since I have posted, but then a lot has been going on in my life. (I put a photo of my brother at the end of this blog and you will see why as you read on.) I think my last post was when Adrielle was born. My memory isn't that good anymore. Anyway, in September of last year John and I flew to Colorado to be with Laura and the girls while the weather was still good. We were fortunate enough to be there when Jaime got home from his latest deployment. Happy homecoming for the family. Had some problems breathing while there because of the altitude and sugars were really high, but all is okay now. Have to see a heart doctor for a check up on the heart. Having a lot of problems with shortness of breath, but I have lost 10 pounds so that's good. November was a busy month just trying to get ready for Thanksgiving when I really wasn't in the mood for it. For some reason I was really missing the old days when the entire family got together at Grandma's house to celebrate and eat until we were stuffed. I really miss her. Miss all the family get togethers too. Sometimes cry about those days because these days are so different. The family is spread out all over the U.S. My Aunt said that Grandma was the glue that held the family together. I believe that the statement she made is true. So we had a Thanksgiving dinner with my brother, Joshua and ourselves. It was quiet and relaxing. So relaxing that I was enjoying it so much. First time in years I have felt that way and not all stressed out. Paul wanted to make the rolls so I let him. I told him to READ the directions carefully this time because last year he missed an ingredient. So he's doing his job while I am doing something else. I check on his progress and I see him cooling down the pan of milk, shortening and salt. I asked him how come it looked so brown. He said because of the yeast. I thought "oh no" and let it slide. Well about and hour later Josh is checking on the progress of the rolls and the dough is rising. He asked me if the dough should be rising at this point. I look and tell him yes and that we had to start all over and not to let Paul know because I didn't want to hurt his feelings. So we threw out that batch and started a new one as were getting ready to kneed the dough guess who walks into the kitchen? That's right, Paul! He asks what we are doing so I had to tell him that he killed the yeast by cooking it and that you not suppose to do that. He made some funny remark about himself laughed and walked back into the living room. As we sat down to eat he said, "Guess I won't live this mistake down, will I? We all laughed.
December 1st I started my Christmas shopping and Paul had mentioned he needed a new pair of Ugs. Don't ask me what they are. Some kind of slipper shoe. So I finally found them at the Big 5 and tried to get a hold of Paul. When I got no answer I thought he was still trying to get things in order in the new apartment he had just moved into that day. I called again and his mail box was full. Not like him to not pick up his messages or call me back. I started to worry and thought ok I'll call my sister Kathy, she will know what is going on. No answer. So I call my sister Jean. Got an answer and she asked where I was and was John with me. At home and yes John was there and let me put the phone on speaker. After doing so she informed that my brother has passed away last night. I talked to her on the 9th. Needless to say I was shocked and upset. Later more and more information about his death was coming to light and the long and short of it was he had died the night he had moved into his apartment. Who would have thought that Thanksgiving would be the last time I would see him? The grieving is still going on and probably will for some time. It just doesn't go away overnight. We will be spreading his ashes where we spread my dad's ashes on his birthday July 23rd on top of a mountain that my dad loved so much and where my brother wanted to be.
So enough of this sadness. Finally got through Christmas and got the decorations down on the 9th. Takes me time to get the "want to" up to get the job done. I am getting to old for this kind of stuff anymore. But the grandchildren enjoy it so much that I haven't the heart not to put them up. Had to get the train engine from the train set fixed. Went all the way to Kirkland to get it done since they were the only ones for miles around who fix it. Turns out the train was from about 1949 - 1951 just as I had thought. I got it in an antique store for Rodger for Christmas in 1988. He has no room for it so I keep it and put it around the Wonderful Life village that Laura and Jaime gave me pieces of every Christmas until they stopped selling them. Levi sure enjoyed it. He was kept busy for a while watching that train go round and round. After all the decorations were down he came over to Nonnie's house and the first thing he noticed and asked about was "where train go? Where train go Nonnie?" I had to tell him it was all packed away until next Christmas.
Long blog. That is what I get for waiting so long to keep up with this blog.
This is my brother with his Emmy for the Mighty Ducks children's program.
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