This weekend will be anything but the kind that older people love to have…nothing to do. It seems like those times for all of us are getting fewer and farther between as we continue to hurtle down the space-time continuum.
Yesterday evening we (13 family from Wichita area) went to our hometown and to the cemetery where family is buried. We then went into town and had dinner at the local diner.
Today, we will attend a Vincent reunion in central Kansas, and will take our two oldest grandchildren with us. Their parents will not be going, so we will be responsible for them. Of course, the reunion also involves food preparation, which is going on right now, and the grandkids mean farkling with car seats and other assorted things that the under-5 set needs on such an outing.
Tomorrow, I have responsibilities at church and probably should stop by work in the afternoon to check on things, since we are a housekeeper short this weekend. The fact that it’s a holiday means increased visitors, so I probably need to stop by to make sure places like the public restrooms are at least presentable.
Monday we will go to my brother’s place here in Sedgwick County, which means more food preparation. That afternoon we plan to attend the Botannica activities.
Our older son and spouse will be coming today as well, and will be staying with us.
Am I complaining? No, of course not. These times are the ones we remember and cherish. They provide continuing connection, fellowship, catching up (even with Facebook and whatever else, visiting face to face can’t be beat), and joy. But as I age, they also become just a tad more difficult to manage and carry out.
One day we will look back at these times with joy and satisfaction, knowing the beauty and wholeness of life and love. It’s worth the “tad bit more difficult”.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Ready for Whatever
In many ways, today was nothing special. We had church today like we always do and came home for Sunday dinner. Nap in the afternoon and a quiet time on the lower level of the house. But in other ways, it was special.
First, we honored the graduates who are in our church. We spent most of the time honoring the high school grads. Parents, friends, or sometimes the youth minister would spend about ten minutes or so talking about the student, his accomplishments and life. It was enjoyable listening to the accomplishments of these young men and women and their aspirations for the future.
I had to think back as the service continued, what would have been said about me in a similar situation when I graduated. I couldn’t really think of anything much, and also don’t know who would have spoken for me. My parents weren’t public speakers in any sense of the word. And I am notorious for being self-deprecating.
Lunch was pleasant and good. We had slow-roasted sirloin, fresh fruit, spuds, gravy, etc. It doesn’t take long to put things away, with only two of us here. We had a lot of the afternoon to get ready for company in the evening.
We had invited our small group to come over this evening for burgers. There were nine of us who enjoyed burgers, marshmallows roasted over the fire pit, baked beans, ice cream, chips, etc. The conversation was great and the weather cooperated allowing us to stay outside on the back patio most all of the time.
Now we’re watching some TV and getting ready for the work week to come. What that week holds in store for us is anyone’s guess. But the weekend has been an excellent time of rest, recreation, and a rebuilding of sorts. We’ll be ready, whatever comes.
First, we honored the graduates who are in our church. We spent most of the time honoring the high school grads. Parents, friends, or sometimes the youth minister would spend about ten minutes or so talking about the student, his accomplishments and life. It was enjoyable listening to the accomplishments of these young men and women and their aspirations for the future.
I had to think back as the service continued, what would have been said about me in a similar situation when I graduated. I couldn’t really think of anything much, and also don’t know who would have spoken for me. My parents weren’t public speakers in any sense of the word. And I am notorious for being self-deprecating.
Lunch was pleasant and good. We had slow-roasted sirloin, fresh fruit, spuds, gravy, etc. It doesn’t take long to put things away, with only two of us here. We had a lot of the afternoon to get ready for company in the evening.
We had invited our small group to come over this evening for burgers. There were nine of us who enjoyed burgers, marshmallows roasted over the fire pit, baked beans, ice cream, chips, etc. The conversation was great and the weather cooperated allowing us to stay outside on the back patio most all of the time.
Now we’re watching some TV and getting ready for the work week to come. What that week holds in store for us is anyone’s guess. But the weekend has been an excellent time of rest, recreation, and a rebuilding of sorts. We’ll be ready, whatever comes.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Happenings
Many days are like many other days. Some days we feel like we’re slogging through life, doing the same things day after day. Other days provide a welcome respite to the slogging feeling, with things that happen which are unique or unusual. Such was today.
