October
Journaling
1. Fun with the grandkids. Baking for
tomorrow.
2. Church. Our new pastor was introduced
to the congregation today, then we had a welcome luncheon.
3. Writing.
4. Shopping for a dress for my high
school reunion this weekend.
5. Found a dress. Starting to pack.
6. Bible study. My sister is arriving
from B.C. tonight.
7. Going to the Soo for my reunion. I
graduated 40 years ago. I hate flying, BTW. The first evening was a Meet and
Greet and we were told to dress for our decade, so my sister dressed in 70’s
clothes and I dressed in 80’s. I didn’t recognize anyone; not even a glimmer of
recognition. We are all old, retired grandparents; we’ve lived our lives in the
meantime.
8. We went shopping in the Station Mall;
many stores are closed. Then in the evening there was a dinner-dance. Since it
was Thanksgiving weekend they gave us a turkey dinner. We were all dressed up.
The highlight was seeing one of our business teachers who was Finnish. She was
94 but still remembered us. I told her I still remembered the shorthand she
taught me even though I never used it. She was the only one who pronounced our
names correctly. Then our next-door-neighbour growing up who babysat us, was
there. So it was nice to catch up. They also had an in memoriam of all the
staff and students who had died since the last reunion ten years earlier.
Included in that was someone I really would have liked to see; Peter Barich. So
sad. Back home my daughter hosted the family for TG dinner.
9. A farewell breakfast, nap, and then
return flight home. They said they’d have one in ten years but I’ll be 68 so
not likely to attend. My sister stayed over one more night.
10. My sister flew home and I scrambled
to write my podcast.
11. Housekeeper. Posted my podcast.
Packed for two nights at my daughter’s, and then fought traffic with my mom to
go see Singin’ in the Rain. We were on track to arrive with a half hour to
spare but spent the last twenty minutes stuck in traffic half a block from the
parking place, so we were late. Frustrating. I don’t know how people do this.
12. Early morning. Went with my mom to
spend three days looking after the grandkids so my daughter and son-in-law
could go glamping to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Went to the
dollar store and bought a bunch of story books to send to Uganda. The next box
is blankets and bed time stories since the kids sleep without blankets. Worked
on the speech for the M.C. to give at our Pastor’s retirement party.
13. Taking the kids to McDonalds for
happy meals. They get them once or twice a year.
14. Final day with the kids, then
rushing back to have a second planning meeting for our Pastor’s Retirement
party. I am writing the speech for the emcee. Since our Pastor preaches his
sermons around three points all starting with the same letter, I am titling it
A Ministry Fulfilled and the points are related to past, present and future:
Past Accomplishments, Present Achievements, and Potential Ambitions. I learned
some new things about him, like that he has a Doctorate in Theology. He could
legitimately use the title Doctor, but doesn’t which shows his humility.
15. Church this morning for our missions
week kickoff, then getting our fourth covid shot.
16. Missions week, missionaries from
Taiwan, then we took them out for lunch.
17. Chiro and massage. Finished my
lesson for Thursday. Trying out the recipe I plan for guests on Saturday:
salmon en croute, a.k.a Salmon Wellington.
18. Planning my menu for Saturday:
Apps: Cucumber and salmon bites, Devilled
eggs, Caprese bites Soup: Moroccan carrot soup Main: Salmon
Wellington, Cilantro-lime rice, Sauteed vegetable medley, Italian bread with
oil and balsamic reduction Dessert: Tiramisu,Carrot cake, Coffee/tea
19. Setting the table and doing as much
as I can to prep for our dinner party.
20. My mom got her fifth Covid shot
today. Tolerated well. I taught this morning. Then got Botox for pain in the
afternoon.
21. Prepping for our dinner party.
22. Finished prep for our fancy party,
but by the time the guests arrive, I have nothing left. It was a hit though.
23. Church. Last day of our week long
Missions conference. Went out with our guests from yesterday out for dinner
again.
24. Writing.
25. Pain clinic for back injections.
Bank appointment to renew our mortgage. The interest rates have doubled, but
they’re going up again tomorrow.
26. Writing. The grandkids have two days
off school so they’re coming here, along with my son-in-law who will be working
nearby. My daughter gets a few days of peace and quiet.
27. Busy day with grandkids. I’m not as
patient as I was with my own, but then I was healthier and younger then, and my
middle grandchild is a handful; often disobeying outright, which is very frustrating.
Ordered in dinner.
28. Women’s ministry meeting. Cleaning
up after the grandkids trashed a few rooms. Laundry day.
29. Church.
30. The two older grandkids are sick
with ear infections, and the babysitter of the two year old has a fever. So my
daughter and son-in-law are home with them.
31. It’s Hallowe’en but my son-in-law
has Covid for the first time; pretty mild, but because my daughter works in a
hospital, even though she’s negative, she has to stay home until she has two
negative tests a few days apart. It’s also Reformation Sunday.
