The Family Bed

 I am a moderstor on a Fcebook Group called Biologically Normal Infant & Toddler Sleep.

So many parents (mainly mothers) are unsure and insecure about co-sleeping with their babies.  It strikes me as sad in so many ways.   These moms need so much reasurance and information about what is normal.  I was one of these moms briefly.  I was so fortunate to be getting a lot of mothering support through my La Leche League group and the books that we had in our group library.   

Ut makes me sad and sorry that the scare tactics and misinformation that was happening over 40 years ago has not changed.

For fun, I posted these two pictures.  One is of Courtney and Morgan ages 5 & 2 and then reenacted by them at ages 44 & 41.

There were 354 "likes" and comments on the page:

A Random assortment of thoughts

 I have been knitting.  That is pretty usual and normal for me.   I find that I need to be doing something when I am watching TV- unless it's a show that has subtitles in which case I have to pay attention to the TV.   I knitted these cute mittens for my sister. 

 I posted a picture on Facebook and a friend said she thought theyw ere cute.   So I knitted a pair for that friend too.

The last couple of days I made some potholders.  

 

Got a chia pet for Christmas- the first one I have ever had:

Sunrise

I woke up early enough this morning to see the pink clouds greeting the sky and welcoming the day.  

It was cold enough that I put two shirts on under my coat to let Buddy.  We have a routine, Buddy and I.   When Buddy and I get up, I fix his food and make myself a cup of coffee.  I wear whatever layers I need depending on the weather.  I place a towel on the chair and sit with my coffee while Buddy eats -on the deck.

It's funny how Buddy knows what to expect and I comply.

He's a good dog.   I guess I am a good dog mom!

Sour Milk

 I put the frozen strawberries in the bottom of my mug, added instant (gluten free) oatmeal and water.  Put it into the microwave.  Started my coffee.  Both were ready at about the same time.  Then, I poured on the milk.  It curdled.  It was sour.  Gross.  Disappointing  Not the best was to start the day.

I dumped out the coffee, the oatmeal and the carton of milk and ran the garbage disposal.  I started over again and this time I had success.  But I would have enjoyed it more without having to go through the sour milk  experience first.

I guess that is just how this day is going to go. 

I went to bed before midnight last night.  Unusual for me.  I put drops in my ear- I have an ear infection.  Then I remembered that I was going to take something for my headache .  I decided not to get up because I didn't want the ear drops to run out.

At 2:00 AM I was woken up by Buddy barking/ whining.   Let him out to poop and then, happily, we both went back to bed.

When I finally woke up on my own I saw, on my c-pap, that I slept almost 8 hours.  Unheard of.  I guess I am sick, or healing, or both.

After I had my oatmeal and coffee- with non-sour milk, I had a stomach upset.  Maybe from the salad I had last night?  Probably.

Nick called from Florida this morning.  It was so nice to talk to him!  He and Austin are having quite an adventure- various ships and many locations.   I am happy for them.

I have two bird-feeders that are attached to the windows in the family room.  It's great because you can just sit there and watch the birds.  But, when I try to get close enough to get a good picture, they stay away.  Hmm.  Silly birds.  Or silly me, smart birds.  

My chia pet is about done.  The "hair" is starting to flop.   It's a weird idea- pasting seeds to a ceramic head and watching them grow.  I wonder who ever thought that up, and why!

Time for more ear drops.  Three times a day.  Looking forward to feeling better.

 

 

I wanted to do a puzzle while Nick and Austin are away.  I love doing them together, but thought I would do this one on my own.  It is way harder than I anticipated and I don't know if or when I will get it done!

 

Here Comes the Sun!

 This is just about the date that the sun returns to Northern Norway- Tromso,  to be precise.   People are posting lots of pictures of the light coming over the horizon- on the Tromso Facebook pages.

I remember how thrilling it was to see the sun for the first time in two months.  It was just a sliver of light peeking over the mountains.  It lasted maybe four minutes.   We lived on the south end of the island, so I saw it before Nick.  I called him at work, but since his office was on the north end of the island, he didn't see it for a few more days.  

If you have not lived through the mørke tid, the dark time, you cannot imagine it.   Of course, having a baby and two older kids and adjusting to a new house in a new country added to the difficult adjustment.

I think that if we were to try living there again, without all of the other adjustments- kids and all, it would probably feel very cozy. (koselig)

During the dark months- November through January, there is usually snow on the ground.  People have light on in their windows which reflect off of the snow and it really is very koselig.

I used to say that I really looked forward to being nostalgic about Tromso.  And I am.

