Headlines scary for high stakes happenings in the past week – my head is rotating at warp speeds that add well-defined layers to my general free-floating anxiety. Missiles in the Middle East, final sounds of a Sunday morning going down for British actor Maggie Smith and Texas songwriter/actor Kris Kristofferson, Hurricane Helene ravaging the states in the Southeastern section of the United States, a Veep debate tonight between a high school teacher/coach who became governor of Minnesota and a venture capitalist fiction writer who became a senator from Ohio. The mind races to absorb the twists and turns of a world gone mad in many ways to this nonfiction writer who actually voted for a President Jimmy Carter in 1976, a man who celebrates his 100th birthday today.
But yesterday Pretty and I took a break from the troubles of Hurricane Helene which miraculously left us safe and relatively sound to spend the day with our granddaughter Ella who didn’t have school because the school had no power, her home had no power, but her grandmothers’ home was loaded with fun and power. How old will you be tomorrow, my darling girl? I’ll be 5, Naynay!
All pool toys had been put up over the weekend, but Ella couldn’t wait for next year to christen the new pool liner so…out she and her Nana came for an afternoon fling on her birthday eve.
Ella always brings the joy when she visits, and yesterday was icing on the “pretend” birthday cake. She and her Nana had fun with fashion shows, body paintings, gathering acorns while they might from our gigantic oak tree that withstood the winds of Hurricane Helene but mostly they both celebrated their love of the swimming pool. Brrrr is all I can say.
I was thrilled when Ella finally allowed me for the first time in her five years to completely read a book that she chose. She loved it so much she asked me to read it again. The book? 101 Dalmatians.
Soon she will be reading it to me. I can’t wait!
Happy Birthday, Ella – your Nana and I love you to the moon and back.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
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13 responses to “Hurricane Helene, Israel v Iran, lives well lived, first and 10 for Coach Walz tonight – and one special birthday”
Give a five year old a clipboard and she’ll run the world. It’s an amazing time of learning and growth, curiosity and competence.
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Hahaha. Good one, Josie. Yes, Ella seems quite capable of running the world with or without a clipboard. For sure, she runs me and her Nana!
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It’s a powerful age. Enjoy it!
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Fun with Ella is a much better way to spend time 🙂
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Yes, much better!!
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Happy Birthday Ella! Sometimes best to celebrate the important things and leave the things you have no control over whatsoever, to one side…
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Thank you, Miss Annie! Nana is the best at living in the moment with me. Naynay worries too much, but they both love me.
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Sheila, Bill and I have been praying for you all. Praying for recovery for everyone. What a beautiful way to escape the craziness, pure joy! It is such a gift wheel a child let’s you read the whole book to them. It is an even bigger gift when they learn to read to you!
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Hi Heather, thanks to you and Bill for your prayers, Cuz. CH would be so proud of you for staying in touch with your South Carolina cousins. I am grateful always for my Texas family. So many families affected, even lost. Truly a tragedy for the entire southeast. Keep praying.
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Oh Sheila! Somehow kids and pets make the world less crazy. What a delight to open up your blog this afternoon to witness unbridled joy!!
Much of the day I spent half concentrating on work and half sneaking looks at the news. I had to get up a few times saying I was checking the weather in order to fight tears. The floods, Israel and Iran, the election… So much to stress about. But Ella gets it. Just jump into life. The water’s fine.
Love and good vibes from Pennsylvania.
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I feel your pain, Ann. I told T I spent hours on this little blog today because I kept trying to figure out how to keep from bringing everyone DOWN. I’m so glad you felt like Ella’s joy was contagious!! That’s how she makes us feel, too!
Bless your heart. Bless all of our hearts. Love and hugs to you and yours in Pennsylvania
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I could hear the giggles, laughter, and splashing some 650 miles north.
Joy to the world! Joy to you and me!
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Amen and Amen, Ann!
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