Nightly Reflections – Monday, Memorial Day, May 30th, 2016

Memorial Day, 2016, is coming to an end.  In the weather department, it’s been a great day.  Summer has now unofficially begun.  Nine days left for kids in District 196.  Nine days left for four people I worked with for many years as they prepare to take on retirement once school is done.  Four more class days for the class of 2016 before they attend this coming Saturday night’s graduation.  And life keeps moving along.

Our dad was in the military.  To be honest, I no longer remember if his father served or not.  My brother has been with the army for many years.  His time with the army is winding down as well.  I don’t know what it’s like to have lost a loved one in defense of this country.  For those who have, it must be such a blend of pain and pride.  I can’t begin to pretend I would understand.  Seems almost wrong to mark the efforts of these people who fought and died in service of America, but we do have this day each year.  It’s nice to see no matter what else is changing in this country, this day still is given respect and dignity in remembrance of those people protecting our freedoms but are no longer with us.  MLB has come to pay its respects by throwing in camouflage hats and tops with the team name in the green colors along with whatever else the various ballparks do before the game and during the National Anthem at the 7th inning.  They do it right.

This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee with one of my former students who graduated last year but is now back from college for summer vacation.  He’s a student in Florida.  He’s a good kid.  He’ll make a great adult.  It was fun talking to him over coffee, sitting outside, hearing about his new life with new friends.  As much as I wouldn’t want to relive all the years and the emotions that have gone with them up to now, I can say without a doubt I’m always jealous of the college stories.  It was my favorite time of my life.  You were out from under the parents’ watch, but yet, they were there if you messed up with your newfound independence.  College rocked!

It’s been strange off and on today.  I have had feelings of sadness that this holiday weekend was over already.  Then I’d give myself a metaphorical slap and ask, “Why?  You’re still retired tomorrow!”  Oh yea.  That’s right.  I guess this is my first Memorial Day in my new life.  I perhaps won’t feel like this next year on this day.  But, if it was last year, going back after a very nice trio of days like we just had always set me up for depression and bedtime by ten.  Ain’t so no mo!

Hoping you have an uneventful entry back into reality tomorrow.  At least it’s a four-day work week.  And then it’s the last day of May as well.  Once June hits, the world changes.  For three months, it’s one big Gidget movie.  That reference is probably lost on so many of you, it’s depressing!

Hang ten!  G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Sunday, May 29th, 2016

Nice to have a day of sunshine, for the most part.  And temps were awesome.  Tonight, for some reason however, it’s warm in the house.  I have to take the garbage out in a bit and I’ll see what it’s like outside, but I don’t think there’s any real air movement out there as there was earlier.

A quiet day on the Brooks front.  The car never left the garage.  The Brewers were on at one so I wanted to see how they handled the third game against the Reds.  Then, when it was over, it was after four and I didn’t really have a reason to leave the house, so I didn’t.

Consumed more of The Fireman.  Did normal things like dishes and laundry.  Caught up on the season-ending episode to The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  A good 2-hour episode.  It’s a show that’s improved over each season.  This was by far their best season yet.  Stations are already airing little previews for fall shows.  Very weird to see that in May.  They NEVER did that, but with so many options now, I suppose the major networks need to fight for every viewer.

I nearly took a drive to Eau Claire today simply because I have loved that city since going to college there over 34 years ago.  However, I decided against it.  I’d consider it tomorrow but people will be returning home after the weekend, so probably not.

The week to come?  Retirement gathering at my assistant principal’s home on Tuesday.  Four ladies who are retiring will be the guests of honor.  Very informal.  No program.  Just a gathering to celebrate four brilliant careers.  They all wanted a low-key celebration.  It will be fun, but of course, the weather forecast is sucky right now.  Then, I plan to see a movie one day this week.  Either the new X-Men film or the new Alice Through The Looking Glass flick.  Both look like good summer fare.  Graduation on Saturday night with a little gathering after at a local establishment I set up.  I’ve done it for years and I asked the Boss if he still wanted me to arrange it.  It was a thumbs up, so that’s what I did.

