27 January 2008

The phone call

At 11.30 last night we got the phone call no parent wants to get. It was Kerry. "Mum, I rolled the car." Kerry is out west at the moment helping an Australian friend he met in Canada. They're running the kitchen at a five star resort, with their accommodation a few kilometres down the road. Kerry finished work and drove home in the company car but lost control on the unfamiliar road and rolled it. No alcohol or drugs were involved. He told me those brief details while I was still shocked and not quite awake. My first comment was "Are you okay?". He said he was, that he'd hit his head and there was a bit of blood but he felt okay. I told him to go to the hospital to be checked over and to ring straight back if there was any problem. The phone stayed silent the rest of the night. I'll call him later this morning.

I love my boys calling me when something is wrong. It doesn't happen often, but the first thing they do if things aren't quite right, is call me. They like to talk to their mum to get reassurance that all is well and to know we'll be there for them when they need us. I feel honoured to have that trust and I am ever thankful for what has been with them and what is still to come. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I felt that Kerry survived that accident. It could so easily have been different. Just a couple of weeks ago, four boys died in a car accident near there. It is another reminder to me that life is such a brief and fleeting thing, we need to really live it, appreciate the passing of each day and know we have used every hour it gives to its full and true extent.

Yesterday was Australia Day and of course I watched the test cricket on TV. Actually I had the TV on and at times sat and watched and at other times I did chores, or worked quietly in my sewing room, only going to the TV when I heard the crowd cheer. It was a quiet and gentle day full of little organising tasks I've put off for a short while.

It looks like I need to get my scissors out and cut some of those loose threads I've just seen now in the photo below. ; - )

I went through the fabric basket Tricia brought with her when she visited a few months back. I folded and sorted, thought and matched, ironed and colour coded and generally filled the time with tiny tasks that made for a lovely day dotted with pieces of cricket.

I found an old doily that I think was my mothers. Tricia sometimes reads my blog so if you're there Tricia, was this mum's? I seem to remember it being on mum's dressing table. It's a precious piece of self sewn white cotton bordered by hand made lace. There is no seam on the lace so I think it was tatted especially for the fabric. It was hand sewn onto the cotton centre and the white embroidery seems to be hand done as well. I have removed the lace because I want to use the centre piece and the lace in different parts of a quilt I'm planning.

Another small task was to find fabric to match an old cotton jumper of mine that I will cut up and make into other things; the first of these being a tea cosy. I've got the package together now so when I have the time, I'll be set to go. Having projects packaged up and ready is a great encouragement to start and I'm thankful that I have a number of these waiting for my time.


Hanno worked outside most of the day and then went to visit Jens and Cathy. We had leftovers for dinner so I have to say my day wasn't really a work day, but rather a day of fiddling around with bits and pieces and planning for times ahead.

I hope your weekend is filled with gentle pleasures. Thank you for taking the time to visit me and thank you for sharing your thoughts in the comments box.

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25 comments

  1. so glad to hear your son is alright!

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  2. As you said, not the call any parent wants to get but you must be so relieved that he is fine. Wow, that is quite the stash that you have there!!!!! That should keep you going for a while and I am sure we will get to see the end results. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Liane :)

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  3. Very good that your son is ok.

    Mine will be driving in the next year or so... I'm not jumping up and down with excitement...

    Blessings.

    I read your blog faithfully and have taken many things to heart. I just don't comment each time.

    Thanks so much!

    Becky K.

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  4. Glad to hear your son is okay Rhonda. I bet it will be a greater relief for you when you talk to him today and get the 'non-shock' version of events.

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  5. Hi Rhonda Jean,

    DH and I are very relieved to hear that Kerry is largely unharmed. We hope he recovers fast.

    Several years back our youngest was hit by a car (mostly bruises, one fracture and a nasty bump on the head) but could have been worse had the driver been speeding. Most drivers usually are speeding on that particular road. Ever since that day I've vowed to never exceed the speed limit. Doesn't guarantee anything but at least Id know I wasn't doing something wrong if I were a driver in that position.

    I'm a quilter, so I loved seeing your fabric stash.

    Regards, Marilyn

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  6. That call is never fun, no matter who it is from, but it is always a relief that they can make the call themselves. Glad your son is OK.

    Tamara

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  7. My oldest (of 4) boys is now able to get his learner's. Gulp....

    I hope that when my boys are as old as yours that they will call me when things happen. You're lucky to have kept the strong bond with them. I hope I can do the same.

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  8. I'm so pleased that your precious one is safe. I know what it is like to loose a daughter to a car accident. She wasn't a birth daughter but a girl that had adopted us and she called us mummy and daddy. She was 21 when she passed over it was so devistating.
    But it has made my youngest son very whary about driving he owns a car but wont get his license or drive it.

