The Gramzie Chronicles

Early, early morning here, even for me.  Technically, I've been awake since 3:28, up since 4:40.  Nothing is wrong, I simply woke up and couldn't fall back asleep. Randy and Grands 2&3 were off for the Ayrshire memorial tractor ride shortly before 6.  They think they wake up better for something like this at our house.  How those two boys wake up is always up for grabs, with the common comment of warning when one is out of sorts being "don't poke the bear".  This could apply to any one of the three on any given day.  In spite of the shotgun start, both awoke in good time, and while the older may have been less than cheerful, there was no conflict over the cereal bowls. I call that a win! The big boy is off to DSM with the basketball team as manager of sorts.  Here is what I'll carry all day:  At 6:15, he walked in our back door just to say "Hi and goodbye" on his way to the HS.  He is here almost every day, mostly just checking in. ...

  To be clear, I'm not referring to my husband! Retirement is slowly, but surely, beginning to take hold.  We do still have that occasional person who just won't take no for an answer, which brings us to my latest encounter to share. One soft spot my husband and I share is the old people who need help.  Yes, we are considered old people, but I'm referring to the more advanced of those.  Our doorbell rang one evening (why is it the people who basically have all darned day to do things show up during meal time??) and the door opened to our most recent culprit. Basically, his mower wasn't running.  Randy explained, since we've never seen him before, that he was retired, but he just kept on kvetching about the mower, as unpleasant as can be.  In the end, Randy told him he'd pick it up and look at it.  I still wonder how he managed to get down (or up!) the deck stairs, but he did. Randy continued out with him, and listened to how he needed to have this...

I had to take a step back from writing.  Not out of pique, rather a distinct lack of inspiration and motivation.  The world got too heavy for me, I think.  At any rate, here we go... We are settling back into a routine following several days of celebrating and fun.  There were a couple of things that really resonated with me.  July 10 marked 50 years of marriage for us.  I was a mere 20 years old, ready to take on the world, thinking I knew what to expect.  Randy was working for John Deere,  I was finishing my last 2 years of college commuting to Storm Lake 3-5 days/week, and we were lucky to have $20.00 at the end of the month.  Generic beer was 99 cents a six-pack and all of our friends were pretty much in the same boat.  So, Saturday nights were at one of our homes, playing cards. The good old days! I never gave a thought to being married this long, at the time.  And now, it's a rather daunting experience, especially when I ...

  Happy Monday...?  Can you stand more whining from me? Our two most prolific repeat offenders have been on the rampage already. The first, now blocked, began his campaign on Saturday night, of course. Randy has his phone completely shut off on the weekends just for that reason.  This morning, there have been voicemails and texts, all which will be ignored.  The second showed up as I was helping Randy construct a cage of sorts on the tractor loader so the eaves under the rain troughs can be painted.  We were in a conversation about the building when he unceremoniously informed me that he and Randy would be going in the shop and shutting the door, dismissing me with a wave of his hand no less. WTH. I'm now fuming in private, especially after finding out Randy agreed to a service call, in this oppressive heat, this afternoon.  Well, at least if offender 1 shows up, he'll be gone. Randy's retirement, I'm feeling, has become the biggest joke in town...at l...

  I had a rotten morning.  Not even that third cup of coffee could pull me out of my funk.  As usual, it was one of those days when I spent most of my time wondering what in the world was wrong with me.  And, as usual, I got no answer...or perhaps a list too long to tackle.  Also, the shop is way too full for someone who professes to be retired.  Nothing was hitting me right. My house was clean enough to be healthy, my desk was clear, laundry wasn't even a consideration, and even baking didn't have appeal.  There wasn't even a reason to shop when there was nothing I wanted or needed.  After a long day up and down a ladder, painting yesterday, the four remaining windows can wait So, finally dressed, and facing a front yard of downed leaves from Randy and his right-hand man trimming the crab tree,  I decided to mow. Ah, my favorite therapy.   Despite the fact that it wasn't really necessary, other than the obvious cleanup, I had to do some...

  I don't think my dear man realizes how precious his presence to his older grands.  Sure, they spend a lot of time in the shop with him.  Either they are helping him, or doing their own thing, it matters not. They are with him. Just now, Grand 1 came in. "Hey, Grampa, would you like to go fishing with me?"  I gave hubs the side eye, like "don't you dare say no".  So, off they go, including Grand 2. It's so different with me.  What I get is, "Gramzie, you're out of cookies", or "You're out of ice cream".  These are the same little boys who used to clamor to be allowed to "help" with the cookies.  That evolved into "I can make them myself" (I "get" to clean up).  Now? Crickets. In all fairness, I know they are growing up.  They still come over to watch games.  Or stop just to see what we are having for supper. (hint, hint)  You know, just in case it's better than what's at home. I'm her...