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Dog in the Snow

A friend of mine sent me this great video of a crazy but lovable dog. Click on the link — you’ll love it. http://www.dogwork.com/dogsnow

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Chapter one — My Mother is Coming to Live With Me

The rain in Southern Florida came down so fiercely it caused a delay with the flight. By the time I got to my mother, the condominium was bare. “Sorry I’m late, Mom. The weather here is ridiculous.” I shook the rainwater out of my hair trying not to make a mess all over the white carpet. “It looks like I missed the movers.”

Mom wrung her hands, “I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried sick.”

“At least I didn’t miss the closing.” I gave her a hug, thinking how frail she seemed since my visit in January during her uterine cancer operation. Weak or not she still had on her full regalia–make-up, false eyelashes, Marilyn Monroe blond wig and a smear of red lipstick.

“The movers were very helpful. I gave them a good tip.” She moved over to the kitchen counter. “Don’t forget, the closing is in two hours.”

“I won’t. You must be exhausted, Mom.”

“I’m alright. We might as well go. There’s nothing more to do here.” She grabbed on to her walker and we left.

After a drive around the neighborhood, we arrived at the closing and met the agent. Then, with a minimum of annoyance, Mom signed the papers for the sale of her condominium and we headed for the airport. If she was sad to leave Florida and her condo of thirty years, she didn’t show it.

The flight to Newark Airport was uneventful. A skycap stayed with Mom while I went for the car. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I had a feeling things were going to be fine. It was July 8, 2006–the day my mother came to live with me.

The welcoming committee, my eldest daughter, Nicole, with my two grandchildren and Alexi, my soon to be college student greeted us when we arrived. Mom entered her spacious sun filled room and headed straight for the bathroom. Then she sunk down into the antique Balinese day bed I bought in a SoHo and squinted. “Do you have shades for the skylights, Lynne? The sun is right in my eyes.”

“No, Ma, I don’t, but the sun moves quickly and after a few minutes you should be fine.”

“That’s good,” she said, her hand hooding her eyes, “I thought you sold the entertainment center-it takes over the whole wall.”

Alexi looked at me, “You can’t sell that, Mom.”

“I’m not Lexi.”

Mom ignored us, “I’m glad you kept the Oriental rug and Chinese night table, but I’m afraid there isn’t enough room for my furniture and everything else I brought from Florida.”

“There will be plenty of room, and whatever doesn’t fit is going into Nicole’s basement.”

My eldest daughter sat down on the bed. “Mommy said you have a lot of stories from when you lived on a farm, Nan.”

Mom made a face, “I don’t feel like talking about that now.”

Alexi broke in, “Why don’t you tell us about Grandpa and his gangster friends? Did you really meet the Gambino’s?”

“Maybe some other time.” She glared.

“Leave Nanny alone girls, she’s tired from the flight and doesn’t feel like talking about her life right now. Give her a chance. She just got here.”

* * *

“How are you doing, Ma?” I asked, a few days after she had settled in. She was writing in a notebook she kept on her bed.

“When do you think the movers will be here? I need my own pillows, and I don’t have anything to wear. I hope nothing gets lost or stolen.” She fished for the tissue that she kept under a pillow. “My friends from Florida said we have to be careful–movers steal things. I’m worried.” She sat up, her hands in a prayer position, “Please, can you call them?”

“Aren’t they supposed to be here in a few days?” I asked.

“Maybe.” She wrinkled her nose. “Did you get a carpenter yet? The front steps are going to be a problem.”

“Everything will be taken care of Mom. Don’t worry.”

I headed towards the kitchen and sat down at my desk to collect my thoughts. For a person in their eighties she seemed awfully feisty, although if it wasn’t for the walker, I was sure she would rather be in Las Vegas, running a poker tournament, or betting on the horses–she liked action.

I looked up, Mom was at the door, “Lynne . . . What about the ramp?” She hollered.

“The carpenter is hired already; I told you that, Mom. He’s coming this afternoon to take measurements for the French doors.”

“How do you know he’s any good?”

“Because he’s done a few things for me, and I trust him.”

“Okay then,” she continued, “There’s another problem; the air conditioner isn’t powerful enough to keep the room cool, Lynne. In Florida, my apartment was much colder.”

“Nicole has a big unit that she doesn’t use. I’ll call her a little later. She and Mitch can bring it over. I already found a plumber to install the gas furnace. You’ll have heat way before the cold weather comes.

