"I was thumbing through the want ads in the
Shelby County Tribune, when this classified advertisement caught my eye
..." When we took the family to Oklahoma in December, we listened to a
C.W. McCall CD through Nebraska. Tom know's all the words to "Classified
Advertisement." I myself could become a famous Country Music
Songwriter out of all this. I got the makin's for that great song all
around me! "... and I said now Earl that's a long story ... "
I know that no matter where I am, I am a burden to my family,
despite their willingness to take care of me. I know they don't feel the
same way. They have been absolutely wonderful, & my eyes fill with
tears when I try to figure out how I could ever thank them for getting me
through this obnoxious broken leg business. I can't thank them enough, but
I can help us all to get ready & understand what the next phase of
our lives will be in taking care of Mom. This is our dry run!
I've been camping out at Tom & Deb's since Friday.
And it's a whole lot more comfortable than my place is gonna be! We've
made daily trips home to take care of the critters. The water had frozen
in the house by Thursday night, so Tom turned it off in the well-house Saturday
morning. I have separate shut-offs for the house & the barn, but Tom
has still made several treks down into the spider-infested well-house (it's
heated ... spiders like it). At least the water to the barn won't freeze
(although if it gets real cold, the spickets will freeze).
Today, I asked to be taken home, to
try to be less obtrusive. I can't take care of the place by myself, but I
can try to be more independent. Tom took me home, visited the well-house
to turn the water on, then went to plug in a heater in the garage. That's
where he heard the water leak. I need a plumber. Tom brought me back
to his house.
He is going to get the flat tire on
the van fixed today. I doubt he'll fix the window of his truck that I
rolled down (my bad) as we drove through Burns. I wanted to wave at
my bus kids, even though I knew they wouldn't be there for another 5
minutes. Instead we spent 5 minutes parked by the Burns Insurance Agency,
while he tried to reattach his window to the frame.
I called Sam in Tennessee & her voice calmed me down
enough that I could call Mom & talk to her for a few minutes. Her
schedule still looks the same. She sounds good. Her voice is better,
but I imagine that will be temporary.
Tyler came home on Russell's bus, just like he does most days after
school. He woke me up, fed me jello and told me about his latest ideas on
having the goats pull the little red wagon. The atomic clock said it
was 52 degrees, so I put on Tom's coat, gathered the phones &
my notebook, & went back to my perch on the porch.
With my foot propped up, I watched him ride his
bicycle in the mud. He asked if he could move my crutches, so he could get
a better angle for riding on the deck. He tells me he isn't ready to ride
down the steps yet. I think about the metal in my leg & say a silent
prayer of thanks.
He rides back into the yard
& pulls his front wheel into the air. Just
like his Dad, he reminds me all too often of Evel Keneval. As I
watch him I realize how much Tyler really does remind me of his
father, except I always watched his Dad through the window. (Growing up,
we each had chores to do, every summer. Tom always had his done
before nine in the morning. Then he spent his day riding bikes with
his friends. I didn't even get out of bed before noon! Then I
put off doing my chores, reading, watching the Price is Right, but never
leaving the house because I hadn't done my chores. I'd stand in the front
door & watch him race by, & knew I couldn't resent him because it was my
own fault.)
Tyler brings the goats to meet me (again!).
And they play on the deck for a short bit. But when it's time to put them
away, Tyler doesn't say a thing to them ... he simply turns & runs off the
deck, and across the yard. Tanner & Jean realize he's gone & bound
down the steps, beating him to the goat pen gate by 3 steps.
I can understand why people in the south sit on
their front porches and watch the world go by. It is a rare but
beautiful opportunity here in Wyoming. I like this better then watching
life through the storm door.
Mom's voice has made a miraculous change today. When I talked to her
this morning, it was still raspy & she has to stop frequently to catch her
breath. But tonight, her voice has lost the raspiness. What a step
she has made!
She is supposed to have her 1st surgery on
Wednesday, but we don't have a time yet. We plan to be in Denver
for her. Until then, it looks like Tom is going to be stuck raising me
again! Folks, let this be a lesson: just because you're grown up & on
your own, you might not want to start teasing your little brother. You
just never know what can happen in a split second! ~ Val &
Tom