Grandparents in Covid-times

 After having Covid last Spring, Dave has a persistent "crackling" in lungs and wheezing.  We'll be seeing a pulmonologist this week, but this is more about the mental/emotional state of elderly grandparents.  I remember when we were on lock-down friends with young grandchildren fretted that their young grandchildren would forget them, but it hadn't occurred to many that we could forget our grandchildren.

With our young grandchildren, I started reading books to them on YouTube.  They became so accustomed to seeing me on the television that they would greet me and even wish me a happy birthday.  But, I wasn't seeing them since this was all on YouTube. Our daughter even said at Thanksgiving, "We see you almost every day and forget that you can't see us, too."

Most of our grandchildren were in their pre-teens-early teens when covid lockdown hit.  We missed seeing our family as everyone did, but we hadn't counted on them maturing into adults in the three years we didn't see them.  Having spent a career teaching teenagers, I wasn't surprised at their social distance to us when we saw them---no longer the screaming and running to greet us, but heads buried into phones or going to another room to "be teenagers".  What I hadn't counted on was Dave literally not knowing who they were.

This year, we moved to Kansas City to be closer to our family but the grandsons had grown up so much that Dave was constantly asking, "Who is that?"  He knew these young men were relatives but he thought they might be nephews.  When our grandson Brett (22) came to take Dave to a social gathering here at McCrite, I cautioned him that Grandpa might introduce him as his nephew.  I suggested it might be better if Brett just introduced himself, "I'm Dave's grandson, Brett." 

For Christmas this year, the family gave us Aura which electronically flashes photos every 30 seconds or so.  The family can all contribute photos remotely.  Dave fully recognizes the grandchildren's photos from 10 years ago, but not those after Covid, but he's learning.  Our daughters have uploaded photos all ages and stages of their children (and some photos of their childhood, as well).  Dave no longer watches hours of "Major Crimes" but watches the Aura as the photos flash by. We are able to see the "grands" before, during and after covid-times.  Several of the "grands" have even uploaded their photos with school activities and sports.  Davis is going to Spain for this semester and promises to keep us updated through the app.

Although the photos are generated randomly, I have the setting "on" for "Photo match" which displays photos side by side "creating moments of delight by pairing related photos" which explains pairings like this (Left is my brother and his wife.  Right is our grandson with me)

And this one with Libby, me and my (former) car Olivia. Libby is the current owner of Olivia.

So, we may still be struggling with the physical aspects of covid, but we are healing from the emotional toll it took.

St. Mark Presbyterian--50 Years!

Our church is celebrating its 50 years anniversary this year.  I am the historian of the church and have been busy for a year getting photos together, helping with a new history book,

Writing articles for the newsletter and attending meetings. With the celebration Memorial Day Weekend, we are all pitching in cutting place mats, picking up balloons, setting tables.

Oma's Trunk

 While getting ready for the church rummage sale, I found box after box of. . . . vintage items.  I have old books, newspapers, magazines, postcards, stamps.  Then, I have lace, patterns, buttons, trim and other sewing paraphernalia.  Some I inherited, but I bought a lot at garage sales 25 years ago, too.

 Rachel visited over Labor Day weekend and helped me get started.  I had already decided what I would sell and the name of my shop---Oma's Trunk.  All of the stuff I had could easily fit in a trunk (as opposed to a closet or an attic), but I knew the name "Grandma" was probably already taken.  Since I have German books and maps, I decided on "Oma", the German word for "Grandma".

 We quickly decided that Grandpa Long's trunk photographed better than mine.

 While Rachel handled the artistic details (like the banner at the top of the page), I researched my items to see what my treasures could sell for.

 We made the Dining Room the staging area because of the large table top and good Northern light.

 I had to break out my iron which hasn't been used since my son-in-law Todd was here last. 

Staging area for most photos----note ladder to stand on!

Rachel and I agree that the above photo wasn't the best way to display the collar, but this scarf was a real headache.  I didn't like it flat but Rachel didn't like any of my hanging ideas.

 

I think we finally agreed on these.  Not too busy, but showing off how the scarf looks draped.  So, here is my Etsy shop.  Wish me luck!

Cozumel and Home

We reached Cozumel, but the wind was so strong that many of the dive excursions were canceled. We tried to leave the ship, but we returned after a few steps because of the wind.
We hadn't really planned to do much since we knew 6 ships were going to be there (pictured above are 4 ships---two Carnival and two Royal Caribbean including ours)
We were on the Voyager on the right next to the super cruise ship Freedom of the Seas.

Soon, we were headed home. . . .
With me as the navigator: Triptik (Dave likes to pick it up and see it), the map (for the big picture), GPS (to double check AAA and to hear the voice give directions) and my ipad (to show traffic patterns). The ipad also told us where to get cheap gas. . .if it learns to talk, the GPS is history.
We arrived home to COMPANY! Rebecca and Roman came to visit.
Eli and Anna couldn't resist stopping by to see their handsome cousin. . .

Roman.

Oh, sorry, Anna, did you expect souvenirs? Maybe next time!

