Celebrating the Jubilarians ended with a Spring Snow and tragedy in Blacksburg

The trip up to Scranton was uneventful and speedy. By the time we hit Wilkes-Barre we decided it was time to stop and get a bite to eat. I love it when there’s no stopping on a trip and you drive right through putting you ahead of schedule. This was a good move because there was no other time to eat all evening.

Aunt Dot was happy to see us and she looked great! We had so much for her and I wasn’t expecting her to want it all but she did. Yeah! I brought her two small plant stands for her balcony and Ra sent a small three tier stand that Aunt Dot loved. Plus we brought her two plants. I was happy she wanted it all and we found places for everything. This also meant I didn’t have to bring it home with me.

I also discussed her taking back a beautiful piece she gave me last time. It’s an Our Lady of Hope figurine plate thingy I got her years ago. She was happy that I would bring it back for her to hang on her wall. These were all great signs because I think last time she was just getting ready to die. This time she is fighting and she wants to walk again. She’s even wearing her wig again. The other sisters and I can’t figure this part out. When she was sick and could wear her wig we were all surprised to see she had a lot of hair and it’s less gray than the wig. Go figure.

Sunday was the big Jubilee. There were 18 sisters celebrating from 60 years up to 80 years as nuns. Evidently, it added up to over 1000 years of service. Holy moly! So many of the Jubilarians were nervous but not Aunt Dot. She had her hair done first thing in the morning and was more confident than I had seen her in some time.

After Mass there was a catered supper I still can’t get over how happy she was. I was a happy girl when I found the wine fountain. This might have added to my exhaustion but by the time Mini Red got to our room in the convent, that evening, we could barely keep our eyes open.
The next morning we woke to SNOW! I had heard this might happen but Scranton had 4 inches by 8am and most of the schools were closed. Frackville had 8 inches by 8am and that was the direction we were going. We visited with Aunt Dot for a while before we go on the road around ten. Route 81 wasn’t bad but around Frackville there were all sorts of crazies on the road and not long after that the snow was clearing up. We made record time and Mini Red took pictures the whole way home.
I’m trying to get Mini Red to look around and notice things along the road. She even noticed modern day windmills along the top of a mountain. She went on to tell me they were learning about how they are taking old ideas like the windmills and modernizing them for alternate energy sources for when we run out of oil. This is what I love about these drives.

We stopped in Thurmont to see what Dirt Cheap was selling. As we were getting ready to leave I see the news talking about VA Tech. I did a little panic and at that point I hadn’t even heard all the details like the kids in the engineering class. My panic is my cousin who is studying engineering there. When Mom picked up the phone she just said “He’s fine”. We don’t have a lot of detail but Mom called my Uncle and just confirmed via his secretary that he’s fine. I’m sure we’ll hear more later and I’m just praying that he was no where near any of it.

Even more terrifying than having family there and still another cousin is a professor there is this is so gruesomely unexpected. Here these kids are and there worst fear is a bad grade and this crazy dude comes in firing. How can a parent feel safe sending their child off to school? I just can’t believe what this world is coming too?

I was too busy to notice it was the Day of Evil

The plan for the day was to get a lot done this morning and then get to the office. I never made it to the office but I got a helluva lot done.

Dropped Mini Red off at the bus, went to the ATM, Coffee from Dunkin Donuts and I had the car at the dealership by 7:40. This put me third in line for the day, which ain’t too shabby.

The oil needed to be changed and I had already made an appointment next week for the sunroof recall but this morning they said they would do it all and give me a loaner. On top of that I was due for the 15,000 mile check up and I had noticed some strange things they were going to check out.

By 8:30 I was at Mini Red’s doctor to get some forms signed for her upcoming Outdoor Education trip. I’m told it’s normally a 72 hour turn around to get these papers done but she was squeezing me between patients. Thank goodness.

By 9:30 I was visiting former coworkers and picked up a trampoline to be delivered later to Ra.

I made it to the mall a little after 10, which gave me some time to shop for Aunt Dot but I couldn’t find what I was looking for so I headed to the third floor where Mini Red’s Orthodontist is.

