As February comes to a close

2-28-09 satisfied brain

Sometimes what you think you want..... is not always what you need.

I found that to be true for "men"..... and in my experience with trying to find Mr. Right...... this also turns out to be true in finding a new house in Kansas City, along with the need for patience and prayer!

We were looking in the Brookside area, since we liked that area and the walk-ability to restaurants and shopping, similar to what we have in Beaverdale area of Des Moines. But I believe Greg found the right house for us in a different part of town, "old" Leawood area off Leawood Boulevard on 90th St (for those of you who might know the area.).... it's a nice little ranch with a LARGE garage!

I'm in KC this weekend so Greg could take me to see the house today and our friend Molly joined us. (KC is getting beautiful snow today!) Molly and I both agreed with Greg that this is a perfect fit in so many ways...... However, I'm sure going to miss hanging out at the Plaza when I spend time in KC. The apartment here was a good temporary solution as we worked through how we envisioned our lives to be for the next 5 to 10 years...... basically until I retire.

Picture: new house- Kitchen opens into family type room. All very nicely updated, move in ready! Molly is standing in the kitchen taking the picture.

Saturday UPDATE on my Dad:

Dad is back home and "doing well today" is the report I got from my sister this morning.

He did have a bit of a fainting spell last evening, after dinner and after his blood pressure medicine was taken. We are still wondering if there is a connection. Dad has some follow up appointments in Iowa City in 3 weeks, done outpatient, to continue to assess his heart and to help him decide if he is willing to under go the brain aneurysm surgery.

Family emergency, charmed life

2-26-09 grateful brain


I usually have blog postings done a few days in advance and they are then scheduled to post in the early morning hours.
Today my blog is posted in real time, since I need to catch up to what has happened since Monday morning.

I received that dreaded cell phone message…. Just as my cell phone battery was dying……. (One lesson, always have a full battery, or carry your cell phone charger)…..Long story short, my mother was calling with news that my father was in the hospital and she needed my help! Her voice had an urgent tone.

I dropped everything and drove 2 hours north to my hometown with the worst case scenario playing my head…… preparing myself for the funeral. I have always felt very blessed to be in my 50’s and have both parents still alive in their 80’s. They have both been fairly healthy all their lives and are living a good quality of life in their own home….. But I knew the day would come, when they would require more of my attention and care.

OK back to “long story short”….. my Dad was helicoptered to University Hospitals in Iowa City. I picked up my Mom and we drove the 2.5 hour trip there to meet up with Dad. (PS: he enjoyed the helicopter ride)….I won’t go into the details here at this time. I will tell you we were very blessed in many ways. Dad is doing pretty well as of Thursday evening and might be headed home Friday.

Dad really has had a rather “charmed” life from my view point. At age 17 he join the Marines to fight in WWII. This picture is on top of Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. Dad was an amphibian recon Marine and spent time swimming to islands in the Pacific mapping out the territory and was one of the first Americans on the island of Iwo Jima in 1945. Everyone probably is familiar with the historic photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945 which depicts five U.S. Marines raising the flag on top of Mount Suribachi. Dad was in the first group of Marines that did reconnaissance and made the path up to the top of Mount Suribachi. He was standing around when the flag raising picture was taken. This is a picture also taken by Joe Rosenthal at that time. You will see Dad on the left with his gun in the air.

Brief history lesson: At Iwo Jima, the Allied forces suffered 27,909 casualties, with 6,825 killed in action. The number of American casualties was greater than the total Allied casualties on D-Day (Wikipedia), also Iwo Jima was also the only U.S. Marine battle where the American casualties exceeded the Japanese.

I always have believed it was a miracle that Dad survived all his WWII experiences and was able to lead a rather normal life as a teacher and coach, raising a family and being married for nearly 60 years to my one women, my Mom.

Dad is still in pretty good shape at age 83 (soon to be 84 in April), in spite of smoking for nearing 50 years (he quit at age 70)….. must be good genes and the fact he was a fit athlete into his 50’s . Today he still has his wits about him, his toughness, and his sense of humor and he has been riding his exercise bike for 10 year since he received new knees. I know he won’t live forever, but for the time being he is still living a charmed life.

It was a bit of irony that Dad’s initial passing out spell happened on Monday….. February 23, and as he told Mother that morning in the hospital it was 64 years ago he was on Iwo Jima. Unfortunately, he still remembers that day all too well. (We were glad just to see he had no brain impairment)

My postings may be limited for the next few days as our lives hopefully will slowly, but eventually, settle back to a more normal schedule.

