Last February our family took a trip to Mars Hill, North Carolina for some skiing. On the way to our destination, we dropped my mother in law, Dair, at her home in the NC mountains. Her job was to watch our dog, and hers, while we were skiing. We figured that she could survive a couple of days on her own while we were gone.
She arrived at her home on Friday afternoon, stocked with groceries for the weekend. Our plan was to pick her up on our return the following Monday. Soon after we dropped her off and headed eastward, snow began to fall. By Saturday morning, several inches of snow were on the ground, but the electricity never went out and the heat continued to run inside Dair's home. Dair didn't venture out that day, but her neice, who was visiting across the street, made her way over with some hot food.
On Sunday, though snow was still on the ground, a friend picked up Dair and took her to church. By Monday, most of the snow was gone, and we arrived around noon to retrieve Dair and the dogs and made our way home with no trouble.
As Dair recounts, frequently, this story, it is amazing how it has morphed into a tale of survival. She refers to it as "that week I was snowed in and couldn't get out while ya'll were off playing."
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Party Animal
My mother in law is a party animal. She is a very social creature and enjoys being the center of attention. Our friends are great with her and have helped her feel welcome at any gathering we drag her to, whether its a Derby party, Christmas dinner or Super Bowl viewing.
She'll go along with most anything, as long as food and drink are provided. For instance, we joined four other families on Christmas day at a friend's home to watch "A Christmas Story," followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant, complete with Peking Duck, nicely beheaded with a cleaver by our server.
We tend to have frequent dinner parties at our house, apparently so much so that a kid down the street recently asked our daughter, "Why are there always people at your house?" Her reply, "We're just cool that way." But seriously, we like to get together with family and friends, and Dair really enjoys these events, so why not?
One recent gathering, another family was over for dinner and then our 25 year old son showed up with a couple of friends, so we opened the good wine and gathered 'round the fire pit. The kids brought a small African drum along and there was a full moon, so before long, they were beating the drum and howling at the moon. Suddenly Dair, who had already gone to bed by this time, appeared on the porch and said the next door neighbor was on the phone. Oops. Apparently the drum beats were keeping his baby awake. The next day Dair commented that the drums may have been keeping the neighbors awake, but the neighbors woke her up to tell us that!
She'll go along with most anything, as long as food and drink are provided. For instance, we joined four other families on Christmas day at a friend's home to watch "A Christmas Story," followed by dinner at a Chinese restaurant, complete with Peking Duck, nicely beheaded with a cleaver by our server.
We tend to have frequent dinner parties at our house, apparently so much so that a kid down the street recently asked our daughter, "Why are there always people at your house?" Her reply, "We're just cool that way." But seriously, we like to get together with family and friends, and Dair really enjoys these events, so why not?
One recent gathering, another family was over for dinner and then our 25 year old son showed up with a couple of friends, so we opened the good wine and gathered 'round the fire pit. The kids brought a small African drum along and there was a full moon, so before long, they were beating the drum and howling at the moon. Suddenly Dair, who had already gone to bed by this time, appeared on the porch and said the next door neighbor was on the phone. Oops. Apparently the drum beats were keeping his baby awake. The next day Dair commented that the drums may have been keeping the neighbors awake, but the neighbors woke her up to tell us that!
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