Simply Sunday and Feeling Vital

The high temperature today was: 78 degrees

Sunny and lovely

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I woke up to rain.  It was supposed to rain all day.  I checked the Internet weather map for this area and saw that the rain would leave around 11-11:30.

Maddie's BFF was having her graduation party today and she posted on Face Book that she was worried about the rain.  I messaged her back..."I promise you--the rain will stop--the sun will come--the day will be gorgeous--the party will be a success."

I left at 1:00 to drive the 2.8 miles to her house.  Absolutely gorgeous setting.  Down a wooded lane, the only house ON the drive AND, they had the wooded lane paved a few years ago.

It appears that every friend of Maddie's, comes from a wealthy family.  Of course, the area is filled with residents who are doctor's, lawyer's company owners, or professors who teach at the University of Michigan.  Apparently they can afford to give their children private music lessons, ballet lessons, orthodontists, dermatologists--whatever they may need.  The really delightful thing about all these kids--they are so down to earth and not pretentious at all.  I found that out yesterday at Matt's party, when I met Casey.  He has been in special school most of his life and you can quickly tell, when talking to him, that he has some sort of disability.  His mother usually goes with him to all functions.  Matt was his room-mate when the band went to Disney World, to take care of him.  Yet--all these kids, every single one of them, treat Casey like he is just like them.  They don't talk down to him, they don't act like he is any different.  I love these kids.

This was a write-up about this Senior Class in the county-wide newspaper this morning:

Brighton Area Schools administrators said the Class of 2014 helped establish a new culture of giving and leadership at BrightonHigh School.

Just under 500 seniors participated in the graduation ceremony Saturday, which was organized by the students.

Principal Gavin Johnson said these students were freshmen when he and Henry Vecchioni took over as principals at the school as part of a staff reorganization. They encouraged the students to become more involved, and that’s exactly what they did.

“We’ve encouraged these kids to take over leadership of their school,” Johnson said. “They have created dozens of events, clubs and activities that are good for Brighton High School and the city of Brighton and the Brighton community.”

He said new events included Pink Week, Wounded Warriors Week, Safety Week and National Honor Society Survivor Week.

“We’ve really built a student-centered culture, and these students have really ran with it,” Johnson said.

He said more high school students are taking Advanced Placement courses, and the high school has won a state championship every single year.

Superintendent Greg Gray said these students have helped reorganize the high school along with staff.

“It’s a great place for kids,” he said.

Gray said students are taking more advanced classes, and there are more charity events.

He said these students “have helped to redefine the culture at Brighton High School.”

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When I walked up to the back of the house, Susanna saw me and came running to give me a hug.  Her Mother took a picture of us.

I just found today that Susanna is Chinese.  I thought she was Korean.  They adopted her when she was almost 3.  

 I took a stroll along the boardwalk to the lake

 Coming back I could see their seating area, so lovely

 Susanna's "board" up on the porch

 A close-up of her and Morgan and Maddie

I thought this was a cute little table area, with tiny lights, off

to the side...

and it seemed like the perfect for the little ballerina's to sit

These are Maddie's ballet and home schooled friends.  When I walked up to the table to ask if I could take their picture, they all said, "Hi, Gramma Judy!"  Strange because I don't know any of them! When I usually see them at performances, they have their stage make-up on and look about 25.  Without that, they look like little girls!  I get confused!

I got some food--up and down the treacherous stepping stones and steps, and came back down to where the tables were.  All of a sudden people came and sat down and we got to talking.  Home school parents.  Missionaries from India.  The ballet teacher and her husband.  Of course, they all knew Maddie AND they all knew Karen.  So many times today I heard, "Karen is your daughter?"  "She tutored my kids in Algebra."  or "She came to the house and brought us supper for a week when we had our tenth baby."  of "She and Mark volunteered at every Nutcracker performance."

Then I got up to move around a bit and that little girl, in that picture above, sitting on the right with the colored skirt, came up, put her arm around my waist, leaned her head on my upper arm and said, "Gramma Judy."

