I am so thankful...

Friday night Mac and I were talking about our childhoods and the illnesses we had and especially our tonsils. I had tonsilitis at least four times a year, and I'm not talking a little sore throat, I'm talking "can't swallow spit" sore. It seems like one of those really really bad ones always hit when I was spending the summer at my grandparents. I don't know how long this tradition I'm about to impart had gone on before, but I'm telling you, if you had a sore throat, you didn't want to breathe a word of it in front of my grandmother. The first time....
my throat was so sore that I'm sure the inflammation came through my skin and showed on the outside. When I say I couldn't swallow spit, I mean it. My grandmother looked at me trying to sip water and eyes narrowing, she said "throat sore?" I nodded and she immediately went into the cabinet over the stove and took down this big purple bottle. From a mason jar, she removed a large long handled swab. "Open your mouth and let me look," she said. Not expecting anything other than a visual inspection of my swollen tonsils, I innocently opened wide. The next thing I knew my throat was thoroughly mopped with Gentian Violet, the purple medicine in the bottle that if I'm not mistaken, was also called Horse Remedy. The taste was bitter and strong and dyed your mouth and teeth for a day or two. The taste lasted much longer. Now whether or not it was a coincidence, sure enough within a day or two, I could once again swallow my own spit and take a little soup. For years if I heard anyone being asked "is your throat sore?" I would be standing behind my grandmother, eyes wide and shoulders drawn up to indicate danger while violently shaking my head to indicate to the victim to deny any problem with their throat. No one has ever been so happy to say farewell to a part of their body as I was to bid adeiu to my tonsils. Remind me to tell you about the turpentine on sugar treatment. It's a wonder I'm alive to tell the tale.

A Month of Thankfulness

You know, some of us have decided to make this a month of thankfulness and it is a splendid idea. Not so much for the act of saying out loud what it is we're thankful for, but for making us think about what we have to be thankful for. I'm sure most of you are like me, you just take for granted that the electricity will be on, the house will be warm (or cool) the table will be set and food will be available to go on it. You know you will be able to get from point a to point b without assistance and return to point a the same way. You reach into your closet and grab that warm sweater or jacket and take the dog, your boon companion, out for a brisk walk and look all around you and see the beauty in the world. You hear the birds singing, the dogs barking the sounds of life all around you and not once do you say to God or anyone else...wow, how thankful I am that I'm alive and well. I can see, hear and feel, my needs are met and most of my wants are fullfilled. So, I'm thankful. Will post more later today. I have one thing in particular that I am thankful for and I want to share it with you. I hope it will make you laugh out loud.

The Doctor's Visit

Yesterday I had a followup appointment with my Rheumotoligist. My appointment was at 2:30, so we left home in plenty of time to arrive fifteen minutes early. When I signed in, it was actually 2:00 pm. They hustled me right in, got my b/p, temp and weight (the part I dread) and then took me to a back lobby to wait. I asked if Mac could come back with me, but was told that it was a patients only waiting area. Wait I did. At 3:30 I wasn't the only one checking my watch. One lady, who didn't even have a watch on , was checking it anyway. Finally they took me into an exam room and after another fifteen minutes my Doctor came bounding in. No really, he bounded. I've never seen such an energetic young man, it made me want to smack him. He explained that my bloodwork looked really good (it should, they certainly took enough of it) and my liver hadn't rotted out. Were they expecting it to? Just what have I gotten myself into? He admired my cane (yeah, well, it is a pretty good looking piece of wood work) and asked how I had been feeling. You know, what could I say? He was feeling so good it made me feel good, too. Why, I just feel fantabulous I almost said. Then he began talking about what a miracle I was. "I've been reading up on the file that your PC sent . I looked at him through narrowed eyes. "My computer has been sending you stuff on me?" I asked him. "PC" he said..."no no, your Primary Care doc...you know your PC?" I nodded at him and wondered if this was the same Specialist I had seen two months ago. Had there been an invasion of the body snatchers and someone had injected a hyper personality in my guy? Or had he just gotten a well needed nap? He seemed very rested. "Yes ma'am, you have overcome a heck of a lot and I see no reason why you shouldn't overcome this pesky RA situation. How's the medicine affecting you?" I explained to him that at first it knocked me on my butt for a day or two, but that now there were little or no effects. "Uh huh," he said as he examined my ankles, my fingers, my wrists...my neck. "Just exactly why were you in that tree?" he asked. "I see from the notes from your PC (remember now, that's not your computer, he whispered) that you were pretty much above the average age for tree climbing." Oh, come on Doc, I was 54, get with the program. "So, I just wondered what brought it on?" He was smiling while he felt my fingers one by one.
"I was in a severe case of denial, Doc. I refused to believe I was any older than 18. Guess I was wrong, huh?"
"Doggone, I'll say. Wonder you didn't kill yourself. So, say the medicine isn't making you sick anymore? Let's up the dose."
"Till what, it does make me sick again?" I asked (somewhat sarcastically).
"No, untill you feel the urge to climb a tree again," he laughed.
I like my Doctor! He gets me. He really gets me...

