I Corinthians 13:12 ~ For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Like traveling in a rain storm being drenched on the windshield. It's like looking through a carnival glass. You can "see", but the images are distorted and the landscape is as odd as to be indiscernable from the road.
Such is life at this moment.
My mother in law has been the strongest women in my life. Mom stands very tall even in comparison to my own mother who told the doctor, "I will go home." And strutted in the door to die quietly in her bed within 48 hours.
Around six year ago Mom had a hip replacement. In the midst of her rehab she developed MRSA and ended up in a nursing home receiving IV antibiotics for a period of time. But, she came through well. Went home and spent the next few years in her chair with all but a scepter ruling her family from that chair. She drove to church and to the Dollar store and hid the times she fell or hit the garage door or otherwise did things she knew we would find troublesome. She complained when we didn't visit or call and often complained when we did. Her bitterness at her widowhood grew and her frugal living grew also.
Four years later during a visit with my son she revealed a horrific accident that resulted in some serious damage to her leg. In her desire to "hide the evidence" she developed cellulitis. Serious stuff when it comes to connective tissue and nerves. The leg was painful from there forward. Stubbornness has a price.
In May of this year (two years since that accident) she decided that the pain in her knee was worse than the pain in her hip, so she consented to another knee replacement. While we were not comfortable with the surgery, as she seemed frail to us, we knew it was her decision to make, along with the surgeon. We also had her 99% convinced in light of falls and whatnot that she should move in with us at the completion of this surgery.
Her surgery done and two pints of blood later, we had the good fortune of her going to Bridgewater Retirement Community for her rehab. She worked hard, complained much and was released to us in 21 days. In our "new" home, bought just for her, with TV and phone, she went through 3 more weeks of in house therapy. Her attitude became more and more combative as time went on. At the time we thought she could settle in here she announced she was going home. No consideration for the amount of money we had spent, were spending and were locked into spending she insisted on going back to her home. My dear husband in his prophetic wisdom said, "give me the name of the nursing home where you want to go. In six weeks you'll be there." Boy was she mad. I can still see the anger in her face and set of her jaw. Henry took her home that day. That very day. That was June 28th.
July 28th Henry and I were visiting a sister in Christ at a local nursing home. We received a call that Mom was in the ER in Winchester. Over the next days the story would unfold. Winchester had experienced a bit of a wind storm that had blown limbs out of her trees. The temperatures were in 100's, so even though she "complained" to both her sons, they both said it was too hot to be outside and that we were ALL staying inside. Not mom. On that Wednesday we spoke with her at 9:45 a.m. Our Missy spoke with her sometime before or after and she told her, (not us), that she was going outside to pick up sticks. As near as we can tell, she made a walk around the house and about 5' from the back porch steps she either: fainted or had a heart attack. Either way she lay in the sun for approximately two hours before a mail carrier came early and happen to see her blouse waving in the wind.
For five days she languished on a ventilator after arriving with a fever in "far excess" of 105.8, (doctors estimate 107), with third degree burns on her legs, a septic UTI, second degree burns on her stomach and a heart that was now working about about 30% it's capacity. Her life hung in a very delicate balance. But, when she decided to awaken, she did. Much to the surprise of the CCU doctor she awoke with no serious brain damage (though some continues to unfold), and willing to "get on with things".
On August 9th my husband had a knee replacement. On the 11th Mom came back to Bridgewater for rehab. Things were looking up. The doctors had already told mom she could not go home, so she had settled herself with the idea of coming to live with us. We were getting reacquainted with the idea and she asked that I bring things to our home. I loaded up my car and hauled personal items from her house to mine in expectation that on August 31st she'd be heading back to our house. Ahhhh, but not so fast...
August 21st we were celebrating Henry's birthday. We'd visited Mom that day and she seemed down a bit, but okay. At 6 p.m. we received a call that she was running a high fever and was not in her right mind. I spent the next 7 hours with her in the ER. She was admitted with a UTI. After careful examination it was determined she probably had cellulitis in her burn areas of her legs. On August 25th she had a debriding of her legs. A pic line was inserted on August 26th. On her 84th birthday, August 27th she was headed back to Bridgewater. Within fifteen minutes of her arrival a phone call from RMH informed them that she was a "C-diff" suspect (clostridium difficile) and should be in isolation. The move was traumatic for Mom. The test results were never provided so after her symptoms were alleviated she went back to her room. Once again we hoped she was on the road to recovery.
Bridgewater had nearly become her home. She was happy there, loved her caregivers and had settled in with the therapists to get better and come "home". Two of her great-grandsons were with us that week, so she was able to see them every day and was happily coming along.
Then... betrayal....
On Labor Day we went to see Mom. She didn't quite seem herself. She was moody and seemed tired. Henry left with a thought to her getting sick again. She had had some blood in her urine and had told the nurses.
3:00 a.m. the call came. High temp and delirious. Admitted with another UTI only this time.... this time it was VRE. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci. If you have never heard of it, don't worry. You will. It is the equal to AIDS. Perhaps worse than AIDS. AIDS has some political backing to keep the pariah attitude somewhat at bay. VRE has no political backing and creates fear in the heart of every "better" nursing home in the nation. Treating the VRE resulted in another case of C-diff and here we are. Bridgewater called to tell us there was "no room at the Inn". Neither was there "room" in any of the top three. From there it's down hill.
