'Tis the season..

Oh, how I wish we all could be "jolly". I'm pretty sure there are some folks out there having a joyful time in spite of the current conditions of the world. Sadly, too many are suffering from the dreadful COVID and the new variant. Not only have some contracted it even though they are vaccinated but the fear of not being safe enough in spite of the vaccines is ruining many plans for a celebratory Christmas. It's hard to eat turkey or pumpkin pie with aging parents or grandparents, perhaps with health issues, seated across from you. Impossible to eat with a mask on! My own grown children do not like to be indoors with me without a mask on or a door open. They and my grandchildren have all been very conscientious about caring for themselves and my well-being. I haven't attended any of their gatherings during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, all their caution was to no avail. In the past couple of weeks there have been two cases of several of them being exposed to COVID. My young step-great-grandson, 12 years old, even though vaccinated, was diagnosed with COVID after going to an indoor movie with my daughter and other family members. So far, none have tested positive. However, two nights ago my daughter Carajean gave a birthday dinner at her home for my granddaughter Ashlyn. There was one guest of my grandson's attending who woke up yesterday morning with symptoms and tested positive for COVID. I'm guessing another round of tests will be conducted but too late to continue with Christmas Day plans. Sadly, calls were made to out-of-town family members who would be compromised should they come. They begged off. And of course, I must stay home as well.

I cannot believe there are still millions in the United States refusing to be vaccinated. It's hard to be a forgiving soul when their ignorance may be the cause of so many deaths, when they may be carrying the virus and giving it to others - even those who are vaccinated. It's even harder to believe the number of politicians who refuse to condemn the conspiracies being circulated to those millions. Then I recall the anti-vaxxers who refuse to vaccinate their children for communicable diseases. Many believe they cause autism. I wonder how many of those little children, even babies, came down with the dreadful diseases of childhood. Diseases that had almost been eradicated. They too are victims of conspiracy theories.

Along came Trump. How much better off we would be if only he hadn't lied so much about the virus and treatments thereof. Among the millions refusing the vaccine today there are probably scores of Trump followers. I noticed in the news lately that Trump let it be known that he now has got the booster. Maybe he feared he would lose too many of his team if they died from the virus! His "boosters" booed loudly at the rally when he confessed this.

Hooray that we now have a trustworthy President who keeps this country and the good of the American people foremost in his official duties - not the GOP politicians and the lobbyists. Good things to come in 2022.

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Not to be a Grinch on this Christmas Day, there have been good things in our family to share this season, as I'm sure there must have been in yours. Granddaughter Kelly had her sixteenth birthday in November and finally talked her dad Matthew into taking her to get her learner's permit to drive. They did that this month and dad sent these photos. Kelly rode that little car like a pro and I jokingly nicknamed her the future Danicka Patrick. I hope she doesn't try that on these Austin streets and freeways!

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I am finally going to be a great-grandmother! Surprises kept on coming. Oldest granddaughter Audrey and her husband Erick are going to be parents come next April! They recently held a gender reveal party and that let everyone know they will be having a baby boy! This little one will be welcomed by a big brother, Ishan, who is Erick's son. He is already a part of our family, and most of the time I speak of him as mine, too.  Congratulations to the proud parents!

I had hoped to get this out earlier, but so many technical changes are taking place I have taken too long to write this. All of you people who are sending photos taken with your iPhones take note: many do not open or download in a manner to be used unless you are on Apple or Mac. I had a couple I could not use because the instructions to change them to .jpg were too complicated for this aging brain. I did however get the following one from my daughter Carajean. This was taken today. It is 80 degrees here in Austin at 3 pm. Christmas ain't what it used to be!

Wherever you are and however you are celebrating, I hope you are enjoying this holiday season. Due to some minor health issues I will not be joining in the fun. However, I woke during the night and turned on the TV in my bedroom. I was amazed and happy to watch Pope Francis and his Christmas Mass. It's been a good day.

Peace and love,  Marilyn                            

P.S.

And a Happy New Year!

Big Boss

I sat at my desk across from the empty room, working on paperwork as other employees were at their desks behind me. Today I had to bring my toddler to work. He was happily playing in the empty room where I could keep my eye on him.

