so....today is your birthday....

shhhh....it's not widely known...cause no one is allowed to celebrate
wtf? he came to my birthday gig..and I hate them more than he does
nevertheless...today is his birthday.



Thought Provoking
Harley Riding
Enthusiastically Motivated

Thanks Giving
Easy Going
Adventure Seeking
Movie Watching
Sensual Loving
Touch Giving
Esoteric
Romantic

my heart with rapture thrills....

My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside

let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

(My Country Tis of Thee)

What difference if I hail from North or South
Or from the East or West
My heart is full of love for all of these.
I only know I swell with pride and deep within my breast,
I thrill to see old glory paint the breeze!

This is my country! Land of my choice!
This is my country! Hear my proud voice!
I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,
For this is my country to have and to hold.

(This Is My Country)

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

(America, The Beautiful)


God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;

(God Bless America)


And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

(The United States of America National Anthem)

(just back from Florida and DC....more later...the Jefferson and Washington Monument photos were taken by the Teamster...)

Wordless Wednesday ~ all gone...time to go home.

so....how many cousins does it take...

Today's big event in Flora....we had visitors from Kokomo...

How many cousins DOES it take to change a lightbulb?

apparently two with an audience of five...even then it took an hour....(to be fair the set screws had detached from the interior of the light fixture) This is my daughter and my first cousin who collaborated to reassemble this hanging lamp...

I'm not a city girl....but this is ridiculous

This was the highpoint of our morning....when the squirrel temporarily evicted the birds so he could have a bit of breakfast. Not a great shot...through the rain splattered window and all...but even I was alarmingly excited to have something different to look at.

I had never spent much time here in Flora. Until recently my Papa lived in Lafayette...which is not only the county seat...but is also home to Purdue University. (go Boilermakers). I know Lafayette. I know where to find things. I have several hangouts I can escape to. I know people there. I miss Lafayette.

Just about 2200 people live here in Flora. No coffee shops. No dry cleaners. No movie theaters. Not a single stoplight. I can't even find a bar. I did however have my choice of fourteen different churches yesterday. (We went with Methodist...although I was a bit curious about the Amish service....)

The biggest drawback is sketchy, damn near non-existent cell service...and just about no internet access. The only wireless is at the library...which is a way cool library with very modern, comfortable, overstuffed chairs and sofas...but very limited hours of operation.

Papa (which is my grandfather...not my father....smile) is doing very well for having two heart attacks just a week ago...roller coaster blood sugar readings...and three generations of caregivers (in addition to his girlfriend) hovering around constantly asking him if he needs or wants anything. He says he is "plum wore out" but wants to live to at least 94.

A little over a year ago when I first started my weblog...I wrote this little post about his moving...it has a picture of us together which I think I'm gonna print out and put in a frame.

I can not tell you how much I appreciate the words, wishes, thoughts and prayers you all have sent our way. It's given me a warm, calm spirit...which you can be sure the rest of my family appreciates....almost as much as I do.

never underestimate the power of persuasion

Papa yesterday...in the hospital, wiping his hands after eating.

Papa yesterday....AT HOME playing cards with my cousins.

Papa talked his way out of the hospital yesterday morning. We were all totally caught off guard and unprepared. The night before the cardiologist had told us he would probably be a couple more days. My aunt put the poor staff through the ringer. My Mama called the doctors to get the scoop....confirm meds....and schedule home care.

Papa thinks he is escaping...they think they are letting him go home to die. Truth be told....he thinks that too. He has refused all the necessary tests cause he has decided he is NOT gonna have an angioplasty. He'll take the drugs...try and eat right...get some exercise...but he sees no need to be having the procedure.

So....the prognosis is not good. His heart is failing. But his mind is still very sharp and he is very stubborn (family trait.) My Papa knows what he wants. Even if it makes us all scared and very sad, our family has chosen to respect his decision.

In some ways I think I would like to be 93 years old...and be able to say "enough already...I've had a good life....I'm ready to go"

In many ways...that is a blessing.

Obama in Lafayette

I didn't have a chance to look at the local paper here in Lafayette, Indiana until late in the day....I glanced at the headline...and did a double take. Candidate Obama (Barry to his buds) is gonna be in town....TODAY!

