Waiting Room Blues

I am sitting in a hospital waiting room (surfing the internet) and reflecting on life, love, family and friends. My hubby is in still in surgery and I am now the last person left waiting...it has been a long day for us. I know in my mind he will be okay, but my heart still worries. I have been watching people, family and friends, coming and going all day...waiting for news. I hear the doctors say their loved one is okay and recovering well. I want to hear this too.

He is undergoing, yet another, back surgery. He has been through this before and knows what to expect, but it still isn't easy.  Hopefully it will be finished soon so he can begin the recovery phase and feel better.  He is fortunate to have wonderful doctors and is in good hands...literally.  So I am just waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

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The surgeon just came out and said hubby is okay and in recovery...thank goodness.  The surgery went well, though it took a little longer than planned. He will be in the hospital a couple of days (you know--insurance) then home. So glad it is over and hope he will be feeling better once he has recuperated.

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So now I am waiting for him to get to his room. It is enormous. Geesh...we are so lucky to have this place. It looks like a hotel. If you have to be in the hospital this is not bad believe me.

I can't wait to see him...then I know everything is okay...for sure.

Leaving THE Nest

So my son ,SC, calls on a Sunday night and says he has finally received the approval/orders to move his stuff out to Missouri, where is is currently stationed (USAF). Yippee I say then he tells me...and... oh yeah, his leave starts on Tuesday (yes...less than 48 hours...that Tuesday); he will be flying out for a couple of weeks to pack up and drive back to MO.

"Wait...wh-what?!?" the mom in me thinks.

I am thrilled to have him home, anytime, cause MO is far away. You cannot easily drive there, and flying can be expensive. We miss him every day.  But there is a flight to arrange, a moving truck has to be reserved, and...ahem...what about the money to pay for everything.

He is, of course, acting like it is no big deal.  No problem he says. He has the flight (Tuesday a.m. arriving at SFO)...he'll call the truck place when he gets here, and, well, he has the money. The AF will reimburse him once he gets back and submits his paperwork. 

Okay, we think, he really does have this thought through. Silly us. 

I pick him up and it is wonderful to see him and give him a great big ol' hug. He looks tired but glad to be home. We talk about his plan and I start to realize he doesn't really know what or how to get this move done. After all, just the drive itself is daunting. Three to four days...long days...on a pretty boring interstate, by yourself. Not to mention sorting boxes and stuff accumulated over the last few years that are sitting in our garage. But it is so great to see him.  

SC has a good visit with friends, sleeps late, and takes long baths (he only has a shower in his apt), looming overhead is the move. He is lucky though, cause Dad has already reserved a truck since SC forgot to do this. Then comes touchy subject of money. He figures costs and realizes that it is going to cost TWICE as much as he thought it would. He is in a bind but too proud to talk frankly and openly with us. It comes to a head, but before the discussion blows up to a huge argument, I get them to understand they want the same thing...to be heard. It is a life lesson for our son. He wants to be independent, not ask for help, and is stubborn. It can be difficult to talk with your parents sometimes...we know this...we get it. But there are times when you need help and that's what parents do...he now understands this...he gets it. 

So Dad shows him he has already set up a credit line and gas card for him to cover the expenses a long time ago because he knew this day would come and SC might not have the money upfront. The reimbursement from the military will be transferred directly to the cards.  Hubby is teaching him about responsibility and that it is not "free" money.  Everyone is happily relieved and now we can enjoy a peaceful dinner...thank goodness!

SC left on Sunday morning...it was Father's Day. It was a very emotional goodbye this time. All his stuff was packed in a moving truck and ready to go. It feels like he is really moving out. Not like before when he always had stuff "at home".  He was anxious and nervous about the drive because he has never driven so far on his own. We have armed him with travel guides, maps, a flashlight, first aid supplies....and a big bag of snacks...mama's contribution.  We went over the route, made suggestions where to stop, offered cautions about traveling alone, etc...mom and dad stuff. Then we just hug and hang on to him for an extra moment or two before giving him a pat on the back and send him on his way. He is tearful and I get a huge lump in my throat. He is all grown up.

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Epilogue. 
He made it back to MO in one piece.  It took three days and countless bottles of water and bags of beef jerky, but he finally got there and is all moved in. We are hoping to make it out there for a visit soon. 

Changes

Okay, so lately I have been feeling a little hum-drum--in general.

