Saturday, November 26, 2022

A Very Quiet Day


I found this note by the coffeepot when I got up which was long after the fishermen had left for the coast. Such sweetness. 

It was so nice to have Owen here. At one point when I was making our flautas, Mr. Moon came into the kitchen for something from the Glen Den where the guys had been watching the FSU/UF game and he said to me, "We have a fine grandson."
And we do. 
Because Owen was the first grandchild and the one I took care of the most, I think there is a very strong connection there between us. He grew up partly in our house, really, and every room and nook and cranny in this old house is attached to a memory of Baby Owen and then Toddler Owen, and then Gibson joined us and, well, they are my boys. I told Owen last night about the first time his mama brought him over for me to take care of. She had to go back to work and I was so nervous that I literally sort of dissociated and for a few minutes couldn't remember the names of my chickens before he got here. You would have thought I'd never taken care of a baby in my life. I just found the blog post I wrote the morning he was about to come over. It is HERE. 
So I told Owen that story and we laughed. Obviously I did manage to keep the boy alive and now he is a strapping (what does that mean?) thirteen-year old and in some ways we are bonded forever. 


Many of you know that he gave me my grandmother name which is MerMer and is perfect. I had no idea what I wanted my grandchildren to call me. Nana? Memaw? Grandmary? So I just referred to myself as Grandmother and Owen began to call me MerMer when he started attaching names to things and that was perfect because it's what my little brother called me when he was that age, being unable to say Mary, and besides that, my email name since the beginning of the internet has been MerLuna so it was meant to be. Obviously. 

So there is all of that in me when our biggest boy comes to visit and there is a joy attached to his presence and a peace, too, as he grows older and we become more and more aware of how fine a grandson he is. 

The fact that he now wants to and can go fishing with his grandfather makes Mr. Moon happier than anything I can imagine. He has dreamed of this since Owen was born and now it has come true. 



This photo was my header for a long time and I know some of you will remember it. 
I've heard from Glen and they had a good day out on the water. Owen caught grouper and other fish and I know he helped with all of the many things that have to be done when it comes to fishing offshore. I imagine that Mr. Moon is so very proud of him. We both are. They are on their way home. 

I have not felt very good today, in fact I'm thinking I may be coming down with something. I've been so very tired and cold in my bones and my eyes feel strange. I laid down and took a long nap under my duck and woke up to find it dark which is so disconcerting. But it's been a gray day and so staying in hasn't been bad at all. I made a turkey soup early on so that we'll have something to eat with all of the good stuff in it. Greens and carrots, tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic, corn, turkey and vegetable broth, rice. And oh yes- turkey. That soup could sustain life forever, I think. I'll squeeze lime juice in it before we eat it. 




And that is how it has been in Lloyd today. I don't believe I have taken one step outside. I am still trying to get used to having no chickens. My body and mind alert me at certain times that I should go let chickens out and feed them or go tuck them into their hen house. I have those thoughts and then immediately think, "No. No need." And I am sad. 

Things change. To everything there is indeed a season. The Bible got that right. 

Love...Ms. Moon


26 comments:

  1. What a sweet family (history) you have! I loved reading about how you met Mr. Moon! I’m sorry about your chickens.. our last ‘batch’ was killed by a fisher cat, and since then we’ve been without.. maybe one day we’ll have more. They are such joyful creatures to have around! Xo Ricki in NY

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    1. Oh, Ricki- I agree so much. Chickens are joyful creatures. Always busy doing what they do, chattering away, being curious. I hope we can have more one day too.

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  2. It really is a special thing when you see how your children become positive humans contributing to society, possessing empathy and kindness. I don't have grandchildren but I imagine it feels similar. You've produced some great humans and we need all we can get.

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    1. You're right, Jill- it is like watching your children growing up but it goes by so much faster! Like- don't close your eyes or you'll miss it!
      Such a special thing.

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  3. I thought about you and your chickens first thing this morning- I refuse to close that door! Springtime is great for getting new chicks isn't it? In the meantime you could make an impregnable coop. Your chickens were so lovely! So is Owen. How rich your family is!