I saw, for the first time (at least that I know of), an eastern bluebird. This bird is the one that people think of when they think of bluebirds, although there are one or two other varieties in this part of the country. There are not many of them, and they have been elusive to me over the years. But today, the bird feeder on the patio attracted at least one and maybe two of them to feed and pose for a picture or two. They truly are as handsome as they have been made out to be.
The second happened as I stood out on the patio. I was about three feet away from the bird feeder and even closer to the hummingbird feeder. I heard a buzzing noise overhead and to my back. Thinking it was an unusual aircraft, I turned my head to see a hummingbird (ruby-throated) come around and go to the hummingbird feeder, not two feet away from my right hand. He fed from the artificial flower as I watched, and I also saw his little tongue as it darted in and out from the end of his pointed bill. He didn’t seem to be afraid of me, and the red patch on his throat shimmered and changed in the sunlight as he moved. What a sight!
This may not seem like much to some of you, but I truly enjoyed these two encounters. Watching birds is something I enjoy doing, and I am glad that we are attracting such a variety. When we first moved here, I didn’t see many birds and thought there might not be much chance for watching. However, this year we’ve seen cardinals, doves, robins, the tufted titmouse, juncos, downy woodpeckers, various sparrow varieties, blue jays, the bluebird, and even a brown-headed cowbird. What a variety, and what a promise of even more bird watching to come.
I saw, for the first time (at least that I know of), an eastern bluebird. This bird is the one that people think of when they think of bluebirds, although there are one or two other varieties in this part of the country. There are not many of them, and they have been elusive to me over the years. But today, the bird feeder on the patio attracted at least one and maybe two of them to feed and pose for a picture or two. They truly are as handsome as they have been made out to be.
The second happened as I stood out on the patio. I was about three feet away from the bird feeder and even closer to the hummingbird feeder. I heard a buzzing noise overhead and to my back. Thinking it was an unusual aircraft, I turned my head to see a hummingbird (ruby-throated) come around and go to the hummingbird feeder, not two feet away from my right hand. He fed from the artificial flower as I watched, and I also saw his little tongue as it darted in and out from the end of his pointed bill. He didn’t seem to be afraid of me, and the red patch on his throat shimmered and changed in the sunlight as he moved. What a sight!
This may not seem like much to some of you, but I truly enjoyed these two encounters. Watching birds is something I enjoy doing, and I am glad that we are attracting such a variety. When we first moved here, I didn’t see many birds and thought there might not be much chance for watching. However, this year we’ve seen cardinals, doves, robins, the tufted titmouse, juncos, downy woodpeckers, various sparrow varieties, blue jays, the bluebird, and even a brown-headed cowbird. What a variety, and what a promise of even more bird watching to come.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
An Unusual Encounter
I went in to a resident’s room today to help work on a walker. As I was leaving the room, I noticed a calendar on a bulletin board by the door with what at first glance looked like the old fashioned “pin-up” girl picture above the calendar part. I quickly turned away, hopefully not obviously, and said something mundane about glad I could help, or whatever.
Immediately, the man asked me back inside and took the calendar off the wall. It was indeed a pin-up-type calendar (Playboy brand) and the elderly man, who lives there with his wife in that room, told me that was their granddaughter. Evidently, this young woman was playmate of whatever month on the calendar (I didn’t look much at the calendar part of the calendar. And yes, the pertinent body parts were covered).
I was rather at a loss for words, but managed to have a conversation about—yes, even this topic, and then left the room. The young woman is now living in this area, tending bar at some establishment run by her boyfriend and owned by the same person who has several well-known franchise restaurants in town. The man even showed me an article clipped from a newspaper about the bar when it opened.
I’m not sure whether to be aghast (my sister’s favorite word) or impressed. Aghast because of the openness of the grandparents in what the granddaughter was and had been doing with her life, or impressed that the elderly grandparents were obviously inclusive, open, and loving of even this granddaughter, who many in my circle of relatives and friends would say was a definite black sheep. Whether these grandparents think that or not, I do not know and don’t intend to ask.
I visited with the nurse a little about it, telling her of my encounter and we both remarked that we didn’t quite know what to do with that conversation…she had been shown the same calendar a few days prior.
There’s nothing “against the rules” for such a display in a long term care home room. The room is the resident’s domain, and they have the right to have, within reason, whatever they want in there…even porn. We have one person who has porn videos in the room, and we have only asked that they be turned off when a staff member comes in to the room.
