November 13th, my youngest son Jeffrey turned 18 years old. We celebrated by taking him and my parents to Outback steakhouse for dinner. We surprised Jeffrey by presenting him with a new Gretsch electric guitar. He was so happy and surprised that I thought he was going to cry. He has been taking guitar lessons for about 6 years and is currently also working one afternoon a week at the guitar school. Being high functionally autistic has presented it's challenges but since taking guitar lessons, Jeffrey has really grown as a young man and it has helped him grow socially. The owner of the guitar school has mentioned to me that he feels that Jeffrey has a future helping teach other autistic children to play the guitar.
This year is sure flying by! Thanksgiving is just around the corner. My sister, Susie is planning to come out for a visit for Thanksgiving. When we were in NW Indiana for a visit in June, she informed us that her husband, of 15 years, had just left her for another woman. Her divorce became final about a month ago. She was concered that at her age (she will be 60 next April) she would never meet another man and would again be alone. Ron remembered that he had a second-cousin, around her age who lives in the same area where she does. He is Christian and his wife had left him for another man many years ago. So we sent pictures to each of them and Ron's cousin Bernie called her. They have really seemed to hit it off. He will be coming out to NC with Susie so our dad & mom can meet him. I met him once many years ago at his parents 50th anniversay. She really sounds happy. If this works out for her, there will be an interesting family reunion due to that fact that our other sister, Patti is married to another one of Ron's cousins. My dad jokingly said he and mom might have to change their names to Claxton. Sue and Bernie are not rushing into anything. It is just wonderful that they can develop a strong Christian friendship and take their time to get to know each other.
I am really happy for Jeffrey. I hope he goes far with his guitar lessons. I am sad to hear about Susie and her husband. I remember when they got married. I am glad she has someone who makes her happy. Thanksgiving should be nice for all of you. Tell you parents I said hello. They are such wonderful people.
I am happy for Jeffrey, Amy, and glad to have a report from you. I'm sorry about Susie and glad to hear she's having a happy time now. Enjoy your holiday together! I hope Jeffrey will play a song for all of you. :)
It's hard to believe Jeffery is 18. It doesn't seem like that long ago he was just a little boy. Glad he enjoyed his birthday present. That's interesting about Susie and Ron's cousin. I hope all goes well for them.
I am so happy we have finally arrived at Election Day. Throughout this campaign I have had to demonstrate a lot of restraint in my comments at work about a particular candidate (Obama). Where I work, it is a minority owned bank in NC which has been opened for 100 years. The folks I work with and most of our customers practically worship Obama like he is "their savior from the evils of capitalism". Today and tomorrow are going to be a couple of LONG days especially if Obama wins. He has made appearances twice within walking distance from the bank and most of them have made their "pilgrimage to catch a glimpse of their president and touch his garment". I know I am sounding quite sarcastic but what I'm saying is what I am seeing on a daily basis these days.
Enough of my ranting. Sounds like a flu bug has attacked our children at FC. Michael didn't sound good last night. His suite mate was sick but seemed to be getting over it. Michael said he got sick once yesterday evening but said he was sipping on some Sprite and his stomach was feeling some better. Sounds like a truckload of Lysol needs to be brought in and the dorms sprayed down real good.
Ron has shot some more of those pesty squirrels yesterday. He said one he watched, up in the tree nibbling on one of our pecans, looked like it saw one of his fellow squirrel laying dead and just sat there trying to decide whether to run or keep nibbling. Ron pointed and shot him too! Unfortunately it doesn't look like we are going to get very many pecans. I hope I'm wrong.
Let's all pray to God, that in his wonderful wisdom, will see us through this next 4 years of "change" and whoever wins this election we will be a better nation.
I also received Ron's email. I understand what you mean about where you work. My sister is in the same position. She is the only white person in her branch. I am sure whomever is elected that the Lord will take care of his people. I haven't heard from Jessica that she has been sick but I know several of her friends have been sick. She told me Sunday that she can't afford to get sick. She has too much to do. I am sure everone who has been hit by this bug has felt the same way..
Sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time at work because of the election. I just hope things will work out ok even with him as our new president.
We are breathing a sigh of relief for the Rays. Last night's game was called in the 6th inning due to COLD, WIND and steady rain in Philadelphia. The only thing that saved the Rays was the fact that they tied the game before it was stopped. They might not even get to play tonight because it is still raining in Philly.