Joy Dots Chocolate Christmas

Personalize your Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

With two blogs, Facebook and e-mail, I don't plan on sending Christmas cards out until January. I don't have anything to do in January anyway. Too bad we couldn't have had a photo made at Thanksgiving or a photo with out the "Long Tom" shotgun. . . but it is still a cute photo and I did want to send something to those who "don't do computers." Another generational shift?

Forwarded e-mails

Although many forwarded e-mails have wonderful sentiments, I have a problem with the graphics---they distract me from the message. There is too much animation and the graphics don't seem to go together. In this one even size seems to be an issue.

What you can't see is this came to me glittering on a rainbow background---that didn't copy. I tried copying the entire e-mail but the graphics don't "stay" and they lose their animation. . .

My daughters say they don't get e-mails like this---it's my generation who still marvels at computers and the internet. I think they are definitely done by retired people with a lot of time on their hands. So, again, I'm caught between generations!

So, as much as I admire the sentiments, my eyes hurt and I think I'm getting a headache.

Caught in the Middle

I was talking to my friend Margie the other day as we were making plans to meet at her house for dinner. I said, "Just give me your address, I'll let our GPS get us there." Then, I laughed---"well, we'll probably get out our paper maps, too." We aren't totally comfortable with the GPS so we use both.

That got me to thinking how much of our lives we are doing double. My mother's generation just had maps, our children just have GPS systems---we do both.

Mother had a land line for her telephoning; our kids only have cell phones; we have and use both.

Mother called or wrote letters to communicate to her friends and family; our children have blogs, send e-mails, text message, have Facebook; we send cards, call on the phone and have e-mail,blogs, Facebook----I draw the line at Twitter and text messaging.

Mother got her news from the television and newspaper; our children get theirs from the internet . . . you guessed it, we get our news from all of the above.

As I mentioned in my introduction, I often feel caught in the middle of generations. My daughters often laugh at e-mails from my generation with all of the animation and emoticons. It's hard to "be hip" when you're over 60. I loved the cartoon below describing retirees and Facebook.

Christmas Newsletter 2008

As I was writing my annual newsletter this year, it occurred to me that with blogs, this may be a passing trend. Then after I spent $150 on printing and postage, I realized, this may be my last mass-produced newsletter. I'll probably continue to send them to relatives who aren't very computer savvy, but. . .


So, here may be our last newsletter:

Morgan – Long Family Update 2008

Holiday Greetings to Family and Friends!


Dave and Jaclyn Morgan are both retired now, and traveling frequently. Recently: Rome and a Mediterranean cruise, Dallas, and Kansas City (often). Jaclyn’s love of teaching keeps her substituting frequently. She also has two blogs which keep her busy: http://jaclynmrgn.blogspot.com/ and a family history blog: http://longmorgan.blogspot.com/



Tom and Donna Morgan are still in the Westborough, MA area, with their three kids (Meredith, Glen and Dale) also in the Northeast. Tom still works in the info technology field at EMC. Harry Morgan and Karen Morgan are still working in the Jacksonville, IL area, with their two sons also in Illinois. Their grandson Christopher Todd Morgan has a new baby brother, Noah Erik Morgan.



This summer we went with Jaclyn’s brother Jim Long, and wife Deb, on a 10-day trip to Rome followed by a cruise to Athens, Crete, Ephesus, and Sicily. We had a great time!
Lynn (Provost) and husband John Hrisco reside in the Ft. Worth area where Lynn recently graduated from Embry-Riddle University. Jane (Long) and Richard Robison live in the Dallas area. Doug and Christi Provost now live in Tuscon, AZ.
Jason and Rebecca (Morgan) Lewis are in Parkville, Mo (KC area) where Jason has his own homebuilding business, in which Rebecca assists. Early in 2008, they completed the adoption of Roman Daniel Lewis, from Russia. He’s two now, and a real live wire! http://jasonandrebeccalewis.blogspot.com/



Kyle and Rachel (Morgan) Twenter live in Kansas City, MO where Kyle is a pilot for Southwest Airlines. Rachel has a website with her art and creations: createbyRET.blogspot.com Brett is 7, Davis is 4, and Libby the blue-eyed redhead is 20 months. The family’s website is: http://twenterfamily.blogspot.com/

(Roman, Brett, Davis and Libby—Kansas City, November 2008)


Todd and Leah (Morgan) Warren live in the St. Louis area, in a remodeled 100-yr-old 3-story house in Maplewood. Their son is Elijah James Warren (below, with Grandpa Dave) now 17 months old. Their website is: http://web.me.com/leahwarren/Site/Blog/Blog.html

Sadly, early this year Louise Long (aka Mom, Gigi) passed away. She is greatly missed by her children, grand- and great-grand-children. What can you say about an 87 year old woman who went to Glamour Shots and sent this Christmas card last year?
Finally, our sympathies to the families and friends of Jaclyn’s relatives who passed away this year: mother, Louise Long; uncle, Bob Delaney; cousins Bob and Ginny Guinther.



Dave’s family lost his uncle Garner Morgan in December and his aunt Janice Morgan in early 2008.


Happy Holidays to You All!