Mama mia!

Friday, October 4, 2024

My mom's 88 and W's mom is 92. Neither is in good health so it's a gift to be able to return annually. We will visit twice this trip, during our first and last week.

We leave Seattle early in the morning for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Canada. It takes less than that long to remember what was so difficult about living here: GREY! October through April = grey skies, grey-green and grey-blue plants, grey-brown bare tree trunks ...

When the sun comes out, the blackberries (foreground, below) pop out green while the rest of the landscape stays grey. In a month, even their vines will be ... brown-grey. It's obvious that few can afford helpers. Untrimmed trees, weeds, and overgrown plants dominate the yards and grow in tufts along the highways.

W drops me off at my mom's in our hometown of Chilliwack and drives to see his mom in Langley. Autumn is definitely here. The big trees are shedding leaves. Their colors boast a last hurrah before the dark winter.

It's fun to catch up with my family and meet Mom's caregivers. Today, Tracy is at the house. I've never seen such a divine flow of helpers. Each one is respectful and a person of integrity. Mom practices ringing the bell on her night table before swinging her feet out of bed. That way someone is always with her when she walks. It's nice to meet Barb in the evening, too.

After W returns, my brother Norm drops in with a supper pizza.

Saturday

Mom sleeps in while I contact the siblings and family. I send everyone pictures: "What do you want from Mom's house?"

Sandy has asked me to label items by preference. I take heed of the family's requests and put their names on a strip of masking tape. There are some wild items from long-ago travels, before conservation was government-mandated.

Mom hasn't changed the house much, adding to the collection of photos, cards, and picture albums without taking things away. So the house is a kickback to the 1970s. Yes, that is original red shag carpet - wall-to-wall. Might be my fault. Mom narrowed down a few colors in the carpet swatch when they were building the house.

"I like the red!" I told her - and was surprised and happy when she agreed. That's what they ordered. No one else I know was that brave. It's in good shape, 52 years later.

Mom remains the glue that holds my 3 brothers and me together since Dad died 3 years ago. She talks regularly to each of us, scattered around the world. Then she brags on us and shares our news with the others.

We have a running joke: "Who is the favorite?" (I tell our kids, "Whoever is in front of me is the favorite, of course.")

But when Norm asks Mom that, she slips around the question with, "You are one of my favorites." haha. He should be the favorite son. He sees that she gets wonderful and consistent 24-hr care and can live at home. Well, his admin Sandy does that with excellent organizational skills and her connections.

Mom, W, and I eat lunch, hers prepared by Barb while W's and mine is leftover pizza. Yum.

The drive to Seattle goes across an empty border. After 2 quick stops for items to take back home to Indonesia, we stop for supper at Burgermaster off the freeway. I can only eat half of my burger.

 It's always lovely to come to our flat. The flowers by the door are ready for a top-up of water. 

The foraged seeds find their place on the book table.

We read tomorrow's talk together and prepare our hearts for the morning.

Sunday

During the night, I finish the book of Job and the first 20 Psalms. Jetlag can be useful for listening to scripture. Listening to the praises of God from the songs of David, my heart is full. 

I eat the second half of my burger for breakfast. I'm working my way through cupboards and food. Today I choose an Earl Grey Bravo leaf tea. Oh look! W must have purchased some glass thermoses. I try one out with the tea leaves. The strainer on top of the water keeps the leaves out of my cup.

It's quickly obvious that you have to hold the handle of the strainer as you pour or it shifts. I dump the leaves and tea from my cup and start again ...

We speak at a local congregation today. Part of our work involves raising funds for projects like sembako (food for the poor) and education. Another piece of what we do is raising awareness among prayer partners. We do our best but it's a quick trip as usual.

Monday

It's a learning day. At NU, Cathy and Kevin take us through organizational and spiritual leadership for teams. They're informative and funny. I find the solution for some challenges and get a heads up about a few mistakes with my own team. A very useful day indeed.

Read more:

*Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are accounted as dust on the scales. Isaiah 40:15

*Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of gentiles also? Yes, of gentiles also. Romans 3:29

*I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Hebrews 2:12

Moravian Prayer: God of all, your glorious creation is a gift. We pledge to care for all you have laid out before us. From the smallest insects to the great trees of the forest, like us, they are yours. Most of all, we will work to care for the people of the Earth in the ways you have taught us. Help us to care for others with the love that comes from you. Amen.

A trip across the world

Saturday, , September 28, 2024

Laurel arrives at the house at 11:00 and her helpers come shortly after. They set out food and arrange the Porch to suit their event. 

Meanwhile, W brings Townsends from Jakarta. "Come straight to the house," said no one ever in Bandung. This is the shortest route, once they leave the toll highway.

We take our guests to #NaraPark for lunch. No one is hungry for supper.

Laurel's party lasts all day. The last guests leave at 7:00. Bailey, freshly groomed, hangs out in our room before heading upstairs to sleep with Melvina.

Part of the group has left by the time I remember to take a picture. Each person influences others - Laurel leaves Wednesday and will be missed by many friends.

We walk to and from lunch at #WarungEthnic with Townsends. I admire the lacy leftovers after a birds nest fern dies off in the crook of a tree.

This 4" (9cm) millipede takes its time crossing the road.

Sunday

We have an early start at the hall on this Round Table Sunday. Arya set up the tables yesterday so he has everything ready to go. Titik has outdone herself with flowers.

Chandra has created an elegant solution for the too-short table legs, lifting the table to standard height. What practical blessings he and Titik provide!

