IT’S ALMOST OVER

The holidays are all but over. The New Year begins tomorrow, so I’d like to re-examine the last ten days or so. Our joy began with the arrival of Victoria and Kevin. We admire them so much and are in awe of their accomplishments and the special time we spent with them is memorable for PP and I.

When Lynn, Rich and Rob arrived the special times continued. Our conversations were very revealing. Rob has a fulltime job and his second year at Harvard is on hold while he spends time in Africa.

Everyone was here again for Christmas Eve and there was much noise and turmoil. Everyone was boisterous and filled with the thrill of being together. PP and I received many gifts, as always too many but they were appreciated. Also we had an abundance of food with plenty of leftovers which leads me to tell you what has happened.

Because so many of the family brought food in plastic, I now own a vast amount of containers with matching lids. I think that means it’s going to be a great new year according to Chinese proverbs.

As usual we spent Christmas Day at Chris’s with all the traditional food she prepared and the assortment of cheeses provided again by Victoria and Kevin. The following day Jessica, our oldest granddaughter and her family arrived with our first great granddaughter. A curly headed beauty, she was the star of the occasion and for the first time she slept at her grandmothers overnight. Four dogs were also in attendance.

We are blessed to have nine grandchildren, six girls and three boys who enjoy being together.

Today we put away the Christmas decorations and the trees. The house is swept and I finally found the tablecloth I’ve been searching for.  So everything’s right with the world today, except for those damned Republicans.

I MADE A MISTAKE

Yes I’ll admit it. I made a mistake when I called the former Republican candidate for President of the United States, Senator John McCain a “Show Horse”. After his remarks on television today, I revised my feelings about him. He’s no “Show Horse” he really is a “Jack Ass!”

In future blogs, you’ll know of whom I speak when I allude to Senator J.A.

MAKING A DIFFICULT DECISSION

There was an article in today’s paper about a doctor in her fifties not wanting anymore procedures done on her cancer ridden body. She wanted to be alert and able to spend time with her family knowing nothing could save her.

After I read this article, I looked at the large painting above our living room sofa and thought about our very special friend Mary. We are blessed to have this picture because every time we were in Mary’s art studio, I would stand and admire it.

Mary had cancer about ten years before her death and when she was diagnosed again, she told everyone, including her children that she would not go through radiation or chemo again.

When we visited her in the hospital she looked wonderfully healthy as she told us she was refusing anymore treatment and was going into a nursing home until the end. I couldn’t understand this because she seemed to be normal in every way. She had convinced her children that this was what she wanted and they finally agreed not to argue anymore about her decision.

A short time later, we visited her in the nursing home. She was lying in her bed and seemingly asleep. My husband and I stood on either side of her and each took a hand, she opened her eyes and smiled at us and then closed them again. The medicine she was receiving kept her pain free. She knew who we were, but said nothing.

We had planned to visit again several days later, but our daughter called to say she had died. She was 76 years old.

Mary was a professional artist, but also a student of our artist daughter which is how we first met her. She became an important member of our extended family and attended many celebrations in our home and was beloved by us and many others.

She made the right decision for herself. I hope as we all grow older, we’ll be able to make the right decision as to our own care.