Memorial Day

Do you have any special plans for Memorial Day?  It has always been the kick off of Summer for most everyone I know.  Until the last decade or so I only gave the day a passing notice of what it truly represented much to my chagrin.  While our family had it's share of veterans we never lost anyone to war and this goes back as far as the Texas Revolution in 1836.  I have participated in several Memorial sevices at a cemetery here.  I would get my period uniform and proceed to give due respect with a company of like-minded history buffs to those that died in an earlier war.  This included musket and cannon salutes and a bagpiper and plenty of speechifying.  And very HOT.

My Mom and Dad had a place up on the Medina River outside Bandera and we all would gather there to kick off the summer.  It was great.  I have missed it ever since they sold it back in the early 80's.  There had been a devastating flood one year and it changed everything along the river so much it disheartened them, so they got rid of it sadly.  They could not see the future and how the landscape would come back.  It isn't the same today as it was almost 40+ years ago but it is still pretty nice.  'K' and I were talking about how much we missed it and all the things we did.  Fishing for me was the big thing even though most everything I caught went back in the river.  There was tubing the river and it had some really great rapids that added excitement and then all the food Mom and my Grandmother and 'K' would make.  Just being with family.  Good Times.  

We will not do anything like any of that and haven't since those days.  No cookouts, no get togethers either, sadly.  I will break out my copy of Band of Brothers and sit inside where it's cool while 'K' wrangles the 5 year old Granddaughter.  I will also say a prayer for those that have sacrificed so much for our country along with their families.  

If you have lost someone to war, I pray for you and your sacrifice.

Mother's Day

I know this is later than my usual posts but I was just not feeling up to much.  Had a fairly busy week that made me not feel so well.  A church friend passed unexpectedly.  He passed out at work and hit his head.  Rushed to the ER and they found a blood clot in his lung and was rushed to surgery.  During the surgery he developed a brain bleed that didn't show up on any scans they did.  He didn't make it.  'K' was heavily involved in preps and setup for a reception after a memorial service.  After 6 hours of being on my feet or in very uncomfortable chairs along with 3 hours on duty at church the next day I was toast.  So please forgive my being a slacker.  I can't say it won't happen again.

Number 2 Son's wife was involved in a vehicle accident that totaled their most reliable car.  She had to go to the ER to get checked out since she is 6+ months pregnant.  Evidently there are a lot of little things that could go wrong being jostled around like that, like the placenta detaching.  We were blessed that she and the baby are both ok thankfully.  I don't know if I mentioned it but the baby is a boy.  They have a name already but they won't tell anyone.  It seems to be a touchy subject which I don't understand.  We were having some fun coming up with a bunch of goofy names and some good ones but they weren't well recieved.  Shrug. In the meantime everyone is calling him jelly bean due to him loooking like one on the sonar thing.

I grilled a couple ribeyes for 'K' for Mother's Day.  She seemed to enjoy her day despite my lack of energy.  I veged out on the couch after that.  A couple hours later we drug ourselves over to see my Mom.  She seems happy and she says she is but then complains about some things but it goes with the territory of not being able to remember small details.  But the visit went as well as it can get.  We lasted about 2 hours and headed home.  And with that I will say...

Happy Trails and Happy belated Mother's Day.

Another Short Update

It's been warm and wet here this past week.  Temps near or in the 80's with 90% humidity.  Ugh.  That has ended any planned outdoor activity like my daily walk with the pups or the much needed cutting of the lawn.  At least this will allow my ribs more rest-they still bug me and the weedeater will have to wait even longer.  April and May are very humid and so is much of June.  But it also can be a great time of year.  Perspective.

I had a follow up with the pain management doc.  We are both in agreement that things are not perfect but much better than they were.  I am certainly sleeping better.  He seems confident another ablation will work much better but we must wait at least until June, or longer if we can.  So that is how we are approaching this, just try to go as long as I can without more treatment.  He did bring up surgery but also said the surgeons he would send me to take the same approach.  That's great, I will do all I can to avoid any surgery on my spine.  

That's about all I have.  

Happy Trails