New and Unread Tree-Mails
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Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening              |
| I've been reading, but not had time to post. We were to leave for Illinois last Wed. for my MIL's memorial service last Saturday. She died in Nov. at 100, but the family couldn't all gather until this May. On Tues, DH learned that he probably would have to at least have a few stents and was scheduled for heart cath Thurs. He asked if it could be postponed a week because of trip and doctor said absoulutely not. So DH decided memorial must go on, without us, as planned since relatives are coming from all over. DD decided to fly up to Chicago Fri. to represent all of us. Thurs, doctor finds no blockages and is surprised as we are. We ask if DH can travel and he says not in the car and not till Friday. DD decides to transfer her ticket to her dad for Friday, pack her SUV and the two of us, plus 4yr old grandson will drive to IL. It's very hard to transfer an airline ticket from female to male passenger at the last minute, but she got it done. Are you still following this? So I leave DH at the hospital, run home, throw clothes in a bag, rush back and drive him home. We leave him in the care of kindly neighbors and take off for Illinois. We get as far as OK City that night. Drive all day Friday and get to Freeport at 10:30. We've been in the car for 1200 miles. Drop our bags off, turn around and drive 45 minutes back to Rockford to meet the airport bus at midnight. We get to bed at 2 AM. Up and at the Memorial next morning. If you're still with me.....the minister had asked my DH for some info about his mom...and also asked one of the grandchildren who lives there. When the minister began to speak about MIL, he explained that she hadn't been able to be at Church for a while, but he wanted to share some family stories about her. His second story was the one I wrote about her and the snake....edited just a bit. The granddaughter had given it to him without my okay. When I realized what he was about to read, I said that's not exactly something to read in church....and he replied, "Oh, but it's such a good story!" Then most of the family members and some of the friends stood and told little snippets of their time with MIL. It was good that we were all there. We spent 3 days cleaning out MIL's house and giving the grandkids dibs on all the furniture and keepsakes. Everything else went to Salv. Army and Goodwill. DH had to see lawyer, etc. We left Wed, exhausted. DD and I wanted to keep going to Tulsa, but DH wanted to stop. Stopped in Joplin for the night so we could get a good night's sleep. That's when I took the pic of the beautiful thunder clouds outside the motel. About 10 PM, the news started warning of a possible tornado. We were too tired to watch much of it....and were about to get in bed when the motel clerk started banging on our doors. The sirens were going off (I stilll never heard them) and a tornado was sighted on the ground. We spent about an hour in the 3 story stairwell with other guests from our wing. We were all calm and quiet. I observed that nearly everyone had taken their cell phone and laptop...but some of the women had left purses behind. When it was really quiet, DD said to her dad, "We told you we should have driven to Tulsa!" Most of the folks in the stairwell started laughing. And I said to him,"You'll never live this down!" They canceled the warning, we got to sleep after 11, and were in the car again at 9:30 yesterday morning. In Tulsa, we were just reaching the cut off to the Turnpike, when we saw the entire Interstate was blocked off and cars were heading to the feeder roads. No info, no detour signs, just moving away from where we needed to be. GPS was trying to turn us around, so we found a convenience store and before we could go in, an OK gas co. guy walked up and asked if we were lost because of the highway closing. He told us there was a sinkhole that went all the way across the road. If we had driven to Tulsa the night before, we'd have been in a huge traffic mess for hours, as it happened at 6 PM. The guy drew us a map to get to the turnpike. I know we'd have never found it without his help. This morning I tried to e-mail a thank you about him via gas co. No way to do it, so I called. They had no one who who knew who I should talk to to get an e-mail address to send a compliment. (Must only take complaints). I'll figure it out. Anyway, today I have to be at the botanical garden to take the horticultural entries in for the flower show and tomorrow morning too. Im sorry I'll miss the RU. Maybe there'll be one in the fall.  |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)            LindaTX8 Jun 4, 2010 12:21 PM CST |