 

My Aunt Geri

 My mother's younger sister was my Aunt Geri.   She and my mom were the same age distance as I am with my own sister.

My mother and her sister shared a bed growing up.  I grew up hearing stories about how my mom would draw an imaginary line down the middle of the bed and tell her little sister that she better not cross that line.    At some point, my mom got a pair of ice skates for Christmas and she decided to sleep in them.  Sounds scary and dangerous. 

Even though miles separated my mom, Ruth, and her sister Geraldine, they were always close.  They wrote letters and visited each other whenever possible.  Very much like my sister and I.  

I was my mother's last baby, and my cousin Geri Lynn was my Aunt Geri's first.  Geri Lynn and I are only about six weeks apart, me being the older one.   I have always felt a special bond with Geri Lynn.

My Aunt Geri was "cute", in her own way.  She was a cheery soul.  Smart , no nonsense and witty and funny too.   She and her husband my Uncle John were very clearly in love.  She would often say she made the right decision marrying him.

They were married for 71 years.  And this week, at the age of 90, she died.   

It is almost impossible to imagine the world with out Aunt Geri.   Death at age 90 shouldn't be a surprise.  And it isn't.  But, it is as well. 

My brother Dale went first in 2001. followed by my mom's brother Uncle George in 2003 and my mother in 2004.  Uncle Norman in 2018 and now Geraldine in 2023.  Uncle Bud (John) is still alive.  He's in his 90s.   

My cousin Cheryl's son Chris wrote this:

  My Grandma Pullum passed away late last night at the age of 90. She was a wonderful person and is already missed by so many. I was the first of 17 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Despite the sheer number of us, I don't think anyone could say they didn't get enough love and attention from her. Thankfully she passed while working on a crossword book without even realizing what happened. I love you grandma.

 

so many thoughts going through my tired brain

 As I sat in the plane, on the runway is Seattle, getting ready to take off I pondered life.    It was a weird take off.  It was late at night- almost midnight.  But for some reason most of the window blinds were closed.   I like to see out the window as we taxi and lift off.  

There was one shade open across the aisle.  So I strained a bit, but was able to see.   At first as we were getting to the runway, I could tell that we were moving.  But I couldn't tell if we were going frontward or backward.   Maybe we were backing away from the gate?  I couldn't tell.

We sped up and I could hear the engines roar as we went faster and faster and we were ultimately airborne.   I always think of take off and landing as the most dangerous part of flying.  I don't know if that's true, but it feels like it.   

And as we ascended into the air I thought about possibilities.  Such as;  what if the plane crashed and I died.  I don't think I would really know what happened. Or, if I did, it was be quick and then- nothing.   How would they know it was me?  By the plate in my head?  By the serial number on my artificial knee?  By my dental records.

And then I thought about what a mess I would leave behind.  The kind of grief and sadness and terror that my family and friends would have to live with.  Forever.

Am I morbid?  Curious?  Just human?

I know that I can't live forever.  That I will die.   No getting away from that fact.

And I guess on some level, that's religion.  Religion gives you the tools and words to try to make sense of it all.

As the plane was landing, the sun was rising.  It was a beautiful sunrise.  The woman sitting next to me in the window seat got some beautiful pictures.  I could only get a sliver between the seats in front of me.

 

Traveling is hard work!

Before and after traveling.  I started out from Seattle on Monday night.  I arrived in Virginia on Tuesday morning.  Exhausted.   Still exhausted today, Wednesday,  but glad to be home!

Before & After

I slept 8 hours last night and I keep dozing off all through the day today.  I hope I regain some energy soon!

 

New Year's Eve in Seattle

 

the fireworks at the Seattle Space Needle    

When in Seattle---.  Still at Morgan and Kim's house.   Last night we watched the ball drop in New York, some of the celebration in New Orleans, and eventully here in Seattle.

Even though we have been here for a week, midnight here is 3:00 am "my time".   It was fun seeing the fireworks shot off of the Space Needls and the drone show that accompanied it.

Morgan and Kim and Mermaid (their housemate) all had wigs on to help celebrate.the new year.  Austin says he had a wig on for a minute but I can't remember.  I declined the offer of a wig.  Nick went to bed.

Tomorrow evening I board a flight back to Virginia.  Nick and Austin are heading off on a cruising adventure.

New Year's Eve conjures up memories of so many years.  So many places the world over.

This is the year I turn 69.  Another year loser to 70.  That seems unreal to me.   Turning 60 had me feeling conflicted about getting older.  Then I learned that I had a brain tumor and all of a sudden my age didn't mean anything to me.

I don't anticipate any major health issues this year, but one doesn't.

And so, Happy New Year 2023!!