A Christmas cedar tree…

December 3, 2012

Ellen/Reid: We were all set to put up the tree but we had issues with the lights, too.  As in not having any lights.  Last year I must’ve dumped the whole shebang when a couple of strands went on the blink (or non-blink).  Now we have some new ones but I was too tired last night to muster the energy.  But tonight is the night for tree trimming.  Not much will go beneath it, but at least we will have something relatively festive.  I’ve even though(t) about springing for a natural wreath.  It reminds me of a story years ago when, in the hopes of saving a buck, I drove a beat up old Plymouth Duster into the countryside and cut down a feral cedar tree along a rural road.

Why in the world anyone in their right mind – that is a rhetorical question – would cruise a dusty country road to slice down a dusty cedar as a Christmas tree – is beyond me. It wasn’t back in the early ’70s, but it is now.  The solitary gift under the tree?  That is for Reid when he visits.

But the thing was covered in gray road-side dust, enough so that there was no green showing through.  So, I tossed it in the shower and tried to rinse all the dust off, which only perpetuated the dust problem in my apartment and made a mess of the bathtub.  It took forever to dry and it never did smell like aromatic cedar but instead like country mud.  Once it was up, the scruffy un-shapely thing looked awful, so back into the trunk went the now-clean tree, and it was returned – quickly – to the country side.  What an idiot.  I haven’t thought of that story for a long, long time, and probably for good reason.

But in a momentary surrender to the holiday spirit, I did bake bread last night for the first time in many moons, and it was enjoyable as ever for breakfast toast this morning.  It reminded me how much I’ve missed the hearty loaves we used to make when you were kids although I don’t recall you two eating that much of it.  If there was a smidgen of planning here, some of it would go in the freezer to be retained for French toast.  It may move me to whip up a few loaves of breakfast raisin bread this weekend.  That’s my fav.  Why didn’t we bake any of that at Thanksgiving?  Sheer oversight is all that was.

Reid, I am perturbed at the lack of contact from the fishing outfitters in Oak Island.  You’d think someone would want to book a 3 – 4 hour excursion for a couple of hapless landlubbers willing to pay their handsome fees.  I emailed 3 of captains, thinking the first one that responded would get our business.  Maybe it’s too close to Christmas for them, but at least they could have responded in some way.  I’ll keep trying.  Otherwise, we rent stuff on the pier and try our luck at whatever might bite there.  They always show pictures of ‘catches’ but the fading photos have dates like ‘June 9, 2009.’  But it will keep us occupied for a few hours.

More depressing climate news this morning.  Now, the pollution-caused blanket that traps the earth’s heat grew at 3% last year, meaning scientists are underestimating how high – or fast – temperatures will accelerate.  We seem to be killing ourselves but mankind is wholly unwilling to do anything about it.  Such a great gift we’ve been given and we know nothing better than to ruin it.  Don’t get me started on the ‘fiscal cliff.’  The boys and girls in Washington had better learn to play together or they will send us in a long, downward spiral, all for party’s sake.  Its mind blowing to think compromise is a dirty term.  Both sides get the blame although I think things tilt the wrong way a little bit more on the GOP side.  Obama has to get off the fence, too.

Most of my Christmas shopping is done, although there is still time to complete your wish lists.  I need to at least pony up for another item or two for each of you, so move off the snide.  Reid, I may unilaterally get you something else in time for your arrival, and Ellen, what is in that box under your tree won’t be enough.  You gotta help me here.  Throw your dad a bone, okay?

Still a merry Christmas…

"I'm telling you Prancer, I'm tired of Rudolph getting all the ink while we carry most of the weight. I told the old man to get a new publicist and while he's at it, trade the red schnoz for a GPS."

Last week’s letter to Ellen and Reid dealt with the dreaded “R” word.

It will be a cold day in hell when I’m ready to pack it in and park my substantial rear on some damned rocker.

But given that this year in some ways went to hell a while back, I can’t succumb to the temptation to use events to manufacture some feeble excuse to be down-in-the-mouth about things.  That’s not how I feel or what the kids should see.

We will still make the best of things, we will still look ahead and hope for better times in 2011, and we will still have a merry Christmas.

——————-

December 7, 2010

Ellen/Reid: It was 17F this morning which is not quite what I signed up for weather-wise when I shipped down to these parts.  It’ll last a few more days then hopefully return to more normal conditions which I guess would be the 40s for highs.  I can live with that.

I played golf on Sunday at the behest of my friend Mike at the bank.  Somewhere in mid-round he asked me point blank if I would ever consider retirement if there didn’t appear to be any longer-term job answer.  He brought to the surface something I’d thought about but kept shoving toward the background.

Henry and Ellen play in St. Paul's 19 inches of snow.

I guess it is a several part answer.  The first being financial in that John is finagling things more toward a bond income portfolio but that takes a few months to get in the swing of things (i.e. checks in the mail).  As you’ve heard before that will cover some, but not all, of the monthly nut.  So there is some consolation in that.  Mike perceived aloud that I live pretty simply, which is true for the most part, without a ton of costly extravagance.  My only frills would be trying to see the two of you, riding the bike, and playing some golf.  That’s about it.  I’m not saddled with a ton of debt and heaven forbid that some calamity like a health malfunction would arise, things should mostly stay that way.  My final check from the bank is December 15.

