Penny

We met in 10th grade. I wish I remembered how, exactly

When we were 16 we would go shopping at Eastport Plaza or Lloyd Center. We would each pick out the ugliest outfit we could find and know the other one would love it. We would go to Newberries and eat groovy goblet sundaes and french fries for lunch.

When we were 19 we piled our suitcases in my 1967 volkswagon bug and headed south. Our destination? Disneyland. The first time I ever ate cheesecake. We took in Universal Studio's and conquered L.A. traffic. We were so brave!

When we were 22 we went to Great Britain. We stayed in bed and breakfasts. We got drunk on gin at Beefeaters. Laughed about the lost lid to a tube of toothpaste until we were, literally, sitting on the bathroom floor in tears. We had the best tea ever on the night train from London to Edinborough. Together we committed breaking and entering in Wales.

In our early 20's we would dress up on Halloween and hit the bar scene - or go to a local party.. like this one. That's Penny.. the pink princess!

We shared secrets.


When we were 25 we went on a party cruise to Vancouver, B.C. - she had a way better time than I did. I was whiney and tired and I think she danced all night.

When we were 28 we shared an apartment for about a month. We decided that wasn't a very good idea.

We didn't see near enough of each other in our 30's. Somewhere in here she got a tattoo. Without me. I was crushed.

When we were in our 40's she invited me to be the official photographic journalist when she shaved her head in preparation for chemo.

4 years ago we tried the dress up and go out on Halloween thing again. It's just wasn't the same - but at least we were able to laugh at ourselves!

Three weeks ago we watched Avatar together in her hospital room.

Now she is gone.

Someone really REALLY needs to find a cure for cancer.

It is "Fall" afterall...

It turns out my mom fractured her pelvis in her recent fall. I took her to the doctor on Thursday because she did not seem to be getting better. They checked her directly into the hospital. They ran tests. The xray of her lungs indicate all is well. The xray of her head indicates the same old stuff we already knew. The xray of her hips indicated a fractured pelvis. she probably glows in the dark now. They've succeeded in gettering her up on her feet twice today and now I am preparing to take her to an elevated care facility that will tend to her more thoroughly than her present place.

While I've been dealing with the mom crisis and work deadlines Peter has been re-roofing his mother's house. All by himself. He spent several days on the roof ripping off old roofing, replacing rotted boards, putting up those other supporting boards (which have a technical name but I don't remember what they are) and such. Then it started to rain. He worked through the night, in the rain, by himself.

Men.

At least he didn't fall. He did end up with swollen knees, sore feet, sore hands, sore elbows and more. My manly he-man turned into a whiney man (his words not mine) for all of yesterday. Today he announced that he was all recovered and he's back up on the roof.

Men!
But man I love this one. Whiney-butt or not.

A reflection on the past year

A year ago I had just moved my mother into her new home. My life and world were in complete chaos and upheaval. My mom was unwell, work was odd (to say the least) and my son had left for college in California.

It's so weird to think about where things are now.

My Mother is mentally WAY better. She knows stuff, she knows people. She doesn't think I'm Sharon, or the other Sharon or even Susan these days. She did take a tumble this week and I took her to the Silverton Emergency Room where she was x-rayed from head to low back. Nothing broken, but she's quite sore and bruised. She is presently flat on her back and on pain meds which cause her behavior to remind me so much of last year (this is probably the cause of my introspection). But her prognosis is good - even if she doesn't remember she fell, what day it is or what city she lives in.

My son is living back here in Salem. He never went back to California after his car crash. He's living with his girlfriend (oops - fiance I understand) about 2 miles from my house and every now and then I get to see him. He's well, but semi-unemployed and looking for full time work. He's a good kid and despite my regularly scheduled irritation with him, I love him.

My daughter got her Senior photos done today. She's having a great year. She got accepted for an art internship and is preparing to go off to the Seatlle Art Institute next year.

It's just the two of us girls kicking around in this big house (well - plus two cats, a dog and three chickens - all girls!!) - and we still can't keep it clean.

I was hired at my new job for a specific project (an intranet website built in SharePoint) with a deadline of October 15. Today is the 17th. I didn't make it. WE didn't make it - I refuse to take full responsibility for this debaucle - our only technical person was out for 2 weeks with bronchitis during a critical stage of development. Let's blame the sicky I say! The good news is - we will be debuting the software and website on Tuesday - just 4 days late. It does not appear I will be fired for missing by 4 days - although my boss might decide to rethink the "build a statue in your honor" promise he issued a few weeks ago.

I think I'm done reflecting.. now.. to look forward. I have
256 days
(approximately 36 weeks!). Let's do math though. I can't do much on work days so I'll only count weekends. That's just
72 days.
But.. of course, I go to Peter's one weekend a month so take away 16 days for that..
56 days.
When Peter is here we only work one day of the weekend so I need to take away 8 days for that.
48 days.
There will be days where I must tend to my mother's needs so let's factor in 2 days a month for her. That's dropping us to
32 days.
Peter and I are planning a trip to Florida next May - that will include two weekends.
28 days.
At some point I'm going to need groceries and clothing and trips to the hardware store. 1 day a month?
20 days.
I can't work non-stop for the next 8 months. I think I deserve ONE day a month to play.
12 days.
I've been invited to a Halloween party the 30th of October at 3:00.. that blows the ENTIRE day.
11 days.
Don't forget the regular Easter Weekend trip to to the beach.
9 days.
I'm not working over Christmas. That's just silly.
7 days.

I've got a week to pack up and move. Yikes.

Thanks for Breakfast Lucy!

Lucy has continued to work hard. The Carmen's not so much. Enough eggs were gathered by today to make breakfast. French Toast.




Jill told me she was frightened to eat them because they came from a chicken's butt.

If this were a movie this is where you would hear complete silence except for the crickets chirping in the distance.

Does she think eggs from a grocery store are man-made? She's a smart girl. I'm certain she knows better. She MUST know better. Mustn't she?


I made french toast anyway.

I have to admit, it was very hard for me to break her eggs. I feel bad. It's silly, but she worked so hard to make them.

This morning when she layed her egg she cackled and announced her magnificent fete like it was the biggest deal on the earth. I was afraid the nighbors would complain about the racket.

I heartlessly took it, cracked it open, whisked it and ate it.

And you know what? It was very tasty!

The egg yolks were very orange.

Jill broke down and had some french toast ala Lucy. She said she could taste the difference between Lucy eggs and store-bought eggs.

Now if the Carmens would just get busy I can really feast.