Dear Raelin,

Writing to you is your Daddy’s fault, but am thankful he suggested it!  I had gone to bed but couldn’t sleep and it is getting really late, but you were on my mind and I had to get up and write to you.  Your Daddy said he would save my letters to you and someday when you are old enough, he would read them to you so you could get to know your Grandma Suzie.  I sure wish I could be with you now and hold you as you get sleepy, perhaps read a story or sing a little song, but just feel your warm little body close in my arms.  How I enjoyed cuddling all my babies.  Even though I had five wonderful little boys, each son’s birth was like the first baby I ever had and I had so much pleasure out of caring for each of them.  I have often wondered how little boys and girls might differ in personalities but never had the opportunity to find out.  Have thought that when I get to Heaven someday, I would ask my heavenly Father how come I never had a daughter, but by then it probably won’t matter what with seeing all the wonderful other joys in  Heaven.

My friend has a granddaughter and grandson who are one month apart in age and they just turned three and you can truly see the difference between them.  The little boy is obedient, calm, plays quietly and of a happy temperament but the little girl is just the opposite: into everything, a climber, a runner, gets into every cupboard, cabinet, everything possible she can make a mess with, doesn’t listen, is a bully; in fact what they used to call a “tom boy”.  Her grandmother gets so worn out chasing her around all the time but secretly laughs at all the things she can think of to get into.

I can imagine what joy your Mom and Dad are having with you being 13 months old as you discover new things.  I heard you are now walking and maybe even running by now.  What fun for Daddy and Mommy to be chasing after you!!!!  Are you now biting everything you can get into your mouth?  I was told you had three teeth, if I remember correctly. Sure hope you haven’t had too much pain and discomfort in cutting those teeth and the new ones soon to come in as I know it sure can make a baby irritable.  How well I remember!  I wonder if you will be like your Daddy was at two years of age.  What a little pistol!  He was such a handful and wouldn’t listen to me and his Daddy was the only one who could control him as he was so energetic and on the go all the time, doing his own thing, too, which wasn’t always what we wanted him to do!  He, your Uncle Bill and Uncle Dan were very similar in personality, yet each a bit different but still typical little boys.  Again, I can’t help wondering what little girls are like.  Could we consider you a wee little angel or would there be a better definition for you?

How I wish I could be near you and watch you grow and develop but sometimes the choices we make take us down roads that lead in different directions that we would prefer and there’s not much can be done about it.  Well, I best try to go to sleep again as it is getting late.  I love you so very much and am so thankful for you.  I have saved every picture sent to me from when you were still in your Mommy’s tummy up until the present time.  God’s blessing on you, your Mommy and Daddy.  Much love to you all, Grandma Suzie

Raelin, I sure home you had a wonderful birthday. Sorry this is late, but I cannot get on the computer until evenings as i have to keep the phone line open so your granddad can get work calls. Sure wish I could be around you and watch you as you grow and experience new things. I know your mommy and daddy enjoy seeing you progress in everything you learn new to do. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine you as you learn walking, talking, then running, and even when you learn to say “no” to mommy and daddy.

You’ll be wanting to do “your own thing” and they’ll be interfering with your desires. Oh, happy days ahead for all of you. Do not eat any broken balloons like your Uncle Bill did at one year old. That was a bit scary for me though he didn’t know about it. I will say good night now and give some thought to going to be myself. Much, much love from your Grandma. God’s blessings on you today and all the days of your life.

Raelin’s Reply To Grandma:

Thanks Grandma. I had a great birthday. It started out in the morning with mommy and daddy singing happy birthday to me. I just rested my head on mommy’s leg and smiled at my parents as they sang to me. Then I played all day with Grandma Jackie until Auntie Barb, my babysitter Erica, Uncle Dave and Aunt Lisa came over and we had basgetti dinner and cake and ice cream. You should have seen me with my cake. I’m sure mommy and daddy will get some pictures to you. I grabbed the piece of cake they gave me and shoved it right into my mouth and I ate the whole thing. Oh before I forget, thank you for the card and money. Daddy put the money right in my piggy bank. I also wore a very cute dress for the party last night too. I got more clothes. They say a girl can’t have too many clothes. But I think I have plenty. And I got a lot of educational learning toys too. They are so fun. Boy was I tired though at the end of the night. But I woke up a couple of times in the night and daddy had to get me a bottle at 330 am cause I was hungry. Then I was all better and went back to sleep. Ok, that’s it. I love you Grandma, and daddy and momma say they love you too. They are the bestest.

