Mom and Dad

I am the youngest of five.  I also live the farthest away from my childhood home.  I wish I was closer.

About four weeks ago, I checked my phone after my class at the gym.  I had two missed calls from my mother....uh-oh.

My heart was racing and I could barely think as I dialed her back.  I knew it was something bad.  Sure enough, my dad was in the hospital in Pocatello having a heart attack.  All ended ok, my dad got a stint put in and was recovering quickly.  I was so grateful for that.

But I still dread THAT phone call.  You know the one.

I felt completely helpless stuck so far away.  My parents are definitely aging, and no one is around to just check in and make sure they are ok.  My mind always reverts to that old church video where the little old lady dies in her house and no one even knows?!!  AAHHH!!

My sister and two brothers live in Utah, but boys don't seem to really care or feel the same amount of concern and worry that girls do. :)  I don't know how to get back.

Anyway, just wanting to write it down.  There are so many people in my ward out here whose entire extended family lives within about an hour of each other.  I miss family close by.  I feel neglectful by hoping someone else takes care of my mom and dad.  Ugh.

It drives me crazy...I'm already crazy anyway.  Certifiably nuts.

A pebble in the water

    I must write this down so I don't forget.  It was kind of unbelievable.

    Ever since Landon got his retainer, it has become a toy for him.  I understand...he is 9.  But still, he flicks it up and down, up and down constantly.  Some of his teachers think he is chewing gum because of the flash of white they see.
    Last week about 8, I was picking Landon up from Tae Kwan Do.   I had Julie, Annie and Norah in the car with me.  He got in the back, and I started to drive.  Now it was dark...and the music was on. ( I am not a quiet music listener.  I like it loud.  Otherwise, what is the point?)

    Anyway,  I look back and Landon looks like he is...I don't really know....he looks funny and is moving around in his seat.  I ask, "Are you ok? "

     He puts his hands around his neck and squeaks out, "choking!"

    I stop the car and then hear a huge upchucking sound.  Uh-oh.  As I turn around to see what is happening, Landon (who is now teared up) says, "I was choking on my retainer!"

     He apparently had been flicking his retainer up and down like always, when he took a drink of water.  His retainer went to the back of his throat and got stuck.  Hence, the weird noises and thrashing around.  Landon said he remembered learning the heimlick maneuver from scouts,  so he tried doing it to himself, and that is when the retainer came out.

     I gave Landon a talking to about WHY WHY WHY we don't flick that dumb thing around in our mouth!  Honestly, choking was not the first reason I thought of, but it is now.  And guess what?  He still does it!  Probably less often, but still.

     The whole episode made me think about our choices.  Just like a pebble thrown into water, the ripples go on and on and on.  And so do our consequences.