November 2, 2007

What am I grateful for today? I am grateful that while I don't move with the flow and grace I had before the accident, I am moving at all...I am not imprisoned in the chair that had already been ordered...Only God could have done that. I will be eternally thankful.

Leah, over at South Breeze Farms, is doing something special for November. Every day she is going to post something she is grateful for. If you would like to join her, just go over to www.southbreezefarm.blogspot.com and join us. November 1, 2007 I am thankful for my family, immediate and extended. We're all in this together...

Happy Halloween

I have been trying to think of an appropriate Halloween story to tell you all, but you guys are so darned talented that it's hard to keep up. I came in here this morning and your Halloween posts were up and some had 39 comments already. What did you all do, sit up all night putting these things in? I'm proud of you, I promise. I guess I just don't get started as fast as everyone else. Where once a single cup of coffee revved my engine, now it's more like a pot. Okay, so what did I want to tell you for Halloween? I want to start with my evil "sister". In fact, I want to end with my evil "sister", too. When E.S. (Evil Sister) and I met we found we had so much in common it was downright spooky. About a year after we met, I decided that we had indeed been sisters, in a former life. There was no other explanation for the instant bonding. I have since made another friend like that, she is the Good "Sister", or G.S. There are no evil tales connected to her, but to E.S. the evil tales abound. I have two for your perusal.

Evil Sister and The Hand

Once upon a time E.S. and her beloved husband (who shall be nameless) had a child. Now for E.S caring for the child was Job 1 job, plus of course the rest of her jobs (cooking, cleaning, ironing, washing dishes, etc., you know, the light stuff) When Nameless would come in from work, he would of course ask sweetly "when is dinner?" Now, Nameless really did ask nicely, but E.S. being so tired what with all the work she did around the house, plus caring for an infant, often didn't hear the niceness or pleasant disposition in his voice, she heard demands. She didn't want to hear demands, she wanted sleep. I can't seem to remember exactly what it was that sent her over the edge that night, but it was Nameless's fault. I know it was, because E.S. told me it was. She had forgotten to do something he had asked her to do or had done something he had pleasantly asked her not to do, but whatever it was, in her state of sleep deprivation, his reaction to whatever it was sent her reeling. He raised his hand and brought it down on the table and said "if I've told you once!" and she watched the hand , all the time bringing her fork up to her mouth to remove the piece of Chicken Amaretto (oh, did I mention she is a gourmet cook?) "I've told you a thousand times!" BOOM down comes the hand again and somehow, says E.S., when she next looked at the hand, her fork was sticking out of it and the hand was now pinned to the table. Now, anyone else would have been so shocked at that confession, they would have drawn back in horror, hands covering their mouth to choke back the scream. Did I? Oh, hell no, I burst out laughing and tears rolled down my face, and I could see him sitting there wondering where he had gone wrong and why this sweet little thing had tried to maim him and more importantly why her fork was now sticking out the back of his hand. Because, really, men don't have a clue, do they? That was the moment I knew in my heart, we had been sisters. Except while I may imagine plunging a fork into someone who is irritating the life out of me, she has follow through. After a quick trip to the Emergency Room and Nameless explaining to the ER Doc how he had been running down the stairs, fork in hand and this terrible accident had taken place (...had to read back over that and make sure I didn't actually put his name in there) they of course made up and continue to live happily. E.S. is only allowed to eat with a spoon, though.