Engrossed in my work, I took my eyes off the room briefly. Suddenly, to my surprise, the closed door in the room began to open and my toddler was going through it into the next room. Before I could get out of my chair another door opened off that room and a bright light shone out of it. “Oh, no!” I whispered under my breath, as my precious babe started to enter that room as well. “That’s the ‘Big Boss’s’ room!” I gasped. Then I thought to myself, “It'll be okay. He will charm the 'Big Boss' like he does everyone else who meets him.”

Then I woke up. 

Three days later my friend April and I were waiting to watch the online memorial for my son Craig, who died the year before. I told her about the “strange” dream I had. “Marilyn!” she said. “Don’t you know who the ‘Big Boss’ is?” She was excited as we discussed the obvious meaning of my dream. God was reassuring me that my beloved son was being welcomed into His “office”. My eyes tear up now as I tell this story. I’m a believer you know.

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Life goes on. It's been a year since the worst experience of my life happened. Grief does terrible things to one's life if you allow it. Personally, it has taken it's toll on my body with various illnesses and complaints. Nothing serious enough to send me in search of the Big Boss's office, but enough to send me spiraling into the depths of self-pity. The more I hung onto my sorrow, the more my body has held onto enough illness to keep me feeling pretty miserable and wanting to isolate myself from well-meaning family and friends. Slowly but surely I am overcoming the worst feelings of despair. I'm beginning to see joyful happenings around me and desiring to participate in some of them.

I am blessed with a wonderful family. All are well and happily progressing in their lives. Grandchildren are working or in college and the youngest grandchild Kelly is still in high school. This weekend there will be a jubilant celebration when the oldest granddaughter Audrey and her husband Erick host a "gender reveal" party at their home. I will finally have my first great-grandchild! Great reason to hang in here, get healthy, and be around for the arrival of the baby next spring! Ahhh.. the Circle of Life.

There are many more tales to tell about our family's history. As I'm the oldest one left, I guess it falls on me to tell them.  Stay tuned.

Peace and good memories,

Marilyn

SCHOOL DAZE

School is starting now or very soon for my grandchildren. I checked in with them to get the latest. Of course, Tanner has been on the Texas 4000 bicycle ride for cancer research followed up by a week in Alaska with family and friends. His University of Texas courses will be up and running soon. In the meantime, here are some of the news from the others returning to classes.

    Hannah will be a senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown. She recently returned from Dallas where she spent the summer interning at a law firm and studying for the LSAT. She will be taking that soon. When I inquired about her schedule this term she sent me the following:

"I am about to head into a very busy semester. I will be doing an internship at The Georgetown Project, a local nonprofit focused on serving the needs of at risk and homeless youth in the community, as the Capstone project for my Psychology major. There are sadly enough kids in need everywhere, especially in the wake of the pandemic. I’m really excited about the work I’ll be able to do!" (I know that Hannah's late dad Craig is beaming his pride down on her.)

"This year I am also serving on the executive boards of three societies: Alpha Xi Delta, my sorority, as Membership VP, Alpha Chi, the academic honor society, as VP, and Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, as president. All the while, I will be applying to law schools. I’m already exhausted at the thought of it but excited for the challenge."

I asked Hannah for a favorite new photo and she sent me this one of her on the Seattle Space Needle. She certainly didn't get my genes when it comes to heights!

       

                    

Grandson Travis had a family entourage 

accompanying him last week to Texas Tech in Lubbock for his Sophomore year. He spent his Freshman year on a golf scholarship that disappointed him. Due to the pandemic, the golf team never got to play in a tournament. That small university was also in Lubbock so Travis made lots of friends at Tech in his off time. This year he talked mom and dad into allowing him to change schools. No golf scholarship though, but he's going to follow his dad Matthew's footsteps again and major in Business! (I'll bet there will be plenty of golf in his spare time.) Travis spent a good part of this summer working at the golf club where his mom and dad play weekly.

