A number between 1 and 100...

Number: a concept of quantity.

I have a new number! I have a new decade. My birthday ushers in more of "the best years" of my life. Never mind that each decade has successively been the best. My number now is 60.

I remember my mother at 60. She was "mature". I am also "mature", but not as old as I seem to remember her being at the time. She dyed her hair to hide the gray, to look "younger". I feel no need to. She enjoyed her life, and I plan to continue to. My kids probably think I am "old"--and I don't care! What you see is what you get.

There are many good things about being 60, not the least of which is to enjoy being 60! Many of my ancestors did not have this many years--victims of cancer, infections, violence. My passion for genealogy has intensified of late---I appreciate "history" as I acquire more of my own, and feel the need to document it, sorry that I did not acquire more of "my" history when those ancestors were here to just tell me about it--easier than the quest I now undertake. An yet, there were many many ancestors who lived well into the late 90's and a few to 100 in a time when it was much less likely to do so....so my goal, perhaps will be genetically enhanced!

I have had 60 good years. I plan to have at least 36-40 more. I have much left to do--some things formally on "the list", others yet to be determined. A little over half done, so to speak. Some will be my decisions, within my control. Others I am dependant upon others for---and hope it works out the way I would like!

Z. is currently obsessed with the "50's"--and I think he is secretly excited that he knows an "expert" on the decade of his interest, although he finds the concepts of "before TV", "party lines", and "before there were expressways" are hard to imagine.--I think he thinks the "50's" were a long time ago---to me seems like just yesterday that I practiced "duck and cover" under my desk at Washington Elementary, confident that the piece of 1/2 inch plywood over my head would protect me from the Russian invasion!--just a few years younger than he is now....

One of the very good things about being 60 is that History is not nearly as daunting as it seemed at 16! I now have command of the complexities of history, and the interaction of events--many of which I have witnessed! I know a lot--knowledge acquired formally and informally in contexts over time. I have a confidence that is lacking before 30--not that I wasn't confident at the time---but it is different now--a peaceful confidence, knowing who you are, what is important, and what you want. Knowing that there are natural cycles, knowing that whatever it is, this too will pass, you will get through it, and life will go on to be enjoyed! Knowing what is important, and what is not.

I remember a few birthdays--some memories enhanced by pictures made before color images were possible. My first roller skates--very grown up! Metal, ball bearings, dangerous, with a real skate key to hang around my neck! A ticket to "freedom" of motion!--Age 4 (what were my parents thinking?) Age 16, the drivers license! Confidence on the outside, fear inside!! 21--much ado about nothing, feeling slightly disappointed that on that day, as I was not any more of an "adult" than I had been the day before! 22, experiencing morning sickness for the first time (although I thought it was bad chicken!) Age: 31--3.9 children, station wagon, 4 bedroom colonial in a new subdivision, member of the PTA, my identity firmly centered in being "mom", although I had other slightly impressive credentials that seemed not to matter. 40--asking how I got here so fast? 50-secure in who I was, ready to wear red hats with purple dresses---and now 60. It is a more welcomed number than 30, 40....each decade unique, important, with challenges overcome, endured, or conquered...but not to be redone, as I life is on fast forward. There is no rewind!

I wish I could do a better job of conveying what it means to have lived this life. I watch "the four"--living their lives! I wish they could sort through it, discover what is really important, embrace who they are, be comfortable in their "self", but I know they do not yet have the years. Getting to the things that really matter--which is most likely not what they think these things are. We each have to learn this for ourselves, in our own time, from our own experience. The lucky ones, like me, have no regrets! I hope they don't.

Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things---an interesting concept, but not very useful to the young! So at the magic number of 60--my wisdom and advice is to "live"--not as in "live it up", "live in the moment", "live on the edge". I mean "live"--enjoy each moment, experience, opportunity, relationship. Accomplish the really important things--and don't let day-to-day living get in the way of creating a life! A life that you love, with people you love. Have no regrets.

"Live long and prosper"--I plan to continue to!

Checkin E-Bay for an Ark!!

Is is raining..and raining, raining, raining, raining. I don't remember ever getting this much rain in such a short time. We needed some rain--but not all at once. And the hurricane effect isn't even here yet!! And tornadoes---who gets tornados in September? At least the lake levels will go up!!

Sale!

