Monday, March 17, 2008

ANTICIPATION

I cannot express how impatient I am for Friday. My friend, Connie, and I are leaving after 3rd period for Gulf Shores. I feel as if it has been 1000 years since I saw, smelled and heard the ocean. I've always had this connection with the sea, even though, I am dreadfully afraid of drowning. I read recently that water is surrounded by negative ions which are very good for us. I know I always feel better when I'm at the coast, but thought that was due to not doing anything but relaxing while there. Now I have proof it is really a beneficial experience.





My mom has had the flu for 3 weeks and had to be hospitalized last week, she was dehydrated. It was scary how quickly she lost ground. Mom has always appeared much younger than her age, has always been trim and active, but now she looks so frail and old. It is hard to come face-to-face with your parent's mortality. Jill, my heart goes out to you with your situation. Dad was with us for several months after his stroke, but my sister always felt she had lost him with the stroke. He knew us and could speak, but never really connected. It was a sad time and I realize you face this daily with your mom.





This has forced us to make some decisions about becoming more responsible as children; we have divided up the things that cause Mom stress and are going to take care of them for her. Her financial issues upset her so much, she has plenty of money, she just gets nervous dealing with decisions around it. So I've taken over her taxes and investments. My sister is in and out of Mom's house several times a week and will take cake of medications and paying routine bills. The boys have pledged to stop by and visit more, and take care of minor repairs. We shouldn't have to be shocked into these things by illness, but no one ever thinks Mom needs us, we all are used to needing her. She is a nurturer and has spent her life taking care of 12 brothers and siters then us four kids, our kids and Dad. It is time for her to be taken care of.



We have a meeting this evening for the After-Prom parents. Our theme this year is The Wild, Wild West; the kids want a mechanical bull and the works. We have worked very hard, but don't seem to be getting far in raising $$$. Our annual Strawberry Sale is on hold until wholesale prices drop, if ever. That is typically our big money-maker; between $2 and $4000 each year. With our candy, and icream sales and junior high dances, plus local donations we usually raise enough to have a nice evening for the kids. But gas prices and other money crunches have hurt most everyone. I do not want to charge the kids to attend, but may have to eventually.

I hope you all are having a good week and looking forward to Spring Break and a chance to relax with family. Be safe. Hedy

10 comments:

anna said...

Oh Hedy, I am glad you are having your getaway soon. I don't have spring break until April 7th so I can't even see it in the near future...it sucks! I can't wait for some time off. Is that bad to say in my first year of this job?!?!?!? Oh well. Hedy I am so disappointed you couldn't meet with us, it really was a great time. I can't wait to do it again. I think no one has really been messaging because it feels like we got our gaggle fix for a while, but we must remember you still need us! I hope you have a wonderful break and soak up some sunshine for me. I would give anything for some more warm weather!

Jill Tucker said...

hedy...i envy your time at the ocean....i, too, am rejuvenated by the sounds and smells....water just seems to make me more peaceful, and yet here i sit in the middle of white county indiana!!!

btw, for all of you who i invited to french lick....apparently i don't have a time share during spring break week (although i would have SWORN that i did), so i need to uninvite all of you!!! i'm so sorry.....i have been looking for something to do or somewhere to go, but with such late notice everything is just way too expensive. *sigh*

after our weekend together, i came down with a horrible cough...i hope i didn't pass it on to any of you, especially baby anna....i was having sinus trouble, but i ALWAYS have that this time of year....anyway, i apologize if any of you caught something from me....

janelle, i was so happy to see with the cuts made at BC that your job seems to be secure.....excellent news.....

i wish you all a wonderful, relaxing break....anna, even though you think it sucks now, you will be laughing at all of us in a couple of weeks!!!

take care, my friends....

Janelle said...

Hedy, I am so glad that you are going to get your time away. Thank heavens...and it sounds like you more than deserve a little peace and quiet. Safe travels...I just received confirmation that I will be attending a conference at the casino on April 18 and 19th. I hope I will have some time to see you, Hedy!

It was so great to see everyone last weekend. I miss you all so much. Anna is absolutely precious (oh, and you too, older Anna!). We missed you both (Angela and Hedy)! Jill, I am so sorry that your time share didn't work out. If White County gets boring, feel free to come to Benton. Or if you want to do a little shopping, let me know! And, yes, my job is secure for at least next year. Regardless, I am one of the lucky ones because if counseling positions do indeed get cut, I will at least still have a teaching position. Like I said, it's at least not going to happen next year.

I'm home today with the flu or possibly food poisoning. I think Brian was hoping I was pregnant, but I really don't think that's it. :) You have to be exposed, right? Apparently, Avery wanted to sleep in yesterday. She has figured out how to shut off the alarm clock! My 5:30 alarm turned into 7 am panic! What a sweetheart, but seriously, where does she come up with these things?
Is it too early to start timeouts? :)

Take care everyone....miss you all!!

Hedy King said...

Jill. you do not want to be in French Lick now; we are underwater. The Casino, the Boulevard, the Dome entrances, the school. We will be out all week, so we are leaving early Friday morning. I wish you all could take this kind of trip. It is so relaxing not to be responsible for anyone else for a whole week :-).
Janelle, call me when you get to Valley, I come over whenever you have a break. A conference in a Casino? Boy, you Northerners are progressive. Again, I regret not seeing you all. I know it was great. Stay dry, no that's me, Take care. Hedy

Janelle said...

Ok, ok...so maybe the conference isn't IN the Casino, but it was my understanding that it is at the hotel....can't wait to see you in a month! Have a great trip!

Unknown said...

ok, so i don't know if someone is trying to f*** with my head (are you all proud of me there?), but as it turns out we DO have a timeshare at french lick starting on saturday. i doubt if we will go down until sunday, however. i was hoping maybe if the town of french lick would mix the water with some alcohol there could be one big ass party and people would just lap it off of the streets!!!

hedy, i am glad you are getting to leave early, but what will this do to your make up days?

i don't know about everyone else, but i'm fairly sure janelle's mom and dad whisper to miss avery at night to tell her things to do!!! lol i can't think of ANYONE who deserves it more!!!

ttfn

Milk House door said...

I'm so happy you get to leave the soggy fields of Indiana, Hedy. We went North yesterday to the new Cabella's store in Hammond, then to shop and eat with the kids. It was crappy weather-wise, but we had fun. All of the cloudy, dreary gray skies are affecting my mood severely. Thank goodness for sunshine and blue skies today- before the snow comes tonight.... Winter storm on the way the weather forecasters say... We shall see. I hope you get a speedy getaway Hedy. Jill, I hope you don't float away while in French Lick. Oh, and I think you are right about Avery, Jill. I totally see some "help" with some of those antics!

Happy Spring everyone! Hope it's sunny where you are today!

Kirstie said...

I am just trying to remember my password.

Kirstie said...

Okay so I finally figured out what I had made my password. My break starts in 10 minutes. I have big plans... paint the kitchen and get my teeth cleaned. WooHoo. I hope everyone enjoys their week weather the are at schoo, home, or on the beach.

anna said...

Kirstie, I heard you learned how to pole dance...