Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Memory Lane and other thoughts

Two years ago today my "Mugga" passed away after a three year convalesence (is that a word?) in a nursing home. One year ago this week was the last time I saw my "Memere". She had come down to spend Christmas and New Years with us and on January 5th, Madi and I dropped her off at the airport where the sky-cab guy wheeled her away...she passed away on April 9th. I had two amazing grandmothers and I miss them both terribly as well as Papa, Auntie, and Mike's grandmother. Whenever I am out and see elderly people (which is often, living in Florida) I feel jealous that other families still have their "oldies" (as we affectionately called them) and we don't! Here they are with my kids in 2006...



Twenty three years ago this week I became friends with Cindy again. We knew each other in kindergarten and first grade (I remember eating mini milkyways at her house), then I moved away (to a few different places) then moved back in high school. Here we are in 1986...
And here we are in September...
If you haven't visted Cindy's blog yet, please do...she's a lot of fun!

SIXTY years ago tomorrow my mother was born!! Can you even believe she's 60?! Happy Birthday Meme, we love you!!


Well, that's all I have for special things...now to my "other thoughts"...

I didn't yet blog about John Travolota's son's death (although I did comment on it on facebook), but it is still bothering me. He had seizures (apparently it was the seizure that killed him) and Jonathan had seizures as a baby and toddler. Also, he was a teenager and Jonathan is a teenager. He was someone's son, and I have sons! It is so awful to think about. Rest in peace Jett.

We're slowly working our way back into the swing of schoolwork. Today we were reading about President William McKinley's assassination in Sept 1901. He was shot on Sept 6 and died on Sept 14, 1901. We read about how the whole country mourned, and as I was imagining what that might have been like, I realized and pointed out the the kids how that was exactly 100 years before Sept 11, 2001. Jonathan's immediate response, "YOU HAVE TO BLOG ABOUT THAT!!"

We bought organic milk for about two years. Since prices of everything have gone up so much though, we've been back to the regular cheap milk. I've noticed recently how even the cheap milk (which isn't really cheap either, but it is better than calling it by its other name) says it doesn't add ARTIFICIAL growth hormones. I was thinking this was good until I realized it probably just means they use NATURAL growth hormones right? (don't really tell me, I don't want to know)

Mike and Jonathan are headed to Orlando right now for more acupuncture. People have asked me if it is working, I'm not sure. I think Mike plans to tell her they won't be back for a while (money still isn't growing on trees). I guess when Jonathan has blood work in the spring we'll see how his thyroid numbers are. Mike is supposed to have a CAT scan in Februrary and we'll see how his pancreas looks then. His sugars have been under control and he has gone down one unit on his insulin.

I have so much more that I should be doing right now, but it is theraputic to get my thoughts onto here and out of my head. The blog is the closest thing to the "pensive" in Harry Potter. My head is always spinning with so many thoughts and I just can't turn it off. I'm pretty sure all women are this way, and I'm also pretty sure men and children can turn their thoughts off whenever they want. I'll leave you to chew on that for a while!

7 comments:

ann marie said...

I'm glad you got your thoughts out...you hadn't written in a day or two.
I was sad to hear about John Travolta's son as well, I mean I don't know the guy but there is something so disturbing about a parent losing a child.
Anyway,good post...lots of memeories in there. I love the pioc of you and your friend. I have checked out her blog before.

DebiH. said...

we were just having this conversation about milk on Sunday. I went from always buying organic Stoneyfield Farm to Publix Greenwise. The Greenwise has no added hormone but I am not sure that it is organic. No one in my family actually drinks milk so it has become less of a big deal to me. It goes on cereal (sometimes) and for cooking.
Even the "cheap milk" isn't really cheap anymore :)

Anonymous said...

Great post! I love when people write their thoughts down, it is sort of like a random post, but not.
You put the tiny picture of you and Cindy on here. I saw it on FB and thought it was too cute.
I had so many thoughts about the passing of Jett Travolta. It is just sad that a parent has to bury a child.
Oh the milk saga! Like Debi had mentioned many people went from buying Stoneyfield Farm to Publix Greenwise. Publix Greenwise is organic, but the organic farmers are trying to get certain things changed because to be labeled organic it is more than not using pesticides, hormones and antibiotics, it is a lifestyle and business practice. There are certain companies who produce "organic" milk who don't follow all the standards. There are some who are becoming the Walmarts of organic milk producers and unfortunately, those companies bring the Publix Greenwise milk. Interestingly enough, the "cheap milk" doesn't have the growth hormone. That is the real deal, so don't worry about that. Only 10% of farms don't use the growth hormone. Scary fact there! Also, another FYI, if you buy chicken and pork just because it says it doesn't have hormones, etc. you're getting ripped off because the FDA doesn't allow anyone to use of those in those animals.
Sorry for a lengthy comment.

Julie said...

Happy Birthday Marie...you look great!

Kirsten said...

So sorry about your Grandmothers. I dearly miss mine also. Did I tell you I gave my cows to my friend Mary for a little while? She is bringing me milk though so that is good. Reading about all of this just makes you want to grow all of your own food.

Unknown said...

Imagine if they did use growth hormones in poultry! You could get a turkey bigger than your oven! And imagine the drumsticks!

I know how you feel about grandparents. I was driving past Waterman Village yesterday and just ached because neither one of mine were still there.

Smith Schoolhouse said...

I can't believe your mom is 60! she looks so young and beautiful and I hope I still look that good when i am 60!