Oh dear.

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Post from: Saundra McDavid

Will the mole see his shadow?

I flew home last week knowing that the time I had with my Mother was coming to an end.  I knew she had only months left with us, and I had made arrangements to spend as many weekends as I could getting in those quality conversations and making memories over the coming Holidays and springtime.  Since I moved away, our time together has been limited to a week or two a year and we had a ritual that we used every time we parted – the “Last Hug.” After she left me at the airport she would often call me on the phone and say that she wished she would have gotten one last hug from me. The last hug at the airport was never long enough.  In the last couple of years we had changed our goodbyes to holding each other extra tight and extra long and speaking the words “Last Hug.”  It was meant to get us through until we could be with each other again.     

Shortly after I arrived at the hospital I realized that my planned months ahead with my Mother had been taken away and replaced with mere hours.  As I sat with her through those final days and nights I cried at the thought of her not being there for all of the happy events to come in our lives; at knowing I could no longer pick up the phone and ask for a recipe, or talk about what flowers to plant or what her plans were for the day.  I cried at the thought that her grandchildren would never again spend a Christmas morning with “Grammie” and that my house would never again be filled with the happiness and comfort that she always brought with her when she visited.  I panicked at the thought of a life without Mom. And then I thought how incredibly selfish those thoughts were. 

When I had first arrived at the hospital, I told my Mother that we were all in this together.  She couldn’t speak so she shook her head “no.” This was perplexing to me at the time because we were all gearing up for the battle with cancer that was looming before us.  A few days later she could manage a few words, and one of the last sentences my Mother spoke was “No More Pain.” She wanted to be free of the agonizing pain that ceaselessly tormented her.  But it was more than that.  She was determined that none of us were going to suffer with her through a long battle with an inevitable end. She wanted “no more pain” not only for her, but for us.  As was so typical of my Mother, she took care of all of us throughout her life, down to her last moments.

And so on Sunday morning, October 26, I gave my mother our last hug.  I find solace in knowing that she is no longer in pain, and that she would want none of the pain that we are feeling today to last beyond today.  My mother was an extraordinary woman.   She was my hero, and my best friend. Today I am going to mourn her loss. But tomorrow I hope you will all help me celebrate her life.  

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Post from: Saundra McDavid

In Memory of Mary McDavid

Also for those near Meridian on Wednesday evenings, stop by Andrew’s Rib Shack for Blues and Barbecue. We feature live music showcasing the area’s best local jazz and blues musicians, happy hour specials and a relaxing atmosphere at the fountains and bandstand in Generation’s Plaza, adjacent to Andrew’s Rib Shack in Meridian, 112 East Idaho Ave. (Idaho and Main Street). Bring a blanket for the park, or sit at one of our tables under the tent or on our patio. This event runs every Wednesday from 5:00 – 9:00.

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Post from: Saundra McDavid

Barbecue Contest & Family Fun Labor Day Weekend

Our favorite actors were back for last night’s performance; Sara Brunley’s portrayal as one of the “weird sisters” was unique and striking; Laura Perrotta did a fantastic job as Lady Macbeth, and Dougfred Miller played a superb Macbeth: Beware the pitfalls of a leader who takes his throne by questionable means!

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Post from: Saundra McDavid

Macbeth

What started as a romantic evening for Andrew and I four years ago turned into a family tradition. We were so impressed; we signed up the Rib Shack as a sponsor of the Shakespeare Festival and it has been a sponsor for the last three years. We’ve seen every performance during that time and we look forward each year to a new season. The children love the humorous Green Shows with their political satire and audience participation and we arrive early to ensure not only that we don’t miss the show, but that we aren’t good naturedly heckled by the actors for coming in late. (Yes I know, children and politics? I was surprised to hear my son’s choice of TV shows when he was sitting in the dentist’s chair today – it was The Colbert Report. I guess some of my interest in politics it has rubbed off on him.)

And almost as much fun as the performance is the picnic lunch which we bring with us. The Rib Shack, of course, offers great food to go, but other local restaurants do as well. Season’s Bistro provides great sandwiches and wine for an evening at the Shakespeare Festival. We’ve stopped in at Lucky 13 at its new location at Harris Ranch for a pizza to go and we’ve enjoyed the deserts provided at the Shakespeare Café which is located on the grounds of the Shakespeare Festival.

If only we had something like this in Eagle!

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Post from: Saundra McDavid

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival