Even though Tinker and Belle are siblings, they don’t always sleep right next to each other; I was glad to be able to grab this photo of a rare-ish moment. Steve was gone for the evening, and I think they were a bit morose and missing their Person. I’m quite sure they have secret conversations together and agree that I am the more boring of their two humans.
A few days ago, I walked into the den to find that Tinker was just sitting quietly on the fireplace hearth like a contemplative canine statue. In my opinion, that would be the least comfortable place in the house to sit, but who knows how dogs think? Maybe he was hoping the musicians would invite him to join their band.
I got home from work one day and saw this scary creature roaming the front yard on his orange machine. I asked the scary creature if I could take his photo before I ran away in terror.
He was a friendly, scary creature and acquiesced.
Sarah and Gage celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last Thursday. They ate at one of their favorite restaurants, the Flipside Cafe, which specializes in Southern comfort food.
I love the sweetness of their marriage and their friendship.
I’ve mentioned in the past that Nathan is a contractor for Duke Energy. Most of the time, he works from home; once or twice a week, he has to go into the branch office near him, and then once a month, he makes the trip to the Mother Ship in uptown Charlotte. Steve and I are so proud of his diligence and excellence in his work; he had no background in this job and had to learn a lot when he first started.
This is the Duke Energy Center, a 48-story building in the heart of uptown Charlotte.
When Nathan walks from the parking deck, he passes the Carolina Panthers’ stadium, which is a fun “walking commute.”
Last Thursday was the grand’s last day of school, and Steve went to the kids’ program on Thursday morning to celebrate with them.
Meagan taught this class of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders, which included Noah (far left) and Madi, second from right.
Four fab students, one fab teacher/mom, and one beloved husband/dad.
Of course, Meagan isn’t the only teacher in the family. Steve and I are so proud of both Meagan and Gage, who put their whole hearts into teaching this year.
After the school program on Thursday, Noah came home with Steve and stayed overnight; he also brought a Father’s Day Gift he had made. While he was here, Noah asked Steve to help him build something for Mother’s Day, and this is what they came up with. I am the proud owner of a wooden spatula!
Even better than the gifts was the note he wrote for Steve to accompany the hammer. Before I share the note, here’s a little background. Steve is an extrovert, and Noah is not. So when they go out to Lowe’s or to run various errands, Steve always talks to everyone he sees, and sometimes that embarrasses Noah. So that’s the context for what Noah wrote in the note.
From Noah to Grandpa,
Thank you for being such a good Grandpa. Thank you for teaching my dad wise things so that he can teach us, and so we can teach our kids one day. And hopefully I’ll let you embarrass my kids, too. Love Noah.
He was a huge help to Steve working on the deck stairs . . .
and even put his plate in the sink after dinner, and made his bed. What a kid!
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve had a spinal x-ray and a spinal MRI.
In medical-speak, it appears that I have “multilevel degenerative disc disease with prominent ventral osteophyte formation (bone spurs) L2-3. There is disc space narrowing at the L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 levels. Facet arthropathy primarily L5-S1 and to a lesser degree L4-5 on the right.”
Part of this is due to aging, but it is also made worse by my erosive osteoarthritis.
At this point, the condition is not terribly painful or debilitating. I’m mainly aware of it when I first get up and then after I do a lot of activity, like cook a big meal. Often at work, I start feeling uncomfortable by the end of the day. It also causes leg weakness, which I’ve been noticing more lately.
I’ve just finished a year of chiropractic treatment; I’m going to start some PT for a while and see if I can get some relief there.
Yesterday, Steve and I were talking about Memorial Day and how very grateful we are that his dad came home from war, after flying 181 combat missions in Vietnam.
Today, we remember all the men and women who didn’t return to their families, the ones whose lives were wrenched away by war. We remember the spouses and the kids and the grandkids who paid that price right along with the ones who were lost.
I’ll close with portions of two favorite stanzas from America the Beautiful:
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country love
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
What about you?
Are there names you can list here of relatives you have lost in wars?
Are you (or have you been) a teacher? What is your most favorite and/or least favorite part of that profession?
Do you have memories of your parents or grandparents embarrasing you when you were growing up?
Becky, I hope you find relief for your back. Hopefully the PT will help. Your medical-speak made my brain hurt! Sitting in hard chairs for long periods gives me pain. I think my body starts to lock up! Last week I served on jury duty for 4 days and thought I’d go nuts from sitting! Sitting and driving are overall rather unnatural positions to be in for long periods of time. I think I’d be most comfortable living the lives of Tinker and/or Belle – just moving around, or splaying out on a rug depending on my mood! Maybe don’t try that at work! Oh, about my jury duty experience. I’m somewhat of an introvert. I remembered a recent post where you mentioned you eat lunch in your car. I did exactly that during my jury duty experience. It gave me a comfortable, quiet place to go when some of the other jurors were heading out together to nearby restaurants on the lunch breaks. The quiet solitude helped me recharge.
