Thank God, praise God, relief, burden lifted.
I prayed and trusted God would take care of my medication issue when I returned home from Ecuador, and this He did.
I am immensely grateful to Glaxo Smith-Kline.
Why am I thankful for a pharmaceutical company?
I have no health insurance. I have been in the US for almost three weeks, and my very expensive medication was quickly depleting. In Ecuador it costs $90.
I applied and was approved to receive free medication through Glaxo Smith-Kline.
There are tears in my eyes -
This will save me over $1,800 this year.
A CouchSurfer, Matthew from Portland, encouraged me to apply.
Thank God once again for Couchsurfing.
If you need assistance with GSK medication, I encourage you to contact them at
http://www.bridgestoaccess.com/about/program_description.html
Many blessings,
Miss Rose
November 2, 2009
October 30, 2009
Chuchaqui
Your Spanish lesson of the day: (This is actually not Spanish. It is assumed to have Kichwa roots)
Chuchaqui. Hangover.
Chuchaqui seco. Dry hangover, aka feeling like you having a hangover, but not having drank anything.
This lesson was composed for Sean Manning, my probably drunk former coworker.
:)
Chuchaqui. Hangover.
Chuchaqui seco. Dry hangover, aka feeling like you having a hangover, but not having drank anything.
This lesson was composed for Sean Manning, my probably drunk former coworker.
:)
October 23, 2009
Vegetable Oil
Grandma hid the vegetable oil.
The bad news is that I found the vegetable oil in the coffee cupboard.
The good news is that I found the vegetable oil.
Now where are those enchiladas?
The bad news is that I found the vegetable oil in the coffee cupboard.
The good news is that I found the vegetable oil.
Now where are those enchiladas?
October 22, 2009
The best part
The best part of my day is just before lunch.
I have set out all their favorite and specific foods, brought grandma a spoon for her sandwich (flat handled, of course,) and am silently sighing in relief after they approved my meal.
As I walk out of the room, Grandpa extends his gnarly, pale hand and Grandma's weathered hand covered in purple veins slides into his.
Silence.
Both of their heads bow, and both are completely focused.
"Father, we thank you for this beautiful Oregon day. It's rainy, but we know we need the rain, too. Thank you for protecting us, for Teresa and I's health, and for Your love..."
I stand in reverence. My eyes fill with tears. This picture of commitment and love to both one another and to God quiets me. It is an example of precisely what I wish in my marriage, both the first day I marry and 50 years later.
GrammyGramps, I love and respect you.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives.
I have set out all their favorite and specific foods, brought grandma a spoon for her sandwich (flat handled, of course,) and am silently sighing in relief after they approved my meal.
As I walk out of the room, Grandpa extends his gnarly, pale hand and Grandma's weathered hand covered in purple veins slides into his.
Silence.
Both of their heads bow, and both are completely focused.
"Father, we thank you for this beautiful Oregon day. It's rainy, but we know we need the rain, too. Thank you for protecting us, for Teresa and I's health, and for Your love..."
I stand in reverence. My eyes fill with tears. This picture of commitment and love to both one another and to God quiets me. It is an example of precisely what I wish in my marriage, both the first day I marry and 50 years later.
GrammyGramps, I love and respect you.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your lives.
October 21, 2009
Hide-and-Seek with Grandma (She's 83)
My aunts and uncles told me that taking care of Grandma and Grandpa would be like babysitting children.
There's truth in this. But rather than saying "I'm big enough!" Grandma says "I know how to do that." They still fall asleep everywhere, want the pink pillow instead of the white one (why does it matter? you are sleeping on it!), and need their cereal in a very specific way. Grandpa likes his half cheerio, half anything else, with blueberries that are partially thawed or with bananas, and always with raisins. Not too much milk. The small white bowl with the smaller spoon. And always always serve Grandma's cereal with the flat handled tea spoon, and with a knife. Because... you never know.
Anyhow. I digressed. Hide-and-Seek. What a lovely childhood game! Fun memories of hiding behind big pine and oak trees on warm summer days make me smile. And Grandma wants to play! But... Not with me.
I was thawing some frozen chicken enchiladas yesterday evening when Grandma started "helping." She wanted to serve and microwave. No biggie. I left and sat down about 15' outside of the kitchen. I got up about five minutes later to check on her and, like magic... no enchiladas! Wow!
Wouldn't you know, but if you play Hide-and-Seek with the enchiladas Grandma hid, and you look in all the kitchen drawers (16) and cupboards (25), you might not find the chicken enchiladas. And if you yell "ALLIE ALLIE OXEN-FREE!!!" just like when you were a kid so all your friends would come running out into the sunshine from their hiding spot... The enchiladas do not come running.
