Ashes to Ashes

Pat and I always told the girls: If they put me on life support, step on the air hose!" And I have always said I want to be cremated, and that they should then take the ashes for a ride on a yacht in San Francisco Bay, have a nice meal, then walk over to the side and say, "Oops! There goes Mom!"

So I flew out to San Francisco Friday, February 5. Round trip out of Mason City at a bargain price. (Still not completely paid off, though.) I was staying with Linda and Dick, and they picked me up at the airport. Linda was to host an Open House/Memorial for Pat on Sunday. Saturday the girls came over to check on the arrangements for the Open House. Pat's boss, Keith, was paying for the catering.

A couple of hours after the girls arrived at Linda's, they said, "Well, we're going to go pick up Dad." They came back a couple of hours later with the green funeral home container carried in a dark blue velvet sack. I held them for awhile. Then, as they were getting ready to leave, Jessica said, "Do you want to spend another night with Dad?" I said, "Does he still snore?"

For the Open House, the girls arranged a poster board on the piano, with the ashes on top of the piano. They used some of the pictures I took with me. They also put a picture of Pat on top, the one Jessica used on "Dad Post 2." (I think that was the subject line on the email.)

Pat died January 27, 2010. Annie graduated May 27 from nurses' training. Jessica and Katie took the ashes to the ceremony, and Linda held them for awhile. Annie was well represented with family and friends.

That's the news so far about the ashes. Although I'm beginning to doubt that Jessica will ever scatter the ashes on a favorite beach. We did, of course, remind them to watch which way the wind is blowing if they do scatter the ashes.

We are all in agreement that Annie's job with a private case management firm is an excellent spot for her. She will be working with patients with dementia. She also passed the board certification test and simply went on line recently to find out that she had passed. She said it's simply pass/fail. She also said the questions can be tricky.

With posting on this blog, I have completed all the tasks I wrote out for myself for today. Katie says she only posts on her blog when she knows what she wants to write about. I suggested it doesn't have to be profound. Only to find myself waiting until I know what I want to write about. Reviewing earlier posts helps.

I see it's been over two years since I last posted. News has changed. My mother has made a choice of assisted living facilites in Mason City. Now we have to wait, as Kentucky Ridge is currently full. She chose a medium-sized apartment, but a small might come up sooner. If so, she could move in there and switch to a medium-sized when one becomes available.

My daughter Jessica fell off one of her horses and ended up with a broken left arm. This happened over two months ago. Finally, they put in a plate, as the bone wasn't healing. She's now back in a cast, which supposedly makes it possible for her to ride again. I am not too excited about her getting back on a horse with one arm in a cast, but she says she will be very careful, as she doesn't want to go through all that again.

Daughter Annie completed her nurse's training and is now working with a private case management company. She will be working with clients with dementia. She reported her first client is 90, and resistant to help. Then adds the client is sweet. So Annie will do well with that population.

Their dad died January 27 in Berkeley's Alta Bates Hospital. He had multiple health issues, including liver failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes and kidney failure. He was taken off dialysis because his blood pressure was too low, and died that night. Jessica had called at 10:30 a.m. about taking him off dialysis, then called again at 1:30 a.m. I asked her, "What's up?" and she said simply, "He's gone." "Oh, God," was my response.

It was hardest on Jessica and Annie, particularly Annie with her training as well as being much closer to Berkeley. While it has mostly been me and a cat or two for nearly 20 years, and that was fine, I am now experiencing bouts of loneliness, which I didn't before.

Will get to Jessica and Annie and the ashes another time.

Writing assignments

Friday evening I finished all the articles and boxes for a tabloid for the North Iowa Home Improvement and Landscaping Show. I worked on it 16 days for a total of some 30 hours. Some of the time was because I don't have a scanner so had to retype last year's copy as well as type in copy to the Globe via email. A lot of time was spent phoning and phoning again. Got all but one of the companies who took out ads for the tabloid. The articles are free. Wasn't much journalism, as Bob Steenson pointed out, just a lot of PR.

With wind chill factor, it was 40 degrees below zero last night. Car took right off. Just a few seconds before it turned over. Heat tape kept water pipes nice and toasty. Per Counsin Jan, however, I set the alarm and got up every two hours to run the hot water, as it freezes first.

Pam is coming over to take a shower. They have cold water but no hot water.

Not doing too well getting rid of last 5 pounds or so, but don't think I've gained much, if any.

Have lost 20 pounds.

My New Wig

Joe called and wanted to go out to dinner. Since the temperature outzide is 0, and I had warmed up the car twice, I asked him to come get me, which he did. He was driving his mother's car, since his Volkswagon blew a coil. The first thing I did after he called was to get my wig and put it on. It's the same color as my hair, with lots of body and bangs. People just think I've done something with my hair. After dinner, Joe brought me home and came in and used my camera to take a picture. Will get prints. With help, of course.

Yesterday, wore my wig when I hitched a ride to Garner with Sarah Aronsen, a photographer for the Globe Gazette. The weather was supposed to be blowing snow, which never materialized. It was fun to be with someone else on an assignment. This was for the February Home of the Month. It's due Thursday, Jan. 24, because the first Friday in February is the 1st.

Actually, I wear my wig whenever I go out. But won't for my passport picture and won't for doctor's checkups because I have to take off my sweater, which means trying to readjust the wig, which is awkward.

Jessica get pictures to go on her blog. I probably wouldn't be able to figure it out.

Blasted Mozilla Firefox

Established internet sites keep going off and I have to rewrite websites on the address spot. This is aggravating beyond belief, as it's my blogspot that goes off consistently. As well as other spots I use frequently.

I have no idea why this happens. Should email Mike at Jumpgate. Maybe I'll do that.

A blustery winter day

The temperature is in the teens - before the wind chill factor. The wind is fierce. I went out with Shelly for lunch - she drove - and declined to get out again.

I don't know what we'll do Christmas Day - it depends on the weather. If my mother won't get out, I'll take stuff over to her place then go to Joe's myself later.

Tomorrow, I'm baking pumpkin pies. With heavy cream, not evaporated milk. Have to patch up one of the pie shells. I hope the pie shells taste ok, as they use vegetable oil, not lard or Crisco.

Got Joe his Boston fern. A really big one. And a large poinsettia for my mother. Checks to Annie and Jessica and Katie. Used the wrong zip code for Annie, but she got mine. Now, if she will only get the check I sent from my mother. When I copied the zip code into my address book, the pen skipped on the loop in the 9, so I thought it was a 1. Had it right on the notepad, but apparently checked the wrong one.

Haven't been to church in ages, so have been playing Christmas carols on the organ. Hope that does it.

Christmas shopping

All I have left to get is a Boston fern for Joe. Baker Floral is trying to order one for me. All Mother wanted was a poinsetta, so got her a real nice one at Baker Floral. Cost a lot more than one from Wal Mart, but it's a lot nicer, too. Have left it covered up so Boots doesn't get into it. Will take it over tomorrow.

Sent checks to Jessica & Annie & Katie. Got a copy of a picture of Jess when she was 10 and sent it to Steve.

Jessica is getting a second horse - Calabar - a former race horse with Thoroughbred hooves. She says he and Lena are both brats, which is what she likes.