Reading with My Grandpa 2

Due to our schedules, my grandpa and I had to take two days off from our reading.  And when we were back on the phone together, it was very clear that he missed me. We talked for way longer than we have on our previous nights, which meant that I missed out on getting ice cream with the rest of my family (to be fair, they decided not to go without me, but I still felt kinda bad).  But, even so, we had a wonderful time.

The book is nearing its end.  We have about four more days of reading to go.  I'm going to suggest we continue on with a different book when we finish this one.

Reading with My Grandpa

I was very close to my grandma.  Towards the end of her life, she suffered from Parkinson's, did not emote, and could not speak.  But, I loved our weekly visits and always looked forward to them.  It was such a special thing that we had together, but I'll be honest, most of my friends and coworkers didn't understand when I'd tell them about it.  About how I'd arrive full of the stresses of the day, but leave two hours later as calm and relaxed as could be.  She had such a presence, such elegance, for someone who could barely communicate.  And after visiting for a while, I began to understand her moods and little gestures.  She "spoke" in her own way, and it was not that hard to understand her if you actually tried.

Now, my grandpa and I have not been close since I was a little kid.  We used to play cards together, color Easter eggs, share jokes, play games... But, we don't really talk much anymore.  So, when my mom told me that there was a book he had been wanting to read, but couldn't (he's legally blind), and since he was bored being stuck in quarantine (he's not sick, but his building is on lock-down), I agreed to read it to him over the phone.

I wasn't expecting anything monumental, and I don't think he was, either.  We began the phone conversation with him telling me that if I wanted, I could just read the book to myself, and then update him on what it was about.  But, I suggested that we do one day of reading and then decide how to proceed.  He loved it and asked when I could call again.  Today was day two, and we read even more than yesterday (I'm good for about half and hour, but this was easily an hour).  We're already looking forward to tomorrow.

Christmas Aftermath

Christmas was very nice this year, with wonderful quality time spent with family, and lots of nice gifts. The most memorable, though, I'd have to say is the Lon Chaney biography my parents bought for me. I'm a huge Chaney fan, and getting to read all about the "Man of a Thousand Faces" will be an extra special treat :) (Steven, don't worry; I didn't forget about your story; that was the other memorable gift of the year. Thank you again!!!)

The other wonderful surprise was being able to have a nice one-on-one conversation with two of my cousins who are also in college. They're always so busy or so quiet I never have time to talk to them. So, that was very, very nice.

So, did all of you do fun things for Christmas? Did you get any nice gifts? Do you have any fun stories to tell? Please share :)

A Hundred Dollars

We celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family today (since my aunt and uncle were in town). On Christmas itself, we'll see the other half of the family. But, anyways, my grandma was passing out envelopes with money inside, and my little cousin, opening hers could not contain her shock at seeing a $100 bill. Her reaction was priceless:

"Mommy! Mommy, I got a hundred dollars! I'm going to go to the Dollar Store and buy a hundred things!"

A Sunday Afternoon Walk

My family and I went for a walk on one of the local nature trails today; it was wonderful. The weather has been very warm this past week, but today was a bit cooler. Another plus: there was minimum sun, and lots of shade. We saw luminescent dragonflies and even a frog (sitting right in the middle of the path! :D)

I think the only damper to the event was at the very end. Coming back to our car, my parents stopped us and asked us if we knew what the awful smell in the air was. No, it was not skunk. They actually informed us that it was weed. Yep. There were three 30-something Hispanic men hidden just slightly in the trees behind the parking lot, smoking marijuana and laughing with the high...

What fun, right?

The Last Weekend (Bittersweet)

As I'm sure you've guessed from the title, this is to be my last weekend on campus. After that, the wonderful Roomie and I are to be separated for three whole months, and the chances of seeing any of my other friends are pretty slim as well, seeing as they all live pretty far away. I'm really, really going to miss them.

This weekend is bittersweet. Part of me wants to take advantage of it as much as I can, enjoying life to the fullest and spending all my time with everyone. Unfortunately, its also Mother's Day weekend, and yes, I miss my family a lot. However, as much as I really want to see them today, I just keep on telling myself that in less than a week, we're going to be together again. Less than a week. I won't see my friends for three months. Still...

Okay, okay, I'll just get it out in the open. My parents want me to come home this weekend. I told them that I wanted to stay and see my friends for the last time. My parents were supposed to come up and have lunch to celebrate Mother's Day. Now, they want me to come home and stay home for the weekend, but that means giving up all my plans for time with my friends. I know I'm being selfish, but I liked it better before they started tampering with a game plan that we had established about a month and a half ago, which was that they come in for lunch, and I stay here for the last time.

I hope everything works out in the end. I don't know what to do.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! As an Irish girl, this day is always huge back at home, but this is actually the first time I've not spent St. Patrick's Day with my family. It feels weird, and I don't like it...It just doesn't feel like St. Patrick's Day to me.

I'm trying to be as Irish as I can on my own, though, wearing my favorite 'tis herself sweatshirt, and pinching people for not wearing green, but the luck of the Irish does not seem to be with me today. Usually, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with morning mass and a continental breakfast sponsored by my parish. Then, Mom starts making corned beef and cabbage (with carrots and potatoes) and we all watch a movie together (the same movie every year, of course: Darby O'Gill and the Little People). You can laugh, but we've been doing this for as long as I can remember, and I love it! Hopefully, next year will be better.

Erin Go Bragh!