This has been Report #1 from Rose Barker, granddaughter of my lovely and delightful grandparents Teresa and Dick. :)
The beautiful sunset in Salem, Oregon. Note the red dogwood tree turning colors in the background. I've not seen an oak tree and acorns in a great deal of time. And may God truly bless America. The Oregon countryside is magnificent.
My routine: I wake up, check on Grandma and Grandpa, start coffee, open all curtains, get the paper, and start the rounds. Clean the house as much as possible before they wake up. Answer the phone and talk to all kinds of nurses and doctors. Try to remember and pronounce Sodalol. Beta blocker, now 1/2 pill twice daily. Empty urine bucket. Check on Grandma again. Watch her turn up the heat to 74. Wait until she goes to another room. Turn the heat down to 70. Repeat throughout day. Help Grandpa stand. Listen to him tell me he has done his exercises... When I am almost certain he has not. Walk to bathroom if he is not lightheaded. Help him sit on his roller chair so he can go through his morning routine. Wait for the copper bell to ring when he is ready to get up. The rest of the day continues on as this. I am so proud of myself... I swept, mopped, and emptied the garbage cans in addition to making all our meals and snacks.
---
I just said goodnight to Grandma.
"I don't think we have another niece as kind and thoughtful as you are."
I laughed to myself. Maybe they don't have another niece, but I am certain they have plenty of children and grandchildren!
---
My diet in Eucador: Three servings of rice, two servings of plantains, and soup with some meat on the side.
My diet at GrammyGramps: Fruit. Veggies. Turkey breast, nuts, yogart, milk, and wheat bread. Oh, wait. And four servings of chocolate. Thanks to all my aunts and uncles for their generous donations to my chocolate supply! It's fun to share this passion with my grandma!
There's truth in this. But rather than saying "I'm big enough!" Grandma says "I know how to do that." They still fall asleep everywhere, want the pink pillow instead of the white one (why does it matter? you are sleeping on it!), and need their cereal in a very specific way. Grandpa likes his half cheerio, half anything else, with blueberries that are partially thawed or with bananas, and always with raisins. Not too much milk. The small white bowl with the smaller spoon. And always always serve Grandma's cereal with the flat handled tea spoon, and with a knife. Because... you never know.
Anyhow. I digressed. Hide-and-Seek. What a lovely childhood game! Fun memories of hiding behind big pine and oak trees on warm summer days make me smile. And Grandma wants to play! But... Not with me.
I was thawing some frozen chicken enchiladas yesterday evening when Grandma started "helping." She wanted to serve and microwave. No biggie. I left and sat down about 15' outside of the kitchen. I got up about five minutes later to check on her and, like magic... no enchiladas! Wow!
Wouldn't you know, but if you play Hide-and-Seek with the enchiladas Grandma hid, and you look in all the kitchen drawers (16) and cupboards (25), you might not find the chicken enchiladas. And if you yell "ALLIE ALLIE OXEN-FREE!!!" just like when you were a kid so all your friends would come running out into the sunshine from their hiding spot... The enchiladas do not come running.
This has been Report #1 from Rose Barker, granddaughter of my lovely and delightful grandparents Teresa and Dick. :)
The beautiful sunset in Salem, Oregon. Note the red dogwood tree turning colors in the background. I've not seen an oak tree and acorns in a great deal of time. And may God truly bless America. The Oregon countryside is magnificent.
My routine: I wake up, check on Grandma and Grandpa, start coffee, open all curtains, get the paper, and start the rounds. Clean the house as much as possible before they wake up. Answer the phone and talk to all kinds of nurses and doctors. Try to remember and pronounce Sodalol. Beta blocker, now 1/2 pill twice daily. Empty urine bucket. Check on Grandma again. Watch her turn up the heat to 74. Wait until she goes to another room. Turn the heat down to 70. Repeat throughout day. Help Grandpa stand. Listen to him tell me he has done his exercises... When I am almost certain he has not. Walk to bathroom if he is not lightheaded. Help him sit on his roller chair so he can go through his morning routine. Wait for the copper bell to ring when he is ready to get up. The rest of the day continues on as this. I am so proud of myself... I swept, mopped, and emptied the garbage cans in addition to making all our meals and snacks.
---
I just said goodnight to Grandma.
"I don't think we have another niece as kind and thoughtful as you are."
I laughed to myself. Maybe they don't have another niece, but I am certain they have plenty of children and grandchildren!
---
My diet in Eucador: Three servings of rice, two servings of plantains, and soup with some meat on the side.
