Wyatt

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and walked in behind an older lady and a boy who appeared to be about 6 or 7. She talked with him about the pictures he had drawn and told him she would buy him a new pad of paper for more pictures.

She became frustrated that the receptionist asked her to fill out a form vn though she had already filled out a similar form. The receptionist kindly replied that the office had installed a new system and a new form was necessary. They went through the conversation multiple times.

I finished registering and found a seat. The grandmother and grandson sat down not too far from me. She got a phone call and became quite agitated. It was apparent she was talking to the boy's mother and seemed relieved that she would be able to "drop Wyatt off if you're home now." From the grandmother's part of the conversation it was obvious the mother did not want Wyatt to come home to which the grandmother replied rather loudly "you are not the only one who is stressed. I had to miss my heart rehab this morning. I am not insulting you." And then there was no more conversation.

The phone rang shortly thereafter and the grandmother explained that she is schedule for heart rehab 3 days a week, but she had to cancel because no one was available to watch Wyatt. The conversation continued in a rather heated manner.

When the nurse came out and called Wyatt, the grandmother was busy on the phone with the uncompleted form on her lap. She did  not hear the nurse. Wyatt stood up and told his grandmother they needed to go.

It was sad.

I don't know the situation, but I felt sorry for a mother that appeared to need some down time and seemed to have other things going on.

I felt sorry for a grandmother who had raised her own children and seemed to have a lot of responsibility of taking care of the next generation and that she was tired.

Mostly I felt sorry for Wyatt that the main adults in his life didn't want to be with him and take care of him.

Thankful Thursday 2/7/13

1. I was concerned about having to drive a truck to Texas and tow my vehicle in mid-March. I am so thankful that a friend here was very willing to accept my offer to do this with me.

2. When I was checking on airfare to fly Nancy back to west Michigan from Texas everything was rather expensive for a one way trip. Last night I stopped by her house to make the flight arrangements. The fare was $100 less than when I had checked on Tuesday and Wednesday.

3. I had to go out to Renae's for a man to buy the dinner bell. Since he didn't have tools to dismantle it on Tuesday this was trip #2 for the bell. With the snow today and the forecast I thought the roads would be terrible, but they were wet and not any problems.

4. Thankful for health insurance. I hope I don't miss it after March 1.

Just Have a Headache

This was in the GR Press today and has to be one of the weirdest stories I've read in any paper:

Dad pleads guilty

GRAND RAPIDS — A Cedar Springs-area man has admitted he made up a story about a man trying to abduct his 2-year-old son in September. Eugene Rose on Monday pleaded guilty to lying to a police officer before Kent County Circuit Court Judge James Redford. In a plea agreement, prosecutors will dismiss a charge that Rose is a habitual offender. Rose in September told Kent County sheriff’s deputies a man came onto his 17 Mile Road property, near Division Avenue, and picked up his son. The boy was playing in the yard. Rose told police he hit the man with a piece of wood and got his son back. Police later learned that Rose supposedly made up the story to get out of doorto- door “witnessing” with his wife. Rose will be sentenced April 1.

Dr. Bob

I'm sitting in a basically empty house watching it snow listening to the funeral of a man who I may not have had a lot of contact with but impacted me at important times in my life.

Dr. Bob and his family moved to central IL and his daughter was my student when she was in jr. high. She was the new kid but soon had many friends. Mandy's parents were probably some of the most encouraging parents I had in my teaching career. While I had more contact with Brenda through the years as she joined the PCS faculty and then stayed in my home as she commuted for her job, Dr. Bob was always had positive and encouraging comments.

I remember his talk about the various stages of grief when PCS went through a very difficult situation.

Dr. Bob was a great pastor to many, but I think an even greater tribute to him is that he was a great husband. He supported his wife in her academic and professional endeavors so that her gifts could be used to influence so many others.

Dr. Bob was also a great father. This is shown because his daughter married well as it appears she married a man so much like her father.

My friends, Brenda and Mandy, are grieving in ways I have never known. My heart grieves for them today as I listen as it has all week.