Sadness and guilt

Sadness at the loss of a cousin and friend.  Guilt at not keeping in touch with her like I should have.  Judy was 3rd or 4th or whatever (not sure just how removed)  cousin on my mothers side.  As  kids we used to spend a lot of our summers together.  More oftened than not, Judy would come to our house.  She loved the way our family lived.  I don't think her home life was as happy as it could have been.  Today I think at times it would have been considered abusive on some scale.  Nothing physical, but I think emotionally.  I remember one of the times I stayed there was a little traumatic for me.  It was supper time and her father had a rule that you ate everything that had been put on the table, whether you like it or not.  I, of course, was exempt as a guest, but the family was not.  I don't remember what was served but I do remember Judy did not like it.  Her father made her eat and she promptly threw it all up.  He made her go back to the table and eat it until she could keep it down.  I always got the impression also that her older sister was favored.  Her father passed first and on her mother's passing Judy was given the house in the will.  I understand her sister threw such a fuss, she sold it and split the money, though the sister seem to get everything else.  I remember visiting after the funeral and she was going around showing off their mothers wedding rings that she had inherited.  Judy ended up living in a low-income community property housing place.  Just three little rooms.

Judy had a difficult marriage which ended in divorce leaving her with two children, a boy and a girl.  The boy died some time ago in an automobile accident.  Judy never quite recovered from that.  She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing.  She even sang the songs for her own mothers funeral. 

Diabetes was (and is) a part of the family.  Her mother had it and I remember her giving herself shots when I was there.  Judy developed it herself and had a very difficult time with it.  It was extremely difficult keeping in under control for her and affected her feet to the point she ended up in a wheel chair.  As she was not able to work was the reason she had such living arrangements.  When my mother passed I took a great many of her clothes to Judy.  I knew she didn't have much money and I never saw anyone so grateful.  It seemed to me that it must be difficult to maneuver in that little place, but she didn't complain and said God was taking care of her.  Judy's faith was very important to her. 

The sad thing is we drove by her place just Fri. and I looked over and thought "I should call her this weekend".  Then Sat. I saw in the paper where she passed.  Sherry too, thought about her.  I know we all get caught up in our own lives, but I still feel bad about not keeping in better touch with her. 

Goodbye Judy.  Your in the loving hands of God and with your precious son.  I know you are now happy. 
Love, Terry

Junk

Off to the tax lady this morning to sign the papers and wait for our refund.  Yes we get a refund from both state and federal.  It won't put us on easy street, but we will be able to eat for a few more months. 

The things we save and for no reason.  Yesterday I cleaned out the drawer in my computer desk and the things I had tossed in there instead of tossing in the trash was strange.  Old batteries, casino cards, old Christmas cards, non'working pens, old keys and key holders, notes of stupid stuff etc.  I still have to tackle the overhead section. Why do we do these things?  What is in the make up of a person that tells us to hold onto junk.  The scary things is I'm the tosser in the family so I'm scared to tackle Jacks desk.  Just thinking about the filing cabinet brings a panic feeling. I know there are things in there so old we don't need anymore.  Old warrenty and product instruction booklets for things we no longer have, just to mention one. 

A little good news here.  Danielle's husband finally got a job.  They are so happy.  Her little special ed. teaching assistant was helpful but not the salary scale they need to survive.  We have to pick Nicole up from school now, as neither is done in time, but we are happy to do so.  Besides, we get to see her more this way.  Could you say, grandma and grandpa are a little happy about this. 

Well guess I had better get off as we will be leaving soon.

An Irish Blessing

Have A Good Day Always

And...

In All Ways.

Another Wednesday is upon us.  Wednesday is usually rant day, but I just don't feel like ranting today.  There is enough of it going on in the world as it is, so I thought I would just bypass that today.

Usually meet with the sisters at the bar tonight, but I won't be joining them.  We have a dinner to attend at the Moose for those have been members for 15 yrs. or more.  All members are welcome but those of 15 or more eat free.  I don't know if Sherry will be going up to granny's night out either.  Bill is home and I'm sure she will feel the need to keep a close eye on him for awhile.  He's doing well though and we are all extremely happy about that.

