Just stuff....

It's Monday, and I'm enjoying the end of a much needed 3-day weekend, having taken today off just because I was pooped.  We're working extra hard at work due to bigger than your every day, routine prison problems.  Like Rodney King said..."Why can't we just all get along?"

Yesterday, we made some more progress in Papa's room, sorting papers and deciding what else to donate to charity. 

Earlier in the week we hauled off the old sofa and his bedroom suite to the local Catholic thrift store. Today I will make a quick trip down the mountain to pick out the new carpet and arrange to have it installed within the next week or so.  I am frantically trying to get that room cleaned up and ready so that I can occupy it while I recuperate from my ankle surgery that's scheduled for March 29th.  Since I won't be able to manage the stairs to my bedroom, it'll just be easier for me to sleep there until I can walk without crutches.

It was interesting to go through his paperwork that dated back to his military days in the 1950s, when he contracted TB, apparently from an Eskimo, when he was stationed in Squaw Harbor, Alaska.  I found a transcript from the military proceedings in which they decided to medically retire him after he'd been off work for sometime due to the TB, and it said that he'd been attending medical school at the University of Oregon.  I never heard that story!  Medical school?  He was always good at self-diagnosis so I used to call him Dr. Newman! 

There was also a letter of commendation for his part in saving the life of an airman who crashed a big airplane at the base.  He had car registrations going way back, including one from a favorite automobile, a 1953 Cadillac DeVille.  I remember his stories about that and how proud he was to drive it through his hometown in Oklahoma.  It was so interesting to see those pieces of his life and to actually connect them to the wonderful stories he'd tell.  I've saved most everything will add them to a scrapbook that I will put together to honor his life. 

Talked with Fly Boy for a few minutes yesterday and he's anxious to get home for mid-tour in May!  He talked about how enthusiastic he was about deploying to the war zone, before he met and marriedFall Girl.  Now he's saying he wants to become an Instructor Pilot for a few years so they can establish a stable home life together stateside and how he'd rather never see war again.  Amen.  Sounds really good to me and bring on those grandbabies will ya! 

In other news...I am so happy I am raising an accepting, open minded young woman. 

Yesterday Ab said, "Mom, guess what Cassie and I are going to do?"  (Hmmmm, Heaven only knows and I am afraid of what I am about to hear...but go for it sister!) 

She says..."We're going to go to a Gay Pride parade!"

I said..."Well Honey, that's fine, but why?"

"Just to support the gay people!" she replies, and continues..."I am not gay, but we just thought it'd be cool to show our support!"

Alrighty then.  

And, it really wasn't necessary for her to tell me she's not gay, since her "boyfriend" John was visiting that afternoon and I walked in the TV room just in time to stop a rather steamy kissing session. 

She's definitely not gay.  Neither is he.