No Trout About It

We went to the Community Fishing pond in Cabot on Sunday to spend the afternoon relaxing in the sun and fishing with the boys. Pop Pop and my nephew Gaige joined us with our friends Ed and Helene. It was a beautiful day—about 77 degrees and sunny. Philip caught one small bass that had to be thrown back. No one else was catching anything else. Around 5pm, Helen and Ed were ready to go so they left with Pop Pop and Gaige. As they got to the parking lot, I got a nice rainbow trout. Phil caught his limit of 5 and I kept getting nibbles, but was never able to reel another in.

Daffodil Festival

We made our annual trip the Daffodil Festival on Wye Mt on
Sunday, March 15th.It was a bit overcast but we had fun. The kids
each picked a dozen daffodils and endured Mommy’s picture taking.
After pictures and a walk through the little craft store, we sat
and had lunch outdoors on a picnic table.

The Grades Are In

Oksana made the Principal’s honor roll with straight A’s! Way to go!
Philip has improved a lot since last semester and is one of the best readers in his class. He’s even gotten to read stories to the Pre-K class.

Chipmunk Cheaks

The kids stayed home on March 13th because teachers had an in-services day
to prepare for conferences. So Phil kept Nico home as well. He took a late nap, so when I got home at 4:30 he was just waking up. When he sat up I saw that his left side of his face was completely swollen. I though he got bit by something or had gotten a bad tooth. We took him to the after hours clinic at Children’s Hospital and they said he had Parotitis. What is it? According to the doctor Parotitis is an inflammation of the parotid glands, which are large salivary glands located in front of each ear. He had a sinus infection, and the mucus was getting blocked. I wish I could post a picture, but Phil kept laughing when I said I wanted to take a picture his cheak. He looked like he had a sock stuffed in his left side of his mouth. And on a side note—it was a slow night at the after hours clinic and the nurses were eating NIco up—he kept telling them , I like your pretty shirt or you have pretty hair. He went home with 6, instead of the normal 2 stickers as well as a few knitted hats they give away to kids who stay at the hospital.

Dimes from Heaven

February 19th marked 13 years since my brother Vinnie died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 35. I was 23, just out of college. He is never far from my thoughts and know he is watching over our entire family. Most people have heard of “pennies from heaven”, but for me and my family, it has always been, “dimes from heaven.”

I find dimes in places, that dimes should just not be and there is no explanation for: Someone asks me to hand them a book, and there underneath, is a dime. When I go to the store, my cashier seems to have the need to ask for a roll of dimes for their register. Vending machines will give my change back in all dimes. Most recently while fishing with the kids, Phil asked me to switch seats with me so he could fix my line, and there in his chair was a dime.

Why dimes and not pennies? I think it goes back to when he came back to live at home after he was diagnosed with cancer. In his room was a nightstand and the top drawer was loaded with spare change—mostly dimes. Vinnie would call me at work and ask me to bring him a candy bar or some other snack he had a craving for. When I’d give it to him, he’d tell me to go in the drawer and get my money back. I’d tell him “You’re not paying me in dimes” – I got it.” He always told me he would find a way to come back—mess with the lights, etc. So I believe he leaving dimes to let us know he is watching us. Funny how if I'm having a really bad day and think no one cares—I find a dime, and I remember. Since my daughter Jadelyn died, it is not uncommon to find 2 dimes together. I think Uncle Vinnie has taught is niece how to throw dimes from heaven too—so we he is taking care of her for us.