Brianna and Emily. They are 13 now, beautiful young women.
Gratitude #83 - Sweet Biddies!
13 years ago
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Miriam's birthday
Tomorrow is sweet Miriam's birthday, her 71st.
When she was diagnosed, right after her 62nd, I was sure the world would end any moment. I was devestated, to say the least.
But here we are a long time later, and she is still pretty wonderful. It is not perfect, but our life right now is good, very good actually.
Tomorrow one daughter and her family (husband and 4 kids) will visit overnight. That will make the day special. I expect the others to call as well. Our oldest grandson (also a David) shares the birthday with Miriam. He always calls, bless him. Miriam had a brother (Claude) 5 years old who shared this birthday, and the day that David was born another of Miriam's brother's had a grandson born. That is a lot of sharing of one birthday.
Unfortunately, we lost Claude last year.
It will be a good day and she will be pleased. We will have cake and ice cream, but no candles!
Incidentally, my trusty macbook is in the shop this week and I am doing this from an old mac destop I was given recently. It works, but it ain't the same. My book has 2 Gb of RAM this one has 256 Mb. How do you spell slow? Smallram!!
When she was diagnosed, right after her 62nd, I was sure the world would end any moment. I was devestated, to say the least.
But here we are a long time later, and she is still pretty wonderful. It is not perfect, but our life right now is good, very good actually.
Tomorrow one daughter and her family (husband and 4 kids) will visit overnight. That will make the day special. I expect the others to call as well. Our oldest grandson (also a David) shares the birthday with Miriam. He always calls, bless him. Miriam had a brother (Claude) 5 years old who shared this birthday, and the day that David was born another of Miriam's brother's had a grandson born. That is a lot of sharing of one birthday.
Unfortunately, we lost Claude last year.
It will be a good day and she will be pleased. We will have cake and ice cream, but no candles!
Incidentally, my trusty macbook is in the shop this week and I am doing this from an old mac destop I was given recently. It works, but it ain't the same. My book has 2 Gb of RAM this one has 256 Mb. How do you spell slow? Smallram!!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
another goes
I got word last night that an acquaintenance had passed.
Unlike Jim, there won't be a crowd to his service, nor a whole lot of lamentations.
He was a throughly disagreeable guy who was right about everything, and who wore his religion in such a way to irritate everyone, sinner and saint alike.
Of course, I cannot help but compare him and his life to Jims. We mourn one for being such a good guy, and mourn for the other's illness and painful death, but with less compassion some way.
This guy had bad health, was terribly over weight, and was genuinely disagreeable, but he was a human and I hate to see any humn suffer. His sufferings are over.
But, I don't get the sense of closure I get with Jim. I keep wondering how close he was to the rest of us in ways I cannot understand. Was it his illness that made him a pain or the multitude of pains in his life that made him what he was.
I don't know, but that question will haunt me I am afraid.
Unlike Jim, there won't be a crowd to his service, nor a whole lot of lamentations.
He was a throughly disagreeable guy who was right about everything, and who wore his religion in such a way to irritate everyone, sinner and saint alike.
Of course, I cannot help but compare him and his life to Jims. We mourn one for being such a good guy, and mourn for the other's illness and painful death, but with less compassion some way.
This guy had bad health, was terribly over weight, and was genuinely disagreeable, but he was a human and I hate to see any humn suffer. His sufferings are over.
But, I don't get the sense of closure I get with Jim. I keep wondering how close he was to the rest of us in ways I cannot understand. Was it his illness that made him a pain or the multitude of pains in his life that made him what he was.
I don't know, but that question will haunt me I am afraid.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
owyhee lake, oregon
Slow news day here. I am working in my cabinet shop. But I long for spring and camping at some of my favorite places
Monday, January 14, 2008
food -- again
I thought I had the food thing figured out.
Miriam was one of the great vegetarian cooks. Her table was set with great food and it was done in color coordination as well as arrangement.
But that was then.
Now she opens cans and cooks 3 or 4 times too much food and her combinations are pretty wild.
During the months we were looking after Jim, it worked pretty well. We were together all of the time, so I would make the move for dinner prep and it went pretty well.
Footnote: we usually eat just twice a day, 9 and 4, and I have been the breakfast cook for a long time.
So, yesterday I had work to do in my cabinet shop and told her that I would come in at 4 and begin dinner, since we had breakfast an hour later than usual that morning.
