Week of Love

Today officially marks our 25th wedding anniversary. This past Sunday, our wonderful children and my sister and brother in law managed to pull off a surprise party for us. We were blown away. My daughter was in town although she was supposed to be on bed rest due to her pregnancy. They were coming and going out of my house but I didn't have any idea why--they were down the street decorating and getting things ready for the surprise. A lot of our friends were there as well as our family that live close. It was magical - much like our wedding reception. The same sister and brother in law hosted our reception 25 years ago at their home.
Our children had blown up our wedding photos and they were placed all around the party . Our oldest son gave us a toast that truly brought tears to my eyes as well as those around us.
Today we learned that our daughter got back home and has contracted the flu. She is nearly 8 months pregnant with a toddler and a Navy husband who is currently in Virginia. She sounded so pitiful today when she phoned me from the ER. I immediately phoned my husband to see if he could go up and lend a hand. He has had a flu shot so he would be safer than I being around her. She has wonderful friends in town but at a time like this, you need parents. He came home and packed his bag and hit the road. So, tonight, on my official anniversary, my sweet spouse is off to nurse our first born through the flu. That is what family is all about and perhaps one of the reasons our marriage has survived a quarter of a century- taking care of each other in whatever situation may arise. It's not always easy but it is certainly worth the effort.
On we go to 50 years!!

So Many Things!

As I am writing this, I am looking down at my hands. The skin on them is beginning to resemble the shell of snakeskin after they shed. I am sure the ever present loss of estrogen has something to do with it- as well as the dry and cold weather we are having. (In Florida, mind you!)
I have so many things running through my head at present that I can barely keep up with my thoughts. My very dear aunt is in her final stages of lung cancer. I can hardly stand to think of it as she is such a beloved person. She and I have always been close- not sure if it's because we are both the oldest of our families but whatever the reasons, I love her as much as I love my mother. I feel an overwhelming grip of sadness for the entire situation. Her daughter, my cousin, has always been like an older sister to me. She is an only child and is watching her Mother fade away. My heart breaks for her..then there's my nearly 91 year old Grandmother who is losing her oldest child. I cannot fathom how she is feeling at this point. My own dear mother is leaving today to be beside her sister. They have always been 2 peas in a pod. While I know that my mother has accepted the facts, her heart is breaking as well.
My daughter is expecting our second grandchild in a month or so. She will then be moving to upstate New York. These are the happy things in my life that I am hanging on to at the moment. Not to mention that our 25th wedding anniversary is this week. Loving someone for a quarter of a century is indeed an accomplishment.
My Dad died at the beginning of January and that stirred up a variety of emotions. He was an emotionally distant person with a passle of problems- some real and some simply brought on by his own stubborness and self-will. He, unlike my Aunt Shirley, died alone and with ill feelings in his heart. He played his hand the way he wished and I have let go of any guilt that I may have felt. I did what I was supposed to do as a daughter- he did not reciprocate as a father. That was a shame for him.
It's just been a whirlwind in the Nanny household but I am trying desperately to keep myself in check.
I am expecting daughter and grandson at any moment to spend the week-end with us. I have fruit snacks, gummy worms, raisins, new crayons and coloring book, new sippy cup and lots of energy stored up for Gian. He is a wonder and brings us much joy. I can pat my daughter's tummy and talk to my granddaughter. I need to encourage her not to come too early like she tried to last week-end! My son-in-law is military and is currently having to live away from them in Virginia. It's been tough on them all around but that's the military life.
Job is going well and although our hours were cut, I am among the very fortunate that still have a job and paycheck. That is a huge thing to be grateful for.
Ta ta for now and have a great week-end!!!

The Sweetest Man I Know

I've had a rough go of it lately- sort of on the edge of tears daily and struggling with some health issues. I've never had any real problems. When I checked in for my pre-op shenanigans, the nurses were amazed that the last surgery I had was nearly 20 years ago when I delivered Caesarean. I could, however, tell that my being in the hospital was bothering my spouse. He has had cancer several times and a liver transplant. I have always been the nurturer and now it was his turn. I could tell that he was a little afraid. Long story short, he sat right beside me in the hospital (which is more boring than watching dust) and waited on me hand and foot once I arrived home. He made a lovely dinner on the night of the surgery as well as the night after. He bought me one of those giant balloons that play a song- this one plays "You're Still the One."
The downside was having to pay $2500 towards my insurance deductible prior to the surgery. However, we managed to turn that into a joke--our 25th anniversary is this month. The hospital provided him with a lovely 8 x 10 glossy of my uterus, before and after, while I was under anesthesia. It's a doozey! I told him that for our $2500, we got a lovely photo that we can frame in homage to our 25th anniversary!
Gotta have a sense of humor...otherwise, we never would have lasted 25 years. We've been through thick and thin together but he's certainly a keeper.