Dear God, I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel tonight.  As I’ve said before, I write this for me.  I believe I need to write every day or else, like everything else, skip a day and then you skip two days and before you know it….This is deadly boring, however, so I best shut ‘er down versus putting you through any more pain.  I’ll try to ramp up my game tomorrow night 🙂  Have a great Memorial Day tomorrow.  The weather promises to assist.

That’s it.  G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Saturday, May 28th, 2016

A so-so day.  A little sun, but many more clouds, and still not as much rain as they’d have us think we would get.  I think most are happy with the rain we did get, however.

This was another one of those days where staying in had more attractive qualities than going out.  Since I make sure not to have to go to a grocery store on the weekend, I had no real need to head out anyhow.  I did, though, run to Starbucks as I wanted some coffee beans.  Plus, staying inside will drive me crazy some days and today was one of them.  So, just getting out, rolling the windows down and driving a bit helps.

Before the 3pm Brewer broadcast began, I was playing around with some topics for the next column I have to write.  And I came up with several topics that had potential for some exploration, but I don’t believe they merit two double-spaced pages.  So, I think it’s time to pull out my handy dandy safety net and revert back to my “Random Thoughts” column. I’ve gone to these over the four years I’ve written it at times when a topic is just nowhere to be found.  I think I’ve actually done pretty well these past several weeks, but it’s time to talk a little about several topics rather than to pontificate on one for two pages.  I’ll start to write it later in the week and see how it plays out.  Another topic idea could come to me in the meantime, but now I at least know I have this idea to fall back on.

I’ve been attacking my next book I’m reading.  I shared this title with you earlier this week.  The Fireman by Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son.  It’s 750 pages.  Pretty much a monster in my world.  Just holding on to it while reading is a challenge, but I’ll choose that approach over downloading it on my Nook.  Nowhere near the fun.

In any case, this book is off to a helluva start.  Here’s a description word for word from this week’s USA Today paper.  “The Fireman is the tale of a contagious spore called Dragonscale that causes its victims to spontaneously combust. Its heroine is a young pregnant woman with a penchant for Mary Poppins.”  From page one, the plot is off to the races.  It’s a page turner.  The last book I felt that about was his father’s 11-22-63, a book I talked about here several times.  There are several stories on cable television that sort of run along these lines.  Here’s another passage from the USA Today articlle to give you a little more about the book’s credibility as seen by others.  The USA Today’s book reviewer said it was a  “ ‘…superbly crackling’ thriller and gave the book ***½ out of four stars. The Washington Post’s verdict: a ‘splendid, fast-paced apocalyptic tale.’”  So, you decide if that sounds like a story you’d be interested in reading.  I just bought it this week and there were other books I was considering pulling off my shelves, but this one sat on my coffee table all week.  I would pick it up while finishing my other book and I was quickly hooked.  The other books will have to wait 🙂

I think I need to put a copy of the book’s cover here again for tonight’s photo to catch the attention of the book readers out there. Therefore, I will 🙂

For most of you out there, it’s only Friday night.  Two more days to this weekend.  Bring on the decent weather now.  So sayeth Brooks.

See ya tomorrow night.

G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Friday, May 27th, 2016

So begins Memorial Day Weekend, 2016.  It wasn’t a bad day as days go once the rain finished early afternoon.  And right now, Sunday and Monday look decent, so I guess the weekend will be ok.  We need more rain and tomorrow we should get it.  Onward and upward.

Today I had my follow-up to my neck dealio from a week ago Tuesday.  If you’ll remember, I was diagnosed, after a CAT scan, with a parotid gland blockage.  At the time, I was an Urgent Care patient.  Today, I saw my doctor as instructed by the Urgent Care physician.  I was good with that as I love chatting with my doc.  He’s awesome.  Great sense of humor.  I found out the last time I saw him that he’s a doctor for fights in the metro.  He’s a ringside doc.  How cool is that?  In any case, we chatted briefly, he felt my neck and recognized the mass had greatly shrunk yet there was still a little there.  He said, “Just keep sucking those lemon balls for another week and you’ll be good to go!”  Aye, aye, captain!

