Kindle

Well, I’ve gone and done it.  I bought a Kindle and it will arrive this afternoon.  I’m like a kid in a “Kindle” store!  I can’t wait to start purchasing books to read as I travel and so easily, cheaply and magically through technology.  The first book I’m going to purchase is one on how to best use the Kindle itself.  After that I have 180,000 items to choose from – so I might have to shop a bit before I move on to the next purchase.  I’ve wanted one of these marvels since they were first produced, but I waited for the price to drop and the technology to improve.  It’ll be my luck that there will be a breakthrough and the price will drop even more in the next six month – oh well, the chance I took and one I’m willing to live with.  I’m so excited that I’m waiting here at home for UPS to deliver the much awaited item.  I’ll let you know how I like it.

Journal

I haven’t written in a while – my life, family in particular has kept me swept up in a flurry of activity.  I take the time to write in my paper journal daily, but my blog gets ignored.  Nothing momentous has happened in the past weeks so nothing new to post.  Hope all is going well for those who read and follow the great links posted here.

What happened to July?

It’s been an eventful summer with travel and family moving in.  Not much time to read, but I’ve been keeping up with my daily journal.  My partner had to have surgery and that has been an ordeal for the two of us.  What was expected to be a fast recovery turned into a painful and slow one.  Well kidos started back to school yesterday and I know my nieces were excited – hopefully many other children were swept up in the excitement of a new year, new teachers and new friends.  For those teachers out there – you have my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful year.

Medicine Bag

Last night I was honored to attend a small workshop led by Rose Twofeathers the carrier of the stone for the Mayan natives.  She is of mixed heritage and taught us how to weave apache medicine bags.  Mine is dark brown deer hide with a flap so I can change the items I carry around in the bag depending on the strength or magic I need in my life or that of others I am concerned about.  She provided a crystal and buffalo fur for all the bags to represent protection and abundance.  I’m proud to have taken part in the ceremony of making the bag and of honoring the tradition of the Native American customs.  I will wear it with pride.

June 26th

Today is my honey’s birthday and she has to have foot surgery.  What a bummer!  She was supposed to have the surgery in twilight sleep, but woke up during the procedure.  Naturally, they had to change to General Anesthesia.  She’s doing well, but the foot hurts like holy hell and will do so for several weeks.  I feel so badly for her because she can’t bear weight on it for at least a week.  I’m hoping she’ll feel better soon and she could use your thoughts and prayers at this juncture of her life.

Mom’s Birthday

Today my mom turns 75 a mere 3/4 of a century old. As she creeps into old age her mortality becomes more and more a reality to me and one that is hard for me to accept. Her health is failing and I won’t put her in a nursing care facility, so the responsibility of taking care of her comes to me and my partner. We’ve both agreed that we will take care of her as long as we can physically do so. Our attitude is to take on the responsibility with an open mind and happy heart and all will go well for the three of us.  After all, she took many years taking care of me and I’m just returning the favor in kind.  I’m retired and have time on my hands and who knows what life stories she will be able to impart to me in the next 20 years or so

Grandma’s birthday

Today would be my ‘Big Mama’s’ 97th birthday if she was still alive. She passed away 5 years ago at the glorious age of 92. I sure miss her – the taffy pulls, scary stories, getting my turn to sleep with her and having her snuggle me so tight. In honor of her today, I went in search of old VHS tapes to find one that had her on it. The treasure I discovered was 22 years old. It was great to see her in her peak of her being a great grandmother to my two sons who were 2 and 5 then. She was enjoying watching them have a great Easter egg hunt in her big front yard while sitting on the old porch swing that was in the middle of an expanse of front porch. I miss those days of yesteryear, but am ready for the days to come when I become a grandmother and can enjoy my grandchildren and set new traditions with them.

Family Reunion

I spent this weekend with my extended family, the Patterson’s, for an annual family reunion. I’ve always found it interesting to see who attends and how long they stay. There’s always a big wiener roast at my Aunt Joy’s house after the main festivities(lunch) on Saturday. We sit in our camp chairs with our feet in the creek and tell stories for hours. I enjoy this time the most because I’m able to listen to family history and mentally record history what I might write about during the next year. I am going to take information from photos, death notices, some summaries about each of the 16 children, of which my grandfather was the 3rd oldest. I have a project in mind for the year of scanning the information that exists into my computer and making discs for each of the 16 families represented so they can distribute as they see fit. It will also give me fodder for writing more life stories and I’m very excited about that prospect!  My cousin Katy and I have our heads together on this one and two heads are always better than one.

Today I spent several hours cleaning out a file cabinet and came across a story that my dear friend from college, Melinda, wrote with my son when he was 4.  His 27th birthday is next week and I was so glad I had the story to share with him and his wife.  He dictated it and she drew pictures for some of the words and then he drew some of the pictures toward the end.  It’s a precious keepsake.  It makes me more motivated to write life stories so they can be kept as ‘treasures’ to those who lived them.

I have made a new page to show life stories that I have written. The Watch is my first publication. It made it into Story Circle Network’s June 2008 Anthology. It’s not much, but it made my mom proud.