This is such a wonderful Christmas story from Aunt Gwen and Uncle Paul I need to share. From: Gwen C Date: Thu, Jan 1, 2015 at 7:51 PM Subject: Cornell Mad House To: I just have to write & tell you about our very busy Christmas Week. We knew that Cheryl & Chris (daughter & son-in-love) were going to be coming here for Christmas week. They arrived Monday afternoon. After an afternoon of visiting & I baked a meatloaf that I prepared ahead we had dinner. We all wrapped some more gifts & went to bed about 10:30. After breakfast tues. morning we just sat visiting & planning when about 10 ish, Chris wandered in toward the bedrooms & out came 2 men. I had just had cataract surgery so I thought something had gone gollywhompers. When I looked again it was Chris with our artist grandson Galen who flew in from Italy, arriving at 3:30 a.m.. Cheryl & Chris had brought an air mattress with them so he bedded down in their room & they had hidden his large Suitcase. We knew he was returning but had been told that he was going straight to Madison, Wisconsin where he will be teaching in the spring. So after much hugging & shaking of our heads he went back to bed after having flown from Italy to San Francisco & on to here & we had an Appt. at 11:30. Then Chris & Paul went to our Sunshine Services & borrowed a twin folding bed. We had a wonderful evening of course & all went in rather early. Wed. was spent wrapping gifts, Santas helpers doing lots of needed little repairs around the house, loading the refrigerator & visiting some more & again all of the excitement for us old folks & the traveling for the younger ones we went to bed shortly after 10. The next morning was of course Christmas so the gifts were opened & more cooking by Cheryl, Chris & Galen. Galen, Chris & Paul played Cribbage during the down times. Paul cant see to peg anymore so had to rely on the others for that, but he had so much fun with them. That evening, suddenly a group of people were trying to open our AZ rm. door, kept locked because of our foster cats. Cheryl & Chris ran & opened it to - - - Julian their youngest son along with the oldest David (Pilot) & Davids Wife Katie. You cant even imagine how shocked Paul & I were. After continuous hugs I just sat shaking my head. I still am astonished at how they pulled that all off. We pulled out the lower trundle bed, another foam mattress from our RV days & David slept in the big electric recliner. Fri. morning they went back & got another folding bed for David. Fri. afternoon we drove over to Mesa & the Organ Stop Pizza. My favorite entertainment !! It is about 20 miles so we dont JUST drive over there for ourselves. A great treat . Sat was work projects all morning, even to washing windows. The washer & dryer went most of the time because they were told to bring minimum clothing & an extra suitcase so they could take back any bells that they could transport in that way. I had been telling Cheryl that & had told David before when he visited. He has been able to fit some into his Pilots bag every time he comes. More gifts opened that evening & drop into bed again. Sunday was spent with more chores accomplished & then selecting bells. I also set up tubs & if they couldnt take it with them this time, they were put in a tub. We certainly want the family to have any that they want before I start selling them. Cheryl doesnt want dust collectors so she already has most that she wants. David of course got the titanium outdoor bell that was made from the nose cone of the Atlas Missile & any other aeronautical bells. Galen of course selected some of the old Historical Bells & Julian is only interested in musical bells & gongs ( A percussion major in the Masters Program at Kansas Univ. He used his graduation money to start his set of Steel Pans. At Truman State they had 2 sets of them & a great teacher so he shares his time with those & his Marimba. So now we at least have a start on down sizing. Galen cooked a Pasta Dinner & we had my nephew & his wife over for a short visit with everyone. Mon. David, Katie left for Kansas City & Galen left for Boston (girlfriend) & then on to Wisc. They all stripped their beds & gathered towels & wash .clothes before leaving, so the machine started about 6a.m. Chris & Julian folded up the cots, & Paul went with them to turn them back in. Furniture was moved back & Cheryl, Chris & Julian departed at 11:30. The 2 senior cats that we foster have been sleeping ever since. Can you imagine what 16 big tall legs, a cane & sometimes a walker must have seemed like to them after such a quiet home? I know the biggest reason, most likely, for all of this was to see their 89 year old grandpa while he could still see them a little, but I enjoyed every minute of it & appreciated all of the hugs & attention I got also. It was so nice of them to take the time to come & see us. David had flown Christmas Eve, got home & dumped dirty clothes , picked up Katie & Julian & hopped back on a plane to here. As United doesnt give passes anymore, Cheryl & Chris gave us that as a gift. Of course David flies space available & he paid for Katies ticket, All very generous of them all. We are back to our quiet life, The Bell Room is a disaster but it isnt open to the public anymore anyway. It may take us a few weeks to find all of the dishes & utensils but that just reminds me of when we always had about 20+ at Mom & Dads house every holiday. It is just SO much fun. I just had to share this with everyone. I hope I didnt bore you. Have a Happy & Healthy New Year. gwen & paul
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:34:27 +0000
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