to where I was really getting good at it, and enjoying it. Even started a running blog about how my runs (or walks) had gone.
After several deaths in the family, I slowed down on the running. Every time I'd start back, it seemed to take longer and longer to really get back into it. Then, on Halloween, 2010, I fell off a ladder at roof level and ended up in a local emergency room. It was a good two months before I could go out for any kind of a walk.
There are three holidays when I absolutely love going for a long walk. On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, I'll bake up pies and pumpkin bread first thing in the morning. Then, after getting the turkey in the oven, I'll throw on my shoes and walk through the nearby park. It usually takes about an hour, maybe a little more if I really take my time and enjoy the scenery. But by Thanksgiving after the ladder incident, there was no way I was up to going through the park. Heck, I barely had the energy to get the pies done and the turkey into the oven. Thank goodness I was up to walking on Christmas that year.
Since then, my walking or running has been sporatic, at best. But this morning, I figured it was now or never. It would have been too easy to come up with any number of excuses not to go out. Instead, I got changed as though I was actually going to go out for a walk. Then, I got out the door and actually went for a walk.
I'd forgotten how much I actually enjoy getting out the door for a morning walk or run. First off, I tend to notice things that have changed since I've started different routes, or even since the last time I've walked a certain route.
It tends to go something along like this: Oh, wow, that house is up for sale again. They just bought that house last year; I wonder why they're selling now? Wow, they bulldozed more of the woods. On the plus side, they planted a bunch of trees over there. I can't believe how much that colt over there has grown since last year! And on it goes.
Then there's the whole thinking aspect of it. Since I don't bring along a radio, iPod, or any other gadget to listen to music, I really have very little to distract me. Sure, I bring along my cell phone, since I tend to go cross country a lot on my walks. I've found myself face down on a dirt path more than once after tripping over a tree root or having a stone roll under my foot. Heck, I've been known to trip over bumps in the sidewalk! (Check out that Grace post again.) But as far as bringing along anything that would distract me from my surroundings, forget it. So, while I'm noticing the scenery, my mind is also mulling over stuff, wondering if I'll hear back on a job, if something I've written will sell, how best to edit a section of film, if...
...maybe I'll head out again tomorrow morning. (I think I will...)
Unfortunately, I haven't been out walking or hitting the gym the way I used to and the way I know I should. I'd started walking a little before friend hubby and I got married, when we were simply seeing each other. Back then, I walked maybe all of half-a-mile, then got ready for work.
Sometime after P. and I got married, I started running. Actually, I think it started off as walking Osha, our Cocker Spaniel. She loved going for walks. For her, it was a big deal. But then, I got to the point where I'd walk her several days, then go out for a run on the other days. Got to where I was really getting good at it, and enjoying it. Even started a running blog about how my runs (or walks) had gone.
After several deaths in the family, I slowed down on the running. Every time I'd start back, it seemed to take longer and longer to really get back into it. Then, on Halloween, 2010, I fell off a ladder at roof level and ended up in a local emergency room. It was a good two months before I could go out for any kind of a walk.
There are three holidays when I absolutely love going for a long walk. On Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, I'll bake up pies and pumpkin bread first thing in the morning. Then, after getting the turkey in the oven, I'll throw on my shoes and walk through the nearby park. It usually takes about an hour, maybe a little more if I really take my time and enjoy the scenery. But by Thanksgiving after the ladder incident, there was no way I was up to going through the park. Heck, I barely had the energy to get the pies done and the turkey into the oven. Thank goodness I was up to walking on Christmas that year.
Since then, my walking or running has been sporatic, at best. But this morning, I figured it was now or never. It would have been too easy to come up with any number of excuses not to go out. Instead, I got changed as though I was actually going to go out for a walk. Then, I got out the door and actually went for a walk.
I'd forgotten how much I actually enjoy getting out the door for a morning walk or run. First off, I tend to notice things that have changed since I've started different routes, or even since the last time I've walked a certain route.
It tends to go something along like this: Oh, wow, that house is up for sale again. They just bought that house last year; I wonder why they're selling now? Wow, they bulldozed more of the woods. On the plus side, they planted a bunch of trees over there. I can't believe how much that colt over there has grown since last year! And on it goes.
Then there's the whole thinking aspect of it. Since I don't bring along a radio, iPod, or any other gadget to listen to music, I really have very little to distract me. Sure, I bring along my cell phone, since I tend to go cross country a lot on my walks. I've found myself face down on a dirt path more than once after tripping over a tree root or having a stone roll under my foot. Heck, I've been known to trip over bumps in the sidewalk! (Check out that Grace post again.) But as far as bringing along anything that would distract me from my surroundings, forget it. So, while I'm noticing the scenery, my mind is also mulling over stuff, wondering if I'll hear back on a job, if something I've written will sell, how best to edit a section of film, if...
...maybe I'll head out again tomorrow morning. (I think I will...)
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