Harvest Happenings

The big trucks roll at high speeds down the 2 lane highways loaded with sugarbeets.  The drivers range from experienced CDL drivers to rookies still learning to manage the transmissions in the trucks they were introduced to only days ago.  There are more wheels under them than they've ever had before and more tons behind them than most of them can fathom.  For two weeks (or so) the 24 hour a day frenzy of people moving produce to market in North Dakota and Minnesota takes center stage to almost any other activity.   It truly takes a village to complete this harvest.  The mailman helps when he's done driving his mail route.  The barber helps after cutting hair all day.  The minister takes a shift and earns the respect of the locals and gains fodder for future sermans even though he's a less than average driver.  Family members fly "home" to support their family's farm at a time when every able bodied person supports this all out effort to complete the harvest.  The goal is to keep the sugarbeet harvestor lifting beets into the trucks.  The trucks need drivers... and that's where I come in.
I'm a farm girl and grew up driving tractors and trucks and loved every minute of it.  When I was young, I couldn't wait to get out of school to ride with my mom to watch the whole operation, whether it was grain, potato or sugarbeet harvest.  She was a pro and could drive in the fields, under the harvestor, back up the truck, raise the hoist and dump the truck wearing pretty lipstick on her smile the whole while.

Wild Ride

The earthquake we experienced on Tuesday, along with the aftershocks, reminded me so much of our days living in Southern California in the mid 80's.  I quickly recalled what that unmistakeable shaking was but had to "shake" off my disbelief that we were having an earthquake in VA.  The epicenter was about 30 miles south of us and it really shook us here! Fortunately, we didn't have any damage, but I cleaned up a lot of books that fell off shelves, drawers and cabinet doors opened, linens and fabrics fell off shelves, but nothing broken!  The classy looking ladies at the hair salon turned into world class sprinters as we all headed for the door of the salon while the ground shook.  It was amazing to see women in various states of "hair do" sprint for the door and then hang out in the parking lot with their protective smocks on and hair all foiled up for color and highlights.  We're lucky it wasn't worse.
Speaking of worse, the hurricane affectionately known as Irene is heading up the coast.  It's scheduled to make landfall in NC tomorrow and work its way up to NYC and beyond.  We'll get smacked by that to a lesser degree than those closer to the coast.  What a week with an earthquake and a hurricane!  It's a wild ride and we're not through it yet.
It's all good and yes, it's a wild ride!

Making a difference

My kids have lead me a lot of places, the most interesting to date is to the ranks of Military Mom.  When our oldest son left college to enlist in the Marine Corps I couldn't breathe.  It was so hard to "allow" my young adult son to choose danger, run willingly towards it, accept the charge of military members to die if necessary for our country.  When asked if he could be talked out of joining the Marines, my son clearly said, "I want to make a difference" and he sure has.
His decision has changed him in so many ways that are good, but the adjustment for me has been interesting.  When he left for boot camp I searched for support from other military moms and found the Virginial Military Families based in Fredericksburg.  This group of ladies invited me to their monthly dinner and got me breathing and even laughing again.  They hugged, listened, and taught me that life can go on.  They encouraged me, they shared stories of their active duty sons and daughters, and they were consistent.  These women are amazing and are bound by intense love for their own children and the need for support if the unthinkable should happen.  Tragically it does.
One of my friends lost her son, a Marine.  The loss is beyond painful, it's unthinkable, it's too hard to process.  It's been more than a year and it still hurts too much to think about.  Another friend's son is physically wounded, and his life is forever changed.  They made a difference.

Book Club

My book club meets today. We are discussing Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See this month and I look forward to the discussion. There are so many characters, issues, relationships and events that will spark our discussion. The ladies of book club are wonderful! I've known them as long as I've lived in Fredericksburg, because whiletaking a break from unpacking boxes in June or 2006 I stopped by Targets book area. I saw a nice smart looking woman selecting books and asked her for a recommendation. After an hour of visiting right there in Target, she recommended a number of Jodi Piccoult books and invited me to join her book club! I've been going ever since! Today I'll be wearing the black capris I bought at Talbot's yesterday and a new summer (not tucked in) top. I'll find some whimsical jewelry to add a little flash and some flip flops for comfort. It's going to be 90 + degrees again today! I hope the heat or a hot flash doesn't cause my mineral powder foundation to slide off my face. : )

No More Politics as Usual

Gov. Sarah Palin says we need to make tough choices and she recently made a really big one. Today she announced her resignation as the governor of Alaska. She indicates that most lame duck politicians milk the system as they ride out the last part of their term. She has chozen to fight for the individuals and policies she believes in from outside the governor's office. She says that a smooth transition for the state of Alaska is in process and she won't function as a figure head, while seeking other means of promoting the causes she supports. That makes sense! She is unconventional and proves that she stands for "no more politics as usual" and her decision today proves it. I like a person who stands for something and makes decisions and choices that mean something. I like Sarah Palin for that and a lot of other reasons -- among them, she's a Blue Star Mom, like me.

Happy New Year!

Here it is, 2009. It just started, but it's already January 28th! Where did this month go? Where did the years go? Our youngest son will be graduating from high school this June and plans to attend the local community college - not really what I had in mind for him. Our older son is a U. S. Marine - not really what I had in mind for him. Since their births they've been moving away from us at light speed and that ironically, is the design of this life. There are many times when I don't like the plan or the speed at which it's moving. But, I hang on for dear life and time flies by. Decisions are made by each of us with consequences that affect all of us. And, the time continues to fly by.

Twas the countdown to Christmas and strewn all about
were presents and packages I purchased while out.
Frustration and fussing won't help me to bind
the ribbons and wrappings on gifts I can't find.

With 12 days to finish (or start) this event
I need to get busy, get packages sent.
Christmas has gone from a sweet celebration
to a gimme that, my turn, selfish occasion.

But I'll still play along while hating this game
I'll spend lots of money for presents so lame,
I'll smile while singing a tad bit off key
knowing Christ is the Gift He gave you and gave me.