This interaction made for an interesting sidelight this afternoon, and I obviously am still thinking some about it…hence the writing. I’m not trying to make a point, I don’t think, other than to say that life throws curves at us at times. We are forced out of our comfort areas probably more often than we’d like to admit, and how we react says a lot about who we are and what we think.
Self-righteous indignation probably wouldn’t have been the appropriate reaction. I have skeletons enough in my own closet that would have precluded me from being Pharisaical. And in a way, I’m glad for the experience. It takes all kinds in this world, and whether I agree with them or not, I live with them on this planet and interact with some of them. I really need some idea what these people are like, instead of lecturing them at a distance from the safety of my hole in the wall of self-righteousness.
Immediately, the man asked me back inside and took the calendar off the wall. It was indeed a pin-up-type calendar (Playboy brand) and the elderly man, who lives there with his wife in that room, told me that was their granddaughter. Evidently, this young woman was playmate of whatever month on the calendar (I didn’t look much at the calendar part of the calendar. And yes, the pertinent body parts were covered).
I was rather at a loss for words, but managed to have a conversation about—yes, even this topic, and then left the room. The young woman is now living in this area, tending bar at some establishment run by her boyfriend and owned by the same person who has several well-known franchise restaurants in town. The man even showed me an article clipped from a newspaper about the bar when it opened.
I’m not sure whether to be aghast (my sister’s favorite word) or impressed. Aghast because of the openness of the grandparents in what the granddaughter was and had been doing with her life, or impressed that the elderly grandparents were obviously inclusive, open, and loving of even this granddaughter, who many in my circle of relatives and friends would say was a definite black sheep. Whether these grandparents think that or not, I do not know and don’t intend to ask.
I visited with the nurse a little about it, telling her of my encounter and we both remarked that we didn’t quite know what to do with that conversation…she had been shown the same calendar a few days prior.
There’s nothing “against the rules” for such a display in a long term care home room. The room is the resident’s domain, and they have the right to have, within reason, whatever they want in there…even porn. We have one person who has porn videos in the room, and we have only asked that they be turned off when a staff member comes in to the room.
This interaction made for an interesting sidelight this afternoon, and I obviously am still thinking some about it…hence the writing. I’m not trying to make a point, I don’t think, other than to say that life throws curves at us at times. We are forced out of our comfort areas probably more often than we’d like to admit, and how we react says a lot about who we are and what we think.
Self-righteous indignation probably wouldn’t have been the appropriate reaction. I have skeletons enough in my own closet that would have precluded me from being Pharisaical. And in a way, I’m glad for the experience. It takes all kinds in this world, and whether I agree with them or not, I live with them on this planet and interact with some of them. I really need some idea what these people are like, instead of lecturing them at a distance from the safety of my hole in the wall of self-righteousness.
Friday, May 07, 2010
What Do You Think?
I was holding my third grandchild this evening at the hospital. Julia Rose Plank was born earlier today and looks, well, like all babies look when they’re first born. No wonder they have to put ID tags on them…you couldn’t tell them apart for love nor money in my books.
In any event, as I was holding her, she was working trying to burp up some gas. In the process, she spit up a little and worked with that as I cleaned. That doesn’t sound like much to write about, except that she knew somehow what to do to keep herself from inhaling what she spit up, and she also knew, somehow, that what was spit up was to come out rather than go back down.
I am amazed. These things are reflex actions, and are a part of the autonomic nervous system. They are “built in”, so to speak, and most everyone has a bunch of those from the time of birth. They govern everything from breathing to digestion to sweating and blood pressure.
Doesn’t matter. I am still amazed. The strict evolutionist will tell us that these reflexes were “selected” over a long period of time through trial and error. Those that had these lifesaving reflexes and used them lived…the others did not. Other reflexes that may have come about that were not of a life-saving or preserving function may well have been lost to no great detriment.
I don’t buy that. It just isn’t reasonable to think that over the millennia, a few individuals gradually developed these reflexes and populated the species as we have it today. Just who were the parents of these individuals? Those who did not have these reflexes? How did they manage to live to reproduce? And if they did live to reproduce, why did they need to develop the reflexes?
I don’t know all the answers, but I do know that there’s something wrong with that picture. Of course, people will say it isn’t that simple, but in essence, it is. And it’s either that explanation, I guess, or the explanation that there was an Intelligence that designed and planned all of this, then put it into practice.
What do you think?