Well, again have been having insomnia, so very annoying. I wonder if it comes from watching FBI FILES, or WE 48 HRS/20/20 Case Files before going to bed. Do find the cases fascinating on methods of detection, identification, etc.

Then when I did go to bed last night at midnight, was wide awake, so checked my Email and at 2 AM went back to bed. That is when the idea for this article came to mind and only from strength of will power (or is it “won’t” power) kept me from getting up and going back to the computer.

This afternoon I laid in my recliner for my usual afternoon “nap” or rest, and this idea kept going around in my head, so here I am now to see if I can remember all the things I wrote in my imagination.

Recently, have been ill, again, and two days ago underwent a Colonoscopy after having side pain for 8 weeks.  This was done at a small hospital recently remodeled in a nearby city by a really nice surgeon I met for the first time this week.  Seems at the early 7:30 AM time I was the only patient in the Outpatient Surgical Preparation Room, (or whatever they call it).

I certainly couldn’t have had better treatment anywhere than given to me by the two nurses, the anesthesiologist and physician.  Was happy to find my EKG was normal, which is always a relief.  Can’t recall much of the procedure due to this wonderful amnesiac medication called Verced (sp ?) they give you.  Whole process took about two hours but it was four hours total until I was released.

Will certainly follow instruction sheet on diet to follow to prevent a reoccurrence of diverticulitis as I am not a candidate for surgical removal of 12 or more inches of my colon which could be deadly in my case, and I won’t willingly go that route!  Was quite pleased that no cancer or polyps were found, just diverticulosis pockets which are common as you age.

However, all this is leading up to my remembrance of surgery I had a little over 50 years ago in Oakland Naval Hospital.  My, my, how technology has improved, for which I am eternally grateful!  Back then, after giving birth to a 10 month pregnancy baby whose 9 1/2 lb size did some damage to my “innards”, necessitated surgery when he was about 3-4 months old.

Imagine a capital _A_ which was the position of the table where they laid me for “southern exposure” surgery.  With my “rump” in the air and my legs on the right hanging down and my head and arms on the left hanging down, this was the surgical position.  I kept wondering where were the “knock-out drops” where I’d sleep and not be aware of the embarrassing position, but all I had was a spinal block where my end was numb but I was wide awake!  Kept imagining the wondrous view to anyone passing by the surgery or to all the medical staff gathered around the table.

Comparing that procedure with my recent one is like being in two different worlds! How grateful for Verced, whatever it is, since all I can recall is laying on the table and the doctor asking if I felt sleepy and I told him “No” and he said “well, you will be”, and then saying “oh, my tummy hurts!”  That is from all the air they pump into you and they emphatically suggested I not hesitate to get rid of it as soon as I can.  To my old-fashioned way of thinking, “ladies don’t do things like that, nor discuss it”, and here they’re all happy to encourage me!  Will wonders never cease!!

So, that was my recent experience and can truthfully say that after 8 weeks of pain, I am feeling almost normal, though by now, am not sure what “normal” is any more, since I am still very much aware of my “hairy tongue” feeling! And I’ve been told that won’t ever go away. Guess this ends my story for today and will patiently wait until another idea pops into my head and you’ll again hear from Grandma Suzie.  God’s blessings on all who may be reading this.

Happy Doctor After Successful Surgery

My Husband Sammy And His Humor

In talking with my writing coach – my son (heh heh), I told him I hadn’t had any story ideas in about a week. Then I mentioned my husband’s recent experience with octopus tentacles in my refrigerator (which rather upset me!) that he was saving for fishing bait. My son suggested I write about that, so in thinking it over, I decided “why not?” Here is my story.

Two days ago Sammy had a phone call from his grand-daughter who’s Secretary in a Tax Office. She asked if he’d be interested in some octopus. He asked how much was she talking about and she was told a trucker had 80 lbs.left-over and didn’t know what to do with it, so he said he’d take all he could get. Later she called and told him to come to the office as she had it and he took off to pick it up. Thankfully, there was only 4 lbs. left. Since he was going fishing the next day, he thawed several tentacles (and put the balance in his garage freezer). He then laid them on kitchen counter and cup the octopus up into chunks for fish bait. Afterwards, he put the pieces in a Baggie and laid on a paper towel on top of a plastic container with half a dozen deviled egg halves inside. Since I couldn’t stand looking at the “stuff”, I was unaware of what he’d done to prepare for his fishing trip the next day.

