My Liz
So...it is 3 days after surgery and I cannot wait (!) to take my first shower; however, I refused to take one downstairs. I want my own shower. Unfortunately, my own shower is up 17 stairs to my own bedroom. The only way I saw myself getting up there was by butt (yes...I had learned from the old man and his ankle surgery that in order to do stairs, sometimes, you must resort to the "bottom" line and do it on your butt. He's always such a source of wisdom!) Bob begged me not to try it, but do you think this stubborn Irish girl (as they call me at work) would listen? No is the answer.
I am about halfway up and things are looking good when the phone rings. Bob looks at the i.d. and says, "New York"...in a smug way...like he knew I had just been caught. Fear came into my heart as I figured it was either Aunt J. or Aunt K. (not that I fear them) because I knew I might get a scolding for what I was doing (out of concern of course). Bob said to whoever it was, "just a minute; she is climbing the stairs on her butt." He was more than happy to hand that information over-throw me under that big yellow bus.
Although I would have been glad to hear Aunt J. or Aunt K. on the phone, voicing concern, I was even more glad when I said hello and a big cheery voice on the other end laughed and repeated..."up the stairs on your butt?" It was my Liz.....I cannot tell you how much that phone call meant to me. We didn't talk long nor did we talk about much, but the fact that she called and was concerned just made my day. (Being dependent can be a bit discouraging to say the least.) I cannot thank her enough for that touching base phone call.
As I started to think about blogging this, I reviewed in my mind and out loud to my kids (who think the world of all of my cousins and their spouses) things from the past....here is what I came up with.....1. Liz and I digging to China in her side yard (I don't think that went over too well with our parents). We didn't even hit the center of the earth, by the way. 2. Liz and I eating so many vitamins we had to drink castor oil...now I don't remember this myself per say, but the story alone is a keeper and has to be mentioned. 3. Liz getting chocolate milk and a back scratch from her mom every night we slept over. Ironically enough, her goddaughter, Keera Elizabeth, has to have chocolate milk almost everynight and she is constantly wanting back, arm, leg scratch before bed. 4. Liz getting into her detective stage (when she got into something....she got all into it-research and everything.) I remember she was clever enough to tape a hair over her desk drawers so she could tell if anyone entered them at anytime without her knowing. 4a. Liz being "James T. Roy" from the phone company scaring the living life out of nana's/gonnies neighbors. (The Jeff Neff detective agency also rings a bell. 5. Liz giving a teddy bear to Brendan, which was named "Wiz" and has remained in our family through today (okay-one eye is now missing). 6. Liz, the cousin who got to work for rock stars that play really good music and are world wide famous (yup-that's my cuz...I've bragged about it more than once). 7. Liz, who shook things up a bit in the family, in order to be who she is and was brave enough to deal with fall out and feelings and who as a network of cousins we all support her so strongly that no one better mess with her or her beliefs. 8. Liz who comes to our hotel room and spends time with kids who adore her, not to mention 2 couins who do too and makes such an impression on Keera that the next day Keera plops herself down with her at church and spends more time than she ever can sit for (at least 30-40 minutes) sitting next to Liz and chatting with her. To see her connect with Liz was even better than how good I felt receiving that phone call a few weeks ago from Liz.
So, there you have it....that is my Liz and I have probably forgotten many a story and many things we could add to the list, but this is my cousin who is only 9 months ahead of me and who despite distance and time remains an integral part of our lives....which I think was the way it was supposed to go as two sisters (Kate and Elaine) set up from the beginning.
I am about halfway up and things are looking good when the phone rings. Bob looks at the i.d. and says, "New York"...in a smug way...like he knew I had just been caught. Fear came into my heart as I figured it was either Aunt J. or Aunt K. (not that I fear them) because I knew I might get a scolding for what I was doing (out of concern of course). Bob said to whoever it was, "just a minute; she is climbing the stairs on her butt." He was more than happy to hand that information over-throw me under that big yellow bus.
Although I would have been glad to hear Aunt J. or Aunt K. on the phone, voicing concern, I was even more glad when I said hello and a big cheery voice on the other end laughed and repeated..."up the stairs on your butt?" It was my Liz.....I cannot tell you how much that phone call meant to me. We didn't talk long nor did we talk about much, but the fact that she called and was concerned just made my day. (Being dependent can be a bit discouraging to say the least.) I cannot thank her enough for that touching base phone call.
As I started to think about blogging this, I reviewed in my mind and out loud to my kids (who think the world of all of my cousins and their spouses) things from the past....here is what I came up with.....1. Liz and I digging to China in her side yard (I don't think that went over too well with our parents). We didn't even hit the center of the earth, by the way. 2. Liz and I eating so many vitamins we had to drink castor oil...now I don't remember this myself per say, but the story alone is a keeper and has to be mentioned. 3. Liz getting chocolate milk and a back scratch from her mom every night we slept over. Ironically enough, her goddaughter, Keera Elizabeth, has to have chocolate milk almost everynight and she is constantly wanting back, arm, leg scratch before bed. 4. Liz getting into her detective stage (when she got into something....she got all into it-research and everything.) I remember she was clever enough to tape a hair over her desk drawers so she could tell if anyone entered them at anytime without her knowing. 4a. Liz being "James T. Roy" from the phone company scaring the living life out of nana's/gonnies neighbors. (The Jeff Neff detective agency also rings a bell. 5. Liz giving a teddy bear to Brendan, which was named "Wiz" and has remained in our family through today (okay-one eye is now missing). 6. Liz, the cousin who got to work for rock stars that play really good music and are world wide famous (yup-that's my cuz...I've bragged about it more than once). 7. Liz, who shook things up a bit in the family, in order to be who she is and was brave enough to deal with fall out and feelings and who as a network of cousins we all support her so strongly that no one better mess with her or her beliefs. 8. Liz who comes to our hotel room and spends time with kids who adore her, not to mention 2 couins who do too and makes such an impression on Keera that the next day Keera plops herself down with her at church and spends more time than she ever can sit for (at least 30-40 minutes) sitting next to Liz and chatting with her. To see her connect with Liz was even better than how good I felt receiving that phone call a few weeks ago from Liz.
So, there you have it....that is my Liz and I have probably forgotten many a story and many things we could add to the list, but this is my cousin who is only 9 months ahead of me and who despite distance and time remains an integral part of our lives....which I think was the way it was supposed to go as two sisters (Kate and Elaine) set up from the beginning.
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