CAME HOME WITH A STOOL

TWO OF THE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ARE UNDER OUR BELT. We got up so early to drive over to Manhattan for Hubby's appointments that afterwards we ate Breakfast at THE CHEF.  As I stared at my meal, I was thinking that a green salad would have been a better pick for me.  I should have ordered one instead of what I did.  Country Fried Steak with gravy, home fries, scrambled eggs and wheat toast.  Hubby frequently gets this and I thought I would also.  Mistake for me.

After I finished my meal, I wished I had ate a salad.  This meal wasn't as good as I have had at THE CHEF.  The ketch-up I used was sour.  I had ordered HOME FRIES and got hash browns. Not a big deal, I ate some of the hash browns.  The scrambled eggs I received were not like any I had before.  They were not scrambled, but looked more like a blob.  Tasted odd.  I should receive the food with appreciation and thankfulness and yet, I know the waitress didn't get the order correct.  Better luck next time if there be a next time.

As we walked back to our car, someone had plucked a stem from a Impatiens plant which was lying on the hot sidewalk.  I picked it up and asked Hubby to check on his phone to see if a Impatiens stem will root out in water?  He said yes, so I placed it in a water bottle and have plans to let it root out in the Kitchen.  When it does, I'll plant it in a pot.  Almost immediately the stem perked up.

We drove all over Manhattan running chores.  Hubby needed a copy of the heart test he had, so we drove over to the facility where he had the test.  There's some questions he will ask our doctor at his physical next week.  

Then he was to make an appointment with a podiatrist to have his toenails professionally shaped.  More driving to a different location.  The soonest they could get him in is OCTOBER 3rd.  I blinked my eyes.  That's 13 weeks away.  As I was checking the calendar to write the appointment down, I noticed it falls on ROSH HASHANAH.  I guess it will be just fine to have this appointment on such a special Jewish Holiday even with us not being Jewish.

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish day of judgement preceding Yom Kippur (day of atonement), one of several Jewish New Years

Rosh HaShanah is the New Year in Judaism. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah. It is the first of the High Holy Days, as specified by Leviticus 23:23–25, that occur in the late summer/early autumn of the Northern Hemisphere.

Rosh Hashanah in a Minute

What: Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of the universe, the day G‑d created Adam and Eve, and it’s celebrated as the head of the Jewish year.

When: Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of the Jewish new year, Tishrei 1 and 2, beginning at sundown on the eve of Tishrei 1. Rosh Hashanah 2024 begins at sundown on October 2 and continues through nightfall on October 4.

How: Rosh Hashanah is celebrated with candle lighting in the evenings, festive meals with sweet delicacies during the night and day, prayer services that include the sounding of the ram’s horn (shofar) on both mornings, and desisting from creative work.

Hubby will find it interesting that his medical appointment is on Rosh Hashanah.  Off we went to get a green tea then to a medical supply store.  Auto Zone for car parts,  

I remembered that I was suppose to receive a medical report for the Echocardiogram I had done in May, but never received.  This was the day to go get one.  No telephone tag played or Health Portal hiccups.  More driving across town.  Back to the doctor's facility to get my copy.

I wanted to purchase some more Coleus as I did not have enough to fill the urn.  Home Depot had a few so I purchased one that will look beautiful in the urn.  More playing in the dirt!

More driving to Best Buy to check on a computer printer.  They had one that will work for us. Only one remained that had been marked down in price.  We chatted about what to do and we did it.  Ring it up to bring Home with us.  Cha-Ching.  A big purchase so we will pull some cash out of savings to deposit into the checking account.

Off to two more banks.  More driving.  By this time, I'm getting very tired since I woke at 4:22 this morning.  The tireds are hitting me.  

Onto the pharmacy in a different community to spend 84 cents on a prescription.

Walnut seat with legs made of maple painted ebony.

