Day 280

April 21, 2010

I am so ready for June 9! We got the word a couple of days ago and have begun our preps. I will be getting a ticket for you from LA to here really soon. This year has flown but I have missed you every day. I hope you are going to stay home for a while when you get here. Your friends and family are very excited to see you and talk to you again. I hope Molly will let us see you. LOL!

Day 125 November 17, 2009

Ok, I know I have not been faithful in my writing but either nothing has happened or everything has happened and in both cases I did not feel like recording at the time. So now I will try to catch you up on the news and related feelings about all of the happenings in our lives. You will find this either boring or riveting so here goes.

We went to a "political" party at the Freund's house in Sept. to support our favorite candidate for delegate for Loudoun-David Poisson. It was great fun and we enjoyed meeting new people and listening to how David has been supporting/representing Loudoun in Richmond. Unfortunately, the election turned out all of the Democrats for miles around, including the Governor's office! Bah! People just seemed to be apathetic about voting (except for Republicans). Wish you had been here to help.

Dad and I attended the first annual "Art, Wine and all that Jazz" festival at the old Lorton prison, which is now "The Workhouse at Lorton", an art haven much like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. The old dormitories house the artists and they are organized by different art genres. We had a great time and the wine and art and jazz was great-also the weather was awesome. I would love to take you there when you return! I think Grandma and Lea would love it too!

I have been trying to play volleyball with some women at church. I was really good about going every Monday night, but then I missed one night and then I didn't feel well and then...So it has been over a month since I have been! Hopefully I will start again soon. I fell once and hurt my knee, but I really enjoy the exercise and want to keep it up!! And your latest letter about Biggest Loser Namdrik has inspired me to get back to the courts!! If the women of Namdrik can do it so can I!

Dad and I enjoyed the Annapolis Sailboat Show again this year. We had a great time and met some great people from New York who were a real hoot. Some of the girls knew the band from a visit to the Caribbean and we had a front row seat. We danced and had pain killers-even dad was dancing! It was a beautiful day and the boats were great. Wish we were younger and had some cash to spend on one...sigh. They are a lot of work though and maybe we will just plan a fun sailing trip every year instead!

I went to the hospital to be with Molly when she had her surgery. It went very well and I took her home and sat with her that afternoon so Cathleen could be at work. She did very well and seems to be very happy with the results. I am hoping to visit her apartment soon-she has said she wants to cook dinner for her mom and me sometime. : )

Sandra and I spent a week in Bald Head with her dog, Troy. He is a wonderful dog and so lovable. You would enjoy him. We had such a good time-we rode bikes a lot, played tennis, walked on the beach and Beverly visited for a few days (Whitney and Elisabeth came for one night). The weather was divine (Beverlyism) and we definitely relaxed and soaked in the sun, beachy smells and flora and fauna. I really love it there and am very blessed to have a friend with a house in paradise!! It made me feel closer to you...

Kara has had to have a blood transfusion and some iron infusions for low iron issues so I have been watching Kailey some. She is just remarkable and growing up so fast. She loves school and is learning so much. We took her and Kara to the annual PFHS homecoming parade and she had a ball collecting all of the candy that the kids threw from the floats. I think Kara sent you a picture of Dad and I and Kailey sitting on the hill. I almost felt like a grandma! Almost.

We had about 30 kids stop by for trick or treating this year. Not many, but it was still more than we usually have. And there seemed to be a lot of older kids. I sent you some candy for your classes-hope you got it as well as the other little goodies I have sent for the kids and for you. It is frustrating not to know if you are receiving the items I have sent. I have had fun gathering items for you. Hopefully you can use them for gifts and goodies for the kids and your family.

As I said before, election day was very disappointing so I will leave it at that.

I have been helping out with the H1N1 flu clinics through the MRC. Dad signed up but has not finished the training, so I don't know if we will get to work together or not. I will not get the flu shot so I hope I don't get it. Remember I had that reaction to the shot last time. So I am scared.

The last clinic I worked at was held at Potowmak Elem. and they had to call the ambulance 3 times for kids that got sick or passed out!! I have never seen anything like it. Everyone was OK. Anyway, the only people giving shots are the hired nurses, so all I do is help with logistics and do whatever I am asked to do. Wow, makes me realize that I would really like to get paid for working instead of always volunteering. Still no news on that front.

Ok, more tomorrow. Many interruptions while trying to write this. And remember-I love you more.

