A Tree Grows In Leland

For those of you who don't know me, I am a huge old movie fan.  My mother, who was also a movie fan,  got me hooked when I was a teenager.  We would watch Jimmy Cagney, Tyrone Power and Barbara Stanwick in all kinds of old classics.  My maternal grandmother thought that Tyrone Power was the "bees knees" and would have done anything to meet him.

 

One of my favorites was a movie called "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn."  It was really a sad story about a man who lived in his dreams--he was always one break away from the big time.  He drank too much and didn't work a lot.  His  wife loved him dearly, but she had to work hard to make up for his short comings--like paying the rent to keep a roof over their heads.  They had two children, Francie, a bright young lady who does well in school and likes to write stories and Neely, her younger brother, who, from what his mother has seen so far, will end up like his father.   The concept of the movie is all about hope and what you will do for love and it is truly a wonderful film. 

 

To me, everything Tony plants in our yard is about hope and love.  Today, he planted a banana tree.  It's a beautiful, tall, stalk that will grow and add diversity to our yard.  Tony makes our yard beautiful because he loves it here and he loves me.  We sit in the patio and look out at all of the plants that are blooming and doing well.  He trims the roses for me when I think they are too high.  He plants new flowers in the back to bring out the fall colors so they look nice when we are sitting in the screened in patio.  He makes beauty out of nature and I enjoy it every day.

 

I find that when I come home from work is when I enjoy it most.  Maybe it's because I haven't worked in a while, or maybe it's because of the work I am doing, but when I leave, I find myself in high gear.  My mind races about things I did...they are important things....did I do them correctly, did I remember to do all of the things I needed to do....did I remember to clock out?  The days are a blur.  Today, on the way home from a very  busy day, I was driving home on Rt 17.  I looked at the speedometer and realized I was going 90 miles an hour...the rate my mind was racing.   When I got home, I felt like I was talking fast and doing things at a high rate of speed.  I was in overdrive. 

 

Tony and I talked about ways to slow down...mentally and on the highway.  I need to sit quietly on the patio and look at the yard.  I need to put medication on my legs and sit with warm towels.  I need to take off my "work badge"  and just be me. 

 

Today, a tree grows in Leland....and Tony made it so.  We hope to enjoy it for many more years and it was planted with love.  Just like the movie!

 

 

Our banana tree

 

A longer shot...soon, it will be tall like the trees behind it

 

The fall flowers Tony planted to make the yard look nice

 

Hilton Head

Donna and Bob rented a house in Hilton Head for the week and Tony and I got to go down for an extended weekend.  It was great.  I had never been to Hilton Head before and I found it to be a beautiful, tranquil spot.  The trees are so dense that the outside temperature is a few degrees cooler than areas around Hilton Head.  There are golf courses, shopping, restaurants and lots of things to do. 

 

Chris, Shannon and Emma were down too, so we got to see Emma walk, although she suffered an accidental fall from a bed in a hotel room and hurt her ankle.  For the first few days, she crawled, but was soon up and going!

 

We had lots of fun watching her and Dixie.  Dixie is almost as tall as Emma.  Emma loved to feed Dixie food from her high chair and Dixie was glad to oblige by eating everything, like marshmallows, bananas, toast, waffles and whatever else Emma didn't want.  After Emma was finished, Dixie followed her around and tried to lick crumbs off of her face. 

 

Dixie even went swimming!  Just like Jack, she took to the water with no fear.  Everyone laughed about how she looked soaking wet....alien puppy!!  We lucked out with Dix, she got car sick on the way down, but on the way back, we gave her a full Dramamine pill and she was OK for the four hour drive.

 

So, we had a great time and appreciated being asked to come down.  Here are some highlights:

 

 

 

Donna, Emma and Bob in the pool.

 

Shannon, Chris and Emma enjoy the water.

 

Emma's molars were coming in, so she had some pretty rough nights.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Swegle at dinner.

 

The Czaplinski's at dinner.

 

The younger version of the Czaplinski's.

 

Emma and her parents!

 

Talking parrots at a shopping area.

 

Donna and I encourage them to say, "hello!"

 

A lighthouse.

 

Dixie being cute!

 

Our extended weekend retreat!

 

 

 

I love Hilton Head....we will be back!!

 

 

 

 

 

Tony's Visit to Cleveland....

This past weekend was the Parker Hannifin recognition event.  People who have retired or reached significant milestones were recognized.   I couldn't attend since I had to work, but Rose was a great stand in and Tony had a wonderful time.

 

While he was in Cleveland, he was also able to see the grandchildren....I wish I could have been there, because it looks like they had a great time.  I will see you soon, my babies!

 

Here are some highlight of his visit:

 

 

Tony and Ron, the Chief Pilot

 

One of Tony's many women fans!

 

Friends from Corporate

 

George, the driver, who Tony always treated like royalty and Lee Banks....royalty!

 

George and Tony

 

Tony and our good friends, Kathy and Dave Henderson

The "big boys" riding bikes

 

Loving Papa

 

 

 

Ben will always be our first grandchild...he and  Papa are forever connected...and me too!

 

Papa climbs the ladder!

 

...and so does Ben!

 

Watch out, "Wild Hogs!"

 

And away he goes!!!

