Thank You

I want to thank everyone who sent condolences on the death of my father. It has been one of those experiences that you never wish you have to go through, but know that you eventually will. My dad was a barber in town and was known to several generations within the same family. In my dad's spare time he worked as a volunteer for the ambulance core for over 50 years. At times when it looked as if the ambulance service was going to end, he helped keep it going. He continued his education and became a paramedic, licensed in several states. He started the water rescue unit. He was a father who showed his kids the joys of hunting (I wish I could have felt some of that joy - I felt it a total waste of time because I never got anything! lol). We didn't take a lot of vacations - we camped at places close to dad's barber shop so he could commute. We took several trips to Canada. Dad was the quintessential "pillar of the community," and the community showed its respect on his passing. It was a fitting and loving tribute to his memory to see a line out the funeral home door of people who wanted to pay their respects. To see the ambulance crew in their dress uniforms (it's no longer a volunteer organization) paying tribute to one of their founding members, black across their shields, standing at attention and saluting as the ambulance carrying his casket to the cemetery, passed by the building where all the rescue vehicles are kept awed all of us. There was not a dry eye in the car as we passed by we heard Last Call for my dad. It was all beautiful and my dad would be embarrassed at all the fuss. His strength was a quiet one, and he never expected anything in return for his years of service to the community. He is a man who will be greatly missed by all - especially by this son. Thank you dad for all you did for me - rest in peace.

Just received word

That Dad passed away a couple hours ago - I'm heading home. I'll have my computer with me, but please understand that I probably will not be blogging for the next week.

Frog of the Day

A Cure Is Spotted, a photo by KenCalvino on Flickr.

Things are finally beginning to turn around and I'm feeling much better. I've spent the last couple days resting and recouping (and a little spring cleaning). Now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. Genealogy has been in the forefront since I found a new descendant line to trace. That is well underway and quite challenging.

This frog collectible is from The Hamilton Collection. It is from their Hope Hope Here Art Glass Collection and is entitled A Cure is Spotted. It is quite a heavy piece of art glass, molded in a very dark green with pinkish feet. You can just make out the pink ribbon design on his back. A portion of the sales of each of these pieces goes to breast cancer research. And don't forget those who are walking for the cure - The Avon Walk. Each of these pieces is a limited edition and numbered. Mine is #340.

Lightning

I've been spring cleaning and in my spare time knee deep in genealogy. Late last night I found the name of a person in the second generation that was really exciting (for me). So this morning I got up early and decided to check things out further. There were rumblings of thunder and a light rain this morning, but nothing major. I had just sat down at the computer and Gertie was curled up at my feet, already sound asleep. I wish I could fall asleep that fast! My office has one window behind me and two big windows on my right hand side that look out onto the street. I wish I had the words to adequately describe the sheer brightness of the red glow that suddenly filled those windows, the sudden smell of electricity that filled my nose, and the sound that filled my ears. On the other side of the those two big windows to my right is a big old elm tree. It now has a giant scar running down it's entire trunk where the lightning traveled to the ground. Bits of bark litter the ground, as well as a few unfortunate animals that happened to be in the tree. One of those animals was a giant rat! I hope that thing hadn't found a way to get in the house.

In the seconds after the lightning struck and I was sitting dazed at what just happened, I suddenly realized that I had a dog stuck to me! Gertie had jumped into my lap, buried her head in my shoulder and didn't want to let go. I realized I had to laugh the whole thing off and set her down or she might become afraid of lightning and while that bolt was indeed the scariest lightning I think I've ever been through, I don't want her to fear every bolt of lightning. I don't know if I was very convincing or not, but she finally went back to sleeping at my feet. I really do wish I could fall asleep that fast....

Grocery Shopping

Yesterday I finally decided that I had been home for a month, and I had been out of basically everything since the day I arrived, so grocery shopping had to first and foremost. I took all my pain medications and out the door I went. I went past the first two aisles - they were frozen foods and I didn't want to start there. I started the next aisle and thankfully there was a Walmart worker in almost every aisle after that. I was at the store for three hours, and I never made it back to the frozen food aisles. Now I'm planning a return trip for the remainder of the store - dog food, some office supplies I need, and yes, the frozen food aisle. I have to go through my grocery list - it was two pages long, to see if I missed anything that I felt I had to have.

When I arrived home I had to handle all those groceries again, getting them into the house and put away. That was another hour. In between I was bagging up garbage and getting it to the curb because it was garbage night. By the time I was done I plopped down in a chair exhausted. It was then that Gertie chastised me thoroughly for leaving her alone so long and not paying attention to her the minute I came home. With a little attention, I was forgiven and she curled up in my lap and we both took a little nap. Her nap was intentional - mine was not. When I awoke I went to move and every muscle and joint in body screamed in protest.

This morning I woke up feeling pretty good, but unable to move. I've now had a couple doses of my pain killers in me and I'm starting to recover from my shopping trip. I dread going back to Walmart tomorrow, but I want to finish all my shopping and be able to sit back and relax for a few days.

Feeling Better

I'm finally beginning to feel like my old self again. I don't know it that's good or bad as my old self, well, felt old. LOL The weather here was really bad today - we've had thunderstorms and heavy rain most all day. This morning the tornado sirens went off for a time. Thankfully, I'm still here. I haven't been outside so I don't know if I'm the last person left standing in this little town - but somehow I doubt it.

New Medication

I began taking the new medication that the doctor prescribed. Well, not the one that she wanted to give me, but one that the insurance company finally agreed to pay for. To all the people who cried about the death panels during the last election I can only say that they already exist. We need even more reform of the insurance industry, not less. It's taking a bit of time for me to get used to the medication. Today I spent almost the entire day asleep. I do need the sleep because for a solid month I got about one hour a night. This is my third day on the medication and the last two nights I was able to sleep all night! Hurray! Since I take another pill right before bed time I'm sure I'll end up sleeping all night tonight too. I'm getting caught up on me sleep, but I'm not getting any of my errands done that I've put off for a month.

The medication is working. I no longer scream in pain every time I sit or lie down. That's a big plus! Hopefully I"m on the road to recovery. Then we can go through this big box of new frogs that I have sitting here.

I received several e-mails the last couple days asking about my dad. If you don't remember, he has Alzheimer's and is now bedridden with hospice care. There has been little change in his condition over the last month. Mom thinks he had another seizure and he can now only swallow baby food. The outcome of this is known and it will be no surprise when it happens, but the loss will still be unbearable.