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Tuesday, May 30, 2006

What a Ridiculous Hour of the Morning

I did it again. Decided to close my eyes for a few minutes at 7:00 p.m. and woke up at 12:30.

I still have a couple of hours before girls wake up so I will get something on here and try again (or not - depends on how I feel).

The first two words out of Elcie's mouth this morning were toast and spaghetti. Toast was easy.

So was spaghetti once I thought about it. Not on my original plan but so what. I started making sauce in the morning planning to do garlic bread and green salad as well. By a little after noon, the girls were smelling sauce and starving so I cooked the pasta and let them dig in. Lots of sauce left - we'll have the salad with it for the next meal.

I took them to the Memorial in the square as we planned. I was able to find three tiny pots of flowers for them. The memorial has a large marker for each conflict from WWI through Vietnam and another marker listing the Revolution through Bosnia (including the small "interventions" such as Panama and Grenada). Nothing for Afghanistan and Iraq yet but they were certainly on our minds.

The girls read them all and learned that their Uncle Jim's dad was in Korea and his brother was in Viet Nam. They hadn't heard of Korea and had barely heard of Viet Nam. They had learned a little because of their Hmong, Cambodian, and Laotian classmates as well as our Hmong congregation at the church.

Then we discovered one tiny stone dedicated to the anonymous women who lost their lives (probably through WW II or Korea). By Viet Nam I think they were included as names. Two flower pots went there immediately - their idea, not mine - although I was inwardly cheering.

The final flowerpot was placed on the WW I memorial because there were no other flowers and the girls thought there should be. Then Rebecca and Rochelle made a trip around the green gathering wild flowers (weeds but to them beautiful) and aranged them around the other monuments with an extra batch for the women. No one was excluded.

Rochelle and Rebecca each said their own little prayer - Elcie listened. I was so proud of them. I didn't coach them at all. It was something they wanted to do.

By then Elcie was tiring so we dropped her off at home and headed for the only park in town which still has a tire swing. Tiny strip park but they've always loved it. I don't so much - no shade - but it has a couple of pieces of equipment that haven't been torn down in the name of progress. I stayed in the car (I could see them), worked a crossword puzzle, and listened to the Giants lose. Then Tim called begging a ride home from work (not far from where we were). We picked him up and by the time we got home I was as tired as Elcie.

Which explains the 7 o'clock "nap" that turned into 5-1/2 hours. Actually enough sleep for me. I can always lie down for a little while in the afternoon if necessary so I may just go take a bath while the house is quiet and stay up. Ray put the girls down which doesn't involve much except kisses now they're older. They can do baths, sleep clothes, and beds. Ray always tucks Elcie in anyway with a blessing - she expects it. She was pretty clean to begin with and I'll sponge bathe her (or she can) in the morning and do the whole works before she goes to bed tonight.

I'm meeting my journalist friend for coffee tomorrow (cancelled last week - too much going on -) and we can talk about local politics for a while. Nothing else pressing on the schedule so far as I know except reinstating my driver's license and that will go easier if I make an appointment.

Talk to you later. Hope all your weekends went well.

25 comments:

ipodmomma said...

sounds like a very touching day... lovely...

we had spaghetti too... with meatballs, that Ted helped make..

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good day all in all.

I wish I'd gotten that much sleep--we had storms here, and monsters under the bed again...

pissed off patricia said...

The little girls are sweet. They have learned from someone that it's okay to be sweet and kind little girls. I don't know where they learned these beautiful traits, but I can guess. :)

Sarah Elaine said...

Sometimes I think the best thing you can do is listen to your body and sleep when it begs you to do so.

Yondalla said...

What a lovely story of your day.

Much nicer than mine -- grading and giving final exams.

Thank you for sharing it.

BTW: the mysterious multiple message thing stopped.

TJ said...

You were "Just checking your eyelids for holes"...that is my hubby's famous saying when he falls asleep too soon.
Sounds like you had a good day!
:-D

Madcap said...

So, is Memorial Day cause for a long weekend in the States?

You are great parents, you know, and grandparents and great-grandparents, able to switch hats on a dime. You have all my admiration, and if anyone deserves naps, it would be you!

J said...

Love the flowers at the memorial. Very touching. Sorry to say it didn't occur to me to go visit Walnut Creeks new memorial to vets, and it should have. We took a nice walk around the Lafayette Reservoir, and we said a few words about vets before dinner. Since we don't pray, that's big for us. We talked about our family who have fought in wars...Revolutionary, Civil, WWI, WWII, Vietnam...don't know of any in the others. It was soboring, but nice to be thankful for their sacrifice.

Merle said...

Hi Ann ~~ Sounds as though you and the girls had a lovely time together, and
they are learning all the time.You really are a GREAT Great-Grandma.
Thanks for your comments, and for wishing Jan's Mother Happy Birthday.
Take care, Merle.

Kathleen Callon said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful day, and naps are good.

Unknown said...

it's so odd with all of us having vacations on different days.. last week was Canada and Europe and this monday was the Us... We all got an extra day somehow..

And you guys did such a great deed.

Patty said...

It sounds like you had a nice day. I had to work all weekend. Blah. We did manage to throw some steaks on the grill Sunday, but now I am hungry for spaghetti ha ha. It won't be tonight since I have to work till 930, but I'm off tomorrow so I can cook it then. Enjoy your day

Sothis said...

Glad you all had a good day. The girls are growing up to be wonderful young people. Having a great granny to show them the way is a big part of that, I'm sure!

The Cluck Wagon said...

Sounds like a great day. And how sweet the girls are!

L. said...

That`s such a touching image -- Ray putting Elcie to bed with a blessing.

Jo said...

I love your laid back parenting style, I think your girls should thank your boys for breaking you in so nicely for them. I often get hungry reading your blog, why is that?

Turtle Guy said...

Toast and s'ghetti?? Balanced, really really balanced!

I wish for you some regular sleep. I seem to have missed out lately!

eyes_only4him said...

spagetti with homemade sauce sounds divine..

Rowan Dawn said...

hi

;D

VMC said...

Ann you are so sweet. We must meet. Ray and Elcie and Rebecca and Rochelle bloom like flowers in my head just from the reading. How do you keep it up?

Andrea said...

a busy day but more proof that you are a wonderful granny with amazing kids. hugs!!

Janice Seagraves said...

Hi Ann,

That is so increadible sweet! You've got great kids! You must be proud!

Janice~

doubleknot said...

The girls did very good - they must have learned from someone close.

Anonymous said...

Cheers on celebrating Memorial Day by actually celebrating Memorial day and giving the girls a little history :-)

Rowan Dawn said...

that's about as much sleep as I get, and it's not enough!