I want to write about Jerome and Janet’s journey to Guatemala this week so that anyone who wants to keep up with what I know can check here. Yesterday was Abe’s Birthday, and I didn’t have school because of black ice. I thought I could be of help to J&J who had the day off to get ready, but they were in their own zone, buzzing around in CLOUD NINE activity, so mostly I stayed out of their way. I did get to make a run to the health store and CVS to get a few things for them. Jerome was fighting off a little upper respiratory bug that he might have caught at the office (Janet was following him around with Clorox wipes on the phone, door knobs, etc.), so I stocked up on Airborne and Zycam for on the plane. Then Janet revealed to me that they had booked a 90 minute massage for me at the wonderful Lauren’s (best massage therapist I’ve ever been to, and I’ve had some wonderful ones). I left for Lauren’s and when I got back they had prepared my birthday dinner (Jerome’s special fried fish, cheese bread with brie, spicy steamed veggies, coconut cream birthday pie, and a nice Chardonnay). Connie (Janet’s sister also called Frizz)came over and joined us since they would be leaving early, and she was going with them to Guatemala. I could NOT believe they did this for me on such a busy pre-departure day. I said, “You two need to go to bed, not do this!”, but they said they couldn’t sleep anyway.

We kept watching the weather anxiously because of the threat of ice, sleet, etc. The satellite photos didn’t look promising. They finally decided to hit the hay and get up in the middle of the night to leave, although they did have phone calls suggesting that they leave right then and stay at a motel in Louisville. As it worked out, they got away about 3 a.m., and I put the sad doggies in bed with me. They made it safe and sound, and when Jerome called me at 5:30, he said that the roads were not that bad. Their plane was to take off at 6:30 a.m. I’ll update this site as soon as I have any more news. Godspeed, J, J, C, and J! Lord Michael and your guardian angels protect you!

Part Three (Many people let me know how they have learned lessons from things that have happened in my life. People have told me that after Wayne died, they realized how important a network of friends, family and church community support can be during a time of tragedy. I agree. When Joe died suddenly, I can’t tell you how many people let me know that they either wrote or updated their wills, made sure that the correct beneficiaries were on their policies or IRAs, etc. Others had their sleep apnea checked out. I was glad.) Now we have lesson three: if you live in or are staying in a house where you may be there when something happens, be sure you know where the main electrical breaker is and where the water main shut-off is!! You never know when a pipe may break or come loose, an appliance may overflow, a water heater may leak, a hose may break…I knew where everything was at TwoTrees. Wayne made sure of that. I did not at Kelley Ridge. Thank God for the Jim Brown Rescue Service. I had a pipe come apart (he thinks it was never properly glued), and I ended up in the attic, soaking wet, holding the pipe together until he got there because I could not find the shut-off in the basement! (IT WAS BEHIND A SHELF!) So go find out today! End of lesson three.

Lent is early this year. I’m going to take a lead from Ian, who started this, I think, when he was in hight school, and not eat meat at all during Lent. I’ll try to do other things as well, since I don’t eat that much meat any way, but it will make it easier just to not eat meat rather than try to remember on Fridays. Jerome and Janet have decided to join me. We’re also taking a scripture study course on Monday nights. I’m reading LEFT TO TELL for my Groupies meetings, doing my own “Everyone’s Way of the Cross” once a week, and going to Mass on Wednesday nights. This is my favorite time of the church year, and I pray for the grace to be more devout.

Heh, that’s me. What is it about dragging seasoned old logs with bugs under the bark into your house that is so satisfying? It’s gotten cold, and it is going to get colder, and I have three days to spend in my very own house (I’m not always here), and I’ve just got to burn wood. The upstairs stove is small, working well, and there is enough cleared space around it to be safe. But the downstairs stove is the one I really need to use–it is much more efficient and will burn the big logs that are left. I’ve burnt up all the little stuff in the little stove. I just have to spend an afternoon in the basement clearing away STUFF in order to start it up. If I stoke the downstairs stove right, it holds until morning. Oh, the satisfaction in that! It’s like winning the first set! Last night Jerry and I had dinner (barbecue), then went our separate ways to our remote homes where we both burn wood. I didn’t come home to a fire (I’m so grateful for my heat pump), but he had to call me after 11:30 p.m. to let me know that he still had good coals after 18 hours and then brag a little on the merits of a Fisher. He also said he wanted to make sure I got home safe, God love him, so I won’t say that it was only the bragging rights that compelled him to call. Now, after errand running in Richmond and a little internet time at the library, I’ll head back to Kelley Ridge to clear a space, load up a wheel barrow full of wood, and build a fire that will hopefully see me through until Tuesday morning when I head back to Marion County. And I’ll remember with a catch in my throat that it’s Joe’s stove, Joe’s chimney, Joe’s hands that touched those logs that keep me and his old dog warm.

