Snow, Judi and Hanging On to the Olney Glow....

It's snowing outside and I have a terribly sore throat and ache all over so I'm calling it a snow day along with the boys and staying home.  The snow makes me extraordinarily happy!

I visited my mother last night and found her not quite herself.  There must be some kind of infection coming....I could just tell.  So I'm worried and a little disappointed that we can't go more than a day or two between incidents.  The nursing home is going to do blood and urine work today and see what's going on.

In other news...I had the loveliest email from the inimitable Gina.  I'll repost it here for all of you that followed her emails about Judi:

Hi to all,

 

It's been a long time since I've 'talked' to some of you,but I wanted to share a few thoughts.  Judi left life as we know it a yearago yesterday.  There hasn't been a day since then that I haven't thoughtabout her and endeavored to celebrate her life in countless ways.  Shelived a life worth celebrating, and I'm amazed at how easily I have been able tothink in celebratory terms.  A few weeks ago I escaped the cold by headingto Key West with a couple of friends.  We landed, dropped bags at thehotel, and headed into the Mallory Square area where there are I think 39bars!  We ordered drinks and toasted Judi; and from that point on, Iconsidered her our 4th on the trip.  There was a lot of "if Judi saw that,if Judi was ordering from this menu, if Judi was here"--you get the idea. I find it comforting to think of her in this way, and it's one of thosespontaneous little ways in which I celebrate her life so often.

 

There is one other heartwarming bit of information I wantto share.  The wonderful young couple who bought Judi's house and movedinto it in January had tried for a long time to have a baby with nosuccess.  They had gone through a long period of treatments anddisappointments.  Within a couple of months of moving into Judi's house,she conceived and their son was born in December.  They are thrilled andjust a little sleep deprived.  Now that there is a new baby in Judi's housegiving those parents so much joy, I really smile every time I drive past herhouse!  And I think Judi is smiling, too.

 

And finally, thanks to many of you who contributed to thescholarship fund established by the PRTM Department at Clemson.  This pieceof information from one of Judi's colleagues updates that scholarshipstatus:

 

I just received confirmation from theHEHD development office today that we have raised enough money to officiallyendow the Judith Voelkl Memorial Scholarship.   I want to thank all ofyou for your work, gifts and dedication to make this happen. Her memory andspirit will continue to be a part of our PRTM department for many more years tocome.

 The Judith VoelklMemorial Scholarship is given to recognize students who: plan to serve thepublic through a career in the PRTM field, have achieved academic achievement ofat least 3.0 GPA, and who exhibit the qualities of caring, compassion,commitment and spirit that are the hallmark of Dr. Voelkl’scareer.

I hopelife is good for all of you!  Enjoy it!!!

Gina

And just a few more pictures....

 
One of Don's official pictures from the stairs....

 
a couple from Richard Hill....

  

  and Owen watching Sergio:

 

And even though this is mildly unsatisfying since my memory card filled up about a minute in I will go ahead and post it.  If anyone else caught anything let me know.  During these parties I'm usually too in the moment to document them as much as I might like....but it's such a good moment that I can't complain....