Apparently today is the day that major home improvement retailers decide that summer is over, and it is time for the American public to stock up on firewood and space heaters. Because they need floor space for those, the summer stuff "must go". Today I made a killing on throw pillows for my porch (water and mold resistant!), a thermometer (now 79 cents!), another squirrel for my almost cute rodent collection (97 cents) and an outrageous resin rooster for my garden--significantly marked down (I can see why) to about what it was worth in the first place!

Delighted as I am with my purchases, it is a little sad that on a sunny 93 degree day in August, all the major national retailer can think of is snow shovels and stacks of ice melter. I still want to enjoy summer--and then fall! I don't want to think about ceramic space heaters, ice scrapers for my car, or a snowblower!!! Maybe this is why they are not selling stuff. They are out of season with what people want!!

Of course, in January, when you need a snowblower, they will be sold out, and filling the place with patio furniture that you would have to wear a parka to use!!!
I think I may be on to something here.....anyone want to pay me to be a consultant to major retailers????????

Signs of things to come...

It was downright cold today--60's and damp. Quite a shocking change from the 80's and 90's of recent weeks. Had to go get some socks! It is darker in the mornings, dark sooner at night, and air is a little "nippy" for August.

We seem to be on our way to the next season....so much for global warming!!

Stuff

We have a lot of it. Maybe too much! I am dealing with stuff this week--at work (easier) and in my garage (slightly more challenging). Turns out I am not nearly as emotionally attached to my work stuff as I am to my years of family stuff.

I have to get my stuff under control--am making great progress. Motivated by a pending office relocation at work, and being able to park my car in the garage this winter!!! Know I will reach my goals on both fronts....

Now my home office........that is for another time!!!

The fix is worse that the problem

A recurrent theme this week it seems. First E and the "plague". Then the combination of updates and Internet security that messed everything up. Was on the phone with tech support for hours (honestly!). Now must reconfigure everything!!! At least I can access the Internet again!

On a brighter note, found some yarn in my stash to try out a new shawl pattern. Found a funky sundress on SALE! Both good.

Sadly, another death in the family....sadly, "less family", not sadly, the end of her personal torture of various natures....or at least Auntie L of the slippery pants thought that the afterlife would be so.....so this may not be the case of fix worse than problem, as dementia is a problem without fixes!

So, once again, a "funeralin' we will go"!!

Calm after the storm...

They have all departed...the four, plus one puppy. It is quiet, there is less stuff all over, and I have started to put order (my order) back into my life. I loved it! We had fun, built new memories, talked about old memories, they seemed to fight less (at least in my presence), and I think for the most part fun was had all around. And as great as it is for all to be here, the calm after the departure is nice too. Even though they are all self-sufficient adults, it is still demanding to be Mom to the 4!

D2 and M2 are engaged!! A pleasant surprise, and fitting in some small way that their announcement (finally) was made as Mr. CP and I celebrated 40 years together. I hope all that and more for them, as they begin their "officially committed" life together. And we get to be part of another wedding!!! Great fun!

It will take awhile until the sheets and towels are washed, folded, and put away. Tomorrow I will wash puppy nose prints off the french doors--which reminds me of Sammie, and how much a part of "us" she was when "the 4" were all at home. I will frame some of the pictures, sweep up the crumbs, de-sticky the bar, and try to get rid of the mosquitoes that everyone kept letting in. By Friday you will not see any traces of the chaos of the last three days---

and I will return to tending my gardens until they come again--in ones, twos, three's or more. That is why we bought a "party house"! It serves us well.

40 Years

Is a long time for anything. I have been married to the same person for 40 years.

My maternal grandmother did not even live 4o years!

My parents were not married for 40 years before my dad died.

I have not lived in the same town for 40 years.

We have owned three cats during the 40 years (or rather they have owned us!)

40 years is a long time--

a lot as happened

three states

four kids

one dog

multiple houses

multiple jobs

eight couches

each of our parents dying

each of our kids growing up into an independant person (all different, all great)

One constant--we are in this together!

Mostly for better, although a few times things were a little worse, before they got better.

The secret to a long marriage? Compromise, realistic expectations, similar backgrounds, values and goals...and TWO people who are willing to stick it out. Or maybe inertia---but doesn't matter,

if you can be married to the same person for 40 years, you can be married to that person forever...

"Family" with chicken!

I just returned from "O-hi-a", where I had great fun at the "reunion" of 100 or so people to whom I am more or less related. It came with the full complement of children, dogs, games, crying babies, sulking teenagers, a hedgehog (honest), food, more food (!), somewhat successful attempts at photographing large groups of related individuals, etc.

