When you turned 7 (11-27-10)

When I was your age

When I was your age, whenever I saw a "big" tractor, I wished I could ride in one to see what it looked like from up there. Today grandpa Willard & I got behind this one and I still wished I could ride one.

At Work

Grandma works in the evenings at Lakeland Regional Hospital. I am always amazed how the medic helicopters can land and take off so close to the hospital building. I can tell when a helicopter is landing or taking off; there is a loud rumbling noise. (The link is not from Lakeland, just one I found on utube that reminded me watching the helicopters land here at work).

@ the carwash

Friday Tyler and I got the oil changed on the Yaris and the car washed. Ever since I was your age I have always enjoyed going to the car wash...Friday was no different.

Fall

Today...Fall is my favorite season. Maybe it is the crisp warm air, the colors of the trees, the crunching sounds beneath my boots when I walk Marley...maybe because today is my day off from work :).

Aunt Lise

When I was pregnant with your mother, my mother (your great grandma Moon) changed. She
blossomed into this amazing woman full of more love, compassion, unselfishness, I could ever imagine. She was this way with all her grandchildren. I was very fortunate to live close to my parents when I had your mother. I never had to worry about a last minute sitter or someone to ask advise. Someone I knew loved your mother as much as I did.

My father (your great grandpa Moon) was awesome too. He never questioned my mother's behavior when it came to the grandchildren. He was a team player and appreciated his grandchildren just as much.

When I compare myself to my mother I feel I fall short in so many ways. I wish I could respond to all the times your mother needed someone to take care of you. I wish I could attend every school program you are in, or be able to pick you up from school. I wish I lived down the road from you and I could wander over (everyday).

Aunt Lise who will have a baby in February, wishes as I do you lived closer. For now we can hardly wait for you to visit your new cousin when he arrives.

Gray Kitty

Ernest Hemingway wrote: A cat has absolute emotional honesty; human beings, for one reason
or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.

Our Gray Kitty...always hunting for something. Yes, even in the house :(. Grandma if she can tries to save the mouse (crazy I know but if it must be hunted, not in front of me, please).

Greed

I know you are too young to understand the word GREED It exists in all levels of society from individuals as young as yourself to grandparents my age and older. The rich and even the poor. It is a selfish act imposed on us, or at times we can impose on others.

I wish I could protect you from experiencing it in your life.

Expired

The other night on my way home from work, I was getting a little annoyed by the driver behind me who seemed to be tailgating me...until I saw red and blue lights flashing. I knew I had not
been speeding, maybe a taillight out I wasn't aware of?

I pulled over , rolled down my window and waited for the officer to approach my window, of which he did shining his flashlight at me. "What are you doing driving around so late with expired plates and who's car are you driving?" he asked me, while his flash light explored the inside of the car.

In my mind I was subtitling (thinking), "Watch it sonny, I am your mother's age!"

Grandma Jeanne: "I'm coming home from work, this is my husband's car and I didn't know the plates were expired. He just purchased the car in November."

Officer: "Can I see your registration, proof of insurance and license?"

I opened the glove box, wipers went on.
Officer: "Your insurance and plates have expired...wait right here."
Grandma Jeanne: "Our insurance is current this is an outdated certificate..."
Officer: (walks back to his car with the flashing red and blue lights)

After 10 minutes or more.

Officer: "I'm giving you a citation for expired plates, you have 10 days to renew your insurance and the fine will be reduced."

Again, in my mind I was subtitling (thinking), "Reduced? would that be reduced to zero??"

So Penn, when you start to drive, make sure you have a current insurance certificate in your glove box, and that the plates are up to date. Always buckle your seat belt, do not speed, come to a complete stop at a stop sign and look both ways before proceeding, use your turn signal before you make a turn, do not text while driving, and watch out for those tailgaters.

Driving & Work

I love my morning drives to work. The anticipation of a new day, another chance a new start. I love how the birds sound in the morning; they're always singing. The dew on the grass and way it looks on the wind shield- one of nature's paintings, the smell of the air...and this morning, the sunrise.

I love driving home from work too. I have made it through another work day! I anticipate that welcoming feeling when I drive into the driveway. Gray kitty running out of the darkness to greet me with his meow and winding around my legs as I get out of the car.

The smell of home, that comfort feeling you get when you crawl between the sheets, the head reaches the softness of your pillow and your eyes close to rest in dreams.

Great Grandpa Moon

Friday, your great Aunt Gyl (my sister) and I went to visit your great grandpa Moon (my dad).
He is one of thee most amazing men I know.

In my lifetime I don't ever remember feeling judged by him, even when I made wrong choices.
He kept me going by believing I could and would do better. He rejoiced in my accomplishments, and remained my true support when I felt there was no one else.

On this trip I thought about you and wished you could of been with us to meet great grandpa Moon, to see the donkeys that live next door and the metal dragon down the road.

Parody (pærədiː)

This weekend it was night out with the boys (Grandpa Willard and Uncle Tyler).
We had a nice meal at Papa Vino's , Bruschetta with Papa Vino's salad.
Then to a movie, which was horribly violent and stupid; and I may add to grandma Jeanne, an
insult. Thus justified as a parody.

As you grow up you will run into a lot of parody's...
some will inspire your mind to think beyond, make you laugh and others will "not".
I wish for you the ones that make you laugh and appreciate the humor of life.

End of Summer

For you time is probably something you don't think alot about. The older I get the faster time seems to pass, which causes me to think about it more then I use to. It seems like it was just a week ago that it was the first day of Summer. Now it is Fall. The golden rod is in full bloom, the cloud formation is changing, almost time to put the kayaks up, and the cooler nights brings Gray Kitty wanting to spend his nights inside. The end of Summer...

New Years Day 2010

This is what New Year's Day looked like here at Grandma Jeanne's house. Very cold
and snow, but it didn't matter to Marley when I walked him this morning...Happy New
Year Penn. I love you.