As we passed a new Amish Furniture store in the area, I said today's the day we stop to look. We did.  What a charming place.  Hubby sat on one of the wood stools that fit his build.  HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY.  Our's is in August, but this beautiful stool that fit like it was made for him might not be there come August, so we purchased it.  It will be used as his artist stool that he will use when he's painting at an easel.  I believe that having this stool will encourage him to once again paint.

They have gorgeous, well made furniture such as bedroom suites, rockers, dining tables with chairs.  Scripture pictures on the walls and faux candles lit.  Lovely place. 

Amish people run this new business dressed to the nines looking so wholesome.  The Amish have come to the area.  I'd love to visit with the mother sometime.  Perhaps God can arrange this for me.      

We came HOME, unloaded our finds and had quiet time to rest.  Supper WILL BE a salad.  I'll fix it after I have a nap.

BUSY DAY.  I think it would have been fun to have clocked the miles to see just how many we covered in this day.

There was a knock on the door.  Lil Miss had her brother with her and they stopped by after a swim.  What a nice treat to have grandchildren stop by.  Orange Gatorade time and caramel rice cakes to the rescue.  What kind of Grandma would I be if I didn't provide some snacks?  

That is Hubby's drawing board across the room from them.  The boxed printer is by the sideboard holding the TV.  Our living room is small, but cozy and having family here makes it all the better. 

Two medical appointments down and three to go this week.  Can you believe it?

As I type this post, I remember that it's already the 9th of July.  The 9th is my favorite cousin's birthday.  She would have been 68.  Three years ago, she and her Husband would pass away in a horrific automobile crash that happened about a week after she turned 65.  Every July 9th I think of her and I miss her.  Pause.  Denice.  My childhood memories come rushing back to me. She had a huge part in my life and I'm very  blessed to have had her in my LIFE.  She could tan when in the sun and I couldn't.  Played soft ball as a catcher, belly danced, Life Guard at the swimming pool, cheerleader.  I was jealous of all that she did when I was growing up.  As a child she delivered newspapers on her bicycle in her small HOME town.  She married two weeks before I did.  Mothered 9 children.  Athletic build.  As an adult she made the most beautiful cakes you could imagine.  Incredibly active and on the go.  She was awesome.  Loved the Lord.

Make this day count.

~d

FAVORITE COUSIN GONE But not forgotten.

TODAY REMINDS ME OF HOW SHORT LIFE CAN BE.  One year ago, my favorite cousin died.  She was 65 for a week.  Life as she knew it on earth ended and she woke on the other side with her husband.  My favorite cousin was in a terrible automobile crash.

When my Sister telephoned me with the news I burst into tears.  Weeping out loud I had no shame.  The shock and disbelief was overwhelming.  I searched on the computer for information about the car wreck.  So much was written already.  I was stunned.  

She wasn't raised Catholic, but would convert when she married.  The stories I could tell you about the differences in our FAITH.  We had a few conversations along the way.  What we had in common was the main focus of our relationship and it was for the best to not to correct one another as we'd never agree completely with each other.

Her last words to me were, "When nature calls, you have to go."  I said to her, "You look good.  I love you."  Off I went to use the throne in which I was called to use.  She went to visit with her Mom. This was on a Friday afternoon.  The next day, she'd be gone.  She entered eternity.  

The double funeral.

She was such an active woman ever since I can remember.  She and her Husband had a large family together and each time she got pregnant her mother and father objected.  They were not happy with the pregnancies.  I'm not sure when they decided their daughter had enough children.  Which grandchild would they send back if they could?  Why would they want to?  All beautiful babies with a multitude of talent.  

After nine children, why did it matter so much to her parents?  My cousin was a fantastic mother and her children never went hungry nor did they go without clothing.  All very clean and well groomed.  All were healthy and extremely athletic. 

