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And the long-awaited day of the waterproofing arrived. Along with pelting cold rain quickly followed by more of those pallid mini-Lucifers. Eventually they became actual snow, although it didn't stick. Much. The wind tore many leaves from the trees to form a soggy carpet under the frosty pellets. Before it was really light, the foreman of the waterproofing crew arrived to check that all was ready, and then five more guys appeared and started jackhammering the concrete in the basement. They were also trenching outside, leaving heaps of clammy mud all around the foundation. Strips of muddy carpet throughout the house mostly protected the floor. I couldn't really settle down to doing anything. It was LOUD. And with six of them, there was always someone tromping through the house to fetch tools or visit the bathroom. The foreman asked if we might just happen to be coffee drinkers . . . and it was very chilly and unpleasant outside. So we made several pots of coffee to share with them, and I had to make a run to the store for more coffee and creamer. And then I made them a batch of cookies. They disappeared so fast that I made a second batch tonight, so they can have them tomorrow while I'm off visiting with Dragonfly. They hope to finish the job tomorrow--nobody wants to work on Saturday, and we don't want them to, either!
It was so busy that I didn't get to spend any time honoring my beloved dead. But, on considering it, I have spent quite a lot of time doing that lately. Last night I had a sad and disturbing dream that my father was still alive and in the memory care unit, and unhappy. One of my most painful memories is of the time when he WAS still alive, and called me up and wanted me to bust him out of there, and I couldn't. I felt I was his last appeal, and I failed him. It still hurts cruelly to think of it. I'm glad he has moved on from there, but I wish I hadn't had to revisit that. I prefer to think of him enjoying Halloween in his own little house. He loved giving out candy, even after we were all grown. He and Mother would usually have a grandchild or two over to help them with answering the door, and to enjoy the costumes with them.
Our workers finished up for the day just in time for us to carve the pumpkin, grab a bite to eat, clean up a little, and get ready for trick or treaters. We didn't have time to put on costumes this year. The weather was so bad that we weren't sure we'd get any visitors. We were also worried they wouldn't find their way around the piles of dirt that were blocking the sidewalk. If only we'd had a skeleton to pose, rising out of a mound of dirt as if from a fresh grave! That would have been perfect. Anyway, Michigan kids are tough, and we actually had two or three dozen revelers. The costumes were great this year, too, although most of them were semi-concealed under puffy jackets. We gave everyone handfuls of candy, so we don't have TOO much left over.
It was so busy that I didn't get to spend any time honoring my beloved dead. But, on considering it, I have spent quite a lot of time doing that lately. Last night I had a sad and disturbing dream that my father was still alive and in the memory care unit, and unhappy. One of my most painful memories is of the time when he WAS still alive, and called me up and wanted me to bust him out of there, and I couldn't. I felt I was his last appeal, and I failed him. It still hurts cruelly to think of it. I'm glad he has moved on from there, but I wish I hadn't had to revisit that. I prefer to think of him enjoying Halloween in his own little house. He loved giving out candy, even after we were all grown. He and Mother would usually have a grandchild or two over to help them with answering the door, and to enjoy the costumes with them.
Our workers finished up for the day just in time for us to carve the pumpkin, grab a bite to eat, clean up a little, and get ready for trick or treaters. We didn't have time to put on costumes this year. The weather was so bad that we weren't sure we'd get any visitors. We were also worried they wouldn't find their way around the piles of dirt that were blocking the sidewalk. If only we'd had a skeleton to pose, rising out of a mound of dirt as if from a fresh grave! That would have been perfect. Anyway, Michigan kids are tough, and we actually had two or three dozen revelers. The costumes were great this year, too, although most of them were semi-concealed under puffy jackets. We gave everyone handfuls of candy, so we don't have TOO much left over.
