Taking it Slow

The flight was great. Alanna was great. I have been enjoying my laid back time here, Megan and Dole cooking for me, and playing with the kids, meeting more of their friends.

The weather here is crazy, going from 77 with cloud cover, to over 90 when it shines in between the clouds. I haven't felt weather this warm since the last heat spell in NY...was it in May?

The storms here are strong, stronger than I care for. Thunderstorms are severe, viciously throwing bolts about the flat landscape. Tornadoes blow through more often than I care for. Dole said to me: "if you hear hail, head to the laundry room". "Why?" I asked. "Breaking glass?". "No" replied Dole. "Tornadoes". The week or so before one touched down on base, and the strong winds tossed their glass topped table and chairs about; miraculously the glass survived.

It is a strange place, this military base. A canon shoots off every day at 5, followed by the distant sound of lone horn floating over the rolling hills. Periodically rounds of ammo are heard from the range, and helicopters are seen moving back and forth; I still hear them as I type.

I can't drive here unless I apply for a temporary permit, I can't shop at anything save for the food courts on base. The housing is modest, the lawns carefully groomed, dotted with the toys of children, driveways filled with an interesting array of cars and trucks.

I am the foreigner here, with my Long Island accent, sometimes doing yoga on the lawn. But I am always welcomed, often with southern hospitality. A drink, a bite to eat, and kindness.

I'll keep NY however, where the temp these days rarely hits 90, tornadoes are a rarity, and severe thunderstorms pale in comparison to what visits here. I'll take the snow and the "rudeness of NYers" (though I beg to differ on that), as it is home, and what I know and love.

Photos of a window by Gate B11 at the Albany Airport....which also has wonderful rotating art shows...ah New York.

Patti O Traveler

Packing it In

Wow..I am really behind on blogging. Being a full time grandmother has changed my whole routine dramatically. But the time given to her was time well invested, and when I get back I will be back into my creative mode and paint and write on a regular basis.

We fly back to Kentucky tomorrow morning...an 11:23 flight out of Albany, arriving in Kentucky around 4. One two hour lay-over, perfect for a bathroom break and lunch with Ms. Alanna. I am well prepared, with coloring books, stickers, crayons, notebooks, raisins and pretzels in my carry-on. '

I cried a few times today, thinking about bringing her back. We have settled into a comfortable routine, even finding friends her age to play with.

It has been an incredible experience, to spend so much quality time with her, at a point in my life where I am mellow, stable, have enough money to do what we want. Larry and I nurture and give her lots of life experiences. It doesn't hurt that I have the summers off, and that Larry has lots of vacation time that he has taken to spend with us. We have the time to give her one on one or TWO on one attention, something parents can't always do, especially with other young children.

In observing and thinking about life these past few weeks with her, I don't know how parents survive parenting, having a relationship, and taking care of their own needs in order to stay sane. It is such a delicate balance and juggling act, while learning what it is to be an adult.

I will be in Kentucky a few days to help Alanna adjust back into home lift, to see the fabulous little Randy who will be 1 very soon, and spend some time with my daughter and her husband before the long spot of time sets in where we don't see one another.

Photo by Larry, (Alanna's first sparkler) who has made a lot of pictures in the last few weeks. This photo is so magical.

Ms Patti O Grandma

Life is a Carnival

I have been having problems posting every day. Sometimes my morning is absorbed by Alanna, and honestly, by the end of the day, I am wiped and too tired or uninspired to write. It is a reminder of how much parents give up for their children/grandchildren....

I have however, been reading, flying though at least a book a week. One of my recent reads have been Water for Elephants, a mesmerizing well researched novel about life in the circus during the Depression.

I have never been to a circus, but do visit it's sister sidekick, the Carnival, which comes to our city every year. A friend of mine told me she won't take her grand kids to a place where people that put your kids/grand kids on ride are the very people you would avoid on the street.

I beg to differ.

Yeah, the carnies are an odd bunch of people. Many rough, toothless, struggling folks, weathered by cigarettes, booze, and a life of constantly moving. They are survivors. It might not be the life we choose, but they are people still the same, and deserve respect, love, and kindness as does the person who sports a Cartier watch and drives a Jaguar. Larry has been photographing the carnies over the years, and gets topmost respect when one of them recognizes him. He has given them a few fab photographs, which have pleased them immensely, one guy saying "this is the best photo that was ever taken of me".

The Glass Castle, an autobiography written by Jeanette Walls, is about poverty, alcoholism, the epitome of a dysfunctional family, survival, and acceptance/love. The book was intense, and is a true story, and the irony is that it opens with the author who is well off, riding in a taxi, and at a stoplight sees her mother digging in a dumpster in NYC. Ashamed, guilty, and overwhelmed, she heads back to her apartment to calm herself down. She calls her mother, meets with her, and it is through that turn of events, that she writes the book, which frees her.

It is a difficult read, but instead of being depressed, I was uplifted, as the author found a way to come to terms with her past, still love her family, and claim a joyful life of her own. I realized that we can either be victims or be strong. After years of being a victim of my past, I have found to focus on and embrace the strengths that came out of the struggles, and live life with joy, rather than anger and sorrow.

I am currently reading some historic fluff, not very well written. If it doesn't get better, I will abandon it for something more worthy of my time. I would LOVE some book suggestions from my readers......!!!! On my list are two books written by local writers who are friends of mine, one of which takes place right here in the Hudson River Valley. Just waiting for that extra 15% off coupon from Barnes and Noble to grace my inbox or mailbox.

Patti O Reader