The Days Are Flying By

Since I started to work at the hospital the days have just flown by.  It seems like I get up in the dark, work, come home, collapse and then sleep only to do it again the next day.  I am also on the Compass Pointe Home Owners Association Finance Committee and we are getting the 2014 budget together for the October meeting.  I feel as if I have gone from zero activity to super drive, but I enjoy it and it's good for  me.

 

Tony is in Cleveland this weekend for a Parker Hannifin event.  Since I couldn't go, he took Rose as his date and I'm sure they had a great time.  I miss him, as always and so does Dixie.   She spends a lot of time jumping up on his reclining chair to see if he is there and then goes to the door if he isn't.  We will both be glad when he is home again.

 

Tony said he had a nice lunch with Jenna and the kids and I wish I could have been there to see everyone.

 

Work is going well.  I am on my own now.  The only training I have left to do is third shift in the Emergency Room.  I understand that can go either way--sheer boredom, or pure adrenalin.  I'm hoping for sheer boredom.

 

I am also still volunteering at the hospital.  So, while my shift is usually two/three days a week, one day a week I work at the front desk greeting and directing people and answering the phone. 

 

Thankfully, the days are getting cooler here.  This morning it was a beautiful 68 degrees with a cool breeze.  Dixie and I enjoyed sitting out there in the semi-sun with the breeze in our hair. 

 

I feel like this is a boring blog compared to what I am doing, but that's pretty much it.   I continue to be thankful that I am working and contributing to the household in whatever small way.

 

 

 

This is how Dixie and I feel about Tony being gone!!!

 

 

 

My First Real Day!!

Well, the training wheels are off and I officially registered patients today.  I was assigned to the Emergency Department and it was kind of sad.  I registered patients that came in from an ambulance, or walked in or crawled in.  I saw children, elderly patients and people who were in a car wreck.   I talked to Eva, who is probably dead by now.  She is 86 and called 911 to say that she wasn't feeling well.  By the time I went home she was not doing well and her family was called in to give us her last wishes.   That hurts, because I talked to Eva and I touched her and she looked at me with piercing blue eyes.  Don't get connected they say in the Emergency Department, but I did.  Eva was 86 and lived alone.   She called 911 to say she didn't feel good.  And, isn't that something that she was so in tune with her body that she knew something wasn't right?  I think I will always remember Eva.  They say that you do...remember the one that touched you first.

 

It was a fast day...one minute it was 9:00 and the next time I looked it was 2:00.  I enjoyed the pace, but the people stayed with me.  They didn't have insurance, they were there as a last resort. They were in pain.  I saw a little boy that reminded me of Sam.  "Can you take me where my Mommy is?" he asked me.  I couldn't because of the tests she was having. But we passed the time talking about how big he was getting....every minute.  He said, "every minute I am getting bigger."    I picked him up and said...."oh, I can't hold you any more because you're getting so big."  It was a Sammy moment and I loved every bit of it. 

 

I love what I do and I hope I do it well.

 

 

Training in Charlotte, My Birthday and Other Stuff

Well, I made it!!  I drove to Charlotte for training and back and actually found where I was supposed to be!  It was a really good feeling knowing that I made the drive successfully. 

 

Training was good.  I had no idea that registering a patient was such a process.  We learned about billing insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, supplemental insurance and a ton of other things.  I met some really nice people who will be working at the hospital and in general had a good time.  I did miss Tony and Dixie, but we spoke everyday. 

 

I had a wonderful birthday, even though I spent it driving to Charlotte.  I got wonderful cards (especially from Tony) and neat gifts and flowers!  It was nice of everyone to think of me.  Tony took me to Olive Garden last night for a birthday dinner and we stopped at the club for a drink.  They gave me a birthday dessert that was really good. 

 

Today, we are skyping with the kids and I can't wait.  Ben looks so big on Jenna's blog, I can't wait to see him in person.  I can't wait to see ALL of them in person.  Ben will be 7 this week and I just can't believe how the time has flown by.  I still remember that little baby in the isolet, looking at Tony for his first photo op. 

 

I went to a new doctor last week and she has now diagnosed me with eczema....sort of like psoriasis, but not.   It too, is an immune disorder with similar lesions types, so I guess it was easy to mistake it for psoriasis.   I am on new medication and we are seeing a difference already.  Hopefully, I will be able to wear a skirt soon, I haven't in 4 years.

 

The weather here has been beautiful...in the low 80's with a nice breeze....not your typical August weather, Thank God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Earned Money Today

Today was my first official day at the hospital as being an employee.  It was great.  I was in Orientation from 8:00 till 4:00, but I sat there thinking, I am earning money for the first time in a year and 7 months.  WOW!!!

 

I met 15 other new hires and learned about the history and future vision of the hospital.  Tomorrow, I go to Orientation for a short while and then I'm off to Charlotte (with 2 others) for computer training through the end of the week.  I am the designated driver....which means we could end up in Texas!!   But, of course, Tony is programming the GPS for me and highlighted the route on a map.  He always takes good care of me.    Driving to Charlotte, what a way to spend my 61st birthday!!

 

I am working again and it is a wonderful feeling.  I am working again and for the first time in a year and 5 months, I will be able to pay some of my bills without hitting our money market account.  I can't tell you how good that feels. 

 

More later....have to pack!!