Mom

Day 73 September 30, 2009

I know you always tease me about my belief that things happen for a reason (even though I have influenced you greatly and you also are beginning to believe this)...but yesterday and today have to at least make everyone think a little. How thankful we are that you were turned down for the volunteer job in American Samoa.

Here is how the day went for us: Dad worked from home yesterday because he had an appointment with the dermatologist. After lunch dad just happened to see a report of a Pacific earthquake. We immediately searched for online and TV news to see what was happening. As you and I have come to realize, unless the news affects mainland America it is slow to make it to the networks and so it was hard to find any news reports. Finally dad said he wondered if people were talking about it on Twitter. I reinstated my account and started following. I actually was able to get more news there! We were not, however, able to find much about the Marshalls except that they were under a tsunami warning. Needless to say we were glued to the news the rest of the day. I notified Annie and Angela (your field directors) by email that we wondered how all were making out there. This email was returned as they were off island for 2 weeks. They did receive the next email to the emergency address and said that there were no problems that they knew of. They then followed up later with a post to all parents/families:

Hello Friends and Family of WorldTeach Volunteers,

You may have heard that there was an earthquake early this morning in Samoa that created a tsunami in the Pacific region. The Marshall Islands was among those island groups on watch for the tsunami, but as of 9:30 this morning, the watch was cancelled. We have not been affected at all by the tsunami, and everyone here is fine. I just wanted to let you all know, so that you do not worry.

Thank you,

Annie

We were hoping to hear about you specifically but assume you are OK. People have been checking with us to find out how you are and we say, "No news is good news", just like your grandmother Janelle taught us! : )

American Samoa is a different story...hundreds have lost their lives and President Obama declared it a federal disaster area. Relief supplies and workers are already on the way there. It is quite devastating. Prayers go out to them all. And again I say thank God you did not get that assignment that you wanted so much!!!! We knew this was a possible threat but never actually expected anything to happen.

When bad things happen it is reassuring to talk to family and confirm that people are well and safe and talk to them for that reassurance. This is another frustration with the communications gap we face between you and us. I can only thank God for the level of communication we do have and once again learn to be patient and trust that all will be fine. (When you read this and sigh in frustration about how much we worry I only ask that you turn it around and think of us being in harm's way and you not able to get timely info or talk to us...)

Other news from home: The Sacred Six gathered for Girl's Weekend this past weekend in Bel Air, MD. A great time was had by all. We will be going to Tryon in December for an engagement party for Whitney and Matthew. Dad had another cancer removed from his shoulder-it was squamous cell this time. He says he has now had all three major types! He is doing fine. No major surgery like before! Joel is fine-still working at Belmont. Your uncle is living with his sister for awhile--he had some medical issues and his wife actually hit him and could have hurt him badly, so he is staying away. Sad! We think she has some mental issues that make her super aggressive. I hope they all get help soon.

I miss you so much and can't wait to talk to you again in December. Remember, I love you more..Mom

Day 63 September 19, 2009

I can't believe it! We have received 2 letters from you now and they came within a week of each other. I now think that we may have better communication capabilities that I had expected. In fact the last letter took about 4 days from the time you handed it to the pilot on Namdrik!

It sounds like things are going well for you, especially since you have received the rest of your luggage and boxes of supplies. We have enjoyed hearing about your family and your island life. I hope that the things we are sending you are helpful and that you are enjoying the "goodies". I think we have sent 9 to 10 boxes altogether with more on the way. I know others are also sending you boxes so I don't think you will be without pieces of home while you are in Namdrik.

The world continues to be crazy here. We have lost some people-Patrick Swayze, and Mary Travers (from Peter, Paul and Mary) this month. Several high-profile incidents have been happening that are just ridiculous! One of the Republican members of Congress interrupted the President during a live televised address to Congress calling him a liar. He has now been censured by Congress. Totally incredible and disrespectful. In the entertainment arena Kanye West jumped on stage and took the microphone out of the winner's (Taylor Swift) hand and ranted about how Beyonce was the best. Swift was in shock and just stood there. Beyonce gave up her own stage time to let Swift finish her speech. Also, Serena Williams lost it and cussed out a judge at the US Open. It is like a weird collective episode of bad manners and anger. I just can't understand why civility seems to have been lost...