Meetings resulted with doctors, nurses, social workers. Learning of the chronic natures of these dis-eases. Learning that Mom's quality of life was quickly going out the window. Learning more than I ever wanted to know.
The end isn't here. Everything keeps going on and on and on. Mom's tired, we're tired... it's a never ending circle. Yesterday, when she was to be released to the nursing home of no one's choice a blood clot was discovered in her pic line. So she has a reprieve. Four more days in the hospital.
Through a glass darkly is becoming more and more a watch word for all of us. As people of strong faith we are now beginning to ask the "whys" and the answer is "through a glass darkly". Who knows? God knows. All the rest is just walking through the valley. Not stopping, not placing blame, not sleeping, not resting. Just walking. Walking through a sea of doctors, nurses, government bureaucracy and social workers. Walking.
I think I need new shoes.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
God is Great, God is Good
And yes, while I thank Him for my food, that is not all,by far, that I thank Him for! Our latest "big" thanksgiving is two fold.
The husband has been planning his knee replacement and on June 28th when he went in for his pre-op for his July 28 surgical date. His EKG came back awry. Very awry. Awry enough that they scheduled him for an immediate echocardiagram for the next day. On June the 29th, even though he "passed" the echo, the cardiologist stated he'd "like" to have a stress test to be sure. Because we were leaving for Annual Conference the next day his surgical date was pushed back to August 9th. Henry and I were very upset about the date change.
There is so much about the Universe of God that we neither know nor comprehend.
Well, the stress test came and went and he passed just fine. The rest of the tests were done, chest x-ray, blood work, meeting with physical therapy and all the rest of that stuff and the August 9th date was confirmed. We asked about "cancellations" for July 28th.
God's timing is perfect. We, on the other hand, are not.
This past Wednesday... July 28th .... we had our Bible study at church ending at 11. From there Henry and I went McDonalds and had a salad and then went on to the Harrisonburg Rehabilitation Center to visit one of our nursing home folks before I had an allergy doctor appointment. It was about twelve-fifteen when we entered the home. As we visited with Sue and talked of this an that, the cell phone rang and it was my brother-in-law, Steve.
At the same time a woman named Teresa was on her regular mail route. The mail was light that day, so she was running an hour or so ahead of time. She pulled into my mother-in-laws drive, where we had moved her mailbox so she wouldn't have to cross the road. She put the mail in the box, put her car in gear to pull away when something in the breeze caught her eye.
Mom was on the ground, unconscious, barely breathing when Teresa found her and stops breathing while she is with her. Her fever exceeds 106 degrees. Her heart stops just after the squad gets there.
~~~
What timing. What perfection. A surgical procedure postponed. A woman is early in her regular rounds. A rescue squad comes just in time. Two "errors" converge to effect both families. The third timing effects all those involved.
~~~
Now mom isn't out of the woods yet, by any means. She is just today off the ventilator. She still cannot communicate and she may never. Her mental damage is unknown at this time. We don't know the future. But, God sure does. He proved that quite neatly. Had the EKG been fine and my husband been in the hospital having surgery he would have been miserable not being with his mother these last days. By being early, this woman allowed her children and mine to see their beloved Nanny for, perhaps, the last time.
This is no "cosmic joke" or "coincidence" ~ This is God's PERFECT TIMING. If all this isn't the greatest example of why NOT to WORRY, I don't know what is.
A week from tomorrow. Husband's surgery. I'm sure the timing will be perfect.
The husband has been planning his knee replacement and on June 28th when he went in for his pre-op for his July 28 surgical date. His EKG came back awry. Very awry. Awry enough that they scheduled him for an immediate echocardiagram for the next day. On June the 29th, even though he "passed" the echo, the cardiologist stated he'd "like" to have a stress test to be sure. Because we were leaving for Annual Conference the next day his surgical date was pushed back to August 9th. Henry and I were very upset about the date change.
There is so much about the Universe of God that we neither know nor comprehend.
Well, the stress test came and went and he passed just fine. The rest of the tests were done, chest x-ray, blood work, meeting with physical therapy and all the rest of that stuff and the August 9th date was confirmed. We asked about "cancellations" for July 28th.
God's timing is perfect. We, on the other hand, are not.
This past Wednesday... July 28th .... we had our Bible study at church ending at 11. From there Henry and I went McDonalds and had a salad and then went on to the Harrisonburg Rehabilitation Center to visit one of our nursing home folks before I had an allergy doctor appointment. It was about twelve-fifteen when we entered the home. As we visited with Sue and talked of this an that, the cell phone rang and it was my brother-in-law, Steve.
At the same time a woman named Teresa was on her regular mail route. The mail was light that day, so she was running an hour or so ahead of time. She pulled into my mother-in-laws drive, where we had moved her mailbox so she wouldn't have to cross the road. She put the mail in the box, put her car in gear to pull away when something in the breeze caught her eye.
Mom was on the ground, unconscious, barely breathing when Teresa found her and stops breathing while she is with her. Her fever exceeds 106 degrees. Her heart stops just after the squad gets there.
~~~
What timing. What perfection. A surgical procedure postponed. A woman is early in her regular rounds. A rescue squad comes just in time. Two "errors" converge to effect both families. The third timing effects all those involved.
~~~
Now mom isn't out of the woods yet, by any means. She is just today off the ventilator. She still cannot communicate and she may never. Her mental damage is unknown at this time. We don't know the future. But, God sure does. He proved that quite neatly. Had the EKG been fine and my husband been in the hospital having surgery he would have been miserable not being with his mother these last days. By being early, this woman allowed her children and mine to see their beloved Nanny for, perhaps, the last time.
