Monday, October 7, 2013

Just jabbering

My daughter made it home at 4:00 p.m., and I am so relieved. She says she will never board another bus again. I can understand that.

When I lived in Alaska at age 20, we military wives would ride the rickety old Army bus into Fairbanks. The mountainous, two-lane Richardson Highway had no guard rails and sheer drop offs. The bus driver was a young medic from the dispensary who drove like a maniac and told us pregnant women childbirth horror stories. He'd say weird things like, "Did you know that when I take your blood pressure, I could possibly pump that cuff up so tight I could blow your veins?"

I took my students on a field trip last week to a nature center. On the way I noticed a car with Alaska license plates. Coincidentally, the driver's husband was stationed in Fairbanks. We chatted briefly. She said she was one of the last women to deliver her baby in the old hospital where I delivered my daughter. I told her about my horrific experience. She said she completely understood, and that not much had changed. She said they had torn down that hospital and had rebuilt a new one on base. Although it was four decades ago, sometimes it seems like only yesterday I was walking the gravel road to the general store in town. I cocooned in winter darkness.

Tonight there is a meteor shower. I think I'll go take a peek. The weather has gotten a little cooler, which makes for good sleeping but is not good for my appetite. I made zucchini bread with walnuts and blueberries, and also Red Lobster cheddar bay biscuits from a package, and they taste just like them. I had three (OMG 3!) with vegetable beef soup. Winter isn't even here.

 

13 comments:

Bookie said...

Wow, that bread sounds wonderful. Wish I could run over for a piece. I could bring the tea! Yes the cool weather is...well, its own thing.

Glad your daughter is home.

Val said...

I made chili. It's all I have to offer. Not nearly as exciting as rickety bus rides on mountainous highways.

I'm glad your daughter is back home. Stuff her with bread and biscuits and vegetable beef soup.

Susan said...

Hi Linda....Had to chuckle over the pre-winter yummies. Three aren't so bad. Now SIX, that would be bad. ha hahhaha

Thanks for all your visits. I really appreciate them.

Have a nice Tuesday! Susan

Susan said...

p.s. SOOOO glad your daughter is home, safe and sound. What an ordeal! Susan

Sioux Roslawski said...

How many biscuits does the box make? However many, that is how many I would have eaten (and I would have stabbed Bill with a fork if he even thought of reaching for one).

I'm glad your daughter is home. What an adventure...

River said...

Just think of it as a pre-winter taste test.
Glad your daughter is home and safe.

Susan Sundwall said...

Answered prayers for your daughter's safe return! As for the bread and soup - I'm right there with ya! Building up a nice layer of fat for the coming winter.

Shelly said...

So glad your daughter's home! Riding a bus like yours in Alaska...sheer drop-offs- pure nightmare!

noexcuses said...

Glad your daughter is home safe! It's amazing the chances we would take when we were young, no? Certain parts of Highway 1 in CA used to be just like what you described...breathtakingly beautiful, but oh, so dangerous! I, too, would have eaten the entire box, in my last "life!"

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

So happy your daughter is home safe and sound. What an ordeal. That was a heck of a storm she was caught in. You spent days in full worry mode---I think you earned those biscuits!

Connie said...

So glad to hear that your daughter is safe again. What a scary time that must have been for her (and for you). Colder weather makes me want to eat too. The bread and biscuits you made sound delicious.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad she's home safe!! Your medic driver didn't have a great bedside manner, did he? I always stock up on carbs this time of year, too. Oh well:-)

Lynn said...

You probably need to write more on your Alaskan memoir!