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

Day 27 August 14, 2009

A sad day here. The Pannells are having to say goodbye to their dear pet Nugget today. What a good pet and what great memories they and we will have of him. It is so hard to make these decisions but they know they are doing the best thing for their wonderful friend as he has been suffering for awhile now. He will now be peaceful and rest after a job well-done: he gave happiness and contentment and love to a family for his whole life and he will always be remembered...

Day 26 August 13, 2009

My dearest Lilo,

Ok, I have been avoiding sitting down to write because I know our time is short now. I am dreading Monday because it means our limited communications will change from sporadic to almost non-existent. Snail mail over land and sea will soon become the norm for us; back to a bygone era of having to wait...I know how it is since I actually lived in that era! Think about what to say, write or type it, put it in an envelope and mail it. Then wait. It could possibly take a month to get to you. And then you repeat the cycle from your end. And still we wait. Today's generation doesn't really know what that means. Sure they have to wait occasionally, for a few minutes or, horrors, a few hours or days. But typically it is a few taps of the thumbs and "voila!" an answer or comment. This challenge will be a real test of patience and faith! (yours and mine)

I am sure you are excited to get on with the next chapter of your adventure! I think you are probably nervous and yet ready to see your new home and meet your new family. I keep thinking about all of the boxes and luggage you have to take with you and I am hoping that it all follows you to Namdrik in a timely manner--and I don't mean in an "island time" manner. ; )

Life here is about the same, though Fall is just around the corner. Each evening the crickets and the locusts compete with each other to see who can "chirp" the loudest. Dad and I go out on the deck or in the yard each day "surveying" our little ranch, checking on the plants and animals. Tonight we watched a dove land in the bird bath and take a drink. I told Dad that we were turning into our grandparents. Ha! Sorry, not as exciting as the walk on the beach and the frolicking dolphins!!

I am wondering how it will be for you to have no tv, news, creature comforts, etc. for a whole year. I am sure that focusing on your teaching and learning a whole new language and culture will fill in those "holes in time" where in your old life you would have been sleeping late or watching Jon Stewart or Nurse Jackie or Friends for the 1000th time. That is actually a good thing and something we are trying to do here too. Dad has signed up to join the MRC (Medical Reserve Corps) with me and I am sure we will be doing online courses for that as well as CPR training and of course the yearly mock mass innoculation drill--though it may be real this year with the swine flu swirling around. We have also decided to watch less tv and read more books this year. Maybe when you get back we can talk about all of the books with you since you are reading more too! It will be a Nash family book club!!

Speaking of the swine flu--I have not verified it yet but Valerie may have it. She has been sick and she has made comments on FB about s.f. but I can't tell if she is serious. I will be checking on her today! In other family news, Bobby got stuck in the bathtub the other day. No, really. The police actually had to go to his house to get him out!! He was in there for three hours! Thank God for sisters who care enough to check up on their big brothers. It was his little sister who finally called the police when his wife kept saying, "He's still in the bathtub, Ha Ha." I couldn't make this stuff up!! Any way, he has pneumonia (not related to being in the bathtub for three hours) and his wife has also been saying he doesn't need to take the antibiotics. I feel like this whole thing may make an episode of court tv some day. Sigh...

No word on the job front yet. I told you I applied for a nurse consultant job with the Navy, right?

Well, I did and I have not heard anything yet. I feel good having at least applied. I know the right job will come, I just hope it is soon.

Ok, I will close for now. I am anticipating one last call from you before you head out on the "big plane" to Namdrik. Many people are interested in your travels and experiences so don't forget to write. I know you will have a blast! I love you more!

Love,

Mom

Day 19 August 5, 2009

I am dancing today because you called us on Monday!! It was awesome to hear your voice and I am so thankful for the miracle of telephones and Skype too! You sound wonderful and I am relieved that you are well and happy. You can't imagine how proud we are of you! You are a brave and gentle, loving soul and the people who you are now living with and interacting with are so blessed to have you. Many are praying for God's blessings to be with you and with the people of the Marshall Islands.

As I write I am watching one of your favorite Presidents, Bill Clinton, as he escorts the two journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee home to America after he secured their release from North Korea. Amazing! It is a tear-producer. Al Gore is also there and has just spoken. It's a happy day!

I am a little jealous about all of the snorkeling you are doing. I do hope that you will see more interesting things in the waters of Namdrik. I am not jealous of the mosquitos and cockroaches and crazy dogs though! ; ) I guess even paradise is not perfect!

I have been selling your old textbooks like crazy! I have made around 200 dollars so far. Yay! I have mostly the small ones left. Good thing they are selling, as this is my only source of income right now. The job search is still not very successful yet. Wish me luck!

Sorry that I have nothing much to report. That actually could be considered a good thing. All of the people who have received notes from you are very thankful and send good wishes to you.