"Yes.  I don't remember your name, Honey."

"I'm Morgan."

"How do you know me?"

"Everybody knows Maddie's Gramma Judy!"

So for half an hour, she stood like that and we talked and others came up and we talked some more.  She is such a delicate, little young woman and yet--she is in 4-H, raises hogs and shows the huge boars at the fairs and at Michigan State.  The boar is bigger than she is?

Then my Maddie showed up with flowers in her hair (she looks like a 1960's hippie girl) and ran to me before she even said Hi to her ballet friends to give me a hug.

Then Karen and Mark arrived.  They had chaperoned the all night Senior Party last night--they were on the Segue way station.  Showing the kids how to ride them and then watching as the kids played.  Karen said they got home at 3:00, but had a ball!  This party is quite the big deal, I guess.  There are different activity stations with different games and that sort of thing for the kids to do.  Magicians come in.  Hypnotists--Maddie said he suggested they were all floating on ice bergs and she said everyone was shivering from the cold.  HAH.

So--I had been there for almost 3 hours and decided to head home while I could still walk.

I went in to say good-bye to Susanna's parent's--Woody and Ingrid and informed that as soon as they had a spare bedroom, I would be moving in.  They thought it was a great idea.  Then I informed Woody, "The only thing is, Woodrow--I will need railings put in along the steps, the stepping stones and and the rocky descent so I don't fall."  He agreed.

Then Susanna came up to hug me good-bye.  As we were standing there, she said quietly, "I don't have a grandmother.  Ever since I first met you, I have always felt like you are my "kind of "grandma. You always come to my ballet performances...and you always remember my birthday and give me Christmas presents.  You ARE my Grandmother.  I love you, Gramma Judy."

I held her close and whispered, "I love you too, Sweetheart."

and I had to walk away because I was just about to lose it!!!

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It is hard for me to describe how I have felt about these kids I have met in the last 5 years--Maddie's friends.

When Karen was in high school, we had a lot of kids out to the farm all the time--especially that last Senior year.  I had no idea, when I woke up Sunday morning, how many kids might be sleeping on the living room floor--how many I'd have for breakfast.  Those kids called me "Momma Miller"--they came to me with their problems.  I hauled them around in my 9 passenger station wagon--to volleyball games, or track meets, or baseball games.  Chaperoned their dances--I was very close to her friends.  They thought I was "cool".

I haven't felt that needed for many years--except these last four with Maddie's friends--especially the last two years.  These kids will come up to me and want to talk.  They aren't just being polite and nice (although they all are), they actually like me and will go out of their way to talk, hug, laugh--whatever.

I once again feel useful, needed, vital--all because I am giving something to the kids.  I praise their performances.  I hear a trumpet solo at a band concert, look in the program to see what the kids name is and then ask Maddie to point him out to me and go over, introduce myself and tell him how wonderful his solo was.  They tell me they see my Face Book comments on their friends pages--when I praise the ballet company or the band and how much that means to them.

I was there at their pre-prom picture taking session, and although I only knew about 4 kids, the rest of them now know me and come up and talk.  They all call me Gramma Judy--even the boys.

I haven't felt this alive in a very long time.

Now--if I could just remember all their names, LOL!!

A Beautiful Saturday

Saturday--the weather was sunny and 78 degrees
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I was just sitting here, finishing up Maddie's "Gramma & Me" album when I realized that I had never completed one for Stephen, who graduated two years ago and will be starting his Junior year in college in the Medical School!!  EGADS!!!

I tried to remember back and then realized, that was the year Fred died.  So I sat and thought and to tell you the truth, I remember very little of that entire year!  I have photos to prove I went to Stephen's Eagle Scout ceremony and his graduation open house, but other than that......I have no clue what I did on my birthday or anything.  AND, much to my dismay, if I had any other photos of those events, I did not print them out and put them in my scrapbook, I put them in my Blog and guess what?  I deleted that blog in May of 2013 and all those photos are lost!