Happy Anniversary to Sarah and Gabe!! Hope the grands have a great summer!
As for embarrassments: I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents well into my adult years. I can’t think of a single time where I felt embarrassed by them. As for my parents, though! I’ll have to ponder why I was tougher on them!
My Uncle gave his life for his country 6/3/1967 in Vietnam
Sergeant George David Wallace
A CO, 1ST BN, 27TH INFANTRY, 25TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Dry Fork, Virginia
January 02, 1943 to June 03, 1967
His company lost 8 men that day…
A Company, 1/27 Infantry, lost eight men on 03 June 1967:
SGT Kenneth A. Gore, Shallotte, NC
SGT Aubrey L. Hewitt, Decatur, GA
SGT George D. Wallace, Dry Fork, VA
CPL Willie G. Dyer, Lakeland, FL
CPL Harry E. Geary, Beloit, WI (Bronze Star “V”)
CPL Taylor H. McLemore, Boligee, AL
SP4 James W. Price, Monroe, NC
CPL Larry V. Sayers, Lick Creek, KY
A very dear friend and co-worker with my husband in our local Police Dept. gave his life for his country 1/26/05 along with several other Marines.
Corp Jonathan Williams Bowling Veteran
Birth
24 Nov 1981
Death
26 Jan 2005 (aged 23)
Al Anbar, Iraq
WE DON’T KNOW THEM ALL BUT WE OWE THEM ALL!!!!
Eswim,
I sat quietly and read through every name and date you wrote, remembering, respecting, and being grateful.
Thank you for sharing the names and the reminder to remember that we don’t know them all but we owe them all.
I have a number of veterans in my family (living and passed) but I am fortunate that all made it home safely. Very lucky, I know. For example, my dad was a USAF meteorologist during Vietnam but didn’t see combat. Although a meteorologist was a necessary job at that time as pilots needed to know weather information, and of course there was no weather.com then, he is still alive and still feels a kind of survivor guilt all these decades later.
I’m not a teacher but I homeschool my son so… I guess I’m kind of a teacher? I REALLY enjoy teaching him. I love learning, so sharing that, and fascinating facts about the world and history with him is a blast. Except for … math. It’s always been my nemesis and remains so! Haha!
Ellen,
You are DEFINITELY a teacher. I loved homeschooling both of my kids and I’m so glad it’s been a positive experience for you. I agree with you about math; that just about did me in. 🙂
I hadn’t thought of there being meteorologists in the military but thinking about it, that was a very important job. People like him helped keep people like Steve’s dad alive!
I like the 2 dog pics. So cute and serene .
They appear to be cozy little buggers!
Ruth
Ruth,
Yes, they are funny little doggies. Never a dull moment.
My father-in-law was in the Navy as a medic. Thankfully, he came home. My dad was in the Naval Reserves. I have no names of relatives to list, thankfully.
I am so sorry to read of your spinal issues, but am glad that it isn’t too bothersome yet. Hopefully the PT offers some relief going forward.
My grandma was a school teacher way back before my dad was born. The Mid-to late 1920’s. She taught in a one room school house. She ended up losing her job when the depression began because the government had no money to pay her. That was 1929. Dad showed up in 1930. During the dust bowl. What a life they lived back then.
Happy Anniversary Sarah and Gage! You two look very, very happy! 🙂
Our hearts go out to all of the families that lost loved ones in the line of duty. We owe them so much!!
Happy Memorial Day!
LeeAnne,
Those women (and men) who taught in one room school houses absolutely amaze me. Keeping all those grades going every day was an enormous accomplishment. And then to marry at the beginning of the Depression? And during the Dust Bowl? Oh the stories they lived. I know you are proud of them.
Thankful for dad’s and dad-in-law’s service to the country. So thankful they came home.
Hope the kiddos have a blessed summer and stay safe and healthy. I would be careful of that strange man and orange machine in your yard. They could eat your grass… I also have Osteoarthritis and Osteoporosis which were caused by the cancer drug I took for five years after breast cancer… Arimidex… the devil drug. I have a lot of backaches and have to do a little at a time when I do heavy jobs. This getting old isn’t for sissies… No golden years yet. Have a blesses week.
Kaye,
Yes, the dogs and I are definitely keeping an on that strange man and his mowing machine. It’s a definite grass-eater!
We oldsters just keep on going, don’t we? Many good things in life to experience; sometimes, it’s just a little harder to get all the things done we’d love to do. Hugs.