"Hey....let's invite Obama to visit Papa!" I announce in the somewhat crowded hospital room. It's usually standing room only and it has taken us a day to relax in each others company. Everyone looks at me like I am out of my e-phn mind. Truly most of the time they look at me as if I am out of my e-phn mind...so I keep going.

"He's gonna be 93 in a week...we have four generations of registered voters in three (or four?) parties visiting from seven different states....c'mon...they would love us...you KNOW they would come"

One of my aunts shakes her head....she's known all along I would come to no good. My uncle has that bemused look on his face....he is the only one in the family who is a bigger smart ass than I am. My Mama gives me exasperated....and patiently explains that there is at least one person in the room who would throw Obama out the minute he crossed the threshold.

Now personally...I'm not voting for the guy...but still...why not? I'm getting really stircrazy sitting in the hospital and hotel....and they all know....that is when the trouble starts....

(update: Papa is doing pretty good...no more heart pains...having a hard time keeping his blood sugar at a safe level...but other than that he is good.)

Did you see me? I was waving!

I flew over a lot of you guys today!
(and boy are my arms tired...ba-dum dum)

starting out in Santa Cruz, California
SJC
DET
MSP
IND
ending up in Lafayette, Indiana

all is fine...but I am way trashed from thirteen plus hours of traveling. My almost 93 year old Papa (my maternal Grampa) had a heart attack early Monday morning...and he told everyone they should come "home"....so as many of us as could, did.

We spent time with him tonight...he says he is ready to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow...not so sure the doctors will go along with Papa on this one. He is also trying to cajole one of us into smuggling in a hit of Jack for him. Not to worry...I am willing to bet a least four people will abide by his request.

While flying out today.... a great remembrance that Gene (brother of Jeff) posted a couple weeks ago came to my mind. It is about their Grandpa Lynch. I encourage any of you who have living grandparents... or senior aged friends... aunts... uncles... whatever... give 'em a call (or a visit if you can) just to say hey.

rolling.....rolling....

Each of us plays a role in our family.

It may be a work family, an adopted family, a blended family, a biological family or even a blog family.

Doesn’t matter…we each have a role.
Sometimes they change.
Most times they don’t.

I didn’t originally choose my role in my family. It was assigned to me by my Father, back in the day when I didn’t have a choice…I was a young child and the circumstances evolved as they often do. Mandated by necessity….dictated by birth order.

Most certainly as a teenager I reveled in my role. I took wholehearted advantage of it. I benefited from having the power and I loved having the influence (which most of you know is even better than power.)

As an adult….I have…at times decided to maintain my role. Not always…but more often than not…I have maintained my role. Not so much with the power and influence anymore…now it’s about responsibility. It is about being linear. It is about being strong. Providing options, exploring contingencies, encouraging decisions.

With full knowledge (or at least a significant portion of that knowledge) I acknowledge that I am still choosing this role. My choice. Me. All mine. Most of the time I don’t even have to be called upon…I just step into my role. (or take a blind flying leap onto the spiraling out-of-control merry-go-round)

Sometimes….like this morning…I am drafted into service
“What are you going to do?”

When I have to answer, “I don’t know yet” the response is immediate…. “why not? What are you waiting for?” (and in my mind I answer…well damn…first I am gonna walk through the door and get more data than I had ten minutes ago when I got the call)

That person who wants you to step up, (so they don’t have to) to take on the mantle of your role… then they want to tell you exactly how to play it out. I bit my tongue so as not to ask…. “well what are YOU gonna do?” Not the time to be crossing swords.

Late at night…by myself…very quietly…I complain at what it costs me. I wonder who I can pass some of the burden off to… my sister?… my step dad?… my uncle? Arrogant bitch that I am…none of the options seem viable.

So…again I choose my role. It’s the role I really want afterall. I wouldn’t be happy playing a different one. If I didn’t play this role…at the end of the day I would be compelled to take it back.

I best be callin' on my better angels...all of them....

(on the other hand, the next time someone asks me what role I REALLY want…I’m truly gonna tell them Pillsbury’s Orange Danish thankyouverymuch)

Wordless Wednesday ~ golf can be so draining