This is no "cosmic joke" or "coincidence" ~ This is God's PERFECT TIMING. If all this isn't the greatest example of why NOT to WORRY, I don't know what is.
A week from tomorrow. Husband's surgery. I'm sure the timing will be perfect.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Forty Seconds
So much has happened in the last several months that it's actually hard to compose it all or even to process it all. The Advent season was a blur in that it was spent in preparation for one event or another ~ the Live Nativity to leaving for Haiti left very little time for much else. Leaving for Haiti on December 28th was cause for confusion. After packing several suitcases we learned that only two were allowed and no more could be purchased either. That left us short on OTC that we planned to take along for clinics. But, it seems God knew that already and while in the country several clinics were rained out. In fact, we left behind a number of suture kits and antibiotics and a plethora of other items to be used at "some future time". They were... in a rescue operation ... days later.
Bringing in 2010 in Haiti was wonderful. Two full days of worship and singing and celebration for God's blessings in 2009 and expected blessings in 2010. The Haitian people have nothing but they sure have hope and faith that makes me feel little in comparison. Though I had some kind of foreshadow with this trip, I was never more glad to have gone. Still, we realized how much God works and how much suffering occurs in that Country while God performs miracle after miracle. Ask me about them sometime. Everyone wants to hear about the trip, but few want to believe the things we see or witness or well.. you know. Anything out of the ordinary makes us a tad uncomfortable and if it's out of the realm of normal, well... God help us in our unbelief!
Coming back was uneventful. So uneventful as to be strange. Five hours without a breakdown in rain! No blocked roads... nothing to prevent us from making our exit flight on time. Ahhh.. one can look back and wonder at all that.
Driving into Port au Prince we were in a traffic jam and stopped right in front of the UN compound gate for several minutes. Two soldiers were bargaining with a Haitian to buy one of his watches. That scene has played out in my mind a hundred times since January 11. We also were stopped for a minute or two in front of a technical school. I saw it on the news a few hours later as rubble, only the sign standing. The airport was in better shape than we had ever seen it! American Airlines had a beautiful portion of the terminal.. new... with air conditioning and no loading on the tarmac. It was super. "was" is operative here. An eye witness told me yesterday he wouldn't dream of entering that terminal now... He stood on the tarmac for 14 hours to get a C130 back to US soil.
When we landed in Miami one of my first orders of business was to call Carol Ann. She's always gone with us on our trips and this year her doctor forbade her to go and when she said she "just might go anyway" Henry and I told her she couldn't go because we wouldn't let her defy her doctor. I wanted her to be a part of our trip, so called her as soon as we hit US soil. She was on her way to Winchester Medical Center. She had found her husband slumped over the woodpile a little while before that. It was 4:12 p.m. I remember looking at my watch.
Again, the flight was uneventful as we flew into Dulles and was met by our dear friend and driver, Walter. We were no time at all getting out of the airport and as soon as we cleared the area, I sent Carol a text, "update?" It was 11:20 p.m. I was not prepared for her return text. Townsend had died ten minutes before. Do you know how many times I have realized how horrible it would have been if Carol Ann had been with us on the trip? God knows the future in so many ways. Life can change in an instant. An instant... A blood vessel bursts....
We got into bed somewhere around 3 a.m. and by noon the next day we were on our way to West Virginia. When we got there Carol was sleeping so I didn't bother her. We just took seats in the living room and watched CNN like everyone else. There was a house full.
Around 5:10 my world stopped for a few moments. Here I was 27.5 hours away from being "there" to learn that my second home had been rocked, literally by a massive earthquake. How many times looking over those mountains from planes and buses and wondered about their formation? How many people did I love that lived just near that epicenter? How many people did I love that lived within 70 miles of it? And here I was, at the home of another loved one already in mourning. A 40 second earthquake. Forty seconds and a city is in ruins. Forty seconds and family is decimated.
It took two days to hear of the status of my family there. Two days of tears and wringing of hands and hundreds of phone calls (or so it seemed). Many called me to make sure we'd gotten home. Others called to see what we had heard and I called many to check and check and check. Emails flew like the wind and hourly texts were sent. I am thankful that all whom I personally knew live. Many of those they personally knew did not. One church fallen, another badly damaged. Homes destroyed.
My next order of business was to see who we could get out. It turned out that four of our family had grabbed passports as they left their collapsing home and we were able to fly them out of Santiago. They spent three weeks with us and have now gone north to a brother's home to try to be able to stay here. They have no place to go... a pregnant mother with two small children. The father will return to Haiti where he can find work (he cannot by law work here) and he will sleep in his truck that was undamaged. He will help where he can and provide for his family if he can. He will try. Others sleep under tarps or have gone to the mountains where safety is a bit more sure... for now.
But what of others. These lives changed in 40 seconds! Carol's life changed in seconds.... our lives can be taken in 40 seconds or less. It put a whole new perspective on life for me. In forty seconds I can be safely here, safely Home in eternity or suffering in eternity. Some of that scenario is still my choice.... the 4o seconds is not. 275,000 people had 40 seconds or less.
Choice... Townsend's choice was Jesus. Others in Haiti made the choice for Jesus also ~ but there were/are those that don't, won't or..... Forty seconds.