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    1. It's not impossible to make the coop impregnable but it is impossible to make the yard impregnable and I do so love to see my chickens have the run of the yard. I am researching the raising of guinea fowl with chickens as protectors. I hear they are excellent alarm systems and will even attack poisonous snakes. Plus- they eat ticks! I've always wanted some anyway.
      My family is rich. In many ways.

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  4. Yes to Jill's comment and yes to Gibson, August and Levon and Miss Maggie coming along in good child and young adult behavior. It's always good to hear their happy stories and sometimes not so happy stories. That pot of soup will be mightily appreciated by the fishermen come home.

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    1. You definitely know what it's like to watch children and grandchildren grow up. The joys and the sorrows. Our main job, of course, is to get them grown and out in the world as responsible adults and it is a beautiful thing to see that happen.

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  5. I hope you're feeling better by the time you get to read this. Owen was such a sweet little baby and Glen looks so happy holding him. It's hard to believe he's so big already. Glad to hear that they had a good fishing:)

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    1. I know! How can Owen be this big so quickly? And Gibson is catching up with him. It's going to be so crazy when ALL of my grandkids are taller than me but if I live long enough, it will happen.
      Glen was over-the-moon happy when Owen was born. We both were.

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  6. What great family stories you have, especially for those of us not blessed with bio grandchildren. That soup contains every known nutrient, and looks wonderful too.

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    1. You're right about the soup- what could be missing? It was very good. We'll be eating it again tonight.

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  7. i'm so so sorry about the last chickens. xxalainaxx

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  8. Beautiful story about having Owen at such a young age. I didn't get to spend whole days with my grands because daughter and son in law lived with his parents way out of town in the country. They had sleepovers when they were older, about 4 and 2 but not nearly often enough and then they were in school and that's how that goes.

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    1. I know. We don't see the kids nearly as much as we used to. Once they hit school, they get super busy. But overnights are still special and get-togethers too.

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  9. There is a special bond with that firstborn grandchild. I love all mine to bits but the one that made me a grandmother is that little bit more precious. Only a tiny weeny bit but a bit nonetheless. I am glad that Mr Moon has a grandson to fish with. These are important things that grandfathers can teach young men.

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    1. I think a lot of things that Owen will learn from his grandfather while fishing will not have so much to do with fishing but more to do with responsibility and safety and the joy of being on the water and all of that stuff. It's so beautiful to me.

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  10. Isn't it lovely that Owen is now "man enough" to be going fishing with his grandpa!!! I'm sure it's heaven for both of them! Your pictures with Owen are just so sweet too - but where on earth does the time go eh? And I hope you feel better soon. I'm sure with that soup you'll be right as rain in no time!

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    1. Owen is just the kindest boy. Well, sometimes he picks on Gibson. Brothers. And he is so helpful when he's around us. He's just becoming such a very fine young man. I am so proud of him.

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  11. Relationships change as the grandkids get older but also stay the same. I thought as they became teenagers they wouldn't want to spend time with me but yes they did, still do. after nearly two weeks of miserable weather we're going to have a nice dry warm day today.

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    1. Well, neither you nor I are the types of grandparent who are going to fuss and criticize and talk about "in my day". Hopefully, we are fun grandparents. I loved that Owen wore a Rolling Stones T-shirt over to the house the other night. He got it while back-to-school shopping.

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  12. I feel that way about my first grandchild who was born female, Scarlett, but now identifies as male, Vincent. We spent lots of time together and there is just a strong bond in my heart. I don't get to see him much but we "Snapchat" and share our love that way now. I love all 6 of my grandchildren but the first just stands out for me. (Don't tell the others!?!)

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    1. I won't tell! I love you for accepting your grandson the way he is. I cannot understand people who can't accept such deep, true things about a child or grandchild. I bet Vincent is a lovely young man and I bet he adores you.

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  13. That soup looks amazing! Sorry you were feeling yucky, but glad you perked up again the next day (as I read in your subsequent post). I can't believe how big Owen is now. It really makes me understand how long I've been reading your blog!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.