the energizer bunny

My Father recently was hospitalized as a result of two heart attacks and a stroke. You are probably thinking this blog entry is going to be a little darker than my normal stuff, and you’d probably be right. But knowing me, I will inject a bit of humor and a lot of irony into the entry.
Way back in the early 1960’s my Father received his first death sentence-no more than six months left of his life, two years if he got a miracle. Don’t father anymore children, you won’t live to see them grow up. [I was the one and only at that point] But by the way, you might get the whole two years, and we’d gain knowledge to help others, if you’d try this experimental treatment. Always a gambler, he gave it a go.
Fast forward 44 years, here we are in the present. Not only have four of his five children grown to adulthood, a few of his seven grandchildren are approaching that threshold [note to the wee darlings-be aware that I said merely APPROACHING…you have not arrived at adulthood even at the ripe old ages of 19...16...and ESPECIALLY not 12...no matter how mature you think you are. Oh…and I love you muchly!]
Now you know how my father got the nickname "the energizer bunny".
So, after two ambulance rides, my father arrived at his hospital home for the rest of October and the beginning of November.
My mother and I moved in with my Aunt [near the hospital] and began a round of commuting-hospital, Aunt’s, home for a day or two, and work for me. Having a school related job meant I had several already-scheduled days off, which helped greatly. Over the next 16 days we learned just how much we have to be thankful for. A steady stream of visitors broke up the days for both of my parents and myself, those who couldn’t visit much gave us gas money [how about those prices, ay?], and we know there were a lot of prayers sent heavenward on our behalf.

holidays are for kids-of all ages

By Thanksgiving we may have two new babies among us-the second is due the day before the big event. My nieces and nephews, ages 3 to 12, and at least one other young cousin will be there to liven things up, too. The 4 teens [my own sons included] just aren’t as much fun as they used to be. They just sit there and talk [maybe]. I’m making a note to bring a craft, puzzles, coloring books, and a game or two. The adults just need a little excuse to get right into these activities. After all, it’s for the kids!
Another activity the kids love is the annual Christmas present at Thanksgiving for all attendees under 18. Nail polish, chap stick, lip-gloss, candy and flashlights for the teens and all kinds of fun things for the wee ones. One year an Aunt found a really cool fighter jet for my son, within the $3 price limit. When you pressed the nose, it screamed like a real jet. That item got jammed under the driver’s seat of our van for a month, and Daddy drove well within the speed limit the whole time. Then we figured out that police officers with sirens were NOT following us everywhere we went-it was the jet. My son was not the only one relieved to find and retrieve his favorite toy.

Traditionally, my first annual taste of eggnog is at a gas station on the way to Thanksgiving dinner. We stop for gas [it’s usually cheaper in that county than closer to home] and the clerks are offering samples. This year I have ruined my tradition…I’ve had eggnog at least three times already. Sigh. Well, if you get too locked into tradition it can become meaningless-I’ll just congratulate myself for being flexible and trying something new.
There are plenty of other traditions I will uphold this year-I am always very careful not to eat too much dinner, for instance. Don’t mistake this as a righteous and healthy choice. I’m saving myself for pecan pie and strawberry shortcake-served on angel food cake for this occasion. I think my dear sister-in-law may even make a homemade angel food cake for this purpose. [hint hint] The trick to putting together a serving of this delicacy is to get lots of juice-it soaks into the cake so nicely! The pecan pie is traditionally brought by my Aunt, the family Matriarch. I have to make room in my tummy for this one. I am so thankful there are nuts on the tables at dessert time, to eat between sweet bites-I’d never be able to get through the day otherwise. Sometimes we have potato fudge, too. My Aunt, Uncles, and Mother remember this fondly as a Sunday night staple back at the “old homestead”. It certainly is delicious.

let the holidays begin

My loyal fan is disappointed because I have not blogged in so long so I dedicate this essay to him. Vacation is over and here I come!
Next week is the 24th annual family Thanksgiving gathering at my Uncle's garage. Perhaps I am a little conceited, but I like to believe Uncle built that garage just for these little soirees. This year we expect all 16 of my Mother's branch of the family [Uncle recognizes her as his beloved little sister, in spite of the incident with his bicycle and the blue paint...] and at least 16 from the other siblings' families.
The garage has room for several tables and includes a furnace and stove, and a bathroom with a light outside the door, to alert everyone, in case they didn't notice you sneaking in there. We were all relieved to see the furnace replace the woodstove-we were wearing our lightest summer clothing in order to avoid baking ourselves, and Uncle had a habit of feeding books into the stove with the wood-granted they were Condensed Reader's Digests that NO ONE would take from him, but I cringed. Not that I was willing to take home more than a box or two myself.
One thing I greatly miss is the annual slide show-Uncle installed a screen for that purpose on one end of the garage. I could watch that for hours-me in my new Easter dress, me coming home from the hospital in the brand new Studebaker, me playing with my only cousin at that time...I was just soooo sweet. Some silly people got tired of this entertainment. Hey it wasn't my fault that the next birth after me was 3 cousins in rapid succession and things just got too hectic for anyone to film the events...or perhaps my younger cousins and siblings just weren't as photogenic as I. I certainly was a hard act to follow.
Well, I will write more about our Thanksgiving gathering later. Much to do following my little break.