This ‘n That

Well, back to the present after that nice little diversion. Yesterday was my older daughter’s birthday and we drove out to her suburb to take her out for a casual dinner. I had already taken her to Achiver’s last week and gotten her a pretty big gift card so that she could make herself a really nice scrap book. Being into genealogy, memorabilia and all that stuff, I knew she’d love that store and find some wonderful things for herself. I had my other daughter bring her to my place without telling her what we were going to do, then we brought her over to Archiver’s and had a little private party for her back in their workroom.

For those of you who don’t know what Archiver’s is, it’s a store that has everything one could possibly want to create a wonderful scrapbook, photo album, or any sort of archiving item whatsoever. There’s wonderful paper and ribbons, stickers, covers, glue, special scissors, plastic protectors, things you couldn’t even imagine. My daughter was in heaven. I got her a gift card as well as bought her a membership to some club or whatever that allows her to get a good discount on whatever she buys at Archiver’s plus gave her a free huge tote bag with pockets for carrying her scrap book projects.

Archiver’s also has classes for making scrapbooks, Christmas cards, etc. etc. They also have a large workroom with tables and equipment as well as a children’s playroom to occupy kids as moms shop and make their creation. It’s quite a wonderful place if you’re into that kind of thing. I even put together the beginnings of a small scrapbook when I was there with her. My father was a child prodigy. He was a pipe-organist and pianist from a very young age. As a teen he even cut a record. He had put together a scrap book of his own that I inherited. It was falling apart so I brought it with me and bought the materials to re-do it and keep it safer. My aunt was talented as well and was a violinist who was taken under the wing of some wealthy mentor who paid for her to study at some conservatory in Prague. Unfortunately the depression cut short this education and she was brought back to the states where she made money as a gypsy violinist. I’m not sure what happened or why she didn’t pursue it more fully, but by the time I “knew” her, she was first a beautician, then a real estate agent. Later I think she was a census taker. I believe she even lived with us for a few months at one point. She was an odd lady. My brother remembers her better than I do. I just remember that she was a very heavy smoker who always owned a parakeet and she used to take the shrink wrap off of her cigarette packs and roll it between her fingers until it became like a small translucent spear. We used to find these little spears all over the house even after her visits were over. She was also a talented card player. My family were big bridge players and she was very good at it as was my father. I wish I would have gotten to know her better but I was such a shy kid I didn’t really get to know anybody in my extended family very well. Now I’m not as shy any more and would have a thousand questions for them but they’re all dead. *sigh*

Anyway, back to my daughter’s birthday. We took her out last night because her husband had to work and my other daughter and her husband are away on a little trip. My granddaughter got her beautiful long hair cut. I was a little surprised but she had been talking about wanting it cut. She had hair that hung past her waist, very black and straight. When I saw her yesterday it was chin length or maybe even a little shorter in a cute little bob. She had donated her hair to Locks for Life – at least I think that’s what it’s called – it will go to children who have lost their hair due to cancer or alopecia. Now she looks so much older, but actually it was a good thing to do for her because she didn’t like to have it in braids or pony tails. She likes it to be all crazy and that is cute for a bob, but not so cute for waist length hair. I was pleasantly surprised at how adorable she looks. I had thought I wouldn’t like it, but I did.

I had a wonderful meeting with the Pastor at the Lutheran Church yesterday. We discussed the history of Luther’s small and large catechisms as well as some other things about the Lutheran denomination. I just enjoyed it so much. I’m very thrilled about the fit of everything I read. The more I’m studying, the happier I am with what I’m understanding. I’m having insights that I’ve never had before. It’s so much clearer when explained this way, as if to a child. It’s not that I haven’t studied the Bible so much over the past 14 years because I really have, but these catechisms really spell out things in such an organized manner. They are a delight to read and I find myself almost euphoric as I consider the things I’m learning and the depth of the foundation I’m getting. This is really so exciting.