Bringing in 2010 in Haiti was wonderful. Two full days of worship and singing and celebration for God's blessings in 2009 and expected blessings in 2010. The Haitian people have nothing but they sure have hope and faith that makes me feel little in comparison. Though I had some kind of foreshadow with this trip, I was never more glad to have gone. Still, we realized how much God works and how much suffering occurs in that Country while God performs miracle after miracle. Ask me about them sometime. Everyone wants to hear about the trip, but few want to believe the things we see or witness or well.. you know. Anything out of the ordinary makes us a tad uncomfortable and if it's out of the realm of normal, well... God help us in our unbelief!
Coming back was uneventful. So uneventful as to be strange. Five hours without a breakdown in rain! No blocked roads... nothing to prevent us from making our exit flight on time. Ahhh.. one can look back and wonder at all that.
Driving into Port au Prince we were in a traffic jam and stopped right in front of the UN compound gate for several minutes. Two soldiers were bargaining with a Haitian to buy one of his watches. That scene has played out in my mind a hundred times since January 11. We also were stopped for a minute or two in front of a technical school. I saw it on the news a few hours later as rubble, only the sign standing. The airport was in better shape than we had ever seen it! American Airlines had a beautiful portion of the terminal.. new... with air conditioning and no loading on the tarmac. It was super. "was" is operative here. An eye witness told me yesterday he wouldn't dream of entering that terminal now... He stood on the tarmac for 14 hours to get a C130 back to US soil.
When we landed in Miami one of my first orders of business was to call Carol Ann. She's always gone with us on our trips and this year her doctor forbade her to go and when she said she "just might go anyway" Henry and I told her she couldn't go because we wouldn't let her defy her doctor. I wanted her to be a part of our trip, so called her as soon as we hit US soil. She was on her way to Winchester Medical Center. She had found her husband slumped over the woodpile a little while before that. It was 4:12 p.m. I remember looking at my watch.
Again, the flight was uneventful as we flew into Dulles and was met by our dear friend and driver, Walter. We were no time at all getting out of the airport and as soon as we cleared the area, I sent Carol a text, "update?" It was 11:20 p.m. I was not prepared for her return text. Townsend had died ten minutes before. Do you know how many times I have realized how horrible it would have been if Carol Ann had been with us on the trip? God knows the future in so many ways. Life can change in an instant. An instant... A blood vessel bursts....
We got into bed somewhere around 3 a.m. and by noon the next day we were on our way to West Virginia. When we got there Carol was sleeping so I didn't bother her. We just took seats in the living room and watched CNN like everyone else. There was a house full.
Around 5:10 my world stopped for a few moments. Here I was 27.5 hours away from being "there" to learn that my second home had been rocked, literally by a massive earthquake. How many times looking over those mountains from planes and buses and wondered about their formation? How many people did I love that lived just near that epicenter? How many people did I love that lived within 70 miles of it? And here I was, at the home of another loved one already in mourning. A 40 second earthquake. Forty seconds and a city is in ruins. Forty seconds and family is decimated.
It took two days to hear of the status of my family there. Two days of tears and wringing of hands and hundreds of phone calls (or so it seemed). Many called me to make sure we'd gotten home. Others called to see what we had heard and I called many to check and check and check. Emails flew like the wind and hourly texts were sent. I am thankful that all whom I personally knew live. Many of those they personally knew did not. One church fallen, another badly damaged. Homes destroyed.
My next order of business was to see who we could get out. It turned out that four of our family had grabbed passports as they left their collapsing home and we were able to fly them out of Santiago. They spent three weeks with us and have now gone north to a brother's home to try to be able to stay here. They have no place to go... a pregnant mother with two small children. The father will return to Haiti where he can find work (he cannot by law work here) and he will sleep in his truck that was undamaged. He will help where he can and provide for his family if he can. He will try. Others sleep under tarps or have gone to the mountains where safety is a bit more sure... for now.
But what of others. These lives changed in 40 seconds! Carol's life changed in seconds.... our lives can be taken in 40 seconds or less. It put a whole new perspective on life for me. In forty seconds I can be safely here, safely Home in eternity or suffering in eternity. Some of that scenario is still my choice.... the 4o seconds is not. 275,000 people had 40 seconds or less.
Choice... Townsend's choice was Jesus. Others in Haiti made the choice for Jesus also ~ but there were/are those that don't, won't or..... Forty seconds.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Achievements
Over these last weeks I've been thinking alot about the unemployment rate and how the "bad economy" is the base and cause of 6-10% unemployment rates (depending on where you live it may be quite higher).
So, I decided to "blog" about what I really think and what it means to these United States.
If you read my blog regularly, then you know my mother came to the U.S. at age 16, legally, from Northern Ireland. She came with a sixth grade european education, which means she could read well, write well and do her own taxes. She worked outside the home as a housekeeper for the CEO of Wawa Dairy in Wawa, Pennsylvania just outside Phily. When she and my dad came "home" to Virginia she was able to stay home, but worked every year at Christmas at JJ Newberry 5 and Dime. My daddy had about a third grade education. He could not read really well, but well enough to get by and worked for an oil heat and burner service. Dirty job, but it paid the bills and allowed Mom to stay home with me. Both my grandparents, born in the 1800s were literate. I don't know what grade they went to, but they could both read well and write well. My fathers sister finished high school and went on to work at the State Department in Washington and retired from there. My grandfather kept the books for the farm, so I guess he could do math as well. My brother quit school before graduation. I'm not sure why, as he was 13 years older than I, but he still became a Police Officer and was plenty literate. He retired from the local Sheriff's Department. So, in all ways the generations of my family were solid middle class successful people. Never out of work, never hungry, never on the welfare rolls. I could go on and on, but you get the idea... Even in the worst recessions our family and all those in our neighborhood kept their homes, kept their jobs, or quickly got another and never dreamed of accepting welfare. Even the poorest among us worked for a living doing something and could make enough to live.