I had kept the kids Gramma and Me albums caught up--on computer file, but I see that I stopped in 2009 and a lot has happened since then!

So now, I am scrambling to get Stephen's pictures organized and printed and put in his album--albeit a bit late!

I knew I was weird the whole year of 2012--but I didn't realize my memory was so compromised!!
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This morning was the kids graduation.  I sure wanted to go, but was told, I would have to walk much farther than I can, so......then photos started appearing on Face Book.

 There Matt is, up on the big screen, giving his speech

as President of the Class.

He mentioned that this was a class of firsts,

then to continue in that mode, he turned around and

took a selfie of himself--another first

and here's my precious girl

and my other two "adopted" grandkids, Drew and Brian 

Matt's open house was at 3:00, so I meandered over.  His father has a nice home on a lake, a lovely setting.

Matt saw me and came running up.  "Grammy!"  Then he took me by the hand and out to the canopy we went.  "I want you to meet someone."  He led me up to an older (my age) couple sitting at one of the tables.  The lady looked up and said, "And who is this?"

I said, "I'm Matt's Grammy."

She replied, "No you aren't.  I am!"

So I sat down with her and her husband and we had a grand time!  We had so much in common, including, they didn't go to graduation either.  Their son told them it would be too far for them to walk and too uncomfortable to sit for such a long time.  So, we griped about how our kids think we're too old to do anything anymore--and we might be, but...............

I had a wonderful afternoon with them.

I got to meet Matt's aunts and uncles.  Enjoyed a real nice talk with his Aunt.  She is an author also and we talked about where to get our books published and sold and how to market them.  She loves the marketing part--I like the writing part, LOL.  She is very knowledgeable.  She is probably 25-30 years younger than I am, so she has the energy and gumption to do it all.  I'm too tired anymore. :-)

I had wrapped up and given Matt a copy of my Hidden Treasure book--about the little boy named Matt.  I hope when he gets around to unwrapping it, he will like it.  I also told him that Matthew is my favorite boy's name and that Mrs. Rivard (Karen) was suppose to be a Matthew.

I also got to meet his twin Audrey, that I have never met in all the five years I've known him.  She is drop dead gorgeous.  They are Fraternal twins so if you put them side-by-side, you'd never know.  She looks like their Mom and Matt like his Dad.  I also got to meet their older brother--looks like Matt, only with dark brown hair, like their Mom.  He's a handsome young man for sure!!

Impressive!  I don't know how just one person could

accomplish so much in just 4 years.

John Phillip Sousa Award 

The the kids started rolling in and the love was poured out.  Each one of them came up to me and sat down and talked.  Some I had never met before, but for some reason, they knew Gramma Judy.  Thrill of my life.  When I got home, I had 3 Friend's Requests from them on Face Book. :-)

Then Maddie arrived and told me how strange it feels to know she is never going back to that school.  How she won't be seeing all her friends everyday.  Kind of sad, to be sure.  I remember feeling the same way.

To think, there I was with my favorite kids and my camera and never thought to get my picture taken with them.  I will have to remember and get a group shot at Maddie's open house--the same kids will be there.

I was so tired, I decided I better start home before I got too tired to drive.  I went in the house to find Matt's father because I wanted to tell him something.  I said, "I have worked with young people over the years--mostly boys and I just want to tell you that Matt is an exceptional young man.  I have never met a kid that is more gracious, thoughtful, giving, polite and talented as Matthew."  I think parent's need to hear that sort of thing--especially when it is true.

I am exhausted tonight.  Tomorrow it is suppose to rain--I hope not because I am going to this little, beautiful young lady's open house!   Who also calls me Gramma.  Maddie's ballet pal and BFF, Susanna

Fried Friday

Today's high temperature was:  75 degrees

No humidity--sunny, nice breeze

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I woke up and the inside temperature was 62 and I was cold!!!  Put on blue jeans, sox and a log sleeved thermal shirt.

