I'm Married to a 60-year-old?

The strangest thing happened today. The 21-year-old I married suddenly turned 60. For the life of me I cannot figure out where all the missing years are. And tonight I am going to sleep with a 60-year-old. Now, how strange is that??? Is 6-0 something I'm going to have to get used to? From what I hear, it won't be terribly long before they tell me I am that age as well. It just isn't right. Well, anyway, Happy Birthday. Between you and me, I think it is really 50. Something got messed up somewhere along the way.

The Final Word on Lefse

I promise to quit talking about lefse after this entry. But I have to finish the story.

1. Yes, we did have lefse at the nursing home. It tasted okay with the real butter I brought from Jeri's house. Only problem was that they packed the lefse when it was still warm, so it was difficult to fix. So we had "chunks" of lefse.

2. I found out that the lefse rolling pin I got from mom was purchased in the first year or two of their marriage (75 years ago). Dad went to Leeds and bought it for her for $1.00. The regular rolling pin that Rana got was bought at the same place, around the same time, and cost $0.25.

3. I told mom I needed by buy a "ricer" so I can make lefse for Christmas. This led to a conversation about how she and her mom (Grandma Sophia) made lefse - they mashed the potatoes (no ricer) and just picked the lumps out. And they made it on the old wood-burning stovetop.

4. This led to another story. Shortly after they were married. Dad bought some lutefisk and asked to have it for supper. As he went out to do the chores, he said, "I wish we had some lefse to go with the lutefisk." Mom said that as soon as he left the house she cut up some potatoes into little pieces, boiled them, mashed them, added the other ingredients and made little lefse in her frying pan (she made a circle of the size of the pan - about 8 inches). Dad was really surprised and thrilled to sit down to a meal of lutefisk and lefse after finishing the chores. Mmmm, I bet that was a good meal ;-)

So Who's Confused?

I was visiting with Mom this morning before I got on the road to go home. I arrived about 9:30 a.m. At 10:00 she says, "They still haven't brought me my morning meds. I usually get them before breakfast." I decided to go find out what was going on. It was hard to find anyone; there were no nurse carts in the hallway. I finally go to the front desk and finally find a nurse. I ask about mom's morning meds. "Oh, I'm sure she got them. She gets confused sometimes." I said, "Mom is not confused. Can you check to see if they are charted as given?" She quickly looks through the book and says, "Yes, she got them. But she was really sleepy and probably doesn't remember." I said, "Mom was not sleepy. She knows whether or not she got her meds." Then she looks down the hall and says, "There's her nurse, in the pink pants. I'll ask her to come and talk with you." Five minutes later nurse in the pink pants comes into the room with Mom's morning meds. "I'm sorry," she said, "I was on the way in to give her meds, but then the buzzer went off across the hall and I forgot." Hmm. Charted as given, but not given; at least three hours late; distracted. Tell me now, who is the sleepy one and who are the confused ones?!?!?!?

Lefse Update

I'm so excited! For those of you not on Facebook, I'll have to tell you the rest of the story. Today....Heartland Care Center....was making....lefse! Oh, how I hope they made enough for me to have a couple pieces! Now, where else in the world would a nursing home make lefse for its residents for Thanksgiving??

My cousin, Kandy, made me really wish she and I lived close to each other. Last weekend they had family together and cooked up 40 pounds of potatoes and made lefse. Now, that's a lot of lefse! It would be so fun to be a part of that party! Maybe I'll just have to fly out there next November and be a part of that gathering.

I also heard that Bernie Sorlie used to make really good lefse. And that Bev Dyste makes a bunch. And other cousins and miscellaneous relatives actually order from Freddy's Lefse in West Fargo. They say Freddy makes really great lefse. Hmmm. Maybe next year I'll order from Freddy. Except for one really good reason. You see, I had forgotten that my mom gave me her lefse rolling pin when she moved into the nursing home. It's a nice, big rolling pin that I've forgotten how old it is. (I promise to ask her this week, and then write it down). So next year, and maybe yet this year, I am going to use her rolling pin and make lefse from real potatoes. Ahh, life is good.

In Search of Lefse

As you know, I will be having Thanksgiving dinner with mom...in the Nursing Home. Now, I'm sure Heartland Care Center puts together a pretty decent meal; I'm expecting turkey, potatoes, gravy, a vegetable and probably pumpkin pie. But do you think they will have lefse? Just in case they don't (and the chances are good that they won't), I'm on a search for a couple lefse for us to share for old time's sake. I didn't make any lefse this year because (1) my ricer broke; and (2) the mix I used last year is no more. The company went out of business. (I know -- excuses, excuses, but time is running short). Tonight I called the lefse queen of North Dakota...my sister. "Do you have any lefse I can take to mom for dinner?" She said, "I made a batch, but it didn't turn out. I might make another batch on Wednesday," she replied. She thought I'd have a better chance with brother Don. So I call brother Don, "Do you have any lefse I can put into my suitcase and take to mom?" "I made a batch, but it didn't turn out", he said, "and I'm not making any more until next week." Now I'm desperate. Why do people try to make lefse from instant potatoes after they've had success the old way for decades?? I know I'm getting a little testy. But, hey, this will probably be my last Thanksgiving with my mom. I really need lefse. Do you suppose I'll have to settle for "commercial" lefse from the grocery store? Lefse Queen - I sure hope you make lefse on Wednesday!

Does She or Doesn't She?

To go gray - or not to go gray? I spent a couple hours at the salon again this morning - as I have at least once a month for several years. And before I leave I lay down a good chunk of cash. Lately I've been wondering if this is something I want to keep doing. What would I look like with all gray hair?? Would it be a pretty white/silver/gray, or a faded, yucky color? Would I still feel young and vibrant and energetic -- or would it make me feel old? Would it affect my career? Oh, the pain. Hmmmm. You know what? I'm not ready for gray. I'll think about it again when I get old(er).

Miscellaneous Memories of My Dad

• Big red handkerchiefs
• Sneezes you could hear from a long ways away
• Table knife, butter, sugar, and grandkid sitting on the table, eating it
• Cream and sugar over bread before bed
• Pocket knife to clean fingernails, cut apples, and who knows what else
• Gumalost cheese
• Pouring coffee into the saucer to cool it off
• Pink peppermints
• Humming "What a Friend We Have In Jesus"
• Big nose
• Bibbed overalls
• John Deere
• Sunday drives to look at the crops
• Scraping the banana peel and eating it (can't waste anything, you know!)