Beginning the 4th and final semester

I have finished week 3 of our final 15-week semester. So far I'm grateful that this this semester has not involved as much work as previous semesters. We are spending more time on campus with two full days (9-5) of class each week. One of my classes involves learning to make orthotics, more commonly known as splints. Over three weeks we will have 21 hours of practice making different kinds of splints for the hand and wrist. We are using different kinds of thermal plastics. These plastics need to be heated in water and can be molded to fit the person while still warm. Some of these have memory which means you can fix all kinds of mistakes by putting it back in the water where it goes back to its original shape. It's a little harder when it sticks to itself before you are ready for it to.

The first orthotic we made was for the wrist and would take a therapist about 15 minutes to make for a client. We were given an hour. You would think that would give a person plenty of time. In reality I had to hustle to finish on time. The process involves making a pattern, transferring it to the thermal plastic, heating it enough to make it easier to cut, heating it the rest of the way and molding it onto the clients wrist and hand while keeping the wrist angle right. Once that is done we get to smooth the edges, make sure there are no pressure points anywhere and then add the Velcro to hold it in place. One of these three strips had to be attached by a rivet. After being warned to double check we have the Velcro on right before pounding in the rivet, I made that mistake and found out how hard it is to get a rivet out. Mine ended up having 2 rivets to make it work. Other than that, it turned out pretty good for my first attempt. I did miss one of the pressure points and could have used more time to work on smoothing edges. Next week I'll get the opportunity to make it again and this time it will be graded.

Wedding memories

In our culture wedding planning is primarily done by the bride and her mother. The groom participates to some degree and usually has opinions about the food, a few ceremony details and most definitely the honeymoon. The bride takes care of the rest. This weekend my brother, Andrew, married Vicky, his Mexican girlfriend. The story of how they met 8 years, 6 months and 12 days before their wedding is too long to tell here. Suffice it to say that the planning fell primarily on Andrew since Vicky arrived in the US three weeks ago. He pulled it off with the help of friends who opened their homes, fixed the food, arranged the flowers, took the pictures, set up the chairs, and cleaned up after all of us left.

Since I knew there would be plenty of cameras, smart phones, and iPads snapping pictures, I left mine at home. However, here are some of my mental snapshots.

·      I asked Vicky if her mother was as excited for this wedding as Andrew’s mother was. “Oh yes. She loves Andrew very much.”

·      Since Andrew planned the rehearsal dinner, the hot peppers in the pork and beans were the only vegetable in sight. The main item on the menu was the best barbeque in the city.

·      Outside the home where the ceremony was held, there was a signpost pointing in multiple directions including the towns where Andrew and Vicky grew up. It fell to me to explain to Vicky’s mom and the bridesmaid why Wall Drug was included.

·      Elizabeth, presiding over the guest book, was recognized by everyone as Andrew’s favorite niece. Since she is 10 years old and it’s been 9 years since she visited Dallas, it can only be because Andrew is showing pictures of her.

·      Vicky was a nervous bride. The preacher said Andrew was the calmest groom he’d ever seen. As the Groom’s Honor Attendant, I had a clear view of their faces during the ceremony and Andrew’s calmness seemed to rub off on Vicky. The further it went along, the more she relaxed. She didn’t even blush when Andrew was finally able to kiss the bride.

·      We all had to use our imagination during the exchange of the rings since Andrew didn’t realize he had left them on his dresser until the preacher asked him about 10 minutes before the ceremony was to begin.

·      The Mexican part of the wedding included the presentation of a Bible (the foundation of all of life and marriage), a box with some coins (a symbol of God’s provision for them), and a lasso (a symbol of the two becoming one).

·      Ma and Pa Alexander and their three daughters are Andrew’s family in Dallas. One of them helped coordinate everything and they all pitched in to make the food for the reception that was held in their home. If anyone reading this happens to be living in Dallas, I’m sure they will be happy to have you stop by and help them eat the leftovers

I didn’t have to propose a toast to the bride and groom but if I did, my little speech would have included the following. Andrew, we’re proud of your quiet commitment to relationships that has resulted in all of us being here with you today. You don’t rush into anything but you do step up and take responsibility. Alexanders and Texas friends, thank you so much for being Andrew’s family from the time he moved here as a college student. You have had a big impact on the man he has become. Vicky, We are so glad to have you as part of our family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Andrew so happy. I hope you have sensed that all of us here love Andrew and we love you too.