From Aunt Tammy, Sept 14

Sept 14

Dear Jerm, Well, I haven't checked the mailbox in a couple days, so I don't know if I've gotten a letter from you lately. I hope you know that doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you. I'm hoping for a letter from you every day. It's hard to believe it's the middle of September already. Of course, schools around here just started last Tuesday so things are a little delayed as far as fall is concerned. I think I'm having a tough time, too, because I was so out of it for like almost two weeks. Hey, guess what? I got to see your mom yesterday. I know, it's amazing. I took a piece of furniture to G'mas last weekend and forgot a couple little pieces. Michael found them, so, yesterday, when he was trying to take a nap, I ran up to her house to get them to her. When I got there, your momma was there and your brother and he had the boys. I hadn't seen Theo since he was born and that was the first time I got to meet Eli. The funny thing was, Mikey sent a message to Nollie, maybe a pic, and she texted me to put the baby down and back away slowly, or something like that. Like I was going to adopt it and take it home. Funny. It was very nice to see them, seems like that doesn't happen often enough. Your mom was telling me she had a puppy at the vets. This morning she called to tell me the vet sent the dog home. I'm thinking she probably feels a lot better. As far as around here goes, well, let's see. Friday night, he and I had a pizza and a movie night. The pizza was a frozen one we picked up from grocery shopping and added stuff to it. I can't remember how long ago it was but Michael and I had rented 'Inkheart' from the $1 box at the Fred's and we liked it. He was reminded of 'The Mummy' and when I said I'd never seen it, he said, 'Ohhh! You gotta see it' so I went on the library website and ordered it and 'The Mummy Returns'. We watched the first one Friday (Michael slept through most of it) and the second one last night. I, of course, didn't care for the blood and guts (although it wasn't too gory) but the special effects were very cool. Kinda reminded me of the Indiana Jones flicks. Saturday, after I closed the office, (which was a waste of a day behind the desk, as nobody called, one guy came in for prices and he was the only one to come thru the door, no payments in the mail, nuthing,) I went upstairs with the dogs to take a nap. Well, just as I'm dozing off, I think I hear Maggie puking. I get up and check her, I don't see anything, so I rub her tummy and ask her if she wants to come over and sleep with me on the bed. She likes to lay on the edge of my afghan. After about 5 minutes, I think I'm hearing her puking again, so I checked. She was, but because she didn't have anything in her stomach, it was all water, which is why I didn't see anything the first time. So, all the blankets got washed Saturday. Oh, wait, that reminds me I was going to do laundry today, brb. I had to wear some of Michael's socks today, which I have never done. I think. Anyway, Maggie's still not seeming like herself. Michael gave her Pepto Bismol that day. Today, we are still having to give her Pedialyte with an ear-dropper so that she doesn't dehydrate. After we did that, she got up and drank awhile at her bowl and at the breakfast helping of moist dog food and carrots I'd set down for her earlier. I checked her after I came down from starting the washer, she's just napping. Yesterday was Sunday. We got up and took the dogs to the State Park about 10 miles maybe away. We try to go there every Sunday to walk the girls. Maggie didn't seem to have any objections and enjoyed the walk. Afterwards, Michael and I went to breakfast here in town. I think since we've been here, we've done that about 3 times now. Before we moved here we would go to breakfast every weekend. This place we'd not been to for breakfast. It was just Okay. The food seemed bland. I had corned beef hash which was homemade but was full of peppercorn (I think) and every time I bit into one would set my mouth on fire, and it took awhile to get some water. Michael had a plate with red potatoes which he said were good, and sausage, the egg was overcooked (he said 'they killed it'), he was happy to find Marionberry in the selections for his toast. He ordered a side of biscuits and gravy, which was the blandest, very little meat in it, not worth the $4 we spent on it. (I know, you're thinking 'not as bad as chow or MRE'. Sorry) Afterwards, we went to see Rose. Yep, Rose from the beach. The old man she was taken care of (a man and his wife actually) died the other day, he was like 90-something. Anyway, there was some firewood in the shed, some of what we had at the beach, she said we could have it. She thought there was like a cord but we get there and it was maybe a quarter. Anyway, it was nice. After we were all at the beach, she and the grandson took the old couple to the house out there. I guess it was a good thing they did. We met him yesterday and went to get pictures to show us of that trip. The funeral was Saturday. Anyway, I told her I'd had some letters from you and she said to tell you 'Hi and be safe'. I've been stalling, because Michael went to check the Post Office box. I'm hoping there were letters from you. Hey, there are two! I win!!!! I got the ones dated Sept 9th and 11th. Um, I just called and talked to your mom again. What you wrote at the bottom of the second one about the Screaming Eagles. Michael's dad was part of the liberation of the concentration camps in Germany, he was in the 101st Airborne. He says that is one of the highest honored groups of the military, that because of the training they get sent for some of the more special missions. He's describing the patch the Screaming Eagles get, how it gets a lot of respect. When I read the letter to him, he was giving you thumbs up. He says there a lot of hard work involved but ever since he heard you were doing this, he has paid you many compliments. Your new Uncle is very proud of you. Your old auntie is too, even though before this, none of this meant anything to me. My love for you demands that whatever you are doing you are happy and you sound like you are. You seemed to be feeling some rewards already, a greater sense of accomplishment. I need to close as it is past the time I should be leaving for the library for the knitting gathering. I will put this in the mail tomorrow and read your newest letters again a few times till another one comes along. I love you. ~t