Movie Time

The other night I watched We Are Marshall. What a great movie!!  Yes, you will need tissues close at hand, but so worth it! And I think child friendly - older kids - say upper elementary. There's a few cuss words, but not too bad.  The subject matter is heavy - death always is, but it's inspiring to see how a community can rebuilt after such tragedy.

The New Question

When Dad was going through his check-in for the follow-up appointment at the neurology clinic, I learned that there is a new question in life from doctor to patient.

No longer are the questions the normal do you drink, do you smoke, are you in pain today. No, now we have a new question to ask:  "Do you have a living will?"

Really? Wow.

Now, there's a sobering thought.   Just when you thought it was a normal appointment, you begin to wonder if they know something you don't...like if you're worse off then they are telling you...

But Mom said no. It's just part of the new health care system. Everyone is to have a living will.

 I can't remember if I do or not....If I don't, does that make me a criminal???

Where the Crazies Live

This week my father had a follow-up appointment with the doctors that treated him in here locally when he had his fall just before Christmas. Once a week the neurology department holds a clinic. We were told to be there at 8:30 to check-in.  After re-reading the letter, my mom and I realized that this is a check-in time - not an appointment time.

We saw a long day in our future.

But we got there just before 8:30 - ready to be checked in.  As we were waiting in the waiting room for Dad to be called up to the registration window, we meet our first crazy of the day.

He was in a wheelchair, holding a cane, moving the wheelchair with his one good foot. Probably in his 30's. And he likes to talk to strangers.  A whole waiting room full of strangers. As he passed our section of waiting room, he started to talk about a wedding that was to be on Saturday.  At first I thought it was his wedding, but mom said no, it was his room-mate's wedding.  Our wheelchair-bound friend apparently did not want the wedding to happen.  As he started to tell us loudly. 

As we all put our faces in our books or eyes focused on the TV, he decided to share his unhappiness with another capture audience - the next part of the waiting room.  Yeah!

After Dad was called and completed his registration - complete with an arm band as if he would be staying over night- we went down to the end of the waiting room where the neurology's clinic was located.  On our way, we passed by another crazy.

This one concerned me. He didn't talk out-loud. He just sat there. With darting eyes.  You know the kind. The kind that spells our C-R-A-Z-Y.  There was something just not right about them.  And he was alone. Never a good sign.

Thankfully, he stayed in his part of the waiting room and we stayed in ours.

But don't worry. Our part of the waiting room provided up with lots of entertainment.  We had the guy in the white shirt next to be that must have thought the contestants on The Price is Right could actually hear him. (Which by the way, he apparently watches the show EVERY DAY!!! EVERY DAY!!) He also liked to make loud commentary about anyone else in the waiting room.  I'm thinking he was born without something....like a filter between his brain and his mouth....

There was the lady in her robe.  Yes, it really was a robe - not a long dress. Nice dark green.  A robe. In public.  Can only imagine what Stacy and Clinton would say about that.

Then there was the boy and set of grandparents behind us.  The boy had to be about Ben's age - ten or so.  What stood out to be was his bright orange basketball jersey he was wearing. It matched the large cheese puff bag he was carring and then proceeded to consume. Not even nine in the morning and the cheese puffs are almost gone!

After he finished them, he proceeded to quiz his grandfather on where lunch would be held - MacDonald's or Burger King??  The grandfather's answer? "I think I can get you to school in time for lunch."

Really? Seriously?  That's the only reason to send your grandson to school is for the free lunch??   And why exactly is he here at the clinic instead of school when he's NOT the patient????

No matter what size, shape, or color this world is full of CRAZY people!!!

The Case for Christ

Yesterday I finished the Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.   If you are a Christian and have not read this book or another similar that explains why the Bible really does stand up to critics and has stood up to the test of time - you need to.  The Bible is an amazing book. It has withstood over thousands of years. It's older than Homer's Iliad!! To me that's wonderful and amazing.

I find so many Christians don't really know how the Bible came to be - and that they are afraid to discuss with non-believers.  Or they can't really explain this part or that part. This book gives straight answers.   It's an easy read in that it's compelling - but I did find it pack with so much information that I had a hard time remembering it all.

But that's okay.  I can always re-read it.  Hopefully, you will too.

The Mysterious Mind of a Twelve Year Old

The other night we were at a restaurant for dinner, Melissa ordered her normal: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.  Several times during the meal the waitress stopped to ask how everything was. I just looked at Drew and the kids - all seemed well, so Drew and I nodded and said we were fine.

As we were nearing the end of the meal, Melissa said, "Mom, they forgot to add the croutons and the Parmesan cheese to my salad."

Me: "Well, why didn't you say something when the waitress stopped by?"

Melissa: "I didn't want to complain."

Me: "Excuse me?  You didn't want to complain??!! You? Who complains all the time at my dinner table? You don't want to complain?!!"

Melissa: "Well, I didn't want to hurt her feelings."

Me: "Seriously? You didn't want to hurt her feelings? Her? She didn't even make the food! The cooks in the back whom we don't even see, cook the food! You didn't want to hurt her feelings, but you complain and hurt my feelings at my dinner table?! Seriously!!?""

She had no answer. Drew said not to let it bother me - this is normal. She wants to hurt our feelings as its all apart of being a teenager and rebelling. I don't think I like that answer. Not. one. bit.

The Streak Continues

While we have had no shortage of illnesses and injuries that have required trips to the ER, we have yet to have any broken bones. We have had face glue, stitches, CAT-scans, run-ins with hard concrete, peanuts...well...just read here.  It's really just too many to list.

And that's really just when we were in Guam. Since we have been back in the States, we had to deal with Melissa being ill enough to be in the hospital, my father taking a horrible fall down his driveway, William with the flu and some oral surgery. But no broken bones.

I find that on the un-usual side based on the stories of my friends.

But today I thought that streak had been broken. Benjamin comes in the kitchen with his skateboard in hand saying he had fallen (and while he was able to get up) his arm was hurting. After an hour or so with ice, he said it was still hurting a lot.

So, off to the ER we go. And let me say, we - Drew and I - were very impressed with the portable X-ray machine...even if none of us were asked to wear an apron like you normally are...So, if I sprout another head, we'll know why!

Back to my story - While we did get a hard splint, the X-rays showed no break.

Deep sign.

The streak continues - thank you, Lord!

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day

We really had a nice weekend! A great weekend! The weather was so nice - the kids played outside just about all day on Saturday. I re-read one of my favorite books. Sunday brought perfect weather again. We went to a state park about twenty minutes away after church for a hike. It was so very nice being outside in the woods. But we all agreed we needed to return in a month or so when everything was in bloom. It was a little brown.

Monday was a great Valentine's Day.  I got some tulips - my favorite flower. We all enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries- my traditional gift to Drew - and now the kids every year.  Although all the kids have decided that they really don't like chocolate...just more for me.  I did make them vanilla dip strawberries for them.

Drew and I ended up going out for dinner Monday night. I really didn't think we would - I had already had dinner planned, but he came home wanting to go out, so who am I to say no??  We didn't have to wait too long - Olive Garden was busy, but we were seated within twenty minutes or so. 

And of course, the food was yummy!

Valentine's was a little tempered for me though.  A step-son of a dear friend from Guam passed away. He was just nineteen years old. So sad. The whole family has been on my heart and mind since I found out.  Such a sad part of life.