This week carried with it many landmarks and other activities. First off my Sister turned 50 years young. She went kicking and screaming into a new era but her wonderful husband managed to pull off a seamless surprise party. She was completely shocked that he and 75 others were able to keep this a top secret event. When she opened her front door Saturday, after hearing a knock and expecting some immediate family members, she was greeted by 73 friends and family from near and far standing in her yard-drive like the Verizon network. People flew, drove and walked from all over who represented many periods in her life from early child hood to college to present times. I only wish Douglas and I had been there to see her face. The biggest surprise of all was when our eldest brother showed up from England and no one knew. How cool is that?
Second event was that my grandfather, who I also call dad, got his knee replaced on Thursday. He is doing fabulously and is very happy to have this done. He is such an inspiration in so many ways, but especially his youthfulness in his 80's and his rock solid mental capacity. Good genes for sure.
My father turned 61 years old on Wednesday and we planned a dinner at our house which he was unfortunately unable to make. The dinner was an amazing foodie event of gastronomical proportions, which went on for hours. We ate freshly plucked smoked pheasant and duck, fish pate',homemade Hartak (Finnish crackers),fresh baked bread,beef tips with horseradish sauce, lamb-pork-spinach lasagna, Caesar Salad, a beautiful fish-veggie-olive-salami antipasto platter and a triple layer chocolate cream filled cake with sour cream frosting. I am still stuffed and gained at least a pound. It was fun to spend time with my dads old pals who are more like family.
Also, Douglas' sister Paula had a birthday in Tennessee. Happy birthday to her !!!
Doug went to Texas for a project meeting on which he will be working through may in Asheville. The owner and architect live in Dallas. This project will be another fun and creative one. I will let you know more later. We are happy for the work!!! He does not leave for NC until late February after my hip replacement revision.
Yes yet another one. This makes 3 on left side. The socket is loose and causing pain and mechanical issues. I will be thrilled to get it done and then on to replacing both knees. I may need left shoulder replaced eventually. Bionic does not even come close.But lupus is under control and I am full of myself and feeling pretty good with much rest and relaxation as I am trying to stay off legs. I have regular PT still... forever probably,which is great for me. Claudia is my PT from Germany and is excellent at her job and I really like her as a friend. It is rare to truly feel a friendship-kinship with a therapist or health care worker. There is a professional distance they usually keep. Claudia is not this type of person. Again I am blessed.
I had a mole removed and biopsied which looked suspicious but was just irritated and no skin cancer for me thank goodness. I am happy to have good test results.
I also have the good fortune of having a friends horse boarded across the street who needs a little attention and loving. I am able to go over, with Doug, and spend time with the horses. Bart is her guys name and he is a 17 hand chestnut with two left white socks and a star. He reminds me of my first horse Huckleberry Finn. Huck was 16 hands...still big. Bart and I are in the "getting to know one another" stage. I have not been around horses in a while. What a treat !! Thank you Dale for this opportunity. It's nice to have him so close and to meet another neighbor too.
All in all with the economy,snowy-cold-icy holiday weather and political challenges, both here and abroad,it has been a hopeful week. I see a slight change for the positive happening in peoples attitudes and in social responsibility coming from people and corporations who finally understand the need for the world to come together to do good things for the planet and it's inhabitants. What tends to come with challenging times is a group mentality for a common good. Sure we see greed with a vibrant clarity as it is uncovered and hedged out of the crevices of those minds who need to be put to task and held responsible. Philanthropy and volunteer-ism becomes more important and prolific as funds are decreasing. Families spend more time together at home talking, playing games, being creative, watching movies with pop corn and simply being together for meals. Instead of buying expensive gifts and sending tons of paper cards we see a trend of email cards, web cam greetings, phone calls and Skype calls with the ability to talk to family-friends out of country or in the armed services for free. Home made gifts made with love are so much more important than a cheap "made in China" plastic throw away toy. I love to receive and to give food made with love, fresh wreaths, flowers, home made candles and soaps etc.
Mary, my step mom, and I went to whole foods last week to shop for her families food basket and stocking stuffers for the holidays. This is the second Whole Foods in A2 and is right down the street! They have a wine bar and sushi bar with all kinds of other food stations. You can actually drink wine while shopping or take a load off, munch on good food and sip flights of wine and Michigan cheese after your shopping adventure. It was a wonderful way to shop. If you are in A2 check it out.
Tiz the season to share with those who have less. I see a world in which we can live in peace and harmony with simple needs and humble hearts. Perhaps we should head that lesson all the time as opposed to filling out our own wish lists and checking it twice. I feel very grateful!!
