May 2011 “From My Perspective”

[Trudy in Illinois]

It is difficult to believe May is finally here and colorful flowers will be showing their beauty. It’s been a tough Winter for some, and now the Spring isn’t being as kind as it usually is to others. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Weather-wise it’s been tolerable for us. The last of March was rough. After many tests, photos, scans, and medical visits for my husband, it all came to the forefront of: early stages of esophageal cancer at the base of the esophagus and stomach valve (sphincter) with NO invasion to the pancreas, liver or lymph nodes. It was caught early. If there is any good news with cancer, that was it. I have learned that “cancer” is the most frightening word in the English language or mine anyway. The not-so-good news is, “The treatment will be hell,” as the oncologist said. He will start chemo AND radiation May 16, his 71st birthday. I told him, "71 years ago you were given life; on the celebration of that, you will have the treatment to sustain that life." Reconstruction of the stomach via surgery will, also, be in the picture. If you would please remember my beloved in your thoughts and/or prayers, I would greatly appreciate it.

May the beautiful flowers of the season bloom in your garden of life,
Trudy
30 April 2011


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2011 MAY “From My Perspective”

“Where in the world did you get a robe like that?” Hubby Dearest quizzed me. “I made it. I call it the MOM ROBE,” was my flannelled reply. “It has many pockets for things found to put away in their proper place. The pockets are large and small to accommodate the size of: Lego pieces, earrings and parts of them, screws, nuts, ponytail holders, bobby pins, Barbie doll accessories, and a few M&M’s--- which I didn’t eat as I gleaned the floors---pen and paper for notes of TO DO and I REMEMBER WHEN---, and for a picture of those I love who are no longer with me. On each side you’ll notice a hand towel. It never fails that when I’m in a hurry, especially in the kitchen, I wipe my wet hand(s) on the side of my robe. There is a lot of material in this robe just in case I have to hold a cold or needy child or make a nest to put clothes or larger toys/things found out of place. A basket would be too much and heavy.” “Odd-shaped pockets on the sleeves; that’s weird,” he scoffed. “Oh, those are for tissues in case there is a tear to be wiped away, a nose to blot, or to wrap a little treasure from an “angel”.” “And, that one with a vial of water? That is most unusual,” he said. “Well, that one is only filled in the spring and summer when there are flowers and dandelions blooming. ‘Bouquets of love’ come from little hands, ya know.” “Why do you have patches at the area of your knees?” “Those are my “blessing patches”. They are there to cushion my knees when I’m on them in thankful prayer to God for all the blessings He’s given me. If I flip them over they say “FOR”. That is for when I pray FOR others. Now you know about my new robe. Do you think I could sell it to others?” I asked. “Only if they are mothers, because they are the ones who will understand each area’s rationale,” he humbly said.

"At age 20, we worry about what others think of us. At 40, we don't care what they think of us.At 60, we discover they haven't been thinking about us at all."(Jock Falkson)

“It’s impossible to say how many words Shakespeare coined, but his works provide the first documentation for words including accommodation, apostrophe, assassination, dexterously, dislocate, frugal, indistinguishable, misanthrope, obscene, pedant, premeditated, reliance, and submerged.”
IF you use any of these words, thank the Bard.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much your mother taught you? Whether she was a good one or not-so-good, she taught you something. Mine taught me how to be the mother I am; stick to my standards no matter what because I’m the one who lives with me 24/7; count your blessings every day; treat your family like friends and your friends like family; make yourself proud and your parents prouder; get your education, you just might need it down the road; sometimes the best answer is silence and a look; class never goes out of style; when faced with adversity, look for the blessing; a sense of humor will bring you a lot of joy; manners cost nothing, but cost plenty if you don’t learn and use them; be proud to be a good mother it is the most important position in your life. Love, love, love and when you don’t think you can love anymore, give it a push. Thank you, Mother. I hope you are proud.

God could not be everywhere so He created mothers…Jewish proverb. Oh how that is so true. When I was growing up I thought I could get away with something. “Mother would never know; she’s hundreds of miles away,” I foolishly thought to myself. When I returned, she asked me all sorts of questions about the activities of the trip. The conversation was light. Then out of the clear blue she asked a question alluding to the deed I shouldn’t have done. “Gods, how did you know?” I screamed in remorse. She smiled and said, “God could not be everywhere, so He created me.” Have you ever thought you could lie to your mother and get away with it? I tried and she ALWAYS knew. It wasn’t until I became a mother that I found out how she knew I was lying. Sometimes we mothers just want you to THINK you got away with the lie.

Brenduhh stopped by after attending her political history class. She was all excited because she knew she’d gotten the answer to an oral quiz correct and wouldn’t have to take the class for the entire semester. I asked her was the question was. She said, “The prof. asked, ‘What was the Roe vs. Wade case?’ I raised my hand and answered, ‘That was the decision George Washington had to make in the Revolutionary War when he was crossing the Delaware River.’ I know it was correct because all the class applauded and the professor said, ‘Oh my. With answers like that you’ll be out of here soon.’”