But when I came in at 3:30, dinner was underway big time. Not terribly bad combinations, but way too much of it. I had her put back half of the broccoli she had ready to cook, then part of that half.
And when I said that she had agreed to let me fix dinner at 4, things came unhinged. As she was ranting, I remembered she had missed her pills that morning,and getting them down later in the day is always a challenge.
So, here we are today. I am not sure exactly what to do next, but I think it will involve a lot of wild combinations, of excess preparation and of food recycled to the compost.
Durn, I thought I had it all figured out. Oh well.
Miriam was one of the great vegetarian cooks. Her table was set with great food and it was done in color coordination as well as arrangement.
But that was then.
Now she opens cans and cooks 3 or 4 times too much food and her combinations are pretty wild.
During the months we were looking after Jim, it worked pretty well. We were together all of the time, so I would make the move for dinner prep and it went pretty well.
Footnote: we usually eat just twice a day, 9 and 4, and I have been the breakfast cook for a long time.
So, yesterday I had work to do in my cabinet shop and told her that I would come in at 4 and begin dinner, since we had breakfast an hour later than usual that morning.
But when I came in at 3:30, dinner was underway big time. Not terribly bad combinations, but way too much of it. I had her put back half of the broccoli she had ready to cook, then part of that half.
And when I said that she had agreed to let me fix dinner at 4, things came unhinged. As she was ranting, I remembered she had missed her pills that morning,and getting them down later in the day is always a challenge.
So, here we are today. I am not sure exactly what to do next, but I think it will involve a lot of wild combinations, of excess preparation and of food recycled to the compost.
Durn, I thought I had it all figured out. Oh well.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
the service
The service is over.
Over 400 people were at the service, almost 200 at the dinner afterward. The church was full.
My talk was well received.
Pastor Bruce, who spoke, is a good friend to all of us. He had some emotional things to say, more personal than pastors usually get. He confided to his wife, he later told me, that he hoped I wouldn’t get through my emotional part without a hitch, because if I had a bit of a choke up, it would be easier for him.
I stopped a few times, bit my lip a bit, and then continued. Pastor Bruce said thank you. He bit his lip a few times too.
My talk was too long to post here, but here was my last two paragraphs:
We guys aren’t too good at saying I love you to anyone, much less another guy, but every time I would leave him, I would say Jim, I love you, and I would hold his hand a moment.
Truly, my friend, you were loved, and we will never forget you. You were a superb friend and genuine good guy.
Over 400 people were at the service, almost 200 at the dinner afterward. The church was full.
My talk was well received.
Pastor Bruce, who spoke, is a good friend to all of us. He had some emotional things to say, more personal than pastors usually get. He confided to his wife, he later told me, that he hoped I wouldn’t get through my emotional part without a hitch, because if I had a bit of a choke up, it would be easier for him.
I stopped a few times, bit my lip a bit, and then continued. Pastor Bruce said thank you. He bit his lip a few times too.
My talk was too long to post here, but here was my last two paragraphs:
We guys aren’t too good at saying I love you to anyone, much less another guy, but every time I would leave him, I would say Jim, I love you, and I would hold his hand a moment.
Truly, my friend, you were loved, and we will never forget you. You were a superb friend and genuine good guy.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Once not too many years ago, Jim had helped someone and had been taken advantage of in the process. He complained in the low key way that was his.
“I am not going to help people any more.” He said.
“Yes you will,” I replied. “You will be a bit careful, but you will help people and you will be taken advantage of again, because that is who you are.”
He grinned back at me, he knew I was right.
Back in the 40’s when we were kids, we were all pretty poor, but some were poorer than others. Jim’s family was still fighting the depression, and I think that poverty and the subtle treatment from people who thought they had more, shaped Jim in ways he could not possibly have known.
One family member said that if Jim hadn’t given everyone a good deal, he would be a millionaire. Another said that whatever Jim did, he never took advantage of anyone. I teased him often that if he wasn't so honest he would have a lot more money. He just grinned.
That is his legacy.
This is part of the tribute I will give at his service Saturday.
“I am not going to help people any more.” He said.
“Yes you will,” I replied. “You will be a bit careful, but you will help people and you will be taken advantage of again, because that is who you are.”
He grinned back at me, he knew I was right.
