FA LA LA LA LIFE GOES ON

Since we're getting close to Christmas, I thought I'd post another letter from a while back.  This was 2006 when I really did a lot of travelling for the company.  It's hard to believe that the years our life circumstances go "Slip Slidin' away" as Paul Simon would say.  But when we look at what we survived and celebrated, it also gives us an idea of what we are still capable of doing.  So here, a bit of nostalgia from 2006.

Greetings My Darlings!  What a year!!!  A new beginning in so many ways…life is never boring, that’s for sure!

There were so many comings and goings this year…Ron is working in Durango, so I’ve been back and forth, trying to adjust to a long distance marriage for the time being.  I do miss him, but he’s working for himself again, and near his kids, which makes him very happy.  He’s going to be a Grampa, as his daughter Maureen is due to bring “Elizabeth” into the world sometime in February. So, we hang in there and punt!       

              

Some of you may remember me speaking of Scooter, a young man Ron and I mentored while we were in Memphis.  So much potential gone in a heartbeat…shot dead for no reason except that he lived in a bad neighborhood…he flew away this past spring.  My dear friend, Betty Cook flew away this year too.  But I had the joy of heading down to Texas, meeting her kids, and adopting her beloved fat cat, Pinto.  He now lives with Louie, Roxy and Tillie in our little house here in Colorado.  He thinks I invented the cold weather and snow and I get plenty of dirty looks from him when he can’t be the mighty hunter in the back yard. 

Jimmy is back in Michigan, and getting a little rest after an arduous many months as the chief researcher for Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow’s re-election campaign…she won resoundingly, and I couldn’t be more proud of my wonderful son.  My parents are doing pretty darn well, considering they’re both octogenarians now!  It’s hard to believe, especially when I see people so many years younger than they who don’t have anywhere near the energy and life that they have.  I come from great stock!

So, as always, I have some great stories.  I did a lot of traveling this year with my job.  I was in Honolulu, San Antonio, Dallas, Los Angeles, Tulsa and Orlando! So my first story is about Roahlun.  (Pronounced like Roland, without the d.)  I was on a return flight into Denver, and as soon as I sat beside him, this proud Grampa started telling me about how he was going to see his grandchildren in Sacramento.  He had a bag of gifts that I helped him situate in the overhead bin, among them a porcelain Barbie doll.  He confided in me that it was his last time to visit the kids.  He had cancer and was going into hospice.  We talked all trip, and as we were taxiing into the terminal, he looked at me, his eyes filled with tears, and I took his hand.  After a moment, being polite, he started to remove his hand.  I told him, “It’s okay, let’s just stay this way till the plane stops.”  We held hands into the terminal, both grateful that we had this tiny moment in time to share.  We said goodbye as they helped him into his wheelchair, his precious gifts securely in his lap, then he waved one last time as he was wheeled down the concourse.  Goodbye Roahlun.  Godspeed.

On my way to Orlando, mid-November, I had a lot of time to kill, as we were to be at the airport 2 hours before flight.  So I got some breakfast, and sat at the bar with a Bloody Mary, watching the hoards roll by.  Then a young man, 22 years to be exact, in a Marine Uniform sat down a few seats from me.  I asked him where he was going.  He told me he just got back from Iraq, and was headed home to Florida.  I asked him if I could give him a hug, and he said “sure”.  I held him and we both started to cry.  He was surprising his family who wasn’t expecting him until just before Christmas.  I told him, as a Mom, that first she would be so happy, and then she was going to smack him for not telling her.  He laughed, I bought him a beer, and we celebrated his safe homecoming.

Thanksgiving Day.  I’m about to head to the airport to get Ron, and I decide to get some muffins, cause I know he’ll have an empty stomach.  Ron gets motion sickness, so he never eats before he gets on a plane, no matter what time the flight.  So I notice that the Winchell’s Donuts right by our house is open.  Inside is a little, chubby man with a Middle Eastern accent.  I order my donuts, and then ask him if he will be able to go home pretty soon.  He says he has to sell all the donuts in the case first. Then he says, “Talk to God!”   I asked him how many donuts in the case, and he said about Eight dozen.  The streets were deserted…I knew he wouldn’t get to go home until well into the afternoon, if at all!  So, I got an inspiration.  I got the address for the Denver Rescue Mission.  He called the owner, and the owner promised to deliver them to the Rescue Mission if I bought them all.  So I did!  The little man was so happy…as I was leaving the store he threw his hands in the air and said “I’m going home!”  The Rescue Mission called about an hour and a half later, ecstatic about the unexpected treat!  But I truly think I had the best time of all…what fun it was to do something so spontaneous and joyous.

So, another year.  I designed these Christmas Cards for all of us.  Scooter and Betty and Roahlun, for my young Marine, the little man in the Donut Shop…for Ron, for Jimmy, for my parents, my brothers and sisters, and for all of you my dearest friends, both near and far…but mostly for the children who count on us to lead the way.  As God’s grown up children, it’s up to us.  Pray for, strive for, work for Peace.  May the coming year bring you countless joys.  Stay in touch.