Mulberries

             

          When I was young we would keep an eye on the mulberries and eat them by the handful when they ripened.  Then someone told us to put them in water with a little salt and see what happened.  What happened is millions of tiny wiggling worms come to the surface.  We were horrified.  All the worms we had eaten happily and gleefully over the years.  Now that I am an adult I don't think they were really worms, I think it was just shreds of the berry between each segment.....but I am not sure.  And I can't eat them anymore.  They get to my lips and I just can't get them any further.  Convinced myself they never were very good anyway.  Oh but as a child.  The excitement of seeing the first ripe juicy berries.

         Other things about being a child.  We played down by the creek all summer.  Made our little stick boats and pretended we were Lewis and Clark exploring the country.  Never once did I get a tick playing there in the woods by the water.  Now I walk my dog on the edge of our woods, safely in our cut lawn.  Only to find a tick or two.  Did we not have them when I was little or like the mulberries were the ticks waiting for me to ripen?

       My nephew was over yesterday.  He really is a sweet kid and my BIL is different around him.  My BIL was always told he couldn't have children due to a terrible car accident he had and all the xrays.  His x only had one ovary.   To my BIL this has always been his miracle child.  He is in awe each and every day about being blessed with his son at this late date.  He was 40 when Jonathan was born. So the kid is turning out pretty good so far.  The fact that he thinks Zoey is the smartest dog he ever met makes him OK in my book.  Zoey did all her tricks yesterday for Jonathan and he was approbriately impressed.  How did you teach her all those tricks.  So I told him some different ways to teach his dog and he is going to try at home.

     Zoey was acting like a puppy again.  Did I mention she has gone from 74 to 68 pounds!  We were told to put her on a diet and she is doing well.  Feeling better also.  Yesterday Rick was cutting branches and she grabbed one and tore around like a nut.  She likes having a youngster around also.  I can stand my BIL when he is around.

    Now my BIL.  I am starting to grudgenly give him credit.  He is being gentle and kind to my MIL.  Cooking her meals and spoiling her terribly.  He is paying her back and it is right and approbriate he do so.  She is grateful and I am grateful.  I still am keeping watch but so far he is coming though for her.  Going to AA meeting and no more drinking.  No money is missing that we know of and I think we would since Rick is taking care of all the bills.  Hospice told us yesterday it is getting close and we knew but still.  How will my nephew handle it.   Is is cruel to have him visit during this time?  My MIL is too ill and tired to make much of an attempt to bond.  He will likely be there when she dies.  A natural thing but still, for a child to see.