Ash Wednesday: Mom's last day with us-today she is off to Hernandez home!

Sara and I had planned to attend a lecture by one Maya Angelou this evening at UTPB, but Maya had to postpone due to her current illness.  The lecture is tentatively re-scheduled for April.  We were disappointed, but more concerned for her health.  The lady is a true icon and someone to admire.  Anyway...

Today is Ash Wednesday...lent begins.  Mardi Gras was yesterday.  One day I hope to attend a Mardi Gras celebration in St Louis.  Many people do not know that STL puts on an awesome Mardi Gras which is said to rival New Orleans but without as much chaos and such.

Mom spends her last morning here with us.  Later this noon, we will take her over to Josie's so she can spend a few days with them as well.  I hope she enjoyed her time with us.  Sara was "suzy homemaker" and delighted us with some awesome home-cooked meals.  We ate late on Monday because we needed to go to H-E-B (per Alex, Hispanics Eat Better) to get some basic food items, but it was busy and it took longer than we expected.  Mom loves our H-E-B so we slowed down so she could play "investigator".  We got back late and Sara started dinner.  She made cornish hens and cornbread (with corn inside).  I made veggies out on the grill to accompany the meal.  I hated that we ate late since Mama seems to eat earlier than that, but she was a trooper and really like the meal.  Tuesday night, Sara grilled some steaks and made some potato soup as well.  I started feeling ill again Tuesday so the only contribution I was able to make to the meal was to eat (ha, ha).  Mom liked the soup; she seems to have liked everything.  I told her that we normally do not eat this well, but wanted to make something special and different for her while she was here.  Josie will surely make her some good eats as well.  Mom made a comment about how she eats really well when she visits me and Josie and feels bad for the meals she makes when we visit her in Big Spring.  Sara and I told her that her meals are always awesome and we do look forward to eating them.  However, we do not like to call too far in advance before we go over there because we hate for her to have to cook for us even though we love the foods she makes.  If she happens to have already cooked and we get to partake of the meal(s), then better for us.  Mom makes the best food.  I can always eat whatever she preps.  She makes the best spanish rice, carne guisada, tortillas, fideo...you name the meal - Mom makes it the best.

Sara and I are still headed to Odessa to meet with our friend (Dr.) Ana Martinez-Catsum (Sara's previous history grad professor).  We had already planned to have a late lunch with her even before we found out that the Maya Angelou lecture had been postponed.  Ana and Sara have other things to discuss as well so it worked out okay.  I may go to a church there for my drive-by for ashes. 

We're going to miss Mama when we drop her off at Josie's but we are glad that she will spend time with them.  She misses them bunches (and vice versa).  I hate for Mama to ever be home alone and as much as I prefer she be in Midland, she does love her home in Big Spring so we take whatever time we can get with her.

That's all for now, folks!  Good Lent to all.