It was a cold day but the sun shone and the promised wind did not blow so it was tolerable.

I left at about 8:30Am for my chiropractor appointment which was at 9:20AM.   I had time to go to Aurora Superior to pick up some supplies that Mother needed too.   I knew she was getting low and decided to get them and drop them at her house on the way to Rocky Knoll.

My appointment with Dr. Holmes went quite well.    He is pleased with my progress and has given me another exercise to do.   I will not see him for a week and a half which is good.   I am healing.

I had a nice visit with Mom when I brought her the supplies.

I got to Rocky Knoll in the middle of Dick's therapy.   He walked and moved from his wheel chair to another chair and back.   So it was a very successful day.  After lunch we went to the main activity room for a special celebration for the resident veterans.  It was a great ceremony.   The Plymouth High School chorus provided music,  Representative Mike Endsley,  Representative Steve Kestell and Senator Joe Leibham were all there to express their admiration for the veterans.  I saw several members of the Legion that I know.    Don Blake, Greg Ziegler and Ed Schroeder.   They had a 21 gun salute at the end of the program.   I was impressed and Dick has his name, branch of service and a list of his medals on a plaque on the honor wall in the entry.   I was so pleased for him.   I will bring a picture to put with the plaque.  Dick really liked it.

Then we went to On the Rocks for our Friday afternoon "date."   That was very pleasant since I won't see him for two days.    I left right after On the Rocks was over, finished packing and got things ready for tomorrow.

Jim and Michelle called.    They are excited about coming and had just talked to Dick.    He needs that contact.   It helps keep his spirits up.

Then I got dressed for Bill and Shirley's wedding.   It was a lovely wedding.   She was beautiful and he was handsome.    I was surprised at how many of my friends are friends of Bill's, besides the writers group.  We met their families, most of them had part in the ceremony.    Their grandchildren are cute as buttons.   A nice ceremony, they wrote their own vows.    Then we had a nice chicken dinner with veggies, stuffing and mashed potatoes.

I left just before 9 so that I can finish this, call Dick and get to bed for some sleep before that 5AM getting up time that will come way too soon.    You will not hear from me until Sunday evening.   Think of me Sunday when I present my poetry in the Literary Salon.

God love you and Good NIght.

Mary

What a day.    It flurried most of the day.   Not really snow.   Nothing stayed on the ground  But it flurried all day and it was cold.  Never above 38 degrees.

I spent the morning packing for my trip to Chicago this weekend.  I need to bring everything I need but not any more than I need as room in the car will be at a premium.    I refined my presentation and spent time with my Roxie.

I got to Rocky Knoll at 11:00AM.   We sent down for PT right away and it was a very successful session.   He is walking pretty good.  Lifting the legs and making good steps and going 32 feet or more each time.

I am beside myself with excitement.   This is great.


Dick sent me home at a bit after 2PM because he was worried about the weather and me.   Isn't he the sweetest thing?

I spent the afternoon with a bit of sewing. (I have two projects that have to be done by December 6th, com hell or high water.) 

I went over to the neighbors, Don and Jan, to be sure that Jan was on for this weekend to take care of our Roxie.   She loves Roxie.   We visited a bit and shared a glass of wine.    Then I came home to finish up for the evening.  I told Jan that if her grandsons want to come and visit Roxie, they are welcome.   He grandsons are two of the nicest young men that I have met in a long time.

So I will try to get some extra sleep tonight as tomorrow is a very busy day and the next morning I leave for IBAM.

So rest yourselves also.   God love you

Mary

Snow.    It started coming down when I was at the Roadside Inn with my fellow 1958 graduates. 

My plan today was to stay home until lunch at 11:30, then go to Rocky Knoll.   So I did bill paying etc and washed all the sheets and started working on my Football League.   Then drove to the Roadside as planned.    Had a nice visit and lunch with a good number of my fellow graduates and their spouses.   I ordered a Gyro, I had not had one in years and it looked good.   Was good too.   I have half for lunch tomorrow.

When we left, it was rain,snow, sleeting like crazy.   I WAS planning on going to Rocky Knoll anyway but when I got onto the road it was already slushy, so I called Dick and we decided that it would be best if I just came home.  So I did and we are both safe and sound and off the road.    The grass is almost white and there is at least an inch, perhaps more on the deck railings.   Pretty impressive for a first snow.

I was able to lie down for a rest as I was home early enough.  Couldn't sleep, but did unwind.  Then I went down into the den to do a little more on my quilting projects.

Now, Roxie is very irritated with me as I am NOT feeding her.   She still has not accepted daylight savings time.  She still has to wait for 20 more minutes.    At least she has stopped poking at me at 4AM.   She is back to 5.

That is all the news today.    I think I mentioned that Jim and Michelle are coming for Christmas.    They are coming by bus which will put the driving on and expert.   That will be a nice blessing.  I look for the day we can ALL be together.  But to have 8 of us at the table will just makes me feel SO good.

God love you


Mary

A day on the run but a very successful one.   It was raining when I woke up and kept raining most of the morning.

