Past Luncheons:
Sunday, August 26
“Semper Gumby”
- Always Flexible
– Marine Parents Motto
Thinking all was set in stone for our August luncheon, an
out-of-state friend bought a plane ticket for the trip east
so she could attend August’s luncheon with us, check
in on her son’s buddy, and spend time relaxing with
Janelle and me. Exciting!!! The last time we had seen each
other was the weekend of homecoming 2006 and we were really
looking forward to seeing each other again. She was going
to come in on Thursday evening, we would spend Friday with
Janelle shopping and sight-seeing, Saturday at the hospital,
and she would fly home in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
WOO HOO Susan was coming for a visit! A few hours later,
the phone rings, and… uh oh… the luncheon’s
date had to be switched to Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday.
Mad scramble to switch tickets around – yeah –
you know the feeling… gotta love those airlines. ;)
Long story short, Susan still has her ticket and we’ll
see her after the first of the year. In the end, after a
whole lot of Semper Gumbyness, everything turned out wonderful
and that’s what counts.
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We spent Saturday afternoon
shopping and that evening putting the gift bags
together as Mother Nature entertained us with one
of the more awesome thunder storms of the season.
We arrived at the hospital, did a cart safari and
then Janelle and a Marine headed upstairs with the
first load of goodies while Deb and Jean unloaded
more stuff. Poor Jean… her first visit with
us and it looks like she is wondering where in the
world we are going to put everything. :) |
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It’s been a hot summer
here in Merryland and smoothies seemed to be a good
idea for something different on the menu. Deb brought
her Vita-Mix, the Mother of All Blenders, with her
and spent the afternoon making them up to order.
Hula Girls had been requested and
she was a good sport and cheerfully played the part.
I can’t seem to figure the
settings out on my new camera though… this
picture is most definitely outta whack…
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Ya know you’re gettin’
old when the Docs look the same age as your kids,
right?
We always invite the medical staff
in for lunch when they peek in the door and a few
doctors stopped by on a break to fill their plates
and chat with us for a few minutes.
Miracle Workers
is the name that comes to my mind.
Angels on Earth.
Our Marines are in excellent hands.
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A lot of really good things took place
Sunday. It was a good feeling having the room looking
cheerful and festive for the patients and their families
when they walked through the door into the room.
Parents and wives were able to meet and connect and encourage
each other. I had a head’s up to be on the look
out for a Marine Mom, her son, and his wife and was able
to give her a Marine Mom hug from the Oklahoma Marine
Moms. I passed on a Tennessee nifty-gifty to a Tennessee
Marine from a former Tennessee Marine of a past war (can
you say orange?),
and we did our best to fatten up Deb’s wheelchair
buddy with smoothies. There was a big, dark chocolate
candy bar in the gift bag that made at least one Marine
really happy. The Marines who wanted to got a lei. “Hey!
Wanna lei???” You should have seen their eyes open
up wide! hehe (See the blue thingy on the left bottom
corner of the picture above.)
It takes so little to give encouragement and to bring
a smile to someone’s face.
Touches of Home make all the difference.
We’re going back at the end of September. Football
theme next time. I wonder if Deb has a cheerleader’s
outfit. GO RAVENS!!!
Until next time,
August 26,
2007 Luncheon Supporters
Measurement Technologies, Inc.
Entenmanns’s
DAD of TN, Inc.
Ann Thomas and Julie Butts-Marine Moms and Independent
Arbonne Consultants (new)
Washington Operation Thank You
Chris- Marine Mom, Loretta - Marine Mom’s Friend
The Sharratt Family – Marine Family
Those who sent well wishes by way of email to pass onto
the patients
And the awesome Marine Liaison Staff.
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