Denice cried easily.  It was one of her super powers.  She said it cleansed her.  Made her feel better.  When one's mother doesn't show affection toward their own child, it can leave a deep hurt.  It's a deep hurt that God can help put into perspective.  Denice came from a family with four children.  She has a twin brother.  Three brothers altogether and the boys could do no wrong, but not Denice.  All the good she did and her mother constantly put her down.  When my mom said to Denice, "I'm not sure I'd go visit if my Mother did what yours does."  Denice said, "The Bible says we are to honor our parents."

I understand where she was coming from and to her, I'd have to say, "Sometimes we have to honor them from afar.  Same with other family members that have added insult to injury.  Sometimes we have to love them from afar."  She told me once that we are not to be door mats.  I agree.  But allowing a mother or father to be constantly mean to us, we must not be willing to be an enabler that allows them to abuse us as adults.  As a child living under their roof, it's a different ball game.  When fully grown...we shouldn't be an enabler that allows them to hurt us anymore.  

There was friction between her and her parents.  Tis sad, but that's the way it was.  She said that her Dad was the one to give emotional comfort to her.  That her mother was a injured woman that her Dad constantly was trying to comfort.  

I believe that there was such friction between Mother and daughter because the mother was upset with what her own father and brother did to her and also her daughter.  Angered that she had a daughter that she needed to protect and failed at it taking it out on the daughter.  If the daughter hadn't been there then the mother wouldn't have to deal with what her own father did that was wrong.  The boys are a different story.  They apparently didn't need protected from the monsters that violated the females in the family.

Denice is at peace now and knows more about death than I do.  She knows what happens when you die.  

I so admired Denice.  She could decorate cakes like nobody's business.  I have awesome childhood memories of us growing into young women getting married two weeks apart from one another.  

Blessed to have her in my LIFE as long as I did,

~d  

LAID TO REST

TODAY MY DEAR COUSIN AND HER HUSBAND WERE LAID TO REST.  Hubby and I got up very early, groomed and dressed then bought a ON THE ROAD BREAKFAST from McDonalds.  I had a Breakfast Burrito.  The first one I've had in about a year and a half.  Drank water.

It's been a year and a half since visiting McDonalds since Covid Pandemic started.  Eating in the car in dress clothing makes me a bit cautious since I'd prefer to not drop food on my dress while driving on the highway.  I was blessed to stay clean.

We drove the distance to Pilsen, Ks. to the church where my cousins attended.  I'm not Catholic, but Denice was.  She converted when she married Ray in 1974.  We'd marry two weeks apart from one another.  I grew up in Southwest Kansas, but my folks relocated to Marion, my Dad's hometown from Liberal, Ks.  Liberal was where I met my husband.  

Cousin Denice and Ray.

SO we'd tie the knot in Marion.  Denice and Ray married in Pilsen.  Their 47th Wedding Anniversary will be in August.

We arrived early at the church.  Two hearses out front by the stairs leading into the church.  It was sobering to see these.  I know that their deaths happened.  Heartbreaking.  I am so sad this happened.

     

Both Denice and Ray were well liked and loved by so many that I knew the church would be packed.  I for sure wanted a seat inside the church, but for sure wanted to sit in the pew that we sat in 7 years ago when we celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  I was alright with sitting in the back in a side pew.

After the service, we walked over to the cemetery and hugged their children and family.  This death has been a tough one to accept as it was so tragic to lose Denice and Ray.  Their children lost both their Mom and Dad at the same time.  Tragic.

I wasn't able to visit with all the relatives I saw there, but I got to at least see them.  Vernie, Doreen and Byron, Roxanne and Marty, Barb and Jerry, Wendy, Vicki and Gary, Stephanie, Michelle, Bradley, Diane and Larry, Aunt Pearl, Daren and Jan, Dennis and Marsha, Doug and his son, Ramie and her family, Nikki, Ryan and his family, Chuck and his wife, Andrew and his wife, Aaron and his fiancé, Amanda, James and his wife, Danae and her fiancé, Greta and Nic, a few people from the past.  The church was packed. 