In any event, as I was holding her, she was working trying to burp up some gas. In the process, she spit up a little and worked with that as I cleaned. That doesn’t sound like much to write about, except that she knew somehow what to do to keep herself from inhaling what she spit up, and she also knew, somehow, that what was spit up was to come out rather than go back down.
I am amazed. These things are reflex actions, and are a part of the autonomic nervous system. They are “built in”, so to speak, and most everyone has a bunch of those from the time of birth. They govern everything from breathing to digestion to sweating and blood pressure.
Doesn’t matter. I am still amazed. The strict evolutionist will tell us that these reflexes were “selected” over a long period of time through trial and error. Those that had these lifesaving reflexes and used them lived…the others did not. Other reflexes that may have come about that were not of a life-saving or preserving function may well have been lost to no great detriment.
I don’t buy that. It just isn’t reasonable to think that over the millennia, a few individuals gradually developed these reflexes and populated the species as we have it today. Just who were the parents of these individuals? Those who did not have these reflexes? How did they manage to live to reproduce? And if they did live to reproduce, why did they need to develop the reflexes?
I don’t know all the answers, but I do know that there’s something wrong with that picture. Of course, people will say it isn’t that simple, but in essence, it is. And it’s either that explanation, I guess, or the explanation that there was an Intelligence that designed and planned all of this, then put it into practice.
What do you think?
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Some of Both
I was going about my business this morning when I discovered that I was unknowingly humming a tune. I don't do that very often, but was today. I hummed it consciously for a couple of seconds and determined that it was the song “500 Miles” by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
I normally don't get songs stuck in my brain, but this one seemed to be lodged there rather firmly. I sat down, Googled the song, and played it on YouTube as performed in the early 1960's by the group. How quickly the years receded and I was again at home listening to my transistor radio tuned to KLEO (1480 in Wichita). A flood of songs came gushing through my consciousness as I recalled hit after hit performed by them in the decade of the British invasion, social upheaval, culture change, flower power, LSD, The Pill, and the War.
And as I listened to that haunting music as sung by Mary, I shed a tear...not for her passing from this life, but for the passing of an era. IPods, instant messaging, Droids, and Google can't hold a candle to that time and their music. Some things are timeless. Some are almost divine. Peter, Paul, and Mary may well be some of both.
I normally don't get songs stuck in my brain, but this one seemed to be lodged there rather firmly. I sat down, Googled the song, and played it on YouTube as performed in the early 1960's by the group. How quickly the years receded and I was again at home listening to my transistor radio tuned to KLEO (1480 in Wichita). A flood of songs came gushing through my consciousness as I recalled hit after hit performed by them in the decade of the British invasion, social upheaval, culture change, flower power, LSD, The Pill, and the War.
And as I listened to that haunting music as sung by Mary, I shed a tear...not for her passing from this life, but for the passing of an era. IPods, instant messaging, Droids, and Google can't hold a candle to that time and their music. Some things are timeless. Some are almost divine. Peter, Paul, and Mary may well be some of both.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Such a Place
This evening, after the meal at the church and before classes started, I went to the river bank and sat on a stone watching the river and the people passing by on the walking paths. For those who may not know, our church’s back lot backs up to the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita.
Before I even got there, I caught the whiff of nature in the delicate scent of spirea that had been planted along the river bank. I sat on a rock next to some bushes to take full advantage of that smell. They are a little later this year, and are just now opening. As I continued to sit for a couple of minutes, with the inevitable cup of coffee in hand, I noticed a robin singing in a tree, a couple of walkers greeting me, and the slow progression of water to the south as the river flowed toward the Gulf. The temperature was about 70 degrees, the wind was but a gentle breeze, and the sun was in just the right place to allow a tree to shade my eyes, yet feel its warmth.
It was one of those times that one could have wished could have lasted for a long, long time. I did manage to sit there for about 20 minutes as I drank my joe and soaked up the relative peace and quiet. Families passed by, some with toddlers; others with older kids. Couples walked by, and some folks were on a bicycle or were running on the path.
I wondered about the lives of a few of them…especially the kids. I also thought a bit about the class to come inside in a few minutes, and about the rest of my week. And I marveled that I was privileged to be in such a place at such a time as this.