At 11:00, I walked up to Pearl's to weed her garden.  By 11:45, I was hot and dizzy.  Came home, got a T-shirt, ate something and back to Pearl's to finish up one part.  The rest we will do Monday.

My sister called and asked if I were willing to accept a "mission."  "Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to drive over to Bordine's and see what kind of roses they have.  Do a reconnaissance and report back."

"Yes, Madam General."

So, I hopped into the car, drove down half a block and into the garden center.  Roses?  Do they have roses?  Only several thousand and at 20% off today and this weekend.

I reported back to her and she said, "I'm on my way.  I'll stop in."

Which she did with a truck load of Tea Roses, Floribunda Roses, Shrub Roses and some Lilies.

She hadn't seen my porch as yet and she was super impressed.  "I'm so glad you painted the porch.  The planters and flowers really show up against that white railing for a back drop."

YAY

I started sweeping the porch, steps and driveway--trying to get rid of the dead Maple tree whizzers,  John--you remember the new neighbor who told me his life history in 15 minutes?--drove up and stopped. 

"You look beat," he says.

"I am!"

"I just got back from taking Mazie to the beauty parlor.  They will trim her and give her a bath.  If I give her a bath, I have to get in the tub with her and I just wasn't in the mood.  I have to get over to the school, where I volunteer.  They are having a lunch for all the employees and I have been invited.  Then I have to pick up Maizie.  The weather is beautiful isn't it?  My family is from Sicily, but we grew up in Munising and I like the cold."

"Yes.  It is my kind of weather."

"Okay--see ya," and off he drove around the corner.

Just then I see Dar headed my way.  She was smoking!!!!!!!

"I gotta get to the smoke shop!  I've been using the E-cig for 10 months and all of a sudden, I am having terrible cravings.  I think it's because I am stressed.  My brother and sister-in-law, took Dad out to Arizona and I feel all alone."

"Your other brother is still here.  You have me and Jackie, Shiela, Judy L. and Pearl--how can you feel alone?"

"Oh, I know, but I.....I gotta get some nicotine oil for my E-cig because I don't want to get back these things!"

"Good idea!"

"I'm going to stop at the store and get my flowers, because you know, I get a 10% discount and then I am going to get groceries.  We have some really good deals this week and I get a discount on food too and then I'm coming back and plant my flowers and then.......I don't know..........I may take a walk."

<she said this all in one breath--hyper!>

I came in the house and the phone rang.  I saw it was Pammie's number.  I picked up the phone,

"Hello?"

"Hello?" she says.  "How are you.  What's up?"

"I don't know.  You called me?"

"I did?"

"Yes--my phone rang.  It was your number, so I picked up and......"

"Oh.  I was cleaning out my stuff on my phone and I must have dialed your number!"

So we laughed for several seconds, than talked for another 30 minutes. 

Then, I had to run into Brighton to get some more colored ink jet for my printer.

As usual, the traffic was horrendous!  Every time I go to Brighton, I ALWAYS have a weird traffic incident.  Today--we were all stopped at a red light.  A car in the left turn lane, decided he didn't want to turn left, but wanted to turn right.  He put on his blinker (which is an oddity in this town) and started to turn into my lane.  The light turned green and we all sat there while he crossed my lane, then the next and then into the right turn lane and off he went.  We then all proceeded on.

These things happen all the time, but, you know what is unusual--nobody honks their horns.  No one yells.  No one makes inappropriate hand gestures.  People in Brighton may appear to be stuck up, but above all, they are polite!

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I got home, had supper and watched cats.
I'm fried!!!  Have a good weekend.

    

Where Is That Little Girl I Carried?

Sunrise, Sunset.

Sunrise, Sunset.

Swiftly fly the years....

 

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It started out at 59 degrees this morning and ended up at 74, with 30% humidity.  Judy's kind of day.  I wish it would get no hotter all summer long.

Nothing much today--

I vacuumed.