The other half of the question is what value can still be brought to society.  I still believe I have something to bring to the table at the bank (or somewhere else) and the notion of simply pulling the plug and sitting back is anathema to me.  That’s when people become old.  I just don’t see myself that way.  No way am I ready to watch for Social Security checks automatically deposited into my account.  This morning I’ll send a note to my manager, with a cc to the HR department, to outline or suggest what it is that I might do, even on a contract or part time basis, to stay on here.  Nirvana might be to land a part time situation with health benefits.  That might buy me some time as I slide closer to a retirement situation that is doable and sustainable.  The “R” word just doesn’t seem real to me at this point.

However it’s not that there has been a ton of looking for jobs on my part.  I don’t have much faith, or seen much reason for hope, in the online job boards or resume services.  It really boils down to who you know and asking those folks to keep their ears to the ground.  That’s where the Mikes and Betsys of the world are a huge factor.  Yet there really appears to be nothing shaking at the bank once my extension expires on December 31.  I probably should’ve been looking around more than I have but the situation here was such that it kept me more than busy.

In some ways, Reid, your pursuit of graduate school makes some sense.  An advanced degree is usually worth the effort although I’d caution you again to make the move for the right reasons and not because you want to escape the drollness of an agency or because the grass might appear greener on the graduate school side of the fence.  Still, it will help you down the line even if you don’t know precisely what the path will be.  It’s a little too late for me to follow that same route.

Your grandmother has had a series of bad breaks the last couple of weeks but she seems to be regaining her footing.  It’s hard to understand what she says on the phone although in a few weeks time I’ll be out there so she can tell me in person.  While I’m on the road I’ll transport some of your belongings from Omaha to Des Moines and will probably deposit them at Nancy’s house until your mom can retrieve them and take the goods to South Shore.  I don’t precisely know your Christmas schedules but maybe we can rendezvous if you’re still in DSM on December 28 or 29.

Better days lie ahead…

My parent’s home in Omaha is empty. Gone are the furnishings, clothing, photos and other reminders of home.  The memories, though, are still there.

There will be no Thanksgiving or Christmas in grandma and grandpa’s kitchen.  There will be no squabbles over picking at the carcass of a big turkey while my dad carved it.  There will be be no frosted Christmas cookies that rated a 12 on the scale of one-to-10.  The holiday spirit will be tempered this year by feelings of sadness held over from this past summer.  But the somber tone will be offset by the hope that better days lie ahead.

This year my mom makes the short jaunt across town – all the jaunts are short in Grand Island – to spend both holidays with my brother and his wife, Gayle.  Some of the grandkids will pile into town, too – a certain diversion for what ails the family.  I’m hopeful to drive out West for Christmas.  I just want to get in the car and go.  However, the next few weeks of letters will beat me to her doorstep. 

——————-

November 19, 2010

Mom: This time next week I’ll be in Minnesota with Ellen and Reid for Thanksgiving.  Ellen sent me a message last night to bring my long underwear and plenty of other warm clothing.  The low temperature in St. Paul last night was supposed to be a frosty 21 degrees.  That’s a whole lot colder than it is right now in Charlotte and it feels cold enough here.  Folks up in Minnesota say they like the cold weather but I’m not convinced of that.  That’s why everyone ends up moving to the South.

Ellen says I should prepare to do most, but not all, of the cooking.  Reid has raised his hand to help out (he’s actually pretty good in the kitchen) and for the first time in a long time I think we will be drinking beer as the turkey roasts.  I told her about your advice to me a long time ago: buy the cheapest turkey you can.  We will be sure to remove the neck and gizzards before cooking (I’ve forgotten to do that more than once over the years).  I’m not sure we can cook the bird to the same quality that you used to do year after year but we will give it our best shot.  We’ll let it roast for a few hours with tin foil on, then remove the foil with about two hours to go to let it brown.  Reid thinks he’s the king of making gravy so we will see how that turns out.  He and I cooked a turkey a couple of years ago in Hilton Head and he did a pretty good job then on both the turkey and the gravy.  I will buy all the groceries once I get to Minneapolis.  I head out on Tuesday morning.  Betsy and Bob will give me a ride to the airport.

Ralph says you’re going to be over at their house for Thanksgiving.  That sounds like a lot of fun.  Aren’t your great grandchildren supposed to be there, too?  I wish I could be there with you guys, but it just won’t happen this year.  I will try to make it out for Christmas.  Looks like I may drive out rather than fly.  It’s a smooth two day drive and not as many miles as I thought it would be.  You’d better be good or you’ll find coal in your stocking.  Gee, where have I heard that before?

Been putting in a lot of hours at work.  Usually leave about 7:30 or 8:00 in the evening but the work is enjoyable and I like it.  What I don’t like is that it gets dark so early these days.  I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  But that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.

I’ve talked to your brother a couple of times in the last two weeks.  He sounds great and he’s always asking what I’ve heard about you.  Come to think of it, I need to send him the photos of you guys swigging beer at some joint there in Grand Island.  Good for you guys to have a cold one now and then.  That looked like a lot of fun.  I’ll crack open a beer tonight in honor of you and your new buddies.

Well, I’m off to get some work done.  Need to show I’ve earned my spot on the payroll.  Have a great Thanksgiving and say hello to everyone!