1-10-2012

Well Mom had big plans tonight!  I got to her room around 7, and she was already in her apartment watching TV.  As soon as I walked in and asked her how she was, she started sharing -

"Just sitting here...they don't want me to go out, because Chuck might get upset." She proceeded to tell me she was planning to open a camp of her own.  An all girls camp, and apparently she had thought it through - "I need to get land, and I'm going to put 2 cabins on it to start, and insurance, I've got to get insurance...maybe you can help me with that."  Sure Mom.

She needed to find land close enough for her to drive there, and apparently has been recognized for being a good pubic speaker on starting a camp, which is how Chuck found out about it.  Apparently Chuck was concerned because her camp might cut into his business, and he went out and got a license so that she can't use the Ackenbom name.  "And Ackenbom is still my name.  And my Grandmother Ackenbom was a doctor.  She took care of people with diabetes, in Dewey, Oklahoma."  She was doing an all girls camp because "There are a lot of camps like Chuck's that have girls and boys, but the parents don't want girls near those boys.  As soon as they get to be teenagers, you know what happens...I don't even want to say how many babies were conceived that way every summer.  Those parents will send their girls to my camp where they won't have to worry about that."

Of course I just went along with it, nodding as she talked.  We talked about a few other things, going through the pictures in her purse.  "Paula looks so pretty in this one." (her graduation picture) Everything else seemed to be ok, except she was still wearing the humongous glasses, and hers were nowhere to be found.  I'm guessing there is an optometrist that goes there who I can get to see her, but I'm also concerned that we buy new glasses only for them to be lost again.  Hopefully they'll turn up.

As I went to leave I told her I would see her tomorrow.  She was very upbeat "Ok, thank you for stopping by.  It's always nice to see you.  Who put that beer on the wall?"

What beer, Mom? I had no idea what she was looking at.  This?? I said, pointing at one of her pictures on the wall.

"No, that."  Oh - I think that's just your bulletin board Mom.  "Oh, I thought it was a beer and was wonder who put a beer on my wall?"


No worries, Mom.  See you tomorrow.