"I like you; I love you, and I'm sorry!"
That's what my "little" (8 years younger than me) brother always said to my mom at the supper table, whenever there was a tense moment, because she was upset with her family. While all of us "older' children (and my dad) sat silent, unsure how to handle the moment, he would simply say to Mom (in a soft, loving way), "I like you, I love you, and I'm sorry." It usually worked like a charm!
Hmmmm...maybe it should be used at all those difficult moments in a family setting.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
A Night of Celebration
Friday was quite a day! It was last day of working where I've been for the last three months, and the day that Larry accepted a job offer from the State of Oregon.
He will be a bank examiner, for State-chartered banks all over the State of Oregon, traveling at least two weeks out of four. He starts work on April 28th, and has his first trip away the following week.
As for me, I will be looking for another full-time job. I may do "temp" work at first, until our house sells, and I know where we'll be living. Larry's office is located about 30-45 minutes from home, so our thought right now is to live about half way between his office and our church. I'm thinking I would like to work somewhere in that area. For those of you who know this area, Larry's office is in Wilsonville, although the main office is in Salem (the capitol of Oregon), and he will also be in Salem sometimes.
Friday night we went out with our son and daughter-in-law. Our evening of celebration began at Jim and Patti's apartment, with Hors’ d’oeuvres. Then we twent to a little cafe where we managed to get a table by the windows, with a nice view for sunset.
The excitement began when I decided to raise the window blinds a little more to get a fuller view of the area. Nothing happened when I gave the usual light tug on the cord, so I tugged a little harder. Still nothing. So, Patti suggested I try a stronger pull. I tried, and that's the last I remember about looking out the window before receiving a good hard clunk on my head. The entire set of blinds had come crashing down on top of my head. When I realized I felt a strange wetness in various places, I began discovering blood dripping -- on my hands, face, glasses, clothes, Larry's jacket, on the table. I was suddenly the center of attention in the whole place! Servers came running to assess my condition, and brought a container of some liquid antisceptic to apply with pressure to my head. Somebody was keeping pressure on my head while someone else was cleaning up the blood. After while we realized I was fine, so I regained my composure, and we finished our meal. Little by little we were able to laugh about it and move on to the next restaurant for dessert.
(Oh, we found the blood came from a surface wound, rather than a deep gash, as it felt like. Head wounds always produce dramatic results!)
Next, we went to a wonderful little dessert place/bakery/chocolate factory. The desserts were heavenly--truly heavenly. Mine was called "A Slice of Heaven"--and it was! Just as we finished up, the master choclatier (owner of the place) came to our table and began some very pleasant conversation with us. To our delight and amazement, he insisted we come with him back into his choclate kitchen, and proceeded to give us a complete tour, explaining the entire process to us. By the time we left there we felt like old friends--very special and especially privileged! We have no idea why he chose to do that with us--maybe it was the blood all over my shirt. Anyway, it was just the perfect finishing touch (the "icing on the cake") to our evening of celebration.
He will be a bank examiner, for State-chartered banks all over the State of Oregon, traveling at least two weeks out of four. He starts work on April 28th, and has his first trip away the following week.
As for me, I will be looking for another full-time job. I may do "temp" work at first, until our house sells, and I know where we'll be living. Larry's office is located about 30-45 minutes from home, so our thought right now is to live about half way between his office and our church. I'm thinking I would like to work somewhere in that area. For those of you who know this area, Larry's office is in Wilsonville, although the main office is in Salem (the capitol of Oregon), and he will also be in Salem sometimes.
Friday night we went out with our son and daughter-in-law. Our evening of celebration began at Jim and Patti's apartment, with Hors’ d’oeuvres. Then we twent to a little cafe where we managed to get a table by the windows, with a nice view for sunset.
The excitement began when I decided to raise the window blinds a little more to get a fuller view of the area. Nothing happened when I gave the usual light tug on the cord, so I tugged a little harder. Still nothing. So, Patti suggested I try a stronger pull. I tried, and that's the last I remember about looking out the window before receiving a good hard clunk on my head. The entire set of blinds had come crashing down on top of my head. When I realized I felt a strange wetness in various places, I began discovering blood dripping -- on my hands, face, glasses, clothes, Larry's jacket, on the table. I was suddenly the center of attention in the whole place! Servers came running to assess my condition, and brought a container of some liquid antisceptic to apply with pressure to my head. Somebody was keeping pressure on my head while someone else was cleaning up the blood. After while we realized I was fine, so I regained my composure, and we finished our meal. Little by little we were able to laugh about it and move on to the next restaurant for dessert.
(Oh, we found the blood came from a surface wound, rather than a deep gash, as it felt like. Head wounds always produce dramatic results!)
Next, we went to a wonderful little dessert place/bakery/chocolate factory. The desserts were heavenly--truly heavenly. Mine was called "A Slice of Heaven"--and it was! Just as we finished up, the master choclatier (owner of the place) came to our table and began some very pleasant conversation with us. To our delight and amazement, he insisted we come with him back into his choclate kitchen, and proceeded to give us a complete tour, explaining the entire process to us. By the time we left there we felt like old friends--very special and especially privileged! We have no idea why he chose to do that with us--maybe it was the blood all over my shirt. Anyway, it was just the perfect finishing touch (the "icing on the cake") to our evening of celebration.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Changes
Today our house went up for sale. Tomorrow we expect to hear some important news regarding Larry's job possibility in Northern California. This week is my last week at work, after giving a two-week notice four weeks ago. (Yes, you read that right -- by the time I quit working, I will have worked five weeks, after my two-week notice.) They asked me if I would be willing to stay longer, so I did -- hard to resist a few more paychecks when their is no other income coming our way.
Larry is currently awaiting offers on two different jobs. Either way, we will be moving, so it's time to get this house sold. Even if relocation isn't necessary, we need to find cheaper housing. It's time for a change, whether or not we like it.
It's been a very long wait, and it's not over yet, but it's time for change.
Larry is currently awaiting offers on two different jobs. Either way, we will be moving, so it's time to get this house sold. Even if relocation isn't necessary, we need to find cheaper housing. It's time for a change, whether or not we like it.
It's been a very long wait, and it's not over yet, but it's time for change.