One of the pleasures of an international community is having old friends drop by, like Ruth and her family. She gets a warm welcome.

Before the Gathering, we pray a blessing on Laurel for her last Sunday with us.

We pray over her in the service, too.

And once more in the leadership meeting after the Gathering.

Angie and Sayaka spent a lot of time choosing a batik outfit for her to take home to Florida.

Sayaka has played for worship before, but never at IES Bandung. We welcome her to the team.

Discussion around the tables is lively, as usual. The questions about mentoring are from Acts 18, where Barnabas, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, and Apollos model generations of mentors.

Monday

After shopping for basics with Townsends, PakG drops me at home and returns to the shop to take them to another grocer. When they return, we have an early lunch. Then we take our suitcases to the car and I pull the dust sheet over the bed. W hooks up the dehumidifier so things don't mold in our absence.

W and I sit in the shuttle station to await a ride to the airport. We spot a lady on a deluxe motorcycle taxi, complete with a rain cover/sun shade. She waves to us from the stoplight.

The best thing to say about a trip is that it is "uneventful." That's true this time. Thank God. We are dropped at the airport and indulge in a burger and fries before heading into the overnight hotel.

Condiments? Hot sauce of course - you have to ask for ketchup (saus tomat).

Tuesday

We're up at 2:00am, in line at 2:30, and aboard the flight to Singapore by 5:30. It's a quick layover with enough time to drag our carryons to the shuttle train to the gate. We are among the last to board the 14.5 hour flight from Singapore to Seattle. I don't sleep well on planes and the flight is quite full. An Indian mom and I share the 3 middle seats and spread out alternately to nap in the empty seat between us.

This is "Singapore Carrot Cake," served for lunch: rice with egg and shrimp. Because Singapore is a demanding and exacting island, the food is good. The shrimp are fresh. We were shocked with a terrible experience last time we flew Singapore Air. The staff was feeling irritable, the food was tasteless, and the general feeling was indifference to passenger comfort. This trip, they're back to the top of their game as a first class airline.

We gain back the day, traveling back across 14 time zones. We leave Singapore before 10:00am. and arrive in Seattle before noon. Terry picks us up from the airport and drops us at our Kenmore house.

Wednesday

W and I head south to Renton. Seattle is a multicultural city. This sign has everything from pizza to pho to massage to shops from around the world. Typical.

Almost home, W drops me at a ParkNRide by the freeway. Melissa picks met up there for a quick Costco grocery run. We don't buy much because she already gleaned yogurt, milk, butter, eggs, and more this morning. 

I was in the first wave of gleaners a generation ago. We didn't buy many groceries while our kids were young. It's the same for M's family now. Gleaning = a morning per week of hard work. First someone picks up expired goods from stores. Those items are sorted, unusable items are discarded, and then they're distributed to families.

M finds flowers as well. I arrange them in the vase on the kitchen wall by the door.

At Costco, I pick up a bag of lemons for the glass bowl my grandpa bought for my grandma, 70 years ago. They scent the room: sweet and citrusy.

As evening falls, I peek out the door to the acres of forest behind the house. Fall is here and soon the trees will be bare.

It's another restless night. I'm awake 11:30pm-4:30am. W and I eat something - waffles for me, a chicken pot pie for him. Then we read and try to get more sleep. 

We got many wishes for a "restful and relaxing time away." Is that an ironic grin on the old wooden Chinese horse in the corner of our flat? (I bought it 30 years ago after spotting it in the doorway of an Asian furniture store. Long story, that one.) Our trips consist of a few weeks on the run.

Thursday

The kids and Melissa are out in the morning when I wake. W and Timo have left for a theology gathering on a boat with Terry. Without anyone around, I bang out songs at the old piano. That makes me reconsider giving it away. It's in reasonable tune and the ivories and hammers are in good shape.

After online catch-up, I take a 3 mile/5km walk around the neighborhood for air and exercise. Due to our mountain hikes, these hills at sea level - including our long driveway up to the street - seem small.

As usual, the streets are empty. Even the main thoroughfare has only occasional cars. I pass 5 people total, walking their dogs in the morning sunshine.

Here I know the names of plants and how to keep them alive. I thought I knew gardening, but I can't explain enough to keep the yardman from killing off most of what we plant in Bandung.

I pluck seeds from here and there. Let's see if they'll thrive.

The grass heads are white and red.

This fragrant wild rose grows beside the sidewalk.

When the petals fall, the rosehips emerge as fat pods.

These have a sweet smell, too.

The leaves are turning color.

The maples are shedding their leaves.

The ground is colored in gorgeous shades.

In time for Christmas, the holly trees will have red berries.

I enjoy every flower - the rhododendrons look amazing.

The flower heads are enormous.

I make myself waffles for breakfast and ravioli for lunch. The pre-made meals from Costco are wonderful. I open a 10-yr-old jar of quince jam. Still good. (I'm my mother's daughter. She says, "Who cares about the expiry label? Check if it smells and tastes fresh" and don't let an arbitrary date send good food into the garbage.)

The kids come downstairs after I do the lunch dishes. We kill ourselves laughing at their antics on old videos.

W and Timo return at 6:30pm, happy with the boat ride and progress made in their theological discussions.

Read more:

*What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. Ecclesiastes 3:9-14

*I will extol you, O Lord, among the nations and sing praises to your name. Psalm 18:49

Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. Revelation 15:4

Moravian Prayer: Lord, our strength, we walk among your creation, marveling at your power and grace. We praise you, this day, for you are the rock and foundation of all that is holy in this world. Amen.