Back in the 40’s when we were kids, we were all pretty poor, but some were poorer than others. Jim’s family was still fighting the depression, and I think that poverty and the subtle treatment from people who thought they had more, shaped Jim in ways he could not possibly have known.
One family member said that if Jim hadn’t given everyone a good deal, he would be a millionaire. Another said that whatever Jim did, he never took advantage of anyone. I teased him often that if he wasn't so honest he would have a lot more money. He just grinned.
That is his legacy.
This is part of the tribute I will give at his service Saturday.
Jim, my friend
This was taken a few years ago. He had cancer, but it was behaving pretty well. This is the grin and unashamed good sense that we all loved in him.
He was a great friend.
friday evening
I went to Staples this morning to get ink for my printer.
When I reached In my pocket for my billfold, it wasn’t there. So I headed back home and discovered that my billfold had been in my pants pockets that Miriam had just washed.
So, today, among other things, I laundered money!
Tomorrow is the big day. I will be at the church early to look after the flowers that will be delivered at 9. I will lead my discussion group, try to stay awake in church.
I will grab a fast lunch and a nap and be back to the church at 2:30 to unlock ready for the service at 3:30. About 7 or 8 I should be able to sit down and rest.
This is way more than Jim would have preferred. While setting up the tables I knew what he would say: “You are going to way too much trouble here, Dave.”
One old friend flew in from Massachusetts, others are coming from California and Portland. I guess it is a measure of your life by how many people bother to show up for your funeral.
Jim was a great guy. I expect the church to be full tomorrow.
Don’t scold me, I know tomorrow is Saturday, but among my other strange habits, I do church that day.
When I reached In my pocket for my billfold, it wasn’t there. So I headed back home and discovered that my billfold had been in my pants pockets that Miriam had just washed.
So, today, among other things, I laundered money!
Tomorrow is the big day. I will be at the church early to look after the flowers that will be delivered at 9. I will lead my discussion group, try to stay awake in church.
I will grab a fast lunch and a nap and be back to the church at 2:30 to unlock ready for the service at 3:30. About 7 or 8 I should be able to sit down and rest.
This is way more than Jim would have preferred. While setting up the tables I knew what he would say: “You are going to way too much trouble here, Dave.”
One old friend flew in from Massachusetts, others are coming from California and Portland. I guess it is a measure of your life by how many people bother to show up for your funeral.
Jim was a great guy. I expect the church to be full tomorrow.
Don’t scold me, I know tomorrow is Saturday, but among my other strange habits, I do church that day.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Jim's T-craft (taylor craft)
Jim loved airplanes and flying. This is one of the planes he owned. In all he owned a bit over a dozen planes.
Jim's servicce
I am putting the last parts of Jim’s memorial service together. It will be Saturday afternoon.
The family asked me to be in charge, and after getting their approval for some of the basic steps, they turned me loose.
The “bulletin” that we will pass out is made by us, and not by the funeral home. One of my graphic designer daughters, Deanna, is doing the design. She is terribly busy, but she said she would do it for Jim, she remembers him very well and kindly.
There is music, the guest book, greeters, and a hand full of other tasks all done by Jim’s friends. I asked one friend and he said; “It would be an honor.” I think we all feel that way.
And they asked me to speak. That will not be easy, I tend to be a bit emotional at times, but I’ll get through it. If I have trouble I have a friend who will be there to take over if necessary. Since I think it might be difficult, I have written it all out so if I falter some one else, less emotional can finish it.
Our plan is to make it a very up beat event, with lots of good stories and music, but we know there will be some tears.
The family asked me to be in charge, and after getting their approval for some of the basic steps, they turned me loose.
The “bulletin” that we will pass out is made by us, and not by the funeral home. One of my graphic designer daughters, Deanna, is doing the design. She is terribly busy, but she said she would do it for Jim, she remembers him very well and kindly.
There is music, the guest book, greeters, and a hand full of other tasks all done by Jim’s friends. I asked one friend and he said; “It would be an honor.” I think we all feel that way.
And they asked me to speak. That will not be easy, I tend to be a bit emotional at times, but I’ll get through it. If I have trouble I have a friend who will be there to take over if necessary. Since I think it might be difficult, I have written it all out so if I falter some one else, less emotional can finish it.
Our plan is to make it a very up beat event, with lots of good stories and music, but we know there will be some tears.
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