Memorial and Beyond

I have never really spent much of a Memorial Day at the cemetery.  That’s not to say I don’t remember my family and friends no longer physically with us; I just don’t.

Yesterday was different.  Yesterday many things happened.  I was in the hospital Thursday evening into the wee hours (6p-5a) of Friday morning.  I slept most of Friday and was careful the rest of the day with whatever went into my stomach.  But, Saturday I went to a movie with a good friend, ate at my beloved Cracker Barrel (carefully), and stopped by Mom’s to check on her.  I intended to only stay a bit, but she and I started talking and, before we knew it, we were at the cemetery taking care of Sis, Dad, Mom’s parents and my Great Aunt and Uncle. All were lain straight in a row. We put up flags and such.  It became a part of the rest of the cemetery, all alight with the best plastic flowers, cloth flags, and  even some metal pots of memorial bouquets.  The once-solemn and mostly green plots lit up with brightness, sending joy to those empty bones lying below, but also being noticed by their souls surrounding all of us.  It was nice.  I took a moment and remembered.  I will try to remember it next year as well.  In fact, perhaps, more often when I feel the need for nonjudgmental company.

Speaking of judgments, I have to mention that very early today (Sunday) I received notice that a short story I wrote for a person on fiverr.com was accepted for publication. No money involved, just a complimentary issue, but published nonetheless. It has been a memorable weekend.

Namaste,

Scott

Help My Sister – Go Fund Me…

I stepped into new waters today by creating a GoFundMe for my Sister, Darci.  The three separate cancers are wearing her down and the money situation only made it worse.  I could not help much with the actual cancer part, but I did tell her I thought it would help to do a fund raiser.  This one should reach more people.  I struggled with doing it for about an hour and my learning curve went up in the process.  What I can say is that it’s a great idea and I hope it works as well as I think it does.

You can see it here: Darci’s Fund Raiser Donation

Please let as many of your friends see this (copy or reblog) and ask them to do the same.

Even those (like me!) who really can’t spare much, may feel $5 to be okay to part with to help Sis.

Regardless, thanks for reading this post.  I love you all, even if I don’t know you – my soul does.

Namaste,

Scott

A Day in the Life of…(Actually, Several)

I know that title or the first part, at least, came from somewhere famous.  Google didn’t narrow it down enough for me to give credit, so I will just say – Not originally mine.  There, the niceties are done – on with the show.

Monday should have been like most other days – I meet Mom at the nursing home, we follow Dad to dialysis, she checks on him while I sleep in the car, then we eat breakfast, shop a bit, and follow him back to the nursing home.  It did go like that, except, mostly unknown to me – I was getting ready to be a part of a huge illness streak.

Dad has pneumonia; he is getting better.  That was Monday.  By Tuesday, I was calling the doctor to cancel a test and schedule a visit.  I was sick, really sick.  My sister had been sick for a bit, missing school – something she loathes to miss.  I got antibiotics and cough syrup and hit the bed and the chair until…well, still am there.

Sis had a relapse; her fever came back the day before she was heading back to school.  Then Mom, 80 years old, got sick.  Now, I was worried.  Her system doesn’t handle being sick and she normally refuses to go to the doctor.  Sis got her there and it was a very bad respiratory infection.  She sleeps all the time now, but is improving.

Me – My temp hit 102.7, I got a bit delirious, all kinds of aches and pains (even my bald head hurt to be touched!), coughing so badly, at times, I wondered if I would wake up on the floor because I could not get a breath in between spasms.  A lot of coughing but nothing coming up.  Still a small wheeze and rattle in my chest – just enough to scare the crap out of me most of the time and irritate me all the rest.

Fever was 101.7 on Wednesday night.  I haven’t taken it today.  I was in bed 13 of the last 15 hours and it hurt to be there.  I am on the mending road now, but I swear it was a bit touch-and-go there for a minute.

I described all of this for a couple of reasons.  Yeah, it feels good to be able to tell you (couldn’t before, couldn’t even play my video games!).  But the more important reason is, for the first time, in my life, I was completely alone, without family.  All of us were sick, no visits, only a very few phone calls.  It was weird.  I have always prided myself on being a loner, but it felt terrible to know, if I had an emergency, I had no close family to call on.  There is and would be my daughter, but she is about 30-45 minutes away and isn’t always home.  It has always been easy to just know I could call Sis or Mom and they would be here in 10 minutes or even less.  I seldom ever did, but to just know was enough.  Makes me wonder what would happen if I didn’t live around here.  I had given some thought to moving to Portland near my son, but finances have stopped that.  Now, I realize, since he is a busy person, I would mostly be on my own like this.  Not sure now I would be ready for that.

Family is interesting.  Half the time you are fighting someone close to you, the rest you seem to be trying to be so independent.  Nothing like a small plague in your family to shake you up and stir your emotions.

Love your family.  Be concerned about them.  Don’t be afraid to show your love for them.  It is now understood by me quite well they won’t be around forever and it’s not the same without them.

Namaste,

Scott

A New Adventure

Logo is from main website. My website is listed below. Click on that for more info. I would love to hear from you. Scott

Well, I mentioned at some point past that I am in a new occupation.  I also stated that I would talk about it more soon.  Well, I guess soon and now can be the same.

I have found my place.  Actually, I have found the place.  It is, to me, what I have looked for all my life.

I am now an Independent Market Distributor for Team National.  Don’t roll your eyes.  This is great.

It is a service organization, not rolled around a product.  It has the potential to take out me of disability and into some monetary freedom.  It is working with wonderful people who are more like a family than anything else.  We share, talk, eat, visit, and work (yes, work) on our lives and our businesses.  And, … it is fun to do!

I am not going to go into great detail as to what this all entails.  I am new enough that I would mess it up royally.   I decided the best way to handle it was to give you my new website and let you browse.  It’s pretty simple:  Listen to a couple of stories (left side), and then go and click on the DVD (It is on the right).  Then you enter your name, phone, and addy – I am the only one who sees it.  It’s so I know who has looked at the site.  After that, you can watch the DVD (11 min) and decide if you wish to know more.  If you do, call or email me.  I will help you however I can.  This is a fascinating business opportunity and I am simply loving it.  People are warm and the service is great.  I have found a home here.  What’s more is that it’s a national home; we are spreading out and working hard in many different areas of the country.

Website:  http://www.bign.com/svannatter

Anyway, I am excited and that is hard to put into a post.  If you become interested, let’s talk.  I can think of nothing better than having a few of my blogging friends (family) becoming a part of my newest family!

Namaste,

Scott

FSF – Five Sentence Fiction – 6/13/13 – “Home” PG

Five Sentence Fiction – Home

Click on above picture to go to collections. Read my story First!!!

June 13, 2013 ~  hosted by  Lillie McFerrin

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week:  Home

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FSF-Five Sentence Fiction

By Scott L Vannatter

6/12/13

Home

Jacob had settled on the bus, refusing anything else, using the hours to prepare himself for whatever might come along.

Alicia had never approved of his “service”; she felt he could have served his country at a desk without having to take the life of anyone else; he knew he needed more; they had fought the night he had left and had not spoken much since.

Almost four years was a long time; he missed her but had sent a message last week saying he would be there tonight and would leave if that’s what she wanted; his heart was heavy, but he still believed in what he had done, why he had been there.

The bus stopped in his small town’s station and he stepped down, looking for her, but trying not to; she was there, all three children in tow, tears streaming down her face.

She ran to him, taking him by the only arm he had left and hugged him tightly, her words slowly sinking in as she said, “That little girl you saved from the bomb got to go home, and I am so glad you did, too.”

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Namaste,

Scott