The Breakfast Bunch

We have an eclectic group from the Y who meets not as regularly as we'd like!  Ruth is a retired school teacher whom I'm know for over thirty years who used to work out at the Y before Covid, Jenny worked at the Y forever and is now retired, Carla swims at the Y with me and Steven was our lifeguard as was his girlfriend Rachel.  On our way to Ruth's house yesterday (because she does live closest to the Y and Carla and I had been swimming in the morning), I said to Carla, "You know, Ruth is going to make an egg bake, a fruit salad, and have some type of bread.  I hope you're hungry!"  Carla's like "No way!"  Yes way!  We had individual quiches, fruit salad, doughnut holes, blueberry muffins, lemon bread and strudel!  Score!  Thanks, Ruth!    

CPR on Wednesday!

 Right in the middle of CPR class on Wednesday, I got a text from our birth mom, Allison.  It turns out that her dad, Tony, had to do chest compressions on his wife, Sheri, on Tuesday night.  She had ventricular fibrillation that stopped her heart.  She is currently at the U in a medically induced coma and is not doing well.  Sheri joined our "family" maybe eight to ten years ago and this has been a shock to all of us here - imagine how much more devastating it is to the rest of the F.O.O.'s (Matt and Micah's Family of Origin)!  If you pray, do pray for Sheri, that the swelling in her brain would cease.  Thanks!  

Thankful Thursday!

You know it's been a busy week when you don't have a chance to write your "thankful Thursday" post until Saturday afternoon!  Way back on Thursday, I was thankful for a great week of teaching the Water Safety Aides at Black Hawk.  I taught with two others who were very easy to teach with.  We had a small class that worked well together - after Monday's "but I don't want to get my face wet" - and it was just pleasant!  I thankful for that because . . .

 

Four Generations

Our plans had been to go see Dad last Saturday, but when Matt came down with Covid on Wednesday, Dad put the brakes on our plans.  His exact words were "I've spent enough time in the hospital this year.  I'm not going to risk going back."  We respected his decision, but look what we missed!

My sister Nancy, Dad, Nellie, and Lexie

 

New Glasses!

Not only did I pick up my new glasses after work on Tuesday - first pair since 2011! - but I also got a tutorial on how to take selfies from my (much younger!) co-worker!

The Water Safety Aide Class

Once again, I'm teaching the water safety aide class for ISD 196 over at Black Hawk Middle School.  For the first time ever, we had three staff and eight students and a very interesting day.  

Student A:  I called three times this morning to see if she was coming to class or not.  It turns out that the phone number I had was for an aunt.  Auntie had no idea where Student A was, but she was sure she could attend at least a portion of one of the days.  Um, no. She needs to attend ALL.FOUR.DAYS - 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Down to seven students.

Student B:  Was three hours late to class.  His parent thought he could just stay after class and make up the time.  Um, no.  We are done at 3:30 p.m. and we don't stay late.  We have lives.  However, we do start work at 8:30 a.m. (our prep time) so he could come then to watch the videos and read the lectures he missed this morning.

If A and B weren't enough, wait until you read C . . .

Student C:  She had one mad mama today.  She came storming into the building after class, "What have you done to my daughter?  She's in the car in tears!"  I calmly explained to her mom that her daughter had refused to do anything that required her to put her face in the water - that would include three strokes, dives from the deck and dives in the water.  I offered to work with her daughter on the three strokes that did not require her to put her face in the water, and her daughter hid in the bathroom.  Mom's response:  "Well, if I knew my daughter had to get her face wet, I would have NEVER signed her up for the class!"    Hello!?!  She wants to teach small children how to swim without getting her face wet?  Knock, knock . . . anyone home? 

I think that makes six students and three staff.  I guess we'll know tomorrow!

Friends Through the Thick and Thin

 Last night for our friend, Sheryl's birthday, we met two other couples at "The Howe" for dinner.  We had the most wonderful time catching up, reminiscing and laughing!

Follow our connections:  Mark, Ann and I went to Haiti together back in the early '80's; Mike and Mark were college roommates as were Ann and Sheryl; I actually went with Ann on her first visit to NDSU; Mike helped bring electricity to the same hospital Mark, Ann and I had grouted while we were in Haiti!  Ann, Sheryl and I all have birthdays on the 11th of different months.  No wonder we had fun!

"The Howe" was chosen because it was Sheryl's maiden name.  Now we're going to look for a "Heuer" and a "Dambroten" restaurant.  Wish us luck!