“Don’t forget I need my own thermostat.” The doorbell rang. “Is that the carpenter?”

“I think so, Mom.” I stood up to leave.
”What are you doing now?”

“I‘m going to answer the door, and then I’m going outside to dig up a few of the evergreens that will probably be in the way of the construction. Then I have to replant them somewhere else before they die.
“How long will that take? I need the ramp right away!”
“Jim’s only measuring things today.” I went for the door.

Mom raised her hands. “You mean he hasn’t started the job yet? He’ll never get it done at this rate. How am I going to get outside? Can’t you do something?” She shrieked.

“Don’t you remember? He’s going on vacation to Europe, but he’ll be back right after Labor Day.”

“I don’t remember anything of the sort.” She sneered.

“Mom, how could you forget that Jim wasn’t going to start until September. I know I told you. We discussed it.”

There was no answer; Mom turned the volume up on the television. The conversation was over–she had dismissed me.

Later on, I found her in all her regalia, watching Oprah.

“I feel bad about the ramp, Ma.”

“I don’t have to go out all the time. Anyway, the only places I enjoy going to are the mall or out to eat.” She practically swooned, “I love malls and their smell.”

“I can’t understand what a mall smells like. How about drives? You know meandering in the country–cows, farmlands.”

She looked up at me. “I don’t like the countryside. I prefer being close to bathrooms.”

“Whatever you want.”

“Can I ask you a question?
“Sure Mom what’s up?”

“Why do you need so many paintings with clouds? Can’t you take the pieces already hanging, and repaint them?”

“That’s not a good idea.” I tried to keep my composure by counting to ten under my breath. “The paintings already hung up are completed. They aren’t supposed to be painted over.”

“It was just a suggestion . . . you know to save money.”

I sell my work, Mom. It’s how I make a living. I have shows and people pay me for my paintings.”

“No kidding? People actually buy these paintings?” She picked up a magazine and started to read. I didn’t know what to do. Defend myself or forget about it. Instead, I went into the kitchen, sat down at my computer and started to write. After a while, I calmed down.

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The New Moon

Somewhere, I can’t remember at this point I read that one should write down their wishes, hopes or dreams during the time of the new moon. I know you can’t type it and you have to hand write it. It’s not something that you can bank on it happening, but sometimes maybe months later or even years tings to happen at least they have for me. Even though not everything I have ever asked of has happened. I feel good about writing my ten s as I call it and I hope you do too.

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February 16, 2009

I had wonderful two days with my college junior daughter in Syracuse NY.  Thankfully she is going to be home for a few days on Wednesday.  Of course it took me two extra days and two weeks before I got there, but I say better late than never.  It wasn’t my fault I have had a touch of dizzy since the beginning of the year and I can’t seem to shake it.  I also had other silly things that the doctor said was anxiety.  I’m not going to go there as to why my anxiety, lets just say that only a miracle can fix it totally and I’m not talking about illness.  The dizzy is under control as long as I don’t look up to high or look to the left and then up.  Strange I know but who says normal is normal?

Anyway I finally bound my book and then the girl at Staples messed up and it’s back to being bound again.   The reason I bound it is to read it with the feeling of a reader.  Not either on the computer screen or  a few pages at a time.  My book will be  home tomorrow and I will begin to read through.  I’m excited.  I also went to Pearl Paint for a few items.  I went with a friend and he took so damn long that it messed up the rest of my day, but I had a great time with him and so it was fine with me.

I bought two landscape size painting and am ready to take a small interlude and paint.  In between I will start pulling ” Hope is an Adventure Named Alexi”  together. I wasn’t prepared to see it in such a unedited position.  I have to go because I received three comments on how to use my rss.  I don’t have any idea but am going to find out quickly.  HELP!!!!

One more thing I saw Benjamin Button.  it was unbelievable.  What a clever premise with great actors and actresses.  It was wonderous.  I did cry the whole time because it was sort of depressing in a way and uplifting in an other.  And in my state of mind I seemed to tend to the depressing –how many people are going to die in this move?  place and didnt stop crying for three hours.  It was unrealbut I was by myself although Henry , my friend, was at a seat right above me.  I hate those split seat things but we are not a couple just friends and I was actually happy to be alone so it all worked out.   Tomorrow I want to see SlumDog and make up my mind.  See ya.

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