Coddling?

Love doesn't coddle.
So, when he heads to the woods with tractor, chain saw, and various tools, I can't say "Stay".
It's what men do.
They tame the wild.
They provide for their home.
They protect their families from cold.
They get away from civilization and all that involves.

So glad a friend of his, also a MAN, followed along behind.
With truck.
And cell phone.
And personal integrity.
And country-wise capabilities.

70 still

Charlie, the honoree, and his wife are alert and humorous people. They will have been married 65 years come September. Their son and grand-daughter also attended the dinner. I was sitting far enough away on the long table that I couldn't hear all his ruminations, but I could see that, from time to time, he felt that "it's not like it used to be". He will be 90 years old this year. When my dad hit that age, he said, "All my friends are gone." And, of course, it was basically true. That's why we need to continue to make friends with people of all ages!

70

Going to a dinner tonight to honor a fellow who's been an "Odd Fellow" for seventy years! That's way longer than most of the guys now in the organization have been on earth. Will be interesting to see what the honoree has to say about life and lodge membership. My Goodness!

back then

What happened back in the days of our nation's founding?
I am learning so much from viewing the DVD's of David Barton's "American Heritage" set.
Our DVD tonight is focused on the black patriots.
Apparently, since most of them were Christians, and since our present academia doesn't like to deal with religion, we have not heard about many of these people.
I admit I had never run across Richard Allen, Wentworth Cheswill, Peter Salem, James Armistead, Absalom Jones.
I had been informed of Frederick Douglass, but only briefly.
I challenge you to look up these folks and see what they did to further the building of this new nation!

The Big "C"

When you hear a friend has been diagnosed with "cancer", what are your first thoughts? Traditionally, I jump to the funeral.
It's just that shocking. "Cancer" never seems to sound pleasant or positive.
I'm so glad we have the internet information that we do. It may be overload in a lot of areas, but the health info is really helpful and, in some cases, encouraging.
You can learn that being diagnosed with "cancer" doesn't mean you have to give up all current life activities. Yes, you probably will have some undesired but necessary medical procedures. But, the situation does not need to lead to an early death.
Make sure when you hear this word in connection with a friend--or yourself--that you become informed. Stay positive. And be someone who will "be" there for the patient. Venting is allowed in such situations.

D.I.Y.

Frequently we see on ads for Lowes and Home Depot the letters "DIY". They refer, of course, to "Do It Yourself". Homeowners sometimes need to be encouraged to try and "fix" their own problems, be it at home or garage or otherwise. I'm not sure that the ads would encourage making your problems, although, of course, that is why you're trying to fix them. After my experience this week, I can be the poster child for "DIY Food Poisoning". It's really not difficult to creat your own problem. We've all been doing it for years. Just make some cream puffs; leave the cream stuffing out of the refrigerator "too long"; and make it your goal to finish the leftovers. Then prepare (or not) to spend the next day and a half in close contact with your sanitary facilities...and your bed. All is now well...but it was questionable for a while!

That Day

Ah, yes. I remember it well.

I called the pastor's wife to ask if son could spend the night at their house after school.
I picked up my "ready-to-go" bag.
I called my husband to let him know where he could find me.
I stopped at the doctor's office, since my water had broken.
I drove to the small community hospital and checked myself in.
And I waited for Baby #2 to be born.

K-9 trooper husband had an appointment to speak at a PTA meeting.
He asked if he should cancel, but there was no expectation that he would be needed here, so he went.

At 10:04 pm, our little girl made her appearance.
When I saw her, I thought there was some mistake.
She had black hair and dark eyebrows and eyelashes.
Her brother was so fair; I had assumed "all" my babies would look the same.
Silly me.

Her father made his appearance at 10:05.
It was a long meeting and lots of questions.

We had no names picked out.
Since I had named her brother, I told husband he should name the little girl.
He suggested "Jo", after an older lady in his college class.
I remonstrated that "Jo" was too short, so he suggested "JoLee".
I liked that!
So, her name is "JoLee Raye" ("Raye with an e because she's a girl")--Ray for her father and Lee for her mother. She can't get away from us.

Happy Birthday to our little, all-growed-up-and-still-spontaneous, daughter!