Sat, 24 Dec 2005

My Dear Friends,

This week my major milestone was tying my shoes! (I feel like a little kid saying that.) On Wednesday morning, I was about to leave to read to Mikey's class. Last week's reading had been rescheduled, as the kids got out early that day because of the snowstorm. Anyway, I found myself home alone at 9:30am. Mark and the kids were long gone for work / school and my dad wasn't here. If you recall, I was not allowed to bend more that 90 degrees at the hip after surgery. I have gradually regained some range of motion. If it hurts, I stop. With no one to tie my shoes, I considered leaving them untied and asking the school secretary to do it when I arrived. Instead, I gave it a try, bending only as much as absolutely necessary. Success!

Reading to Mikey's class was really fun. I read one book that Mikey picked and two books from my own childhood that for some reason, had missed being handed down to my brother and sister. The kids liked the older books. One was "The Man Who Didn't Wash His Dishes" and the other was "Too Many Animals", about an old woman whose house essentially becomes Noah's Ark in a flood. The last was their favorite. I was very happy to participate in Mikey's class, as it is something he will remember for a long time.

My family is allowing me to drive short distances. (So now I'm a teenager!) I confessed to Dad that I had actually driven to the chiropractor last week Friday. The kids were giving me heck all the way.

With that warning tone in his voice, Jesse said, "Mommy....did the doctor say you could drive..?"

I said,"The doctor is on vacation for the next three weeks. I said I could drive!"

Moving right along, I need to take a poll. Please offer your opinion on the following situation:

Yesterday, I received a beautiful Christmas flower arrangement. I appreciated the sender's thoughtfulness and was very pleased. The arrangement had a most peculiar smell. Some part of it, maybe the pine tree branches, had clearly come into contact with a male cat, who saw fit to mark it as his own! It was so strong that Mark had to take it outside.

I know it's not one of the flowers, as I have received this exact arrangement before and it was perfectly fine.

Here's my question: I would like to express my gratitude to the sender for their thoughtfulness. Personally, if I were the sender, I would want to know about the situation so I could call the florist and demand a refund. Should I tell the sender?

Something like this happened once before. When Michael was born, I received a bizarre-looking arrangement with a card that said "With Deepest Sympathy - your friends at work". I called work to express my gratitude and describe the arrangement. They were puzzled. Then I joked, "The baby cries a lot but having deep sympathy is a little strong!"

It turns out that another employee had lost his mother that same day. Fortunately, the secretary was able to contact the florist before the "Congratulations!" arrangement arrived at the funeral home!

Please let me know your opinion.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Love,
Jeanette