| Please accept my condolences about your MIL. I really do understand about the RU, life happens. I've had times because of DH's illnesses in the past when all I could focus on was the bare essentials of living. I'm finally off of DG entirely, but will still go to San Marcos...if anyone makes last-minute requests of me on the forum...well, I'm sure they'll understand when they see me there. Don't know if I'll be going to any future RU's...could come as someone's guest, but I'm iffy on that. I think the RU's have seen attendance fall for a number of reasons. And with some cancelling DG memberships, could get even worse. We'll just wait and see. I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
Name: Patricia Goldthwaite, TX (Zone 8a)         patrob Jun 4, 2010 7:24 PM CST |
| Oh my, Sandi. What a series of "adventures"! It sounds like too much for just one week, but life sometimes comes at us at warp speed. I'm glad to hear all of you are home and safe! I hope your DH continues to do well. |
Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening |
| linda....Please let the RU group know I really thought I could do it all. I took all the plants I had rooted for the RU to give away to the garden club sale today. I think I just need some down time this weekend. I still have to check in plants tomorrow morning before the show. As for the RUs in general...I think we can all go to any RUs that come up. We're all still friends. It's just the new owners of DG that we have issues with. I would hope that members aren't pitted against each other just because they choose to stay...or go. I bounce back and forth 'cause frankly, not that many TX people stayed over here. I check out the scuttlebutt when I get a chance. And I had just renewed for a year, so I'm going to use it until it expires...or until they kick me out. |
Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening |
| Thanks Pat...I think we just need to "do nothing" this weekend. For every small crisis, we had a good ending. I'm very grateful for that. Maybe once we became concious of our set-backs we just started looking for them. 'But we sure had a full week, and I don't want to relive it! |
Name: Patricia Goldthwaite, TX (Zone 8a) patrob Jun 4, 2010 7:55 PM CST |
| Weeks like the one you just had are utterly exhausting, and I agree that you all need a quiet week-end. You are an excellent writer, and I have enjoyed all the anecdotes that you have posted. The story about your dear MIL and the snake is priceless, and I understand why the minister chose to tell it. I have reread the story about the stolen balls and karma several times. I love it! I did not get to come to Austin when a group of DGers met in 2006 and toured your garden and went nursery hopping. My DH was having a stent inserted about that time. I hope to see your garden sometime in cooler weather! I'd like to nursery hop in the fall.  |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) LindaTX8 Jun 4, 2010 8:10 PM CST |
| I'll let them know, Sandi! Just take it easy. Oh, that "cooler weather" sounds good! This heat and humidity is hard on anyone...then add so many skeeters outside that I fear getting anemic. I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening |
| That's a plan! We'll hit all the nurseries in the area. I hope my garden bounces back soon. Everything is a little late coming up rhis year. And thank you for your kind words. I believe being Southern has something to do with how I tell a story. I believe all people from the South can find a tale in the smallest of mundane daily experiences. Don't forget to save a day or weekend to come to Austin this fall. I'll keep you to it! |
Name: Lee Latexo, Texas (Zone 8a)  Tweedle_Lee_Dee Jun 5, 2010 9:32 PM CST |
| We missed y'all ............. but understand completely....hope the hubby rebounds completely and quickly God Bless America! |
Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening |
| Thanks Lee, I did think about trying to go yesterday. Just too much going on at one time. DH has appt. for Tuesday to see what's causing chest pains. I'm pretty sure it's going to be 45 yrs of cigarettes, but I'm not a doctor.... Glad there was a good turn out for the swap. I ck'd DG to see that it went well. Hope there's another in the fall. |
Name: Linda Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) LindaTX8 Jun 6, 2010 7:49 PM CST |
| Well, I had palpitations last summer and they found nothing wrong with my heart. So maybe...chest pains could be nothing much...could be only a reminder to live healthier. I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad |
Name: Sandi Austin, Tx (Zone 8b) Texas Gardening |
| I sure hope so..... |
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