Oregon 1997 October
Date: 10/18/97 05:34:12
Subject: Oregon visit/50th anniversary info
I'm back to using my computer - yippee! I haven't used it because my computer was down for a few weeks, I gave myself a birthday present and flew to Oregon, and I just worked 12 days in a row for a total of 120 hours. I've never worked that many hours before and don't intend to do it again!
Union employees at the chicken plant went on strike (and are still on strike) and most management was bussed into the plant to keep the meat moving to our customers. I became pretty good at packing chicken thighs into trays that came zipping by on conveyor belts. It's been a very unique few weeks with a wide range of emotions to adjust to the changes - from anger/resentment/exhaustion to acceptance/gratitude/humor - I have a few new stories to tell now! The company has hired enough replacements so we could go back to our previous jobs now - with a new appreciation for simple things - like going to the bathroom when you felt like it and not standing on my feet all day.
Oregon trip was lov-er-ly! Great to fly and not be tired when I arrived. Mom & Dad picked me up at the airport and stopped at Rogue River's local pizza joint to meet everyone - all look great especially Kevin. Mom & I visited Margaret's classroom and later went to the school roller skating party - George & I skated and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Exercise continued the next morning with water aerobics at the Y. Birthday celebration was held at Susan's - yummy food, pampering of my feet, and serenaded by great music. Saturday AM Kathy, Andy, Shelby & I went to garage sales and I spent afternoon time with Dad in the backyard. Time went quickly as usual.
Uncle Gene called the last morning I was in Oregon. One of the topics was Uncle Jimmy is in bad shape (Alzheimer’s) and there's still a few more months before Aunt Terry/Uncle Jimmy can move to Connecticut with daughter Terry nearby to help. Mom & Dad both agreed that Uncle Jimmy should be in a nursing home, at least temporarily (if not permanently) to give Aunt Terry a break - she deserves a life too. I took the opportunity and asked Mom & Dad what their wishes were now in case one of them died, the other was incapacitated and we (their kids) needed to make decisions for them. Dad quoted 'Thou shall not kill yet need not strive officially (meant overdue in the 1800s) to keep alive', Victorian poet A.H.Clough, Demardin Decologue. They want us to take ordinary measures - not extraordinary - but each individual case is different and 'ordinary' measures change with time. Some machines are 'ordinary' to help a fairly healthy person over a 'hump'. Where there's life, there's hope. Some people hang on because they haven't been told that it's okay to go. They're fervent wish is that none of us have any regrets or guilt and that we pass on to others what we learned from them.
We chatted about the pros & cons of living wills vs. regular wills - they have researched both sides and decided on a regular will which means - If Mom and/or Dad need extended medical care/nursing home stays (there are good ones and bad ones - please pick a good one) the house would be sold, all assets liquidated and, when their money runs out, the state would pick up the bill. If they both die before using their assets then we share it as an inheritance. Dad said he was going to add our conversation to his current speech - the personal touch makes a speech more interesting.
New subject - here's an idea for Mom & Dad's 50th anniversary next year - I have a friend(with partner) who puts photos and music together on VCR tapes - Mom & Margaret gathered our songs that we grew up with and I'd like to use them with photo's of our lives to make an anniversary tape. For example - Song #1 Al Jolson's my Mammy - Dad's photos from childhood to present, song #2 Somewhere over the Rainbow - Mom's photos from childhood to present, Song #3 -Smile for me Diane, my photos from childhood through present(Richard), Song #4 Margie, Margaret's photos, etc., etc., etc., with some grand finale song (any ideas) with group pictures. Most songs are 2-4 minutes long and each photo is used for about 5 seconds. We can all start thinking about what photos YOU want to use for YOUR portions. Picture 'contributions' for Mom, Dad, Tom(I believe he's given away his photos), and grand finale song will be gladly accepted, marked on the back , and returned to you when the job is completed.
Everyone like the idea?
Please make a copy of this email for Danny & Kathy. Thanks.
Love to all,
Diane