 Sunday we drove around by the river and the number of ducks and geese was astounding.  All along the river bank, in the water and some flying in.  Of course, we were heading somewhere, so no camera. Monday not a bird in sight.  Don't know if it was because of the eagle perched on the tree, or it was just a stopping off point on the way north. 

There's an Old Irish Recipe for Longevity

Leave the Table Hungry.

Leave the Bed Sleepy.

Leave the Tavern Thirsty.

I'll try to remember that last one more often, ;-)

  

Update

Sherry's husband came through the pacemaker implant great.  Here is a quote she sent to us. 

He's doing great, Just ate a sandwhich, banana and juice and milk and feels great. He can't move his arm and will have it in a sling for almost 2 weeks. Can't lift anything heavy or raise his arm at all for 2 weeks. But all looks good so far.

 

 

Success

Well the Pancake Breakfast was a huge success.  The best year ever.  They served 1,808 people.  It was a steady stream thoughout the day.  There was a little worry as a rumor had spread that the pro-Walker people were going to picket and fill the parking lot with cars to keep people out.  Thankfully that never materalized.

I wasn't to thrilled to have to get up a 4 to take Jack in to unlock the doors and get things started, but when you are down to 1 car for a bit, you gotta do what you gotta do .  I could not get back to sleep.  He was so tired, and his feet hurt so he couldn't wait to get his shoes off.  We decided to go up and watch tv in bed at 7.  He laid his head down at 7:05 and was snoring at 7:10.  Didn't get up till 6 this morning and still has been yawning most of the day. 

Sherry's husband is back in Madison as he had another episode yesterday.  He didn't faint this time and pushed the button to send the tape to the doctor.  They called and wanted him in immediately to do the pacemaker.  He said he doctors with the V.A. doctor in Madison so they told him to go there immediately.  They will be doing the pacemaker tomorrow.  Since they were fully scheduled he will be a fit in.  Sherry will keep us posted as I will you.  I know you will send prayers and everything will come out okay.

That about sums up the last couple days.  Have a good evening.

What to say, what to say!

Things getting a little routine around this house.  Makes for little to talk about.  Last night was Grannies Night Out, laughing referred to as "Wet Wednesday".  As usual we had a good time and solved all the problems of the world.   At least to our way of thinking.

Another pancake breakfast coming up this weekend.  The last one was for another community, this one is for ours.  The fire dept. Jack used to be on.  They use the money for purchases for the dept. in order to save the taxpayers from some of the expenses for the things they need.  Here is a quote from last nights paper.

"Town Receives New Equipment.

The Town of Beloit Firefighters Association, comprised of dues-paying fire department personnel, recently donated two new sets of TNT Jaws of Life to the Town of Beloit.

With this latest purchase the Firefighters Association has now donated more than $200,000 worth of rescue, medical and training equipment to the Town of Beloit since 1989.

On Saturday, the Firefighters Association will be raising funds at their 22nd Annual Pancake Breakfast from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beloit Turner High School." (I did leave out personnel names and the school address) 

Jack works this event every year. Both because he was a paid - on - call fighter for 35 years, but as the school (he used to work at the school district) and fire dept. liaison.  He is the one who goes in by 4 and gets everything ready for the firefighters to to come in and get the burners up a ready to cook on.  I hope the success of this event is as profitable this year as in the past.

Oddity?

The weather is not bad here today so the hubby is taking the car to get a bath.  That worries me a little because in the spring/summer when you wash the car it rains.  Don't want any of that or snow, or he may take some flack.

I have noticed I have this odd little quirk (shut up Sherry).  Our stairs has two-way switches so you can turn it on or off from top or bottom.  I'm sure many do.  At the bottom the switch is a double switch, one for the stairs and one for the lamp by the chair.  I have to have both of those going in the same direction.  I will go all the way up the stairs to turn that switch so both at the bottom are in the off position.  Why? Darned if I know. 

I sit here thinking of what else to write and find that so many things are whirling around in my head.  They get in the way of each other melding together to make a jumble of nothing.  Since most of it is probably of little importance I will just send them out the door and hope for better thoughts tomorrow.