It’s bittersweet to hold your husband for 10 minutes after not seeing him for two weeks, then have to let him go, not knowing when and if you’ll ever see him again.
Category: for the love of the living
A Long Night of Snow Blowing Ahead
It’s snowing. It’s been snowing. I’ve already blown the drive and county road once today. Tonight, we’ve already got 8 inches and it’s coming down fast. Right now, it’s light and fluffy–easy blowing. But the temperature is on the rise…which means it will turn heavy, and, once it turns to rain…which is predicted, you can just about plan on abject misery trying to move it. So, I’m going to start blowing it now, about halfway through the predicted amounts of 7 to 13 inches. (We usually get more than is predicted, because, though we don’t live up on a mountain, we are in a micro-snow belt. There’s this band of heavy snow micro-climate that starts about 1/4 mile to the south of us and ends about 30 miles to the north. You can pretty much figure that, yep, we’re gonna really get it tonight, and, if it ain’t up by morning, plan on spending four to six hours moving it instead of one-and-a-half to three.)
Tomorrow will be snow removal on the roofs. Luckily, I’ve got a guy coming in to do the barn, because that building is too high for me to get at. It takes using the Minnsnowta, a special roof removal tool that’s too heavy for me to handle. Forrest can heft it and loves it, but I can’t even get it up on the roof edge. I’m stuck with my high tech roof rake…which works well, but not on a high roof like is on the barn.
So, pretty much figure I’m going to be up all night, then all day tomorrow, too. Won’t be getting much else done.
Joy Enters My World Thanks to Dustin and Zach
I just got word a few minutes ago. My beloved husband is coming home, and he’ll be home through New Year’s and Friday, too! Why? Dustin (leader of the pack) and Zach, Forrest’s driver manager, have arranged it so that he’s taking a load up to Alberta that delivers Monday. Joy, joy, joy. He’ll be home for dinner tonight, and I’ll get to wrap my arms around him for a whole couple of days!!! Life has given me something to smile about. Thank you, Dustin and Zach of the Northwest Regional Fleet of System Transport!
Dad was a WWII Hero & Mine, Too
My father was a WWII flying ace. He flew P-51 Mustangs, he taught cadets to fly them, as well. He wound up having to ditch in the North Sea three times. He lost friends, comrades, and “wings” (wingmates) in that war. (He flew in the European theatre, flying out of Britain.) I know he was in the bombing of Dresden as air cover, and I know it was one of his worst nightmares of the war.
He never spoke much about World War II. But he did share some of his pranks and escapades…like flying a P-51 upside down through an open hanger and having everyone hit the deck. The tower couldn’t believe he did it. But he did. And got away with it, too.
Anyway, I miss him. A lot. I miss him so much that I can’t even coherently write about him, but he was MY hero, and always will be.
Turning My Head
Turning my head from primarily working my graphic arts biz (see zentao.com if curious, though that’s not the half of it, not even) to writing as my focus makes me even more aware of how much work I was doing helping others with their projects while ignoring mine. It’s a real eye-opener. To suddenly focus on me is all but a completely new experience. In fact, it is a completely new experience. There’s a sense of utter joy, deeply felt to almost overwhelming, but there’s also this odd sense of guilt–a sense that I’m neglecting something that’s crucial. So I’m going to compromise just a little. I won’t say no to everyone who asks for assistance, just the most presumptive.
Meanwhile, writing is actually taking second place to preparing for winter’s onslaught. I’m almost done, but the contractor is still way behind reinforcing and reroofing Dad’s giant garage. And we’ve a whole other pallet of concrete to mix, probably tomorrow or Tuesday. I am NOT looking forward to that. At all.