My diet at GrammyGramps: Fruit. Veggies. Turkey breast, nuts, yogart, milk, and wheat bread. Oh, wait. And four servings of chocolate. Thanks to all my aunts and uncles for their generous donations to my chocolate supply! It's fun to share this passion with my grandma!
October 19, 2009
Welcome home party... Saturday @ 10:30 am @ IKE
Amigos y familia,
Greetings from my cozy home in Salem, Oregon!
(( Espanol: Pegar este texto en www.translate.google.com y encontrarias una traduccion ma o menos suficiente para comprender. Abrazos! ))
FIRST: My coming-home party is this Saturday, October 24.
10:30 am, at the IKE Box (Cottage and Chemeketa) in downtown Salem. I have endless stories and plenty of cool trinkets to play with. Bring a finger food item and a huge hug!
IKE Box is on Cottage and Chemeketa in downtown Salem, Oregon.
Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ike+box+salem+oregon&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.808514,70.751953&ie=UTF8&hq=ike+box&hnear=Salem,+OR&ll=44.942415,-123.032863&spn=0.007594,0.017273&z=16&iwloc=A
I safely arrived home on October 13. I went directly from being stung by an electric eel in the jungle of Ecuador to ummmm a rather uneventful home in the US. Culture shock is strong. I am confused and overwhelmed by the immense waste in all aspects of our lives. I do not know how to process all the giant white people; I am used to peering over the heads of all the short tan people! I miss their good manners and graciousness. Americans are unconscious of how abrupt and judgmental we allow ourselves to be. Road rules. They exist here, and people follow them. Note to self. And where is all the rice and plantains??? I need my arroz y platanos!
All said and done, I am emotionally rather unpredictable. I saw Mt. Hood for the first time and burst into tears. “That’s my mountain!” I thought, remembering all the times I gazed at Cotopaxi in Ecuador and longed for familiarity. And today I saw a collage of photographs of all the relatives on my mom Margo’s side of the family. I froze, overwhelmed, and silently began to cry as I scanned their faces. I hope we celebrate Christmas together this year.
It is good to be home. My patience is deep (I had no control over many aspects of slow life in Ecuador.) I enjoy doing the dishes (ok, I no longer curl my toes at the thought.) I always fold my clothing six times (this way it fit on my handmade shelves in Ecuador.) And I have no appreciation for canned and frozen processed foods (we ate home cooked meals all day every day.)
I started in on my new "job" right away - I am blessed to have the opportunity to care for my grandparents. My grandma Teresa has dementia and needs a bit of help. And my grandpa Dick, who has always done wonderfully with Grandma, recently had a knee surgery and also needs assistance. I will be with them Sunday evening to Friday evening with two short breaks during the week. That’s right, folks, my 110 hour workweek begins only days after returning home tanned from the Ecuadorian jungle. Here’s to a new adventure of measuring Grandma’s milk, helping with knee rehab exercises, and thankfully recouping a bit of finances spent wandering Ecuador.
I have only written about a third of the adventures I experienced. My strategy is to spend a bit of time each day writing and editing photographs. You will likely hear more adventures after my trip than during! Keep posted on the blog.
See you SOON! I look forward to telling adventurous, boring, happy, and painful tales!
Greetings from my cozy home in Salem, Oregon!
(( Espanol: Pegar este texto en www.translate.google.com y encontrarias una traduccion ma o menos suficiente para comprender. Abrazos! ))
FIRST: My coming-home party is this Saturday, October 24.
10:30 am, at the IKE Box (Cottage and Chemeketa) in downtown Salem. I have endless stories and plenty of cool trinkets to play with. Bring a finger food item and a huge hug!
IKE Box is on Cottage and Chemeketa in downtown Salem, Oregon.
Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=ike+box+salem+oregon&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.808514,70.751953&ie=UTF8&hq=ike+box&hnear=Salem,+OR&ll=44.942415,-123.032863&spn=0.007594,0.017273&z=16&iwloc=A
I safely arrived home on October 13. I went directly from being stung by an electric eel in the jungle of Ecuador to ummmm a rather uneventful home in the US. Culture shock is strong. I am confused and overwhelmed by the immense waste in all aspects of our lives. I do not know how to process all the giant white people; I am used to peering over the heads of all the short tan people! I miss their good manners and graciousness. Americans are unconscious of how abrupt and judgmental we allow ourselves to be. Road rules. They exist here, and people follow them. Note to self. And where is all the rice and plantains??? I need my arroz y platanos!
