Today I got a telephone call from Fran Harris - Russell Harris adoptive mother.
It seems that Russell has been hospitalized, at age 19, with heart failure and the docs do not yet know why.
I gave her our family medical history. And was so glad that I'd gotten in touch with them, as I'm now available to them for things like this.
I'm just so sorry that they are all the way across the country...
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A New Do!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Found Nieces!
This computer has been one of the most ‘vexing’ things in my life. But it’s also been a means to some major joy; to get reconnected with some old friends and family.
About a month ago, because of an entry in my blog, my sister Donna Carter-Cook’s, two adult daughters emailed me. What a joy! These are young women I lost touch with after they became adults. After my sister passed away from Liver Cancer, I thought I’d never be in touch with them again.
(It’s so difficult to ‘track’ women as they frequently have surname changes. And my remaining family is not exactly close!)
So now Roni Anderson, Linda Watterson, and I have exchanged all the important information needed to stay in touch. And ohhh, I have so many stories about their mother to share…
About a month ago, because of an entry in my blog, my sister Donna Carter-Cook’s, two adult daughters emailed me. What a joy! These are young women I lost touch with after they became adults. After my sister passed away from Liver Cancer, I thought I’d never be in touch with them again.
(It’s so difficult to ‘track’ women as they frequently have surname changes. And my remaining family is not exactly close!)
So now Roni Anderson, Linda Watterson, and I have exchanged all the important information needed to stay in touch. And ohhh, I have so many stories about their mother to share…
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Family Pictures
I've been scanning the family pictures. I want to put them on a site so everyone involved may download what that want. And perhaps put them on CD's and mail to the grandkids. Once I'm gone, no one who really has any interest in these pictures would have immediate access to them, and the people who clean the apartment would just toss them in the trash bins. I've seen it happen!
But this little project is taking ALL my time and energy. I have three HUGE, stuffed full Albums comprising all my Mom's pictures, and mine. The earliest being ca 1900!
And then there's the documents I'd like to include. I don't have many, but what I do have, I want to share; they are so hard to find, and expensive to get once you do.
I actually started this project at the first of this year without really thinking through what I wanted to do, or how. That's when I scanned the oldest of my Mother's pictures. Then I kind of let it sit, while I cogitated on the 'whole' of it.
So now I've done that, feel I'm focused in on this project. And what a big project it is! I also had to come to the decision that it's important enough to set aside my other (writing), projects for a time. Besides it might actually fit into my 'MEMOIRS OF A MAD POET' project eventually...
But this little project is taking ALL my time and energy. I have three HUGE, stuffed full Albums comprising all my Mom's pictures, and mine. The earliest being ca 1900!
And then there's the documents I'd like to include. I don't have many, but what I do have, I want to share; they are so hard to find, and expensive to get once you do.
I actually started this project at the first of this year without really thinking through what I wanted to do, or how. That's when I scanned the oldest of my Mother's pictures. Then I kind of let it sit, while I cogitated on the 'whole' of it.
So now I've done that, feel I'm focused in on this project. And what a big project it is! I also had to come to the decision that it's important enough to set aside my other (writing), projects for a time. Besides it might actually fit into my 'MEMOIRS OF A MAD POET' project eventually...
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Grandsons
Well, it’s been an interesting week end!
Michael Kiter
Yesterday afternoon one of my Grandsons, Michael Kiter called, then came over. He was having a dispute with his mother. Mike will be 18 this summer; and he wants all the advantages thereof, but none of the responsibilities. Now I haven’t seen this boy in 4 months, since he came by to pick up his Christmas present; but he was harboring the misconception that I’d ‘save’ him from his mother’s decision. That I’d let him stay here for at least a few days. I must have really disappointed him, as I told him he needed to go home and accept his mom’s decision! Haven’t heard from him since, though I asked him to call and let me know how it all worked out; I didn’t want to sit around and worry about him. I did call and leave a message on HIS cell (imagine that at 17!), he didn’t bother to return my call.
Christopher & Russell Harris
This afternoon, I called Christopher Harris to wish him a happy birthday. He’s 19 now!
I had to wait 18 years to contact these grandsons! Last year, legally, I was able to contact them. But their father answered the phone, neither boy was at home, and no one called me back.
This year, father again answered the phone, but didn’t ask who I was, and 19 year old Christopher (Chris!), was at home and came to the phone. The conversation was short (it was obvious he didn’t want to talk to me, but he was too polite to hang up). I accomplished my purpose, to make sure that they had my contact info, in case they ever wanted to get in touch with me. I let him know about his half-brother Michael visiting yesterday, and that I would be scanning his baby pictures into the family picture album, that I’d been there when he was born.