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  9. I am so glad to hear your son is okay. I have recieved a couple of those phone calls, not from a car accident, though. These calls take your breath away.

    I do not sew, but love to look at the beautiful fabrics.

    Suzen

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  10. Hi Rhonda Jean :) So sorry for the accident, and so very glad to read that Kerry is OK!

    I love your idea for putting little projects together ahead of time so you can get straight to work when time allows. Love, Q

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  11. Rhonda,
    You must be relieved that your son is o.k. Cars can be replaced, sons cannot.

    Hope the rest of your weekend is peaceful.

    Cheers,
    Maggie

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  12. I am glad your son is not injured badly, Rhonda.

    You have a great fabric stash.

    Kate

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  13. Aw Rhonda, i know that feeling very well, its a phone call you never want to get, I know i have been there before and my outcome wasnt good news, i lost my 27 yr old to a country graveled road in Leonora 3 yrs ago, so glad your son is safe

    Cheers
    Robin

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  14. R, great news about your boy. As I tell my 8 year old, even when he's a little old man walking down the street shaking his walking stick at kids riding on the footpath, he'll STILL be my baby.
    I could use your fabric stash right now. I'm also filled with admiration for those hands that made the laces we now all take for granted. My grandma used to make lace and crochet lace. Beautiful work and difficult to imagine being able to create something so intricately beautiful. Lisa x

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  15. Rhonda, Thank goodness your son is alright. It sure is the call every parent dreads!

    Beautiful fabric stash and please share photos of your finished tea cosy...I'm wondering what you are going to do with your sweater to make a tea cozy?????????

    Love the new header....very you!
    blessings,

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  16. Rhonda! what are you going to do for the cozy??? please share. I saved everything....material, felted wools, and I'm real curious about the cozy. And I have a quilter's stash of fabric (and wool, too).

    I still have in my head, the call at 3am from the doctor in the emergency room. Even though it was uneventful, I don't ever want to get another call like that (although the next 2 kids haven't left home yet, soooo....)

    Christine

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  17. So glad that Kerry is all right-as a mom I know that no matter how old they are they are still your little ones and you always worry about them and want to be there for them. Love your stash; wish mine were as neatly organized!

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  18. Robin and Kate, I was saddened to hear your stories. I send my love to you both. Marilyn, I'm pleased your son survived being hit. It's very scary, isn't it.

    Thank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes. We have a lovely community here. : )

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  19. Hello Rhonda, I am so relieved that the phone call was one to say "I am Okay." from your son. Upon reading the headline of your post I gasped for air and did not exhale until I read all is okay.

    I am trying your dog biscuit recipe today. Will let you know how it turns out.

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  20. Oh RJ!.. Please keep us updated about your son.

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  21. I am so glad your son is alright, I have 3 children, and your right when my phone rings in the night, I find myself running for the phone even while not fully awake. I will keep yours in my prayers as well.
    Love your fabrics and all the colors, especially the greens. I have my tea cozy done as well, and am waiting for the address to have it all set to go. Your Saturday sounded alot like mine, I did alot of knitting, and finishing up of things, today will be the same as well. It is cold still and those are just good things to do! hugs, C

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  22. Glad to hear Kerry is o-kay, but do keep us updated.

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  23. Hi, Rhonda,
    I am so glad your son is okay. It seems it is never good when the phone rings in the night. I just got a similar call back in November. It was our son-in-law saying, "there has been an accident..." I could feel the blood draining from my face as I waited for the rest of the sentence. Our daughter had fallen on their front steps and had a compound fracture of her lower leg and was in surgery. It could have been so much worse.
    I love looking at your fabric stash. It's kind of like having money in the bank, isn't it? Fondly, J.

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  24. Prayers that your boy is well and stays so.
    It sounds like a lovely day of rest, full of quiet little things but not overly busy. I love those days. The lace in the picture doesn't look tatted to me though it's a little hard to say since I can't see the detail. It looks a bit like crochet but again I'm not cure. I bet it will look wonderful on the quilt. I'm looking forward to seeing your finished piece.

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  25. What a scary phone call to receive. I'm so glad that he's OK, such a relief for you and Hanno.

    Several years ago I got paged out of hockey game and told my son had been hit by a care and was in emergency. It was his fault, not the drivers. He crossed the road against a light. He was very lucky, but I was fine all though the hospital and him getting his nose sewn back on his face (it was awful) until I was driving him home and it hit me just how close he came to much worse.

    Our children are precious and, like someone else said, always our babies not matter how old they get.

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