Sarah's Visit

Hello,

It is almost hard to remember what all of our activities were. One thing I must say right away. One of the granddaughters commented at the beginning of their visit, “Iowa is so boring, why would anyone live here?”

That does not insult me, but I am not sure they understood my remarks in return, “Different people want different things in life. I like not having so many people around and much grass and trees.”

However, as the week progressed I did not hear them talk about boredom. It seemed to me they were busy and engaged almost all of the time. I know that I was. They left yesterday morning. Does that mean there is no more excitement in my life?

Yesterday, I did put everything away that I could, washed several loads of laundry, and took a short afternoon nap. For some reason I kept waking in the nights and not able to return to sleep.

Leroy worked yesterday so his long, much longer, afternoon nap is taking place today. He managed to get some naps while they were here, but not as much as he would have liked.

We returned to the grocery store several times during their stay. I find I do not have a clue about how much food is needed for three more people. Each time the entire group went for added input about appropriate purchases as they do not eat many of the same things that Leroy and I will eat and enjoy.

In a later missive I will give some details about our activities.

Paula

Stopping Running Water

Hello,

Who knew that the gift of stopping running water could be so great? We have been having trouble getting the water turned off in our kitchen sink. Sometimes it took some serious patience to get it in the right spot. I kept thinking that it should be tightened, but Leroy, who had helped Clark install it, said there was no way to tighten it. Instead a new part would have to be purchased. Leroy did comment that when he was not so busy he would work on it. Somehow all of that sounded quite remote and not to likely to happen to my ears.

Yesterday our downstairs friends had the local “handyman” fixing something. When they asked if we needed anything while he was there I told about the uncooperative facet handle. In what seems like no time at all we had a sink that was off and no drips. What a great thing! I could have danced a jig. I could live with that possible drip but it did not enrich my life.

Now to go to a totally different subject, I had set it up so our credit card bill is paid automatically. The bill should have been paid Monday; however I had not gotten an email notice that it had been. I get those notices for other bills when they are paid. In a panic I gathered my number, the name of the person who set up the transfer for me, the confirmation number, and the phone number of the company. After inputting my number it informed me that the bill had been paid. Such a relief! I kept telling myself to calm down with remarks that it is only money and not a life or a limb belonging to someone I love.

Something to look forward to, Sarah and her girls with come visit tomorrow. I had planned to pick them up, but will work instead. So Leroy will have the pleasure of picking them up at the airport. I never would have thought that my family would be so involved in flying around, but I am grateful for the possibilities.

Paula

School Reunion

Hello,

Saturday, I went to my high school reunion. It was for all the alumni. Unfortunately only two others from my class were there. Fortunately my school was small and I knew a number of the people who attended from other classes. It was great to see four of my former teachers. All but one of them remembered me. I also found it interesting to see that they did not look so old because when they taught they were old.

I was also pleased to reconnect with some of my cousins on my mother’s side of the family. It is not often that I see these people since only one of them lives in the area although all of us are within driving distance.

Leroy went along and he dealt with it all ok even though he knows no one. He managed to visit with some people in spite of them being strangers. It was so noisy that we did not stay too late, plus I had talked with everyone that I knew by sight or nametag. It was often a process of getting close enough to someone’s ear so they could hear. Not complaining here just noting the difficulty of talking in a room with all who are trying to be heard and the volume keeps rising.

I was once again struck by how beautiful this part of the country is. I had not been there for some years. I love those hills covered with woods. It is not easy for me to think about leaving this part of the Midwest.

Paula

Old Garden Bag

Hello,

Leroy and I went to the community garden. This year we have not been very active in working there so I have not felt as comfortable harvesting. However at the last neighborhood meeting it was announced that green beans were ready. Often people do not come at the right time so we went. In just four plants we had picked enough for a nice meal tonight. We also picked a turnip that was almost totally above ground. It needed rescuing, right? The kohlrabi was in the same rescuable state. They are home now waiting for some more attention.

I have an old backpack that I use when going to the garden. It did belong to son Brian a long time ago. I can’t remember if he threw it in the garbage the year he graduated from high school or college, but I think that was the first. I thought it was in much too good a shape to toss so I pulled it out of the refuse pile. At some point I even sent it in to the company to fix since they have a lifetime guarantee. They replaced one of the zippers. It went to Slovakia with me where I used it almost daily. I have used it almost always when I could walk to a store. Since we have lived in this place I have acquired a new bag, but still kept the old. It goes to the garden with me. I keep it loaded with a paring knife, various sized bags, and a pair of garden gloves. The zipper still works, the leather bottom is still strong, however; it looks tired. Glad I rescued this bag for a longer life of usefulness. That is a great recycle story. Now if I could manage to do that with a few other things in my life, the world would be a different place.

