It is early December; two of my grandkids have joined millions of college students across the country.  They have retreated to their favorite quiet place and are preparing for finals.  It happens each December and there is a repeat performance in the spring.

I wish them all well but I am going to play favorites and really pull for those two that call me PawPaw.

Not because it is December, and I haven’t retreated to a quiet place to prepare, but I have been faced with some tests the past few days.  The ones I have seen have nothing to do with Zoology, Accounting or English Comp.  I’m sure they aren’t finals just those routine little pop quizzes used to measure progress.

One of them wasn’t a pop quiz; it was more of an endurance test.  I decided to listen to the experts and ride the winter storm out at home and only get out if it was absolutely necessary.  I was home alone for a little more than forty-eight hours.  I made a few phone calls, but I tried to not be a nuisance.  Late Saturday afternoon I checked my pantry and discovered that I was extremely low on Paprika, Brown Sugar, Coconut and Chipotles Peppers.  You just can’t run out of that stuff so I braved the elements and went to the grocery store.  I was impressed with the Jeep’s behavior on the ice, not so much with the heater.

Yesterday (Saturday) morning one of my Facebook friends who happens to be my baby girl posted the following status:

I miss my mom today…. Oh sure I miss her everyday, but today it is because I need new socks. I have probably never bought socks for myself. Mom was VERY particular about her socks. She would buy them, wear them once and give them to me or Lori. So today I need socks… Love you mom.

My baby girl’s big sis had offered this comment:

Very particular is kind of an under statement, miss her too. Xoxo

Lori’s comment is on the money.  Sharyl was picky to the ridiculous point about her socks and other clothing items.  The sock thing was a long-standing family joke and seriously I don’t think either of the girls ever bought socks they knew their mom would buy some that didn’t feel just exactly right.

I laughed, I shed a few tears then I laughed some more.  I still love the girls’ mom and miss her but I think I passed the little test.  There is progress.

WordPress.com is the site that hosts this blog.  This morning they sent me a Happy 5^th Anniversary greeting.  Five years ago today, Lori set up a little thing called “mom LIFE cancer”.  I sometimes include that original entry with a post in early December; I don’t want to do that tonight.

It isn’t as if I hadn’t already thought about it but that little “happy anniversary” note kind of turned on the light and stood me in front of a mirror and forced a look back at that five-year run.  Unlike the previous tests; surprisingly there were no tears; just a few moments of quiet reflection.  I think that qualifies as progress.  I will give myself a passing grade.

The following paragraph is from my post in the ourmom blog on Valentines Day ’12:

I decided to forget the things that were bothering me at least for a couple hours and go to the OU men’s basketball game.  It is the first men’s game I have been to in a long time.  They always have a halftime show, ranging from two fifth grade teams scrimmaging to some nationally known halftime shows.  Sharyl’s all-time favorite was “The Quick Change Lady”.  What do you think they had tonight?   You guessed it “The Quick Change Lady”.  I can’t get a break.

I went to the OU women’s basketball game this afternoon.  I got to take another little test.  I’ll give you three guesses what they had for halftime entertainment.  That’s right “The Quick Change Lady”.  Did I think about Sharyl?  You know I did, but I stayed in my seat and enjoyed the performance today.  That is significant progress.  I think I passed.

Conner went with me to that Valentines Day game.  We had a good time except for my issues with the halftime show.  I love you Con and I miss you.  Maybe one day I’ll be ready for some progress testing.  Today is not that day

I probably didn’t “ace” any of those tests but the passing grade will do for now.

Some of you have made the entire five-year run with us.  Thanks to all of you for all you do.  Keep me in your prayers.

Good Night and God Bless.

Dave