Bethie called--I am going to her garden and get a couple of Jack-in-the-pulpit and some Trillium plants.

My soap wasn't on because of the French Open Tennis Tournament--which ticked me off.  My Soap is in the middle of a romantic breakup, a murder confession, drug use and two gay guys.

I went to Discount Tire and got my tire fixed.  It had a nail.  They plugged it for free--but said, my rear tires are cracking and wearing out.  They are 5 years old and have only 15,000 miles on them.  So, like me, they are wearing out NOT from use, but from age!

Stopped at Wal-Mart = $43.00

Had a HUGE bunch of Michigan Asparagus for supper and half a Muskmelon and I am stuffed!  No cake tonight.

Pammie called with really good news.  She had a bad reading on her mammogram and had to go back in last week or another mammogram and an ultra-sound.  We tried not to worry.  We kept telling ourselves that NOT ONE FAMILY ANCESTOR has ever had cancer of any kind.

I answered and was kind of worried, "Momma, I never can remember.  Is Malignant or Benign the good one?"

"You got your report?  What does it say?"

"Your mammogram and ultra-sound are benign.  Is that the good one?"

'YES!!!  JUST REMEMBER..."B" STANDS FOR BEST!"

Relief on both sides.  She has no insurance.  She can't afford ObamaCare, at $300.00 a month and she doesn't qualify for Medicaid.  You never hear about this on the news do you?  There is a whole lot of people that have not benefited from the ACA--they are still uninsured.

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Okay--I will broach the subject of Bowe Bergdahl--today the POTUS changed his story and said that ,"we had to go in quickly and get our prisoner of war."  Well, first of all, this kid is NO prisoner of war!  He left his unit in the middle of the night and left a note that said--he was disillusioned with the war, and America and he was going out to find the Taliban.  He found them.  Let him stay with them, is my theory.

Plus we gave up the Taliban Dream Team!!  How many people died capturing those five terrorists?

Plus, the Constitution reads that no prisoner negotiations can occur with terrorists--so "they" go through Qutar to make it appear all right?

Plus, no negotiations or exchanges can take place without Congressional notice AND only Harry Reid was told.  Not Nancy Pelosi.  Not Dianne Feinstein.  Not Mitch McConnel nor Jim Boehner.  

So--the whole thing is illegal right from the start.

A lot of soldiers are ticked off about the whole thing, as are many Democrats, the State Department, the CIA.  The POTUS thought everyone would be happy about this--they said on the news tonight that he is surprised at the reactions.  IMHO--that just goes to show, ONCE AGAIN--how out of touch the man is!

Bowe Bergdahl needs to be Court Martialed and put in Leavenworth (or wherever they put deserters and traitors now.)

...and today, Mr. Reid said, "What difference does it make?"  Seems I've heard that one before!

Rainy Wednesday

Today's high temperature was: 61 degrees

Rainy and cold

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I'm afraid I may have offended my blogging buddy Sally.  She had posted about her great grand daughter's end of school program.  Apparently every school in Florida has a big program and the kids are given certificates--"diploma's" for graduating from their grade.  The family members bring balloons and flowers and give to the child.  It IS a big deal.

I had never heard of any kind of school graduation other than Kindergarten, 8th grade and high school and I wondered why.  In this area, the school's have end of year programs, but it is for individual merit--like winning the spelling bee, or highest grade point, school crossing guard, who read the most books. 

She explained it well and you can be sure, if they had something like that here, I'd be at the program with balloons or flowers or whatever for my grandchild!  Keep up the tradition!
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I remembered late Sunday night that I had forgotten to put Madeleine's graduation album together!  For every grandchild, I take all the pictures of them and me and put the pix in an album entitled, "Gramma & Me" and give to them at their open house.  I had been real good about saving the photos of us on the computer in their album.  For some reason, the save pix I had of Madeleine ended around 2010.

