Me, Myself and Memories

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  Noreen 7:35 am on March 9, 2014 Permalink  

  A Big Deal For Stauffer 

  I can not remember when we bought something new for the home.  Today was the day!

  Dennis has a wonderful west porch where he enjoys everything from Pawn Stars on t.v., his email and face book accounts and keeping track of the traffic as it passes by our home.   All this is while he is sitting in his ‘command center’ chair.  Son Kevin dubbed it that as it reminded him of Captain Kirk on Star Trek.  The chair is totally made out of 2 x 4 lumber that has been varnished.  In times past when we went to Indiana to visit one of Dennis’ buddies who had served with him in Korea, this chair was given to Dennis by his friend Rip.  It sure was a good thing we had taken the pickup as the chair would never had fit in the trunk of the chair.

  I digress.  An upgrade of the television in the west porch was sorely needed.  Dennis was watching his favorite shows on a 12 inch screen that we had purchased in 1992 with the option of also playing VCRs.  That may will have gone on for a long time if  it were not for the fact that the on and off button has been pushed so far into the set that the button was now in the black depth of the set.

  

  Nicholas in the Command Center Chair

  On day quite a while ago I heard from the porch “Grammie I need you”.  Grandson Nicholas also enjoyed Grandpa Dennis’ chair while playing Angry Birds on the computer.  How could you not want to have the Disney channel playing on the t.v. while enjoying the computer game.  Alas the button was gone and Grammie could not help Nicholas get it back out.  Fast forward to today.

  Best Buy had just the ticket today and as soon as the new LED flat screen t.v. will arrive to their store for it to be picked up – Grandpa Dennis will be in high cotton.   The commander in the ‘command chair’ will have been moved into the 21st century.

   
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  Noreen 1:57 am on March 8, 2014 Permalink  

  Resilience 

  I can’t tell you how many time I have heard “you can always tell a German, you just can’t tell them much.”  It’s a very strong hint that I am stubborn.  I choose to label it as being resilient.   I can’t imagine settling when I have it within me to fight for a quality of life that includes being independent and being resilient when there are some bumps in my health or day to day welfare.  In recent times the bumps come along in the form of incisions and stitches.

  Dennis and I have often commented to each other how independent we each are and that goes a long way as to why we make such a good team.  Having adult children does not entitle us to depend upon them in our day to day lives.  Oh yes, it’s very comforting and reassuring to have them check in with us because their care.  We are not above accepting help from the kids when offered but they are not on our speed dial as first responders.

  During the weeks of the shoulder surgery recovery I found new ways to accomplish all that was needed in routine housework in our home.   Post-a-notes became a great way to jot down things that I would need help with when Dennis came home from his being out and about.   This was not our first rodeo in regard to me recovering from surgery.  When I had both of my knees replaced my home was where I wanted to be to begin recovery and not in a swing bed in a hospital.  I am sure in the early days with both knees wrapped I wobbled through the house like the child of Frankenstein.  The same was true with both of the independent shoulder replacements.  The swing bed was offered each time and my answer was always a “NO”.   A friend of mine opted for the swing bed option and they came home on day 13 after surgery. It is all in everyone’s level of confidence and comfort.

  It could be called suborn but again I choose to call it resilience.  I gave the surgeon my permission to do the surgery knowing I had the will to regain the strength that the surgery allowed.  It is now in the stage that I don’t want to disappoint either of us.  Often I not only think it but I have also said it out load: “if you think you can’t just hitch your bra strap one notch higher and go for it.”  Well, in the case of the shoulders it was implied as there was no way I could manage to get a bra on let alone feel the pressure of the weight bearing undies.

  Life is brighter everyday.  Today I was able to take myself up to an eye doctor appointment and rejoiced that the torn retina from October is A.O.K.  Today I was able to reach to the second shelf of the kitchen cabinets knowing that the muscle strain and tremor I felt was a sign that recovery is on target.  I am sure that after physical therapy is complete I will be gaining strength being outside once the ice and refreezing of melting snow subsides.  There are a ton of branches that need to be gathered up and then the peeking for plants that want to make their presents known.

  Dennis is terrific letting me have my own head in doing what I strive to achieve.  He does respect my resilience and he also knows that I don’t love him because I need him.  I need him because I love him.  That goes ditto for my kids.

   

   

   
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  Noreen 3:26 am on March 7, 2014 Permalink  

  Quiet Day 

  Quiet that is after a good work out at physical therapy – ouch, ouch.  No pain no gain.  The heating pad has been my best bud.

