Back on the west coast I was going to church and found out that an elderly lady named Lois I befriended my first week at the Stayton SDA Church, was moved to a new adult foster home. This made me sad because the people she was living with for so long brought her to church and now I couldn't sit next to her anymore and laugh as she (veggie) cursed her wheelchair for not moving and gave the deacons a hard time about what was on the menu for potluck.
After church I went to the Koger's house. They are a husband and wife I met at church and they have invited me out to their farm a few times. Side note to my two amazing sets of grandparents I have been blessed with and love dearly, you are NOT, I repeat NOT in any way, shape, or form being replace. Just think of it as a "loaner" set of grandparents till I come home, or you visit me out here (wink wink). Anyway, we went on a long walk and stop by a neighbors farm where their baby cow tried to suckle the sleeve right off my sweatshirt. His tongue was very course like rough blue sandpaper and it made my hand feel weird, so I offered up my sweatshirt as a substitute. For supper we had grillers (fake hamburgers for you meat lovers) and hand cut french fries. Everyone was amazing by my ketchup consuming skills, and I just smiled and nodded as I licked my fingers dry of the bloody red yumminess.
Sunday brought a whole new adventure. Some big things were done and I was very busy. I purchased a 1 1/2 chair, went to Greece, and hopped over to Italy to visit some amazing friends. REWIND. I did do those things just on a very smaller scale. I blame Barnes & Noble. There is no Barnes & Noble in Salem. I want to plan a trip to Greece for several reasons and knew Barnes was one of the only places I could read a whole entire book without buying it. I want to stay in a coastal villa in Greece where all the houses are white with bright blue roofs and you can get a massage overlooking the ocean with the curtains blowing effortlessly in the breeze, or at least that's what the brochure looked like that originally made me fall in love with Greece. Then I saw the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and not to spoil the ending but the girl that goes to Greece falls in love...need I say more. My journey for a bookstore found me in downtown Salem at a the "Book Bin" where I purchased an $11 book on Greece. It includes prices, pictures, places, and most of all relaxing pleasures.
There are not many things open on Sunday, so my next stop was in a 4 floor furniture store called "Sid's" that was having a 30% off sale. This time I blame my bladder. I was doing fine looking around, acting like I knew what I was doing, plopping my buns down on some soft and cushy couches, when "nature called". I asked where the nearest restroom was and (you fill in the blanks) then I came out and there it was...some call it "1 1/2 chair" but it was more the size of a love seat with one giant cushion accompanied by 2 plush pillows. The cool neutral beige colored called my tushie over for just one sit and I was hooked. Then I looked at the price...not bad, marked down from 4 dollars signs to a modest 3. It was a floor sample meaning that there were no colors or changes that could be made. It was nestled in the back like an untouched gem. I felt inside that I had hit the jackpot...then I met Lane. The very nice salesman that said I could just pay $100 a month and it would be on layaway waiting for me. Oh yeah, did I mention FREE DELIVERY! Before I knew it I was signing on the dotted line, swiping my debit card, and exchanging business cards.
I'm into Skype (a service that let's you see people's faces via web cam) and am trying to connect with all my friends in far off places. My friend Josh lives in Italy now where his family is and I thought how cool to go back to a place I fell in love with. Thanks to the 2006 Art History Tour, the David statue, Venice, and the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun". Unfortunately, I was downtown and still recovering from the idea that I just bought a mini couch so I missed our Skype meeting. Luckily technology stepped in, and I got to talk to Josh and his sister Juli on the phone courtesy and free of charge from Gmail. It was so good to catch up and talk about old times at camp and the characters we've encountered along the way. I was trying not to seem all crazy but I could smell Italy over the phone, every time the connection kind of crackled I thought "it's because they are SO far away in Italy, they will probably go eat gellato and buy fashion boots once they are off the phone with me" LOLSkype adventure.
But before all of this traveling and purchasing happened, I had the highlight of my weekend. It didn't take much time and I didn't even talk for that long (imagine that). I went to see Miss Lois at her new home and brought her an assortment of pink tulips that are still closed up, dying for the day they can greet the sun. She was tired from the visits of church members that had come the day before. She did stay awake long enough to say "getting old is a party you don't want to attend". I laughed as I helped her into bed and asked if I could read to her from the book I'm currently reading. She whispered a soft yes and closed her eyes. I read until I was at the end of my current chapter and glanced up a couple of times to make sure she was sleeping comfortably. I ended our visit with a song we sing at church before prayer time "now dear Lord as we pray, take our hearts and minds far away from the press of the world all around to the throne with grace does abound" and prayed to a sleeping lady that probably didn't hear a word. But it didn't matter because I knew God did, and he continues to love Lois everyday and she attends the party she doesn't want to be at.
I've done a lot, connected with God and people close to me, near and far. I enter a new week with goals and gusto. I start training on Tuesday morning and already found some 5K runs in April and May to incorporate into my training schedule. At the end of one of the races they hand you a rose...I'M IN!
you are amazing!! Good luck in your fitness training.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Mom