I got a big kick out of this picture of the gear Travis found it necessary to take to college. This doesn't show everything that took two carloads to carry. (i.e., an Xbox and a TV to play it on!) He probably won't be using those until his CA roommate moves out! Of course, I'm just teasing Travis. I think that he will be bringing that grade point average up to the 4.0 range like his cousins now that he will be in a happy frame of mind at his new school!

The Riders - Matt, Kelly, Travis, Amy

"Little" sister Kelly is a Sophomore at Vandegrift High School this Fall. She is also a member of the Vision Dance Team, and

has been practicing with them all summer. In July the Dance Team and the Band had a remarkable parade through the streets of Steiner Ranch, the development where she lives. Along with the Vandegrift High School Band, they got a big surprise when they were invited to march and perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2022. Besides being a good student, frequently on the honor roll, Kelly has enjoyed acting in school productions.

Kelly - Age 9

Recently she has been requesting going to Drivers Ed so she can drive herself to all her busy activities. Yikes! I dread that, as Austin traffic is horrific. In the meantime, she was a good companion on the golf course, driving the golf cart for her mom and dad! When Kelly wishes to learn something new, she turns to YouTube. She studied flute, ukulele, and her latest musical instrument is the keyboard - all by viewing YouTube tutorials! (Drivers Ed?)

Speaking of musical instruments, of my seven grandchildren all but one play at least one instrument. Daughter Carajean's three children play, and she accompanies them from time to time on her violin. All are classically trained, the young ones beginning the Suzuki method as young as three years old.  Tanner is now playing guitar as well as the cello. Cameron, who's late dad Craig played a mean guitar, majored in voice in college and also plays guitar.

Erick & Audrey

None of the musicians in the family plays professionally. However, granddaughter Audrey married Erick in 2019. Erick is a professional musician, playing in a band he helped form Superfonicos, which plays Colombian Funk music here in Austin. Today he sent me the following message: "Made it on BBC yesterday!"

Superfonicos LIVE on BBC  Erick is the good looking guy in the front row, right. 

The pandemic has prevented too many performances for the last year and a half. I'm sure they will begin to increase their performances as this year progresses. The Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival will be held two weekends, Oct.2 - Oct.10, if all goes well and the pandemic doesn't force them to cancel like last year. Superfonicos will play the 2nd weekend of ACL. October 10th. 3:30pm. BMI stage.

Peace, love, and toe-tapping music,

Marilyn

PROMISE FOR OUR FUTURE

In my last post, (Sentimental Me) I told about my grandson, Branch Tanner Archer, and his latest endeavor. As a member of the Sierra Route group of bicycle riders raising money for cancer research, (see Texas 4000), they just completed a 70-day trip of over 6,000 miles in the lower 48 states. They were originally to ride all the way to Alaska but Canada closed its borders before their ride began. Arriving back home in Austin this past Friday, Tanner is now on his way to Alaska (by plane, not bicycle!) to meet up with his parents and other family members. They had made reservations to be in Alaska to greet the riders before Canada closed its borders, and they were unable to cancel their flights for refunds. The family will enjoy this next week with Tanner. Although Mom and Dad were not here to celebrate with him at the ride's conclusion, other family members were:

Papaw, Tanner, Aunt Amy & Cousin Kelly

I haven't yet heard how much money was raised, but the dedication of these young riders is extremely admirable. I want to share what Tanner wrote as his reasons for participation in this grueling fund-raising event:

"My mother survived breast cancer, but I was too young to remember much of what happened. I remember her wigs, and I also remember her lying in bed a lot. My Aunt Elizabeth passed away from colon cancer, but again I was too young to really understand. I finally understood when my Aunt Evelyn, single mother to my cousins Bruce and Annie, passed away from metastasized breast cancer in her spine that we thought she had beaten years ago.

"I'm not sold on free will, but I do think we have choices (and that matters). These women chose something. My mom chose to double the length of her chemo to ensure that it never came back. My aunt chose to laugh at my dad’s jokes that Thanksgiving, just weeks before her death. She chose to fight through ten years of chemo, work full-time as a physician, and raise two children by herself all at once. I have never heard a word of self-pity from either of these women. That’s what they chose, and I want to thank them and their children for their brave choices with my choice to ride."

