This old gal…
Is not the ninja she likes to think she is…when danger called…instead of the old hi-yah chop chop…her super hero morphing…was more like that of a stooge…as in the mind your P’s and Q’s…Moe Larry and Curly…flail around…woop woop woop…kind of stooge… And that’s just what happened…tossing some trash in the bin…apparently ticked off a resident…living under the handle…felt a zing…on the top of the hand…tried to retreat…and that’s when Mr. Hornet…seemed to grow three sizes that day…and went on full attack… Couldn’t get away…wooped and flailed…slapped and flopped…screamed and cursed…stumbled over the Texas rock shrine…while Mr. Hornet…sunk into…the ankle… And so it was…this old stooge and Mr. Horney Toad down for the count…that hero of mine saving the day…with Raid…Gorilla glue…a bowl of Cheetos… And the sweet promise…to from now on…always take the garbage out…ok…not really…but we could…soitenly…work on that… Nyuk nyuk nyuk… And this brave husband of mine…might just agree…
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This old gal…
Was enjoying her morning coffee…that husband of hers…in the kitchen…humming…doing dishes…all the dishes…not just rinsing out his coffee cup…dishes… Is lots of help…makes the bed…does laundry…scrubs floors…but dishes…unless he’s home alone…not his thing…but this day…had been off from the get go…him…up at dawn…an hour and a half earlier than usual…greeting the cat…having coffee…watching the news… Then bypassed the cereal breakfast…for fried eggs and sausage…of which stunned coffee drinking me can hear…the actual wiping down of the grease splattered stove top…as she sips… And so it is…in life…celebrate those feel good days…a song in the heart…a pep in the step…and spread the joy… With a smile…a wave…a friendly word…or maybe even go so far…as giving an unexpected…delightful dish doing break …for the designated…daily dish doer… It will make their day… And this old gal…agrees… This old gal…
Was telling an engrossing story…about a student of hers…great kid…hard worker…reading was a challenge…tests even more so…wanted to work with the child…help read the questions…guide and teach test taking skills…but was met with resistance…from teachers…other students…calling it unfair…cheating… Turned to that listener of mine…expecting a reply…and so it came… How can people eat chili…without beans…how can chili even be considered chili…without beans…the conversation morphing into chili…the importance of beans…his fight to find good chili…that contains beans… And so it is…in life…those things…we’re passionate about…willing to fight for…those things…that make a difference for others…that make a difference…to us… Ran into that student…not long ago…all grown up…but still the same kid…thank you…they said…for all you did for me…I never would have made it…without you… And with that…teacher me…knew that battle…had been worth it… And this chili loving man of mine…agrees… Teacher me…
Had the cutest ABC dot to dot puzzles…used them with beginning readers…a fun way to practice the alphabet…but not as easy a task…as one would think… Learned early on…to work on the puzzle as a teacher student team…otherwise overzealous dot finders…would forgo the use of the alphabet…and try to finish the puzzle by eye…which often…resulted in connected dots…that made no sense… And so it is…this old gal…trying to connect those dots…for that daughter of hers…ruled out the most concerning…but still don’t have answers… Taking steps…moving forward…but the progress seems so slow…Mama me…wants the whole picture…wants that sweet gal of hers…to feel like herself again… Was blabbing away…working on that aching back of mine…that PT suddenly abuzz…she had similar symptoms…similar testing…shared the steps experts follow…the way a diagnosis is made… And so it is…in life…when you feel that pull…to share your story…maybe…just maybe…the one there to listen…holds the key…to coloring in…the whole picture… And that daughter of mine…agrees… A while back…this old gal…
Decided to try her brother’s version…of Tator Tot Casserole…according to his daughter…he uses tomato soup…instead of the beloved…cream of mushroom…have to admit…this old gal…was not a fan…to her…it’s the mushroom soup that makes it…but it did trigger a memory…and long boring story…told to that ever eager listener of mine… About a casserole…in elementary school…with hamburger…noodles…and tomato sauce…topped with buttered bread crumbs…little me loved it…older me…could never…recreate it…ended the story with…I sure wish I had that recipe…and what to my wondering eyes should appear…the very…next…day…in the…if you’ve ever lived in…chat of Old Town… That recipe…shared by a former Old Towner…who loved that casserole as much as little me…enough so…to ask the cooks how to make it…way back when… Coincidence…no way…Someone…Somewhere…heard Old Gal…Someone Somewhere…said let’s grant Old Gal…a little wish today… And Someone…Somewhere…apparently has a sense of humor…cuz that recipe…is laden with things…high cholesterol me…should not eat…but that’s probably why…it’s so delightfully…delicious… And that recipe loving friend…would agree… This old gal…