Then a rare lunch at Famous Dave’s with my buddy.  Prior to meeting him for lunch and the doctor, I had a flashback event occur in the morning.

A couple of days ago, one of my former Honors English Nine students emailed me, asking me if I would be willing to do him a favor.  Actually, him and his friend (partner in an assignment).  They are now sophomores and apparently there is a major research paper due Tuesday.  He was asking me if I’d be willing to read and edit it.  I liked this kid a year ago.  Great kid.  Taught him all year.  I also know his partner as she is the son of my friend who I was having lunch with today.  So, of course, I said yes.  This is where you need to understand something.  I never really minded reading the papers kids wrote.  I hated grading them.  I hated the rubrics.  I hated the parents when they thought they knew more than I had after years of experience, and years of training and workshops and what not.  Kids never felt like papers received the grade they deserved.  This time, however, I didn’t have to grade.  I just had to edit it.  Edit a NINETEEN PAGE PAPER!  He hadn’t told me how long this was when he asked me to edit it.  Once I said yes and he sent me the document, I realized I was in for a bit of a task.  So, I got out my pen and began to leave my marks 🙂

Felt good.  I was doing them a favor.  They would appreciate it.  A win-win.  As it was, the paper was decent.  I made a lot of marks dealing with word choice or punctuation or sentence structure and so on and so on.  I’m sure when my former student got it, he had deja vu from a year ago when he’d receive his papers back from me.  lol

Lunch was delightful, as it always is with this character.  Then it was off to Von Hanson’s for some good stuff for the weekend.  By the time I got home, it was already nearly 3:00.  It’s what I’ve said.  The days fly by in retirement.  Not frantic.  Just often full.  A good thing.

My Brewers are having a good streak right now.  They’re working on winning their fourth game in a row.  Another good thing 🙂  I am one of the few who don’t believe this season is going to be quite as bad as people were expecting.  They show earmarks of a formidable team.  No one is going to knock out the Cubs in our division, but there is always a Wild Card.  Season is nearly two months down.  Many to go!

Have a great Saturday until we meet again.  Get out there and let Mother Nature that rain or no rain, you’re gonna grill out!

G’night!

The Weekly Column – “It Wasn’t Easy Being Sick”

The View From My Room – Year Four – #37

            Last week, I shared with you a little bit of what I’ve missed and haven’t missed after being away from the classroom for nearly a year. This week, I want to extend that thought one step further with something more specific. This comes as a result of what I have experienced medically this last month and a half. Fun, eh?

Yesterday, which to you would be last week, I went in to Urgent Care for an issue that seemed to be fast developing in my neck. I spent four hours there, including a CAT scan and blood tests. It resulted in a diagnosis of a parotid gland in my neck. Basically, a gland was clogged and a mass was developing due to the blockage. It’s treatable, and I hope by the time you read this, it’s back to normal. However, that’s not my point this week. Rather, my point is I went home exhausted. The four hours I spent at Urgent Care, much of the time waiting for news, wiped me out. My nerves were frazzled. A year ago, I would have had to wait until the school day was over. Then, I would have headed to the clinic around 3:30. Based on that, I would have returned home at 7:30. Then I would have eaten dinner and if there was anything pressing that needed to be done before the next school day, I would have felt compelled to do so. Or, maybe I just call in sick.

With all the x-ray and MRI work and the eventual surgery on my knee and recovery days, I surely would have missed a school day or two. Had my neck issue been something more serious, I would have likely missed school too. THAT’S my point this week. I imagine you don’t have any idea how much work it is for a teacher to be sick and miss school. But I’m here to enlighten you.

I’ll share how I always prepared for a substitute teacher. I can say, however, I know my preparations were not all that different for many teachers who wanted their classrooms to be productive and without incident. It took me awhile to type my instructions for the sub. I really wanted to be clear as possible with the way I ran my classroom and what I needed done for the next day or days, God forbid.

