THE LOWE FAMILY NEWSLETTER: VOLUME 68 AUGUST 2011
Dear Readers,
Jeremy has put a ring on it : Coryn's ring finger is now beautifully adorned with the promise of their future together. Kudos to Jeremy for asking both Norm and I for our permission just days before he proposed to Coryn. Remember when Craig only asked Norm because he didn't think I could keep a secret – guess who's going to be my new favorite son-in-law. Better come through with my TV show fast Craig!
I spent Saturday night cradling my phone expecting Coryn to call with the exciting news from seven O'clock on . She and Jeremy were spending the weekend at his aunt and uncles vacation home in the Lake of the Ozarks and we knew that Jeremy planned to propose on Saturday night. The phone never rang.
Sunday morning Coryn finally called and I expected her to immediately blurt out the great news but no she just said that they were heading back and asked how everything was going with us. I immediately switched the focus back to her and Jeremy, asking what they had been doing – nothing much, eating out, hanging out and out on the boat. She informs me that I am acting weird, asking so many questions and hangs up the phone claiming that they are loading up the car to leave! I was now on the outs.
Once off the phone I assailed Norm with several scenario's that might explain why Jeremy failed to propose. Maybe Coryn was in one of her moods and he came to his senses, maybe the opportunity to ask never arose, maybe he forgot the ring. I fretted for a few minutes and decided to call Jeremy. But before I did your devilish sister called back to save your dad from my endless conjectures about what might have happened. Jeremy had proposed but not until about 11.30 on Saturday night! I'm surprised his bride to be was still awake – I gather it took some cajoling on his part to entreat Coryn to join him outside on a garden swing: a spot he was sentimentally attached to as they had become serious about their relationship there a long time ago.
For a girl who always claimed that she would never have a big wedding, always threatening to elope, if she ever were to even marry - Coryn has certainly embraced tradition . Within hours of becoming engaged she was calling Leslee to ask her to be her Matron (Whoops) Maid of Honor, planning to shop for her wedding dress in Orlando and thinking about floral arrangements, themes and colors. I was dispatched to find Bridal magazines and reminded every time I voiced one of my brilliant ideas that it was her wedding and not mine!
The last few weeks have not be so good for your dad. He is awake less and less, having a great deal of trouble moving from room to room and his appetite is finally diminishing. It is difficult to know whether this is due to his cancer treatment, new seizure medication or the progression of his illnesses. Knowing that Coryn has someone to take care of her has definitely buoyed his spirits. Just think boys you might be able to give your dad a new lease on life if you could all find that someone special as soon as possible!
You might remember from my last newsletter that Coryn and I were planning to explore the thrift stores on Wornall but unfortunately that trip had to be postponed as Erseline couldn't stay with Norm that day so we had to put it on hold till the following week.
So on a very hot and sunny Friday morning we headed off to shop for a used rocking chair that I could transform into something acceptable for our front porch that Norm would also enjoy using. I was so glad that Coryn was driving as Wornall is under construction – one lane only with nearly all the exits and entrances into it's businesses torn up too. It was quite a challenge to figure out how to reach some of them. We ended up on a steep gravel incline at one point that I know my Ford Focus would not have been able to negotiate. We searched an antique store where the price for a rocking chair was higher than a brand new one, and I was on a twenty five dollar budget! Our third thrift store had one of about the right size and in very good condition – no price so we asked and after a quick conference between the workers they suggested twenty dollars. A real bargain. They were probably desperate to make a sale as I am sure the road construction and lack of sidewalks must be having a very negative effect on sales. I suggested driving back to the antique store to show the owner that one could purchase an equally as antique rocking chair just down the road for about one hundred and forty dollars less. I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to pay his prices. As I always say there are no antiques in this country unless they came from another country! What Americans call antique the English call Grandma's junk.