Saw her life…flash before her eyes…flipping through the cable stations…coming across a show from the past…a beloved show from the past… Young and the Restless…50 seasons it’s had…and 13 year old me…was there from the git go…watched it all through college…and some recorded after on vhs…but then…idk… Got busy…life happened…kids happened…hadn’t seen the show in over 30 years…but there they were…those restless rabble rousers of mine…restless as ever…but omg…no longer young… And it hit home…how fast…this life has gone…how the effects of time…seem much more noticeable looking at those characters on the screen…than in that mirror every morning… Watched a few episodes…amused at how those old folks…were still behaving as idiotically as they did…in their 30s…much like…dare it be said…someone else…we all know… And those daughters of mine…would agree… This old gal…
Thanks to that faulty turbo charger…was blessed with unexpected time…with that daughter of hers… Found us relaxing…binge watching Bones…doing crafts…deciding on next steps in her health journey… Found us…sorting recyclables…shredding paper…cleaning cupboards…catching up on laundry… Found us…contemplating life…her life…her future…after learning the program she works in…is being dissolved…in three weeks… And sometimes…that’s all you need…is time…time to reset…time to recharge…time to job hunt…apply for grad school…decide which path to take… Time to bounce off ideas…with someone who supports you…cares about you…only wants the best for you… Time to just be…until it’s time…to say good-bye… And this daughter of mine…agrees… This daughter and I…
Got test results back about the same time…Meineke sending a message…turbo is shot…can have it fixed next week…gonna cost…lots… The medical procedures…another yahoo for Wahoo experience…hospital professionals…all kind…all supportive…just top notch… She’s normal…they told her…and when it comes to normal…in regards to medical testing…this…is a good thing…but what wasn’t normal…they went on… Was her behavior…her perky…cheerful…chattery self…bringing light and positivity…throughout the entire somber event… And so…as relieved mother and daughter walk the halls to exit…thank yous are called out…from here and there…thanking that daughter of mine… For being different…being unique…making their day…and with that good-bye…the next patient was called…apparently for the same procedure… Couldn’t help but hear a…how are you today…followed by a groan…a grumble…and an…I feel like sh*t… And fortunately this daughter of mine…ray of sunshine that she is…pretended not…to agree… This daughter and I…
Headed for the hospital bright and early…20 minute drive…check in at 7…mama me behind the wheel of Smidge’s gray Impala… Which felt weird…gas pedal hard to push…mirrors at different angles…seat low…brake funky…and so much city traffic…even…at 6 am… Navigator was great…but with clowns to the left of me…and jokers to the right…driver me…almost missed…a red light… And then…there they were…this old gal…always strong…always brave…wanting to be a rock for that daughter of hers…fighting back tears…of panic… And frustration…when did the world speed up so…and old gal me slow down so…when did simple tasks like driving…cause such horrific panic… Was greeted kindly…by the check in gal…who out of the blue…started talking about age…how she just can’t do what she used to do…how she can’t drive in the city any more…and finished with…but it’s ok…because others…have it so much worse… That daughter of mine…a smile on her face…later saying…OMG Mom…that check in lady…and her random TMI…who was talking there…really talking…cuz those words…were meant for you… And mama me…agrees… This old gal…
Went to help that daughter of hers…hasn’t been feeling well…had medical tests lined up…needed a driver…needed her mother… Car ready to go…just been to the shop…oil changed…some valve replaced…cost a pretty penny…but was worth it to feel safe on the road…toodled along…rain coming down…traffic annoyingly trafficky…when suddenly…something…didn’t feel right… Push the gas pedal…speed doesn’t change…set the cruise at 70…car goes 63…try to make a pass…foot to the floor…gears won’t shift…six hours…busy interstate…frantic calls to that husband at home…driver me in a panic… And so…that reunion…didn’t go as planned…that daughter of mine…scared about the tests…scared about what might show up…mama me exhausted…stressed…about the car…about the cost of fixing it…about those upcoming tests of hers… And so…we cried…that daughter and I…worries and fears…filling the room…cried and cried and cried…until relief set in… Relief in knowing we were ok…knowing answers would come soon…and knowing…whatever it was…we’d face it…together… And that daughter of mine…agrees… |
This Old Gal
Devoted Wife Magical Mom Retired Teacher Embracing life's grand adventures with humor and grace. Archives
July 2024
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