If you wish to feel optimistic about the future of our country, go to the website for Texas 4000 and read what other young riders wrote about their own reasons for joining in this worthy cause. Many of them are studying for careers in the environmental sciences. You may also choose to donate at this site.

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The strength and courage and determination of these young adults give me much hope for the future of our country and the world. 

Peace and love,

Marilyn

 

SENTIMENTAL ME

“I am at peace with the process of death and grieving. I give myself time and space to go through this natural, normal process of life. I am gentle with myself. I allow myself to work through the grief. I am aware that I can never lose anyone and that I am never lost. In the twinkling of an eye, I will connect with the soul again.” 

As I have written about before, my son Craig made his transition last October. He had lived here with me the year before. When he moved into his own apartment he left behind all of his ties. He no longer dressed in white shirts and ties as he did in previous jobs. If he needed to wear one for some occasion he would just retrieve one from my closet. Many of them I had given to Craig as gifts. His favorites were by Jerry Garcia. I later gave them to my daughter Carajean to keep. Perhaps someone in the family could use them. Carajean surprised me with the small quilted piece above for Mother's Day. She had it professionally made from his ties. 

Craig had a cat named Floki that he was crazy about. The feeling was mutual. Floki has since been adopted by my granddaughter Audrey and her husband Erick. They have all been staying at Carajean's until they move into their new home. Carajean said that when she was working on a pattern for the above and spread the ties out on the floor, Floki immediately came and sat down in the middle of them. He did so again once the quilted piece was finished. He must have smelled his beloved master on them. (I have to admit that being near them on my sofa I feel a strong sense of Craig's presence as well.)

FLOKI

As you can see in the photo below, he is being well taken care of by granddaughter Audrey. To keep Floki safe from predators and traffic she takes him for walks in his very own carrier. 

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Carajean's son Tanner never wastes time. His pursuits are always out of the ordinary. (For instance, he has spent the last couple of years learning Mandarin Chinese. He plans to apply in the future for a year's study in China.) Besides a full load of courses at the University of Texas, he has been a member of the charitable organization Texas 4000 for Cancer for the past year. They have been training on their bicycles for a grueling 70-day trip that began last weekend. Each had to demonstrate they were able to ride 100 miles in 10-hours or less in order to participate in the current Sierra ride. To read about this wonderful organization and perhaps donate, check out their website: TEXAS 4000 Each rider has a personal, moving story about their reasons for raising money to combat cancer.

I got a big kick out of the photo below. This was taken of Tanner on Day 1 of their ride. Ballinger, Texas was where his grandfather and I went to school, met, and married. It's a small West Texas town on their route. The ride originally was to be all the way to Alaska, from which they would fly home. However, due to the pandemic Canada closed their border which instituted many changes in their route. They now are riding in the lower 48 states, returning home on their bicycles. I assume the route will be the same distance mileage-wise. There is a good map on the website.

I couldn't be prouder of this young man. Last year he and a good friend did a "standathon" to raise awareness and money for "Extinction Rebellion", an international nonviolent movement seeking real solutions to climate change. They not only remained standing for 24-hours, being watched online, but they raised over $2,000. Standing for Change

I know Branch Tanner Archer is going to go far in this life and contribute even more to make this grandmother proud!

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It has been difficult to endure the news during the past year and a half without spewing out obscenities on my blogs. Staying home due to the pandemic made it worse, as COVID-19 made it worse. I am now practicing changing my negative thoughts to positive ones before commenting on politics again. Events such as these I have experienced from family make life a lot easier.

Cheer up everyone. There really is light at the end of the tunnel.

Love and peace,

Marilyn

Memories to be Made

I hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend. We had horrific storms last night. My daughter Carajean had lots of damage to their Lake Travis home-site. She said the walkway to their boat dock broke, causing the dock to be blown onto the entrance to the community boat ramp. She was waiting for the "boat dock guy" when we last texted. The winds were said to reach 70 mph at times, causing lots of damage all over the area. The only things I noticed here are lots of tree branches in my yard and on my deck. There were many power outages all over Austin and lots of flooded low water crossings remain closed today. Thank goodness our road did not flood this time. In 2018, Lake Travis flooded enough that Mansfield Dam had to have another gate opened. This is what happened to CJ's boat dock that time:

Son Matthew and his wife Amy are playing in a golf tournament today at their club. Apparently wet and soggy greens are not much of a deterrent!  At least the weather today is cooler than the 90 degree heat we've had this past week.

