Rising Waters

Max climbing by the ever rising Mississippi River.
The water usually is "way back there".
I could not believe it to see it in person.



The wind was very strong, even for river standards...
We only stayed a few minutes...

Ginger

I was just sitting at home minding my own business. The doorbell rings. It is one of my neighbors and she asks if I know anything about the dog in the middle of the street. No, I didn't know it at all. We go out and call for her, she comes slowly. We grab her, and of course she had a collar, but, no name on it....The neighbor said she could not stay as she had to get to class for an exam. So, there I stand, with a stray dog, and no idea what to do with her...She is placed in my back yard. There is only one thing troubling...

This little girl is my main concern....and she was not happy! Still, I was really liking this new girl. She was clean and well fed; she had not been on the street long. She was someone's dog. Somebody was missing their dog. How was I to find them? I sent an e-mail to our neighborhood group, called rescue groups, and nothing. Meanwhile, the day was moving on, so I got one of Shelby's big beds and settled the dog down for the night on the screened in backporch. She curled up and snuggled in. It was tearing my heart up. She was such a sweet dog, she would run all around me when I was outside, and race me to the back door, then sit down and not force her way in. She would sit at the door and look in, wanting to come in, and furrow her brows. Man, it was killing me! I called my vet and asked them for help. They were so nice. They told me to bring her in, which I did. The good girl sat very nicely in the back seat all the way to the vet. She was so happy. Several days pass and still no owner calls. The vet
knows someone who might want her. If not, I did not know what was going to happen. I teared up so many times...what was I going to do? Thankfully, before anyone could decide to take the dog, I got a phone call from the owner....her name was Ginger, and she was an escape artist. The owner had just moved in the neighborhood and Ginger bolted....all the way to my house. I did not get to tell her goodby, but, that is ok. Ginger sat beside the owners son all evening. That was enough for me. Ginger was home!!!!

Regatta 2011

Some photos of the Regatta this week....For the Wacky Boat Race, they start out with one big sheet of cardboard and make a boat to race in the pond. It was quite cold and cloudy at the start but the day ended up very beautiful....

April 1968

The place was Memphis Tennessee. The date was April 1968. Martin Luther King was in town for the sanitation workers strike. Times were different then, they were called garbage men. There was unrest in the city. Violence erupted between the supporters of the sanitation workers and the police. How did this affect me? I was a senior student nurse at the time. We were sent to help in the overflowing emergency rooms. I walked into this situation and was immediately overwhelmed. There were injured people everywhere, in wheelchairs, on stretchers. They were bleeding and moaning. I was terrified. Nurses threw IV fluid bottles and tubing at me and told me to get them ready to hang. That meant I would prime the fluid through the tubing all the while not contaminating it. i have no idea how I did it, but, I did. I was then sent to assist a resident who was suturing a black man's head. I was in shock. I remember standing there, I may have helped the doctor, I probably did whatever he asked, but, I was horrified. As I stood there, I realized the doctor did not use anesthesia on the man's head. He was crying out and I was holding his hand, but, the doctor kept sewing. When the doctor finished with this poor man's head, he was going to suture his ear. It was cut very badly. The man started begging the doctor not to, to just leave it. He could not take the pain of having the ear sutured without deadening his ear! I think I was about to faint myself. The doctor said he would give him the deadening. I cannot imagine this happening today. I would like to think there are no longer people who think like that resident. We have come a long way. Thankfully.....

Exercise Class

I have recently started exercising every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Christ United Methodist Church. Today the church recognized the contribution of the Athletic Department and its ministry to all who are involved. I gathered with my fellow exercisers. The lady I sat with, who is at exercise every time I go, who does the steps, boxing, the whole shebang, is going to be 90 years old in a few days. She was a joy to talk to. She still teaches yoga every week at her home. We had refreshments afterward, but, she could not join us because she had to go pick up several people and drive them to church at St. Mary's downtown....Now that is what I want to be like when I grow up and am 90 years old......

Spring Break 2010

Stuffed animals! All three of my grandchildren love them! Shannon invited us over to make our own. Even Amy got in on the action. Each child picked their design and material. As we all sat around the table I suddenly understood why older people long ago liked sewing together. It was nice just being together!

Forrest's Words

When I was trying to think of a name for my blog, I thought of Forrest, my youngest grandson. When he was about two years old, he really didn't have time to talk, he got by with pointing, or holding up his hands for you to pick him up. His mother would tell him to use his words.....so, my name for the blog was born. I wanted to use my words. So...skip ahead several years and I find that Forrest not knowingly uses his words, but, he is quite wise. All the while making us smile, even downright laugh....

Facebook has changed the way I stay connected with all my friends that I do not see often. I also hear the everyday, yet priceless things my grandchildren say. TMI alert. Forrest told his dad that diarrhea was just like regular pooping, just faster! That cracked me up. I had never made it anywhere near that simple....

The other night I ate breakfast for dinner at Kevin and Amy's. We were talking about Harry Potter. I mentioned that as Lily and I watched HP3, I noticed how the actor playing Hermione was growing and developing, if you get my drift. Lily noticed too, and leaned close to me and whispered "Hermione's got boobies"!!!!! I told her yes I noticed that too. Kevin and Amy were talking about how in the third movie, the actors wore teenager street clothes some instead of their robes.....All of a sudden Forrest proclaims, "Hey, why are people talking about a movie that a person is this room has not seen yet"? He sounded so much like his dad, who did not to hear about the books or movies he has not finished. I thought he definitely feels comfortable using his words now....

Worth The Wait!!!!

I finally got to walk
The Green Line! Max called
and asked if I wanted
to go. I said YES!!!! It was
wonderful!

Basketball

Forrest with his Basketball Trophy. After the last game on Saturday,
it was time for donuts and handing out of the trophy.
They all gave 100%, so everyone got a trophy! I so enjoy
going to their games. It must be something about
remembering the games of his dad and uncle.



Couch Jamal giving a pre-game briefing. If you notice the
girl power right in the middle of this talk.... She is the
only girl on the team. I wanted to give her a blogger
High Five!

Family Ties

February 13, 1895 Yesterday was Mama Gooch's birthday! I wanted to write about this yesterday, but, I was with Mama Gooch's family. Lacie Elma Simmons Gooch was the sweetest grandmother ever! She was the matriarch of our wonderful family. Last night at dinner I told her Great-Great Grandson Jack all about the table he now uses as an art table. It is the table we all used to sit around and share many a meal, and many of our life stories. I just wanted to bring that memory to all my family who might read this....