Don't Call Me Honey, Honey



E.S. has a few little pet peeves, but the main one has to do with the fact that Nameless can somehow never think ahead. "Why" she asked me, "do men not think to look around and make sure there is a towel at hand before they strip down and get into the shower?" I knew what she meant, having gone through the ritual of "Honey, bring me a towel" myself, more than once I might add. So anyway, this one night she hears the shower running, she's putting up the dishes she had washed earlier and when she hears the shower go off stands listening. Sure enough, she hears him. "Honey?" She stands still a second and waits for the second clarion call. "Honey???" She moves off down the hall, opens the door to the linen closet and....no, she does not get him a towel...she climbs up on the highest shelf, pulling the door to. She hears him. "Honey, bring me a towel!" She waits. She hears the bathroom door open, imagines him peeking around the door, hears him once again "honey?" voice a bit low now, wondering just where the devil she's gotten to. She hears him running down the hall, he snatches open the linen closet door and grabs a towel just as she reaches out and pats him on top of the head. She said that image of him dancing naked in place for five seconds, not knowing what the hell is going on is an image that will go with her to her grave! Isn't that just like my Evil Sister?



Happy Halloween

A Giveaway!

I am so pleased to tell you that Sandy at http://www.dreamcreateinspire.blogspot.com/ is having a giveaway of her artwork. In support of Breast Cancer Awareness month this talented artist (and might I say dear friend) is hosting this giveaway to encourage us all to be more responsible where our own bodies are concerned. Isn't it a lovely painting? I've already entered my name in hopes...fingers are crossed...so run on over and have a peek, enter in the drawing and look at the great work her students have done while you're there!

And Hank Williams sang it first...

Wow, what a great Sunday I had. My kids were all with us and my beautiful granddaughter, Arianna brought her frog loving Grandma a Frog Prince in red velvet carrying a sweet pink posey. Everywhere you look you will find frogs...I have loved them always and for some odd reason, so does Arianna. I mean we love real frogs, and their replicas. My baby boy (who towers over all of us) had a birthday on the 25th of October. I baked him a devils food cake. His brother, who's birthday was September 24, you remember, got an Angel Food cake. Not because he is an angel, but he's watching his fat intake. I baked a Macaroni and Cheese, cooked some frenched green beans and we all sat and talked about what was going on in their lives. Arianna told me that she had joined Chorus in school (she's a third grader). I told her how happy I was that she had. I was in Chorus, Glee Club and Chorale...I have a passable voice (my family always told me it was beautiful, but families can be biased as is evidenced by the thousands of simply awful singers who try out for American Idol and are then shocked that someone thinks they have no talent). Arianna carries a tune quite nicely and she told me that they were singing for a school event today (Monday). I asked her what they were singing and she broke out in song...it was "Hey Good Lookin' ", a Hank Williams standard. I burst out laughing because other than Johnny Cash (whom she adores) the child does not listen to anything but pop and rock and roll. I think she even listens to some Salsa Music, but not bone hard Country, not C/W or what passes for Country Music today, I'm talking the twanging, singing through your nose, autoharp plinking, guitar plucking fiddle playing country blue grass music. It was the very music I grew up on before the Beatles stole my heart. Music that I can listen to now, and become my granddaddy's little girl again. If anyone is familiar with the movie "Brother Where Art Thou", here's an example. My mother used to tell me that I was only about 2 years old and could sing "He's in the Jailhouse Now" word for word while standing in my crib. My other rendition at about that age was "I didn't know the Gun was Loaded". Maybe I was predicting my future career, even then. So here's my darling little blond headed baby girl singing out on "Hey Good Lookin ". I laughed and told her her Grandpa always came in from work or called me long distance when whatever ship he was on was overseas and asked me that very question. Every single time. One of the girls opted that all she heard was "when's supper ready?" Where did I go wrong on those two? So, I told Arianna I had the song on a cd by Hank Williams and did she want to hear it after dinner and sing with it? Of course she did. We finished dinner, cleared the table and she gave us her version of Bill Cosby's "Mom is Great"..."Grandma's great, gave us Choclate Cake"...After we had birthday cake I went into the office and began the search for the cd. After about a half hour, having located it, I loaded the cd into the computer and called her in. She stood hanging on my arm as Hank, that velvet smoothe nasal intonation shouting out the words "heyyyyy good lookin', what you got cookin', how's about cookin' something up with me? " She looked at me with a look akin to shock on her face. "Grandma, that's country!" she said. I had to laugh, because yes, it was certainly country, the kind of country that every little child living and breathing should hear at least once in their lives, so they can hear where most of our country music today came from. I was delighted that not only did she sing with Hank, she enjoyed doing it.