I’d first welcome them in my Sub Notes. I’d explain the nature of my absence, and then I’d begin to help them understand the routine of the room. I would leave explicit instructions how I handled bathroom passes, for example. I don’t think it’s a secret that students will test substitute teachers, sometimes unmercifully. I wanted the teacher to be in control. Not the student. I explained one student leave the room at a time for either bathroom or a locker need. It was just easier to maintain control of who was gone. It worked for me and my students.

Then I’d give the sub insight on any issues that might arise, based on the chemistry of a certain hour. I was praising when I could be, but I was honest about the trouble spots as well.

Next, I’d discuss the various courses and what was to happen in them. I usually taught Honors English Nine, English Ten, and Creative Writing in the course of any given year. Each course required specified instructions. Sometimes if the students were simply reading, for example, Tale of Two Cities, the notes were simple and quick to write. “Read and follow along in the study guide, answering questions as you encounter answers while you read.” However, if the students were in the process of peer editing student papers, the instructions were far more intricate. I am not an anal person, but when it came to my sub notes, I could write and write and write.

When I would return to the classroom, the sub always left positive comments about my classes and instructions. I know I probably went overboard in helping both the students and the substitute teacher be successful, but I didn’t like the other possible scenario, so I stuck with it.

Being gone for a teacher is difficult. Sometimes, no matter how sick we’d feel, it would sometimes just be easier to teach than to take the time to leave instructions. Most teachers would concur. I remember once going to bed feeling a little yucky, but by 3, I was awake and fully sick. I had to write sub plans and then drove to school to leave them on my table with any additional materials the sub would need. Trust me. It was the last thing I wanted to do feeling that bad at 3 in the morning. It is, however, what teachers do.

Those days are behind me. When I have health concerns now, I can focus just on me.        It’s late and I will end here. I need my sleep. After all, I wouldn’t want to get sick. Ta ta.

Nightly Reflections – Wednesday, May 25th, 2016

Another day, another dollar.  Kind of.  Maybe not.  Oh well.

Today wasn’t the washout they had said it would be.  I suspect some were disappointed as we seem to need some rain, but I think we’ll still see it after Thursday.  Not to worry, ladies and gentlemen.

I had sort of resigned myself to stay indoors today since I fully believed the forecast.  Thus, it was a day of reading and television and Warcraft and writing and then 3:00 rolled around.

My buddy from school returned to the scene of her crime.  She was primarily responsible for painting most of the interior of my home last summer.  She has tastes that are difficult to argue with.  For my birthday in December, she gave me new curtains for my den.  The curtain rod in the den needed some anchors in the holes to keep the screws secure.  I tend to do more damage when trying to attack any home improvement work, so I sort of have learned to leave it to people who know better.  Thus, the curtains stayed in their packaging until today when she made a return appearance my home.

The den was missing the furniture piece which was complete yesterday with the arrival of that big dark brown recliner.  Today, the curtains went up thanks to my fairy godfriend.  Tonight, when I turn on the little lamp with the 65 watt bulb next to the chair, along with the new curtains, that little den is so cozy, I can’t even tell ya.  It’s going to be nice in the summer mornings to sit in that room now, but come winter, when that room is the warmest in the house, I may find myself back there morning, noon and night far more often than the living room.  I’m ok with that 🙂

I also was able to see on Facebook that today was the day when the school held its annual All-School Awards Assembly in the gym.  It’s always a morning event with locker clean- out in the afternoon.   It was at this assembly last year when the mayor made his appearance to read the proclamation, declaring it “Chuck Brooks Day,” and his gift of the key to the city.  What a quick year that was, eh?  Today, there were four ladies being recognized for their service to RHS and the Rosemount community.  Three of the four ladies are solid teachers.  Top-notch.  First in their class.  The fourth woman is a lady who will be leaving the guidance office after years of service to kids and years of a delightful personality for all.  She’s a total wonder as well.  This morning was their morning.  I heard the kids, as they always will, gave the ladies two different standing ovations.  The four were introduced at the same time and that received a standing O and then, after the principal read a little blurb about each one and thanked them as a group, the kids did it again.  Our kids have always been so classy at this event.  I announced it every year until this year.  I never had to tell them to stand when we began presenting retiring teachers at the end of the hour-long assembly.  They merely stood because they understood what an accomplishment it was to have served kids and families and the school all those years.  I was pleased to hear they came through again.  Another piece of the closure puzzle for the four ladies.

