ChloeWatts.com

December 9, 2010

A ten to eleven foot Nobel for 10 bucks! That’s what Dana and Colin found for their house. I chuckled when they were looking for them. Chloe and I stayed at the bottom of the hill at Haggs Tree Farm and watched as first Colin, then Dana, would stand by a tree and ask, “this one?!” Each tree TOWERED over them as they were looking at trees designed to take up the entire living room. We would have had to cut a hole in the roof.

When the supply was exhausted we finally took the muddy walk and hay ride back to the barn for some more tradition. After that we got in the car. Colin was a mess… we hadn’t found a tree. Then Dana suggested we look at their Value Lot. So I pulled over and parked. Chloe and I watched from the car as Colin tried to lift the trees in the $20 lot. It was pretty funny. He couldn’t even stand them up they were sooooo big. Then they moved to the $10 lot. Again they were looking as some radically large trees. Finally Colin was able to get one off the ground. I told them I’d put that tree in a house. It was still tall but not as round as the room and it was really a pretty tree. I figured we could cut the bottom off if we needed to. It was almost as long as the car so I was surprised when Dana was surprised we had to hoist it up into the cut out area of the sky light to make it fit. Now it’s loads of fun telling people she got an eleven foot Nobel for $10.00!!! The ride home produced a beaming Colin the whole way. His face almost broke.

Yesterday we went to an appointment with the Sleep Apnea doctor. Chloe was not a fan! She felt it was a waste of her time to be there, however, it really was good for the doctor to see how well she looks. Unfortunately, she was told the mask is doing her a lot of good and it would be VERY BAD if she wasn’t using it. Not breathing is not a good thing in case you were wondering. Anyway, the doctor did say we would re-evaluate as time went by and her healing progressed.

Next it was off to my house to visit Kitty. It was the first time Kitty has seen Chloe since before the surgery. She was thrilled to see her, albeit a bit confused at first. After homework it was off to the Grotto to hear Colin sing. It was a surprise appearance as he was told we wouldn’t be there due to Chloe being tired and the added expense. The Grotto has a policy of not letting the parents of performers in without paying. Well, with a little prodding of a very non-giving minded business manager in the Grotto office, I was able to get some passes. This lady needs a course in the spirit of giving. You would have thought I’d asked for a million dollars. It wasn’t like we were going to be there for hours enjoying their light show. In any case, with as much as we have paid it forward I’m not shy about asking for something like this. As a performer I demand that when I’m doing a benefit for FREE, I be allowed family guests. It’s never been refused before, although I had to threaten to not perform once, if it wasn’t granted. Like I always say…. Stupid never Stops. And some people keep reinforcing that statement to me.

Tomorrow night is another Benefit Christmas concert that I will be playing for. And, yes, I have passes for the family. Every year we play for the Good Hope Health Clinic with the Jazz Express Big Band. It’s a fun night and we raise a couple thousand dollars for a very worthy cause. That’s something I never mind playing for free at. If you’re interested in attending it’s at the Good Shepherd Church just off Hwy 26 in Boring. 7:30 pm start time.

We are gearing up for Christmas and it sure is a better feeling than last year. The one gift we are all asking for is that Chloe is able to swallow. We had a procedure done on Monday that told us the vocal chords are working and everything looks much better in her throat. The esophagus (that’s the hardest word to spell, even with spell check!) is looking good but it’s still paralyzed. They inserted a balloon into the opening with hopes to expand it and help it retract. It doesn’t have great success but that’s what they have said about a lot of the things that have worked with Chloe. There are more options in the wings though, just if we need them.

If you don’t hear from me before Christmas we do hope that all of you have a Wonderful Christmas or whatever celebration you honor this time of year. Just beware though, if you say Happy Holidays to me you will Always hear Merry Christmas back.

Be well,
Ron