Monday, April 23, 2012

Not Funny! At All!

In the past few months my stuff, keys, wallet, pens, etc. have started hiding from me. When I go to pick them up from their normal places..they have moved. It has gotten mildly annoying.

Now my coffee mugs seem to have joined in the game. I have three coffee mugs that I use. My favorite has no clever printing or silly pictures. It is simple white mug (probably from Ikea) the opening is about the same size as the bottom, but the mug is bowed out in the center with a handle that is just the right size. The other two are mugs that have sayings or quotes on them that I like. Now, all of a sudden they have all conspired against me.

For the past week, I have done as I have always done. I fill up my bride's coffee mug with the right amount of creamer and take it to her just as she gets out of the shower. Then I go back to kitchen and fill my mug. Then I wonder around accomplishing various tasks. So occasionally I set my coffee down to make the bed, or check facebook, or watch a moment of news...then I can't find my mug. I look here and there. I go back into the bathroom, scan the counter, mutter "Nothing" to my bride's question, "What do you need?" Then I walk back into the kitchen, and there my mug sits, in the middle of the cooking island, looking innocent and wide-eyed. I know good and well that I looked there before. So the only possible explanation is that the mug hid, then leaped onto the island while I was at the other end of the house, making me think that it was there the entire time.

So the next day I change mugs..same thing. Only now I can hear the giggling when I'm not in the room. These mugs are cooking this up at night while in the cabinet. They think it is funny to exasperate the old man early in the morning. I don't think the coffee is in on it, the coffee is an innocent bystander. In fact, by the time the mug unhides itself, the coffee is pretty cool to the entire escapade. So I have to warm it up in the microwave and the whole event starts over again.

Why would these mugs do this? The only explanation I can come up with is that they are in the moment of life called "teenage" mugs. Foolish pranks to upset the old guy. Well, I have a surprise for them, it is called "garage sale" See how they like being used as pen holders or better yet spit cups for the red-necked clan. I think I will find me a nice Japanese mug, no handle, but very proper.

Godspeed to those out there with well-behaved mugs. Mine are a bunch of hooligans.
Don

Friday, April 13, 2012

The Best Day

My bride does not like surprises. Which is a little incongruous because she married me and I am nothing if not surprising. But we dated and were engaged for a couple of years before saying "I do" so it is all on her.

This day is not a surprise, but we had a surprise birthday party last weekend when all the kids and grandkids were in town. She made it clear to me again that she doesn't like surprises. But we pulled it off, and she ate the cake and opened the gifts like the good sport she always is.

But here are a few things that make me fall in love everyday with this birthday girl.

She is all about everyone else. Our home is a secondary location for Hobby Lobby, JoAnnes, and innumerable little craft and quilting stores. You see, she custom makes a new blanket for each new grandchild. FIVE at this point. ONE in process. These things are heirlooms, not just because they are priceless, but because they are high quality and treasured by every single grandchild. Even Eli, who is sneaking up on 9 years old, still snuggles in with his. His little sister, Phoebe, left hers at our house and I had to mail it back. These things are works of art. And my bride sits on the floor and cuts and assorts and rearranges and sews and stitches each and every one. She does not cut corners when it comes to her grandbabies.

But it doesn't stop there, when we are out shopping she will buy something and I quiz her on what it is for, "Jordan is looking for this" or "Carrie needs this." or "Sarah will look really good in this." Wait a minute, those people are off our payroll! but she shops and looks and buys and contemplates what she saw where and what everyone needs.

But wait. Just two nights ago, "What are you sewing now?" Answer: "So and so needs this prom dress and her mother wanted me to make it." Really? A prom dress? She has done curtains, hemmed dresses. The list goes on and on. She gets paid for the stuff she has to buy, but it is her way of saying to people, "I love you and don't mind doing this."

She has always scouted the edge of the crowd and befriended the "odd ones" She has always gone beyond what is expected to make others feel welcome.

Now, mix in with all this a willingness to mix it up with anyone who she feels is taking advantage. I know it keeps me on my toes. She is kind and tough, soft and unyielding, challenging and a respite, maddening and healing.

She is my bride, my heart, my soul. This would be one dim place indeed without her.

Happy Birthday, Bev. I love you. Always have..always will.

Godspeed to all those who were captured early in the love wars.
Don

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The Pot of Gold

One of my current favorite quotes right now is "Children are the rainbow from God, grandchildren are the pot of gold" I have no idea who coined this quote, but I like it. As the scriptural take on the first part, God displayed the rainbow as a reminder to himself that he would never destroy his creation with floods again. When I contemplate my kids I reframe the promise by imagining that the rainbow of our kids is a promise that our lives, our dreams, our hopes, our significance will not be destroyed by the floods of pain and worry and set-backs we endure in this moment. God's promise holds true for him and for us.

Grandkids are the reward of a life spent raising our kids. Oh there were rewards from the kids, but those rewards were hard earned, and hard fought. We received very tough on-the-job training because these kids came with no instruction manual. Then, just to be funny, God sent us each one different than the last. So 80% of what you learned on the first one was useless with with the second and on and on.

These grandbabies certainly bring their own share of worry and concern. But because we are so much more settled in where we are, we can enjoy their development without the fear of scarring, the fear of failure. We get to hold them close and snuggle into their necks and laugh at their antics. The cares of raising them falls to the ones we have raised. It was with pleasure that I watched each of my kids and kids-in-law this last weekend spend most of their time instructing these little ones. As far as I could see none of the adult kids missed a single opportunity to teach. The lessons of sharing, of letting the other one finish with a toy, of correcting defiant behaviour, of encouraging kindness were all manifested at some point during the weekend.

Meanwhile, Grandaddy got to play 13 holes of golf with his eldest grandson and talk about his new hobby of running, he only won a $1 off of me for hitting the green from the tee box. Phoebe snuggled close on Sunday morning and we talked about her school and her art and dancing, the human warmth and heart warmth were treasures stacking up in my soul. Park and slides and throwing rocks are the stuff of Lincoln, and we did them all; his "no, Siddy (silly)" as fun to hear the 100th time as the first. The repetitions on the 3' slide in the backyard with Isaac as he would grin and stand at the steps, arms up, saying "Again?" OF COURSE again, who could refuse? And then Lola, who at three weeks really only has sleeping and eating and pooping down to an art, but to sit and wonder at the possibilities as I got to gaze into her face and wonder about the future. And though a while from now, watching my d-i-l expand as little Abbey grows, not yet seen, but loved already.

My rainbow has three vibrant colors that still mesmerize me. They are far beyond what I could have hoped far. They are funny with wickedly good humor. They care for all the others, not a prima donna in the bunch. Same with my kids-in-law, and expanded rainbow. Who would have guessed?

And the gold is pure and good and has made me a wealthy man. Wealth beyond my wildest dreams of avarice.

Godspeed, I hope you all find your pot of gold.
Don