Difference

Lots of things to talk about! I did absolutely nothing over break like I said I was going to and then break was over and had done nothing and felt horrible. My new resolution is to never do nothing again – at least not for too long, maybe a few hours but no more.

I have bad news. We got an email saying that they know about Betty and I have to get rid of her by Tuesday. Its not a huge deal because they aren’t even going to fine us unless she’s here tomorrow. I was planning on going home tonight anyway so I’ll take her with me when I go. What we can’t figure out though, is how they know she’s even here. No one saw me bring her in, I’m pretty sure. We don’t think anyone told because we’ve only told people we trust. The only thing I can think is that someone came in the apartment over break and saw the litter box and toys laying around. Lori was here over break so it must have been during the day when she was at school. Otherwise we can’t figure out how they found out. Also, if they’d known sooner, wouldn’t they have told us to get rid of her over break? The email was sent just after midnight this morning. So the only other option is that they saw me put her in the tub I used to get her inside. Either way, there’s only 6 ½ weeks til school is over so I’ll just take her home. She can live there for a few weeks without me. The saddest part is that she is just beginning to get cuddly.

I noticed a huge thing yesterday. Every Sunday my family visits my grandparents. We go to my mom’s parents for lunch and my dad’s for supper. (Grandpa Paul, dad’s dad, passed away in September but that didn’t stop us from Sunday supper.) My mom’s mom, Nana, recently discovered she broke her tailbone. She is a larger woman, but she’s got strength to her, in terms of willpower. She started her own daycare business and has successfully run it for 40+ years. She is biggest whiner I’ve ever seen. I understand not wanting to be in pain but she refuses to get up out of her chair except to go to the bathroom. She’s one of those people where if she doesn’t get up and get moving now, she might not ever do it again. She is so stubborn. Mom says she needs exercise and knee replacement surgery but she won’t do either and now she’s stuck in her chair. We ate lunch at her house yesterday and instead of eating in the kitchen like we always do, she had us eat in the living room with her. I understand not wanting to eat without everyone else but we would have helped her into the kitchen and helped her with anything she needed as long as she tried. She tried a little and then gave up. I don’t love her any less. That’s not what any of this is about. She’s my Nana and I will always love her but I think she needs to suck it up and do things for herself that will help keep her healthy and fit and prevent things like this from happening again.

Here’s where the difference is: Grandma Duck (dad’s mom) is on oxygen, has had Leukemia for 40+ years and is still determined to get up, get moving and maintain her own living space. She cleans a little before the cleaning lady comes! I thought that was so cute. Anyway, I’m sure she’s in pain. She has to have immune system replacement therapy every few weeks which can’t be a ball of fun yet she doesn’t complain at all. She’s working on fixing my quilt, which was so worn that the edges started falling off. She’s lost her husband, the love of her life, yet she keeps on going and is still cheerful, that I notice, and plays cards with us and lets us help her with some stuff but still does a lot on her own. I love her too.

I love both of them. They are my grandma’s after all but if I had to say which person was stronger I would definitely have to say Grandma Duck. I feel bad about Nana. She needs to get up and go and do stuff for herself. She is also a huge worrier. I wonder if the problem is because she’s frustrated with getting old. She doesn’t want to have to admit she can’t do things like she used to be able to do. I also wonder if she is upset about Mom taking over the directorship of the daycare. Its like Nana’s baby. Nana started the business so it’s probably really hard for her to let go of it. I think she needs a new project. Grandma Duck has her quilting but Nana doesn’t have anything now that the daycare is run by Mom. Nana is not the domestic type, though. She’s the get up and go kind. Except she doesn’t have much to get up and go for.

Break is officially over and we’ve (my roommates and I) have started a countdown of school days. I have a ton of work to do because I was so lazy over break. I hope I can get it all done. What am I saying? Of course I’ll get it all done. Its just a matter of how good it will be.