The hairdo was not working anymore and the wardrobe is kinda drab...alright...very drab.  I have been ensconced in black and gray clothing for years now, and it is no longer the "cool, hip, urban" look it once was, just boring and blah. I looked like I had been styled by Frumpy...Dumpy... and...Schlumpy...the anti-fashion "dwarfs".  It was time for some changes.

So while I was out and about last week, perusing the local thrift shops and resale stores, I found a pretty pair of bright pink earrings. Very nice and really cheap. The perfect way, I thought, to ease back in to wearing bright colors a bit at a time.  Anyway, I get the earrings and wear them out of the store, but this story doesn't have a happy ending. I managed to lose them while shopping and trying on other clothing.  I did retrace my steps, but no one turned them in so it is my loss. However, because I loved the color so much, they did inspire me to keep adding colorful clothing and accessories back in to my wardrobe to update my style (it's funny, but I am not afraid to buy very colorful handbags for some reason.  In a previous post I mentioned a purple violet suede bag I scored at the outlet mall, and I have leather bags in red, pewter, green, and even yellow, but clothing is another story).

It is so easy to fall into the "black goes with anything" trap.  I used to wear lots of color--not clownish color--but bright cotton tops and colored denim, soft pattern prints and bold sweaters, but over the years I kept adding black "basics" to my wardrobe that eventually most of the color disappeared and the black took over. Plus I was probably just being lazy. Face it, you can go to the closet, pick out a black top, black pants, black cardi, and black flats and call it done...Garanimals for the blah and boring.  Time to embrace color, and there are many budget options as far as inexpensive summer tees and accessories, like H&M, Forever 21 and Old Navy, that I can pair with my dark (read--black) pants and leggings so I can feel brighter,and not blah, without making a huge investment.  Baby steps.

The other BIG change is that I decided to get a (much needed) haircut. I went short, shorty, short my friends. After growing out my hair for awhile, it was just so damaged on the ends and flat on top. I found myself twisting it up with a claw holder every day...ugh. When I washed my hair I was also just basically airdrying it most of the time instead of styling it. Longer hair takes a lot of work if you want it to look good...even if you are going for a casual, wavy, beachy look.  It requires scrunching, drying, curling, and several products to look "natural". Ugh, again. I no longer have the patience, or physical ability (I have rheumatoid arthritis and holding the brushes, irons, etc are getting difficult). So I go to visit my favorite hairstylist, my sister-in-law, and she gives me a cute, layered, SHORT bob. It is reminiscent of a 20s wavy look...it is kind of Gatsby-esque. Anyway I love it and it was great to get all that dead weight off my head. Since my hair texture is more coarse now, lots of factors for this, the layering really lends itself to airdrying and my natural wavy hair. I like the ease of just running my fingers through to fluff it up and using a bit of product here and there to hold the curl and I...am...out...the...door!  I plan on posting a couple of pics when I am all done up so you get the full effect. Check back next week.

Sometimes we just need to refresh ourselves. It might be a new hairstyle or a pair of earrings that do the trick. Sometimes we need a bigger change like changing our diet to lose weight or committing to an exercise program to regain strength and flexibility (I need this too). Sometimes it is in baby steps or maybe it's a big ol' jolt that moves us out of complacency.

Don't be afraid to take hold and move forward girlfriend...you'll l-o-v-e the new bounce in your step!

Sunrise...Sunset...Swiftly Go the Days

Just celebrated another birthday.  Year 2012 moved on so quickly to 2013, zooming right past GO, but I didn't collect my 200 dollars!  You know, it may be trite, but true...the days DO go faster with each passing year. All the more reason to appreciate every moment and breath you take.

I still feel the same on the inside, but the outside is definitely showing a little more "wear and tear"...maybe you know what I mean?!?  In fact, the real gauge of time quickly marching on are my "kids" and my nieces and nephews. When we have a big family get together and realize all of these sitting around are my mother's grandchildren ....that's when I feel old! It seems like just yesterday they were all being born.  Now they are are old enough to buy me a beer...oy!

The hubby was full of surprises all week leading up to my special day...thank you honey!  Its not about gifts (though it is important for spouses/significant others to make sure if you give a present, it is very thoughtful and special and ONLY for the birthday person...never something for the house or family use unless specifically requested...¿Entiendo?)  My only request on my birthday (and Mother's Day, too) is that I do not cook or clean the house.  That's my rule and I'm sticking to it. Gifts and cards are great, but a call or even text, is what I like best.  I think the older the hubby and I get, the less we want, and don't need, so the simple things like a phone call mean a lot to us...it really is the "thought that counts."