Thursday, June 30, 2005

Re-Posting

I posted these photos earlier this week and forgot to include my Journal entry! Goes to show you where I'm at mentally, huh? LOL

So, once again...

SEEMS SO PEACEFUL


The view from my parents' backyard is absolutely beautiful, even breathtaking. My parents retired from their jobs and moved to Idaho five years ago, following me from California. They built their home long distance, if you will., through the photos I took on a daily basis. I bought my very first digital camera when they were shopping for a lot to build their home on. Then, I went around to the different subdivisions and found several "perfect" lots. I would send the photos via email... it would take hours to email photos back then! They decided on this lot, definitely a "perfect" lot. There would never be any homes built to block their view of the mountains just north of Boise. The large pond behind their little fishing guy, is a spur off the Boise River, full of fish and wildlife. And yes, that's a golf course on the other side.

This statue in my parents' yard reminds me of my little brother... he is such a fisherman! I remember his first catch when he was just three years old!

When my Dad had another heart attack a few weeks ago, I called my daughter. She hasn't answered my calls since Christmas, so I left a message. I explained my Dad was in the hospital again. When she called back, we talked about her visiting sometime soon. My Mom had started her chemo treatments and was feeling very sick. My daughter wanted to come home to visit her grandparents, I wanted to help her do so. We figured out which days my Mom would feel her best between treatments, and booked her flights for her visit.

My daughter arrived last Saturday night. I hadn't seen her since our upset before Christmas, and I wanted everything to be perfect for her stay with me that night. Hence, the SIX HOURS of shampooing carpets after working 50 hours at work all week! I was so exhausted. Tired as I was, I picked my daughter up at the airport and we went to dinner, just the two of us. It was really nice to visit with her. I miss her so much. She would stay Saturday night with me, then Sunday morning we would go to my parents' together. Sunday night, she would stay with my parents and spend all day Monday with them while I returned to work. Monday night she would come back home and I would take her to the airport, early Tuesday morning.

Our visit Sunday with my parents was good. Good for a while. My Mom just doesn't realize the sharpness of her tongue, she never has. She insisted that this was my daughter's visit with them, as if I was imposing. And before long, she was bringing up issues from our bout at Christmas.

At one point, I turned and looked my Mom, straight in the eyes and told her what she was saying was not true, that these awful things never happened! She accused me of lying. I was shocked! Was she there when these supposed things happened? No. I was furious!

It is so hard to love someone who can say nothing good about you. My Dad tried to "hush, hush" my Mom. He knew she was outside safe boundaries with me. Me, I just wanted to fly out of there, but I didn't. I never do.

Why do I sit there and take such verbal attacks? Is it out of respect for her - don't talk back to your parents? Is it that I'm used to such verbal abuse from her, that I let it roll off me? Well, my stomach turned to knots. It was not rolling off me at all. About then, someone piped up and mentioned the birds and roses outside, and maybe I'd like to go out and get some photos. This is when I took these beautiful shots of my parents' yard. I left a few minutes later.

There is nothing I wouldn't do for either of my parents. I want to spend time together as a family, having bar-b-ques and holiday dinners together. I want to help them with anything and everything they need, especially now that their health is failing. But a person can take so much before they know they cannot be around the people that inflict so much pain. My Mom calls me ungrateful, and says it was a mistake for them to move here.

My daughter had a wonderful visit with my parents. I'm so glad for this. I hope she's able to visit again soon. She and I never spoke of our troubles at Christmas, and I was dying to resolve some of the issues that occurred, bringing the holidays to a screeching halt, tearing my family apart. Now, riding to the airport, she could not run away, she was held captive. I'm sure my timing was not right. My mistake. But, the holidays will be here again before we know it, and I really do want to work things out with my family. What I found out is, bottom line, there will be no reconciliation of the issues from our Christmas falling out. Ever.

Within minutes of me dropping my daughter at the airport - there were no hugs, it was a bitter departure - my Mom called. She wanted to thank me for planning this visit with my daughter and making it happen. She says she had a wonderful visit with both of my kids and wished she could see more of them. She was on her way to her chemo treatment, as she spoke. I was on my way to work. An hour later, I received a text message from my daughter, she was home in Seattle.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh what a GLORIOUS VIEW! Is this your backyard? I am sooo jealous! You can see for MILES!
WOW!
Jen
Comment from jjsilcocks - 6/28/05 8:50 PM

Anonymous said...

