A fine-tuned machine are we.

My goodness, days can fly by when there are kids around.

Having stayed with grandkids, or had them stay with me, parts of the last couple of weeks have left me wondering where October went.  I would barely get breakfast in ‘em when they would be asking for lunch.  Forget trying to leave the house with them in tow.  I am tough, but not that tough. The sticky squeezes, however, the snotty kisses? To die for.  Seriously, the best.  My last couple of weeks of grandmother in charge was magical, wonderful, filled with laughter.  One of my favorite moments, and it’s silly, was after asking my two-almost-three-year-old granddaughter if she was really opening her candy right now she replied “No, you are” and shoved the bag at me.  I laughed so hard.

Now we prepare for some adult time.  We are flying to Seattle this week for a bit of a get-away to visit our son and daughter-in-law, and also to celebrate our *gulp* 40^th wedding anniversary.  We really don’t know how we got here.

 

Forty years ago I was swooning over the bridesmaids dresses which were a lovely spice, rust color knit material called Qiana.  Pure polyester.  With white lace trim.  Oh, the girls were stunning.  The gentlemen were decked out in a more pastel shade of rust…if there is such a thing.  Not peach, not salmon, not cinnamon.  Pastel rust is the best descriptor.  Charming, yes? Ah, the seventies...may they rest in peace. 

We had a wonderful wedding, fun, and one of the best receptions ever.  Our friends and family asked us to have it every year, in a small little building at our local park.  With 120 guests sitting elbow to elbow and a live band.  Great times.

Much like the days of the last two weeks, forty years have flown by. We have had great days, good days and not so good days.  Celebrations of every sort, as well as fights and disagreements, fits of laughter, and of tears.  We established ourselves. Wedged ourselves in.  We know who the other is, and accept each other.  Over the span of forty years, we tested, we fine-tuned, we adjusted.  We don’t fight now, that was some of the fine-tuning.  We have moments, now.  Moments when he is lucky he is still working while I talk myself all around an issue or aggravation.  This week it was his leaving my car empty of gas.  Oh, there was a lot of “You never this" and “I can’t believe that" in my head, while I stood at the gas pump, in the rain.

 

When he got home that night and I asked how his day went, he replied “The worst part was hearing from you…sorry about the gas”. 

It’s okay.  Guess what? We’re going out for dinner. You’re buying, and we’ll take my car.  

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Seasonal slow down.

The rain in this joint is just about too much.  We've got some spongey, damp, ground all around the house...which means mud and other such unpleasantries.  The mums I was so happy with last week look like mop heads this week. 

This week was a bit slower than my usual early October days as I was in charge of a couple of grandkids while they were on "fall break".  Now, my kids never had a "fall break" although they did get Columbus Day off, and there were some teacher inservice days.  The grandkids get a whole week, and I think most schools do that as well.  It is nice to have that long break in October as they have been in school a long time by this month.  I always found that college students were really homesick long about October, too.  Anyway, it is getting a little slow around here, gearing up for the holiday season.  The calendar is filling up those December squares.   

I started on Sunday with a trip to a Garth Brooks concert.  Yes, that's right, Garth Brooks.  Now, I am not a die-hard country fan or anything, but, we heard a LOT of Garth Brooks around this house when my middle child was a pretty big country fan.  She did a fair amount of singing in those days, and we liked the story telling aspect of country music.  Besides, Garth is like the world's best showman.  The concert did not disappoint my two daughters and I; we also treated my 8-year old granddaughter to her first concert and it was awesome for her, and for us knowing it was so awesome for her.  Not a bad first concert choice.   

The next few days was the child watch.  I had a grand time although the weather didn't cooperate as much as it could have.  I laughed a lot, I helped out where I could, I received a million kisses and hugs and would have gladly accepted more.  I will get a chance, too, because this week is fall break for the other grandkids and they will be visiting for a couple days for their own Camp Gigi.  It's always camp around here but especially so when the parents aren't around! 


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One big, happy dinner.

It’s Saturday and not the typical blog day for me, and this is not a typical post.

   

This was a rough week.  I could barely drag myself off the couch on Monday.  I found myself sleeping when I couldn’t take any more.  Hubs got a salad and warmed up soup for dinner, and a leftover applesauce cup. I ate nothing.  I struggled on Monday.  Hard.

On Tuesday, I slapped myself out of it.  I rallied.  I will not succumb to terror, I will not.  I will speak out on gun control, and I have opinion on the current administration that goes beyond party.  However,  I still will not use this blog for those things, other than those statements above. Can we disagree and still wish love and joy for each other? I believe we can, and I guess we’ll find out.

A week ago, my house was filled with my favorite things ~ all three of my kids, their spouses and all five of my grandchildren.    I could not have been happier than if you had sprinkled me with pixie dust.  I was beyond pleased.  There was a wonderful big family wedding, at a barn, a handsome groom and a gorgeous bride, with everybody. I think only one or two – okay, maybe three -  unable to be there on Saturday but the rest of us were in that barn, celebrating the wedding, and celebrating each other. We were one happy, dancing, loving, singing crowd of a family, let me tell you.  I love weddings, I really do.  It’s like having everyone over for dinner at one time.

 

Last Saturday and Sunday morning were perfect for us.  We laughed, and we loved. I watched little boys swing and heard their giggles, I talked nonsense with a two-year old grandgirl and marveled at the grace and poise of an eight-year old.  I love watching my girls mother their children…and my sons-in-law are princes among men.  My endearing, intelligent and independent daughter-in-law loves my boy, who brings nothing but joy to me, quirky joy, but joy all the same, and displays his roots.  Sitting around a fire with my family on a chilly Sunday morning, after a rollicking Saturday night…I wish it could always be so.  I also know it would not be as special if it happened every day, even every weekend, but I sure would like to give that a try!

Saying goodbye to the travelers never gets easy.  We vowed to make our circle tight, to keep in touch, to visit.  We hugged, we waved and blew kisses.  These are the days that make us.  

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