To My Grown Up Son

Years ago, when Tye was very little, Mom gave me a copy of this poem. The other day I was going through some boxes of old pictures and found it. I thought that, since my grown up son was going to get married and move to Alberta, this might be a good time to share it.

My hands were busy through the day
I didn't have much time to play
the little games you asked me to.
I didn't have much time for you.

I'd wash your hands, I'd sew and cook,
but when you'd bring your picture book
and ask me, please to share your fun.
I'd say, "A little later, Son."

I'd tuck you in all safe at night.
I'd hear your prayers; turn out the light.
Then tiptoe softly to the door.
I wish I'd stayed a minute more.

For life is short. The years rush past.
A little boy grows up so fast.
No longer is he at your side,
his precious secrets to confide.

The picture books are put away.
There are no longer games to play.
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear.
That all belongs to yesteryear.

My hands, once busy, now are still.
The days are long and hard to fill.
I wish I could go back and do
the little things you asked me to.


This poem is full of regret and sadness, which is contrary to my life with my kids. As many of you, who have known me all my life, I didn't spend a lot of time caring for my house when my kids were young. I can remember many days of playing board games and reading to my boys. I think I read "What's The Matter With Job?" 55 times in a row to Jack. I still can recite the whole story by heart. If you doubt me, just ask me someday. We also played a lot of "hide and seek" in the dark, inside the house and out. My neighbour used to complain that we were screaming all the time and it hurt her cats' ears. It also made our dog, Katy, bark like crazy.
So even though this poem is not completely true, I do have some regrets about the time I spent, or didn't spend, with my kids. For all of Jack's childhood, I was either a student or I worked, which meant he was in daycare. If I had been married, things may have been different, but I think if you asked either one of them, they had a pretty good childhood. I guess I just am feeling a little nostalgic today.

Our family has found JOY!

I am going to be a Mother-In-Law. I am so excited. Tyler and Joy are going to be husband and wife. We had a weekend together with her and it was such fun getting to know her. On Sunday evening we had the family over for coffee at Joy's request. She wanted to get to know them all. She has an amazing memory, too. By the end of the evening she could tell Tye each person's name. When she found out that this wasn't even close to half of them her eyes nearly popped out.

They are not wasting any time with long a engagement, either. They were thinking of a May long weekend wedding until I mentioned that Erica is getting married then so they decided that if they can't get married that weekend they would get married on May 1st. That way Tyler is at semester's end and they are planning a month long honeymoon here on the Island. So. That is the weekend everybody. I was given permission to put that in writing on here.

I have some pictures of her and him from this weekend, but they are still on my camera. When I get then onto my computer, I will write a new post. With pictures. Soon. I promise.

Last Day of November. YAY!

I have never done this posting every day for a whole month before. Oh. Wait. I didn't do it now either. :) I did try, though, and that was hard enough.
So my last day and what do I have to say. Susan wrote a beautiful post about sisters, although some of it was a total fabrication. I could do one too, with pictures that would show a side to them they may not want broadcast . . . but, payback's a bi...t hard to take, so that's ruled out. What can I say?
Hmmm. OK. I have something!
Our church is candidating a new Worship leader. I don't remember his name, but he was really good. I really hope they hire him. It would be nice to have the same worship leader every Sunday.
Hmm . . . What else. OH!
Tyler's girlfriend, Joy Patterson is coming to visit us on Dec 5th. She is only staying for the weekend, but I am really looking forward to talking to her face to face instead of on the phone or the computer. Then in January Tyler is moving to Calgary. He will be living with a friend of Joy's and going to school at DeVry University. I am going to miss him like crazy. He has never lived that far away from home before. It is going to be hard not seeing him every weekend or at least every second weekend. He has been such a support to me for so many years, but never more so than the last few months since I got hurt. He was amazing.
OK. Now I am feeling sad and don't want to write anymore. I need to think of something more cheerful or I am going to quit altogether.
OK. I've been sitting here trying to come up with something cheerful to write about and . . . nothing! What a pathetic life. LOL So, since Susan stole my great idea I just can't come up with anything. So I guess I'll just say Goodnight and I'll write again next month.

OK. A Real Post.