I got the trash all gathered and out before leaving to be at Rocky Knoll by 9:15AM so that I could be sure Dick was ready for his Eye Doctor appointment.    Tim came to pick him up at 9:45AM.   It was easy to keep him dry loading him up because of the overhang.   But we had to scramble a bit with the umbrella to get him into Advanced Eye Care as they do not have a sheltered entrance.  We made it pretty easily and the rain had really let up quite a bit by the time the appointment was over.  Things went pretty well.   There is a slight change in his vision, and that pesky lash was back but continuing with the drops and occasionally the ointment seems to be helping.

We got back at about 11AM and I took off immediately to do the grocery shopping, banking and stop at the pharmacy for more drops for Dick.    Managed to get it all done and be back at Rocky Knoll by 1:15PM so that I could be there for his PT.  We were SO excited.    He was able to walk again.   He walked twice - once he went 32 feet and the second time 16 feet.    He also stood between the bars and practiced swaying back and forth and marching to strengthen his hips and knees.    His voice is still very weak but that really bad physical weakness seems to have diminished. 

At 3PM we went down to On the Rocks for our "date".    That was pleasant.   We sat with a very nice gentleman and were able to visit with other attendees.   I came home shortly after we left there.   

I have been able to get the house picked up, find a book and get some wash done.   Roxie is so glad to have me home.    She is so funny.   I have two exercises that I do on the floor.   She finds that very interesting and always comes to talk to me about it.

So, tomorrow will be less crammed.  I am having lunch with friends and will spend the afternoon with Dick.

God love you

Mary


My sister in law sent me the following.    It is funny.

Bad news for you!

 
 
To save the economy, on December 30, 2011, Congress will announce that they are ordering the immigration department to start deporting old people (instead of illegal’s) in order to lower Social Security and Medicare costs.

Old people are easier to catch, and will not remember how to get back home!

I started crying when I thought of you...

.....see you on the bus.

 

A rather UP day for a change.    I left before 9AM for Bible Study.    My bible study group, and there were 8 of us in attendance today, let me do a short preview of the talk that I will be giving at IBAM next weekend.   I so appreciated their help.   We have such a supportive group in prayer and just plain caring.  

Then I went to visit Mother.   She always says that she is "just the same."   But as we visit she always perks up and we end up having great visits.    Today, I filled her medicine box for the week and paid a couple of bills and we still had time for a nice visit remembering Ginny Rammer, whose wake I attended on Saturday, and all the wonderful times we had in the old neighborhood on Pinehurst Court all those years ago.  

She remembered a story that I had heard before but shows the difference in our lives today as they were then.   Randy was just a little guy and had gone out to play in the yard.   Mom went out to check on him and he was gone.   The neighbor saw her and called her over.   The husband in that household was a night worker and slept during the day.   The wife took Mom into their bedroom and there was Randy, sound asleep on her side of the bed .   The two women just  laughed and when Randy woke up from his nap, the woman brought him home.

 I love that trust.   Today we do not seem to trust anybody.  But what a tender moment to know that if a little guy gets tired he can take a nap with a Dad, who may not be his own , but knows that little guys need their rest can do so.

I made it to Rocky Knoll just in time for lunch.   Dick was already in the lunch room so I think he had given up on me.    I took a bit of a nap on his bed after lunch and then we played Rummy before I came home.

So this is the day.   Tomorrow he goes to see the Eye doctor in the morning.   I have to rearrange the schedule again.    I figure that I will take a bread after the  doctor appointment to do the grocery shopping and then go back so that I will be there for his afternoon therapy and that  we can have our Date at 3PM at on the rocks.

I am winding down.  I will watch Dancing with the Stars and then go to bed.

Have a great week.

God love you

Mary

Sunday.  It was cloudy most of the day, but got up to 58 degrees.   Actually, I can not say that it felt that warm.  We have not gotten the rain they suggested might come.

Richard, Brenda and I had breakfast at about 8AM and had a nice visit.    Then they prepared to leave so that they could stop and visit Dick one more time on the way out.    Dick called shortly after 9.   He had told his dinner companion that I would take him down to Mass this morning.   He had forgotten that I had gone to mass last night at St. John's so that I could stay home until noon today to give Richard and Brenda more visiting time one on one.    So.  I hurried up and got there to take Jerry down.  I am glad that I did as Jerry seemed in need of someone who he could talk to and he feels he knows Dick and me now.  I always enjoy the mass at Rocky Knoll.   Guess an extra mass or two won't hurt me.

After Mass, Dick and I went to the therapy department, since someone was in there, so that he could do some OT exercises to keep his arm strength up.    Usually noone is in on Sunday but we were lucky today.

He seemed a bit perkier today.   I think that Richard and Brenda's visit and the family dinner last night helped.   We will see what transpires this week.   I hope he gets a little stonger.

I came home in time to watch the Packer Game.   They won but it was a rather close game.   They were ahead except for the first quarter but San Diego was close on their heels the whole game.

So this week will be kind of busy but not frantic.   Next weekend is my trip to Chicago for IBAM.

I am excited about that.

God love you

Mary