We wish you well in your teaching endeavors this year. You mentioned that you are teaching 1,2,5,8 English and 5 Math. That is a lot and we wish the students a happy year too. We are so proud of you and miss you so much...Love you more, Mom

Day 44 August 31, 2009

This past week was a very difficult one. We lost one of our most influential senators and a good person who "walked the walk" when Ted Kennedy passed away on Aug. 25th after he lost his battle with brain cancer. I know he had many flaws (don't we all), but he not only cared about and treated well those who agreed with him, he also was respectful of and friendly with those who held different opinions than his. Most of his colleagues truly cared about him, enjoyed his company and listened thoughtfully to what he had to say. Having grown up in the "Kennedy Era" and of course feeling connected to them by way of sharing the same birthday as Caroline, I have always held a fascination for our American Royal Family. There have always been political Kennedys in my life and though some of the young ones are still active, the world just seems an emptier place without one of the "brothers" living in it...

I am still trying to adjust to not talking to you. I thought it would get better, but so far it has gotten worse instead. It is just so weird. I wonder how you are every day and whether you have gotten all of your things, including all of the mail and boxes we have sent. I suppose this is a good time to cultivate that thing that I have never been good at-accepting that I am not always in control and dealing with it! Another thing I think about is how much you will change over this year and how different you will be when you get back. It will almost be like you are a new person. So I think about that too and wonder how that will be for all of us. Mostly though I am lonely for your company. Even when you were at school or in South Africa I could count on talking to you at intervals and I now have to wait and wonder. In fact, I still don't know for sure if you are even on Namdrik yet and I suppose I won't know until we receive some confirmation from you by mail at some point in the future. I do trust that things are well with you though and I have faith that you are with caring people and that you are happy.

I wish I could remember when school was supposed to start. It must be soon and I wish you good luck as you prepare to start teaching. I know you will be a wonderful teacher and I hope you enjoy your students. People always ask what you are doing and how you are. They are very amazed and proud of you when I tell them; of course I always have to explain where exactly the Marshall Island are and how you came to go there. : )

More later...Love you more! Mom

Day 33 August 20, 2009

My sweet Cari/Lilo,

Whooaa! I had no idea how hard this was going to be! I know you were supposed to leave Majuro by way of the "big plane" to go to Namorik on Monday. I had really hoped that the field girls would have sent me a little note/email confirming that yes you did make it to your new home and were safe, well, and settling in. No word yet and I am going with the old "no news is good news" way of thinking. I suppose that will be my new normal and as a consequence, I will become a better "coper". You remember how I always say that as long as you learn something new, every experience is a good experience.

It was so wonderful talking to you Sunday night as you were out buying supplies for your trip. I hold on to those conversations as comfort when I think of you and how much I miss you. You made me laugh as you talked about some of your observations. It helps that I can keep busy packing up care packages for you and looking for items that I think you may need or like. I wonder if you will ever get these packages--another thorn to bear, not knowing what you get and don't get. : /

I am so glad that you are enjoying your daily blessings. It is comforting to think about you waking up and fishing into your bucket of blessings and pulling out a new message from your friends/family that will make you smile and remember how much you are loved. What a way to start your day. Chad and Claire have both chatted me up and told me they miss you and love you and will be sending you letters soon. And of course Molly misses you terribly. Joel is sorry he missed your call Sunday, he said to tell you hello and that he will write soon.

We are trying to figure out a way for Dad to visit you at the end of the year--maybe in Nov. No promises. The logistics of getting to Namorik are quite daunting. I think it is even worse than the Sierra Leone logistics!! Anyhow, if it works out we will contact your people to let you know. He is actually pretty excited about the possiblity! Stay tuned...

I meant to ask you how your thumb was doing...I assume you would let me know if it was not doing well. Hope your other issue has resolved. Don't forget to use your medical reference book!

Life here is moving forward. Summer is almost over for school children. The hurricane season is just churning up--a little later than usual. Three storms this week, with one-Bill-now a major hurricane but it looks like it will just cause high waves on the east coast and then possibly make landfall up north in Canada. I have been following the Pacific storms a lot more closely than ever before. The typhoon season is in full swing too. The storm that hit Taiwan caused major death and destruction and was somewhat of a debaucle for their government. According to news reports it has been likened to the Hurricane Katrina mess--slow to get help out to people and slow to accept international help. It is such a wide ocean that when I am trying to follow storms on the satellite it is hard to tell how close they are to you, so I have been looking closely at the latitude and longitude--something I never used to think about!!

Miss you more,

Mom