All said and done, I am emotionally rather unpredictable. I saw Mt. Hood for the first time and burst into tears. “That’s my mountain!” I thought, remembering all the times I gazed at Cotopaxi in Ecuador and longed for familiarity. And today I saw a collage of photographs of all the relatives on my mom Margo’s side of the family. I froze, overwhelmed, and silently began to cry as I scanned their faces. I hope we celebrate Christmas together this year.
It is good to be home. My patience is deep (I had no control over many aspects of slow life in Ecuador.) I enjoy doing the dishes (ok, I no longer curl my toes at the thought.) I always fold my clothing six times (this way it fit on my handmade shelves in Ecuador.) And I have no appreciation for canned and frozen processed foods (we ate home cooked meals all day every day.)
I started in on my new "job" right away - I am blessed to have the opportunity to care for my grandparents. My grandma Teresa has dementia and needs a bit of help. And my grandpa Dick, who has always done wonderfully with Grandma, recently had a knee surgery and also needs assistance. I will be with them Sunday evening to Friday evening with two short breaks during the week. That’s right, folks, my 110 hour workweek begins only days after returning home tanned from the Ecuadorian jungle. Here’s to a new adventure of measuring Grandma’s milk, helping with knee rehab exercises, and thankfully recouping a bit of finances spent wandering Ecuador.
I have only written about a third of the adventures I experienced. My strategy is to spend a bit of time each day writing and editing photographs. You will likely hear more adventures after my trip than during! Keep posted on the blog.
See you SOON! I look forward to telling adventurous, boring, happy, and painful tales!
October 18, 2009
My Favorite Things
Raindrops on Roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with string
These are a few of my favorite things
I sit on the tip of an old wood canoe and glide down the Cuyabeno River in the jungle of Ecuador. This classic Sound of Music song naturally and unconsciously slips out of my mouth. The gorgeous 40’ tiny leafed trees are literally engulfed by ivy-like vines. Many trees look like some sort of formidable monster that will start walking toward you and eat you at any moment. But the giant Ceibo trees, majestic and white trunked, usually host brightly colored parrots on their uppermost branches. We hear crawing and have learned to crane our necks up and spot them immediately. It is raw and authentic; I am watching different species of parrots and toucans and all other kinds of birds in their true home, not in someone’s cramped cage on their back porch in Salem.
The best part about the jungle was not looking at anything at all. It was holding still and listening. The chorus of birds is explosive, melodic, entrancing. It is one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard in my life. And every few hours some species of the birds would finish their shift, a new species join the chorus, and the song entirely changed its tune.
And as I sat on the dock late at night and stared over the river and up at the stars, the magic of the moment washed over me.
One week later I sit on my patio in Oregon on my salvage rocking chair.
I am in Salem, Oregon on a gorgeous autumn morning. I hear the leaves rustle together on the giant oak tree next door. The weather is a crisp 60 and the air smells so delicious. Of wetness and earth, an inexplicable primitive smell that touches my being.
I’ve not seen a tree changing color in a year. And the morning sun pierces through the brilliant red and yellow leaves as though the glowing tree is a gem, a gift from God. The colors all around me are rich hues of mahogany, brass, emerald, and goldenrod. And, although not exactly exotic, I smile as I watch the squirrels dance on the top of the fence and the bluebirds hop around looking for their breakfast.
…These are a few of my favorite things.
It is good to be home.
October 16, 2009
My Digits...
Howdy!
Today I left the house once. To go to Cingular.
I now have a real U.S. cell phone number. My phone is pretty cool: It is so old it doesn't even have a camera! Imagine that.
When my family came to pick me up from the airport, they were all taking pics with their cell phones. That is certainly a change from when I left the US in 2008.
Anyhow, I am glad to give the number to you, but would not like to blog it publicly.
I would appreciate it if you contact me by sending me an email.
rosebark.gmail.com
Love you!
Miss Rose
Today I left the house once. To go to Cingular.
I now have a real U.S. cell phone number. My phone is pretty cool: It is so old it doesn't even have a camera! Imagine that.
When my family came to pick me up from the airport, they were all taking pics with their cell phones. That is certainly a change from when I left the US in 2008.
Anyhow, I am glad to give the number to you, but would not like to blog it publicly.
I would appreciate it if you contact me by sending me an email.
rosebark.gmail.com
Love you!
Miss Rose
October 14, 2009
In the USA and Safe!
Hi!
Yesterday I awoke near the Amazon. I traveled all day. Last night I arrived in Quito, packed, and slept one hour. Today I traveled for 23 hours.
I was gratefully picked up from the Portland airport this evening by many family and friends, and am now finally home in Salem.
Hugs, tears, smiles, and stories are plentiful.
