Shopping lists and being "vintage"

 This morning I put on Nick's jacket when I took Buddy out.  Unless it is raining or snowing or all together too miserable, I feed Buddy outdoors- on the deck while I sit and listen to the birds.   

    

(I don't think I will ever figure out how to position photos exactly where I want them!)

  

As I was saying, I had Nick's jacket on and I put my hands in the pockets- as I usually do.  And I found a couple of slips of paper ( as I usually do).   I took the paper out of the pocket and of course, it was just what I thought it would be.  A couple of grocery lists- in my handwriting.  No surprise to me, there were notes in Nick's handwriting listing ideas of what to have for dinner and what needs to be bought to make that dinner "tacos",  "Mac & Cheese". etc. 

I guess we are becoming- or have become- an old stereotyped couple.  Sleeping in the same bed every night.  Reaching out in the night to feel the other just as a comfort to see that we are each still there.

Most days I watch TV while I knit or fold laundry.  Nick sits in his study and plays "Civ"  (I think that's what it is)  on his computer.  Or reads and researches whatever has his interest that day.

In the evening we watch the evening news and Jeopardy.  Then we decide what we will watch that evening.  Often what Nick refers to as "police procedurals"  Mainly British or something foreign.  We do have a few American shows that we like as well.  

We go to our various appointments.  As we have grown older we have taken on more specialists.  Orthopedist (me), cardiologist (both of us).  Depending on what sort of appointment it is we might go alone or together.   It's all good!

We don't like leaving Buddy home alone if we can help it.  He is like our baby now.  He has accidents on the floor if nobody is here .  He doesn't get in trouble- he cannot help it.

And so goes what must look like an extremely boring life.  But I am not bored.   At least not very often. We have done So so so much in our lives together.  Raised a bunch of kids.  Buried out parents and friends and my brother.

We share stories.  Lots of stories.  We laugh.  We grieve .  We remember and we plan too.

Now for the "vintage" part of this blog entry.  I was reading on Facebook where someone said that she made a great find of vintage clothes.  From 1975!!! That made me laugh.   Vintage?   VINTAGE???   Wow.  Make a girl feel old.  I guess.  I don't know that it really made me feel old.  It just made me think of how silly we all are in our thoughts and ideas of what's old and what's not old.  What's valuable because it's old and what's not.

Having gotten married in 1972 must make us really vintage.  or are we just old?  Or what?  Crazy!

We remember the chaos of having a house full of kids.  The energy.  The noise.  The mess.  The joys and frustrations and worries.    All of it.  It is impossible to think of our kids and not remember cuddling up to nurse, or read a bedtime story.  Of comfort a crying child.  At any age.

 

 

 Here's the Christmas card we sent out in 1975.  Nick's mom did the needlepoint and let us use it.  We were getting ready to go on our first Foreign Service posting to Thailand so I wrote in Thai on the card

 

 

 Then - 1975

                                                            

 And now- here we are in an Air B&B in Portland Oregon, in 2026,  where we went to celebrate Courtney and Zach's wedding

 

Sweet Shannon

 

 

Obituary

Shannon Elizabeth Heindel, 48, born in Kansas City, Kansas, and spent her later years in Fredericksburg, Virginia, entered God’s eternal care on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at home surrounded by her loving family.

She shared fifteen wonderful years of marriage with her devoted husband Jan Heindel. Shannon is survived by Jan; her children Dorian Rittenhouse, Dalton Rittenhouse, Georgia Heindel, and Cora Sue Heindel; her brother Sean Green; and her mother Sarah Green. She was preceded in death by her father Phillip Green and step‑father Robert Denes.

A licensed lactation consultant and small‑business owner, Shannon dedicated her professional life to supporting new mothers and their infants. Her Catholic faith guided her compassion and generosity. For more than two decades she volunteered with La Leche League, providing hands‑on assistance to breastfeeding mothers, and extended her reach through the online community with Bay Area Breast Feeding.

In her spare time, she enjoyed crocheting, creating beautiful pieces that reflected her patience and care.

“Those we love never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness we share, the lessons we teach, and the love we give.” Shannon embodied this truth through every mother she comforted, every child she helped nourish, and every stitch she lovingly crafted. Her legacy endures in the families she supported, the friendships she nurtured, and the lasting impact of her generous spirit.

Viewing and time to share memories with the family will be 6-8 PM, Thursday, February 19, 2026 at Feiser Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc., 302 Lincoln Way West, New Oxford, PA 17350. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM, Friday, February 20, 2026 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 6084 W Canal Rd, Abbottstown, PA 17301, with Father Sam Miller as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Feiser Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc. has been entrusted with the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.feiserfuneralhome.com.

 

 

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Courtney and Zach's wedding February 13 & 14, 2026 (in reverse order- wedding pictures at the end of my blog and the reception pictures are the first)