Tuesday, September 30, 2008

MemServ

My family has a rather unique sense of humor, especially concerning death and funerals. When my father passed away, he was cremated and had left instructions to have his ashes spread over his favorite golf holes. It was December, and Mom wasn't up to golfing then...although Dad would have been out no matter the temperature or conditions.

Consequently, Dad's remains were stored in the hall closet until spring. One day, my Mom saw my sister standing in the door of the closet, just looking into it. She asked her, "What are you doing?" My sister replied, rather testily I might add, "I'm talking to Dad!", shut the door and came back to the den.

We also are prone to making bad jokes and laughing inappropriately at such things as funerals...a classic line is from some movie my children quote, "We put the FUN in funeral." I don't think we have ever gotten as hysterical as Mary Tyler Moore did in the episode about Chuckles the Clown, but it has been close.

All of this drivel to say that the memorial service (memserv) for our dear friend was held last Saturday. It was so well done, I hope that everyone who attended was as blessed as I was. There were memory boards of her life displayed, from birth until just a couple of months before her passing. Her family had examples of her handwork-quilts, afghans, dresses, cross stitch-displayed. It was magnificent.

Her children were there, of course, and her grandchildren, and all of us who had been her "other" children. It was good to see so many of those people who had been blessed by her life. This was a wonderful memserv! I think she would have loved it!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

New Beginnings

Our middle son has become engaged! Yee haw! He took his father with him to pick out a ring and to lend moral support...dad has pretty amazing taste in rings, as anyone who has seen my wedding band knows, but I digress.

Middle son was planning to wait until next month's hot air balloon festival in Albuquerque to pop the question while soaring up in the air in a balloon, but I think the ring was burning a hole in his pocket, so he talked to her father last week and asked her last Thursday. Then he didn't even call to let us know what she said, I had to call him Friday to see how it went.

I tell you, sometimes my boys do not get how important these things are to their momma! His reply to my question was, I wouldn't have asked her if I didn't think she was going to say yes...I didn't know that did I? Huh? Oh well.

Anyway, now the diet begins in earnest. I wonder if I can lose 90 pounds before the big day? Do you think there are enough Spanx products to hold all my parts in place? I'm not entirely sure! We've been told that it will be at least a year, but I have doubts about that...we shall see. The saga begins.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Grandma Helicopter

Some of you know the parenting workshop Love and Logic, right? I thought my helicopter had been grounded, but I guess it won't be permanently so til I pass on! Oldest son and wife had to go to Ohio last week for a family emergency...oldest grandson was in the area with his mom. How to get said grandson home to school, and who would supervise stepgranddaughter while mom is gone? Helicopter Grandma, of course! Long story short, hubby arranged for our friend who has a private plane to fly us to Oklahoma where we were met by another friend's daughter. A real help since the ancient Volvo is no longer roadworthy. Got to oldest son's home and had three great days with the grands. I was even able to volunteer at the grandson's school for 3 days...something I have never been able to do. Not working does have advantages! Everything went well in Ohio and all are home again.

Helicoptering is exhausting, though. I am still trying to catch up on my sleep, get back in my exercise routine and get the house back in order. But my sweet hubby did something for me that I am so proud of...he cleaned out the garage enough to put my car inside. We have never, in 34 years of marriage, had a car inside the garage. Wow! His thinking was that we need to replace the Volvo, so he would clean out a space, in faith, for our new car! Anyway, the Volvo is enjoying the pampering.