Okay, now my son has already warned me about becoming addicted. But there is no chance of that now that I have been burned. I have ordered 7 items so far. I have received 6 in a wonderfully timely fashion. I have paid for everything through Pay-pal. But there is one $10.99 item that I have not received. It was a book, and I should have known to get it through Amazon, but I just wanted to try bidding to see if I could get it cheaper. I would question my PO box, but I have received everything else. So now I am in the dispute process. Fat chance, you say? Hey, this chickie doesn’t give up that easily!

On Monday, I had to drive the van to school because the truck had to go back in the shop–they had put in a new clutch, but it wasn’t right. And I couldn’t drive the Camry because the front tire was sounding funny and so Jay wanted to check it. And then on the way, first my “check engine” light went on. After another 10 minutes, the alternator light went on, and in a little while my lights started to get dimmer. I kept praying that I would make it to school before they went out completely. First the dog, now this. To say I was getting “het up” is an understatement.

Then I got to school and a teacher was crying. And I found out about Miss Jane. Miss Jane was a first grade teacher at Lebanon Elementary who died suddenly on Monday. She had collapsed and gone into kidney failure and a coma on Sunday. There was no brain activity after they revived her. They told us she died at noon. Our whole school is in shock. Both faculty and students are devastated. Miss Jane was the kindest, most gentle spirit in our school. Everyone loved her. She nurtured her students into their learning. Here is part of a letter from my principal:

Yesterday was such a sad day for all of us. To lose someone, as special as Jane, is difficult to take in.

Now comes the hard part. We must pull ourselves together and get on about the business at hand. Our students deserve to have normalcy as much as possible. We need to get back to a regular schedule just as Jane would want us to. If you have any students that are still having a difficult time, please call the office and we will get them and take them to a quiet place. All too often, one crying leads to many others doing the same.

Today was a rough day. I certainly don’t care to repeat it ever again. However, I remember the great times with Jane and the encouragement that she offered me each day. These memories are what we must rely on now to help us during the coming days.

Stevie Daugherty asked me to send her some thoughts about Jane and I wanted to share them with you:

Jane Mattingly, “Miss Jane” as she was affectionately known by her

students, was such a wonderful, caring teacher. She loved every one of

these kids as if they were her own children. I think this story tells it

best: As a teacher was holding one of the students today on her lap,

the teacher asked why she liked Miss Jane and the student simply

replied, “Because she loved me!” and she did. It didn’t matter who the

child was, what color of skin they had or whether the child was rich or poor, Mrs.

Mattingly loved them all. Another student, even though he didn’t have

Mrs. Mattingly for a teacher, was crying and when asked why, he

replied, “Miss Jane told me that I was such a good boy!” That about says it all.

Her death will certainly leave a void in our school and in our lives.
She has touched everyone of us in special ways. Keep your spirits up and know that Jane will be smiling down on us and watching over us as we go through each day!

Miss Jane’s funeral is on Thursday at St. Dominic’s in Springfield. Please pray with me for her family and for everyone in our school community who will miss her so much. A day didn’t go by that she didn’t stick her head in the library door and say, “How’s is going, Ms. Wood?” I will miss her very much. I’m certain I now know another saint that will pray for me.

I am so fortunate. On Friday I got to spend time with my mother. I got fed winter squash chili, broccoli salad, home-made whole wheat rolls, and banana pudding with my groupies at Beth and Jim’s house, and Mombo came along. My sweet friend Jerry joined us, and then we all went to Hayley’s game together. On Saturday, I spent an hour having a lovely tea with Sharon and feasted on lemon scones and raspberry curd. I went to evening Mass in Lancaster thanks to wonderful Father Thobias. On Sunday morning, my rescuers Jeff and Lea brought me from the Valley to Kelley Ridge so that I could drive the van to work this week. I listened to the rosary and the Mass on the radio while I reminisced about a beautiful Christmas season and took down the tree. My dog is still alive. My mother cooked me a pasta for supper. Who is luckier than I?

