Therapy with Grandma

This morning we went out for breakfast at Lux. The remaining family members were Grandma, Peyton, Aunt Jodi, Uncle John, Aunt Carolyn, Mom, Bob, and myself. The Spartan Omelette was good, but I am a bit sad that I didn’t get a poached egg. That was delicious. We said fond farewells and each headed off in our separate directions.

Grandma and I returned to the apartment where we proceeded to put sheets and blankets on the bed I’ll sleep in for the next few nights. My Grandma is known for saying that we shouldn’t clean up when we leave. “It’s my therapy,” she says. It’s her therapy to wash the last cup we drank out of, to change our old bed sheets, maybe even to discover that sock we forgot behind the bed. It’s our therapy to run the washing machine and fold the bedding. There is something comforting about the ritual of mundane tasks. Something heartwarming about smoothing out the last wrinkle in a bedspread. No matter how much everything changes or who drifts in and out of our lives, there are the little moments that we repeat that become like the stitches that sew the bits of our lives together.

Amish Country

Today is Saturday, the day after Grandma's birthday and the last day that we will have the majority of the family gathered here in good old Goshen. We ate lunch at Olympia Candy Shoppe. I and about 70% of the people I dined with ordered Olympia's olive nut sandwich (an Olympia classic). I ate at a table with my Grandma, Bob, and Fred (husband of June - my Aunt Carolyn's sister and my mum's friend).

After lunch, I journeyed out to Amish Country with Fred, June, Uncle John, and Aunt Carolyn. We first got some popcorn at a little popcorn shop. They gave free samples at the door - delicious! I purchased red and blue popcorn for Mom and Bob. It was just so pretty. The girl who rang us up had braces and a beautiful smile.

Next we drove up to a farm to purchase strawberries. We were right in the midst of all the bustle of farm life. A little boy who couldn't have been more that 12 years old

Although, I've lived near the Amish for much of my life, I really haven't had an occaision to talk to them before this, at least not that I can remember

And as a side note, "journeyed to Amish Country" makes it sound like we were traveling for hours, but really it was only about 20 minutes outside of town at the most.

Grandma's Birthday

I have officially escaped from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and what's more, arrived at my first stop along the way - Indiana for my Grandma's 90th birthday party.

The trip so far has been fairly exciting.  I finally made it out of Winston late Wednesday afternoon.  I created roadkill in southern Ohio (that raccoon just could not decide which way he/she was heading).  I spent the night in Athens, Ohio, and on Thursday continued onward.  I got a speeding ticket somewhere on a flat stretch of 33.  I was going 78 where it had just changed from 65 to 60, so that would make it 18 miles over.  Oops.  Later that day I got lost in Fort Wayne.  Needless to say there have been many firsts so far.  This will certainly be an interesting journey.

Friday was Grandma's birthday celebration.  Most of the family gathered here for the occasion and the resulting festivities have been lovely.  We ate lunch together in the dining room of the Greencroft Retirement Center where my Grandma resides.  Highlights include controversies over the consistency and taste quality of diet vs. non-diet applesauce jello.  

We then went to Maplecrest Golf Course and dined on a delicious dinner.  The mashed potatoes were excellent.  The company was exquisite.  Uncle John gave Grandma a beautiful jewelry box which he made out of blood wood.  After dinner, we all returned to Greencroft, where we were joined by even more family and many of Grandma's friends.  We talked and ate cake and drank coffee and punch (which despite earlier promises was not spiked).  It was a terribly lovely evening, and a fitting celebration for a woman who is simply awesome.

Escape from Winston

It's around 1:00 AM on Thursday, June 4, and I am happy to report that I have finally left Winston-Salem. The trip has been uneventful so far with the exception of the fact that I have officially created road kill. That poor raccoon.

I am currently lounging on a bed in a Days Inn in Athens, Ohio. It's interesting, no matter how nice the hotel is, it always makes a girl want a black light and a pair of tweezers, just in case. Not having both implements, I'm just here, pondering having left North Carolina behind. Not that I don't realize that I will certainly visit. Truth be told, I plan on returning later this summer, but as I sit here in an area code uncertain, I cannot help but ponder all the goodbyes that weren't said or that I'd like to say again. Tomorrow I'll be moving on to Indiana, but tonight I'm thinking about what I've left behind.