Family Matters

I have been a little behind in keeping posts going on here. Have had a lot of family matters going on that have taken up my emotional as well as actual time. Have had my share of doctors appts - they always seem to fall together for the 3 mo, 4 mo and 6 mo checkups. So have been on the doctor merry-go-round recently.

Also have had to deal with family issues in Texas. My beloved grandmother passed away Feb 19 at the age of 99 years, 9 mos of age. We were so hoping that she would make her 100 birthday. But in the last few weeks of her life, it became evident that she probably would not last that long. I was able to catch a last minute flight from Chattanooga to San Antonio via Atlanta. My sister picked me up and we drove an hour to her house where I spent the next day until she finished her day teaching and her daughter finished class and drove up from TAMU Kingsville. Then we hit the road northwestward, spending the night in Fredricksburg. Would have liked to have gotten there earlier to have seen some of the historic town, but was glad to just have a bed to fall into. Got up the next morning and drove another 2 1/2 hours to Abilene. Just throwing in some town names in case anyone reading is from Texas - gotta share my Texas roots! The service was nice - about 3/4's of the chapel was family. After the service one of my cousins had reserved a room at a local restaurant, and a fajita buffet. There were 3 step-sons left of 7, 29 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. All but 2 of the grandchildren were there - my brother who was in Hawaii - he isn't getting home until today - and one other. It was so nice to see cousins I haven't talked to in years and years. And to see their families, and pictures were flying all around of various families. Everyone wrote down email addresses, and completed family trees so our book can be updated with new additions, new spouses, and all. It really was a celebration of a great family.

I have now come on out west to Andrews, to spend a little time with my dad and step mother. A chance to visit my mother's grave, and just a time to be with my dad. He isn't getting any younger. And we just got word that his brother that was unable to make the funeral, has pneumonia and isn't expected to recover. He lives so far away, they are deciding if another trip is in them right now or not.

Valentine's Day

This past week as I mailed a few Valentine's cards it brought back memories that I think all of us have had at one time or another. Sometime along second and third grade, was the time we really got into Valentine's. Making the boxes that each student put their cards in, but also the anticipation of that one special card - that one that surely was chosen especially for me, as I looked over all of my cards - over and over before picking out the one that would go to that certain person! Surely he was doing the same, then debating whether to write, I Love you, as I too made the decision. Risk writing it and being laughed at? Or finding that he too, at least for one day, felt the same way?

As I received my Valentine's last week, I remembered all of the young folks going through the same agonizing selection. Hopefully someone found their "true love" even if only for one day.