It's November 28th and I have completely failed at this NaBloPoMo. My life just isn't exciting enough to do this every day for a whole month. I can't wait for December 1st. Then I will continue to blog, but not every day. Hopefully then, I will be able to write something a little more interesting and read-worthy.

That's not the only reason I am looking December 1st. Paco is building me a table for my Christmas Village and I am hoping he will be done by next weekend. We are going to decorate the house next weekend including the tree and hopefully, the village. I love Christmas. this year we are doing something different for Christmas. Me and my kids, and David and Carolyn with their kids are going to Ucluelet for December 24, 25 and 26. We are going to be staying here. This is the Terrace Beach Resort. For any of you that are interested, it is owned by Jason Priestly and his parents.

They all come with a private hot tub and baebeque. They have an ocean view and trasils to wlak on and it is going to be completely different from our usual Christmas of too many gifts and not enough family togetherness. I am excited to be there.

Also in December is our family gathering. Since Mom won't be here for Christmas, we are having our gathering on the last Sunday before she leaves, which is on the 13th. it's a little earlier than we usually do it, but it is important to all of us that we do it with Mom here. So I am really looking forward to December 13th.

Now, both of the following will be interesting blogging. Telling you what I did yesterday or am going to do today would bore you all silly, since it consists of a lot of sitting, watching TV, making meals, going to therapy, and cleaning house. Although, yesterday, I had friends come over for dinner and the evening. I made homemade tomato noodle soup, and we played a four hour game of Settlers of Catan. that was fun. I should have taken a picture of our huge board to show you, but I didn't so you'll have to take my word for it.

OK. that is it. I have nothing more for you today. I will try to do something tomorrow, but don't hold your breath.

I'm just too tired.

Sorry, but it's late and I was in Victoria all day. I am tired and want to go to bed. I will do a proper post tomorrow, I promise . . . to try really, really hard. OK then. Goodnight all.

AND . . . More doctor's appointments

Today I went to see the surgeon who put my leg back together. He is a very nice doctor and even showed me pictures of my leg during surgery. He pointed out the hamstring and where it was supposed to be, but wasn't, and the sciatic nerve. It is huge! I always thought that nerves were these tiny hair-like things, but this nerve is huge! It as as big around as a man's thumb. Anyway, the picture was very cool. He also showed me pictures from my first MRI which was also very cool, and pictures of the MRI from 2 weeks ago. I have been having some pretty serious lower back pain and he just wanted to make sure that I hadn't done something serious when I first hurt myself. The back pain has two causes. Since I was first hurt, I have been sitting crooked, standing crooked and walking crooked. This has caused three discs in my lower back to slip out of place and one of them is just touching the sciatic nerve. So the pain from that is causing my leg to hurt and the slipped discs are causing my back to hurt. He said we have three options. Option #1 - put me in a drug induced coma until next July or August and then when I wake up we can start rebuilding the muscles. Option #2 - Do nothing. That means that it could take another year or two before I would be "better". Option #3 - Have an epidural. He did warn me though, that even though these were commonly used on women to assist with difficult deliveries that he wanted to stress that I would NOT get a baby at the end of this. Funny man. So we decided to go with option #3. He said that I could expect one of two things. The injection would fool the nerve into not feeling the pain which would in turn assist me with the therapy and rebuilding of my hamstring muscles. OR it could do nothing and then we go with option #2. So now I just wait to hear from the anesthesiologist in Victoria who will be performing the epidural, which should be in about 2 weeks. Then possibly another 2 weeks until the shot and another 2 weeks to go back and see Dr. Gutmanis, my surgeon. As for going back to work, he doesn't even want to talk about that until he sees me again in approximately 6 weeks. AARRGG!! So I will have to content myself with sitting and doing not a whole lot. I think i will have to have a scrap-booking day at my house very soon.

PS. I wish I had the picture he showed me of my thigh cut wide open. I'd post it for all of you. BUT, I don't so I'm sorry for all of you who would like to see that. :)

Too much fun.

On the 19th I had a really lame post, but told you that I would try to do better on the 20th. The 20th came and went with no post. All I can say is...Oh well. You'll have to get over it. My Mom is here and I don't want to write a long post when i could be playing skipbo or golf with her. So in the future, if there is nothing written here, you'll know why. OK. Gotta go. I think it's my turn to deal.