The big feller had been having some snoring problems. Well, they weren’t problems for him, but my sleep was being interrupted too much. We talked about it. He was concerned and asked, “I don’t want you to lose anymore sleep. Perhaps I need one of those things on my face. Do you know what it’s called?” I looked at him and said, “Yes, I do. It’s called a pillow.”

A NEWBORN'S CONVERSATION WITH GOD
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to Earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?" God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak." "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life." "But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore." God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you." At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name." God said, “You will simply call her, ‘Mom’."
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY…AUTHOR UNKOWN

There are mothers, and then there are REAL mothers. Case in point: Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox. Real mothers know that dried Play Dough does NOT come out of carpets. Real mothers don’t want to know what was just sucked up in the vacuum. Real mothers are thought by their family to know where every lost or misplaced item is that should have been put in its place to begin with. Real mothers have very mixed emotions when their children leave.

Guy took the teens out for breakfast last week. He didn’t realize how much Stephen could eat. While helping Tara choose her order from the menu, Stephen started telling the waitress what he wanted. He ordered DENNY’S Lumberjack Grand Slam which had 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 sausage links, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, hash browns, and coffee. He added---2 more sausage links and 2 pieces of French toast. He ate it ALL! Just hearing about what he ordered made me full.

I overheard Guy praying the other day. He said, “Dear Lord, please help Trudy to continue to point out all my mistakes. I know it is her job, and Heaven forbid she should become unemployed.” What a smarty pants.

Have you ever forgotten what mode of transportation you’ve driven to a store? I’ve forgotten what vehicle I drove to Wal-mart. Both of my vehicles are red, both are usually parked in an aisled number that has a meaning to me. Guy’s van is tan which doesn’t really help because his is a FORD Windstar, too. It is only when I look at my keys I know which one of mine I’ve driven. VW and FORD keys are not alike in any way. I've even forgotten a kid, which confirms my constant preaching of, "Stay with me because when I get ready to leave, I will whether you're with me or not." It's sort of embarrassing when you're driving out of the aisle and your kid is running after you screaming, "Mom, don't leave me. I'm sorry." You should see the looks I've gotten. One time I got ready to do something and Guy asked, in my opinion, a stupid, "What are you doing?" I snarled, "I told you 2 days ago what I was going to do today." With that he growled back, "Two days ago was wonderful, you had laryngitis and didn't talk all day."

A friend of mine and I were discussing atheism. Here is what I wrote her: My thoughts on being an atheist: This is a belief stemming from the lack of desire to think higher and believe in something more powerful than yourself. In essence, you're just plain lazy because you don't want to extend yourself into thanking a superior being for all the good things you have or all the blessings. I envision them standing at the Pearly Gates. God and St. Peter go to the gates. St. Peter says, "Hello, yes, I know your name, but it is God who decides who comes in and who stays out." God says, "Yes, I know your name just as you knew mine. Nope, not gonna let you into my kingdom of afterlife because you never let me into your kingdom of life. You didn't believe I existed; I don't believe you're here. I created a physics law. It is: what goes up must go down. Bye." Philosophical theology class is over.

Tara went horse back riding and loved it. Guy and I were looking over her calendar she keeps at her place at the dining room table. She is somewhat challenged in spelling, but I didn't realize how much until I read this for Thursday----"whores back riding". Guy about screamed. I told him we wouldn't tell her about that word, but would show her the correct spelling of that animal.

Pittsburgh, PA is the only city where ALL major sports teams have the same colors: black and gold.
524,160 is a most significant number. It is the amount of minutes in a year. If it was money and we spent it unwisely, we might be able to get some of it returned. But minutes? They’re gone forever. How have you spent yours?

Peace and blessings, Trudy J

[peio]

Love it!

[mspete]

Wonderful writing! I don't know how you can be so creative month after month. Keep up the good work.

[Trudy in Illinois]

Thank you, mspete. I gather from all different sources, read a saying and expound upon it, delve into my memories when I see something which jogs my mind, and life in general. I'm thinking of writing about being the caretaker for a loved one with cancer and the "adventures" which I encountered. It may or may not happen, though.

[mspete]

That would be wonderful. I'm sure it would help others who are caregivers to understand their emotions and not feel guilt when they are unable to help the person who is ill. I know from being a caregiver for my husband when he was so sick for so long that it is a tiring, frustrating, battle. The level of energy required is so great. I didn't have children to take care of when he was sick and I don't know how anyone finds the energy to take care of children and a sick spouse. God gives us strength but some much energy and stamina are needed.
I will remember you and Guy in my prayers.