The chilly weather here in NC is slowly bringing our pecan crop to the ground. We have 7 pecan trees in our backyard. Ron has been picking up a few bowlfuls each day. The more frosty mornings we get the more that will fall. We have not had a crop at all in about 3 years. We don't think we will have the 8 bushel like we had 3 years ago but we will be thankful for whatever we get. Ron has also been fighting the squirrels getting into our pecans. He has shot a dozen or more. One of those pesty beings crawled, wounded, under the shead. Our springer/brittany spaniel Molly took off after it, but that wounded squirrel got a hold of Molly in the face. I heard her yelp and holler in pain. Ron grabbed a brick and ended the squirrel's misery. Poor Molly had a bloody spot on her mouth but is OK.
We had a brittany for about 15 years. She was the best dog. I miss her. Now we have a Chocolate Lab mix. She was my birthday present from Jeff for my 40th birthday.
Richard said that if you are getting a lot of pecans from the trees he would like to buy a bunch. A couple of years we went to the Farmers Market and bought a bushel at a time. The second time we got a bad batch of pecans.
Michael called all excited today to let us know that the guys were able to move into the new Boswell Hall. The announcement was made after chapel service this morning that classes for the remainder of the day were cancelled so the guys could start moving into the new men's dorm. He called later on his computer webcam so we got a quick view of the new room. He has already made use of the new laundry room facilities. He said everything was real nice.
I was off work today (Columbus Day is a bank holiday) so I was able to sleep in a little longer than usual. My internal clock would ony allow me to sleep until 7:45 am. Ron & I went to Denny's for breakfast and then went to get some ideas for a birthday present for Jeffrey (I can't believe he will be 18 next month). Yesterday was Ron's birthday so we have been nibbling on a black forest cake that I picked up at Sam's Club.
We have been watching the TB Rays in the AL championship series. We would have loved to have seen the Chicago Cubs in the NL championship but "MAYBE NEXT YEAR". After the Ray's game we are going to Cold Stone Creamery to use a coupon for a FREE HAPPY BIRTHDAY treat.
Amy, it is BEAUTIFUL!! I just can't BELIEVE it!! I wish you could have been here today. I saw Michael a few times; he was so happy --they all were. It's just lovely. I'm afraid Benjamin will never come home to visit again!
Ron & I delivered Michael successfully even though we had to replace the radiator in the van. It sprung a leak as soon as we pulled into the Sutton Hall circle. Michael and several of the guys are living in Sutton Hall basement until Boswell Hall is complete. Luckily we were staying at Ron's cousin's place in North Tampa and they had a spare car for us to use while the van was being fixed.
Michael seems to be having a good year so far. He seems to like his classes so far. Elementary Spanish is going to be his challange this year. There is a student tutor for that class, but ironically he is from Italy.
Jeffrey is settling into his Senior year in high school. It is going better than he thought it would. He is taking a occupational/vocation curriculum so he is putting in some volunteer work hours in the school cafeteria and the elementary school cafeteria across the street from the high school. He also is to find a part-time job that pays as part of his class work. He will work one afternoon a week at the guitar school in Cary, NC where he takes lessons. He will help the office manager make instructional CD's, take out trash, vacuum, and whatever else she needs help. Since this will be during the school day, he will have transportation through the school to get to work. The teachers are trying to find another part-time job so he can complete the needed 10 paid hours per week he needs for his graduation requirements. He has not been complaining about school as much as in the past years. He is really coming along well with his guitar playing. The guitar school, where he takes lessons, host a student jam every other month at a local guitar store. He always complains that his "really nervous" but he looks like he enjoys playing in front of people. We are really proud of his accomplishments. He told us last night that he is trying to write another song. I don't think he completed the one he was working on before.
Ron & I have been enjoying watching the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays win spots in the MLB playoffs. If we can't catch them on TV, we watch on the internet on the MLB.com gameday feature.
We would love to see them both get to the World Series. We would be torn who to root for, but we will always be Cubs fans.
Too funny about the torn as to who to root for. Brian was just telling me about the Devil Rays. We went to a couple of their games when we lived in FL when they weren't really any kind of team. As for the van, at least the leak happened when you had arrived and not while you were en route. Great news about Jeffrey and his school year starting off well.
Thanks for the note about Michael. I'm glad he is doing well in school. I hope he does ok in Spanish. We aren't planning to go down for lectures this year but we are going to Tampa a few weeks earlier. We'll probably try to get with Michael when we go down and take Michael out to dinner.