So, we’re back to the column tomorrow night.  This week, it’s a return to the world of teaching and the substitute planning.  I’ll return Friday with fresh thoughts as Memorial Day weekend kicks in.  Tonight’s picture was taken during the daytime.  I simply don’t want to go back in now and shoot a picture with the lamp on.  Use your imaginations 😛

G’night!

 

 

Nightly Reflections – Tuesday, May 24th, 2016

Let’s begin tonight by telling you about today’s chair delivery.  Yes.  The recliner I’ve been waiting for now for six weeks came today.  For my den.  It’s the same recliner as I have in the living room.  That’s how much I loved that recliner.

However…

My dear Lord, is it BIG in that little den!  The two guys carried it in from the outside through the patio and when they plunked it down on the carpet, I was a tad overwhelmed.  It absolutely dwarfs the room.  However, it’s my den.  It’s my house.  I can live with it.  If I have company at some point, they may chuckle at the monstrous size it is in that room, but once they sit in it, they’ll forget about appearance because of the comfort of the blamed thing!  I’m good with it 🙂

I’ve been told by some that they like it when I talk about movies and new books, so I’ll share today’s other purchases.  Two new books and I threw the pictures in tonight for those needing a visual of each.

The Joe Hill novel is going to be a creepy one.  He is Stephen King’s son.  He’s been making a name for himself in the last ten years.  I read where this novel is considered one of summer’s top ten books.  It’s over 700 pages, but it’s ok.  I’m retired 🙂  Then, the Justin Cronin’s novel is the third and final installment in his series.  It’s science fiction.  Definitely not for people who aren’t fans of the genre.  I am not sure when I’ll attack these, but I know I’ll attack The Fireman first because I haven’t gotten to the second book in Cronin’s series yet.  Some day.  🙂

Tonight was The Price Is Right, prime time!  Tonight was the second of three shows at night this week.  Last night, the contestants pulled from the audience were paired with previous contestants from Survivor.  Tomorrow night’s show highlights players from previous Amazing Race shows.  I have never watched either of those reality shows, but I still love the game show.  However, tonight’s features my first summer show love contestants from previous seasons.  Big Brother contestants paired up with audience members for prizes.  In the end, there was also a charity that would benefit from the winning showcase pair.  Lots of fun.  A hint of summer fun heading into Memorial Day weekend.  Entertaining, at the very least.

Today was my immediate boss’ birthday.  I think of her far more as a close friend than the other role she played in my life.  So, I stopped in to school to drop off her present and a card.  We briefly chatted before she had to go to lunch to meet her husband.  It was still nice to have the opportunity to bond.  I always like to recognize the actual day of the birthday if possible and I did just that today.

I don’t know about you, but I’m hoping for some healthy storms this week.  Since it’s going to be so rainy for the next ten days, we need to at least have some good thunder and lightning to ramp up the season.  Like a good snowstorm, it’s hard to get a good old-fashioned thunderstorm these past years.  Definitely don’t happen like they did growing up.  We’ll cross our fingers.

If I’m you, I’m taking the umbrella tomorrow.  Enough said.  Have a good night and day and we’ll check back here tomorrow night.  Ciao and …

G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Monday, May 23rd, 2016

Today turned out to be a nicer day than forecast.  I’ll take it.  Though, as I write this, the house is sticky again.  Fighting the urge to throw on the air conditioning.  I wish I could hear other machines running in the back yards, but I don’t!  I can’t lead on matters such as this!

