April 25, 2012

  • Chewlee Tells All

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    We ended up having Chewlee here for most of the day because her paternal grandfather was supposed to be coming to get her early so she was kept out of school.  Unfortunately, her grandfather forgot he had a doctor's appointment today so it ended up he wasn't coming to get her until tomorrow.

    Chewlee refers to him now as the Papa of her daddy with the tattoos (he has a shitload of them).  How sad that that is what she thinks of when she thinks of her biological father.  I'm just thankful that he's not really a part of her life.  She only sees him because HIS father (Chewlee's *bald* grandfather...which she calls him but says she doesn't tell him that because she doesn't want to hurt his feelings) forces him to see her occasionally.  He would love for his son to be a good father but he's beating a dead horse.  The son only does it on occasion to keep on the good side of the father. 

    When Chewlee realized she was going to not only SEE him but spend a couple days with him, she got so excited.  Then she got a sad face on and her voice got very quiet.  She asked me, *How can my Papa FLY, Grandma?*  When I said that SHE had flown on a plane when she went to see her cousins in Colorado, she shook her head and said, *No, I mean how could he fly in the air so that an airplane would bite him??*  I was like...*Huh?*

    The Princess then told me that a propeller had flown off a plane and ended up hitting him and he was badly injured.  That's really why he ended up home early (but will be going back in June once he's medically cleared).  He's been being paid full wages all this time he's been back and being treated.  I guess because Chewlee talks to him every Sunday on Skype, she's seen his injuries and thinks they look like bites.  She told me he has lots of marks on his face and she sounds so sweet and concerned.  I know how she thinks because she is always concerned about my scarred areas on my legs.  She had asked to see them and always wants to know if they hurt.  She will touch them softly while asking.  I know she has a tender heart and hates to think people she loves might be hurting.   But she started to tell me all about her Papa's boo-boo's and where she had seen them.  She went on and on and on.......  I finally said to her, *Are you going to make your Papa feel bad about the marks on his face?*  She gave me the oddest look and said, *I don't hurt my Papa's feelings.  I told you that before, Grandma.*  Then she leaned close to me and whispered, *Do you think I can touch them?*  When I asked her if she meant the *bites*, she shook her head *yes*.  I told her all she had to do was ask him.  I know her touch is gentle so she wouldn't hurt him but I think it would make him feel good that she's not repulsed by the scars.

    When Bratfink was in the hospital, Chewlee drove me nuts with her constantly asking and re-asking if Auntie Bratfink was okay.  Was she still sick?  Did she have big boo-boo's?  She wanted to talk to her on the phone to make sure she was getting better but I didn't even try since Bratfink was having big issues with breathing at the time.  But the fact that Kevin, HER cousin as she always says, has died and won't be around any more escapes her.  She knows he was in a car accident and that he went to the hospital but she thinks hospitals make you better.  The idea of death is just too difficult a concept for her and I'm kind of glad about that.  She's too young and you want to protect the young when you can.

    Chewlee told me today that I was *amazing!* because I had put fresh batteries in her Leap Frog and it worked.  She had gotten fresh batteries out of the drawer where we keep them but she had put one battery in wrong.  So, when I redid them correctly, I became *amazing*.  She also had to show me that she was turning it off when she was done playing with it so that she saved the batteries.  She said, *That way, if I don't play with it for a long time, when I want to play with it, the batteries will still work.  Did you know that, Grandma?*  I laughed and told her that she was very smart to do that and, yes, I did know that.  I told her she was learning a lot.  She smiled and laughed and said she was learning *everything*.

    She's learning a lot at that Head Start school.  She has to show me all she's learned on the days I have her.  She will write all the different words she's learned.  With the way it looks to me that they are teaching various things, she will be reading very shortly.  I'm kind of excited about that.

    I'm getting everything ready now for my kids coming to visit us.  I'm going to send the Beast to Food Land to buy some things for us to eat.  We should be able to grill outside at least once while they are visiting.  I haven't had the kids together for quite a while now so I am really excited about seeing them even though I am only at about 50% healthwise.  But I am doing better all the time.  It's endurance I lack and some days the neuropathy is extremely painful.

    We should be getting rain tomorrow but the weather looks like it will be cool but clear after that.  I've been keeping an eye on the weather channel.  I urged my kids to be very careful driving, especially if it's raining.  We lost one family member to bad weather and hydroplaning.  I don't want to lose any more.

    Tara apparently did well during the wake today.  She didn't totally break down.  Her dad, I think, probably helped out that way.  I know her mother wishes she could be with her right now.  But she has two people totally dependent on her and she can't leave them on their own.  But her heart is broken that she has not only lost a grandson but also that she isn't even able to be there to see him laid to rest.  But, since his spirit has been released, I know he knows how many people loved him and will miss him.  His grandmother is among the throng.

    Love you all.  Be good.  Stay healthy.  Drive carefully if you are out and about.  Oh, and smile!