Friday, October 16, 2009

FALL IS IN THE HOUSE

It is definitely fall in Southern Indiana: rainy and only 43 degrees, dark, gloomy skies, but IT IS FALL BREAK. Four days to be lazy, or not, to sleep-in or not, whatever, it is our choice. No bus duty, no meetings, no lunch duty, no parents, no kids, no teachers. Life is good. :-)
I'm not quite ready for such cool weather, but I love the chance to wear sweaters and jackets again. And since my office is a constant 58 degrees with winds out of the north, I have been choosing some bright, colorful new toppers for my basic black look. I find it amazing what a good cover-up can, well..cover! No one needs to know what chunkiness lies beneath my new bronze brocade jacket with tiny ruffled trim. Or that the little patchwork number is disguising 3 rolls of excess insulation. And the navy swing cardigan, oh my, how well it flows over all the extras and makes me look taller and leaner. We all know tall and lean aren't words usually used to describe me, but this navy job is almost a miracle worker. If only it came in other colors. I even bought some new jean trousers, dark indigo, long, lean legs which transform my fat little stubs into legs to my chin. I am so happy with my new things or with the cataract on my right eye which is distorting my vision enough for me to think I'm seeing all these things... yeah, I guess it is the cataract, girls. I'll still be the same ole' dumpy goose when we get together in Indy in a few weeks. No surprises.
My mom is on meds now for the memory loss, she has good days and bad. Depression has been a big issue lately, for the first time in her 80 years, she doesn't have anyone to serve. My nieces have gone to school and aren't there much. Mom has had these girls since birth al days everyday, while their parents work. My brother and his wife would eat at her house many nights when they came to pick up the girls. And now she doesn't have anything to do, to look forward to and she's sad. My sister spends several hours each day with her and I do weekends, but it isn't the same for her. Mom is the oldest of 13 kids and started caring for her younger sibs as a toddler. She babied my dad and us kids, waited on us hand and foot, until we married and beyond. Her life has changed and for her this means it is over. She just doesn't know how to relax and enjoy life. It breaks my heart. I pray you all will never know this for your parents, it is such a feeling of loss. Right, Jill? They are here, but not here, with you, but not really. Loosing my dad was much easier than watching Mom go through this.
I have my annual laryngitis again. No voice and coughing fits every few minutes. Fun, Fun. No fever, just no talkee :-). Fall allergies in the Ohio River Valley, I guess.
I hope everyone is doing great, no snow storms yet, no impossible school issues, no family emergencies. I can't wait to sit down with you all and catch up. After a few days of wallowing in self-pity, I've put away my violin and face each day anew and make the best of it. I do everything I'm capable of to make our school a safe environment for our kids and leave it in my office at night. I always find it waiting the next morning, no one has solved the problems, but at least I didn't take them home to Stephen King. I wasn't being fair to him or myself. Every once in a while I have to see I'm not in control, we all answer to God and He has the Plan. Not me. Rather humbling sometimes.
Courtney is coming home on the 24th for a few weeks, yay! Be wonderful to see her again. The computer has helped with emails, Facebook and Skype, but I need to see and touch my daughter again. At least for awhile.
I'm planning to take my girlies to B-ton for an overnight on Sunday. They have plans for tonight and tomorrow, so they won't be free til after church, but we can go shopping and they can swim. Even Caleb is going, I think. He says he is on Fall break, too and wants to go swimming. Pray for me and my chicklets!
Love to all. Talk to me. Hedy

7 comments:

Milk House door said...

We are going through the InSAI process right now. Today's question from the steering team was "Do the students in our school have emotional issues that impeed thier learning?" My answer: YES!!! Not just the ones in my class I'm afraid. What do we do for these kids??? I struggle with this as a parent. I want to parent them, and in some cases have to parent them because I'm the closest thing they have to a parent. So sad. I don't like making them fit into those nice tight cornered little boxes we expect them to fit into. Their personalities are so precious, and often misunderstood. But, if they are to succeed in their regular clasrooms and the "real world" they must learn to conform to some of those corners in that box.

The weather is wonderful right now. I feel guilty for being at work while my boys are at home working in the field. I haven't minded them being home this last week and a half until today. I like harvest and miss my time here.

Hope all is well with the rest of you. Can't wait to see you all in November!

Jill Tucker said...

Hi little geese! How I miss you all.

I don't know about the rest of you, but the ladybugs have taken over my yard!!! I see them and think how grateful I am that Hedy isn't here with me! They simply swarm and the air is filled with them. Almost like a Stephen King novel (ha ha ha).

Hedy, if you haven't read the book "The 36-Hour Day" I would recommend that you get it right away. I have a copy and can bring it to you in Indy if you like. It helped a lot with understanding what was happening in my mother's mind. She went downhill so quickly, however, and it was indeed a blessing. She is happy in her own little world.

I didn't go to the covered bridge festival, but I did think about those poor ISU students having to find hotel rooms. Once again grateful that it wasn't me!

I want everyone to come to Indy. No excuses!!!!!

Need to go. Just wanted to drop a note.

Unknown said...

We are finally on Fall Break...I didn't think it could come soon enough. I am still loving my job, but I need a break! I'm not even through this break and I am already thinking about Thanksgiving break...is that bad??? Oh Alison, we are going through NCA and I am on the steering committee...lucky me :) It's exhausting and all the bitching from the teachers isn't helping. Anyway, I suppose we will get through it.

The wedding plans have slowed down, I'm sorry to say. I just want everthing to be done and for July 9th to just get here already! I'm ready to be married but I don't want to do all the work :)

I cannot wait for our get together! Love you all!

Kirstie said...

I am just coming off of fall break also. We only get 1 day off. You may be shocked to hear that Pat and I went to a wedding. It was on the beach in Del Ray Beach FL. Very beautiful Jewish ceremony just after sunset. It was a cultural experience to see the blending of a Mississippi Southern Baptists family and Israeli Jewish Family. FYI- Pat's Uncle married his (jewish) Aunt Judy when he was stationed in Israel many years ago. This was his cousin's wedding. Anyway lots of fun,family, and food packed in to less than 48 hours. Of course my somewhat swollen belly was often the topic of conversation.
I can't wait to see everyone and I hope all is well with you throughout the state.

Staci said...

Hey everyone, Mellissa's 40th b-day is this week, it might brighten her day to hear from you all if you have a chance!!!

Hope everyone is well!

Love to all.

Kirstie said...

I had a parent tell me today that over the weekend her son said something along the lines of "what can I do to help you". She thought it was great how helpful he was being. When she told him that he said that "Mrs. Mac must be brainwashing us, because she keeps coming into our class talking about respect and responsibility".

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