Fast forward. I graduated from high school and finished two years of Community College. I am literate and relatively intelligent. Never had a problem getting a job, though I've not worked full time outside the home since 1993. Since then I've worked some part time, but by and large have been a SAM like my own mother was. Of our children only one does not have a college education, but even he went into the army for six years and came out with a great skill and he has a good job with the Federal Government. But, we can see the clouds gathering and it's not a pretty picture.
Until recently, in my generation and my fathers generation and my grandfathers generation if you wanted to work at the same place from age 18 - 65 you could. There was little chance of lay off if you kept your nose clean, showed up on time and did your work. The three generations of which I speak were at the height of the Industrialization of the United States. But, I saw in the late 90s that more and more American Companies were outsourcing their customer service positions out of the country. In the mid-90's General Electric outsourced some of their incandescent lighting manufacturing to Hungary because it was cheaper to ship all the raw materials there, manufacture there and ship them back here for sale. The writing was on the wall then! Jobs were being outsourced for a variety of reasons, (which are a whole 'nother blog in themselves) and the government was supporting this export of jobs from AMERICAN companies.
What we are suffering today is the end result of this. Our oldest daughter worked for 12 years in an industry that is still very profitable in our current economic situation. She even worked at home, so there was no office overhead for the company. She did her work well, she met the goals, had a college education. She was the "perfect candidate" to keep her job... except she lived here. Her job was outsourced to another country even though the corporate headquarters are still here in the U.S. She's not been able to find a job in the professional sector where she was. Instead she is in the retail industry.. working nights and weekends at the local mall trying to keep her home.
A Ford dealership went under in the same place. Two women lost their long standing jobs. Both women in the late 50s. No chance of EVER finding professional, secretarial work in this economy. One is working in a drug store and one is babysitting. During a time in their lives when they should be winding down and not worrying about tomorrow, here they are without hope. The expertise of their long experience has no value in the current workplace. The few jobs are given out to the youngest, college educated women who cost less to "keep".
What about the young man or woman who doesn't go to college? Well, in the last generation he/she could go to work at the ground level and work their way up based on their experience, intelligence and the like. Or they could work the "widget" line until retirement. There was a job for anyone who was willing to work and learn the line. Manufacturing jobs were good jobs for those hard workers willing to work. WERE because those manufacturing jobs aren't here anymore. They are in China, Japan, Germany and Russia. In fact, China wants to be able to claim the #1 position by 2020. At our current rate, this will be no problem. None. It is a fact that the U.S. still holds the top position for manufacturing because of companies like Philip Morris, Kellogg's, oil production companies and the corn industry, but China is quickly taking us over and the rest are not far behind.
Somehow we must, as a nation, redirect our efforts in job development. Every country must provide jobs to all sectors of its society. Some workers will never be totally literate. Some workers will never obtain a college education. Some workers will be older than 35. With Social Security in the mess it's in, some workers will need to be near 70 before they can even think of retiring if they can retire at all! Somehow we must provide good, honest jobs of integrity for these men and women of America. We must not destroy them, by providing them with the idea of entitlement and being on the welfare rolls! We must raise the self esteem of the individual as a productive member of society. If we don't, we can be sure no other country will and we can be doubly sure that our status as a nation will quickly die if we don't do something!
Happy trails....
So, I decided to "blog" about what I really think and what it means to these United States.
If you read my blog regularly, then you know my mother came to the U.S. at age 16, legally, from Northern Ireland. She came with a sixth grade european education, which means she could read well, write well and do her own taxes. She worked outside the home as a housekeeper for the CEO of Wawa Dairy in Wawa, Pennsylvania just outside Phily. When she and my dad came "home" to Virginia she was able to stay home, but worked every year at Christmas at JJ Newberry 5 and Dime. My daddy had about a third grade education. He could not read really well, but well enough to get by and worked for an oil heat and burner service. Dirty job, but it paid the bills and allowed Mom to stay home with me. Both my grandparents, born in the 1800s were literate. I don't know what grade they went to, but they could both read well and write well. My fathers sister finished high school and went on to work at the State Department in Washington and retired from there. My grandfather kept the books for the farm, so I guess he could do math as well. My brother quit school before graduation. I'm not sure why, as he was 13 years older than I, but he still became a Police Officer and was plenty literate. He retired from the local Sheriff's Department. So, in all ways the generations of my family were solid middle class successful people. Never out of work, never hungry, never on the welfare rolls. I could go on and on, but you get the idea... Even in the worst recessions our family and all those in our neighborhood kept their homes, kept their jobs, or quickly got another and never dreamed of accepting welfare. Even the poorest among us worked for a living doing something and could make enough to live.
Fast forward. I graduated from high school and finished two years of Community College. I am literate and relatively intelligent. Never had a problem getting a job, though I've not worked full time outside the home since 1993. Since then I've worked some part time, but by and large have been a SAM like my own mother was. Of our children only one does not have a college education, but even he went into the army for six years and came out with a great skill and he has a good job with the Federal Government. But, we can see the clouds gathering and it's not a pretty picture.
