First off a Happy Birthday to our Benny boy who turned 12 yesterday. We celebrated with a soccer ball cake and homemade lasagna, one meat, and one veggie for the girl child who is now officially moved back in. Woot! Ben is most excited to use his b-day loot to purchase a Kindle Fire which we will pick up tomorrow after school. Yes this is the year of technological upgrades for the Parton children. Alex is loving her laptop she got for Christmas and Fox is enjoying his new 'puter, now Ben is jumping on the band wagon to have tons of books, movies, and games at his fingertips. Hope he'll let me borrow it sometime..... :)
Since I am actively taking measures to shift into regular full-time employment I've been stepping up the boys' domestic training and have taught them all to do their own laundry, from washer to dryer to folding and putting away. It's been several weeks now and they've all done pretty well with it. I just remind them when it's their day. My original intent was they do their loads after school when they get home but Benny was so determined to keep up with his that he started his last load at 5:20am when he got up in the morning. The laundry room is on the other side of the wall from my bedroom and my alarm doesn't go off until 6am .... thanks for the abrupt wake up, dude. He'll now be returning to the afternoon schedule.
Due to an icy morning last Thursday we had school called off because of the road conditions which gave them a 5-day weekend. Friday, after a rather harrowing morning (I'll get to that in a minute) we headed down for a visit to the Detroit Zoo and everyone agreed it was the best trip we've had in some time. The day was gorgeous and sunny, cool but not freezing and many of the animals were out and active. We finally saw the Arctic Fox in The Arctic Circle exhibit, and the polars bears were up and moving around which was really neat to watch. Fox and Ben had a blast trying to make their hand prints in the ice wall. Can you see Ethan inside the bubble? And I got a sneaky shot of Fox actually smiling with his braces! He's had them long enough now he doesn't really think about them so much.
We also caught a keeper at the Snow Monkey area talking about the species and their ranking system which was very interesting. She explained that when they take a monkey out for medical attention or what not they make sure not to have them out for more than two hours or else they will lose their rank. I also found it intriguing that because the species is well maintained they have their females on birth control, the deprovera shot, hmmm.Checked in on the 'baby' giraffe that is now three years old. We all enjoyed watching them inside and up close as they ate and played with their mobile toys hanging from the ceiling. One of the three kept going to the open door and staring outside like it really wanted to go out but thought it just a bit to chilly.
Inside the kangaroo area there are two that have joeys in their pouches. If you look closely at the photo you can see a leg and an ear starting to peek out. The docent explained that they don't even know if they are boys or girls yet since they don't come out of the pouch until about 6 months old so they must be close to that now since they are just starting to appear. The tiger was a delight, laying there growling at everyone as if trying to have a conversation, too cool. And in the prairie dog exhibit a couple of rouge peacocks got in and were having a riot tormenting the little rodents. Ethan was bummed because the tubes were closed but we still had a laugh watching the antics.After the zoo we used a gift card from Christmas and had dinner at the Macaroni Grill, my eggplant parmesan was delish! From there we went to visit Aunt Julie at Troy Lanes and do a little bowling!
Saturday night was a fun night of rollicking with the book club ladies. This month's read was Henry James' "Turn of the Screw" which brought about many opinions about what in the world he was really getting at in his text. As one of the club founders commented "even though many said they didn't really like it, it was a success nonetheless because of the discussion is created." Definately true. The movie actually stayed true to the book and was very well done. We also watched "The Tempest" with Chris Cooper, Helen Mirrin, Russell Brand, Alan Cummings and many more talented actors. It was a first for me. Bizarre to say the least, but I liked it. Next month...."The Hunger Games."
Saturday night was a fun night of rollicking with the book club ladies. This month's read was Henry James' "Turn of the Screw" which brought about many opinions about what in the world he was really getting at in his text. As one of the club founders commented "even though many said they didn't really like it, it was a success nonetheless because of the discussion is created." Definately true. The movie actually stayed true to the book and was very well done. We also watched "The Tempest" with Chris Cooper, Helen Mirrin, Russell Brand, Alan Cummings and many more talented actors. It was a first for me. Bizarre to say the least, but I liked it. Next month...."The Hunger Games."
Today was the second week working with both my choir groups together, we did everything acapella and the songs are all coming together nicely. We're also getting time to work on the stage with risers and choreograph our entrances and exits which is a luxury I haven't had in past years. I've started going to a weekly women's bible study, something that has been out of my routine for a long time. We're studying Phillipians and it has been engaging and informative, I've also just finished Nehemiah again on my own. This week I will begin a series of counseling sessions as well, while I feel like I have gotten over the hump of grief there are some things that I would like to have better spiritual artillery to deal with.