  

Life is short.  It is a good thing to let family and friends know that you love them and to live out LIFE according to the way God would have us live.  

Hugs,

d

MY ADDRESS IS THE SAME

Saturday started out wonderful.  I slept in.  Had Breakfast.  Dressed and groomed. Sorted through a few things and made the big decision to throw away my Brownie uniform from when I was a Brownie Girl Scout.  I folded it up and pitched it in the waste can.  Heavens.  I have had that piece of material for almost 60 years.

This Girl Scout outfit was a dress and not a skirt and blouse.  We wore beanie caps as well.  I had saved this uniform all these years.  When we had our 2016 house fire the Brownie Dress was stained.  I just hadn't pitched it yet.  It had been cleaned by professional cleaners.  Still it had to go away.  I picked it up and looked at it, folded it, said goodbye and threw it into the waste can. Basket...two points.

That makes this little dress nearly an antique.  Nearly.  Maybe.  I had planned on doing a quick once over cleaning of the Victorian Room where months earlier I had started going through the closet, drawers, storage bins, etc. to thin out and organize the contents of the room and the keepsakes.  I am in over my head with going through things from days gone by.  I'm not operating a museum, but it seems like it at times.

We'd go over to the cottage to unload an exercise thingy majobber that I bought the day before from the Hillsboro, Kansas Et. Cetera Shop for $9.99.  A Weslo Cardio Glide.  My Mom, sister and I went there on Friday after we ate lunch at Wendy's.  We sat and chat then went to the thrift shop.  When returning to my Mom's apartment, I saw my favorite cousin, Denice who was going to visit her mom that lives in the same complex as my mom.  I waved at her as I was getting out of the car.  

We walked toward each other and hugged one another.  She said she had been to Oklahoma and saw all of her girls at her youngest daughter's  bachelorette party.  I said you must have had fun. Because I had to go to the bathroom so badly I excused myself to go inside Mom's apartment.  I told her I wasn't wanting to be rude, but I had to go to the bathroom so badly.  She told me when nature calls you have to go.  Her last words to me.  As I walked away, I told her she looked good.  

This would be the last time to see her alive as on Saturday afternoon she and her husband were killed instantly in an auto wreck.  She was driving and lost control of her car that they had just had for a week, went across the meridian crashing into a freight truck coming the opposite direction.

While I was at the local Mexican Restaurant sipping chicken broth watching my husband eat chips, salsa and enchiladas, Denice's earthly life ended.  I'd find out about it later that day when my sister called me to tell me about what had happened.  I was stunned.  Stunned.  The tears freely flowed.

I have so many fond memories of spending time with Denice in Marion as a child growing into teenagers.  We were close.  Pen Pals.  As we grew into adulthood, we were in each other's wedding.  This year she would have been married 47 years in August.  We married two weeks apart.   

I am still stunned and saddened.  She has 9 children with children of their own.  I cannot imagine how they must feel losing both parents at once.  They are a very close knit family. Denice made such beautiful cakes that she made her children's wedding cakes.  Extremely talented and active.  I don't know who would ever call her elderly at 65.  A reporter did in an article reporting their deaths.  An Elderly Couple......65 may seem old to some, but elderly?  No.

I have cried a river.  Rethinking once again what I am to do in LIFE as I live it.  I will have no trouble pitching things around here now.  No trouble.  When I woke this morning after having a colonoscopy, I felt a renewed lease on life.  I believe I have to get on with LIFE while I am still alive.

When you are 66 and still believe you have things to do, places to go, people to talk to, projects to complete, charity to extend...then being elderly doesn't seem so awful at 66. 

Child of God, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, cousin, friend. 

Denice touched so many lives in a good way.  Her trials and tribulations have ended.  Heaven is her home these days.  She and her hubby are there.  Her address changed on Saturday.  For now, my address is the same. 

When death is so final, the reality of it can be sobering.  She is with God.  She knew where she was going after leaving her body.  

d