Until recently, in my generation and my fathers generation and my grandfathers generation if you wanted to work at the same place from age 18 - 65 you could. There was little chance of lay off if you kept your nose clean, showed up on time and did your work. The three generations of which I speak were at the height of the Industrialization of the United States. But, I saw in the late 90s that more and more American Companies were outsourcing their customer service positions out of the country. In the mid-90's General Electric outsourced some of their incandescent lighting manufacturing to Hungary because it was cheaper to ship all the raw materials there, manufacture there and ship them back here for sale. The writing was on the wall then! Jobs were being outsourced for a variety of reasons, (which are a whole 'nother blog in themselves) and the government was supporting this export of jobs from AMERICAN companies.
What we are suffering today is the end result of this. Our oldest daughter worked for 12 years in an industry that is still very profitable in our current economic situation. She even worked at home, so there was no office overhead for the company. She did her work well, she met the goals, had a college education. She was the "perfect candidate" to keep her job... except she lived here. Her job was outsourced to another country even though the corporate headquarters are still here in the U.S. She's not been able to find a job in the professional sector where she was. Instead she is in the retail industry.. working nights and weekends at the local mall trying to keep her home.
A Ford dealership went under in the same place. Two women lost their long standing jobs. Both women in the late 50s. No chance of EVER finding professional, secretarial work in this economy. One is working in a drug store and one is babysitting. During a time in their lives when they should be winding down and not worrying about tomorrow, here they are without hope. The expertise of their long experience has no value in the current workplace. The few jobs are given out to the youngest, college educated women who cost less to "keep".
What about the young man or woman who doesn't go to college? Well, in the last generation he/she could go to work at the ground level and work their way up based on their experience, intelligence and the like. Or they could work the "widget" line until retirement. There was a job for anyone who was willing to work and learn the line. Manufacturing jobs were good jobs for those hard workers willing to work. WERE because those manufacturing jobs aren't here anymore. They are in China, Japan, Germany and Russia. In fact, China wants to be able to claim the #1 position by 2020. At our current rate, this will be no problem. None. It is a fact that the U.S. still holds the top position for manufacturing because of companies like Philip Morris, Kellogg's, oil production companies and the corn industry, but China is quickly taking us over and the rest are not far behind.
Somehow we must, as a nation, redirect our efforts in job development. Every country must provide jobs to all sectors of its society. Some workers will never be totally literate. Some workers will never obtain a college education. Some workers will be older than 35. With Social Security in the mess it's in, some workers will need to be near 70 before they can even think of retiring if they can retire at all! Somehow we must provide good, honest jobs of integrity for these men and women of America. We must not destroy them, by providing them with the idea of entitlement and being on the welfare rolls! We must raise the self esteem of the individual as a productive member of society. If we don't, we can be sure no other country will and we can be doubly sure that our status as a nation will quickly die if we don't do something!
Happy trails....
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Harvest
There is a special sense of sadness at what the world has done to children and to us. We are so self absorbed to where nothing matters save ourselves and the feelings of others are temporary shrugs as we tramp along our way. We live in a plastic world where everything is throwaway and all are expendable, save a very close few. We live in a world of chosen sedentary life where the video reigns supreme and the walk is but a chore.
There is a special sense of sadness to see a child that never has felt the dirt and or picked what grows in it; has never seen an animal outside a zoo; has never milked a cow or a goat or stepped in the residue.
There is a special sense of joy at watching a little child grow in excitement as they touch a chicken and gather an egg.
There is a special sense of joy at watching a little child entice a little feral cat to come a little closer for some fresh cream; or stand in awe of a llama as it bends to eat some grain or call a goat by name as though they were a friend..
There is a special sense of joy when a child asks to go to the garden and bites into a fresh vine ripened tomato and says, "yes! I love tomatoes". There is a special joy when a child notices peppers growing on the vine and though he doesn't like them wants them to be in his hands and pockets.
Today there was joy at the simplicity of life for a few stark moments. Then.... only then... sadly, it was back to Wii and the harvest of plastic minds.
There is a special
There is a special sense of sadness to see a child that never has felt the dirt and or picked what grows in it; has never seen an animal outside a zoo; has never milked a cow or a goat or stepped in the residue.
There is a special sense of joy at watching a little child grow in excitement as they touch a chicken and gather an egg.
There is a special sense of joy at watching a little child entice a little feral cat to come a little closer for some fresh cream; or stand in awe of a llama as it bends to eat some grain or call a goat by name as though they were a friend..
There is a special sense of joy when a child asks to go to the garden and bites into a fresh vine ripened tomato and says, "yes! I love tomatoes". There is a special joy when a child notices peppers growing on the vine and though he doesn't like them wants them to be in his hands and pockets.
Today there was joy at the simplicity of life for a few stark moments. Then.... only then... sadly, it was back to Wii and the harvest of plastic minds.
There is a special
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thinking
Our church is in a renewal initiative called "Springs of Living Water". It's somewhat based on Richard Foster's "Celebration of Disciplines". This month we are concentrating on Simplicity. Now, simplicity has been a "by word" of sorts among "us" Brethren, but yet we are far from simple living any more. Here are some thoughts on it from my perspective.