There was chicken too--"family chicken"--lots of it! (You would have to be from my family to understand!!)

2 copies of public records...16 cents,

800 miles, 3 nights hotel, 5 tanks of gas: expensive.....finally knowing your great-grandmothers name...priceless.

Only those "into" genealogy would understand!

Turning over a new leaf

There is nothing worth watching on television. I have decided that there are several books I want to read, so will be spending my time with a reading lamp. Only problem is that it is hard to knit and read at the same time. But two of the books are about knitting....almost as good!

Long of Tooth

Today, MR. CP had his "crowns" lengthened. Turns out that just as we are arriving at the age of "long of tooth", his persistent tooth grinding has left him a little short! of tooth. In the interests of preserving his teeth (so as not to have to resort to artificial teeth) we have embarked on step one of the adventure of "remaking" his teeth.

I will spare you the gory details--but lasers were involved, stitches, and recovery. His teeth are "bigger". All the better for the dentist to fashion new teeth with!!

We are doing our part to stimulate the economy--one dental bill at a time!

Memorials

Auntie L2, sister of Auntie L of the slippery pants, died this week. She was 94. They went down in order, "the 5". I., too young, H. at 83, T. was 92+, Auntie L of the slippery pants was 96+. Time was on most of their sides! 90 anything is a long life! Most of the time, for most of them, it was good, or they made it good enough.

It is not sad that Auntie L2 died. She was not well. It is a relief. On many levels for many reasons...

"The 5" were each characters in my life, each with different meanings, each with different lessons, each with a different relationship. Auntie L2 was 4th on my list--but only most likely because I. died before I was born--she probably deserved 5th place in the sisters rating. She would hate this if she knew it!

The difference was as follows:
I. had no lemons. They were too poor for something that frivolous--really. She instead raised 9 of the most caring children who are an "amazing" "family" to this day---they really know what the word means!

H. would get a lemon on sale after careful shopping. She would plant the seeds, to patiently grow lemon trees, grate and store the zest, compost the rind, use half of the lemon for lemonade, and keep the rest to add interest to other recipes she made over the next several days. We would all get lemons over the life of the tree.

T. would make her lemon into a beautiful meringue pie, and delight in it, sharing it with family and friends. She would have copied the recipe, and pass it out to those who liked the pie.

Auntie L of the slippery pants would have enjoyed T's pie, make some fresh lemonade to enjoy, and served a wedge as a garnish with the dinner entree on a pretty plate.

Auntie L2 would have been upset that the lemon wasn't an orange, she would have spit the seeds at someone or something, or maybe squirted the juice into some one's eye--pretending it was accidental. She would have eaten the lemon fruit--enjoying the sour face it produced. She would have voiced her opinion of the size of the lemon, the meatiness, the freshness, and the shape. She then would have announced that she always gets the best lemons, because she is special! She will proclaim to anyone who will listen (or pretend to listen) that her lemons are bigger, shiner, more lemony, and better than anyone else's lemons!

So, that is the way it was......I miss each of them differently. Each of them, with their personalities, quirks, life lessons, and responses to things taught me how to live---so that when I get to 90 something, I will have something to talk about!! My memories of "the 5" and some advice on what to do with your lemons!

$85.00 Baby Hat

I had decided some time ago that I wanted to make a "girly" knit hat for a second cousins new baby--searched for awhile for a pattern--and today decided on Debbie Bliss from Chamarino 2. Takes one ball of yarn, but two colors--so two balls of yarn--$17.00 plus tax. Then I had to buy the book--$18.00. And of course I found some Trecking xxl sock yarn (2 great man colors)--another $34.00. Then there was the heel toe reinforcing yarn--$9.00 more. And the tax.

So to make baby hat---$85.00 out the door...Hand knit cashmere blend hat at any age---priceless.

Mittens UP! Michigan

Keeping Score

Chimpmunk looses. Mr.Cat 0, Victor Rat Trap 1!
I am the winner!

Volume

We have one cat. He used to be quite large, but, being old and all, is now kind of svelte. There is only so much surface area on the furry beast.

It is a puzzle how one little animal could generate so much loose fur from that surface area....12 lb. cat, yet the equivalent of 5 cats in the Dyson!!! I am amazed that he is not bald!

