May 2, 2011 12:34 PM
Family Update
As Dorothy said in Wizard of Oz:
That's what I feel like at this stage of motherhood - as my children and grandchildren come and go in so many different directions. There seems to be always so much happening.
It's Friday night, the end of a busy week which ended happily for Matt as his sweetheart Emma flew in from London. Matt met Emma at the wedding of mutual friends in Virginia and they have spent the last year getting to know each other better via Skype. Matt already had tickets for a two-week visit to London in June, but Emma decided to take advantage of low fares to the US when everyone was going in the opposite direction for the royal wedding. So we spent tonight enjoying the company of Matt, Emma and Zach, along with the four Downzers for a steak dinner - a rarity in these economic times - cooked up by my incredible husband Tripp.
Tripp had just driven his last school bus run - at least for now. He enjoyed it so much, i wouldn't be surprised if he eventually went back. It's a long story how he became a school bus driver, but in fifty words or less: built his own California tree company with 25 employees, sold our business to move to Virginia, lost everything in real estate, sold Ford commercial vehicles, during a knee replacement surgery contracted a MRSA infection which almost cost him a leg, after a nine-month disability took a job with health benefits and a lack of pressure that would allow us to regroup.
Last week Tripp was offered a full-time job making 3 times what he makes now. It's with a company that provides presidential-level medical care and security to upscale clients. This was truly a miracle. Though Tripp is the smartest man I know, he never went to college and so only a company that can think outside the box would see the unique cluster of skills Tripp has acquired would fit in perfectly with their needs.
Of course it seems like a no-brainer that he would jump at the opportunity. For one thing, it isn't always easy for a man to respond to the question "What do you do?" with "I drive a school bus" and see your status in free fall.
And yet Tripp made his work incredibly meaningful and real. He loved the kids he drove - even the ones who started out rude or who ignored him. He prayed for them and had the kindest words. He encouraged them and let them know they were valuable.
What was touching to me was to see the multitude of gifts and cards he brought home from students he had driven and their parents. Truly I am married to an extraordinary man, who put everything he had to offer into the humble job of a bus driver and ended up touching the lives of many people. I am so encouraging him to write a book about it, as there were so many beautiful stories and spiritual insights he experienced.
It's Monday morning - I never finished because the weekend was super busy. Here is the update on the Curtis family:
Hattie is home! Well, home at her family's ranch, where her grandmother lives nearby and there are people who can look after here while Josh goes back to work. She was in ICU for 24 days and came home with no transition. She is very weak, but very motivated to get back to normal. Her family had a horse show that afternoon and Josh wheeled her around in a wheelchair so she could be part of it.
When she gets stronger, Hattie is scheduled for chemotherapy. Please continue to pray for them.
And btw, sometimes I feel like I am surrounded by extraordinary men. When I went to visit Hattie in the hospital, I found that Josh had become like a legend among the nurses, who wanted to know that their husbands would take care of them with the same devotion. That's a good thing for a mother to know about her son.
Saturday Maddy and I went to see Verdi's Il Trovotore - part of the Metropolitan Opera's HD Live series which is simply fantastic, allowing you to sit in a movie theater and see the live performance in New York - PLUS be taken backstage at intermission for interviews with the world's greatest singers and to see the incredible set construction. Maddy and I try not to miss these, so even though she had her own performances this weekend, we went.
In the meantime, Matt was showing Emma around DC and Sophia was driving up from Liberty and Tripp was taking our boys to their Challenger Little League Game.
At 6, Maddy and I got to Grandale Farms, where she is appearing in a dinner-theater production of The Importance of Being Earnest. Sophia, Zach and Jonny met us there - as well as Samantha and Kip. The show was excellent - I highly recommend it, though you need to make reservations NOW as they are selling out fast.
Sunday morning we were getting ready for church when Jonny started complaining that this lump on the back of his head hurt. It was something Tripp had noticed earlier in the week, but it seemed to have doubled in size, so I got worried and called the doctor, who advised me to go to the Emergency Room - "just in case."
We went and the doctor said it was probably a cyst, but put Jonny on an antibiotic in case there is an infection. If the size goes down, fine. If not, then we go have it biopsied. But I liked that the doctor was sensitive to my unspoken motherly fears and assured me that it was outside the skull, not a tumor, etc.
So then to Giant to get the prescription and stuff for dinner. I had promised to make bacon pasta - my grandson Patrick's favorite. Matt and Emma stopped by but didn't stay for dinner. They wanted a more quiet atmosphere since it was her last evening here. And our house - filled with my kids and six grandchildren - was far from quiet!
Hattie's family's ranch is just ten minutes away from us and Josh had said she wanted to come over, but by the time dinnertime rolled around, she was too exhausted. But Josh came, along with Zach. Sophia had to leave at 3 to go back to school for homework.
She will be home for the summer in two weeks! I can't wait.
But you see what I mean about my life. So many people coming and going. So much joy. The incredibly rich results of all those years of trying to raise them to be good men and women.
Next Sunday is Mother's Day. I will be focusing on mothering all week. If you have something you want me to post, just email me. Thank you for being there - for your love and support of me and my family. It means a lot!
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
School bus drivers (the ones I've known) are angels with invisible halos. My son with special needs doesn't mind his 1hr. ride (morning & afternoon) because of his sweet guardians. Anyone who transports my children to & from school has the most important job in the world...they are truly the unsung heros among us. Thank-you Tripp! Whatever you choose to do in your exciting future--Thank-you for making the world a better place! (you too, Barbara!!!)
Posted by: m.simon | May 2, 2011 3:03 PM
I needed this post today, Barb! We will keep praying for Hattie and yahoo!! for Tripp's new job. Happy for you!! God is good. You all deserve it.
Posted by: Eileen | May 2, 2011 4:01 PM
So happy to hear about Hattie. I continue to pray for her.
I was also happy to read about Tripp's new job. I have a husband very much like yours...kind, considerate, hard-working, humble, very bright...and did I mention sexy?? It would be great to read a book about his bus driving experiences.
Care to share your bacon recipe when you have a chance?
Thanks.
Posted by: Cathy | May 2, 2011 4:28 PM
Glad all are doing well and that Tripp's job prospects have increased. I always enjoy reading your family news. We have been recovering from the horrible economic slump of this last decade too as many we know have. Special prayers for Hattie.
Posted by: cath young | May 2, 2011 9:58 PM