Oh, I almost forgot about our harrowing Saturday morning. My precious little puppy took off on us. I usually put her and Jake out for a few minutes to frolick before they have to be cooped up during the day if we're out. Told the boys "don't let me forget the dogs are out" and went to check some emails. Well, we all forgot and when I looked back outside neither dog was around. We spent hours yelling and searching, I drove around in the van, to no avail. Alex went by the house after work and Jake had returned and was waiting on the porch to be let back in but no Sunny. It was a snowy night, still no sign of her in the morning. She did have a collar on with her name and our phone number and I just kept praying she would show up at someone's house and they'd call. When I got home from book club late Saturday night Rob said "you've got a friend waiting for you." My Sunny girl! Someone called from a half a mile up the road and said she had been hanging around there all day. I was sooooo glad to have my sweet girl back and she won't be out of my sight for a good long time at least not without a leash or chain. Never took her for a runner but now I know better.
In true Judi fashion I purposed to take as many pictures as I could of family and friends. Since her request was not to be laid out but instead be cremated immediately it gave an entirely different vibe to the whole visitation. Although people were sad and sorry the overall atmosphere was light and filled with happy stories of Judi-ness.
The only off set was that none of her family, my aunts or cousins spoke to me, not one word the entire seven hours of visitation or at the funeral. This was mind-blowing to me, unfathomable, totally unacceptable and would not have pleased mother at all. They did however speak with James and my sister-in-law Shelly. No worries, it was a big room and there were lots of people. There were friends from all walks of life, grade school, high school, people she taught with, church friends, ladies she volunteered with at the soup kitchen, someone from St. Vincent DePaul brought a plague to honor her as a Jubilian for all her service stating they'd need 5 people to replace her.
Our neighbor from down the street growing up, Julie (Dusty) Torres, flanked by myself and my brother James.
From my Dad's side, Uncle Ken, Aunt Phyllis, cousin Vince and wife Bernadette, his mom Aunt Jan and me.
Two sisters I went to high school with, Julia Salerno (left) was in my grade and an elementary school playmate and her sister Paula who was a couple years ahead in school was mentored by my mom in many ways as she took on responsibilities as Union Steward for the district. A quote from Paula about my mom, "You may not always like what Judi had to say, but you had to respect her, she was a smart cookie and knew her stuff. She would never ask anything of you that she wasn't prepared to step up to herself."
Again from Dad's side (his family always loved mom, even after the divorce), Great Aunt Marge, cousin Deb, Great Aunt Vi
The aerobics ladies! Sue, Andra and Anita who brought food over twice a week during the final lap of the journey and prayed diligently with and for mother throughout the entire ordeal. I now consider them all friends myself. [Ethan took this picture.]
The Tangles girls! My friend, whom I've known since high school, Anna (Natasy) Thaut, the only hairdresser I'll ever go to and Becky DiBella who did mother's hair for years and transitioned into a friend as well.
My buddy and sounding board, Jan Klisz, whom I inherited through marriage and has been there through thick and thin.
My niece Nichole, my brother-in-law Paul Anthony, my sister-in-law Julie and the soon-to-be high school graduate and my mini-me, Alexandra Elizabeth!
Friends from The Path, Shelly and Frank Sollars.
High school chums, Julie (Walbrecht) Hiotaky and Sue (Poma) Hawkins who blessed me so much by driving in from Antioch, IL with her fabulous hubby Steve.
My cousin Ken and his wife Linda who lost her mother to lung cancer earlier the same week we lost Judi, so we are kindred spirits in mourning and knowing the joy of seeing someone released from suffering.
Fox Robert Parton rockin' a new suit and super cool sunglasses.
A final photo of the estuary with a candle placed by Benjamin to represent gramma's light shining down on us for ever, and a white rose placed by Ethan symbolizing gramma's pure love that will continue to grow in our hearts.
Long time friends of mom's from her college years, Judy and Ray Holland and John and Georgia Boyse. They were a great blessing during those final weeks, Judy and Georgia came over one day with lunch and had a wonderful visit with their friend. Mother appreciated all the calls and visits from everyone and it really helped keep her going. I wanted to have a big "celebrate life" party to get people together before the funeral but when I talked to her about it she said it would be too depressing and awkward. She was better off visiting with people one on one or in small groups. One evening a group of teachers from Salk Elementary, where mom used to teach, stopped by and serenaded her with songs that they changed the lyrics too, inserting her name wherever they could. It was quite a hoot and she loved it.
This last photo has two of mother's main stays in town. Mr. Gary (boyfriend Gary my brother and I started referring to him as) who was the BMOC of the Starbucks crew and dear to mom's heart. The morning before she went unresponsive she asked to see Gary. So at 5:30 in the morning I called his cell, he was over within half an hour. I'm not sure exactly what she told him because I let them have privacy but what I gathered from her request was she just wanted to thank him for being such a good friend. She really loved him a lot and thought the world of him. Next to him is her across the street neighbor Jackie who went through everything with us, and I mean everything, she helped take care of the pets, the house, mom, us, you name it. She is a fabulous human being and a great blessing. Words cannot express my gratitude to these fine individuals.