After our successful purchase we headed to the Plaza for lunch and shopped for cheese at a specialty store that Sean and Bryn had highly recommended. I did find some English Stilton and Cheddar but no Caerphilly or Cheshire cheeses. Since it was so hot we couldn't leave the cheese in the car while we shopped for the rest of the afternoon so I suggested leaving it at Sean's condo in his fridge. There was no evidence in the Condo of my recent cleaning spree. Cardboard boxes were piled everywhere – Sean later explained that he was saving them for a friend who's moving – dirty dishes filled the sink and counter tops and mail was strewn across every table and available chair. Coryn and I cleared a space to sit and eyed the mess. Josh and Sean desperately need some neat freak girlfriends. We left the depressing sight and headed to the newly opened Trader Joe's store. I was very excited about the prospect of stocking up on cheap wine. It seemed that most of Kansas City was too as the store was filled to bursting with shoppers and the check out lines were longer that any I have ever seen, snaking through the store. Coryn was ready to retreat as soon we walked in but I questioned her sense of adventure and dove into the hoards blocking access to the grocery shelves .By the time we reached the wine I realized that the food prices were not insanely cheap as the advertising and popular view suggest. I looked at the check out lanes and decided that even cheap wine wasn't worth hours of standing in line. O f course if I'd had a bottle opener in my purse I might have been able to sample a sip from a bottle or two and made the wait more palatable.
The rocking chair is waiting in the garage for it's transformation which won't take place until I can take the heat. It was one hundred and eleven degrees one day. This has been the summer of triple digit heat and killing humidity. Every night on the news another body succumbs. My garden is toasted, many plants burnt brown, others gasping for water. I spend hours watering every day but the ground is baked brick hard. We have had so little rain.
Ming and Lori have invited me to visit them next month so I can spend some time with them and my grandchildren and in October Coryn and I will probably be flying off to Orlando to shop for a wedding dress . She was very impressed with the selection at the store where Leslee found her dress and doubts she'll do better here.
Bryn went to a two day rock fest here in Kansas City this weekend, he spent Friday night here because as always our house is so conveniently situated. He came through the door at midnight while I was deep into my book and wine glass – I was surprised to see him so early but his group had decided to leave Eminem to beat the traffic. I doubt they missed much. Saturday evening Coryn and Jeremy showed up and I was most anxious to take a picture of them posing with the ring for this blog but they had just returned it to the jewelers to be re-sized. Unfortunately they had to drive to Oklahoma City on Sunday for a funeral on Monday. Jeremy's twenty five year old cousin died of heart disease leaving a wife and baby behind. Just a couple of years ago they had attended his wedding.
Josh and Sean came over with their laundry on Sunday just on the cusp of lunchtime so I had to throw something together, fortunately I had some little smokies, eggs and muffins. And of course because there were so many loads of laundry to do they were still here at dinnertime! I ran to the grocery store while they were here with Norm.
One of the most exciting things- as I'm sure most of you know- is that my football savvy has finally been recognized: I am now in the Lowe Family Fantasy Football League. I can guarantee that Remsburg will not usurp me. I am on the web 24/7 picking my team. I'm going for the best tight end and offensive tackle with Matt Casel as my quarterback. I may be too busy with my laptop on game day to fix those gourmet meals you have all come to expect. We may have to rotate between our Kansas City abodes. Do you think we should get some kind of team logo shirts?
Bryn just came over for lunch,he scrambled four eggs with salsa, ate a handful of cherries and strawberries and berated me for having no peanuts or pistachios. I offered walnuts or pecans from my baking supplies but was rejected. He is on a protein diet with vegetables and fruits. Good thing he rejected my linguine with Alfredo sauce, peppers clams and tomatoes(last nights dinner) as Norm decided to have some for lunch and then as soon as Bryn left Coryn arrived and expected lunch too. Good thing your dad's appetite has diminished in this instance, leaving enough linguine and sauce for her too. I honestly feel like I'm running a restaurant here some-days. I hope no-one shows up for dinner today as I serving flounder which is not an elastic meal that can be stretched to accommodate more mouths.
Love to you all, your soon to be Mother of the Bride again who's hoping for a smaller dress size by May of next year when the wedding will hopefully be.