Paula

Hot Day

Hello,

Leroy and I went out at the crack of dawn to do some work on weeds outside, not to help weeds, but to eliminate. I dead headed some flowers and watered anything whether it looked thirsty or not.

It was great to be outside and not feel overwhelmed by the hot humid air. It was not cool, but better than it will be. I was also upset when I saw the amaryllis that I plant outside for the summer had been attacked by some critter that tore off the leaves and chewed on the top of the bulb. I did not even see the fourth bulb or the leaves. My downstairs friend said, “Did you see that bulb I found the other day? I put in on the deck.”

Unfortunately I had not seen it. It could well have been the smaller amaryllis. I am sorry to see this destruction. All creatures must eat, but I only like to share certain things.

Last night Leroy and I took a long walk. It was great to walk under trees and in open areas where the breeze was wafting through. I was happy to get my 10,000 steps in spite of the sweat dripping off my chin. Amazing how cool it felt to go inside where the AC was working without a problem. It almost seemed cold. Adjustments, adjustments!

We are going to my hometown for the all school reunion. I will also visit with my brother and his family. Some of the reunion activities are to be outdoors. Hopefully that will be in the shade. I am a bit concerned about that. If there is too much sun, I will have to leave and just consider it a visit with my brother. I am not sure why but it reminds me that our parents and sister have died. So a bit sad to think about the changes, even if many of them are an expected part of life.

Paula

Forgotten Things

Hello,

Leroy forgot to clean out his bottom desk drawer at church. On the way home from the museum, where he worked a half day, he stopped at the church and finished leaving the job. Apparently most of the things just needed to be eliminated one way or another. He did not bring home much on this trip. I am grateful for that as there were a number of items that now need a home around here. For example: a mug, note pads, a few books, his alb (which my mother made), and a few clergy shirts that he is pondering the question of will he use them again? One shirt will be gone because it is not in such good shape. The others are fine, but how many shirts does a retired pastor need? Depends on what the future holds.

Leroy rode his bike to work which was fine until he was ready to leave the church. It looked quite dark with a storm threatening, but he thought he could make it. About two blocks from the church it started to rain lightly. He still felt he could make the distance of less than a mile. That was not a thought that came true. In just a little distance more, the heavens opened and it started to dump on him. Now he tells me that he feels it made not much difference which direction he went so he kept coming home. By the time he got here he called up the stairs that I should give him a towel. He tells me that he even had to wring out his underwear. I guess you would call that soaked to the skin. His tennis shoes were water logged, but we recalled that Brian had told us to stuff newspaper in them to wick it out. It is not instant, but over time and changes of newspaper it works.

Leroy figures he now needs adventure in his life, hence riding through a storm.

Paula

Retirement Thoughts

I wrote this incase I was asked to say something at the retirement reception, but it was not that type of reception. More of a “greet and mingle” type. So I am sharing with you so all my work goes for something

What is it like to be married to someone whose life has been immersed in the church for 48 years?

Upon learning that Leroy intended to pursue a career in the ministry I wondered if it could work, because every pastor I knew was a talkative soul. Considering the options for failure I still decided to take a chance on this quiet guy. As it turns out, there is a place for the quiet, thoughtful preacher, especially one who is willing to learn new things and try new places and possibilities.

I can say that Leroy has improved with age and my assistance. His grammatical structure was a problem when I first met him. The English teacher in me leaped into action. Now he hardly ever confuses his subject and verb agreement.

In churches where he was all the staff except the weekly custodian, he learned to do almost everything from regular pastoral duties, getting the bulletin together weekly, answering the phone, and plunging the toilet if necessary. However, he quickly learned to stay out of the kitchen as it was the “New Holy of Holies” that he had not been taught about in seminary.

My children learned, at a young age, to answer the parsonage phone with a set script. I had a little more flexibility. Often people would assume that I knew much more information than Leroy shared. I became a master at “hum or oh”.

Most at home duties were in my corner. Retirement might be a challenge as Leroy is perhaps expecting to have more say in where the toilet paper is stored.

We are grateful for the time that Leroy has had official responsibilities here at First Lutheran. It has allowed him to still have some good people time in his life.

Paula