Summer traditions

We just returned from camping in central Oregon with my side of the family and our grown kids. This is now the only time we take the camper out...we used to take it out at least 3 times each summer...too much work and gas nowdays and our grown kids camp without us now.

The "Coopers" started camping together about 28 years ago and now it has become a beloved tradition with many memories of engagements, newly weds, babies, elderly parents, and a Saturday potluck that quiets us all down for a least an hour of summer feasting.

This was a tough year with my Mom just passing away in April. She was the "glue" that held us all together and the campout was her favorite weekend. I wondered if we could survive without her and Dad but somehow we just did what we always do.

When nephew Forrest sang and played my folks' favorite love ballad on the guitar I could not join in for the first time...I always used to look over at Mom and Dad and watch Daddy hold Mom's hand if she was close by, now the song brought tears to my eyes and my throat much too choked up to sing.

I have no sadness for them, now in the presence of Jesus and free of this burdensome life, but my heart still is tender for the loss of both parents in a way that can make a 50 something year old new grandmother feel small and child like again. They were so in love....it made us feel secure and hopeful to have that foundation all those years.

Now a new generation claims the traditons and songs. Little blond children bobbing in and out of trailers and playing at the base of tall trees hold the promise that this tradition will live on.

Do you think traditions are important? Are they worth working to keep them alive?

Go visit Gitta

My daughter Bethany's college roommate Brigitta is doing a stint at the mayo clinic this summer as part of her Seattle Pacific U. nursing school experience.
She has left the Seattle Wa. area for the summer and is living on site at the Mayo clinic in Rochester Minnesota and was placed with three total strangers (other nursing students)



She has also never blogged before this summer and is doing a BANG UP job of describing what it is like to transplant oneself from her native Seattle Wa to this great lakes part of the USA and all the interesting things one might encounter at one of the Mayo clinics.
I think she is a great blogger. Give her blog a visit...we gotta encourage this girl...she's a natural writer and I love going with her on her adventures! She only has access to the Internet sporadically so surprise her with some comments! See "Gittasadventures" link on my links.

My secret indulgence

I have an indulgence. It is Pepsodent tooth paste. Is it just me or is it hard to find in the stores these days.

I keep a tube in my travel kit so my mouth gets a little vacation too when we travel. I don't want to get tired of it so that way I don't.

I just discovered that Pepsodent has a unique flavor that I finally identified last week. It is not in your regular mint families but it is a flavoring used in lots of other personal products that I finally ID'd. Anyone want to guess what the flavor is?

Count backwards from ten to one...TAKE OFF!

I had to go back and see the nice doctors and nurses this week for a little followup procedure.
This one required full general anesthesia however. I knew someday I would have to face this!
Something about giving up control and being put completely out...I thought the conscious sedation for the colonoscopy was a big step earlier this month!
Everything turned out fine and now I won't be afraid if I have to have it again someday for a more serious condition.
I seem to worry about things like this more than most people. My doctor says it is because I was in the medical field and I know too much, but does that explain why I don't like to fly in commercial airplanes?
(If I could just check in with the cockpit and make sure everyone is feeling well, slept good last night?, no fight with the spouse or suicidal impulses today? Maybe a little interview with the plane mechanic.....)
Anyone else out there have these issues?