Sunday, September 11, 2011

What's On My Mind?

I've seen this done before on other blogs so thought I'd do it today since I don't have much to blog about.


Outside My Window

It's a quiet Sunday morning.
The air is cool and fresh coming in through the open window
in front of me. It smells fresh and clean.
The sky is soft blue with fluffy white clouds.
It promises to be a pleasant cool day.
I hear traffic in the distance, reminding me that I'm not alone.
I also hear one of my neighbours playing the piano,
it sounds so mystical in the distance.


I Am Wearing

Blue jeans and t-shirt and bare feet


I Am Remembering

This day 15 years ago, in the wee hours of the morning
after many hours of labor
I became a grandmother and my
oldest daughter became a mother.
I was in the delivery room with her and her husband
while four other daughters waited in the waiting room.
I will never, ever forget the feelings I had at that time -
the fear that Jenny might not be able to push that big baby out -
the weariness of a long labor,
and the intense joy of finally holding my first grandson and
hearing his name for the first time -
Jonah MacKenzie Quist.
Tears come easily as I remember that morning.

And, too, I am remembering how his fifth birthday
was marred by the terrorist events unfolding
in New York and elsewhere and how we watched
television for hours in horror and grief.


I Am Reading

I've been catching up on the Eve Dallas murder
mysteries by J. D. Robb (Norah Roberts).
I finished reading Immortal in Death yesterday
and will start another one today.
Before that I read The Help.
I always have a book to read.  I've loved reading
forever, following the example set by my Dad.


I Am Hoping

That the rest of September brings cool pleasant
days - a respite from the heat of the past week, and
breathing space before the cold and snow of our long winter.


On My Mind

My mother.  I've just booked a flight to Winnipeg for
the last week in September.  I'll be staying with my sister there and visiting
Mum in the care facility she now lives in. 
She is 90 years old, with a healthy body and a mind
destroyed by Alzheimer's. It's been well over a
year since she's known me - even longer since she's
forgotten Dad.  I can't imagine a life with no memories.
It's so sad.  Four other of Mum's siblings have had this
horrible disease.  We think, we hope, it has environmental
roots for them, not genetic. 
Her parents lived to their mid 90s with no diminished mental capacity.


From the Kitchen

When I go downstairs for breakfast I'm going to have
two pieces of toast with fresh peach jam
that my daughter, Amy, made.  It's delicious.
I bought a bunch of beets yesterday that I'll cook up and
eat with butter for my supper, along with
a piece of salmon and corn on the cob.
I don't fuss with meals and baking when Lloyd's not
home, but I wanted to have something tasty and
fresh today.


Around the House

My scrapbook room is in a bit of disarray since working
in it the other day.  No, I'm not going to organize it today.
I'm going to spend several hours working on layouts
using pictures from our family reunion in August.
I suppose I could spend some time in this office too,
filing the stack of papers currently sitting on top of the filing
cabinet, and loading programs onto the new computer that replaces
the one that died.


Plans For The Week

I really don't have any.
Lloyd will be coming home on Tuesday,  that's always
good.  He's a fun guy to hang out with.
I also have to pot my outdoor geraniums and
bring them inside before the frost gets them.  I'm
a terrible gardener but I don't like to deliberately let
plants die.


One Of My Favorite Things

Blogging.  It's therapeutic. It expands my horizons.
It allows me to meet and share with and learn from many people from around
the world that I would never have the opportunity to do otherwise.
It provides me a forum to share my life and ideas. 
It gives my children a window into my life now that they're
grown up and not as involved in my daily comings and goings.
I'm not a particularly good writer, but I like the practice
blogging gives me.
I'm quiet, shy, and not good at small talk, but I like the way
blogging allows me to come out of myself and share
in a non-threatening environment.
And I learn from reading of the experiences of
my bloggy friends.
Thank you for that.


Pat 






10 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I love your daybook entry. It's amazing when you don't think you have much to say, It turns out there was really a lot. Hope your Sunday is a wonderful one.

Raindrops and Daisies said...

I love your daybook too.

Barefeet!!!! Oooh too cold here today for that!

I'm glad that you like blogging too,
it is gret isn't it!

May you have years and years of blogging ahead!

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi Pat. I haven't seen this idea for a blog post before, but it's a really good idea. Might have to try that in one of my future posts, especially when I'm struggling as to what to write!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful post! While the world has been remembering the 11th, I have been remembering the 10th - the 15th anniverasry of my Mum's death. But now it is a happy day - the birthday of my son's new girlfriend (after his sad divorce) ..... so I guess the message of this weekend is to enjoy the positive things in life!!

Michael and Hanne said...

Thank you Pat!

TARYTERRE said...

I have never seen a daybook post before. What a wonderful idea. It was absolutely refreshing to read. I am so sorry about your mom. It must be so difficult to be with her, knowing she doesn't remember you or your father. I knew a woman who was 48 when she got the disease and it was so very sad. It just ravages the mind. I'm glad your hubby will be home soon. My husband used to work out of town, too and it was hard to say goodbye for the week. The salmon you made for yourself sounded yummy. Take care.

mickey said...

I'm glad you said' one' of your favorite things is blogging because I know you also love scrapbooking and many other things too!
This blog was beautiful! I love reading your blogs especially ones like this!
it certainly has been a few days of reflection with 911 memorial and a tiny little boy missing near us,
Baby Grandchildren's births are particularly memorable and emotional aren't they? The details remain permanently etched in our minds!

Granny Annie said...

This was great and for someone who didn't have much to say, you sure had a lot to say. LOL Yes our son-in-law had to share his 30th birthday with 9/11. My daughter threw him a 40th surprise party on Saturday, the 10th and it was a huge success. I hate that your grandchild will have to share this date too.

Laeli said...

Oh Pat, I love this!
I think I'll copy you sometime this week:)

Such a neat way to get to know you.

Desiree said...

This was WONDERFUL, Pat! It has given us a lovely insight into who you are when in silent repose. I must admit I found it a little surprising to hear you're shy and quiet by nature. I guess I'd imagined that coming from a large family you'd be quite outgoing. Raising seven children would have been very demanding and not afforded you with much opportunity for peace and quiet! I guess you're making up for lost time, now it's just the two of you :)

You write so well...I felt as though I was right there beside you! I am sorry to hear about your Mother's advanced Alzheimer's. It is such a devastating condition for loved ones to have to experience. Do you by any chance have any idea as to the environmental trigger/cause in the case of her and her siblings? I ask as my husband is a freshwater algologist/limnologist and he's currently collating SA case studies which may show a link to enviromental factors for several debilitating diseases, of which Alzheimers is one.