Witty & Wise Ties, Trivia & Lies
Bow Tie o’ the Day pays fond tribute to Mom’s little sister, Arlene, who passed away at home in Oak City early this morning. She was the baby of my grandfolks’ crop. Arlene was born at home, to Martha and LeRoy Anderson, without a doctor. She was premature, and the only way they could keep her tiny, tiny, tiny body warm was to heat her in the oven– until Grandpa built her an incubator. Here’s Grandma Martha and her girls, in 1972. (L-R, Shirley, Arlene, Rosalie, Grandma, Barbara, Mom.) 💐
Recovery from having your innards played with is boring. I’ve gotta get out! Bow Tie o’ the Day accompanied us on my first post-surgery venture. I would have preferred to go to a movie or do some white-water rafting, but Suzanne made me live in reality, so she drove us to Walmart. My stamina gave out before Suzanne even got to the make-up aisle. If she’d gotten there, she’d have forgotten about me, and I would’ve had to wait, napping in the shopping cart for hours. 🛒
Tie o’ the Day presents green olives swimming in martinis. (If you martini, go with the olives, not cocktail onions. Just sayin’.) Why is Tie olive-ing on this post? One of Hanky Panky’s issues was its gravel pit full of pancreatic stones which needed to be mined and hauled away. When I woke up from my magical surgery, Suzanne explained what the doc had taken out, moved, re-plumbed, etc. My doc had told her that some of my Panky stones were the size of olives. 🍸 Groovy, eh?
Here, Bow Tie o’ the Day stars in the last of the hospital selfies I took. You’ll also note that I had one of the sock monkey blankets Suzanne has made me over the years. And on my shoulder sits my stuffed gnome head, which is symbolic of my Sister Who Wishes To Remain Nameless, who runs a gnome ranch. She has so many, I’m sure she can only keep track of them by branding them. A bow tie, a blanket, a gnome, and a sister. I felt safe.
Bow Tie o’ the Day provided my stars-and-stripes on the 4th. The Delta Parade couldn’t be in my hospital room, but Bow Tie did the honors. This was the happiest I looked that day. Later, an hours-long train o’ pain twisted me into the fetal position, where somehow I was both immobilized AND writhing non-stop. The hurt went deeper: I saw Suzanne’s pain, as she watched my pain. She bravely stayed. Finally, I couldn’t watch her watch me anymore. I ordered her home, where Skitter could comfort her. 🗽
Not all decisions are difficult. Bow Tie Money Clip o’ the Day looking out for Mom is a no-brainer. I needed Hanky Panky surgery three years ago, but that’s when Mom’s health declined bigly. I had to choose. I spent the next two years mostly in Delta, with Mom. My Hanky Panky had to wait. The SMART choice isn’t always the same as the RIGHT choice. I’ve got no regrets that I chose the RIGHT, instead of the SMART. But Hanky Panky’s got no choices anymore: it needs its turn.⚖
I wish I’d worn Bow Tie o’ the Day that day. 🙃 Bishop Travis and I grew up more like siblings than like aunt and nephew. He’s been on my mind non-stop since I scheduled my surgery. In 2013, Trav received a pancreas and kidney transplant. He carries both the blessings and the burdens of his life being saved as a result of another family’s tragedy. My surgery doesn’t compare to his. But my surgery research says I’ll likely get an identical scar. Siblings-in-scars, forever! 〰 😷 There’s a cape for that. 😉
Bishop Travis and his First Lady, Collette, invited me and Bow Tie o’ the Day to see the documentary, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?. Of course, it’s about Mr. Rogers, which means it’s about the worth and dignity of each of us– regardless of rank, bank account, last name, etc.. You know– about all those simple, yet profound, human truths. I hied to SLC to meet Trav and Co at the theatre, and they surprised me by wearing bow ties. The entire time. My surgery apprehensions magically disappeared. 😃
Not-Tie o’ the Day. Father’s Day and Dad’s birthday were this month. I had a difficult time posting about him this year. Dad’s been gone 10 years, and I still miss his bald head. This pic of my beekeeper dad was snapped long before I was born. I’ve titled it, ST. RON OF THE BEES. I don’t remember what I was being punished for as a kid once, but Dad kicked my butt with his work boots. He did it so softly only my pride got hurt.
Bow Tie o’ the Day exudes affection– for Suzanne, who I am infinitely grateful for. Suzanne is the coolest, smartest, funniest, silliest, kindest, cutest, patient-est, generous-est, surprising-est person I’ve ever met. We probably all think the same about the person we love. In fact, it occurs to me that if you don’t feel those things about your person, you shouldn’t be hooked-up with them at all. Don’t settle for anyone except your soulmate. I didn’t. I married up, as they say. I got beyond what I deserve.