Thursday, December 01, 2005
DECEMBER....1999
I don’t think I have ever been “in sync” with the current date since I started writing our family history but today is December 1st and I am writing from the same date in 1999. It seems strange but they say “truth is stranger than fiction” and that is certainly the case. Our weather is also synchronized with the date……I have written that it was cold and sunny bright…..exactly as it is today. So come along and we’ll walk along the month of December 1999.
The first few days I was busy getting family packages in the mail for Christmas and then turned my attention to a birthday dinner for Jonathan’s fiance, Becky. We have three John’s in the family and will have two Becky’s after their marriage. Becky was routinely traveling to St. Louis for cancer treatment resulting in the loss of her right leg….and then later, it was discovered in her lungs. Becky graduated high-school this past May and was employed. We were having an early Christmas gift exchange because my Becky and I were planning to be with George for Christmas.
By the time they arrived for the noon meal, I had everything ready and we enjoyed it until Becky W. became sick in her stomach and they left early. Becky was deciding whether or not to have surgery on her lungs and it was a tough call for her. We were afraid she was waiting too long to make her decision but knowing she was the one it most affected, we kept our silence. She and Jonathan were going through a tough time with her cancer and all we could do was “be there” for them.
On the same day, Jennifer had gone to New York City to apply for a job with a huge corporation as Senior Buyer for their new project. After the interview she was hired with a hefty salary and a starting date. She was on her way to bigger and better things after starting out as a Kelly Girl at her last employment. She was a true example of someone making the most of their opportunities. A college grad with two degrees but working in an entirely different field than she prepared for. Of course we were very proud and happy for her.
The first half of the month Becky and I enjoyed having people in to visit, enjoy the decorations and eat some goodies. It is always such a warm and friendly time to entertain and offer hospitality….we attended some of their invitations as well. I made cookies and fruit cakes to give to my old Driver’s Examiner crews and it was wonderful to see the guys and hear about their families. They had been a large part of my life for many years.
I was busy crocheting snowmen to give to the family and our friends along with their gifts. I enjoy making part of the gift as a personal touch from me…..and I appreciate the time and effort it takes when I receive one. I’m happy to see people taking more interest in crafts and handwork than in past years when “home made gifts” were thought…..poor and tacky. I have treasures from family members who are no longer with us and they continue to emulate the love with which they were made and given.
On George’s birthday, December 22nd, we loaded the van, made the usual stops to take the pets to boarding, stop at the bank and so on. Finally we were on the road to Shawnee and arrived safely and full of holiday spirit. We drove to the airport to pick Jennifer up who was flying in from CT. for the Christmas festivities. Her plane was on time and once back to George’s we unloaded everything and piled into George’s small home.
With three women and their luggage, plus all the Christmas gift paraphernalia the room shrank considerably. His dog, Murphy, looked at all of us like we landed from Mars. Once unloaded we headed for our favorite Pizza Shop for an evening with other friends and George. It was wild and spirited with everyone talking at once……..my kind of a gathering.
The day after Christmas we took Jen to the airport for her return flight and the next day Becky and I retraced our steps back home. Rain and snow showers followed us all the way but the roads were no problem. The big thing that loomed in the immediate future was all the fuss over Y2K. Everyone thought the computers would go nuts and chaos would rein worldwide.
This was one New Year’s I actually stayed up. Becky and I watched the clock tick down in Time’s Square where the throngs waited for the magic hour…..finally the ball came down……the clock changed…….and NOTHING happened. After months of hoopla about the whole thing it was as if the world held it’s breath for a moment....and then let out a big, long, sigh…..the year 2000 slipped into place and the world was joined together for one moment in time.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
The first few days I was busy getting family packages in the mail for Christmas and then turned my attention to a birthday dinner for Jonathan’s fiance, Becky. We have three John’s in the family and will have two Becky’s after their marriage. Becky was routinely traveling to St. Louis for cancer treatment resulting in the loss of her right leg….and then later, it was discovered in her lungs. Becky graduated high-school this past May and was employed. We were having an early Christmas gift exchange because my Becky and I were planning to be with George for Christmas.
By the time they arrived for the noon meal, I had everything ready and we enjoyed it until Becky W. became sick in her stomach and they left early. Becky was deciding whether or not to have surgery on her lungs and it was a tough call for her. We were afraid she was waiting too long to make her decision but knowing she was the one it most affected, we kept our silence. She and Jonathan were going through a tough time with her cancer and all we could do was “be there” for them.
On the same day, Jennifer had gone to New York City to apply for a job with a huge corporation as Senior Buyer for their new project. After the interview she was hired with a hefty salary and a starting date. She was on her way to bigger and better things after starting out as a Kelly Girl at her last employment. She was a true example of someone making the most of their opportunities. A college grad with two degrees but working in an entirely different field than she prepared for. Of course we were very proud and happy for her.
The first half of the month Becky and I enjoyed having people in to visit, enjoy the decorations and eat some goodies. It is always such a warm and friendly time to entertain and offer hospitality….we attended some of their invitations as well. I made cookies and fruit cakes to give to my old Driver’s Examiner crews and it was wonderful to see the guys and hear about their families. They had been a large part of my life for many years.
I was busy crocheting snowmen to give to the family and our friends along with their gifts. I enjoy making part of the gift as a personal touch from me…..and I appreciate the time and effort it takes when I receive one. I’m happy to see people taking more interest in crafts and handwork than in past years when “home made gifts” were thought…..poor and tacky. I have treasures from family members who are no longer with us and they continue to emulate the love with which they were made and given.
On George’s birthday, December 22nd, we loaded the van, made the usual stops to take the pets to boarding, stop at the bank and so on. Finally we were on the road to Shawnee and arrived safely and full of holiday spirit. We drove to the airport to pick Jennifer up who was flying in from CT. for the Christmas festivities. Her plane was on time and once back to George’s we unloaded everything and piled into George’s small home.
With three women and their luggage, plus all the Christmas gift paraphernalia the room shrank considerably. His dog, Murphy, looked at all of us like we landed from Mars. Once unloaded we headed for our favorite Pizza Shop for an evening with other friends and George. It was wild and spirited with everyone talking at once……..my kind of a gathering.
The day after Christmas we took Jen to the airport for her return flight and the next day Becky and I retraced our steps back home. Rain and snow showers followed us all the way but the roads were no problem. The big thing that loomed in the immediate future was all the fuss over Y2K. Everyone thought the computers would go nuts and chaos would rein worldwide.
This was one New Year’s I actually stayed up. Becky and I watched the clock tick down in Time’s Square where the throngs waited for the magic hour…..finally the ball came down……the clock changed…….and NOTHING happened. After months of hoopla about the whole thing it was as if the world held it’s breath for a moment....and then let out a big, long, sigh…..the year 2000 slipped into place and the world was joined together for one moment in time.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