   
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  Noreen 2:25 am on March 6, 2014 Permalink  

  I Choose to See the Beauty 

  

  Snow Perfectly Placed

  One more time we had a huge dumping of snow.  At first it was said it would be three inches.  How about nine and a half? When I looked out the bathroom window at three a.m. it was beautiful.  It looked as if someone took a huge blanket of white and draped the entire backyard.  There wasn’t a hint of wind to disturb the glistening snow showing off billowing hills and valleys of white.

  This morning when I looked out at seven there were rabbit tracks and clumps of snow that had fallen off of a tree and marred the backyard. The perfect picture became reality.  Dennis already had his snow boots on and was headed for the back door to get the snow blower going.  The full depth of the snow was revealed as he trudged to the garage.  Of course I followed shortly behind if nothing else to give moral support.

  After the deed was done and the snow blower was parked in the garage I had to snap a few images.   I was hopeful that this would be the last of winter snowfalls –  especially of this amount.  Pictures were snapped and Dennis and I headed indoors for a well-deserved breakfast of oatmeal.

   
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  Noreen 2:26 am on March 5, 2014 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  

  March 4th 2014 – This pencil thin ice cycle is the only one on our buildings. You know its been a long cold spell with no warm days in between when even the ice cycles have thrown in the towel. 

   
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  Noreen 3:39 am on March 4, 2014 Permalink  

  Five Years and They Have Flown 

  How time flies when you are having fun.  It was five years ago that I retired as the Watonwan County Assessor (actually on February 28th of 2009). After doing a grocery run today I stopped in at the courthouse for a brief visit.  Many friends are still working the W-2 Forms and those friends are precious and priceless.  Just like the rest of the world time has slipped away from us getting together to stay connected.  Today I made myself a promise to make it happen oftener in the near future.

  Did I have huge plans for retirement? Not really.  I never let myself plan that far ahead as the job kept me busy right to the end.  I knew I wanted to spend more time with my children and grandchildren, no longer having to use vacation days from work to be on hand for the time I could help out or just enjoy them with my full attention.  It was easier to spend time with my Mom that next year.   I was so thankful for that year as she passed away in April of 2010.

  Some days during these five years I would never have anticipated or dreamt could be real – but then life is a day by day experience with no preview or rehearsal and for sure no do-overs.  I am thankful for each day and always hope for best. My Grandmother Laura Wendlandt was also my Christian Sponsor.   At the age of 93 she lived her days in a mobile home especially equipped for her in her wheelchair with an attitude that was second to none.   She told me repeatedly, “You have to make each day to the good and have something to show for each day.”  I have my daily work cut out for me.

   
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  Noreen 12:27 am on March 3, 2014 Permalink  

  Frozen Tundra – Stauffer Avenue 

  

  Through the Frozen Backyard the Four Footed Come for Food

   

  

  Clearing the Snow on March 1, 2014.
  Sure Hope It’s the Last Time

   
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  Noreen 11:24 pm on March 1, 2014 Permalink  

  March 1st in 1968 

  My Mom was an avid note taker on her calender pages and that in turn enthused me to keep a journal the late winter of 1968.  March 1st of 1968 it was 45 degrees and I was pregnant with Kevin.  I wasn’t as diligent as Mom was with my journals but I did have entries here and there.

  Today it is -2 degrees and snowing with the wind blowing strongly from the north.  On the 45-degree day in 1968 I went and helped my Dad do their household laundry as Mom had restrictions.  Mom had fallen from the hayloft on February 2nd as she was going to put hay in the mangers for their dairy cows.  This happened while my Dad and Michael had gone to a spring farm auction.

  Mom called me from their home phone telling me she needed help.  My daughter Carrie, at the age of 2½, and I went immediately after also calling my sister Elvera.  Elvera and I were both only a few miles away on our own farms.  Mom had broken her back in the that fall.  How she ever made it to the house to call for help is unbelievable.  Recovery took time, but determination took my mom to the age of 93.

  Memories are priceless.  Every once in awhile they need to be revisited to keep us grounded. On a snowy, windy day it is time well spent.  Maybe tomorrow will be better sunny weather to make new memories.

   
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  Noreen 2:10 am on March 1, 2014 Permalink  

  Fleeting Thoughts: 

  “Be sure you plant your feet in the right place and then stand firm.”

  —Abraham Lincoln

   
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  Noreen 4:11 am on February 28, 2014 Permalink  

  Small town benefits include Dennis being able to use a slid loader for several hours to widen our driveway. The backyard was the perfect place to relocate it. Dennis was amazed how he could see layers of snow followed with layers of ice, etc. A testament of a winter that has brought snow, sleet, and rain intermittently to make for hard banks of snow. Thawing will be interesting.