Around the Whirlwind in Eighty Days

It's been 80+/- days since I last made an entry to The Mercy Finder. I think I've been too overwhelmed with trying to find mercy, extend mercy, and receive mercy to write. But today, inspired by an article I read in The New Yorker, "Middlemarch and Me," I have committed to at least try to catch up on the last 80 days in a very speedy way--with photos. (However, something's wrong w/ my computer and everything about Blogger is currently goofed up)

Rebecca Mead, the author of the article, stated that the well-known maxim, "It is never too late to be what you might have been," although long-attributed to George Elliot (aka Mary Ann Evans), apparently has no historical bearing with reference to her. Nowhere in her letters or writings can it be documented that she said this. In fact, it seems to be more in keeping with her writings and lifestyle that, if anything, she believed that just being who you are is enough. Unheralded, unspectacular, unnoticed. If you should think of doing something grand, and don't do it, so be it.  In her journal entry she wrote, "The difficulty is, to decide how far resolution should set in the direction of activity rather than in the acceptance of a more negative state." Perhaps in my comings and goings, I would much prefer to have this second quote painted up, lacquered, and hanging on my kitchen wall rather than the first.

However, so as not to acknowledge my merciless/merciful state without deep gratitude,  I submit the following photos of the last 74+ days.

I flew to TX for the funeral of Krista Ralston Oakes 

Lynn Ralston Molohosky and me

Christmas Eve

Mom with Eli, very excited for the next day

   

Dad deciding which of Sawyer's Hot Wheels he wants

Sawyer thinking of Santa coming

Christmas Day

Santa made one little boy very happy



Jim, Sawyer, and Chelsea



Carrie, Eli's girlfriend



Mickey Blue Eyes



What do you get your Dad who needs nothing?  Books!


The Day After Christmas

Celebrating with the Munns

Second cousins, Samantha and Sawyer

 Joyful and triumphant



Guess it should be over 'cuz the fat lady's singing!

My "eh hem" birthday



Nancy Metcalf joined me for a grand day

Gallachers came for a few days in January



An early birthday celebration with Dad

Dad's 96th Birthday

 

The party was so wild that no matter what I do this will only post sideways



Disneyland with the Archibalds

So happy to be out of Minnesota

 

Nannie Joy with her munchkins





It's a world of laughter



My Annie Jane



My Jake Jordan



My Sawyer Daniel




My Juliette Joyce

Chelsea Married Jim Flanagan

The Aftermath

Jordan's 33rd Birthday

Saying Goodby to Part of My Heart 

Jim Got Baptized

A very wonderful day

Okay, that's it. I'm done.

 

Fruitcake

I am working on submitting my will to God's. I am working on being obedient. I am trying to do what's right and be good and be unselfish and give service. Whenever the Christmas season rolls around I feel like I need to make penance of some sort for an ancient act of revenge and retribution. And what is the dirty little deed I carried out so long ago?

When I was in Kindergarten my best friend told me the "truth" about Santa Claus. I couldn't believe her. I couldn't forgive her. That memory is still so very clear and burned into my mind. And I knew at that point I would get her back. I didn't know how or when but I knew, someday, some way, I would return the favor.

And I did. The next year, after a little conversation which my mother initiated and to which I was sworn great secrecy, I promptly told my friend, standing there at the corner of Fairmount and Ashbury Avenues in El Cerrito, CA, about how babies were made.

And I have felt moderately guilty ever since that I was such a cruel force in collapsing her world, as she knew it, just as she had destroyed mine the year before. I suspect almost 55 years later she never gives this a single thought. But I am still tortured by it.

So I try to be good and give to the poor and feed the hungry and clothe the naked and shelter the homeless.

And then I take my grandson to the mall to see Santa Claus. Just to reassure myself that, really, I was right all along, and my friend was, well, just plain nuts!

I'm feeling better, once again.

Celebrations

Two celebrations with two times the fun for a boy turning two and a Thanksgiving feast that followed the next day. Welcome to my photo gallery of two days of merriment.

Happy Birthday, Sawyer!!! We're so glad that you're TWO!

Lucky boy to wrap up nice and warm in a towel from Aunt Britty

After starting the party at Sawyer's house, we moved on to Nannie Joy's for dinner and more presents that night.

Jimmy Storey, Holly & Masa arrived for the dinner party and the Thanksgiving weekend, along with the birthday boy, Nannie Joy, Chelsea & Jim F.

Then Nannie Joy brought out the big guns!

Sawyer played with cousin, Jake's, Geo Trax last summer. We knew it'd be a hit!

Ooooooh!

A quick few hours sleep, then on to Thanksgiving Day. Hooray!

The Munns have arrived and we're just about ready

This didn't start out to be the little kids table but turned out that way

Jay and his granddaughter, Samantha

The food was delicious if I do say so myself

The best place for Ian to be after so much food--running around the yard.

Morgan, Melanie, and Maddie Munns

My sister, Cheryl, and me

Holly chillaxin'

Jim, the Pied Piper

Second cousins Samantha and Sawyer, and no, I did not give her the Barq's

20 for dinner and everyone left the table fat and sassy

Jeremy, uncle and nephew extraordinaire, including photographer of some of these pictures

Nothing brings such joy to us as Jay's piano playing

"Upside Down Boy" just before the Hokey Pokey

Dad and Mom enjoying Jay's after dinner music

Aren't teenagers just truly amazing?

The only thing that would have made the day more perfect is if we had just a few more people, like Eli, Carrie, Brittany, Jordan, Annie, Jake & Juliette! Maybe next year?