CATCHING UP

It is the month of June now.  Six months into the year 2013.  As all of the "old folks" say "where has the time gone?"  I have to look back on my calendar to see what, when and where my life has been and is going these days.  I really never thought I would be of the age to do this sort of thing.  I find, in talking to Barbara and some of my other friends, that they are experiencing the same situation.  Getting to the "golden years" certainly has some twists and turns in the road that I never expected.  If I sound depressed this morning, you will have to firgive me and understand that it is not my nature to have pity parties but I really did have one the other night and day.  On Tuesday night, June 4th, I went to Music Club with Barbara and Mary Jane Haynie.  Since I was scheduled to be on the program that night I had to prepare some sort of reading to give since I don't play a piano, organ nor sing.  I spent a long time researching the life and music of George Gershwin.  He was a good topic for me because he was both a classical (like most of the members of the club) and popular composer.  I had a magnificent, if I say so myself, research paper of this man. We had dinner at Red Lobster before going to the hostess's house on Whites Creek and then we assembled in this fabuous living-music room.  The performers before me did great jobs with their assignments and then it came my turn.  As if I had been banished to a cave or someother place of darkness, I could not read my report.  The lighting in the room was very dim, at least for my eyesight it was dim, and even though I had typed the paper and double-spaced the lines, I could not read it.  I, very softly  explained that with my eyesight I needed lots of light and the hostess jumped up and turned on the overhead lighting, which was recessed and probably 45 watt bulbs and did no good.  I just sat there in desperation and looked at Barbara who was sitting next to me.  She jumped up and said "if you will stand beside me, I will read your paper".  She did read it and, actually gave it more expression than I could have, and we finished and sat down to much applause and many compliments on my research and work.  After that we had dessert and came home and I went into a "blue funk".  It lasted several days.  Yes, my eyesight is giving me much concern these days.  I do not have a doctor that can give me one bit of expectations of better days.  In fact the Retina Specialist that I saw recently was quick to inform me that there was nothing that could be done for me.  I don't think that I will go blind - I'm not saying that - but my eyesight is not sharp in dull or dim light.  In the bright daylight I do real well until I come inside out of being in the light and then I can't distinguish people.  I have been known to walk by someone at a funeral home and not speak because I saw the person but could not see the features to know who it was.  That, my friends, is a devastating condition.  I am also having trouble writing on the lines of a check, tablet or anything that requires staying within a certain area. 

As if all of that wasn't bad enough, my latest event is just as bad under different circumstances.  This past Friday night I was packed up and ready to go to a log cabin in the woods with 8 of my good women friends from church.  I had been invited to go with this particular group on such an outing three times before and always had to decline because of previous commitments..  This time, however, I was raring to go and looking forward to it.  On Friday at noon I went with Paul, Johnny and Jane Steinhauer, Tom and Dena Bruce to lunch.  I did not take my oxygen into the restaurant (this is a normal habit because I don't use oxygen while eating) and the restaurant was not cool.  The air outside was muggy and heavy and some of that condition seemed to be inside this restaurant.  I thought I would be fine because the normal thing with these people is to eat, visit while eating, and then leave - hour and a half at most.  As we were finishing our meal a man and woman who are friends of the others stopped at our table and got into a political discussion with Johnny and during this time my oxygen level dropped seriously.  We left and I put on my oxygen but by the time I got home I was weak, breathing hard and couldn't breathe without the oxygen.  I rested and thought that would fix everything but it didn't.  I had to cancel at the last minute and stay at home.  Sara, who had come to stay with Houston, was here with me and I was glad to have her in the house.  She read her book and we watched a little TV but we didn't talk much and I began to recover.  The next morning I seemed much better and we had a good day. 

Enough about all of that health stuff and let me tell you about the best day of the week!!!!!  Emma, Ava and Anni spent the week with Nita in order to visit their grandparents and also attend VBS at First Baptist.  It didn't turn out quite like it usually does because Nita ended up having to work every day at the clinic that Ray has bought and they are getting "set up" on the computer and with files and insurance and such.  However, that didn't bother the girls because they loved VBS and had a great time being together away from their mothers and siblings.  Emily called me on Tuesday and asked if she could bring lunch and her children, pick up the girls whne VBS let out, and come here for a visit.  I, of course, jumped with joy.  Here she came at 1:00 with 7 of my great grandchildren, Subway sandwiches for everybody along with chips and cookies.  I made a couple of quarts of lemonade and some cookies and we took Houston and went to the picnic area here at the complex.  We spread out over the two tables and had lunch.  The older children began to play hide and seek which I had not seen children do in years.  We had no high-tech games on hand held phones or any of that.  They used their imagination and had a great time.  It was so delightful to watch children running, laughing, tagging a tree yelling "you're out".  It reminded me of the games I played in the yards on Rudolph Street with neighborhood kids.  You don't see that any more or at least I don't see it.  All I see is bored children with "nothing to do" and parents hauling them to places that cost money and can't hold their interest over 30 minutes.  I was so proud of these children and the way they are being brought up - using the resources at hand. 

I hear the lawn mowers going outside my window.  The lawn of this complex is just exquisite.  As I walk Houston around the grounds I can smell the sweet odor of the lilacs, the blooming hedges, the day lilies and many other flowers that I can't name.  You can even smell the honeysuckle that is growing on the greenway track beside my apartment.  It is like walking through the fragrance counters at  Dillards. Houston and I walk in the early morning while the grass still holds some dew and then we walk again as the sun is setting and it is a lovely way to start and end the day.  As I walk around and we meet people and the dogs say their "hellos" and I speak my hello to the other residents I feel so blessed to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and know that God is in control.  He knows how upset I got over my inability to see the other night and  the way I felt due to oxygen level getting low but he also knows how much I enjoyed those children and their mother and he know that he gave me Barbara and Sara for friends to help me in times of distress.  I say it over and over, not only in this Blog Space, but every day God is good - all the time.