Down but not out

 Histerical picture:
Sister Shirl hanging cousin Bobby, me and Guy Abee on the clothes line in our back yard,1953. That is the school Gym behind us. That is how far I had to walk to school!

Tonight I am a little down. That is very unusual for me.  I was born ‘positive and upbeat’. There are things I should be doing. I have two books in the oven and cannot get to them. Each time I must go back and reread everything I have written and still cannot find the handle. All my fans (both of them) keep asking when the next book will come out!

Sherry and I have dealt with dementia, but for an obvious reason caring for a loving mother who was SWEET until death was different. I think I have said it here before, but here it is again. When the Dr. told our family mama needed to be in a nursing home I (the baby of the family) spoke up, “My mama will never go to a nursing home!”

It is along story, but I interfered in a major way in two families. I was wrong. My mama should have went to a nursing home. But if you had been in the nursing homes I had been in, you might understand my IGNORANCE.

This time it is different. It is an older sister. Where mama was malleable, sister is not. In dementia cases there comes a time when one must do things that turn some stomachs. Cleaning vomit, missed toilets and cleaning ‘bottoms’. I can handle those things with not even a bat of the eye. 

It is the refusal to allow ‘fixing’ those things and even trying to hide and deny the OBVIOUS, that hurts. 

I am deaf.  I am deaf because I have my implant devices off and in the little ‘Ultraviolet cooker’ where they sleep  every night.  Right now, if there was a jet engine next door I would not know it. I might FEEL the vibrations, but I would not hear it. 
 
Ever read “Sean of the South?”  If not, you should. He writes 99% about people, not himself. I read him daily, sorta like a devotion.

I wish I could do that! Me? I write about me mostly.  It isn’t my ego (I don’t think), it is that I know me better than I know others.

So sitting here deaf, having just missed a dear friend’s memorial service who died of ‘Lewy Body Dementia’, I am sorta down. I missed it due partially to a ‘dementia related accident’. Judy was my age and also married 61 years, as Sherry & I.

I sit here being thankful I still have Sherry. I just tucked her in, and I sang, “I am so glad you came into my life,” then she joined me with, “Thank you Baby!”
YES, I am now totally deaf, but I am thankful when I attach my Cochlear implants in the morning. I will hear.

Today I drove past a few houses I built, two in which we have lived. I can see my girl now in bed. She always reads herself to sleep. We are parked behind Shirl. Her bedroom is bigger than this motor home. I built the house for us, but I prefer having my beautiful wife near me. I get many more kisses in 325 sq ft than I did in 2800sqft. So even though I am down, I have too much for which to be thankful, to stay down. Tomorrow will come. Thanks for listening.
Nite Shipslog

BREAKING NEWS , There is a tough side of life

“” Uncle Jack, the Doctor just told me I have killed myself.”  Nephew Howard. (He thought he had gas and exercised hard, trying to get relief, it was a heart attack. He died a few weeks later.

“Hey Jack, the Doctor just gave me a death sentence, I have esophageal cancer, 5% cure rate. I think I can beat it,” Jim, my brother in law. He passed a few months later.

BREAKING NEWS:
May 7^th this year, from Bonnie, an internet friend, “I have sad news. I have been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer--adrenal cancer.” She said 20 days ago. I just received a message from her sister, “Bonnie passed last night at about 8:50 PM.

Most of you don’t know Bonnie. She proofed one of my books and did a fantastic job. She had a blog, “Organic Discourse”. I am not sure who read it, I know Rick did on occasion. Since Organic growing is not my cup of tea I was surprised she was so passionate about it. I read and commented on every post. She was very intelligent and witty. When she told me she was going to start blogging, I expected a blog of general content, but she loved to grow things and knew the ‘real’ names of all those weeds and flowers. She was passionate about organic.
I will miss Bonnie, I never had a chance to meet her. I am sure that is my loss. Her son and hubby are musicians. On occasions Bonnie would sing with them. She was so proud of her son Caleb. He can really pick the strings, his mandolin is my favorite.

I have lost some internet friends. Some I have no idea what happened to them. BUT since our interacting during the proofing, she was special. The book was ‘Finally Love’ and her input was good and I appreciated it.  Her son and sister contacted me to let me know of Bonnie's passing. Bonnie was a dedicated Christian.

Nite Shipslog

 Knowing my interest in auto's. Bonnie sent me this one from one of the nursery's she used.

Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day)

Historical Photo:
 They called this 'D' day. Normandy Beach. The Allies lost 12,000 troops here.

Coming in for Memorial Day!
As I have stated here I am a veteran of the USMC, USAF and the USN.  I never saw combat I never lost a shipmate to enemy action.
BUT Memorial Day is set aside to honor the military men and women who have gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Today I will honor them in my thoughts. I had brothers, uncles, cousins and nephews who served in combat and thank God they all returned.
You may argue that some died in battles that were not for our ‘FREEDOM’, you may be right, I would never argue that. BUT THEY WENT WHERE THEY WERE ORDERED TO GO. They joined or were drafted and signed a paper swearing to defend this country against all enemies domestic or foreign as ordered by the proper authority.  The soldier does not get the choice to follow the orders he likes, his duty is to follow orders. The military man does and he comes into harm’s way.
For those who have given their lives I weep. Most were young men and women, OUR BEST, and will never see their families on earth again, nor grow old like I have, to see the grand kids.  God bless their memory and their families who are left to remember, and hold a folded flag and a medal.
God love the ones who gave their lives for this country.  REMEMBER the orders, right or wrong have no weight, they died doing what they were ordered to do.
God bless the ones who died and the ones who are willing to die.  God Bless the USA, the greatest country in this world.
Nite Shipslog
North Carolina facts
My wife was born, raised and lived in North Carolina until I married her. That is the NC fact I will always remember and give thanks to God.

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 Ahhh, that military jeep.  How the ground-pounder envied the driver of this vehicle!