I admit it. I am a sap. Every dang week on Sunday night my eyes tear up when a family sees their new house for the first time, after shouting, "Bus driver, move that bus!". Every. Single. Time.
I was not a sap before I became a mom. I could watch commercials without crying. I could watch a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie without crying. Those days are gone. And that dang Folgers commercial that's 100 years old gets me every Christmas. You know the one: the son (Peter) comes home early (for Christmas) from college and makes coffee for the family. The smell of fresh brewed coffee wakes everyone up and mom comes down, sees her son and says emotionally, "Peter!" Gets me every time. sniff
So along with the loss of brain cells at each birth (don't ask me how it happens, it just does) I gained some degree of sappiness.
Update on Kenya trip:
I spent 6 hours yesterday at orientation. We're running an eye clinic over there. Well, technically we're running 3 eye clinics. We dividing up into 3 teams. My team will be about 4 hours outside of Nairobi (where there is much malaria -- yikes!). My job at our eye clinic is at the end of the patient's journey through the clinic. I pull the required lens and then put the eyeglasses together. I am a bit stressed about this. I have the sinking feeling that some of these Kenyans are going to leave that clinic seeing worse than they did when they came in! I have to mark and set the lens in a certain position (always different) when the patient has astigmatism. This involves some degree of math. Math. The word alone sends shivers down my spine. These people (both the mission workers and the Kenyans) have no idea what they're in for. Picture Lucy working at the chocolate factory with Ethel. I have no Ethel so there'll be no one else to blame. sigh
Back to malaria -- yes, I'm taking the pills. We also will use netting at night. We also have to douse ourselves in 100% deet spray 2-3 times a day. I'm wondering what's worse -- malaria or deet poisoning. One thing's for sure: I will not be smelling like a rose.
Might as well leave the wonderfully-smelling shower gel home.
7 comments:
Motherhood made me a sap too - cry at Little House on Prairie reruns for goodness sake. (Way too in touch with my feminine side.) And I would go with the deet - not so sweet but who needs malaria, right Lucy?
Little House --- I completely forgot about that one!! Glad to see that I'm not the only one!
And thanks for the deet advice, Ethel! Although I may hold you responsible if I come down with terminal deet poisoning!
:)
I enjoyed your blog...your family is really handsome and your efforts in Africa totally awesome. I work for the DEET Education Program and can share with you that the most commonly reported side effects are stinging when you get it in your eyes and VERY rarely (maybe 300 people a year out of millions of applications) have skin rash. Both resolve immediately if you wash with fresh water. As for other effects, if you follow label directions, there should not be a problem. Please contact us at www.deetonline.org with questions. We'll answer in 24 hours or call 888-no-bites. There are so many urban legends about DEET it is a constant job just to reassure folks about using repellents. Apply evenly on your skin--a mosquito can find a spot the size of a dime. Use under clothing ONLY if the critters are able to penetrate the fabric you are wearing. Good luck and God bless you for all you do for others.
Well there you have it! Thanks, Judi -- I appreciate you stopping by and commenting.
I will no longer worry about using deet --- not that I was really worried anyway. I'd use almost anything to avoid those creatures from hell!
Could this blog get any better???? What am I going to do for 8 days while you are in Africa? I will miss your wit and humor! Love you! BE SAFE!!!!
Well thanks, Sis! I'm hoping to be able to post once or twice while I'm there but we'll see.
You may have to be content with reading the reruns (you could consider me on a writer's strike, like the TV guys!).
Love you!
I guess I am a sap too?? I cried just reading about Peter coming home from college and surprising the family with freshly brewed coffee!! sniff sniff....bryson....
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