Thoughts on a Gorgeous Fall Day

Life...what can I say. Sometimes it is as glorious as the weather; other times it sucks. This last weekend put both of those extremes in my life. We have been having some spectacular fall weather – cool nights, nippy mornings, and perfect days. I can’t ask for anything better – only maybe give me a few more days of it so I can enjoy being in the Windy City and taking the little boys out for long walks to Chicago’s parks and around the neighborhood. We will spend the rest of the week in Chicago being a grammy and loving every minute of it.

Back to the weekend. We lost a very special young man last week – a former swimmer, classmate of our children, son of good friends, teacher and mentor to his students, and only 40 years old. He left us far too early, but the impact he had on his students in his short life was tremendous. Would that I could have had that kind of impact on young people. We attended both the visitation and the funeral. At both his parents and brother were given an inkling of the positive role model he was for the youth of Grand Island. He will not be forgotten and his absence will leave a huge hole for family, friends, students, and co-workers. By being in attendance Friday evening and Saturday morning, we were able to see friends – parents and swimmers of the HYAC community from the 80s. What a joy to see friends and what a blessing their presence was to a grieving family and community.

Saturday evening we had the pleasure of seeing two former HYAC swimmers joined in marriage. Another gathering of the HYAC community from a different era – the 90s and later. That’s what happens when you stick around too long. You know too many people. We had a wonderful time visiting with friends and swimmers and catching up. And we got a chance to see the joy of a young couple beginning their life together. It was a beautiful wedding on a gorgeous fall day, the beauty of the wedding matching the day.

Life goes on. Children are born. Some of us die. We all die eventually. And tomorrow is another day. We will rejoice in seeing the grandchildren!

A Year of Thoughts

Thoughts flit in and out of my head. It has been almost a year since posting any GrammyThoughts. So what have those thoughts been about?

Getting Older: The aches and pains that come with getting older are for the birds. And then when you have to take stupid medications for the problems that come with aging, they make the joints hurt even more. The meds have taken care of the high cholesterol for now so we’ll try half-dosage and see if the numbers still stay down. Mama had a stroke at a rather ‘young’ age and the high cholesterol seems to be familial on that side of the family so we will watch ourselves for now.

Grandchildren: They are such a JOY! Spending some time in San Francisco with the family and taking the little girls out to dinner showed me that little ones can behave very well, even in fancy restaurants (with the help of a ‘dress the Barbie’ app on Nef’s IPhone!). Helping Ute with her homework and watching Athena at her gym class playing with her mommy and daddy brought much joy to my heart! Spending time in Chicago with the little boys brings smiles to our faces. Zane knows where all the states are and tells us where he is going this month – a new state, Arizona. And Cael has never been there either so he will have to color in Arizona for both himself and for Cael. Cael is so very precious, but life just doesn’t get any easier for him. Grammy worries about him and about his family. There is never a day that is not stress-free or a day that does not bring another challenge for him. For a grammy that likes to live stress-free, watching the family, even from afar, really causes stress.

Retirement: Every time I get a few days off, or do something fun like traveling to Chicago or San Francisco but sandwiching everything in between work and more work, I wonder why I shouldn’t retire. Then I think about the insurance game and health issues, and I know why I am still working – it’s called bennies! But then when I am home with nothing to do, I get really lazy and do less than nothing, so maybe retirement isn’t a good option for me right now.

Reading: I have been keeping track of the books I have read so far this year – 36. I think I am trying to read everything I can get my hands on before the eyes give out on me;-) The books run the gamut from historical fiction to mystery to inspirational. What am I to say...this is part of my laziness. I have always loved to read, but it goes in spurts. And my taste changes from year to year too. What I like this year may not strike my fancy at all next year.

Swimming: OK, I still enjoy doing the work. When I no longer enjoy it, I will quit. I just wish things wouldn’t pile up all at the same time. And I wish others would learn to do their jobs so that I didn’t always have to clean up after the messes;-) Too many meets this summer. Big meets that cause anxiety. Big outdoor meets that cause real anxiety because I can’t control the weather. Anyone ever guess that I am a control-freak? I want control over my own life. I know the other people in my life like to control their own lives too. I tell them they can control all they want until the train starts to run off the track, and then I take over!

Volunteer stuff: Getting rid of it...one thing at a time. Gone are the PW books. Gone are the HYAC books. Two big responsibilities that I really didn’t want anymore! Relief! But then I volunteer for Session when asked and that adds more responsibility. I like to use my strengths, and by letting people know what those strengths are, I can use them, and not be bothered with doing things that I am not good at or do not like to do!

How’s that for a year’s worth of thoughts?