Rejuvenation

2-25-09 Rejuvenation brain

Greg and I often enjoy a spring retreat to Big Cedar Lodge this time of year and stay in a cabin on Table Rock Lake. We purposely make this mini vacation all about relaxing, connecting and communing with nature and each other. At this special place I can rediscover a powerful force, my creative spirit. In 2006, this poem just poured out from me in that most surprising, wonderful and satisfying exchange of energy. This painting was done a few years earlier and I have named both the painting and poem "Rebirth", done with Ash Wednesday in mind. (sorry the correct formating of the poem didn't come through, I need to learn better how to do my blog posts)

Rebirth

Upon my forehead,
Ashes have been placed.
The season of renewal calls to me-

Step away,
Step away,
Turn off the noise,
Put down the remote,
Stop the channel surfing.
Step away
Step away,
Turn off the distractions,
Disconnect from the web,
Stop the browsing.
Step away,
Step away,
Fold up the newspaper,
Declare a moratorium on headlines of doom,
Turn away from cynicism.
Step away,
Step away,
Step into-
The open meadow- greening,
With hidden treasures at my feet,
On my knees, much is revealed.
Step away,
Step away,
Step into-
This spring time- new with hope,
40 days,
What sacrifice will I make?
Step away,
Step away,
What will I do with the rest of my life?
When cold death turns into resurrection-
And my rebirth!
Step away,
Step away.
- Judy Sebern Beachy March 2006

Metamorphosis

2-24-09 cramped brain

It’s late February and I am feeling that faint, subtle stirring inside my warm cocoon. The length of daylight is noticeably longer. The sun’s rays actually warm my back as I walked over to the grocery store at noon. Spring is on its way and I’m feeling that urge to transform into a new being.

In January, I entered my cocoon, foregoing art classes and I even took a sabbatical from my church committee work. I have isolated myself somewhat to focus on the task before me. The last two months have been a whirlwind of change and house projects, along with emotional reflection and trying to visualize a new life in Kansas City……. Today, I realize now I have let myself slide to the bottom of my priority list. I haven’t had my hair cut since November, my skin is drying up, and I’m feeling gross. I’m longing to break out of my winter cocoon and fly into the new season of spring! Usually this would be the time to take our annual mini vacation to southern Missouri visiting the Big Cedar Lodge- cabin, however this year I believe it won't happen. BUT today is "fat Tuesday" and tomorrow Ash Wednesday........It’s a perfect time to prepare….... not only for Easter, but for new life and SPRING ..... I think I’ll start with a haircut this week.

My navy blue suit

2-22-09 reminiscing brain

I was looking through some old pictures from the 80's after I had posted "biker-babe" picture on 2-6-09 (my husband loves that picture of me, even though it was taken 8 years before we met).
I found this other picture which I will call "career-women" which was taken about 3 years after the biker-babe" picture. I was out of college now for a few years and starting to evolve into a more professional dresser for work. Both men and women back in the 80's dressed up for work. Suits were popular, nylons, heel pumps and even these silly looking ties.

I have a fond memory of this particular outfit I had- my navy blue suit. One day as I was walking across the parking lot of my apartment building, a guy in the building next door also was getting home from work, he stopped and asked me if I was an airline stewardess. I smiled and said no, and wondered to myself what's up with this guy? It didn't occur to me until later that this navy suit really did look like something a stewardess would wear back in the day. The next run in with this particular neighbor guy was when he came to my door asking if I had lost some purple bikini underwear in the laundry room. (I had done laundry earlier that day) And sure enough they were mine.

Long story short, this guy Russ and I became good friends, and even now I smile when I think of him. In hind sight now, after knowing Russ and his silliness, I wonder if he took my purple underwear out of the dryer, just to have an excuse to bring them to me. I felt a type of kinship with Russ. We were born in the same year and our birthdays were only 10 days apart. He was fun to hang out with and was even goofier than I am. He didn't mine embarrassing himself which gave him great confidence my many ways. He brought out the silly side of me and we laughed over the smallest things. We could waste more time having fun doing nothing much at all.

Russ came in and out of my life in the late 80's and early 90's. We dated for awhile, but somehow it just evolved more into friendship. I then set him up with dates with several friends over the years. My girl friends liked him- he was fun. Eventually he met my friend Molly, who by that time lived in Kansas City. They dated for awhile, long distance. Russ attended mine and Greg's wedding in 92. The last time we saw him was in 97. Molly came back to Des Moines for a visit (they were not dating by then) but the four of us went out for the evening. It was the night that Princess Diane died, August 31, 1997 so I remember it well.

After that, Russ seemed to disappear from our lives. There were a few phone calls here and there, and I always expected him to show back up at our door at some point, but months turn into years and we have lost track of him. I have been blessed to have many friends in my life over the years: many I've kept in my life, a few I've let go, and once in while, sadly, a friend will unintentionally slip through my fingers. I still miss Russ, but a part of me still expects him to show back up at our door someday. Or better yet, I'll see him somewhere from across the room and it will be one of those "God-incidences" like which happened to me a few weeks ago in Kansas City.

Allow time for fun

2-22-09 playful brain

Christopher and I had to take some time, mid week, to enjoy a warmer Iowa day in February. The snow was just perfect for making a snowman, or snow women in our case. This is the tallest one I've ever made (6ft) since Christopher was able to lift the sections on top of each other. The lips are made from cut up apples.

Two state solution

2-21-09 resolute brain

News flash! The house decision has finally been made! An offer was put down on a house Friday afternoon, and accepted, so barring any unforeseen problems Greg and I will try living with the two house solution for awhile and see if it works for us.

This house is on the Kansas side in Leawood area and has an over sized garage to keep Greg happy. For me, I was looking for a house which faces south. I just like the sun shining in my front door for some reason. This is a different area than we originally were looking in, but I believe it will be quite acceptable to me. The good part is that the house is move in ready! After the work I have been putting into Des Moines house with my nephew, I didn't want another house to have to paint. I will be excited to go see it next weekend when I head down for a KC visit. This weekend the basement project continues in Des Moines.