RETIREMENT!!

Dec 1 2017 was last day of working for Legacy Health after 37 yrs. as a registered nurse/nurse informaticist.  Hard decision to make as I am not quite at the age to collect SS and/or medicare.  It is very strange to retire when you are really at the pinnacle of your game, but I am eager to see what the next adventure will be. 
First official work day I was off, I began to get sick, feeling worse with every new day. I'm currently on my second week of retirement.  I started feeling better this week but still very low energy and just getting a few things done each day.    Despite these sick days, I am so excited and know it was the right decision to make.  I've got lots of plans for de-cluttering my house and cleaning out Dad's house and getting it sold.  With my illness and Christmas coming up, I haven't really gotten in to either of those, but come the new year......
I'm also excited to get back into doing yard work.  Working full time doesn't really allow for leisurely days planting and grooming the yard.  Taking care of my yard has always been one of my de-stressing activities and i've really missed in in the past decade.  Can't wait to get into my quilting and general crafting again, but first, need to straighten out my sewing room.  I've been collecting things in preparation but nothing's put together yet.
All in all, the new year is bringing lots of changes and I can't wait!  I'll keep you posted.  The photo below is where it all started. 1979.....

The Best Dad in the World

Wow.  I started this over a year ago.  Not sure why I have not been able to write anything and get it posted.  My dad really was the best.  I perfect example of his integrity and compassion occurred on night around 1130.  My toilet upstairs plugged up, ran over and flooded by dining room below.  Water was coming through the window casings and from the chandelier.  I knew to shut off the water, which I did, but I called my dad to see if I should be doing anything else.  His first response "I'll be right over"  I said no, dad, you don't have to.  "I'm on my way".  He showed up, looked over the situation made sure I was safe and nothing to permanent had occurred and left.  That was typical of my dad.

After my mom died in 13, I spoke with my dad every day and took him to dinner virtually every other day after my work.  Sometimes in the summer I would see him on the back deck getting some fresh air and I would swing in just to visit.  Losing him was very hard, but I know he was lonely for my mom and he was ready to move on.  I still miss him like it was just yesterday.  .  I miss his "Dad jokes" and his ranting about the "Conservatives". I miss his detailed directions about stocks and bonds On my way home I pass his house and still look on the deck, hoping to see him sitting out there in his big hat and dungarees. It's all I can do not to swing in for a visit....

Time to Travel

In recent years, I've been pretty limited on my ability to leave town and vacation in general.  Mostly because I've been spending time with my love ones in their final months.  Something I wouldn't change for the world. But now....my life is different and I don't have that same responsibility.  I've decided to make the majority of my expenditures "adventures" rather than things.
My son Morgan was awarded an artits's residency in Leipzig, Germany for three months.  Well how could I pass up the opportunity to go visit him.   So, Bill and I have booked a viking cruise on the Elbe River.  It's starts in Prague and will end in Berlin.  We'll stay a few nights in Berlin, he'll fly home and I stay and visit with Morgan for a couple more days in Leipzig.  I'm so excited to see some new sights.   This will be in the fall and I haven't completely finalized the dates. 
  



Prior to the Germany trip, I have plans to visit a friend who is renting a house for the month in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.  Bill and I will fly in to Mexico City and take a premium coach into San Miguel.  That will be about an hour ride.  My friend has been there many times and has a lot of cool expeditions planned for us during the week, plus nightly rooftop happy hour.


In August, we'll take a week in a rented house in McMinneville to try and experience the solar eclipse......along with everybody else. That should be exciting because Bill's family is travelling from Murietta, Ca and Ashland, Or to join us.  

But...May 26th I traveled to Japan and saw a part of the world that was remarkably different then the USA.  Noticeably cleaner, safer and more efficient than my homeland.  Courtesy and respect were the norm. Actually, the countryside was a lot like Portland, Oregon with Japanese style architecture.  My sister and I travel to many cities. Countryside and metropolitan.  My favorite stop was at the Peace Park in Hiroshima.  Extremely moving and the recovery the city has made is pretty awesome.  I rang the peace bell.  Wish I could ring it again today!

Possibly the best part was being with my sister for an extended amount of time without spouses and kids.  We have never done that before and it was pretty nice.  

WOW, just wow...

I am posting because it's been so long....
I've had a year that can only be called "something".
Then to add insult to injury, my country, USA is the laughing stock of the world and soon to be the target for ISIS, Mexico and even Australia.  Wow.
There is a huge difference between running  business and running a nation.
A business deal involves the "business" man negotiate for the best deal for him.
Diplomacy is bringing people together and when you're done, everyone feels good about the results.
The world is full of "alternate facts" and ugly behaviour
Women are fed up at this male ego blanket spread across our nation.
Among the hate and discension are countless examples of love and support showing up all over, despite the leaders of hate espousing otherwise.
We will survive and rise above  this primitive, tribal thinking.
I'm counting on it.

Happy Father's Day, Dad

WAYNE A. GUMM

March 30, 1930-May 5, 2016

Poem for My Father’s Ghost
--Mary Oliver

Now is my father
A traveler, like all the bold men
He talked of, endlessly
And with boundless admiration,
Over the supper table,
Or gazing up from his white pillow—
Book on his lap always, until
Even that grew too heavy to hold.

Now is my father free of all binding fevers.
Now is my father
Traveling where there is no road.

Finally, he could not lift a hand
To cover his eyes.
Now he climbs to the eye of the river,
He strides through the Dakotas,
He disappears into the mountains. And though he looks
Cold and hungry as any man
At the end of a questing season,

He is one of them now:
He cannot be stopped.

Now is my father
Walking the wind,
Sniffing the deep Pacific
That begins at the end of the world.

Vanished from us utterly,
Now is my father circling the deepest forest—
Then turning in to the last red campfire burning
In the final hills,

Where chieftains, warriors and heroes
Rise and make him welcome,
Recognizing, under the shambles of his body,
A brother who has walked his thousand miles.

Just in time...

My quilting gets me through another crisis....

I began quilting when Alex got sick. I am not very good at sitting around doing nothing.  I needed something to do that I could put down quickly to help him when he needed help. One of my co-workers had made a quilt for my psuedo granddaughter Aurora, and then she made a quilt for Alex to use during his chemotherapy.  It was really fun choosing fabrics and I've always sewn, so I thought I would try my hand at quilting.  I've finished 6 or 7 quilts so far.

A few months ago, we found out Aurora will be getting a baby sister.  Oh boy, another reason to make a quilt.  The fun begins, looking through the photos on the internet, wandering through the fabric stores, cutting, sewing, ironing....even bought a new iron that you set flat and it raises itself up from the ironing board surface. May 7 was the deadline, or as some would say, the baby shower. During the month of April, my dad seemed to be getting weaker and I would take my sewing machine and hang out with him and sew.  Finally the last week of April,, I finished the quilt, took the photos and rolled it up for presentation at the baby shower.  Within a few days, my dad ended up in the hospital and sadly, died on May 5.  The quilt was sent to the shower without me, but got word today that it is gorgeous and very appreciated.  Excited for the new arrival~Evie, in June.

Life