Tuesday, August 28, 2012

hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, oh my...

I have noticed these last few days, I have been jumping more often back to the weather channel for tropical storm updates.  Thankfully it looks as if Isaac may be compared to an obnoxious younger brother to Katrina, rather than some demonic evil twin, but still he bares watching.  I still have a vested interest in the gulf coast, the boy still lives down there.  Benny and I have family and friends down there.  We remember the aftermath of Katrina vividly, it isn't pleasant.

Two weeks ago, we experienced some devastating wildfires up here in our Okla county.  Thankfully we were out of harm's way, but we knew some people from our church parish who were affected.  The week after this happened I was in Walmart and as I stood in line to check out, I listened to conversations about evacuations, and being displaced, and someone knew someone else who had been affected.  It took me back in time, seven years ago, right after Katrina had hit and the conversations were of a similar nature.  Fema was involved, looting was of a concern, there was a question of the National Guard being called in, talk about deja vu.

I got to thinking about the differences though, fire and water.  Pictures of the aftermath were eerily similar.  Everything looked dead, and rebuilding was inevitable.  Something that struck me as strange was the difference in loss of life.  People can watch a hurricane approaching on a technological device and get prepared, but from what I understand these fires just appeared on people's doorsteps and they barely had time to get out.  1800 people were killed during Hurricane Katrina, one elderly woman was killed during these wildfires.  We may be talking apples and oranges here, true, but still...

I am a firm believer in being prepared and taking precautions.  The boy told me he had water and a flashlight, oh and some soup.  It's his first storm, he'll learn.  I'm not sure he had any palms to burn, but I'm praying for Our Lady of Prompt Succor's intervention to keep everyone safe.  It is the height of hurricane season, so be prepared.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

...and back down South she goes.

The girl went back to school this past week.  I'm sure going to miss her.  We bond in a unique way whenever she is home, but now that she is older we bond more so in that mother/daughter/friend way.  I like that because then I know I am more than a caregiver to her.  She worked hard this summer, physical therapy three days a week, but I don't think it compares to the work she does on her own during the school year.

A little over a year ago she became paralyzed and her world was turned upside down.  But true to Emily form, she held strong to the faith that God gave her and persevered, determined to return to college in Houston, miles away from home.

So, being the supportive parents that we are, we packed her up...

loaded her into the van, and headed south.

She was able to get settled into her same room she had last year.  I will admit that after three moves, this gets much easier.  One learns to weed out what isn't needed, and believe me, when manipulating a wheelchair around a small dorm room, extra baggage is...well, just that...baggage.

But no matter how easy we try to make things for her, she still has to work extra hard and I am so very proud of her. So go get 'em, Em and have an incredibly blessed year, my girl.







Tuesday, August 14, 2012

a hobby for those dog days of summer...

I started painting again.  Actually I had some recent developments that motivated me, one being the extreme heat that has moved me indoors out of the garden I love so much.  It makes me sad to look at the burned up plants and wilted flowers that are trying to bloom.  I water in the early morning but it is too hot to stay out for long so I run inside and close the window blinds so I won't have to look.  Is that some form of denial, like hiding your eyes, if you can't see it it doesn't exist.  I won't sadden you with pictures, it would truly break your heart.  But luckily for me, I have another hobby that I don't spend near enough time enjoying.

this is my latest.  I love the color of the blue jeans, the fringe is still a work in progress, and the spurs...well I'm trying to hide them in the chaps.

Someone asked me if I went to school for art.  After I finished crying with laughter, I explained that "no", I took an art class because I needed an extra elective to graduate.  I enjoyed painting, it was relaxing and I found I would get lost in mixing colors on the palette, seeing the colors transform a blank canvas.  It also helped that what went on the canvas would actually look a little like what I wanted it too.

This is my first attempt at an abstract of the beautiful Gulf waters off the coast of Florida.  I keep going back to it and adding waves, it's coming along.  I love slapping paint across the canvas and watching the blend of colors meld into a calming and serene piece of art.  It is wonderful therapy, if you know what I mean.






I am currently working on some houses.  They are both houses in the NoLa area, but I set the little yellow one on the beach, and the green one will have a halloween feel to it when I am finished.  I like having some artistic license, it makes it my own work of art and I like putting my own touch to the pieces.


The other motivator is that I got a hair up my behind and entered an art show, actually I submitted some pieces so I could be included in an art market.  In order to be in this market your work must be judged worthy.  Well lo and behold, the work is worthy, I was accepted and invited to exhibit my work at this market.  It will be in October, so I have a few more weeks to do a couple more pieces for the show.  I am getting more anxious and am now vacillating between the thought of whether I have actually lost my mind or a laizez faire attitude of what the heck, life is for the living, blah blah blah.  I will definitely keep everyone updated.  Pray for me, I'm gonna need it.


Friday, August 10, 2012

our book club, it is a life saver...

When Benny and I retired and moved up here to Oklahoma, I had no idea how the move combined with 'empty nest' would affect me personally.  I knew the kids would be going off to college, and I was excited for them, but man did it throw me for a loop.  The house was in turmoil because of renovations, it was record breaking heat I was unprepared for and my church family and very best friends were down south, so very far away.  Being new to the area, I had lost most of my support system.  I was overwhelmed and so very lonely.  It was horrible.  So...I joined a book club.



I heard about this group from some ladies at church.  I knew I needed to get involved and meet some new friends, so I asked one of the gals if I could attend the next meeting.  I remember getting the book and reading it over the weekend so I would be prepared, I wanted to be prepared, I wanted to be included.  I remember telling one of the girls that joining that book club saved my life.  Benny and were going out and seeing the sights of Tulsa and Route 66, but I realize how much I rely on that community spirit, of being part of a group.  I missed having girlfriends.  It means so much to connect with others, as moms, daughters, wives.  We do read the books and discuss what we liked and disliked about a certain book, but a lot of the time we just enjoy getting together and being girls.

We meet once a month for book club, but we also get together to see a movie or go out to lunch.  It's fun to read the book, then go see the movie.  We did that for "The Help", that was a lot of fun.  We have a name for our book club, we are 'Between the Wines Bristow Book Club.'  We have read some very good books, and we have read some that are not so good.  This past year we seemed to have gotten, I don't want to use the word stuck, but let's just say there was a recurring theme of living through the Nazi regime. In addition to that, throw in a tragic genre of the likes of Anna Quindlen and pretty soon we were all depressed.  I think the icing on the cake was reading "Unbroken" by Laura Hildebrand.  It was excellent, one you couldn't put down, but it was such a hard read.  I mean what that man went through, unbelievable.  Not all of the books are as difficult, but I honestly believe the books we have read over the years have offered us some insight into life and connections, history and lessons learned.  We all enjoy sharing the books we have come across.  In fact I will read a book and think, so and so would enjoy this, or this is the book I would choose for next years reading.

So if you find yourself overwhelmed, feeling lonely, stuck in a rut...join a book club, or start one.  You will be so glad you did.  There are some very good books just waiting to be shared and enjoyed.  Thanks ladies, you saved my life.