Catchin' Up

There are so many reasons that I’ve neglected my journal lately. If I’d taken the time to write about many of the things that have been going on, I’d have some pretty special individual entries. Now the moments have passed, and I am not sure that I can recreate the enthusiasm or interest that I had at time. Rather, this will be just a jumbled catch-up of the past couple of weeks, to let my friends and family know I am okay and for my historical record.

Today begins Abs third week of boarding high school and I am happy to say….she LOVES it! Actually, in all this time, I’ve only had a few emails from her begging me NOT to pick her up to show/sell her lamb at the county fair because she doesn’t want to miss any classes! (Good Lord! My child has been abducted and just who is this cooperative little imposter?) And, she said she has “many friends” and “this place is cool…way better than home!” Score one for mom!

Parent’s weekend is October 15th and 16th and I guess that will be the first time I will see her, since she’s not coming home for the fair. I can’t wait to talk with her, find out about all her classes and meet all her new friends! I’m hoping to see a very happy teenager at that time.

I am thoroughly enjoying this empty nest and I think the best part about it is that my house stays clean! The freedom that I am experiencing is almost a little daunting. I’ve been raising kids for a long, long time and I’ve never had this feeling that all I have to worry about is me! One Saturday, I took off to Los Angeles, to visit my Uncle Lee and his stepson who’d come from Northern California to see OSU and UCLA play in the Rose Bowl. I couldn’t let them come within a few hundred miles and not be able to give them a hug! I met them after the game at the Burbank Hilton and enjoyed a nice dinner and then spent the night with them in their suite. Since they had an early plane to catch the next morning, I had the place to myself, so I propped up my feet and enjoyed the very thick Sunday Edition of the Los Angeles Times before stopping in the hotel restaurant for a nice quiet breakfast. After my meal, I hit the road and did a little shopping on the way up the mountain. Another great mini-vacation!

My Grandma Jessie is just barely hanging in there. My Aunt Mary called the other morning and said that Grandma had a very rough night. Mary is at the point that she’s staying with her constantly because she‘s told her how tired she is and “I guess 89 years is enough.” Grandma was pretty coherent yesterday when I called to tell her how much I love her. She said, “I know Lisa and I love you too. I’ve just had soooo much love in my life!” I then said, “Grandma if you go to Heaven soon, would you please tell my dad how much I love and miss him?” She replied in her sweet Okie drawl, “Oh, yes I will and your mother too!”

I just cried because I thought that was so very sweet! What an amazing woman.

More later.