Living simply for me engages the senses. The closer I am to the earth, then the simpler things seem to be. I mean, I enjoy home cooked food and food that is grown in a home-based garden or meat that is fed and cared for naturally and freely in my own fields; food that is canned in my own kitchen. What a simple joy it is to know that we and God created the food on our tables. Oh, if we could only provide it all!
Our yard is filled with chickens and guineas. It's not unusual to see this farm-girl waving her apron while running out front to chase the guineas away from Route 11. One of our girls already got slaughtered by a speeding car or truck. Anyway, today our oldest goat, Oreo, escaped her enclosure. Henry separated the girls recently awaiting kidding time. We were afraid that Oreo, in her croney state, would kill new kids, since she didn't get to have any this year. (We decided to retire her.) About 10 a.m. we received a call from our neighbor to let us know that she was happily grazing his yard. When she saw me coming up the fence line she hitched her giddyap and came to me. She is now in a smaller prison yard for a few weeks until all the kids are here and able to run fast enough to escape her.
Anyway, continuing with simplicity. Simplicity is also the smells of the outside. I find the smell of freshly wind dried sheets to be a balm for sleep. While I am not fond of ironing, I still like hanging my clothes out, most of the time.
Simplicity is also a sense of practicality. Around the farm you'll find me in long, full dresses and aprons. They are practical by being cool in the summer and warm in the winter as well as providing a huge area to carry veges or herbs from the garden or berries from the patch or, as mentioned before, chasing wayward flocks.
But simplicity is also about being thoughtful of others. We could, if we wanted, live alot "bigger" than we do. We could drive newer cars, eat better brands, buy bigger and better stuff. But, if we did that, then we couldn't help those less fortunate than we are as much as we do. Somehow, simplicity seems right when there are those hungry, sick, naked or homeless in other places. I should help them and I couldn't do that if I lived large.
Yet, there are ways we don't live simply, as well. I am a coffee snob. I don't care for pre-ground coffee, even though, currently we are drinking it. I will use every opportunity to buy beans when I find them easily. I also still buy too much stuff. I love thrift stores and books and it's a weakness, I admit. I expect I could save hundreds of dollars a year if I quit buying clothes at thrift stores and books online and elsewhere. I also have a new hobby and it's pretty costly. We won't talk about that at the moment, but take my word for it, it isn't cheap. I also am a freak about Tupperware. I love their storage possibilities and buy too much of it. These are areas I want to work on ~ to eliminate further temptations. I am currently dieting, so am dropping clothing sizes every few months. My goal is to get rid of two pieces for every piece of clothing I buy. So far it's a failed goal, but at least I'm thinking in that direction. I've developed some new cleaning habits and techniques that are working well for me at present. That is helpful all around, as I'm tending to de-clutter a little more often. So, I'm working on doing better at simplicity and wastefulness. I still have a long way to go, but the spirit is willing.
So, in a nutshell, we are trying live more simply. There is a far road ahead, but we are, in our estimation, further along than most. But, time will tell.
Living simply for me engages the senses. The closer I am to the earth, then the simpler things seem to be. I mean, I enjoy home cooked food and food that is grown in a home-based garden or meat that is fed and cared for naturally and freely in my own fields; food that is canned in my own kitchen. What a simple joy it is to know that we and God created the food on our tables. Oh, if we could only provide it all!
Our yard is filled with chickens and guineas. It's not unusual to see this farm-girl waving her apron while running out front to chase the guineas away from Route 11. One of our girls already got slaughtered by a speeding car or truck. Anyway, today our oldest goat, Oreo, escaped her enclosure. Henry separated the girls recently awaiting kidding time. We were afraid that Oreo, in her croney state, would kill new kids, since she didn't get to have any this year. (We decided to retire her.) About 10 a.m. we received a call from our neighbor to let us know that she was happily grazing his yard. When she saw me coming up the fence line she hitched her giddyap and came to me. She is now in a smaller prison yard for a few weeks until all the kids are here and able to run fast enough to escape her.
Anyway, continuing with simplicity. Simplicity is also the smells of the outside. I find the smell of freshly wind dried sheets to be a balm for sleep. While I am not fond of ironing, I still like hanging my clothes out, most of the time.
Simplicity is also a sense of practicality. Around the farm you'll find me in long, full dresses and aprons. They are practical by being cool in the summer and warm in the winter as well as providing a huge area to carry veges or herbs from the garden or berries from the patch or, as mentioned before, chasing wayward flocks.
But simplicity is also about being thoughtful of others. We could, if we wanted, live alot "bigger" than we do. We could drive newer cars, eat better brands, buy bigger and better stuff. But, if we did that, then we couldn't help those less fortunate than we are as much as we do. Somehow, simplicity seems right when there are those hungry, sick, naked or homeless in other places. I should help them and I couldn't do that if I lived large.
Yet, there are ways we don't live simply, as well. I am a coffee snob. I don't care for pre-ground coffee, even though, currently we are drinking it. I will use every opportunity to buy beans when I find them easily. I also still buy too much stuff. I love thrift stores and books and it's a weakness, I admit. I expect I could save hundreds of dollars a year if I quit buying clothes at thrift stores and books online and elsewhere. I also have a new hobby and it's pretty costly. We won't talk about that at the moment, but take my word for it, it isn't cheap. I also am a freak about Tupperware. I love their storage possibilities and buy too much of it. These are areas I want to work on ~ to eliminate further temptations. I am currently dieting, so am dropping clothing sizes every few months. My goal is to get rid of two pieces for every piece of clothing I buy. So far it's a failed goal, but at least I'm thinking in that direction. I've developed some new cleaning habits and techniques that are working well for me at present. That is helpful all around, as I'm tending to de-clutter a little more often. So, I'm working on doing better at simplicity and wastefulness. I still have a long way to go, but the spirit is willing.
