Here are the questions to this week’s Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (Sept 23rd) to share your answers. See you there!
1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What’s something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall?
Fall came in very dramatically here in SW Ohio! Sunday was 90 and sunny, and then a huge storm came through around 8pm on Sunday night. It rained off and on all night on Sunday, and then Monday dawned rainy, gloomy and with highs in the 60s! Now that’s quite a way to make an entrance! We’ve been grabbing sweatshirts and realizing that all of the kids have outgrown their long pants that they last wore in May. I added “pull warm clothes out of storage” to my to-do list this week, and there will be a trip to Once Upon a Child sometime soon to stock up on some warm clothes for the kids, too.
Honestly, I don’t love cold weather, so fall brings a certain level of dread for what comes next. However- I am learning to live in the season I’m in and enjoy it! I love hiking in the fall. Maybe we will make another trip to Hocking Hills in peak leaf season like we did two years ago?
2. What’s a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?
Cleaning the bathrooms for sure. We use them multiple times a day, and every time I go in I think “man, I need to clean this room”- and then it’s off to the next activity and 3 days later I’m still having that same exact thought! In fact, I think I really need to tackle cleaning the bathrooms today.
3. What’s something you’re falling for lately?
Cross country! I know- you are tired of hearing about my love for this sport. But I just gotta say it again- We are all LOVING cross country!
4. Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year. Are you a fan? What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?
I’m actually not! I don’t have anything against pumpkins, I just don’t like flavored fruit/veggie things anyways.
But I do love a good chai latte, so drinking a warm one on these chilly days sounds lovely!
5.What’s something you wish would never change? Explain.
Right now, I’m going to go deep- I wish that our parents didn’t have to age and face the deterioration of the body. It’s something that inevitably happens to everyone, but it’s hard to see it happen to people who have always taken care of ME. This stage is lovingly referred to as the “sandwich generation” because we are taking care of both our parents and our kids, and we are right in the middle somewhere.
This sounds so dramatic- all four of our parents are still living, and they are all in good health, all things considered. My Dad’s battle with cancer will hopefully be won and we will still have him around for many years, but the past few months have really woken me up to the reality that our parents are only going to get older and we need to enjoy the time that we have left with them as much as we can.
I just wish everyone could stay in their “grandparent prime” if you know what I mean?
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Yesterday’s surprise for my Dad went great! Theo and the kids came to the hospital and stood outside in a parking lot waving balloons and posters as he finished up his last chemo treatment. My Mom waved a blanket in the window so they could see us! Then, they came inside and we all got to see him ring the bell! Praise the Lord- chemo is done! Now onto surgery and radiation.
After all that excitement, I went to school and coached cross country (SO MUDDY), then dashed home to make a quick dinner (buttered noodles and hot dogs), and then back to school for Jr. Royals Night at a volleyball game. Our sweet little team got to go out on the court and be cheered for!
What a way to start fall! It has been in the mid 60’s here and I am happy about that. It’s much cooler than it has been.
Go clean your bathrooms. hehehe I always leave the mopping of the floor in ours if I am busy.
It looks like you have so much fun with the cross country!
I haven’t heard this time of life referred to the sandwich generation but it does make sense. My dad is getting older and it makes me sad thinking about him not being here.
Aww! What a lovely surprise for your dad and how great that the chemo is done with. Sending love and hugs. I hope the rest of his treatment goes well.
Oh yes, your #5 is fabulous! I even remember watching my grandparents deteriorate as they were really quite healthy until around the time I had my kids and even that was tough to watch. So glad your dad’s chemo is done! Wishing him the best with his surgery and radiation too.
Oh, I agree with the aging answer. I wish we could all stay healthy without sickness.
My parents were both gone by the time I was 35 so I experienced not having parents much sooner than most of my age cohort. Now those in my age group with living parents, are, for the most, pretty old and definitely having health problems. It is sad. “Healthy grandparent stage” sounds idyllic! I’m glad cross country is going well. This is great running weather, albeit muddy with all the rain we’ve been having.