Time to sleep for a looooong time.
loverose
Yesterday I awoke near the Amazon. I traveled all day. Last night I arrived in Quito, packed, and slept one hour. Today I traveled for 23 hours.
I was gratefully picked up from the Portland airport this evening by many family and friends, and am now finally home in Salem.
Hugs, tears, smiles, and stories are plentiful.
Time to sleep for a looooong time.
loverose
October 8, 2009
Anxious
I feel antsy. Alone. Overwhelmed.
I am headed to a remote part of the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest tomorrow, but am absolutely unphased.
I am returning to the USA in five days, and am... uncomfortable.
Please keep me in your prayers!
I am headed to a remote part of the Ecuadorian Amazon rain forest tomorrow, but am absolutely unphased.
I am returning to the USA in five days, and am... uncomfortable.
Please keep me in your prayers!
Hair trim
Today I went to Calle Amazonas and had my hair trimmed.
It was a... unique experience.
"Honey, can I help you?" The Spanish question was asked...
A man in tight fitting jeans and shirt with over-jelled hair stuck out one hip to the side. I smirked to myself.
How is it that there are so many worldwide standards? Why is it that so many male stylists are gay? How does this come about? Why do Ecuadorians and Americans equally eat popcorn while watching a movie?
Anyhow. My hair was plagued by split ends. He trimmed it. In TEN MINUTES. I have never had my hair cut in less than 40 minutes.
The cut looks fine. A little block-ish, but I suppose that's what you get when you pay $2.50. I tipped $0.50. And felt pretty good about that.
He paused during the cut to greet some people walking by on the street. He returned a bit happier. "Those are my gay friends," he said. He paused, trimmed a bit of hair, and announced "I'm gay."
"I never imagined," I replied. The entire staff of the salon burst into laughter.
It was a... unique experience.
"Honey, can I help you?" The Spanish question was asked...
A man in tight fitting jeans and shirt with over-jelled hair stuck out one hip to the side. I smirked to myself.
How is it that there are so many worldwide standards? Why is it that so many male stylists are gay? How does this come about? Why do Ecuadorians and Americans equally eat popcorn while watching a movie?
Anyhow. My hair was plagued by split ends. He trimmed it. In TEN MINUTES. I have never had my hair cut in less than 40 minutes.
The cut looks fine. A little block-ish, but I suppose that's what you get when you pay $2.50. I tipped $0.50. And felt pretty good about that.
He paused during the cut to greet some people walking by on the street. He returned a bit happier. "Those are my gay friends," he said. He paused, trimmed a bit of hair, and announced "I'm gay."
"I never imagined," I replied. The entire staff of the salon burst into laughter.
October 7, 2009
Festivities: Rose is coming home! October 18 and 24
Tentative party date is Saturday, October 24.
I will keep you posted as soon as I know what's up! We will likely have a huge potluck, plenty of games, and... Gigantic maps of Colombia and Ecuador, photos, trinkets, tickets, and other foreign novelties.
I have more stories than you care to hear. Perhaps I could be an adventure jukebox storyteller. I could make a dime or two.
On SUNDAY, October 18 at about 1:30 pm you will find me at Busick Court Cafe in downtown Salem, Oregon. I will head there after church with anyone (or no one) who wishes to accompany me. It is my favorite restaurant in Salem, and I sure do miss it! Please know that it is noisy in the restaurant and I don't intend on this being a time to catch up with a bunch of people... That's what the party on the 24th is for!
Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=busick+court+salem+oregon&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.909425,71.279297&ie=UTF8&cd=1&hq=busick+court&hnear=Salem,+OR&ll=44.941564,-123.041103&spn=0.010374,0.017402&z=16
I will keep you posted as soon as I know what's up! We will likely have a huge potluck, plenty of games, and... Gigantic maps of Colombia and Ecuador, photos, trinkets, tickets, and other foreign novelties.
I have more stories than you care to hear. Perhaps I could be an adventure jukebox storyteller. I could make a dime or two.
On SUNDAY, October 18 at about 1:30 pm you will find me at Busick Court Cafe in downtown Salem, Oregon. I will head there after church with anyone (or no one) who wishes to accompany me. It is my favorite restaurant in Salem, and I sure do miss it! Please know that it is noisy in the restaurant and I don't intend on this being a time to catch up with a bunch of people... That's what the party on the 24th is for!
Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=busick+court+salem+oregon&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.909425,71.279297&ie=UTF8&cd=1&hq=busick+court&hnear=Salem,+OR&ll=44.941564,-123.041103&spn=0.010374,0.017402&z=16
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