Wednesday, March 16, 2005
JANUARY THROUGH MARCH....1989
We had an unusually warm January in south central Missouri. It only got down to 20* a few nights and during the day we enjoyed warm temperatures. Alaska was quite a different story, posting temperatures of 80* below zero for one whole week. The 49’ers beat the Bengal’s in the Super Bowl and there was a round of flu making everyone pretty sick. We enjoyed watching Jennifer’s new puppy, Dara, and her antics. I don’t think anything is as cute as a kitten or a puppy in their play. They make a game out of everything. Just little fur-balls of energy that roll and tumble everywhere.
If January was mild, February made up for it. Early in the month the Siberian Express moved our way and our spring flowers were covered with freezing rain. Our travel crew made it to the office for the day which was a good 50-miles away. Ice was everywhere…….we had one applicant all day so we stayed in the Court House and kept warm. I always had something to stitch on if we weren’t busy. The bad weather stayed for several more days with wind chills of around zero.
We couldn’t bring mom out to visit until the day before Valentine’s day due to the bad weather and ice underfoot. We went to see her, instead. I made some cookies and fudge, then took mom to visit one of her friends for the day. I sent a plate of goodies for them to snack on……and when it was time to pick her up, I had a plate to take to her friend back at WC. My mother was always one to bake or cook and carry food to the elderly or the sick. I had a good teacher in being considerate of others. I got a package ready to send to John and Barbara for their wedding anniversary coming up on the 19th. I framed a counted cross stitch piece I had made for their special day.
The following week-end we drove up to Kansas City to do some shopping and visit with George. Bear was looking for sound equipment and George was well informed of the best sound, price and where to go. Of course, it’s always a must to go to our favorite pizza shop while we’re at George’s…..a long standing tradition. We are never disappointed with their food. The ambience is just what you want to make it a true “pizza evening”….young families, dating couples, retired folks….it’s a favorite watering hole for any age and any occasion. The hustle and bustle from the kitchen area fades into the background of chatter from people obviously enjoying themselves, the company of friends or family.
Becky was having serious infection in either sinus or teeth. She suffered on and off for a month and no one could get it cleared up. She shuffled back and forth from the dentist to the doctor, each telling her it was the other problem. By March, the weather was still making it hard to travel so part of the crew rode with Troopers and some of us stayed at the office. We found things to do until time to quit for the day.
On the 23rd of March, Becky and I took the day off and Jennifer stayed out of school so we could meet John, Barbara and LJ at the Springfield airport. George drove down from Shawnee and after our stop at the airport we found a place to lunch and then visit. We did the town afterwards….shopped at the mall where the guys and the gals split up to use our time wisely. We came home and visited until we just couldn’t stay awake any longer. The next day I fixed a big farmer breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs, jelly and lots of hot coffee. We brought mom out to breakfast with us. I then concentrated on a big meal for supper so we could celebrate the March birthdays of John, Jonathan and Becky. Hank came to join us and it was a festive evening.
The next day, aunt Beulah came and we picked mom up so she could visit with everyone. We had fun with little John hunting for Easter eggs. Becky got up early and put them all around the yard….it was almost too much fun for LJ…he never tired of finding them and putting them in his basket….then he wanted aunt Becky to hide them again so he could find them again……..the game went on for hours and it was fun to watch LJ’s excitement.
The next day we went to church…the choir was singing the Easter cantata that morning so Bear and I went early for a quick practice. The family came later and Becky was surprised to learn the floral arrangement was in her honor for her birthday from us. The congregation was so happy to see John, Barb and LJ…they were swarmed with well-wishers until some time after the service was over. After dinner that day we took them back to the airport, George followed us up and after all our goodbyes with the plane high in the sky, George headed for Shawnee and we made the long drive home.
It had been a wonderful 4-days with all three of the kids together….something that doesn’t happen too often so we always enjoy the moment. In my next life I’m going to forbid my children to move out of town…..it’s just too long between visits and life is too short. I think that’s a good idea………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
If January was mild, February made up for it. Early in the month the Siberian Express moved our way and our spring flowers were covered with freezing rain. Our travel crew made it to the office for the day which was a good 50-miles away. Ice was everywhere…….we had one applicant all day so we stayed in the Court House and kept warm. I always had something to stitch on if we weren’t busy. The bad weather stayed for several more days with wind chills of around zero.
We couldn’t bring mom out to visit until the day before Valentine’s day due to the bad weather and ice underfoot. We went to see her, instead. I made some cookies and fudge, then took mom to visit one of her friends for the day. I sent a plate of goodies for them to snack on……and when it was time to pick her up, I had a plate to take to her friend back at WC. My mother was always one to bake or cook and carry food to the elderly or the sick. I had a good teacher in being considerate of others. I got a package ready to send to John and Barbara for their wedding anniversary coming up on the 19th. I framed a counted cross stitch piece I had made for their special day.
The following week-end we drove up to Kansas City to do some shopping and visit with George. Bear was looking for sound equipment and George was well informed of the best sound, price and where to go. Of course, it’s always a must to go to our favorite pizza shop while we’re at George’s…..a long standing tradition. We are never disappointed with their food. The ambience is just what you want to make it a true “pizza evening”….young families, dating couples, retired folks….it’s a favorite watering hole for any age and any occasion. The hustle and bustle from the kitchen area fades into the background of chatter from people obviously enjoying themselves, the company of friends or family.
Becky was having serious infection in either sinus or teeth. She suffered on and off for a month and no one could get it cleared up. She shuffled back and forth from the dentist to the doctor, each telling her it was the other problem. By March, the weather was still making it hard to travel so part of the crew rode with Troopers and some of us stayed at the office. We found things to do until time to quit for the day.
On the 23rd of March, Becky and I took the day off and Jennifer stayed out of school so we could meet John, Barbara and LJ at the Springfield airport. George drove down from Shawnee and after our stop at the airport we found a place to lunch and then visit. We did the town afterwards….shopped at the mall where the guys and the gals split up to use our time wisely. We came home and visited until we just couldn’t stay awake any longer. The next day I fixed a big farmer breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs, jelly and lots of hot coffee. We brought mom out to breakfast with us. I then concentrated on a big meal for supper so we could celebrate the March birthdays of John, Jonathan and Becky. Hank came to join us and it was a festive evening.
The next day, aunt Beulah came and we picked mom up so she could visit with everyone. We had fun with little John hunting for Easter eggs. Becky got up early and put them all around the yard….it was almost too much fun for LJ…he never tired of finding them and putting them in his basket….then he wanted aunt Becky to hide them again so he could find them again……..the game went on for hours and it was fun to watch LJ’s excitement.
The next day we went to church…the choir was singing the Easter cantata that morning so Bear and I went early for a quick practice. The family came later and Becky was surprised to learn the floral arrangement was in her honor for her birthday from us. The congregation was so happy to see John, Barb and LJ…they were swarmed with well-wishers until some time after the service was over. After dinner that day we took them back to the airport, George followed us up and after all our goodbyes with the plane high in the sky, George headed for Shawnee and we made the long drive home.
It had been a wonderful 4-days with all three of the kids together….something that doesn’t happen too often so we always enjoy the moment. In my next life I’m going to forbid my children to move out of town…..it’s just too long between visits and life is too short. I think that’s a good idea………
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