The basket is full!

I only acquired one project through purchase at Knit Michigan--a yummy purple and blue wool/mohair combo for mittens, that might become something else.....

Then there was the free stuff!!! I won a door prize--2 balls of cotton sock yarn in a pale pastel--complete with bag, pattern, needles and yarn. E wanted the bag, and since she did not get the door prize, she got the totally cool bag!! (I need more bags like.....)

Commercial: Check out pattern tamers..tame the wandering eye. They are these markers that are magnatized to themselves--so you do not have to tote around a board--great for pattern grids. Cross stitchers would love these! Available from Kelly Black...kellyblack1970@hotmail.com. Check them out at .

So back to the yummy yarn....I got out the swift and ball winder--wound both, then started on the sock yarn I picked up on my last out of town trip---and now the basket is full.. "I need no more yarn"! Have some socks almost done! Want to practice the new techniques I learned in my class, so have two balls of cotton for some dishcloths--just to get the technique down.......

The basket is FULL!

Knitters Paradise!

I am recovering from Knit Michigan- Hands for the Cure! 16 hours of non-stop knitting fun! I showed MR. CP the pictures--he grunted disinterstingly! Apparently, knitting fun is only fun for knitters!! Understandable!

I arrived early, set up camp and did some sock knitting and networking with an intersting fellow knitter (and camp security guard for the neighboring camp), discussing yarn, yarn stores, favorite things to knit, unemployment, the Mayor of Detroit (at length--turns out she actually knew things!) Ohio, knit shops, knit shop owners, and good places to find yarn, etc.

I went to the market--cool stuff. Had to keep chanting--"I need no yarn, I need no yarn"... and picture the piles of ufo's at home. I managed to admire a lot, "experience" some great textiles, gather some new ideas, and resist the urge to acquire--"I need no more yarn, I need no more yarn"!!

I turned in my chemo caps--early in the pile of what was to eventually become 900 or so, with more on the way! Amazing! I took a picture of the booth where you could turn in pre knit or crochet squares for lap blankets for chemo patients. Who knew? Not well publicized....

I returned to our knitting camp, and knit for awhile, admired the item E. had created in her early morning class (we decided that we would schedule more wisely next time), and munched my lunch--grilled veggie sandwich, bulgar salad, etc. from Holiday Market--Yummy, but messy to eat! But they thought of knitters, and included a wet nap!!!

I bid on some things in the silent action (not enough to get anything, but did not care--figured I did my part to drive up the prices!) I took some pictures of my knitting group doing blindfolded knitting and knitting in garden gloves (silly knitting contests.) Not my idea of fun, but they were having a blast. Looked through the vendors again---"I need no more yarn."

My class was knitting a beaded bracelet--fun, but I did not need the class. It was more of a crafting session, but got two bracelets for my $12. that are cute, and would be nice gifts. Looked great with the day's outfit too!

Dinner was a disorganized affair with a speaker who talked for almost an hour when 15 minutes would do...on depression in cancer patients---really, did we need all this? Just tell us what to ask, hug them , and move on. Clinical nurse--nice, but totally did not know the audience. Was also complicated by the arrival of pizza that was late, and running out of food. Knitters were all nice.....but it was probably the worst part of the day---downer!!

Next class was continential knitting--couldn't make my fingers do what my brain had grasped. Will work on it.

Over all it was great fun to be with kindred spirits--those that understand my addiction to knitting socks, people who wrinkle their nose knowingly at the mention of acrylic, people who are more obsessed (possessed?) than me!

So, I "Danced with Wool", did buy a yummy mohair and wool mitten kit from the market, got some good discount coupons for future pruchases, found a yarn shop to visit in Holland, MI, won a doorprize (!)--guess what? Bamboo sock yarn!! and had a good time. Met some wonderful people. Saw some great stuff. Admired other's fiber-craft skills. Introduced my local group to an intersting world they had not known about, helped E find someone knowledgable about looms....and helped a little those who are facing cancer's uncertainties. Hope they are a little more comfortable...and that the contribution to the research fund helps!

All in all, it was a feel good day all around!

Snow Day!

Snow days are the best!! There was much dancing at the office yesterday--and with the help of all the little children it worked!!!

It is beautiful, relaxing--a good day to knit! Have assembled by "things" for the knit-a-thon tomorrow---more time to knit! And techniques classes! And vendors!

Can life get any better!! Nervana!