The people, the places....

I have not blogged in so long that I feel like a child who has been out sick and has lots of homework to catch up on!

This is a busy time. My grandpa turned 91 this week (really 3 weeks ago), so my mom and I traveled to his farm for a visit. It worked out well because I had a bridal shower in CT as well.

Grandpa at his birthday dinner....he is never without a glass of milk!

I adore my grandpa. He knows so much about so many things. For example, in the course of an hour, he explained to me how to make a frame for honey bees that would go in their hive, how a carbide drill works in drilling rock on the side of the road, and chatted about Antiques Roadshow. I’ve talked about Papa before. As my only living grandparent, he is precious to me. I pray that I have his genes and live as long, and as healthily as he has thus far. At the same time, I think it will hit me very hard when he goes. I have a funny feeling it will be quiet and fast. One morning my uncle will come over and find that he isn’t out of bed and that will be it. Ok, I don’t want to talk about that.

Miss Kitty fixes you with her green eyes...

My grandpa has a cat named Miss Kitty. She is a beautiful silver furred cat with a very pink tongue and a loving but firm personality. Miss Kitty appeared in my grandfather’s life a short time after my grandma died. They had been married 58 years or something. Miss Kitty was a wild cat who began life in the barn. Gradually, with Papa’s love and encouragement, she became more friendly. Now she is loving and happy - sleeping on your lap and crying when she wants more food. We are generally not a superstitious family, but Papa believes Miss Kitty is my grandma’s soul. I have to say – I don’t think it’s that far fetched. My grandma was a strong woman with firm ideas and a tough exterior. She was also very loving, kind and generous. She expected a lot of us, but she loved us unconditionally. Miss Kitty is my grandpa’s companion. He has hearing aids that he doesn’t like very much. He can no longer see well enough to do his beloved puzzles or read the small print of the newspaper. He works doing inside farm work (planting seeds) in the cold winter, and gets out to the greenhouses and for a walk in the good weather. I imagine sometimes that his life must get lonely. My uncle is in and out all day working on the farm, but he does not have much time for "visiting.”

All this to say – I love my grandpa very much. I learned how to give the best backrubs from my grandpa because he loves them. Since my grandma isn’t around to give them, it’s always my job when I visit. It’s our thing. His back is itchy a lot so a backrub really helps.

Papa lives in my favorite place in the world. The farm has always been my escape – the place I can get away from real life. He does not have internet (he still has a rotary dial phone!) and I can read or knit or just sit and not feel like there are eight projects waiting for me. I have fond memories of adventures in the brook as a child, or working selling vegetables at the stand. It’s family, it’s love - it’s the place I bring to mind when someone says “Go to your special place.”

This post goes absolutely nowhere but in a circle. Do you ever have those times that you hope never ends? Do you know those people who are such fixtures in your life that you cannot imagine life without them? I should get there more often. Grandpa never says anything, but I know how much he appreciates the visits. Call those people in your life and let them know you’re thinking of them.

TBI - To Be Inspired

My heart is a little broken tonight. I just finished watching this program on Bob Woodruff's horrific experience and the experiences of soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). I couldn't help but feel my heart cry. These men and women - with spouses and children - so perfect in their military photos - who are unbelievably changed forever.

I cannot imagine the strength it must require of their families to support them. I cannot imagine the fear of the unknown that their spouses, children, parents and friends face every day. I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be for the patient to have to work so hard to do things they used to do without thinking.

Bob Woodruff is doing very well. It has also been more than a year since his injury, but he has made amazing strides. It is stunning to see his children teaching him words like "belt buckle" and "diamond." I know he must have worked incredibly hard to get to the point he is at now.

It is a well-known fact that I feel deeply and things affect me profoundly. I am not weepy, but there are issues that really just hit me hard. I find it hard to keep myself removed from suffering like that. I place myself in their shoes and just wonder - if that happened in my life - how would I manage - how would I maintain hope? I know that you do what you have to do - I have been through issues in my life and maintained hope when there was little reason to, but I just wish these things didn't have to happen. Right now, my job does not afford me as much opportunity to help those who are suffering as I would like.

I am by no means an activist in a lot of ways; not because I don't care, but because I am sometimes paralyzed by my upset. Does this make sense?

What is the best way to help? How can I best effect change? Who needs to hear my upset over these issues? I struggle with these thoughts and more. Whatever your feelings are about war, no one feels good about the men and women who are injured, maimed, and killed serving and protecting our country.

This will bother me. They highlighted a family whose father/husband had a TBI. They followed him for awhile and in the beginning he was in tough shape. As time progresesed with his rehab, he made amazing progress!!! Unfortunately, he went back to TX (if I remember correctly) and was not set up for his rehabilitation to continue. Due to these "mistakes," he had serious setbacks. When Bob visited him again, you could see the (bad) changes that occurred while he was not in rehab.

So, Bob's family started a fund to help military families with Traumatic Brain Injuries and they link to this site as well for a way to help. I like giving money, but I also like to be able to help in tangible ways. These families are inspiring.

**Before this story, I was going to write about my upcoming girls' weekend to help a good friend celebrate a big birthday (one I have not yet reached - thank goodness! ;)) with a HUGE surprise. She has NO idea we are going away to Hilton Head, NC for the weekend. Her husband will be home taking care of their 19 month old twins while we do girly things and maybe check out the Food & Wine Festival in Charleston. Cross your fingers that a storm which is supposed to bring snow Thursday night (heavier towards dawn? Our flight leaves at 7am!?!?!) heads north so that our plane can take off! :) (If not, I'll make sure to have some knitting.... ;)) Anyway, my weekend took a backseat after Bob's story. I am on a mission (CAOK?) to figure out how I can best help.