So, in a nutshell, we are trying live more simply. There is a far road ahead, but we are, in our estimation, further along than most. But, time will tell.
'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.
Refrain:
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right
'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,
Refrain:
'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.
Monday, April 13, 2009
This 'n That
I'm trying to do better with keeping up with the blog. (Truly, Beth, I am trying.) It's been an interesting spring. Colder than normal, in my opinion. The husband says we're in a drought, but it's scheduled to rain for the next three days. We'll see this summer, I guess. He's usually right about the weather.
We left for Indiana on the District Disaster bus on Sunday morning, March 29th. There were 14 of us. A decidedly diverse group. By the following Saturday, April 4 we were ready to come home after a very fulfilling week. The house where we stayed was very nice. Us girls were able to sleep on bottom bunks. No one had to climb up :) However, our bathroom had to be shared with one man, which was a problem of sorts. But, it was manageable. Our work team consisted of husband, Michael, Ginger, Diane, Pam, Mary Sue and myself. We worked with a couple who had had 4' of water in their front enclosed porch and back laundry room. Looking at the layout, it won't be the last time, as their house sits lower than the street. We layed laminate flooring in the living room and gutted the laundry room as well as working some on the porch. We scrubbed the siding to get the mold off and worked on getting the fungus off the overhangs. I learned to love the cleaner (Simple Green) we were using and bought some as soon as I got home. The couple had some medical issues ~ the wife with an abscessed tooth and the husb. having just gotten out of the hospital with gut problems. They did ask us to pray for them and that encircling of the couple was a highlight. Another highlight was the coordinators. Couldn't help but love them, as they were kind and helpful. The last day was a little edgy, but it was only for a short time. The non-Brethren help was marvelous! Poppa Doty and Mr. Sprinkle were highlights of our trip. On Saturday it was an honor to "award" Mr. Sprinkle with a Brethren Disaster Relief hat. He cried and it was hard not to do the same. I told him since that Methodist Church didn't have a baptismal I could only make him an honorary Brethren :) That seemed to tickle him.
So we headed home. Of course the next week was Holy Week and that included a wonderful Love Feast on Maundy Thursday. What a joy and delight. Brother Stan Shifflett made us a stunning foot tub. He made two, one of which will go to the Disaster Relief Auction. The Lord has blessed him with so much talent. What great love!!!
This week the hubby is busy trying to get the last bit of stuff on the Haiti bus and get it shipped out of here. It's almost filled to the brim. What fun! We want to surround it in prayer to arrive safely and be "cheap" to get out of customs.
Spring is truly here. The potatoes are in the ground waiting to grow and we're waiting for the new "kids" to arrive probably the first week of May. The girls are already starting to show sights of "motherhood" and I can't wait to see the little ones. That's always a highlight of spring.
I'll be sure and post pictures. Until then... Happy Spring everyone!!!
We left for Indiana on the District Disaster bus on Sunday morning, March 29th. There were 14 of us. A decidedly diverse group. By the following Saturday, April 4 we were ready to come home after a very fulfilling week. The house where we stayed was very nice. Us girls were able to sleep on bottom bunks. No one had to climb up :) However, our bathroom had to be shared with one man, which was a problem of sorts. But, it was manageable. Our work team consisted of husband, Michael, Ginger, Diane, Pam, Mary Sue and myself. We worked with a couple who had had 4' of water in their front enclosed porch and back laundry room. Looking at the layout, it won't be the last time, as their house sits lower than the street. We layed laminate flooring in the living room and gutted the laundry room as well as working some on the porch. We scrubbed the siding to get the mold off and worked on getting the fungus off the overhangs. I learned to love the cleaner (Simple Green) we were using and bought some as soon as I got home. The couple had some medical issues ~ the wife with an abscessed tooth and the husb. having just gotten out of the hospital with gut problems. They did ask us to pray for them and that encircling of the couple was a highlight. Another highlight was the coordinators. Couldn't help but love them, as they were kind and helpful. The last day was a little edgy, but it was only for a short time. The non-Brethren help was marvelous! Poppa Doty and Mr. Sprinkle were highlights of our trip. On Saturday it was an honor to "award" Mr. Sprinkle with a Brethren Disaster Relief hat. He cried and it was hard not to do the same. I told him since that Methodist Church didn't have a baptismal I could only make him an honorary Brethren :) That seemed to tickle him.
So we headed home. Of course the next week was Holy Week and that included a wonderful Love Feast on Maundy Thursday. What a joy and delight. Brother Stan Shifflett made us a stunning foot tub. He made two, one of which will go to the Disaster Relief Auction. The Lord has blessed him with so much talent. What great love!!!
This week the hubby is busy trying to get the last bit of stuff on the Haiti bus and get it shipped out of here. It's almost filled to the brim. What fun! We want to surround it in prayer to arrive safely and be "cheap" to get out of customs.
Spring is truly here. The potatoes are in the ground waiting to grow and we're waiting for the new "kids" to arrive probably the first week of May. The girls are already starting to show sights of "motherhood" and I can't wait to see the little ones. That's always a highlight of spring.
I'll be sure and post pictures. Until then... Happy Spring everyone!!!
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