Goodbye Ritual

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Grandson David doesn’t have a ritual for leaving, like Nathaniel’s lowering of the hall mirror. I watched to see what David did. He packed and packed and packed, ferrying bag after bag to the car. It made sense. Nathaniel had one carry-on piece of luggage for his week here. David traveled by car, stayed here over three weeks, and was exchanging his summer/fall clothing for heavy winter wear. Only Nathaniel has a HALLmark ritual.

010718 David leaving.JPG

As David was leaving, he moved Patty’s Pocket for me. Adopted-niece Patty gave me a bird pocket which I hung in the Bradford pear tree. I hadn’t seen birds using it, although I could have missed the activity because we were on the go. This was a marvelous winter gift that the birds could use right away for shelter. David moved it higher and further into the center of the tree. If it isn’t used here, I’ll move it a shrub behind the house where I know the birds will take advantage of it. The pocket will be a seasonal rental for the ski crowd and a maternity suite in the spring.

010718 David hangs Patty Pocket for birds.JPG

While John and David were making their record-breaking run to New York, I walked to the creek to see the ice. The weather had already begun to warm up when I took these photos. Despite the warming trend, I turned back a day later because the road was icy under my feet.

The record-breaking travel statistic was in the wrong direction – it was the longest it had ever taken John to drive that distance. Around midnight a warning light showed on the dashboard. They waited an hour in West Virginia for a tow to the nearest Honda dealer. I think someone opened the office at 8, and by 9 the new alternator and the man to replace it had come. Despite the long delay, David arrived at the college before his deadline.

To take my mind off David’s leaving, I worked with the new camera. I had tried out the phone WiFi connection, activating the shutter with the phone while the camera was sitting on the mantel. The photo shows both my hands on the phone as I took a selfie.

010618 Self-portrait with cell remote.jpg

I don’t know what went wrong, but the transfer connection to the computer no longer worked. Frustration was a good antidote for sadness! The basic function for which I bought the camera is now working again, and I’ve shifted my focus to February and March when the boys hope to come for their Spring breaks.

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

41 thoughts on “Goodbye Ritual”

  1. I am woefully behind on my blog reading, Anne, and can’t wait to catch up on the holidays. The selfie (even though it may have caused frustration) is quite charming! I love the bird pocket and am thrilled it will be a maternity suite in the spring. Can’t wait for photos! Dawn

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  5. Didn’t quite get how the bird pocket worked but from the sound of it, the birds will be grateful. Kudos to you for keeping up with the walks inspite of icy weather.
    After the ” mushy banana” post, there was nothing for a while and we missed having you around. The selfie looks good. I hope the car was repaired well and didn’t give John any more trouble.
    Love your posts, Anne.
    Susie

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    1. Thanks, Susie. The bird pocket is like a portable nest. I presume birds would huddle in it to get out of wind and rain. There wasn’t much to write about after the boys left. John is on his way back now, and our son is here for the night. Our weather is warmer today, too.

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  7. I enjoy roaming around the mountain with you whenever I can log on, Anne. You and David are both darling as always. I’m glad the dealership got them back on the road in good time. Also, you reminded me to do some more work on weaving a bird house from twigs I’ve gathered. I’m might have to borrow from Patty’s pocket idea.

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  9. I’ve not used the transfer of pictures that well from my phone, instead I email them to myself from my phone then save to the hard drive. It seems to work best for me and they look fine. Using the cord thingy is too complicated for me. I guess I’m tech illiterate. I’m amazed I handle this blogging as well as I do. LOL

    You have two very handsome young grandson’s I know you’ll miss them.

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          1. Sigh, it sucks getting old and not having a born with techno mind to just come by it easily like these kids today do. If we were kids we’d have it done and stylized and everything in just a couple of seconds.

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            1. It would be lovely to be totally at ease with technology. Unfortunately, I’m the best in our house, so I have to hit the problem-solving buttons. The grandsons would really come in handy if they were here all the time.

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  10. I love the selfie Anne! I also laughed about your HALLmark comment. I totally understand the alternator car troubles. Years ago on a vacation with our three sons we had the same problem. We played a lot of games of go-fish while we waited for my husband to return with a new one from the auto parts store.

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    1. LOL! No, I didn’t walk for 24 hours! The round trip to the creek is an hour if we don’t stop to talk to neighbors. It’s always fun to get feedback on how someone else interprets what you write! I wouldn’t have caught that.

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  14. Hi Anne, We are thawing out too. Rain today…almost all the snow is gone. I made it through the treacherous icy weather only to almost slip and fall in the back yard on a slight incline covered with melting snow. I’m sure I looked comical as I flapped around to balance myself.

    I love your self-portrait. You look so pretty and happy.

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  15. We are kindred spirits…you ought to hear me laugh at funny Youtube videos of icy escapades. I loved the recent video on the news of the man slipping down the driveway. 🙂

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