Sean Bossinger’s Doings

I drove to Northwestern Indiana last Wednesday/Thursday and came back Sunday/Monday. The purpose for the trip was to take my grandmother home for the last time. She was originally from Ft. Wayne, and spent a good portion of her life in East Chicago, Indiana, before retiring to Miami to be near some of her family that had relocated here before her (my parents and some others). The graveside service was short and quaint, with many of the family represented. It was cold, to be sure (15 at the time of the ceremony, with a 20mph wind, but sunny), but it was still a nice ceremony.

The trip up and back were, thankfully, uneventful, with the most treacherous part being the drive down the mountain north of Chattanooga on I-75, from a town named Monteagle. A three-lane road that has a 6 or 8% grade, at 55MPH, which should be travelled much slower in the fog - and man was it foggy. Wheeeeeeee!!!

While we were there, we got to see many of my family whom I have not seen (in person) in more than a decade. I miss them… all the more so because I actually miss the cold weather too. Somehow it puts one in the mood for the Yuletide season.

Much to my wife’s chagrin, I am seriously considering moving. I’m willing to entertain thoughts from my readers either way - yay or ney - on this topic. But tell me why I should or shouldn’t - don’t just say “yes, you should,” or “no, you shouldn’t.”

I was up in Melbourne (Florida) yesterday with my mom, visiting my Grandma “D,” who, for the last two years has lived in a skilled nursing facility.  When I visited last, which was about nine months ago, she was able to sit up in her wheelchair.  Now, she’s barely able to hold her own head up.  I drove up because my mom feels that grandma’s end is near – and I’m glad I went: as when we walked in, the nurse who has been caring for her approached my mom about bringing in hospice.

I’ve long held my grandmother at a distance – ever since she and I got into a verbal altercation while we were driving my sister (Jennifer) from Stuart to Gainesville so that Jenny could attend the University of Florida.  That’s a long time to hold a grudge for being told one is fat and always hungry… but hold that grudge I did.  Too long.  So long that I wasn’t really ever able to tell my grandma that I was sorry for doing so, and that I love her so much.

I got that chance yesterday, and while I didn’t utter the words, I do think she understands.

Thanks, Grandma “D,” for being you…

Well, after futzing with cables for two years, and trying to keep the house’s computing needs met by a daisy chain of gigabit routers, I’ve given up. We’re completely wireless now. Some of our devices are running wireless G, some are running wireless N.

We’ve even given up our telephone service, and replaced it with cellular service ONLY.

I know - it’s a boring update to you, but it’s quite exciting for me.

I’m a geek.

In life, we make choices - some of those choices open doors, some of those choices, unbeknownst to the decider in each of us, close doors. And some of those choices are made for us, with doors opening before our eyes, or being slammed on our feet.

I find that I much prefer the former - opening doors or having doors opened, to the latter - especially the last - having doors slammed on my feet. And while I feel like I’ve had a good life, and have made some good decisions, recently a couple doors feel like they’ve definitely slammed on my feet. Not only that, but that the doors have been repeatedly slammed even though the person doing the slamming knows my foot is there.

From now on, in my life, rather than take the passive approach - doors operating on their own - I will try to make certain that I am the one making the decisions about which doors will open or close for me.