A New Week...

Well, as we all are aware it has been a very stressful couple of weeks, but now the immediacy has passed and it's time to take a breath and go on. I spoke with Sissy at length about the funeral on Saturday. My husband and I could not attend due to distance and the fact that while my spirit is only about 25, my body only 59, recent health issues put me at closer to 80. I lived and worked hard and while attempting to trim pecan trees, apparently broke a few things in my neck when falling out of one. (I was 54 going on 18 at the time.) It took a bit to manafest itself, but on June 8th 2003, (after the triple bypass surgery I had on December 21 2002) I found myself quite suddenly paralyzed from the neck down. After the sudden hurried ambulance trip to Florence, SC, I was seen by Neurologist who assured me while I would never walk again, he could get me motor function from the waist up but it would require immediate emergency surgery. So, I had the surgery and no one was more shocked than he was when I managed to walk from the hospital...haltingly, to be sure...but I walked none the less. That is why my faith in God is so strong. I know my family and friends were praying for me, but more importantly, He gave me a strong determination and will to prevail over diversity. I don't travel long distances because I still have severe nerve damage and can only sit that still (as a car trip) for about an hour and it's like having to learn to walk all over again. After such a close brush myself, I had such hope for Joey but the injuries were so far beyond what the doctors could do. And so God answered the prayer, what's best for Joey. Sissy tells me that they had to stop traffic on Interstate 65 there were so many cars in the funeral procession. We both saw Joey in our minds eye laughing at the thought of traffic coming to a halt for him. He was such a daredevil that I am sure I'm not the only one who was shocked by his death. We pictured him going out bungey jumping or racing. He kept in touch with every friend he had ever made, I think. If he had been able to, he would have kept in touch with you, too. So, our friends, we thank you. His family is doing what other families do everywhere after the loss of a love one. They're picking up the pieces and going on. It's all we can do, after all. Be assured that your kind thoughts and prayers helped Karen so much and it's something she will look over and read now and be able to see just how many people were in her corner, pulling out all the stops for her Joey.

And the Community Blogger Award goes to...

I have been at a loss as to how to thank my Blogging Community for all the prayers and sincere concern over Joey Andrus's recent eventually fatal work related accident. I didn't want to "invent" an award, that would put to much of the attention on me, and I want the attention on the friends of our "community". We are a community, after all...I began blogging a bit after my niece, Sissy (aka Kari) (sorry for the cop speak, but you know....) and have learned so much from all of you. I know that Sissy would want to be a part of this, so this is what I am doing. From both of us I would like to award the Community Blogger award to all of you, and that being said, I am going to do it. It's a long list, so stand by: The premise of the award is simple. Cellobella at Redsultana , who is the designer and creater of this award says this: "The Community Blog Award celebrates people who reach out and makes the blogger community a better one. " So, to my community, who have shown just how tightly knit (some might say wound) we are, here goes...

