Sigh
Bubble: I miss the emus.
Seli: So do I.
Woodroffe: So do I.
Angelina: So do I.
King: So do I.
Okami: So do I.
Pearly: So do I.
Malay: So do I.
Phoenix 1: So do I.
Ming: Well I DON’T!
Just a moment
We had an appointment today in Perth (two hours north of here) for Ming to see the surgeon who operated on his scoliosis in February. After the usual X-rays and waiting room waiting, the surgeon said Ming’s spinal curve (Cobb’s angle – see below) had further reduced from 35% to 22%. Now I don’t understand the maths of this because I am not mathematically inclined, however, considering Ming’s curve was 75%/80% before surgery (depending on which radiologist was interpreting the X-ray) then I think 22% is beyond fantastic! I didn’t realize that his spine might straighten even more post-surgery.
http://www.e-radiography.net/radpath/c/cobbs-angle.htm
As we were leaving, I noticed a teenage girl who had tears in her eyes as she left the building with her parents so I told Ming to go and say something comforting to her while I went to the loo. When I came outside I found Ming talking in his loud, open, gesticulating way to the little family, and the girl’s eyes were no longer teary – they were shining. I said I was his mum and that we’d been a bit worried that she was upset. Then we all exchanged handshakes and wished each other well, all of us smiling.
We didn’t exchange names or contact details because it was all a bit ‘in the moment’ but that’s probably okay.
Bulldog
One of my blog friends has the interesting nickname of ‘bulldog’. You can find his blog here:
http://visitstothepark.wordpress.com/
Recently, he sent me a special photograph and I am now sharing it here because it reminds me of how an argument can clear the air.
Thanks bulldog!
The argument
Tonight the argument escalated to a point where we are both terribly shaken at how ferocious we can be towards each other.
The Aga was off because we ran out of kerosene a few days ago so, instead, we filled the kitchen with the heat of our fury until words whimpered away, and our tears tore our anger into small shivers of hot shock.
My son and I looked at each other with black eyes, unblinking and hateful but then one of us blinked and we found comfort in the Chinese food I’d brought home.
I have just tucked him in – this Anthony clone, Ming – and he admitted that he is terrified of losing me in the same way he has lost Anthony, his father, to illness. My sprained ankle terrified and engraged him.
His rage was thunderous and his beautiful face was contorted into a thousand lines of teenage fear. “I can’t lose you too, Mum,” he said, shivering into the blankets I piled ontop of him.
He always starts ‘the argument’ but I don’t blame him at all for this – my fantastic son, Ming.
Hilarious hindsight
During Anthony’s rather difficult Father’s day visit yesterday, there were a few moments of enjoyment (but only in hindsight). As I was hobbling around the kitchen using one of his walking sticks, and his nephew was trying to get Anthony to turn his walking frame around in order to sit down, Ming gave me a look of utter confoundment and withdrew to his room. I can’t say I blame him.
Once I put my boots on, my sore ankle steadied itself so I abandoned the walking stick for a slight limp as I poured teas, coffees and whiskeys for Ants, his nephew, another friend and me. Nobody seemed to care about my sore ankle as all the attention was focussed on Anthony who was a bit silent and slumpy, so instead we chased a few conversations around the room, had a few laughs and, when it came time for our visitors to go, I got up, winced with pain and said, petulantly, “How come nobody cares about my ankle?”
Suddenly, Anthony emerged from his silence and said to his nephew, “There is always something wrong with her!”
Hilarity filled the kitchen and I gave him a huge hug.
Spring has sprung
It’s the first day of Spring over here and I want my heart to gallop with excitement but it won’t cooperate. Yesterday afternoon Ming and I had one of our serious talks. These always resemble the kind of discussion a grandfather might have with a small child (Ming = the grandfather; Julie = the small child).
Now it’s not particularly pleasant to be scolded by your teenage son but after much to-ing and fro-ing of our discussion, Ming finally summarized things by saying, “Mum, I just want you back the way you were. I want us to have fun again, I want you to be happy again.” (This was after he told me my office was an appalling mess).
“Is it Dad or me who is stopping you?” Ming asked.
“It’s Anthony, Ming. I just can’t seem to adjust. Come on, give me a break – he’s only been in the nursing lodge for six months. Give me a chance to breathe my grief!”
“You’ve been doing that for too long already, Mum. Please stop. We have to get this place in order – you have to help me!”
“Oh you’re not going to say that dreadful word again are you?”
“Yes, Mum. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork!”
“Poo, poo, poo!” I retaliated (Ming loathes that word).
Anyway that was yesterday and now it is today. I just saw a blue wren and I am going to vacuum the inside veranda and it’s raining but sunny and later on I will go see Anthony and I will not cry when I get home again because if I do I will have to suffer another Ming discussion.
It’s the first day of Spring here and my heart has begun to walk again. I hope Ming doesn’t get too much of a shock!
Why wait?
I have been so excited about my idea for a Christmas present for Ming who has become so musical over the last few years and is now doing his Certificate 4 in music.
So anyway, he started volunteering at a local school called Djidi djidi Aboriginal school a few weeks ago. Coincidentally, he had become a great fan of Xavier Rudd’s music.
So my brilliant idea was to get Ming a didgeridoo for Christmas. I got it today and have hidden it so I can give it to him later this afternoon. Why wait!
Sneak peak:
Oh I love surprises! Ming knows he is getting a present but he has no idea what it is so I said if he helps me feed the birds and put them away, he will then have to sit at our picnic table and close his eyes until I say ‘okay’!
Excitement makes me a bit incoherent – ha!
History in the making?
Background: Oldest dairy in Western Australia.
Foreground: Youngest beard in Western Australia.
jmgoyder 