Monday morning I got up early and started in.  I had to search all other place in My Pictures to see where I had pix of Maddie and me--like my Blog or in with the Rivard Family file.  Plus I had to search a lot of my hard copy scrapbook albums. 

When I found a hard copy photo that I didn't have on the computer, I had to scan it, name it and put it in her computer album.  This took most of Monday morning.

Monday afternoon, I ran up town, got a new, full color ink jet, some photo paper and an album.

Monday night, I was up late, dragging all the computer pictures from other places into her file.
Then I printed them all out on a contact sheet so I could see them, and write down the numbers to put them in order.

Tuesday morning, I went into her picture file, and got them in order.  It was kind of hard because I couldn't really easily tell what year the photo was.  So I had to look.  Did she have braces?  Then photo came after the one where here teeth were kind of crooked and BEFORE the photo where her teeth were perfect.  Was her hair longer in this one, then in the other.  Okay, the shorter hair photo came before the longer hair photo.

Finally got them sorted.

...and printed out another contact page to study and make sure.

I then went into Pix Monkey and brought in some photos that I wanted to put text on and then re-save them.

Then it was time to print out the 90+ photos.  I set the printer to print best and 4 photos to a sheet.  I only printed one sheet (4 photos) at a time to make sure they were all right.

I also had to find the computer file where I had written her birth poem acrostic, cross stitch.  I wanted to paste it on the inside cover of the photo.

Hours--and I mean HOURS later, I had my sheets of photos and time to cut them out and put them in order in her album.

Actually, I sat in my recliner and did this while I watched the baseball game.  :-)

This morning, I put the final pictures in.  Now, I am going to download the photos onto a disc because in the back of the album is a pocket to put a CD in.  YAY.

 I don't know why these two pictures turned out turned when I posted them here--they are right-side up on the my picture file?  Blogger--do you have a problem?
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I feel really bad--Maddie had a French Horn recital in the summer, at the home of her private instructor--along with Brian and Drew who had the same teacher (and are now in band together).  

Fred had taken some cute pictures of them and of her and me.  I found the recital program in my hard copy scrapbook, but no pictures.  I have searched my computer and there are no pix of that event.  Fred had saved his pictures on discs and I went through all of them, to no avail.  The only thing I can think of, they were still ON his computer and when his son came the night of Fred's funeral, he took Fred's computer.  So--those pix are lost to me.  Kind of brought tears to my eyes when I realized.
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I had to run up to Discount Tire today to check my drivers side front tire.  I had all my tires aired up two weeks ago and it had less air than the rest of them.  I noticed it looked a little low today.  They aired it up for me and I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to go in and have the wheel removed to check.  Probably a dent in the rim from a pot hole incident?  I hope that is all--I sure can't afford a new tire.

I did manage to save $100.00 to put in Maddie's grad card.  I have given each kid that amount.  Now, 12 years ago, when I gave my eldest grand child that amount, it was a big deal.  Not so much nowadays, but it is all I can wrestle up.  I have saved money since January to even get that much.  She will appreciate it anyway--she would be appreciative if I only gave her $20.00.

Flo--you wanted to know Maddie's plans?  She doesn't quite know what she wants to study.  In September, she will be going to Community College and study health/nursing and then in January, she will be going to Guatemala on a mission, to teach, take care of--help the people there.  It is NOT through her church, which surprised me.  Something like the Peace Corps of the '60's.  I am assured she will be safe.

When her mother, Karen, voiced some concern, I said, "Well, it is your fault that she wants to do this.  Ever since the kids were little, every Thanksgiving you went as a family to the center and worked in the kitchen to feed the homeless.  Every summer, for the past five years, as a family, you have gone into the inner city of Detroit, to help with the community gardens, clean and board up abandoned houses, and clean up old tires from vacant lots."

Karen nodded.

"You have taught her, by example, how to be a loving, caring, giving person...wanting to help others, so.....that's exactly what she is going to do.  Perhaps she will become a Nun."

Karen said, "You mean a Sister."

I said, "Whatever they're called."