...day to day and days gone by!

JOHNNY'S COMING!

Philip's brother Johnny informed us on the weekend that he was coming to Kitimat for Christmas. We had a choice...tell Philip now or wait and make it a surprise. A surprise would mean 4 weeks of tight-lipped pressure...telling him now would mean 4 weeks of insanity! We chose the latter. Within 5 minutes of telling him, Philip went down to the guest room...tore it apart (Diane had it so nice)...put his blanket and pillow on the bed...cleared space in the closet...made a spot for Johnny's suitcase...stood back and proudly exclaimed - "there...it's ready for him...oh...he'll love it!". Let the madness begin!

This afternoon he went to the gym with cousin David to play basketball. While he was gone Diane restored the guest room to its 'Martha Stewart' pristineness and I remade his bed. He's been home now over 10 hours...hasn't noticed the switch! Isn't life grand?

Saturday evening Philip was invited to join his cousin John and Triston (John's 9 year old son) at the local arena to watch the Kitimat Ice Demons (CIHL) play hockey. Diane and I were 'under the weather' with head colds, so this would give us some 'free time' (wink, wink!). John was coming at 7:15...Philip was ready, fully dressed, by 5:30...waiting patiently. At 6:30 he started pacing! (It is currently 10:30 p.m., Monday, November 23, and I am trying to get this entry ready for tomorrow's blog. Philip just walked in and informed me that there are NO NBA games on the 24th of next month. That's December! He then proceeded to very dramatically express that he would be "free at last!". We laugh...and I did...but think about it? He's trapped...literally a prisoner of his score keeping obsession. To discover a 'night off' 4 weeks down the road is, for Philip, indeed 'freedom'! But don't worry...it's Christmas Eve...he'll fill the void that night preparing the cookies, milk and carrots...hasn't missed that all-important ritual in 25 years!)

Okay...back to Saturday night and the Ice Demons game. John and Triston showed up at 7:15 and Philip bolts out of his room, all excited...eyes darting...tongue flapping...and there they were....clasped tightly in his hands. Two notebooks...two pencils...and two cans of pop! He was armed and dangerous without a doubt! Ten minutes of intense negotiations, accommodations, future concessions...and finally...detente! He could take them with him but had to leave the notebooks and pencils in the car (wouldn't do to have him mistaken for a scout!). Cousin John certainly missed his calling. His diplomacy skills worked their magic and they went off and enjoyed a great game on the ice...unfortunately my game was put 'on' ice! (oh well...there's always next season...sigh!).

Monday morning we woke up to more snow...about 4 inches...wet and heavy. Philip 'volunteered' to shovel the driveway as he knew I wasn't feeling well. His eagerness lasted all of 5 minutes when he started complaining that he was 'exhausted'! He conjured up this pathetic look, walked gasping into the garage where Diane and I were keeping relatively warm, pointed a glove-covered finger in my direction, stared at his mom and very matter-of-factly stated..."that's enough shoveling...dad always said...'and I quote'...since God put it there - let Him take it away!" (he quoted me fairly accurately). Well sure enough, by noon it was raining...so it must be true what they say:

The Lord works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform,

So put away your shovels...let it snow...yeah, let it storm!

'Cause there's no time to stand out here amidst the white so deep,

My pencils...they need sharpening...and I've got scores to keep!

This was the extent of his labours!

A little over a year ago Diane was diagnosed with diabetes. She was immediately put on pills, told to watch her intake of sweets, introduced to a strict 'new', diet, and instructed to test her sugar every day so as to keep it under control. It's been a struggle for her and the daily battle continues.

At one point we had to bring Philip 'into the loop'...he was hearing things and suddenly saw his mom pricking her fingers all the time and recording numbers (no, he didn't start a new binder for her sugar levels...the tester does that just fine!). But now and then Diane's sugar drops unusually low and she gets very confused and dizzy (not that unusual for a Newfie!). She decided one day after a mild bout to inform Philip what he should do in the event dad wasn't around and he found her on the floor or unable to speak. He was to call 911...give the operator his name and address, and say that his mom was in trouble...and could they send an ambulance...she's a 'diabetic'. She asked Philip if he understood and he assured her he did. Danni showed up a few minutes later and was brought up to speed on the situation. She then asked Philip what he would do if he found his mom 'down and out'? Without hesitation he began..."I dial 911...give the operator my name and address...tell them mom is unable to talk...could they come and help...she's a 'deputy'! Well this elicited much laughter at the time...but then we thought...hey...that might not be a bad idea. Response time for 'deputy down' might be much faster than 'diabetic down'! Keep up the good work Philip...mom's in good hands!

This was Philip's real reaction to the great news that Johnny's coming for Christmas. In fact, we are all jumping for joy!

And what a joyous Christmas it will be!

(Julie's going to Thunderbay...boring!!)