We’re going full speed ahead with “Continuing Promise ‘09”. Today 350 pallets of supplies and 1.4 million meals from a number of NGOs were delivered to shore from the USNS Comfort. Meanwhile, back on the ship we are recovering about 30 surgical patients per day. Each is accompanied by an escort, both having to have a chest x-ray to rule out TB before coming aboard. The children are beyond precious, the adults incredibly grateful. My four words of Creole are supplemented by gestures and the teen translators that hang out in the unit. The 10 hour shifts fly by!! Last evening we were treated to Cinema at Sea---saw the movie “Taken” under the stars on the flight deck.
Good Morning Sandy,
ReplyDeleteHow are you girl? I see your photos and read your text and am always glad to do so. It sounds like you are really enjoying yourself, despite the long hours and heavy work. You are really awesome.
The news from this end isn't nearly as exciting as yours is, but I will share it with you anyway, to bring you a little taste of "home".
After 2 days of the skies sending moisture (over 2 inches of rain) to the drought stressed plantings in the area, today has dawned sunny and windy and cool. It actually feels kind of good. Everything green has really responded to the rain. I can water and water and water, and it will keep the plants alive, but it is only the rain that will cause them to just spring to new life and to send new shoots skyward. I am SO happy for our gardens and lawns and trees and bushes. They even LOOK happy. You didn't know that plants could emit happiness that was noticeable did you?????
There are two new restaurants that have opened up here in Lakeway right behind CVS Pharmacy. One is a dine-in pizza place called Mangieri's Pizza and the other one is an Asian place called Nun-La. They both serve good food. The Asian place is particularly good, but they are suffering the new opening stresses of disorganization, manifesting itself in long waits for ones food. But, I am sure that will pass as they get used to the pace of things and as the new help comes to understand their jobs.
We are going to Andrea and Chris' next weekend. We haven't been there since January, so we are getting lonesome. I love staying at their cute little house and watching them be host and hostess. She is certainly all grown up now and to think that she is "my baby"...ha! She is not a baby anymore, unless she is Chris' "baby", and that gives a whole new meaning to the word. Ha!
Phillip was in Dallas this past week working for another Division of the company he presently is employed by. He is employed by Culinaire, and they also own a Dallas based company called "Food Glorious Food" which is a high end catering company. They were putting on a number of high end events and they needed Phillip to join the ranks in helping. One was a grand Theatre opening where they served 480 salads, each containing 8 ingredients and it took them 5 hours to put them all together. The other place was a private home owned by a Billionaire. Phillip was shown a piece of art that was the owners personal favorite. It was an original oil of George Washington valued at $38 million. Swear to God! He is getting a big introduction into what the REALLY wealthy are like. He is coming home today. We talked to him last night and he was exhausted, but pumped up with all the new things he had learned.
I was invited over to Dianes the other day and we sat and had lunch on her front patio. She had set out a small vase of flowers and had made a lovely salad and small pasta dish. I just loved it! Restauarants are nice, but there is no place like a friends home for lunch and visiting. I always feel so spoiled and pampered when a friend takes the time to make a lunch a special event. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't fancy....it was just very, very nice. I love the view from her porch. It is so nice.
I was also to my other friend Diannes home for lunch a week ago (my former boss at Point of Origin) and she had all the other former POO girls over as well. It was a somber lunch because one of the women by the name of Dorothy was dealing with the fact that her grandson had shot himself in the head over a romance gone bad. At that point, they felt he would survive, but were not sure of the extent of the brain damage. Another of the women was dealing with her sons imminent death. He found a small lump behind his ear that didn't seem to amount of much of anything. But then it began to grow at a very fast rate and he went into the Dr. and discovered it was a virulent and fast growing cancer. He had a young family, and he did die, within 6 to 8 weeks of having seen the Dr.
So this is all proof that one has to totally live IN the day and enjoy each day as it is given to you as much as you can. One never knows when it will be your last.
I have to tell you Sandy, I am so impressed with all your mission trips. You have done so much for so many people. You have worked with the unfortunate and have often done so at your own expense. The fact that you take time out of your life to help others is very kind and good of you. Both Al and I are impressed with your committment to making a difference.
I am so glad you bought a house that is walking distance to mine. When you get back, I am going to trot on over for some nice peach tea, or even some vino~. OR, YOU can trek over to mine and I will make you lunch and we can enjoy it in my courtyard. I look forward to hearing your new adventure stories.
Have a good day, Sandy. It is Sunday and I need to get ready for church. We send you much love. I miss having you around.
Love, Juanita