Sandi at http://www.whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com/

Mary at http://www.marymaryfairlycontrary.blogspot.com/

Jayne at http://www.countrycottagechic.blogspot.com/

Sandy at http://www.dreamcreateinspire.blogspot.com/

Brenda at http://www.countryromance.blogspot.com/

Teresa at http://www.tpmomforever.blogspot.com/

Abbie at http://www.abbiebloggin.blogspot.com/

Kathy at http://www.justabeachkat.blogspot.com/

whew, need to take a breath here. Remember, I smoked for years...before I got smart and laid the nasty little things down! So, who else gets this I'm sure coveted award?

of course there's Lisa at http://www.athingforroses.blogspot.com/

Sophie at http://www.sophiehoneysuckle.blogspot.com/

Adla at http://www.vintagedelights.blogspot.com/

dear Wanda at http://www.snapdragonantiques.blogspot.com/

and one of my newest friends, Cassie at http://www.thisismockingbirdhill.blogspot.com/

Who could forget Susie Q at http://www.rabbitruncottage.blogspot.com/

and then another pair of friends Jenn and Jacqui at http://www.thebowerbirdsnest.blogspot.com/

Carol at http://www.katherinesdream.blogspot.com/ (I'm still looking for her kitchen)

Terri at http://www.bobandterri.blogspot.com/ I'm sure Bob should be included in this, too...

And I want to also thank Jeanne at http://www.jeanne-lifeorsomethinglikeit.blogspot.com/

Tammy, who is a blog bud of Kari's, (for you from us both of course)at http://www.gentleretreat.blogspot.com/ and I'll be in to visit you, too...

And now more about the award.

It was designed by Cellobella http://www.redsultana.com/ (who doesn't play the cello, but owns one...who wanted to pass something on to someone in her circle and couldn't quite find the right thing. Inventive and talented as she is, she came up with this award. She has generously given permission for us to pass it on to those who we feel best meet the criteria and if you guys don't meet it, I don't know who does. I truly feel that our community is close enough for us to clasp hands. If I have forgotten any one, I am truly sorry...I think I have included everyone. If I have forgotten you, blame my muddled mind. You are included whether I mentioned you by name or not. And so now we can get back down to the blogging life, but know that if I am needed, I'm only an e-mail away!

with much affection I remain

A Thank You

I would like to thank you all, our friends out there who so generously gave of their time and love to pray and care for a stranger. I would like to share something with you that my dear friend Jean Weston sent to me. I hope it touches you as it touched me. Thank you for being out there for all of us and in turn for each other. http://www.simpletruths.com/dash/ If you click on this, it is a lovely little movie about time.

Goodbye to Joey

Thank you for all the prayers sent to Joey and his family, wife Karen and sons, mother Ginger and father Michael. Joey passed away from injuries to severe to sustain life last night. He was to young and no parent should ever have to bury their child. We have prayed for him and you have prayed for him. For that we thank you so very much. We have to know that God has answered our prayers. Joey is with his Papa and Grandma now, and I know they met him and welcomed him home. Now the rest of life continues and we'll all muddle through just as we always have. Thank you for being friends.

Prayers for Joey

Please send your prayers for Joey and his entire family. Things are not going well, but the family requests your continued support in prayer. Thank you all for being so kind as to think of and pray for him and his...

