A bit topsy turvy

Michelle Obama let it be known that she would not be attending the presidential inauguration next Monday, January 20, which happens to also be MLK Day. I absolutely applaud her for this, for knowing that she does not have to put herself through that, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by her presence there. When they go low, she ... disappears. CNN wrote an eight paragraph story taking her to task, and not once did the story mention that Trump and Melania did not attend Biden's inauguration four years ago. 

Elsewhere in the news, Vance is complaining that VP Harris has not invited his wife and himself to the VP residence as part of the transition, and to that I say, why should she? Vance called her "Trash" during the campaign, or did he forget that? Besides, Pence and his wife didn't invite Kamala and Doug to the VP residence four years ago either. The hypocrisy and sane washing by the media of the incoming administration is just galling. I refuse to watch the inauguration next week. I won't give that one extra point in TV ratings. Instead, like Michelle and Kamala, I'm choosing to protect my peace.

Closer to home, we will have a houseguest for the next few days. Harper's grandma, my niece's mother in law, will be moving into an apartment across the courtyard from us, the one that used to belong to my mother, which she then left to her grandchildren. My niece is buying out her cousins and moving her husband's mother Delores in, because Delores doesn't like living in Dallas. She had moved during Covid to be near to her son, but she misses her hometown of New York, where she was able to get around easily under her own steam, no car needed. The timing worked out because the apartment was getting ready to be vacant again, with both my kids now married.

For the past week I have been letting in painters and glazers to spruce up the place before Delores arrives today. The painters are a mess, dragging out the job that should have been finished in two days to five days and counting, so that now Delores will need to stay with us until they are finished. I got her room ready this morning, and housecleaned a bit, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I want to make Delores feel welcome. She is a gentle soul, possibly quite shy. My niece Leisa texted that Delores cried yesterday about how much our family was doing for her, "and they don't even know me," she said. I texted Leisa back: "We know Delores. She is Grant's mom. Harper's grandma. She's family." "That's what I told her," Leisa said.

Delores shipped her belongings and they are to arrive in boxes tomorrow. She will have to receive them while the apartment is still in upheaval from drop cloths and plastic sheeting and furniture piled up as the painters finish up the job. I'm glad I didn't recommend these guys! I did recommend the glazer, who looked like Mr. Bean and did his job admirably within a day. Meanwhile Leisa is rubbing her hands together with glee. "We're gonna revive Grandma camp!" she told me on the phone yesterday. "There will be lots of hands to mind Harper in New York!" "You should talk to my children about giving Harper some cousins to join her at Grandma camp, like you had," I said. "No," Leisa replied, "I will not be doing that." Oh well. I suppose my kids are on their own timeline. But Grandma camp with Miss Harper? Bring it on!