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| Hattie just a little on the tired side during our visit in July. |
Showing posts with label rest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rest. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Three Days, Two Nights, Three Celebrations
When you are young you don't realize how busy life can get when you are older. You also don't realize how important small things become. Celebrations are "small things" that build great families. JoAnn wrote in her blog about our Modesto trip. It was 3 days and almost 2 nights, but the celebrations occurred in Modesto and Boise and we could only attend one of the three. Suzanne and Sally spoke of their celebrations - a birthday and an anniversary. Our's was a birthday bash and a father only turns 89 one time.
We have not lived close enough in 37 years to attend a birthday party for my father, yet this year we made the mad 8-hour dash north and had a Friday birthday lunch. It was so much fun! We found a new little restaurant about 4 blocks from Dad & Ruby's place and it was all comfort food, owned by a local group, and the food was almost as good as the companionship. I don't think I've ever seen Dad put away so much fish and chips. He even took my extra fish & chips home for later. And yes, he ate them.
Saturday was the big bash. All 3 sisters and families (that were in town) were present. It's a little overwhelming when we are all together. Everyone talks, some even listen, everyone is in motion, and it all centers around Jeri's kitchen. In all I think there were 13 of us plus 3 dogs. For a family that grew up without dogs, we sure have changed that! Of course, only Penny was allowed in the house since she doesn't consider herself a dog.
It was fun, company, presents, and family. Put it all together and you get a real feel for why families can love each other so much - in spite of our differences. When we get to the core we are more alike than different. Dad got in one game of cribbage and he must be getting old since I had to give him 2 points he missed. I don't think he ever missed any points before. And he still beat me! Of course the family dominoes game has morphed into a set of rules that focuses on cooperation rather than competition - although there is still a winner. It was a tad difficult to get a feel for the first game. I was more focused on "winning" than on cooperating. JoAnn won the first game and I didn't win the 2nd game. Wait, I didn't win any games.
At the end of the day we just sat out on the patio and relaxed. JoAnn and Jeri got a head start while I shot a few photos of them. Later, as JoAnn explained, we watched and listened for the owls. What a great family weekend.
We have not lived close enough in 37 years to attend a birthday party for my father, yet this year we made the mad 8-hour dash north and had a Friday birthday lunch. It was so much fun! We found a new little restaurant about 4 blocks from Dad & Ruby's place and it was all comfort food, owned by a local group, and the food was almost as good as the companionship. I don't think I've ever seen Dad put away so much fish and chips. He even took my extra fish & chips home for later. And yes, he ate them.
Saturday was the big bash. All 3 sisters and families (that were in town) were present. It's a little overwhelming when we are all together. Everyone talks, some even listen, everyone is in motion, and it all centers around Jeri's kitchen. In all I think there were 13 of us plus 3 dogs. For a family that grew up without dogs, we sure have changed that! Of course, only Penny was allowed in the house since she doesn't consider herself a dog.
It was fun, company, presents, and family. Put it all together and you get a real feel for why families can love each other so much - in spite of our differences. When we get to the core we are more alike than different. Dad got in one game of cribbage and he must be getting old since I had to give him 2 points he missed. I don't think he ever missed any points before. And he still beat me! Of course the family dominoes game has morphed into a set of rules that focuses on cooperation rather than competition - although there is still a winner. It was a tad difficult to get a feel for the first game. I was more focused on "winning" than on cooperating. JoAnn won the first game and I didn't win the 2nd game. Wait, I didn't win any games.
At the end of the day we just sat out on the patio and relaxed. JoAnn and Jeri got a head start while I shot a few photos of them. Later, as JoAnn explained, we watched and listened for the owls. What a great family weekend.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Short Weekends, Long Naps, Reflections
I remember my Grandpa Merriam. When I was young and we were visiting in Des Moines, IA, we would all come home from church, have a big dinner and then Grandpa would putter around until he found the couch. He would lay flat, pick up the newest edition of National Geographic and begin to read. At least that was what I thought as a child.On reflection, I would sit and watch that National Geographic get lower and lower until it was right over his face with the spine of the magazine centered on his nose. It would stay that way for a couple of hours. I didn't really understand why he was tired, but I sure do now. In fact, I love those weekend naps. Yes, weekend naps. I don't always get them, but it seems they occur more frequently then they used to. I took a 2 hour nap this past Saturday another nap on Sunday. Of course I'm not real tired now.
I'm beginning to think that I'm feeling the need for a little more rest. My weekdays are pretty hectic and I just don't have the stamina I had 20 years ago. I cherish my weekends with JoAnn and time to do different things. Less frequently do I bring home work for weekends. I'm busy with family and with Church, plus a little relaxing. I do enjoy the weekends probably more than I ever have.
Getting back to Grandpa Merriam. He was forever a tinkerer. I was always impressed how he seemd to keep busy. Whether it was genealogy, philately (stamp collecting), photography, or whatever. He was always busy. In later years, after retirement, he moved to polishing stones (see the photo), decoupage, travel, and family. I find myself more like him every day. He was a great influence on me - much more than I recognized.
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