Author's of Choice and Author's choices

Okay, so it's no big secret that I love to read. Everyone I know has picked up on that one "what do you know about Sandi" bit of trivia. My favorite authors vary from Dean Koontz to Rudyard Kipling. I love writers with a wry sense of humor and those with no sense of humor at all. I have been an avid fan of Harry (our dear Mister Potter) and Kay (Dr. Scarpetta) ever since JK and Patricia first birthed them. But for crying out loud, one has a coming out party and the other will now be subject to whispers and averted eyes for the rest of her career. And all in the same month. Oh, the humanity! What are they doing to me? I love Dumbledore and to be honest who or what he sleeps with makes no never mind to me. My bedroom is my bedroom and I assume that goes for Dumbledore, as well. But really, this was (I was assuming again) a series of books for children which it turned out, the parents also loved. I know of at least one child who had the first book read to her a chapter a night and then the selfish gran, er, reader read to her heart's content and finished the book in like, say a day? Or at least that's what I understand to have happened. This same reader also bought the next book as a gift for someone who shall remain nameless in here, but read it before boxing and wrapping it, making it a regift. It was a first edition and the giver did not want the terrible action of "a first edition, spine not broken" being seen on E-Bay. Every beloved book should have its spine cracked, indicating that someone thought enough of it to actually read it. Will I reread the Potter series? Well of course I will, as I said what goes on in anyone's bedroom is their business and none of mine, but I fear other children (well, I am a child, at heart anyway) will be denied the opportunity of finding this series of books and learning a love of reading because of prejudice. Prejudice is such an ugly word in principal and even uglier in action. Okay, so Dumbledore has been outed and Kay Scarpetta...I can hardly think, the humiliation of what has befallen our beloved Dr. Kay...has suffered a sexual assault. I have followed Dr. Kay Scarpetta from her very first case, I know her likes and dislikes, her family (and everyone has a dysfunctional family, I'm sure of it...my family put the dys in functional, of that there's also no doubt). When I first knew it was about to happen I had to put the book down for a couple of days. I had to prepare myself for her ordeal because she is like a fictional sister to me, and I couldn't bear this to happen to any woman, living or dead, real or imaginal. I have my reasons. Trust me. I have learned over the years that rape is almost never about the sex. It is about the power. It is about the power being taken from you and the almost certain knowledge that the action will be at the back of the ravaged person's mind for a lifetime. Forever. And beyond. So. While I disagree with JK's action, I don't necessarily disagree with Patricia's. On one hand, something that would never have occurred to a reader in one series hurts the series in my opinion, and on the other hand something that occurs in the other series educates. There is a big difference in education and titillating. Bad girl, JK (Rowling)...you may have fallen off the radar for anything else that may be in that fertile mind but worse yet, you may have deprived another generation of loving your vivid and witty characters and learning to love the written word all for the sake of sensationalism. Brave girl, Patricia (Cornwell)...you have brought the victim forward and shamed the devil. You have shown us that we can rise above humiliation and triumph over evil.

The Weather Map

My friend watches the Weather Channel with an alarming regularity. The last five times that I was over at her house, that is the channel that was playing. Not ABC, or CBS, not even NBC or CNN (Chronic News Network as my mother called it). No one was surfing through the channels to see if there was anything more entertaining on, in fact for the most part the only thing I saw was the huge weather map on the screen and some subtle background music. Elevator music on TV...how droll. We could sit and chat about anything and not be interrupted by breaking news, or soap opera story lines. We could discuss how work is going, what yard project we both may have lined up and how we're going to get the work done. Every so often she would look over at the screen, shake her head and go on with our conversation as though her attention had never wandered from it for a second. When the talk turned to the lack of rain we have experienced in the past few months, she started laughing. "See that weather map on the TV screen?" she asked. Nodding that yes, I did indeed see the weather map still showing on the TV screen, she continued. "I figured out exactly where we are on that thing," she said. I gave her a quizzical look, and she went on. "No, really, I know exactly where we are. Just look at the map. See where all the clouds are covering it? Yes? Well, see that hole right there, in the middle? That's us. There we are. Cloudless and rainless, and it's where that hole has been for weeks now. No wonder all the ponds are drying up, the satelite won't let the clouds move an inch." You know, I didn't have the heart to tell her that the weather satelite had not a darned thing to do with it, I just reached over for the remote control and changed the channel. I was afraid if I stared at that hole in the middle of the weather map, I'd start to think the weather satelite had a hold on the rain, too.