I'm just going to start typing here and edit this later, because I get more intimidated as time goes on and I get more behind in posting!
So much has been going on, and that's why I've fallen behind. I have some pictures from my trip to Idaho, and I have pictures from Easter here, plus ones of our visit to the strip last Thurs.(?) to see a certain speech (later...shhh!), and ones of us eating at Fleming's, a fancy, fancy place (we had gift cards to go, given to Mark by various families).
I'll start with the present time: It's Sunday afternoon and Mark has a resident death to attend to, so he went over to his building. People come and go quickly over there. It's so startling to be in this environment, which is end-of-life, yet very positive. Usually we aren't so exposed to this aspect of living. It's sweet and it's sad for the families, yet a relief when death is a release from the grip of Alzheimer's.
I admire Mark for the work he does with families. He's helpful and efficient, yet
genuinely warm and compassionate. He's good at being empathetic, but not pitying or brought down by things he experiences. I'm afraid I would get too involved.
I've been having a real time staying hydrated enough - it's like a full-time job!

______Okay, Usama Bin Laden has been killed by our military. I feel like something inside me is sighing with relief, and I am close to tears. I want to applaud. A little justice has just been served up to the USA and people all over the world.
I hope Phillip's unit is celebrating, even as they go to a higher security alert.

All right, back to my regular blog post:
Every time I go out here, or when I just look at the clear desert sky, I am so grateful that Mark has work in Las Vegas, because I really, really love it here!!
I do! I love the desert in a way I never expected to. I love it's simplicity and complexity, its open spaces and dry air, the lack of seasons that we have in Idaho, I love its mix of ethnicities - Black, Hispanic, Japanese, Phillipino, Vietnamese, Chinese, Caucasian, Indian, and on and on. All parts of the USA and Europe and Asia are represented. Every place on earth is represented!
Also, we are so close to natural and man-made wonders galore. It is thrilling to go for a drive to the store, because of the palm trees and the mountains and sun and sky (these mountains are giant, irregular monoliths - it is all like a landscape of Dune, both before and after its transformation. Something about it just stirs me!
And the people here are very friendly and upbeat, without seeming to be driven. Maybe its the lack of yardwork. I don't know, but I like it. They don't seem lazy or wicked or slothful - they seem hardworking and earnest, yet relaxed and happy. I admit, I haven't been here for very long at a time, but that's my first and second impression, for what it's worth.
I never feel like I need to go somewhere; it's all here. I like living where there is everything to do and see. I have always liked being smack-dab in the middle of things, ever since I was little and the youngest in my family, when I was often shielded from what was going on. It was for my own good, but I usually knew something was up, and I didn't like being out of the loop or shut out. That feeling has persisted for me through my adult life, when I was at home without a car, then working, then with small children, then with health problems and without a driver's license. I've had many adventures through my children, but I have slowly come to know for myself what is going on in the world, and most of it is unpleasant, but interesting. At least here I get a chance to do most anything I'd want to do. That's a very freeing sensation!
Maybe it's just not having any minor children at home, and no yard-work and home upkeep (besides cleaning), but I don't think that's everything. I also liked living outside of Chicago when I was little. There's something about being close to a big city that is invigorating to me.

I'm going to post this in several sections, so I'll post this part now...
Toodles (as Haley and Tara say ;)

Water For Elephants

DH Mark and I went to the above movie for our date tonight...it's not a perfect movie, but it's very intense and beautifully filmed. The actor in the main supporting role, Mr. Waltz, was excellent. Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon were very good in their roles, also.
I won't say any more about it. Don't read any reviews, if you can help it, because the movie is better without knowing the plot. Unless you've read the book (once again, I have the book, but it's packed up and I haven't read it - I feel sad without my books!) - then you already know the plot.
Sooo...
If you chance to see this movie, call me, ok? I want to know what you think.

The Time Has Come...

for a new post! In fact, it's waaay past time, but I have some good excuses, lol.
I did go to Idaho Falls for two weeks, I got to see the grandkids and stay at three different places for at least one night each (Mel and Danny's, Ben and Linda's, and Dallin and Haley's), plus I was there for Book Club and for the ward Hawaiian potluck - fun, fun, fun! And I went to my new primary care provider, got set up for and rec'd. some home-based services, and so on.
The trips up and back from Las Vegas were great. Allegiant Air personell were courteous and friendly. They seemed to enjoy their work, and I got to sit by the window both ways. Las Vegas really IS surrounded by the barren desert, which I got some photos of. It's crazy how there's such a cutoff of the city, switching right into wilderness.
I was happy to come back to see Mark, of course. I love being with him, and I'm happiest when I'm right by his side.
My favorite times during the trip were after we'd get the kids in bed...by that time all of us were ready for it, and it felt great to just visit and relax. We'd watch movies or taped tv shows and we'd get out the "refreshments," usually popcorn or ice cream or floats. Ahhh...grownup luxury!
I got to sleep-in some of the time, which I really enjoyed. It was endearing to hear the kids' voices as they realized I was still there in the mornings. One time as I lay there, Tristan told Alaina, "Grandma's nose is huuge!"

I remember when I was little, starting out when I was still a toddler, and being so happy knowing my grandma was at our house when I woke up. It always surprised me; I guess I couldn't grasp the notion of her being there for very long at a time. Things were always so comfy and sociable when she was around. That was Grandma Wakefield.

Grandma Wakefield

When Grandma Buis would visit, it was more like she was one of the kids, only more unpredictable. We thought she was interesting and we loved her. She kept a "nest" around her of rag balls she was winding for rugs, newspapers, burnt toast crusts, and Kleenexes and other odds and ends in her pockets and on her lap. Usually a towel was thrown across her lap by my dad, for modesty's sake. She was tiny, with stocking rolled up and coming short of her knees. She and Sandy used to fight like little girls, flailing their straight arms at each other. It was a sight to see.
She told us crazy jokes and patted us on the heads if we were pretending to be kitties, which endeared her to us. She also kicked us to death in the night if we slept overnight with her in her bed. We first had to clear off some of the rag balls.

Grandma Buis

Grandma Wakefield was just the opposite, and we loved her to death, too. She always spoke in a very soft voice, and she loved the color pink. She was very proper and clean, and she told me wonderful stories of when she was young. I remember her always "going through the trunks," as she put it. That was where she kept her pictures, papers, and keepsakes. I loved to watch her hands as she did this. She had an old turquoise ring (I wish I knew where it is now) that she always wore, which was interesting to me because it looked like it was a map of the earth.
Her hands were quite arthritic, and her fingers would scramble to pick up the papers. I loved how her nails hit the paper as she shuffled and sorted and murmured her thoughts. It was such a quiet, soothing time.
The sun used to slant in her apt. windows while we drank an afternoon sip of Welch's grape juice together. Even watered down, it was powerful stuff, and Grandma always explained how good it was for us, which made our grape juice-drinking ceremony especially satisfying - much more so than the vinegar-water gargling.
Grandma always had Kentucky Mints, too. I remember that we'd have them with lime sherbet, sitting them on our napkins between bites.
I used to "work" on her calluses for her. She was a gratifying recipient of my efforts to relieve her aching feet, so I enjoyed doing it for her. Her knees and feet used to hurt so much, and I wanted to help relieve her suffering any way I could. Right now I feel happy just knowing that she isn't hurting anymore.

So, I hope you will let me know what you remember about your grandmothers.
Take care!
xoxoxo