Just got back from visiting Levi

We took three dozen gingerbread cookies and talked for about half an hour. First of all, he looks bloody awful. His eyes are a special kind of bloodshot, huge dark rings underneath, he can't open his mouth very far. Presumably because it's wired shut. He has stitches underneath his lip where some gravel went through. He was pretty lively, though. He's into WWII now, and knows quite a lot. Tanks, conspiracy theories, the works. I was impressed. Ethan and Ben weren't much in evidence. Ethan came in for a bit. He seemed a bit more hyper than usual, which is a terrifying thing in Ethan. Ben was quiet. Mrs. Amen is in rehab, with what sounds like a concussion. She sounded disoriented and stuff. Mr. Amen was pretty normal. I didn't ask whether the sheriff is pressing charges or not. Wanted to, though. The dog--a new addition--was hyper and adorable, normal adolescent canine. I love 'em at that stage. His name seems to be Ranger, and he was delighted to have someone to play with. Levi's grandma was there too, looking after him in his mother's absence. Apparently she married or nearly married--not clear on this, obviously--a nisei Japanese from North Platte who was drafted. So we discussed internment a bit. We stayed fifteen minutes past when we were supposed to come home, it was so interesting. And now I really need to go make spaghetti, being already late and all. We promised to bring Doug next time; he missed because tonight's his first Krav class.

Amens

Woman, son hurt in fall from tractor

By the Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008 - 04:14:02 pm CDT

A Cortland mother and son were in stable condition late Wednesday after being seriously injured Tuesday evening in a tractor accident in Cortland.

According to the Gage County Sheriff’s Office, Sandra Amen, 38, and her son Levi, 13, were riding in the bucket of a front end loader on a 1948 John Deere tractor being driven by Amen’s husband, Douglas Amen, 42. The couple’s 9-year-old son, Benjamin, was sitting on Douglas Amen’s lap.

Witnesses told the sheriff’s office that Douglas Amen was raising and lowering the bucket during the ride.

As the westbound tractor approached First and Lincoln streets just after 7:30 p.m., the dump bucket suddenly released, causing Sandra and Levi Amen to be dropped from a high position onto the roadway. The tractor then ran over Sandra Amen, the sheriff’s office said.

Douglas Amen, while trying to avoid running over family members, swerved the tractor to the left and stopped the tractor on the southeast corner of the intersection, near a stop sign. The sheriff’s office said Douglas Amen immediately shut off the tractor and ran to aid his family.

During the incident, Benjamin Amen’s right hand and wrist were injured when they struck the tractor.

Sandra Amen was taken by Star Care helicopter to BryanLGH Medical Center West in Lincoln. The two boys were taken to the hospital by a Lincoln Fire and Rescue ambulance.

Sandra and Levi Amen remained in the hospital Wednesday afternoon in stable condition. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Benjamin Amen was treated and released.

Investigation of the accident was continuing, Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson said Wednesday afternoon.

I just left a message on their answering machine offering to help with the route, since it'll probably be Ethan doing the route by himself. Or with Ben, but since it sounds like he hurt his right arm....anyway.

It is so incredibly strange, not to say jarring, hearing familiar names, faces, voices reduced to the simple, factual phrases of a writer at the Journal Star.

We actually saw the ambulance and the helicopters. Dad was drilling us in case it was an attack. I was doing the dishes....washing out peanut butter jars for Dad to use in the garage. Everybody else was being assigned to a post to keep watch.

What's cognitive dissonance?