After Hayley’s game last night ( a valiant effort in a disappointing setting), I brought Mombo back to the Valley since it was after dark. We had quite the Clan contingent at the game (me, Mom, Jerry R., John, Dana, James, Susan, and of course all the Hellyers). This morning I took her back to Danville to get her car and dropped her at Clete’s game. That Mombo sure gets around! Then Greg and I headed to Richmond so that I could get my seller’s kit for the baby stuff sale in March. I hope to help Janet, Jerusha and Jeanne sell toys, baby clothes, etc. I stopped by 4th Street to put back trash cans and check on things. I got Greg out of the car and walked him around the block. He seemed fine, although getting into the car has been really difficult for him lately. I coaxed him back in, and we went to Sharon’s house. She treated me to a wonderful tea of English breakfast and lemon scones with marmalade and raspberry curd. We has a nice visit, and I returned to the car to get Greg out and walk him around a little before we headed back to Kelley Ridge. I was hoping to get firewood in and to begin taking down the Christmas tree. Well, he wouldn’t get out of the car, but I just decided he would wait until we got to the Ridge.

Usually Greg gets out at the gate and runs in front of me to the house when we get to Kelley Ridge, but lately he seems not as interested. Today was no different. But since he hadn’t eaten, I thought he would be anxious to get out once we reached the house. Instead he lay sideways on the seat and didn’t even raise his head. I pulled a little on his leash, and he growled. Well, I thought. I unloaded the car, leaving the door open so he could get out in his own good time. But after nearly an hour, he hadn’t moved, hadn’t even raised his head. I got some food and offered it to him. He just looked at me. And then I noticed that he was bleeding slightly from the nose. That scared me. I called Jim Brown, and he said it sounded like I needed to take him to the vet. My vet had closed at noon, but I found him by cell phone, and he referred me to a vet in Berea who was open until 5:30. I called and they agreed to see me if I drove there as quickly as I could. So I drove to Berea with Greg still lying on his side on the back seat. I was convinced that he had had some kind of a stroke and that I might have to have him put down. With tear-filled eyes, I realized that while he’s kind of a burden now, he still is my bud who keeps me company at the Ridge. I was going to be even more lonely without him. When I got there, I coaxed his face into a muzzle. He did growl a little, but still didn’t lift his head. The helpers at the vet clinic came out with a stretcher-like thing that they were going to put under him so that they could lift him out. As they eased it under him, he suddenly became very animated, growled and barked at them and jumped out of the car!! I picked up his leash and tried to walk him in, and he sat down in the parking lot and would not move–like a mule! “You Booger!” I drug him up and pulled him into the office. The vet checked him over thoroughly–she couldn’t find anything wrong. She said he might have suffered a small stroke, but she could find no evidence of it.

So after all that, I put the treacherous, tantrum-throwing dog back into the car, drove him to the Valley, and dragged him back out of the car. I really think he just didn’t want to get out of the car all day and was showing me who was boss. He’s become like most old men–a grumpy old grouch potato. Butt-Head!

Whoa! I just read the family blogs. I guess I’d better get going. I’ve been lazy about my blog responsibilities!! Blogs are very important if you are a mother, and your children are living all over the world. If they like reading my blog even one tenth as much as I do theirs, I should write. So here is my big news today. I had to spend an hour on the floor of the girls’ restroom at Calvary School because of a tornado warning. It wasn’t pretty. But that’s where they say it’s the safest. The sky was black, and the rain was coming sideways. We were all fine, and as far as I know, nothing touched down. But here’s the kicker (close moment)–we had five students in there with us because it was after school and they had stayed for STLP (Student Technology Leadership Project). A few left because their parents came and decided to drive them through the tornado (uh, duh…), and the fifth grade boys who were left were scared, even though fifth grade boys are NOT supposed to be scared. The counselor was telling them that they were in the safest place in the building and not to be worried when Curt said, “Guys, I think we should pray. In the name of the Father . . . . ” They said a “Hail Mary” and an “Act of Contrition.” I was amazed that, number one, they would pray together, and number two that they knew their act of contrition! They don’t go to a “Catholic” school, but they are “Catholic” in their school. Impressive witness to their old library teacher.