Wonder if he told his parents who’d called to wish him a happy birthday??? Contrary to what his adoptive parents might think, I’m NOT trying to usurp their parental position – but these are my grandsons and I didn’t sign any adoption papers!
Michael Kiter
Yesterday afternoon one of my Grandsons, Michael Kiter called, then came over. He was having a dispute with his mother. Mike will be 18 this summer; and he wants all the advantages thereof, but none of the responsibilities. Now I haven’t seen this boy in 4 months, since he came by to pick up his Christmas present; but he was harboring the misconception that I’d ‘save’ him from his mother’s decision. That I’d let him stay here for at least a few days. I must have really disappointed him, as I told him he needed to go home and accept his mom’s decision! Haven’t heard from him since, though I asked him to call and let me know how it all worked out; I didn’t want to sit around and worry about him. I did call and leave a message on HIS cell (imagine that at 17!), he didn’t bother to return my call.
Christopher & Russell Harris
This afternoon, I called Christopher Harris to wish him a happy birthday. He’s 19 now!
I had to wait 18 years to contact these grandsons! Last year, legally, I was able to contact them. But their father answered the phone, neither boy was at home, and no one called me back.
This year, father again answered the phone, but didn’t ask who I was, and 19 year old Christopher (Chris!), was at home and came to the phone. The conversation was short (it was obvious he didn’t want to talk to me, but he was too polite to hang up). I accomplished my purpose, to make sure that they had my contact info, in case they ever wanted to get in touch with me. I let him know about his half-brother Michael visiting yesterday, and that I would be scanning his baby pictures into the family picture album, that I’d been there when he was born.
Wonder if he told his parents who’d called to wish him a happy birthday??? Contrary to what his adoptive parents might think, I’m NOT trying to usurp their parental position – but these are my grandsons and I didn’t sign any adoption papers!
Friday, March 03, 2006
A Winter Rain
It’s been one of the best afternoon’s I’ve had in a long time. And one I’ve been waiting far too long for. It rained; not sprinkles, not drizzle, not wind and thunder, just a normal Southern California, steady, winter rain. And best yet, I had nowhere I had to go, and nothing I had to get done. (Though I do love being out in the rain, my power wheelchair precludes such activities; WHY aren’t they totally waterproof???)
Not that it hasn’t rained lately, it has, but the rain has come pouring down in the middle of the night when about all you can see is it splattering against the windows. All that’s happened during the day this winter has been short lived sprinkles and drizzles. Not even lasting long enough to make a cup of coffee and get comfortable.
But this afternoon, it rained long and hard, for hours. So I spent the afternoon sitting in my new rocker, sipping on hot de-caf, reading a good mystery and stroking one cat or another. And watching the rain as it hit my patio and plants. I listened to it too, as it splattered the driveway and ran off the roof.
There are so many moments in life that are frightening, sad, uncertain or frantic, but a steady afternoon rain is an affirming life moment. Even if you’re out in it, driving or working, if you just take a few minutes to appreciate this gift of nature, a rain will help you in whatever ways you need help. A good daytime rain can center you, relax you, or you may even have an aha! moment and get a handle on something that’s been ‘sitting on your soul’ for awhile.
It’s still raining out as I write this, but night is falling, so visibly watching the falling rain is becoming impossible.
I would wish for all my friends, and relatives, a good rain tomorrow afternoon, and that they would TAKE the time to enjoy it…
Not that it hasn’t rained lately, it has, but the rain has come pouring down in the middle of the night when about all you can see is it splattering against the windows. All that’s happened during the day this winter has been short lived sprinkles and drizzles. Not even lasting long enough to make a cup of coffee and get comfortable.
But this afternoon, it rained long and hard, for hours. So I spent the afternoon sitting in my new rocker, sipping on hot de-caf, reading a good mystery and stroking one cat or another. And watching the rain as it hit my patio and plants. I listened to it too, as it splattered the driveway and ran off the roof.
There are so many moments in life that are frightening, sad, uncertain or frantic, but a steady afternoon rain is an affirming life moment. Even if you’re out in it, driving or working, if you just take a few minutes to appreciate this gift of nature, a rain will help you in whatever ways you need help. A good daytime rain can center you, relax you, or you may even have an aha! moment and get a handle on something that’s been ‘sitting on your soul’ for awhile.
It’s still raining out as I write this, but night is falling, so visibly watching the falling rain is becoming impossible.
I would wish for all my friends, and relatives, a good rain tomorrow afternoon, and that they would TAKE the time to enjoy it…
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