Love you,

Mom

Day 12 July 29, 2009

It was exciting to receive your email this week, though I realize that those days are numbered. I have stayed awake wayyyy past my bedtime several nights hoping to catch you on g-chat again. It is very frustrating being out of contact and the time difference is driving me crazy!! I am sure that I will get used to it after a while, but I won't get used to missing you. I loved hearing about your activities and am glad you are avoiding the sharks! You know it is almost time for shark week here ; ).

Big news on reality TV--she chose Ed. Now, I could pretend to care but I do not know any of the characters, but I did promise to let you know.

In family news, Joel has seen at least three bears while in Mammoth Lakes. He and Mike were very excited about that. They will be coming home tomorrow and are very sad that vacation is almost over. I think Joel would like to move out to California if he could-sunshine, girls, and golf can be very addicting.

I was hoping to go to Bald Head in August, but it isn't going to work out and I am very very disappointed!! I miss the ocean and I too am envious of you and your "hammock by the sea!"

I hope all of your boxes get there. I was going to send another today, but I wanted to get a few of the items you requested and stuff them in first. I will send it tomorrow. It will also include your pictures for your host family. Molly sent you a long letter and has been wondering if you got it. She is getting ready to move into her new apartment this weekend and is so excited. She misses you very much.

Dad and I are doing projects again. I am sure you are glad you are missing that! We decide to paint the basement and so we just did it. We are not sure if Joel will like the color, cuz it is melon like- orangish. Sooo, we like it and it made us start cleaning too, so now we hope to feel cozier down there and spend more time enjoying movies and walking on the treadmill. We will be entertained and in good shape by the time you return.

I paid your Comcast bill- I called them because we never received the bill. They said they sent it but I never saw it. So no worries!

Sorry it isn't very exciting here. We are all looking forward to hearing about your adventures and living vicariously through you. You are very special and we are so proud of you. Take care.

Love, Mom

Day 6 July 23, 2009

Ok, so I decided that posting every day was a little extreme! You actually don't need to read about every second of our lives. Ha! The new plan is once a week whether you need it or not! And baby girl you need it today. Tuesday night Whitney was proposed to by her boyfriend Matthew!!! Elisabeth helped arrange a very romantic setting with a bogus photo shoot of Whitney and then she documented the whole thing on film--so not really bogus after all. It looks like something out of a movie. I have been assured that it will be a long engagement, so you won't miss the big shindig. Fun!

We are doing great, adjusting to you being gone, waiting for rain still. I am sure that sounds funny to you in Rainyville. I think I have talked Dad into joining the MRC with me. I was working on some online training and he was asking about it and I remembered that we used to belong to groups like that together and it would be fun to do it again. We will probably be very busy in the Fall with mock disasters and flu vaccinations.

I sent you another box. It is weird not knowing if you are getting any of the items I am sending, including email and blogs at this point. They sent us an email saying everyone got there, and that you would be on the internet this week and we would probably hear from you, so of course I am a little obsessed with the computer this week hoping to get an email from you. It is already very frustrating not being able to talk to you when I want to. Probably a little easier for you since you are doing new stuff with new friends and keeping very busy.

I love and miss you. Mom

Day 2 July 19, 2009

This was an early day for us! Joel was up at 5 am, which means I was up at 4:30, and out the door by 5:30 on his way to the airport with Michael for their 2 week California vacation. They seemed to be very prepared and excited. We talked to you a few times today and you sounded very upbeat and excited, but a little travel weary, especially as you were headed to the airport in LA for the trip to Honolulu. I think the excitement picked up again as you called on the way to the beach in Hawaii, cuz you hinted at how beautiful it was and I was just a little jealous.

We spent the day working on planting and admiring our new front garden. The deer had so decimated the hostas that we just decided to rework that area and it looks fantastic. Dad did most of the work tho and is a little sore--the ground is sooo hard. After dinner with the Pannells (hamburgers on the grill and fresh veggies) we headed home and went to bed early-tired, but happy that our children were safe and enjoying new adventures in far away places. Life is good! Love, Mom

Day 1-July 18, 2009

Wow, this day came fast for me. After months of planning and weeks of gathering and packing, finally everything came together yesterday and we sent Cari off on her new adventure. She seemed full of confidence and excitement and we said goodbye without shedding the dreaded tears she was worried about.(although I did shed a few on the way to the car...sorry Cari) Then we headed to Los Toltecos for a margarita and a late lunch. I am pretending that we just dropped her off for another year at school, but I know that soon we will be out of real-time touch and I must find things to keep me occupied so I don't mope around missing her and talking to her. Last night we heard from her as she made it to LA and then found they had misplaced one of her bags and she had to wait a long time for the shuttle to the hotel. Good news later-she made it to the hotel and will not have to change rooms when her group convenes there today. They will hopefully deliver her other bag today too. I gave Cari a hard time yesterday as she tried to figure out the time difference from here to Majuro and how it didn't seem to match up to the info they had given her about flights, etc. She just could not figure it out and she told me she just had an inquisitive mind--how true! and explains why she is now going to teach for a year in Namdrik, Republic of the Marshall Islands!! Bon Voyage sweet girl! Miss you already! Love, Mom