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Erick

The Independence Brewing Company recently held a theme song contest. The winner gets 1,000 bucks, a year supply of Native Texan beer, and studio time!" My grandson-in-law Erick sent me the following video that he and my grandson Tanner made to enter the contest. I was disappointed when they announced the final winner. Erick's video (he wrote the lyrics and music) had previously been chosen Number Four of the top five videos. They then had a "people's choice" vote to decide the winner. I didn't know about it in time to gather votes for theirs. I'm not on Facebook, which is where they

Tanner

announced the runoff. Tanner did a great job of filming and editing. He's done a few remarkable videos since he was around age eleven or twelve. I think that their collaboration on this one shows that they could come up with a "winner" without it being in a contest. Check out their entry:

Erick, a talented musician, is a founding member of the Colombian Funk band Superfonicos. The pandemic has curtailed most of their performances. However, they recently had a gig at The Empire here in Austin. Hopefully, they will be filling their schedule with many appearances as the lessening of the COVID-19 restrictions proliferate and many of Austin's music venues are reopening. Here is their official video, with more to be found on YouTube: Superfonicos - Suelta Makes you want to "shake your booty" and tap your toes, doesn't it?

Peace to all,

Marilyn

FAMILY UPDATE

My son Matthew and his family never seem to run out of fun things to do together. Matthew first loved to play golf as his father did, so it was only natural that he taught his son Travis to play as soon as he was big enough to hold his own golf clubs. Travis just finished his Freshman year on a golf scholarship at Lubbock Christian College. As the two of them spent more and more time together on the golf course or watching tournaments on television, it wasn't long before Matt's wife Amy took up the sport as well. Their daughter Kelly is more into dance and music, although her mother tells me that she is a pretty good golfer, too, when she chooses to play. However, I hear that she is a terrific golf cart driver. Kelly just finished her Freshman year in high school. I see Driver's Ed in her future!

From time to time this past year I kept hearing about Amy's golf experiences. After hearing about her "wins", I decided to ask her about them. You can tell by her responses that she is very excited about the game of golf. Not to mention the fact that there is money to be won! If the teams weren't "computer-generated" I'll bet she would be a popular choice as a team mate! I'm not really up on all the golf terminology, however, there are probably enough golfers reading this who will understand the lingo!   Way to go, Amy!

"I won first place with my team of three players at the weekly Hump Day Hustle, which is a fun social golf league open to all adult Golf Members of the club. It is a three-Person Scramble, ABC Computer-Generated Teams, with a Weekly Powerball drawing following the round. My team also won the Powerball drawing. If no one wins the Powerball that week, the pot keeps building until a team wins. The pot got up to $1,600 and my team won. So I won a total of $663 from my First Place win and the Powerball win.  I am the only female on the three-person team and the men benefit from having me on their team because I get to hit from the Red tees, which sets them up nicely to have a chance at eagle and mostly birdie chances on each hole."

Amy went on to say, "Matthew and I have been playing a great deal of golf since the pandemic started. I have joined the WGA (women's golf association) at River Place CC and have met a lot of new people. I have two great coaches (Matthew and Travis) that have helped improve my game over the past several months. I have played in two women's tournaments thus far. My first tournament ever was The Blind Date Scramble and my team came in First Place. In March, I played in the Shamrock Scramble and we came in Third. Matthew and I have signed up to play in a tournament Memorial Day Weekend. The WGA and MGA are teaming up for their First Annual Charity Golf Tournament. This year's tournament will benefit Meals on Wheels. I am super excited about this event. I just enjoy being in the great outdoors and being with wonderful people, playing a game that I have come to love."

I wish them luck at the tournament this weekend. Affirming clear, blue skies.

Peace,

Marilyn