Editor's Note: Originally published July 6, 2016, this was one of Jan Mullikin's last columns for the Herald-Leader. Jan worked for the Herald-Leader for 10 years in the office and also as a columnist.
Anticipation is often the name of the game. It is a great joy for me to anticipate a much-awaited event. Like the birth of a child, a long-planned trip, visitors coming, a special event or even a night out for supper or a movie.
I have been anticipating more yellow blooms from my daylilies around the yard. They are showing up as a delicious, lemony yellow. I anticipate the Concord grapes later this summer, so I can walk around to the east side of the yard to pick some yummy purple goodness to pop into my mouth for a quick snack.
Recently we were anticipating a weekend visitor from Iowa, our friend, Jean, who had never come down to Arkansas to see us or our home. She was a next-door neighbor who lived with her parents until she moved to western Iowa to teach. When she learned that was not to be her career, she moved back to our neck of the woods and went to work for the University of Iowa. She loved to come hear our family sing. When she lived next door, she would sometimes babysit for us, and sewed our little daughter's dresses -- one for our son's wedding and one to appear on our family's album cover.
The Fourth of July fireworks is an event that I have been anticipating. We have, in recent years, loved the Siloam Springs celebration with the parachutists dropping from the sky while we sat in lawn chairs, visiting with strangers and anticipating the booming and sparking displays overhead celebrating our nation's birthday.
Just now we are anticipating the birth of our tenth grandchild in August. He will join little Ashlin in their home a couple of miles from us, and part of the fun for these grandparents will be to see her reaction to having a new baby in the house. Mommy and Daddy are presently working at potty training, in hopes it can be accomplished at the right time. And we always anticipate visits from Ashlin, as well as other family members. Her toy basket remains in a corner of our living room, and the crib remains in our guest room.
I anticipate getting back into physical therapy soon. My time with Medicare ran out, so I now await an appointment with my hip surgeon in Springdale to be able to resume the sessions. I know I need some more. I am trying to do some things at home to strengthen my muscles and gain in balance, but it doesn't work as fast as with guidance from trained therapists. They do so much good work with their clients.
Right now I anticipate turning the 2016 calendars to July, then jumping into the shower for a refreshing summer cleansing.
I am very much anticipating putting away my cane, walker and wheelchair when I can once again simply walk somewhere.
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Post script
Mom passed away on Dec. 23 in her home. During her final days on this earth, with the few words she could muster, she talked about being ready for her next journey and her love for her family members. Her family was blessed to see firsthand her anticipation of joining family and friends in heaven.
-- Rich Mullikin
Community on 12/27/2017