On the mend

I did end up taking another sick day today. It was such a tough decision, not that it should be. My parents really instilled the work ethic in me and my siblings. Yesterday it wasn't even a decision because I had a fever. Not that I didn't feel guilty about it. This morning I was still not great. I showered up, dried my hair, then realized I needed to take a rest. I couldn't see how I possibly drive to 3 different schools and possibly infect or at least expose three different classrooms of kids and staff to these germs. But even with this thought process, it was hard for me to pull the trigger and take another day off. (It does not help that Jack has the same work ethic. He did not miss one day in all four years of high school.) I absolutely benefited from the day off. I slept all morning and I think that is the best medicine. Feeling pretty good this evening and am actually looking forward to getting out some Christmas decorations tomorrow.

Sick Day

I woke up at 3 am with a hacking cough, aches and chills. I got up and took my temperature and sure enough, I had a fever. Not bad, 100.6, but still a fever and i was weak and miserable. I have had a minor cold all week and I guess my body was just fighting it. The first thing I thought of was Ellyn, my
aide, who returned to work this week after being out 8 weeks because of her husband's heart transplant. Obviously he is not to be exposed to any germs and here I am exposing Ellyn to my flu-like symptoms! I texted all the necessary people, took the day off and pretty much slept all day. I feel stronger tonight and am hoping to make it to work tomorrow.
Being sick for even one day makes me realize how important good health is and makes me appreciate it even more. Not feeling well colors everything dark and dismal. I pray for all those whose health is compromised.

Thanksgiving Weekend

I am sitting here on the recliner, watching 60 Minutes, waiting for Amazing Race to begin. If there was a Steak n Shake close by, I'd be there eating a Frisco Melt. I have to wean myself off the Thanksgiving weekend feasting :) It's gonna take some time to transition.

It was a fun and social few days. Some highlights:
Wednesday lunch with Sue, Jenny and Sally.
Friday afternoon Turkey Bowl. Wayne's wonderful group of lifelong friends met at our house to reconnect. Posting two pictures, one normal and then the second with funny faces per Wayne's suggestion. Really, how old are you?! I loved everyone's reactions!
Saturday lunch with Jack, Sally, Matt and Father Ted and making plans for the wedding mass. Wow.
Saturday night quick drink with Lynn, Jean and Mike
Saturday night pizza with Jack, Sue and Lauren. Excellent therapy and fun, too.
Back to work tomorrow, but four weeks of holiday fun and preparations.

Thanksgiving '12

It's the day after Thanksgiving and I finally have a moment to catch up a bit with my blog. It feels like it's Saturday, but I am so thankful it's only Friday.
We hosted again this year per our usual tradition. I love having Thanksgiving. We have it down to a science, at least the food and drink. If I was a better housekeeper and less of a pack rat, it'd be a lot easier to entertain in general. I don't think I am going to change at this point in my life,so I should probably just accept it.
We knew it would not be our typical Thanksgiving with the loss of my mom and Jack's brother, Mike. They were both here on Thanksgiving last year and both passed away shortly after, Mike on December 12 and Marmar on December 21. No matter how positively we try to spin things, those were two big losses for our families and their impact could not be denied. We had a lovely day, all in all, and the fact that we were together as family made it a good day. It is strange how the times are changing, right before our very eyes, but often without notice until one day everything is different.
Let's celebrate today and the lives and people we have been blessed with.

Democracy

It was a tough week. I am so disappointed in the results of the election. I hope I am wrong. I hope President Obama has an incredibly productive second term. I pray that he moves a bit more to the center as President Clinton did in his second term. I hope that President Obama will become more of a leader and less of a celebrity. More meetings with world leaders and taking care of governing business; fewer appearances on The View, Letterman, etc. I worry that people worship President Obama in a way that clouds judgement and prevents the media from asking him tough questions and making him accountable. But I would love it if I am worrying about nothing and would be pleased if our country was still a thriving democracy four years from now.
Election Day was interesting. We voted as a family at 6:15 am. (Wayne has maintained our house as his official legal residence since moving back from Ohio since he moves apts almost every year.) That was cool. Then my school was a polling place and my school day started with the discovery that big items were missing from our classroom, most notably our good desk chairs. Turns out an election judge took them!!! Right out of my classroom! Without leaving a note or asking permission. She was incredibly rude when I asked her about it. She felt entitled to it. Guess what political party with which she was affiliated? Tamara, my aide, had another one of our chairs that she suggested they could use. See picture! So funny. (In case you were wondering, we did let the election judges use our chairs...of course) All day we dealt with voters not reading the signs about where to enter to vote. By the end of the school day, we as a staff (of all political persuasions) had to ask ourselves how the heck folks could be informed voters if they couldn't even read the sign directing them where to enter to vote!
Both Wayne and Sally were home in the evening to watch the returns with Jack and me. It was very special to be all together as a family, even though our candidate did not win.
I praise God for our country and democracy and the freedoms that we enjoy. I pray that I would have the wisdom and courage to do what I can to ensure that our freedoms, especially religious freedoms, continue.

All Saints Day...

This morning Jack and I met my sisters, Sue and Jenny, at First Presbyterian Church for an All Saints Day service. This is the service when a church remembers all members who have died since last All Saints Day. We were there to celebrate and remember our mom (and of course, Mike was in our hearts as well).  It was a lovely service and it felt good to be there together because I knew how much it would have meant to Marmar. My mom and Sue love(d) their church and their church community. At the passing of the peace, so many of my mom's peers/friends came over to say hello, including Clare (short for Clarence) and Gloria. It was good to connect with so many of them. As the service resumed, we noticed that Clare and Gloria were having a little discussion and shortly after that, Clare got up and left the sanctuary. There was a lovely sermon and communion, then we closed with that awesome hymn "For all the Saints". After the recessional, we picked up a white rose in Mom's honor and gave a quick hug to Pastor Nancy. She was in tears, saying how much she missed Mom. Jenny decided to make a stop in the restroom before we left, but quickly returned saying that Clare was curled up on a sofa in the parlor with Gloria standing over him. Clare had no pulse. He was gone and had been for a while.He had died! Clare had come over to shake our hands then less than thirty minutes later, he went to Heaven. Oh. My. Gosh. We could not believe it. Word spread quickly to the few folks still in the narthex, including Pastor Nancy, but so many of the congregation had already gone downstairs for fellowship time, unaware that their friend had just suddenly left this world.
What a way to go. Seriously. Quickly, quietly and at church. Before the All Saints service had ended, First Presbyterian had a brand new saint.
It was another reminder to us how quickly things can change in this world and to take nothing for granted.

Babies!

Two of my awesome SLP buddies at work just had babies. Meggan had her son, Connor, on Oct 25th. She also has a darling little girl, Ellie who is 2. Meggan subbed in my classroom for Ellyn for a day a few weeks ago. While she was there, I seized the opportunity to take a picture of Meggan and my sweet Andrea, who was also due about the same time. Andrea has worked across the hall from me her entire 5 year career. She is such a wonderful person and a talented SLP. Andrea had her baby boy, Nolan, on October 22nd. Everyone is doing great and I couldn't be more thrilled for all of them! Congratulations!!!
(Meggan is on the left in gray, Andrea on the right in the printed dress)