12.29.2002 | 8:38 pm

I have so much to do in the next 18 hours it seems almost inhuman. I think I need an elf... one of those who sneaks out of the cupboard at night, and finishes all the chores, errands and work. When I awaken in the morning, all the clothes will be ironed, the bags packed, exactly to the proportions the air lines require, the gifts for the Pennsylvania clan will be snuggled and safely stowed, ready to be brought forth to the squeals and delight of their intended recipients. The winter woolens will be right in place, ready to don as soon as we reach the arctic climes. Another magical elf will emerge from the cupboard and go straight to the cat tending duties...seeing that all the cans of Friskies are aligned and in order, that the mighty bag of Whiskas is at the ready, and that the tinkle sand is in plain view for it to be used at a moments notice, whenever the need arises for litter changing. Finally, a special, magical elf will sail through the skies, winging eastward toward school. Upon arrival, she will instantly know the secret security code to gain admittance to the hallowed halls of learning. There, she will be able to contact me telepathically in my dreaming state, to receive instructions on all the necessary preparations, yet undone for the little squirrels, and swiftly bring all the loose ends tied up, tidily , to a rapid conclusion. Thus, leaving the First grade environment in perfect order for the unsuspecting substitute teacher. My favorite song on my Granny�s old Victrola was �My Isle of Golden Dreams"....hmmm

As I gathered all the suitcases into my bedroom today, I noticed the bags James had recently brought from Japan. On the handles were tied two pieces of colored yarn...one green and one purple. In 1987, for my Mother and Father-in-law�s 40th anniversary, as a family, we took a three week trip across the country to the east coast. (That would be 27 people, all expenses paid for by Father-in-law) We were able to travel as individual families for about 5 days, and then we met up in Washington DC and took a tour bus for the remainder of the trip. We saw many historical sights as well as sights from the family heritage...especially sights in Pennsylvania. To keep the entire luggage situation straight, Mother-in-law devised a color code for each family�s bags. Every family had a green piece of yarn plus another color. Our family got purple. It was just 6 months later that she passed away from ling cancer...the smoker�s kind of cancer. It seems so strange for her to die from smoker�s cancer, because she never smoked and was never around smokers. After she passed away, the yarn pieces were forgotten until our first child was leaving for the mission field. There, sitting by the back door were her bags. Hubby, with tears in his eyes, went and retrieved three sets of yarn pieces from other bags and attached them to hers. He said, �Now Grandma can go with you.� Each time one of the kids has left on a mission, the yarn goes with them. Even when Marie and Matt moved, we sent some of the yarn with them on their luggage. The yarn pieces have been to Bulgaria, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and other parts of the US, and just recently returned from Japan. A small snippet of yarn, a reminder of a great woman....she was the epitome of kindness and charity. I think of all those attributes each time I get the bags out to pack for a trip.

catsnapples~ at first grade and at life

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