I spent 4 days in Ithaca, Wisconsin. Ithaca is extremely important (just look at this blog’s URL!) as it’s where I grew up, went to high school, learned a work ethic on our farm; it’s where my parents live now. Before the trip, there was some concern about there being too much stress on my elderly parents (they’re both in their 80s). However, I knew that we would help a lot and that by the end things would be ok which turned out to be correct.
It was an exciting XMAS, we left Illinois @ 4 and got to Ithaca, WI @ 8. The trip there went great and we were so looking forward to 4 days of holiday fun. But we were also determined to be responsible and help Mom A LOT, and to make the noise level of 3 kids be low and tolerable for my dear parents.
So then we woke up XMAS and the kids opened up the rest of their presents. They were all very happy. We went to church @ 10 and I was so proud of the way, my oldest, Andy, helped my dad in and out of the car. Before that, breakfast went well and we did the dishes for Mom and Dad.
My 2 brothers Jerome and Bill came up, and had a good time. It was amazing to see Bill talk more and hold conversation with all of us. Usually what happens is that Bill quickly goes to sleep right after dinner and Jerome talks to everyone else. The exact opposite happened this time. Jerome slept and Bill talked. After my brothers left, Mom told me that Bill, who suffers from alcoholism, has been going to 1-on-1 counseling and he’s made noticeable improvement which really seemed the case when we saw him.
Then we went tobagonning on the hill. Basically a tobaggon is just like a sled that you can zoom down a hill with, but instead of a sled having 2 runners, a tobaggon is a flat wooden surface that can hold 3 or 4 kids (including me with mine!) and zooms through the snow. We went tobagonning both morning and afternoon.
Later during the holiday, we sadly watched the bowl game that the WI Badger football team was in and they got destroyed by Florida St. We had fun though watching Doctor Who w/ my mom who didn’t know if she liked the show or not.
On Sunday, when we were leaving, I asked mom if things went well during our 4 days and she said they did. So I felt good that the kids and I worked hard together and there was less work for my Mom. It meant so much to them that the kids and I said the rosary with them. I knew how to say the rosary and have done so for over 30 years, but learned that they added 2 new prayers to the rosary. I had been taught by Mom the Rosary 30some years ago, but apparently they added those 2 prayers. I knew all about the 4th mystery that Pope John Paul II added to the rosary.
I guess if there was anything troubling, it was reading my dad’s written medical report about his possible Alzheimer’s. I am happy and glad that the trip went well. It makes you thankful for the family that you have. Because you can’t choose family!!!
Then we went tobagonning on the hill. Basically a tobaggon is just like a sled that you can zoom down a hill with, but instead of a sled having 2 runners, a tobaggon is a flat wooden surface that can hold 3 or 4 kids (including me with mine!) and zooms through the snow. We went tobagonning both morning and afternoon.
Later during the holiday, we sadly watched the bowl game that the WI Badger football team was in and they got destroyed by Florida St. We had fun though watching Doctor Who w/ my mom who didn’t know if she liked the show or not.
On Sunday, when we were leaving, I asked mom if things went well during our 4 days and she said they did. So I felt good that the kids and I worked hard together and there was less work for my Mom. It meant so much to them that the kids and I said the rosary with them. I knew how to say the rosary and have done so for over 30 years, but learned that they added 2 new prayers to the rosary. I had been taught by Mom the Rosary 30some years ago, but apparently they added those 2 prayers. I knew all about the 4th mystery that Pope John Paul II added to the rosary.
I guess if there was anything troubling, it was reading my dad’s written medical report about his possible Alzheimer’s. I am happy and glad that the trip went well. It makes you thankful for the family that you have. Because you can’t choose family!!!
MB & I even felt the holiday cheer as I left her a letter at our condo where she was and she wrote me a nice one back. She was unable to go to Ithaca with us, because her father just came home from the hospital. She decided to take care of him during the holidays.
2 comments:
Glad to hear it was a successful trip. We had a good time in Bloomington, MN and Minneapolis, MN. Got your cell phone messages. I guess I will have to look at the PC next time I am there, which may actually be soon, since I have to drop some stuff off there and see if I can't do something about the faucet in the laundry room. I thought that Carole had a couple extra cartridges that we brought along. The laundry room faucet fell apart in my hand one of the last times I tried to use it.
Glad to hear about the good trip, but sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's possibility. Hope it's not true!!!
WAY TO GO on Bill's improvement and the fact that your kids helped out a lot and eased the burden for your Mom! ;-D
Hope MB's Dad gets better!!!!
Dunno when I can blog again since tomorrow after work we're going to go to the cabin for New Year, so HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
May the coming year bring more hope and joy!!!
Post a Comment