The pictures are gorgeous. Where is that? If that's your yard, post more!
Comment from sieblonde - 6/28/05 9:17 PM

Anonymous said...

that is so beautiful..love the colors..gosh did you think this up on your own...I may copy you..LOL..What kind of rose is that?
Comment from jasmineandlace11 - 6/28/05 9:18 PM

Anonymous said...

I love the sculpture of the boy fishing. Yes, it does all seem peaceful, is it? Keeping you in my continued prayers and thoughts.

Monica
Comment from sonensmilinmon - 6/28/05 11:46 PM

Anonymous said...

Very pretty pictures and you're right it all does seem peaceful. Helen
Comment from madcobug - 6/29/05 2:59 AM

Anonymous said...

Sooooo Pretty!!

Carolyn
http://journals.aol.com/shelt28/MyLife
Comment from shelt28 - 6/29/05 6:42 AM

Anonymous said...

Never is a long time and things change. Sometimes they just need to be left alone to realize they don't want to be left alone.
Comment from sieblonde - 7/1/05 6:14 AM

Anonymous said...

Sometimes as people get older they get contrary so to say. Your mom may
be under some kind of medication to also make her act this way.
I pray that someday you and your daughter will get things straightened out between you. God be with you both and again the photos are beautiful. Helen
Comment from madcobug - 7/1/05 7:07 AM

Anonymous said...

Daughters and mothers...what is it that can be so challenging? As mothers we want to help, guide and definitely love there is a resistance and disconnect when daughters want to do things on their own, see guidance as preaching and not see the love at times. My own strategy is forgive, forget and never let things go too long... I have a daughter going on 20 and she is the best most times except when I push a little too hard for something I want from her. Good luck, peace and joy to you because you have a great heart and your pictures and journal prove it...:)

http://journals.aol.com/gotomaria/TheLittleThings/
Comment from gotomaria - 7/1/05 8:09 AM

Anonymous said...

It is very frustrating to want to resolve things, but being unable to do so...I am sorry for that..JAE
Comment from yakima127 - 7/1/05 9:26 AM

Anonymous said...

I love the fountain and statue..Moms can be trying sometimes..
mine is the same way.
Comment from redpoppy007 - 7/1/05 9:33 AM

Anonymous said...

Your parents has a lovely garden. I am sorry that you and your mother did not reach a conciliatory tone during this visit. My daughter and I have our bad days too but I can't get angry with her longer than a week. I usually fly the white flag because I know she is too stubborn to. http://journals.aol.com/dcmeyer420/DearDiary/
Comment from dcmeyer420 - 7/1/05 10:58 AM

Anonymous said...

Sigh...I know the frustration you feel. My mother "remembers" things very differently than I do. I cant bring up the past at all. She has already rewritten history in her own mind to suit herself. All we can do is try to be there when needed and escape when the going gets rough. Lucky for me, I can minimize contact to only a weekend, here and there. I hope you and your daughter can work things out soon.
Comment from ryanagi - 7/4/05 3:44 AM

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for this set back.........
Thank you for sharing though as I know it was all hard to write.
Sometimes people don't realize how hard they can be on one another. I know this hurts to the core.
Big cyber hugs to you, my friend......(((((((((HUGS))))))))!!!
And give the doggies a hug b/c they always make everything better don't they? Well almost always....like NOT when they have an ooopsie!
Sonya
Comment from bookncoffee - 7/4/05 9:57 AM

Anonymous said...

I hope things will work out for you...

sorry for the setback and frustration...

on another note, I love the photos....the scenic fisherman image is breathtaking...what a view!

www.jerseygirljournal.com
Comment from cneinhorn - 7/5/05 8:31 AM

Anonymous said...

I love the pictures. I so hope that maybe soon things will work out for you and your daughter. I watch my mom and sis do there bickering and it even hurts me. I couldn't imagine one of my kids and I in that situation. And I'll say prayers again for your parents and good health.
My mom's journal~ http://journals.aol.com/sraci2256/AdayinthelifeofCindy/
My journal~ http://journals.aol.com/windascoop6/Windysnotsotypicaldays/
Windy
Comment from windascoop6 - 7/6/05 11:33 PM

Anonymous said...

Wow! This is my first visit and I don't know what to comment on first! I love that photo of the fishing statue and the tractor montage is great. Oh and the pups...just precious! Re. family issues...can we talk? lol. My grown son is not speaking to me; we have been at odds for the first time ever and it has continued going on 2 years! I don't think they realize how short life can be...Come visit me! :-) Sassy

http://journals.aol.com/SassyDee50/SassysEYE
http://journals.aol.com/debbted/SassysSecondWord
Comment from debbted - 7/8/05 10:46 AM