Before I even got there, I caught the whiff of nature in the delicate scent of spirea that had been planted along the river bank. I sat on a rock next to some bushes to take full advantage of that smell. They are a little later this year, and are just now opening. As I continued to sit for a couple of minutes, with the inevitable cup of coffee in hand, I noticed a robin singing in a tree, a couple of walkers greeting me, and the slow progression of water to the south as the river flowed toward the Gulf. The temperature was about 70 degrees, the wind was but a gentle breeze, and the sun was in just the right place to allow a tree to shade my eyes, yet feel its warmth.
It was one of those times that one could have wished could have lasted for a long, long time. I did manage to sit there for about 20 minutes as I drank my joe and soaked up the relative peace and quiet. Families passed by, some with toddlers; others with older kids. Couples walked by, and some folks were on a bicycle or were running on the path.
I wondered about the lives of a few of them…especially the kids. I also thought a bit about the class to come inside in a few minutes, and about the rest of my week. And I marveled that I was privileged to be in such a place at such a time as this.
Monday, May 03, 2010
"Give Me This Hill Country"
We heard a great sermon yesterday at RiverWalk. Now, I know that “great” and “sermon” don't often go into the same sentence, but we were reminded of something yesterday that I sorely needed to be reminded of (I know I'm ending this sentence in a preposition, but don't want to re-arrange it). The lesson isn't new. It's been taught many countless times. But the application can be entirely new depending on who hears it and what that person's need may be.
The lesson was taken from the Old Testament book of Joshua, in the part which told of Caleb's request to Joshua to give him the part of the promised land where the Anakim (the giant people) lived. At age 85, according to the account, Caleb said he was still as vigorous now as he was 45 years ago, and could, with God's help, conquer the land.
The pertinent quote for me was when Caleb said to Joshua, “Now, give me this hill country...” At age 85, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, burying his peers, Caleb could have been satisfied to have just coasted into the promised land and occupied a place which had already been subdued by Joshua and his army. But no, Caleb was ready for more. Caleb was ready to not only claim the promise of God as given through Moses, but Caleb was nowhere close to retirement...nowhere close to giving up and coasting through the remainder of life. He was ready to do battle with the very people who instilled fear and trembling into Israel some 40 years before.
I don't have, as far as I know, a promise from God that He's going to give me any land that I'll have to conquer. I do, however have many other promises of God that are every bit as important as any promised land I might have been given. I also have a tendency to want to just coast through these next several years and just “get by”.
“If I can just make it to Social Security. If I can just make it to Medicare. If I can just get to the point where I don't have to punch an 8 to 5 clock every day.” If, if, if. This is no way to live, and is no way for a Christian to show others the abundant life promised by the Messiah Himself. What kind of an example am I setting for myself and for others?
“I remained loyal to the Lord my God.”
“The Lord has preserved my life just as He promised.”
“Give me this hill country.”
“I'm just as strong and vigorous now as I was years ago.”
“I can go about my daily activities with the same energy now as I had then.”
“Assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer...”
AMEN
The lesson was taken from the Old Testament book of Joshua, in the part which told of Caleb's request to Joshua to give him the part of the promised land where the Anakim (the giant people) lived. At age 85, according to the account, Caleb said he was still as vigorous now as he was 45 years ago, and could, with God's help, conquer the land.
The pertinent quote for me was when Caleb said to Joshua, “Now, give me this hill country...” At age 85, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, burying his peers, Caleb could have been satisfied to have just coasted into the promised land and occupied a place which had already been subdued by Joshua and his army. But no, Caleb was ready for more. Caleb was ready to not only claim the promise of God as given through Moses, but Caleb was nowhere close to retirement...nowhere close to giving up and coasting through the remainder of life. He was ready to do battle with the very people who instilled fear and trembling into Israel some 40 years before.
I don't have, as far as I know, a promise from God that He's going to give me any land that I'll have to conquer. I do, however have many other promises of God that are every bit as important as any promised land I might have been given. I also have a tendency to want to just coast through these next several years and just “get by”.
“If I can just make it to Social Security. If I can just make it to Medicare. If I can just get to the point where I don't have to punch an 8 to 5 clock every day.” If, if, if. This is no way to live, and is no way for a Christian to show others the abundant life promised by the Messiah Himself. What kind of an example am I setting for myself and for others?
“I remained loyal to the Lord my God.”
“The Lord has preserved my life just as He promised.”
“Give me this hill country.”
“I'm just as strong and vigorous now as I was years ago.”
“I can go about my daily activities with the same energy now as I had then.”
“Assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer...”
AMEN
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