Quick Note Tonight

For anyone else, that would mean two paragraphs. With me, who knows?

Ray and I went out to run a couple of errands and annoy my younger son at the Barnes & Noble cafe. It's always fun to watch Tim work. On the way, I stopped to mail a letter. I think the "English as an official language" is getting to me. As I was leaving, an elderly Hispanic gentleman pushing a walker was headed in. I held the door for him. He said "thank you, senora". I replied "de nada". One of us was confused.

We split a Reuben and came back home. It's great when he's able to get out for a little while.

Before I forget. Succotash. Two different commenters said "what is it?" It's usually some combination of creamed corn and limas; originally from our Native Americans. Here's a basic recipe. I cheated with canned cream corn and frozen baby limas and skipped the whipping cream. Some people use green beans instead and some like a little nutmeg thrown in. Some make it as a casserole in the oven with bread crumbs on top. Google must have 500 recipes at least.

Succotash
From Diana Rattray,
Your Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine.

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 cups fresh lima beans (about 1 pound)
* 4 cups fresh corn cut from cob (about 6 ears)
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1/4 cup whipping cream
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper

PREPARATION:
Cook lima beans in boiling salted water about 15 minutes or till almost tender; drain. Add corn, butter, whipping cream, salt, and pepper; mix well. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently, 7 to 10 minutes, or until corn is done.

Makes 6 servings.

My friend Tina asked why Elcie is in a wheelchair. I forget not everyone knows our entire life story. She has cerebral palsy. Her legs are quite stiff and she's had two surgeries which have helped. She walks unaided but her balance isn't great and we don't want long term damage from her uneven gait so she uses crutches outside the house. Her middle school has a large campus so she uses her chair there and for walking trips with us or her sisters. She's had therapy for her fine motor problems and has learned to print slowly but neatly. The District purchased a laptop for her a couple of years ago. Her speech is fine except for a little problem with volume control when she's excited. She had two surgeries to correct a noticeable drift in her eyes. You can see from her pictures they were successful. She also has some problems which are too complicated to explain but have to do with the way she processes information. They don't call it a learning disability but the end result is the same; thus the special ed classes for the last two years. Next year, we'll experiment with mainstreaming and resource.If she falls too far behind, she'll go back to special ed. Everything about Elcie is borderline this and minimal that. She's at the head of her special ed 7th grade class and helps in another class of kids who are more severely affected. They love her over there.

See what I mean about a "quick note"?

She has a friend; a young woman we've known for years and trust. I talked to the friend today and she's willing to be a sounding board for Elcie. She's been doing some of that anyhow. I told her nothing had to be reported back to me unless she sensed Elcie was in danger but to take some of what Elcie says with a grain or two of salt. She does play people off against each other (what kid doesn't). It's a stopgap measure but it may help. Meantime, she's had a good couple of days. She seems happier. The weather's cooled down and I'm sure that helped. I have to remember Elcie has to work twice as hard to accomplish only part of what her sisters do so effortlessly.

Long enough for now.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and support and I'll probably be back tomorrow.