On Sat. morning I opened the refrigerator and saw the bag which had leaked juice all over the top of deviled egg container. I re-bagged the meat for him to take along and then threw away the wet paper towel and the eggs and thoroughly washed the plastic container. He couldn’t understand my reasoning for disposing of everything outside in the trash barrel.

He once bought some frozen octopus in Florida when we were vacationing, and had it double wrapped and in a cooler with ice, but it started to thaw on the 1000 mile trip back and the odor from the trunk was quite offensive. As I may have mentioned in prior articles, I don’t ever look in his garage freezer. Even winding around the path between the items of junk piled up, is taking your life in your hands, just to reach the freezer! Apparently he has at least 3-3 1/2 lbs. left of octopus out there. Fishing wasn’t any good Saturday, and he brought all the cut-up tentacles back and refroze until his next fishing trip, so guess he is back to about 4 lbs. again.

He loves to cook as I have discussed previously and yesterday he even made the suggestion of making octopus dumplings which about made me gag! I sure hope he’s just kidding, which he is prone to do frequently. Although I am 9 years younger than his 81 yrs, he’s been cooking since he was 6, and I didn’t start until I was 18 and newly married; so that means he should know more about proper cooking than I do, right? However, I read lots of nutrition books, magazines, articles, and watch cooking shows and have 55 years cooking experience, so I shouldn’t be considered a ‘beginner’ (or dummy!). But we differ on how to cook and so if he has decided to make something, I get out of the kitchen (and wish he’d do the same when I am cooking). But he always wants to “help” me which usually means he finishes and I go read a book. Avoids a lot of tension that way!

Well, we don’t have any cooking issues today! He made fried mush for breakfast which was really good, and we have left-over spaghetti (which I made yesterday) for supper. He’s talking about going fishing this afternoon. Hopefully he’ll take his octopus along! So long for now and especially God’s blessing on all the fishermen’s wives out there! Grandma Suzie

It seems I’ve been having a lousy mood lately and my mind has been blank for story ideas.  My son told me to just write down whatever thoughts I was presently having and see where it goes. He also added, “when had he ever steered me wrong”?, which is true, since he’s been such a blessing in getting me to think of story ideas and I’m learning presentation of my thoughts. Actually, he ought to reconsider advising me to write down the thoughts tumbling around in my head as he might be surprised!

My last son, #5 (mentioned above) installed my computer, printer, speakers and television, so frequently call him when I have problems with my Internet or Email systems. His only problem is he says he needs to actually be here to see what I am doing wrong in order to correct it. Then I call #3 son who frequently can give me some instructions. The other day I had a phone call from a girlfriend and we were discussing my not being able to access my Web site and she told me I was typing in the wrong space, which no one had ever explained to me. I now can access “grandmasuzie” . My #3 son helped set up the site for me, but he didn’t realize my lack of accessing the internet as I had not had much experience with “browsing”. Mainly I just check out my Email every other day or so.


My car is still broken down – it has been two weeks now – and the mechanic injured his back several days ago, so I will have a longer wait to get it back.  My husband has a 1989 little red Festiva, which is his fishing car. In order for me to ride with him, he had to clear out over a dozen fishing rods laying across the passenger seat, clean up the floor so there was room for my feet and legs and then laid a small rug down. A neighbor who was watching Sammy’s cleaning out process, knew something was up, as he usually was loading it up, not removing equipment. Only problem with his car is there’s very little heat and thankfully we haven’t had any sub-zero weather while I’ve had to ride along with him, nor can we both go grocery shopping since there’s no room in the back for supplies since he left all his “stuff” loaded in the rear. So, when only needing a few items, I give him a list and he goes off by himself and I wait at home, hoping he gets the right groceries, and doesn’t “blow our budget, with ideas of his own!”

He is anxiously waiting for the winter weather to pass as he is so ready to get back to fishing.  He talks about it everyday.  A friend of his who drives a school bus called on the phone and told him tonight he’d seen people fishing at a nearby lake when he drove past, just trying to tease Sammy, (which worked, too!)  Thankfully, he enjoys reading and he has gone through many books these past few months and he has his re-loading ammunition hobby.  He has several friends who bring him blank shells to work with and he has searched the gun range at the local Sportsmen’s Club picking up empty shells.

Well, that’s about all I have to say, so will close for now.  Perhaps the next story idea I have will be much more interesting.  Have been collecting thoughts on laughter if I can ever get it organized.  Humor is my favorite subject.  So long, and God bless all those who may be reading this.