MY BIRTHDAY COMES AGAIN 

I think the last I spoke of my birthday was when I reached the landmark age of 80. My birthday present from the family was the memorable trip to the Steinhatchee Landing Resort. We saw pictures of that exciting time just a few weeks ago and I was filled warm feelings about how happy everyone seemed.

Now I’m 83. What can I say? I keep thinking about all the years of growing up and still dream of my Mother. A frequent one is that she is in a nursing home and I’ve not called or visited her and I feel so guilty forgetting about her. I don’t think I ever dream of my Dad.

I had a marvelous time with part of the family yesterday. We visited the Miniature Art show and saw five of our daughter’s pieces. Then we had dinner with Melissa, Chris, Jen and Steve as well as their two beautiful daughters. Chris brought brownies to the restaurant and lit two candles. I had always thought that anyone 80 years old was decrepit and living in a fog. I know I’m decrepit but I don’t live in a fog.

Today our only son, wife and grandson are arriving this evening with gifts of Greek Food. How lucky I am.

One thing that might surprise you is, I’m starting to write a book of fiction. Why not, I have a title and two characters kind of mapped out. At first I wanted it to be a mystery and filled with humor, now I’m not sure. I read the first page to my husband and we really laughed about some of the stuff. Now I think that what is funny could also be taken as serious. I had planned to ask the rest of the family to read it and suggest a mystery plot but now decided to go my own way. 

I’m telling you this because if I let you know about it, then I’ll have to continue and try to finish it. It might end up a short story, a novella or a book. Who knows, but my imagination continues on.

What would really be funny is if something happens to me, mentally or physically, everyone would get to write their own finished version.

Anyways, Happy Birthday to Me.

LOSING ONE’S POWER

You’ve read all about the retired policeman who killed a man for ostensibly throwing a bag of popcorn at him. His lawyer says for people not to judge him because he feared for his life in that dark theater and this is where the “stand your ground law” comes into effect. I don’t think even our local sheriff’s department is going to agree with that alibi.

In my estimation, the real reason is that the retired policeman had “lost his power” and couldn’t deal with it. It’s possible that proof comes in the form of a previous moviegoer who had the same experience with him, saying he really frightened her.

Consider how a highly regarded person used to commanding respect has to deal with the fact he’s lost his power at retirement and doesn’t get the respect he feels he deserves.

This particular person, a former police officer, has many friends who cannot believe this man could become so enraged that he would kill someone simply for texting. Those many friends, family and neighbors can’t understand this helpful person doing such a dreadful thing. But when he is outside of that circle of friends and can’t deal with the reality that “he’s lost his power” does he carry a gun to prove he still has it?

Unfortunately, in Florida we residents are surrounded by people who have no power except for guns, guns, guns.

 

HEADLINE NEWS

I so enjoy reading the headlines on magazines at the checkout lanes in grocery stores. When I read a small article in today’s newspaper, I started to imagine what would appear on next month’s supermarket editions. The article I’m speaking of comes from Honolulu and the headline states “Michele Obama extends her vacation”.

Can’t you just imagine the gasps of shoppers as they’re about to pay for their groceries and they see “OBAMA LEAVES MICHELLE” or “FIRST DAUGHTERS ARE SEEN LAUGHING AT THE LAST SIGHTOF THEIR MOTHER”? Or maybe “THE PRESIDENT STRANDS MICHELLE ON AN ISLAND”. Possibly “AT 50 IS MICHELLE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN AN AGING PRESIDENT?”

IT’S ALMOST OVER

The holidays are all but over. The New Year begins tomorrow, so I’d like to re-examine the last ten days or so. Our joy began with the arrival of Victoria and Kevin. We admire them so much and are in awe of their accomplishments and the special time we spent with them is memorable for PP and I.

When Lynn, Rich and Rob arrived the special times continued. Our conversations were very revealing. Rob has a fulltime job and his second year at Harvard is on hold while he spends time in Africa.

Everyone was here again for Christmas Eve and there was much noise and turmoil. Everyone was boisterous and filled with the thrill of being together. PP and I received many gifts, as always too many but they were appreciated. Also we had an abundance of food with plenty of leftovers which leads me to tell you what has happened.

Because so many of the family brought food in plastic, I now own a vast amount of containers with matching lids. I think that means it’s going to be a great new year according to Chinese proverbs.

As usual we spent Christmas Day at Chris’s with all the traditional food she prepared and the assortment of cheeses provided again by Victoria and Kevin. The following day Jessica, our oldest granddaughter and her family arrived with our first great granddaughter. A curly headed beauty, she was the star of the occasion and for the first time she slept at her grandmothers overnight. Four dogs were also in attendance.

We are blessed to have nine grandchildren, six girls and three boys who enjoy being together.

Today we put away the Christmas decorations and the trees. The house is swept and I finally found the tablecloth I’ve been searching for.  So everything’s right with the world today, except for those damned Republicans.

I MADE A MISTAKE

Yes I’ll admit it. I made a mistake when I called the former Republican candidate for President of the United States, Senator John McCain a “Show Horse”. After his remarks on television today, I revised my feelings about him. He’s no “Show Horse” he really is a “Jack Ass!”

In future blogs, you’ll know of whom I speak when I allude to Senator J.A.

MAKING A DIFFICULT DECISSION

There was an article in today’s paper about a doctor in her fifties not wanting anymore procedures done on her cancer ridden body. She wanted to be alert and able to spend time with her family knowing nothing could save her.

After I read this article, I looked at the large painting above our living room sofa and thought about our very special friend Mary. We are blessed to have this picture because every time we were in Mary’s art studio, I would stand and admire it.

Mary had cancer about ten years before her death and when she was diagnosed again, she told everyone, including her children that she would not go through radiation or chemo again.

When we visited her in the hospital she looked wonderfully healthy as she told us she was refusing anymore treatment and was going into a nursing home until the end. I couldn’t understand this because she seemed to be normal in every way. She had convinced her children that this was what she wanted and they finally agreed not to argue anymore about her decision.

A short time later, we visited her in the nursing home. She was lying in her bed and seemingly asleep. My husband and I stood on either side of her and each took a hand, she opened her eyes and smiled at us and then closed them again. The medicine she was receiving kept her pain free. She knew who we were, but said nothing.

We had planned to visit again several days later, but our daughter called to say she had died. She was 76 years old.

Mary was a professional artist, but also a student of our artist daughter which is how we first met her. She became an important member of our extended family and attended many celebrations in our home and was beloved by us and many others.

She made the right decision for herself. I hope as we all grow older, we’ll be able to make the right decision as to our own care.

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

My brother, who is close to 80 years old, tried to vote in the Ohio elections this week but couldn’t because he no longer had a driver’s license. Although he brought along his valid passport as identification, he was told he needed his birth certificate and verification of his street address like a utilities bill to the home where he has lived for over forty years.

He returned later to the same precinct and brought with him a folder containing his birth certificate, his baptism certificate, his first communion certificate, his marriage certificate and his honorable discharge papers from the United States Marine Corps.

When presenting this to the same poll worker, he said “now, do you know who I am?”