10:40 appointment with Mini Red’s Orthodontist was to review her status and suggestions for the next round of braces. I have had so much anxiety about this and the upcoming cost but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and the Doctor and his staff are awesome! I have to come up with some serious down payment and it’s gonna start with some extraction of teeth which are added cost on top of what the braces will cost. Oye! But it could always be worse right?

Since I was in the mall I went to Lenscrafters to scope out the frames. I found some new frames but these costs are outrageous. I decided to come back another time after I found some frames I like. I need to figure this all out since it feels like so much money is flying out of my butt between braces, glasses and just living day to day.

Today was the deadline for the Outdoor Ed permission slips and fees so by 11:40 I was off to Mini Red’s school to drop them off. Once that was done I headed to drop the trampoline at Ra’s in Columbia. There’s no way I’m making it to the office today.

I arrived at Ra’s about 12:20 and was greeted by her mother. I was so excited to see her and had completely forgotten she would be in town from Canada. I just grabbed her and hugged hard cause I just love this woman.

Ra’s 4 year old helped me unload the trampoline in the back yard. He and I had tried it out the prior weekend and I can’t wait til they have it put together and I can get on it again. At one point the 4 year old was dragging this one part and I suggested it might be easier if he picked it up from the middle.

He looked at me like I was crazy and said, “I can’t Auntie Red! This is heavy and I’m a little guy.”

“Oh ok. Then just finish dragging it to the end of the yard.”

We finished unloading the trampoline, reloaded the car with stuff for my aunt, clothes Ra was giving to Mini Red and closed everything up. I see Ra all the time but it was nice to sit down to lunch and visit with her and her Mom. For dessert we had chai tea, cookies, sat back, relaxed and chatted… I feel so comfortable in her home.

By 2:30 I was off again dropping stuff off at Mom’s, picking up Mini Red, dropping stuff at home and off to find some things Aunt Dot had requested. Dropped off the loaner, picked up the car and continued the search and didn’t find anything I was looking for. We left Rockville and headed to Wheaton to treat ourselves to El Pollo Rico and finally got home by 7 and we are beat.

But we aren’t done yet. A few hours later I made an ice cream run. It’s no longer Lent so we after the chicken dinner there was some homemade hot fudge in the fridge that has been waiting patiently for me.

Packing will be last minute, for me, and hopefully we won’t start out too late for Scranton in the morning. This weekend will be good for my soul since we will be staying at the convent again and there is no internet access. Aunt Dot is celebrating over 70 years as a nun and I’m glad she is in better spirits.

She is still unable to walk and understands that everything is different now but she is ok with it. I was worried about the “ok with it” part but she requested some plants and I took this as a great sign.
Mini Red isn’t looking forward to the nuns pawing her but Scranton’s forecast has snow in it and that makes it all worth it for her. I’m looking forward to the drive on 81 because it's so beautiful.
At least I won’t have to drive on next weekend’s trip to Connecticut for a baby shower for SIL.

The Reds are a traveling!

It’s that time of year again when the Catholics stick out like marked people

Ash Wednesday is upon us once again and I find myself contemplating what to give up for Lent. I usually give up chocolate, which is not as easy as it seems since it is also Girl Scout Cookie season.

I am also reminded of last year’s homily where the priest said, "We all give up candy and that’s easy but who can go home after a bad day at work and be Joyful?" That made such a difference in my life and changed the way I viewed Lent. Mini Red enjoyed it too!

I believe I have kept up with the “Joyful After Work” theme but now is the time to stop and re-evaluate. Then every year can just become better and better, right?

I have decided to take on a bit more and this one is a toughie. No cussing in the car or rather no Road Rageous cussing. I am, however, allowing myself to say “POOP”.

Mini Red has been encouraged to choose something in her life to eliminate or improve and really stick to it. Last year she didn’t do so well but at 12 I believe she can learn a thing or two.

What are all you Catholics out there planning on giving up?

Oh and if there is abundance of “Ode De Fish” on Friday’s it’s us Catholics.