From the weekend before, My daughter Shelley sent me a message that when I had called her to pick up some items at my home, I asked her to set the alarm which I had forgotten to do before I went to Three Rivers to celebrate Marc's birthday. She found I left the front door unlocked. She said "you were really discombobulated!"
On a rainy Tuesday morning, the first day of winter, I woke up to messages that my granddaughter Crystal was in the hospital in labor. She was at 3 cm. The excitement level in the family was high. She finally delivered close to 8:30 in the evening. She was admitted to the hospital at 1:30 AM. I waited until the next morning to call and come out to see her and Nylah. What a beautiful baby girl. She has lots of hair. Jennifer, Crystal's mom was sound asleep and didn't wake until I was leaving. Lorence, Nylah's father came before I left. For all Crystal had been through, she looked great!
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| Nylah already shows character! |
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| The hospital provided a fancier cap than I have seen! |
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| Great-Grandmother Rachel with Nylah |
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| Showing off Nylah |
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| Isn't she cute? |
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| Crystal, my granddaughter after a long labor |
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| Jennifer, Nylah's grandmother, out for the count! |
I went to a potluck at my teacher Carol's home in the mountains. I was so worried going because it rained for several hours in Bakersfield the day before that I was concerned about rocks and boulders coming down to the road driving up the canyon. It was chilly and overcast in Bakersfield giving the impression that snow might fall. Amazing, the drive in the canyon was non-eventful. When I got up to the two lanes each way, the sky continued to clear. There were few clouds at the top. It was 45 degrees and sunshine. On Tuesday morning the day after returning, they closed the canyon road due to rock slides. I was very fortunate!
I met Carol's friends who live in the same area- Sue, Rita and Rita's daughter Stephanie in a tucked away area up a dirt road. I enjoyed all of them. Each of us brought something for the buffet. Carol makes great soups and everyone else supplements the meal. I brought a salad. Carol had Christmas music playing in the background. Carol's dog is named Sofie. Rita brought Buster and Sue brought Gabby. The dogs seem to be aware when it is potluck night each week and look forward to seeing each other. They trade off hosting the potluck in their homes.
Her guest room and bed were very comfortable. Carol was a wonderful hostess. Now she needs to focus on herself for knee surgery and recovery. I'll contact her to find out her progress. She has become a friend through our contact.
The next morning I couldn't find my phone. I drove back up the hill from the main road because I was going to listen to a book I had already been following-
Seveneves, by Neal Stephenson, a very interesting science fiction book. I couldn't find it at Carol's home. So it had to be in my car. Carol also told me the Vons in Lake Isabella had a Starbucks in the store where I stopped to get a coffee. I had oatmeal and hot chocolate at Carol's home before leaving. When I got home, I called my cell phone which was on vibrate and found it was in my car having slid under the front passenger seat.
No art classes with Carol until mid-March. I will be visiting friends out of the area, so I decided not to sign up for a class during this period. I will focus on pictures I have done that need more work. This is another version of the horse. I think it is improving.
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It is improving, though I want to try a portrait
and another horse that is dark. |
Christmas at Shelley's home was so nice. She made a lovely dinner. We had Shelley's and Jennifer's families. Our newcomer Nylah Marie Garcia, now 3 days old was there. Crystal was sore and not quite ready to do so much, but you couldn't tell looking at her. Shelley's husband and I talked a lot. Alyssa's boyfriend Issac was there and took the group shot of us. Wes, Heather's boyfriend was there and so was Lorence, Crystal's boyfriend and Nylah Marie's father. What a lovely time we had!
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| Nylah the newcomer of the family |
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| Kayla, Alyssa, Shelley, and Issac |
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| Lorene and Crystal |
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| Jennifer, Grandma is holding Nylah, Devin and Kevin |
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| Devin, Kevin and Michael. Shelley, wayyyy is the back |
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| Michael, Kevin and Shelley |
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| Devin holding Nylah, Kevin and Shelley photobombing them. |
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| Wes and Heather |
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| Shelley, Great Aunt holding Nylah |
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| Kaylah, Shelley and Nylah |
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| Kayla, Shelley and Nylah |
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| Heather and Alyssa with their mom Shelley trying out the iPhone extender |
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Front row- Alyssa, Kayla and Jennifer
Back row- Kevin, Michael, Shelley, Devin, Heather, Wes and Me |
I am heading to visit high school friends. It has been over 48 years since we graduated and that long since I have seen Linda and Toni. I saw Barb a while longer after high school. I have good memories of them. This was what we looked like for pictures in our high school senior album in 1967. Our high school class is going to have a 50 year reunion in 2017. I hope I can go. But, as we get older, it doesn't always work out the way we want it to.
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Linda, Toni and Barbara are at the top
I am at the bottom
These are our pictures from our Senior Year Album 1967 |
Here is such a sweet picture of Billy with his sons Kason and Carson. Billy's birthday, age 25 was Christmas day. I saw him the day after Christmas and gave him what I had for him and his family.
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| Billy with, my Great-Grandsons Kason and Conner |
And two more of this family:
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Conner and Kason are the front boys
Gavin, Leigh, Coco and Alyssa |
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| Kason looks so happy! |
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| They got a trampoline! How neat is that?! |
It was a very nice week and as long as I rest in-between each event, I do okay. The shot of cortisone I had in my hip has really helped!
This wood plaque is being sold on The Grief Toolbox for about $15.00. I believe recognition of these feelings we survivors feel help in coping with grief.
thegrieftoolbox.com
David Kessler founder of grief.com has much to share with us who are grieving. He worked with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. Go to his site. He has also written many books on grief and bereavement. He wrote this below.
What is Grief?
Grief is the internal part of loss, how we feel. The internal work of grief is a process, a journey. It does not end on a certain day or date. It is as individual as each of us. Grief is real because loss is real. Each grief has its own imprint, as distinctive and as unique as the person we lost. The pain of loss is so intense, so heartbreaking, because in loving we deeply connect with another human being, and grief is the reflection of the connection that has been lost.
When does Grief end?
Grief is not just a series of events, or stages or timelines. Our Society places enormous pressure on us to get over loss, to get through the grief. But how long do you grieve for a husband of fifty years? A teenager killed in a car accident? A four-year-old child? A year? Five years? Forever? The loss happens in time, in fact in a moment, but its aftermath lasts a lifetime.
"You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to."
I hope your holidays went well and you took care of yourself, whatever that would be. It was a good week for me and I wish you the same. See you next Sunday. My husband Paul and I worked at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. He was a Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. I was the Director of Social Services. It is interesting how we stay connected to this hospital for so long with Crystal, my granddaughter having her daughter, Nylah Marie and Meagan my granddaughter-in-law also having her son Kason here. Rachel
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