Today was a zoo day.  Thought I’d get out there since Mother Nature gave us a break, but I should have gotten out there before 1:00.  Probably would have been cooler at 9.  I may have to rethink that move next time.

In any case, the zoo was, as always, a pleasant place to walk.  And sit.  And walk and sit.  My lower back is terribly weak and I can go for a bit, but then, I need to sit for a minute or two to let the back regain its strength and then continue to walk.  When I got there, I stopped at that area where the fountain is and the kids run through the water that shoots up from the pavement.  I read a chapter or two and then proceeded in to the animal portion of the zoo.  I tire of the coffee shops all the time, so a place like the zoo works well.  I have yet to write there, but that day is coming.

Speaking of writing, one of the accomplishments this weekend IN Wisconsin, amazingly enough, I managed to write the column for next week already.  I normally don’t have it done until Friday and then sometimes not even until my last deadline, Monday morning.  However, based on my sister’s request and the loss of her 11-year old retriever, I found inspiration for that column.  You’ll get a chance to see it a week from this Thursday’s post.  The early reaction from my sister and a few friends is positive, and I’m happy.  I don’t write many where the heart is involved in a vulnerable and delicate subject, but when I do, I want it to work, beyond question.  Apparently, it has done that.

The other highlight of this day comes in the form of tonight’s picture.  Years back, I saw a reprint of the Dick and Jane books at Barnes and Noble.  I never bought them then and I kicked myself for missing the chance.  Well, I was playing around the other night on Amazon and lo and behold, there they were.  The Dick and Jane hardcovers.  I wanted them. I needed them.  I ordered them.  Three of them.  Paging through them is so cool.  I love nostalgic items and it doesn’t get much more nostalgic than this book series.  They will be a conversation piece on my coffee table or book shelf if I ever get one up and running.  Until then, I’ll enjoy picking them up and paging through them, for sure.  They are so very cool.

Tomorrow’s highlights?  Two new books AND my new recliner arrives in the morning!  Can.  Not.  Wait!   So, you can probably guess what tomorrow night’s picture will represent 🙂  Until then, stay cool and dry.  More rain is coming mid-week!

G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Sunday, May 22nd, 2016

Life has returned to normal, whatever that means.  I returned by one today.  Made a pit stop entering Eagan to pick up dinner and a package of almond poppyseed muffins 🙂

I am never not amazed at how quickly my world changes when I go to my hometown and when I return from my hometown.  My life here is far different than when I’m back home. There isn’t much in common with either world.

The pace in Beaver Dam greatly is far slower than the pace here.  I don’t mean my life, though it was once that way when I was teaching but I’d run back home to escape.  I needed the slower pace.  But, I wake up one morning, throw a bunch of stuff in the car, and I’m four-plus hours on the road.  It’s kind of like Kansas vs Oz.  Kind of 🙂

Traffic isn’t really an appropriate word to use while there.  At least, I don’t think of it that way.  Cars come and go, but once you’re off the highway, it’s two-lane driving.  Lots of lights and stop signs, so you really can’t get going before you have to stop again.  Yesterday, we were driving by this house and there was an elderly man sitting in his lawn chair with his pipe in his mouth and a beer in his hand.  As we drove by, I glanced and he hoisted his beer as to say “Afternoon!” and I waved back.  There were people fishing by the dam.  A little farmer’s market in the little shopping mall they have.  Walked into this little Verizon store and was greeted by a golden lab, Maggie.  Went to Stooges last night after returning from the afternoon with the cousins and sat with the local color at the bar, and chatted with the owner who was also tending bar.  It’s kind of as if I slipped into another dimension or time zone.  It’s a good thing.

Then, this morning, I wake up and hit the road by 7 and once I’m here, I’m back in 2016.  It’s all good.  Just so vastly different.  I will probably explore this topic another time as I have more to say about it, but for now, I’ve said enough.

