Chinese Cryptography

A while back I posted a photo of the most interesting fortune cookie "fortune" I had ever read. I have fantasized about creating fortunes that are strangely specific, just to freak someone out every once in a while: "The man wearing a hat to your left knows something you need to know; talk to him before he leaves."; "The woman behind you in the red dress wants your husband for herself."; etc.

Could the "rubber bands" fortune be targeting some demographic? People with orthodontia? Ryan Shupe followers?

But this one that I got yesterday ... well, I just don't know:

X-Ray! X-Ray! Read All About It!

Esther's x-ray came up negative today. Her foot is still very sore, but the doctor cannot find any kind of fracture. Yay! (That is a preliminary "Yay!", perhaps.)

Of Broken Cars, Dryers and Feet

Let's start at the feet.

Two days ago, Rachel thought it would be awesome to put Esther on top of the exercise ball. Which was on top of the futon mattress. Which was on top of the high, built in bench in the basement. What could go wrong?

Esther hasn't walked since. But, her foot doesn't hurt as bad as it did the day of the accident. The doctor told Susan we could wait a few days before getting an x-ray. My best guess is she has a green-stem fracture in her foot somewhere and will need a cast for a little while.

Today, when I got home, Esther stated matter-of-factly, "I found out why Rachel broke my foot. ... She wasn't thinking."

Moving on to dryers.

Uncle Hank

I went to my Uncle Hank's funeral today. To be more precise, he is my Great Uncle Hank: His wife, Virginia, is my Grandma Vera's little sister. To be even more precise, today was technically his interment, but his children read his life sketch again, his sister Joyce spoke and others were invited to share memories, so it took a long time and seemed like a full funeral to me.

Hank was a valiant fellow. You may remember him at Grandma Vera's funeral. I don't know if you remember Hendrik's Story about his early life or not. When Nazi Germany invaded Holland, he was young. His strongly Christian family hid a Jewish family and was part of the Dutch Underground. Hank ran errands for them without explanation and without knowing what he was doing, so if he was caught he could honestly say he didn't know anything.

Susan's wedding ring diamond is one that he brought to the United States when he emigrated. He joined the church after his mother and sister did (and after his father's death, who died from complications from starvation during the occupation). He was fiercely patriotic, and loved the freedoms this country offered. He was very funny, and I loved talking to him when I was young.