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Home Again
By coolgranny in The Paradox of Long Lives
August 30, 2009

LAZY is the word I would use to describe both of us today. Hub and I were in over our heads while taking care of an almost toddler and her brother this week. Conversations included comments like, "Fold clothes or play with the kids. Cook dinner or change a diaper." I must admit that I occasionally chose the laundry, or cooking, or washing the dishes to being a nanny. Nanny work is much harder than being a maid.

Daughter-in-law had a much different surgery than anticipated, and we were all left wondering what the heck had happened. When the surgeon began, he saw a tumor wrapped around her abdominal aorta. This was much more serious than the scheduled operation, and her other cancer will be treated with chemo and radiation. None of us, including the surgeon, had mentally prepared for this. DIL is handling this well, and she is a better woman than I am. She refused to take the pain pills and is relying on ibuprofen and pure stamina to control the pain. I take any and all medications to keep pain at bay. I am a total wuss when I hurt.

I must admit that I had mixed feelings about leaving. My son is doing a great job of handling everything, and our presence just served to give him the needed trustworthy babysitters and a few home cooked meals. Hub became a great gofer and playmate for the grands, complete with silly string for our best bud. Granddaughter became a hip extension on this old girl, and I had the pain to prove it. The whole week reminded me of why babies are for the younger set. Over the hills just don't have the energetic stamina necessary to raise kids. At least these two over the hills don't.

On another note, Hub and I enjoyed our road trip. We took yet another route through Arkansas, Southern Tennessee, and North Carolina. Hub is a real history buff, so Shiloh and Pickings Crossing (I think) were part of the agenda. We followed the Trail of Tears for most of the trip up. This part of history really made me sad. I got to visit several antique stores. I did notice that there were a lot less tobacco fields and more sugar cane and rice fields. We took a lot of back roads and enjoyed the slower pace of the trip.

We also found the hotel where part of our honeymoon was spent. I convinced the new Hub to go camping in the Smokies for part of our trip. By the third night I was on the horn begging for the 10 to 6 schedule at any hotel in Gatlinburg. Neither one of us were prepared for the rock base and blow-ups that died during the nights in the wild. We survived and learned. The last camping trip included folding cots for all of us and a much bigger tent. That was when the youngest was eight.

Time changes everything. The Gatlinburg I remember was a haven for artists and their work. Now, the same area has made in China all over it. The mountains were wonderful as usual, but the hiking was limited. If a trail had threes legs, there was a time that we would finish all three before descending. This trip, we made it half way up a scenic walk, took a few pics, and were quite happy to get back to the car. The scenic views were snapped, and I remembered when I used to think I would eventually try to paint one or two. Time has changed me. I was more aware of my surroundings this last time around. Knowing this would be the last road trip to this area, I really tried to embrace the beauty of it.

I also took the time to breathe in and out very slowly. There is absolutely nothing like mountain air. I just inhaled as deeply as I could while listening to the quiet. I've hiked the Rockies and the Smokies, and the Smokies are still my favorite. The Rockies are more dramatic, but the Smokies take me back to simpler times, and the Blue Ridge continues to still my heart.

I hope the kids will take their children into the mountains as they get old enough to hike, camp, and fish the streams. The memories and fun experiences from camping in bear country, listening to Blue Ridge music, and roasting marshmallows could continue for another generation.