The week ahead has its share of lousy weather heading our way.  But what a weekend.  So nice.  I love driving on days like these.  Leaving that early allowed me to drive 94 without battling a lot of traffic until after Eau Claire.  I stopped there to a) pick up an iced mocha, and b) hit Shopko.  They had lamps on sale starting today and I picked up a small end table lamp for my den.  With my new recliner for the den arriving Tuesday, I want to have a lamp on the end table in that room as well.  It will be a nice area for reading.  No TV in that room.  So, I’ll focus on the book and the patio door is right there.  Next best thing to a patio 🙂

Hoping you had a good Sunday and that tomorrow your week begins on a positive note.  Five quick days and the official weekend that begins summer arrives.  Used to love Memorial Day when I was teaching.  It signaled the beginning of the end.  Now, it’s just a sign that theme parks will be open 7 days a week, and the zoo will remain open until 6, instead of 4 and more people will be able to attend a Twins game at night because there’s no school in the morning and so on and so forth.  Bring it on!

See ya tomorrow night.

G’night!

Nightly Reflections – Saturday, May 21st, 2016

Another nice day and this time, hopefully, most of you were able to enjoy it.  Next week looks to be a washout, so hopefully, you can take advantage of tomorrow as well.

As for me, I’m in Wisconsin once again.  I came down Friday, which is why I wanted to shift the column to Friday, so I wouldn’t have to think about writing something the first night back.  It tends to be an “active” night with my sis, her husband and friends in town 🙂  However, I have to say it was a low-key night.  After dinner with my brother and his wife, the two of them headed home and my sis, her hubby and I went to Cocktails.  My sister was tired, though, and still saddened by the loss of her dog that she had to put to sleep three days earlier.  It was as quiet a first night back as ever.

My trip was really based on today.  My mother had one brother.  Actually, had they lived, there would have been three more children, but my grandmother lost them at birth.  They were stillborn.  My uncle passed six years before Mom did.  Once that happened, we slowly lost touch with that side of the family.  A little over a month ago, one of our cousins from that family had died.  I was not able to make the funeral, but my other five siblings did.  My other cousin and his wife were glad to see everyone, but there wasn’t enough time to get reacquainted, so they set up today to have us back for a more pleasant reason.  To share in a barbecue.  When my sister said, “Mom would have wanted us to do this…” my fate was doomed, and I had no choice but to return.  However, Sunday I head back.  It’s a busy week for me as well.

As for the real reason I returned after just being here two weeks ago, it was worth it.  There were three cousins from my mom’s brother’s family.  As I said, one passed away five weeks ago.  That left Doug and Rose.  I hadn’t seen them since Mom’s funeral nearly 33 years ago.  I was especially anxious about seeing Rose again.  She and I, as little children, were close.  There are many pictures of us together before we were ten.  I’ve seen pictures of her and she has many of Mom’s features.  Consequently, the reason for my anxiousness.  It would be a total flashback to a time 50+ years ago.

I have known two ladies named “Rose” in my life.  My neighbor who lived to be 104 with whom I had a special relationship until I was 18 when she passed away.  The other Rose was my cousin.  Today was pretty cool seeing Rose again after all those years.  What we thought might be a few hours max turned into an afternoon and early evening of touching base and reminiscing.  It’s funny how they remember life differently than we did and vice versa.  And how we gave them insight they never had and again, vice versa.  Doug and his wife hosted.  Rose and her husband were there.  All of my siblings but one could attend.  And I have no doubt their parents and our parents were in our midst, enjoying the reunion after all these years.  I repeat, it was definitely worth the return trip to my hometown.

Life is over all too quickly.  Their dad died too young.  Our mom the same.  However, we all have fond memories of those days as children, thanks to both sets of parents.  Today was a product of what they tried to teach us during those years when we were kids.  Family is important.  And forever.  Today, simply put, was pretty damn cool.

Hoping your Saturday was great.  We’ll be back tomorrow night, LIVE from Minnesota once again 🙂 but not sure how to top a day like today.  However, I’ll give it my best shot!  So, once again, until then…

G’night!