Stupidly I went down without a coat.... Didn't want to lug it about, wanted to travel light so I could bring stuff back (got a teapot, kitchen towels, tongs, a spatula, and belt buckels).
Anyway, on the way back I had to " sleep" for about 6 hours in the Anchorage airport....... Dressed in cotton. Cotton. the airport was at 50, Texas had been 80s and high 90s.
Then it turned out that eventhough I had said I wanted to take a taxi home, spouse had set up with mom-in-law to pick me up and, it turns out that mom-in-law had been left in charge of the two youngest kids, but with no animal feed. So, at 7am I got to buy a load of feed, with mom-in-law (doubble ) with no big boys and my arthritic hands.
By the time I got home, got rid of mom-in-law, and got the little two boys to feed all of the hungry stock (none dead or bloody), well, I was froze solid. Turns out the work boots I put on once home, to look over all of the stock, and carry out the 50 pound feed sack now have holes and so my feet got wet.
The wet feet on top of being froze all "night" ment I needed all of my blankets and two giant feather beds, and all that night under them before I warmed up.
It was cute, I first got in bed with just the one feather bed, the boys came to check on me, saw me shaking in the bed, and got the second bigger featherbed out and tucked me in.
Anyway, I was at the bottom of a pretty deap hole the first week back... I am starting to crawl towards the top...but not there yet.
Can't believe the eldest is leaving for 3 months come October. My eldest is built like an ox. You could probably hook him up to a tractor and he would tow the beast right up the hill, slow and steady. For some reason the next boy down still hasn't had a big size or muscle growth spurt.
There is lots I can no longer do, and I rely on the eldest boy.
When the eldest suddenly got his muscle growth spurt (happened before he started getting taller), it was a hoot. He would turn on the lamp...break the lamp. Open the window shade...break the window shade. Close the cabinet door...break the cabinet door. the expresion on his face was priceless. Took him about 4 months to get control of those new giant muscles. Spouse hated all the breakage, kept getting angry, I thought it was the funniest thing ever.
Still don't know why the next boys down haven't gone through the same stage.