December 31, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Dinner.

Our intention was to dine early on New Years Eve to avoid the crowds. Foolishly, we decided to eat at our favorite restaurant, Porto Bello, across the canal. When we arrived at 5:00 it was obvious we had made a mistake. They were serving only a pre set meal beginning at 8:00. They would not serve us. Immediately adjacent is a Steak House which also serves excellent food so I walked over to plead, while everyone else watched for iguanas and pelicans. The chef/manager came to talk to me. He was pleasant and sympathetic. He had food and he was willing to cook but he had no waiters. They too were getting ready for a big night, beginning at 8:00. He recommended that we sit at a table and he would contact a waiter, which he did. Our table was decorated for New Year's Eve and was beside the canal, in other words, a perfect location. We were all delighted to eat the dinner they would serve for everyone else, so we sat down and eventually, the one waiter brought us food, one course after another. The food was delicious. Even the steak was tender. It was great fun for all six of us. Our situation was perfect. We were the only customers in the restaurant. The service was excellent and the food delicious. We had only one choice between steak, chicken or salmon. All other courses just arrived. When we left, I told the chef that a special star would find him in heaven. He certainly made our evening perfect.

December 30, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. A Good Day.

Today was the best day since our arrival. Nothing was fancy or dramatic but it was all quiet pleasure. When we left Jackson, Molly was not feeling well. Next came Mary Frances for her three days of flu like symptoms. On the way down on Monday, Kate got sick so today Molly was chipper while Mary Frances was just beginning to eat comfortably while Kate slept…all day. Our group today was a family of five. We started the day at the mall for breakfast. After, while Christina and Ken and Molly shopped, MF and I sat and watched the people. I am staying as far away as possible from people. The market is not far away but this was the first time we had walked to the market and back this year. Now we have breakfast food in both or our units. Our lunch was taken at my favorite restaurant, right at the end of the resort. The food was excellent and the weather was perfect. And Molly and Mary Frances both bought new Mexican dresses, which look smashing. Dinner was perfect, sitting down just after the sun had set. The air was warm as we five enjoyed our dinner eating outside. The food again was excellent. While we were not eating our meals, Molly and Christina enjoyed the beach and the pools, especially the alligator slides. Our family is distracting us from our ailments and they are excellent company. I am managing my medications better and Ken is recovering. For all those reasons, today was the best day since our arrival in Nuevo Vallarta. And we are grateful.

December 29, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Family.

They arrived…..finally. Any flight can be an adventure, especially if you have another flight to catch, but when Christina and the girls were leaving Jackson for Houston, all seemed to be well. The plane had been loaded and it seemed they would leave on time to catch the flight to Puerto Vallarta. But a passenger came through the door just before the door was closed. He tried to push his two cases into the overhead bin but they would not fit so he pushed and he pushed. And he broke the door. The plane could not fly with one empty overhead bin so they all waited. They missed the flight to PV. Clever Christina booked them on the next day flight immediately and she booked them into the Marriott Airport Hotel, so at least when they were stuck in Houston they would be comfortable. The restaurant is at the top of the hotel and circulated over the whole airport so as you dine, you watch the planes leaving and arriving. It was fun for them, even though they were really wanted to be in Paradise Village with us. They took a lemon and made lemonade. Now we are happy to have them here. Late lunch/early dinner we ate sitting at a restaurant on the beach. It was warm and sunny. They were pleased to be here too.

December 28, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta. Toys That Work.

Ken has trouble with his ears. Mostly they are full of goop, due to infection, which keeps the sound from accessing the technical components of his ears, so may times he can not hear well. The infections come and go, so sometimes he can hear well and sometimes he can not. Several years ago, I convinced him to get a hearing aid, so he visited an ENT physician. When he came home, he was smiling. His hearing was fine and a hearing aid will not help his hearing. But now he has a new toy. He read about the device and ordered it immediately. The toy has two parts. One tiny microphone and one ear piece receiver. He sits the microphone in front of the TV, and the ear piece hears what ever is being said. Now we watch TV with a low level of decibels. It is amazing. Patience was needed to get the thing to stop chirping, in fact I did not know what he was doing with these bird sounds coming from his chair. Much to Ken's surprise, the toy actually works. The only down side is the battery. Only a two hours of life before it quits. But it is a nifty bit of high tech equipment.

December 27, 2014. Nurvo Vallarta, Mexico. The Children.

You almost never hearing Mexican children or babies cry. I always forget that fact when we are not here. Then we return. Today when we were checking into the Time Share/Hotel I observed a Mexican family. Ken was doing the details while I was sitting watching this group while they were waiting for their rooms to be ready. I was far enough that they had no clue I was watching them, nor could I hear their words clearly, but the whole time I watched gave me a short course in why children don't cry in Mexico. The first activity that caught my eye was when a young boy, who was around ten, was carrying and playing with a toddler. The youngster could not walk unassisted. The older boy was singing to him and taking him around to look at the fountains and flowers. The Mexican family had multi generations. There seemed to be four children and one set of parents, along with two sets of grandparents. While I watched, everyone took turns looking after the younger children. The children were taken for a walk or given something to eat. No cross words were spoken. Everyone seemed pleased to be playing with the children. I figured out that having many grandparents is a help when minding children. And loving the children helps too. But it is certainly true that babies and children don't cry much in Mexico. It is quite astonishing.

December 26, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Memory.

A memory is a wonderful thing but it is not perfect. I remember things wrong and I reorganize the events and I eliminate anything negative. For instance, 1963 would not possibly have occurred at our north Toronto flat with Wendy crawling around the floor because she was born in 1957. But our flat was nicer in 1963 so somehow I imagined us entertaining the family in that flat. It must have been in 1958, when we lived on Bleeker Street. It does make sense that the floors were dirty too because I was cleaning my own house. By 1963 I had a cleaning lady. It may be that Ken tied the fancy surgical knots in 1963 and I just combined the two events in my mind. Ken was selling bread between college and medical school in 1958 so it may have all occurred in South Rosedale. By 1961 when Kenny, my nephew, was born close to Christmas, Ken was in medical school. We arrived at Dave and Irene for the holidays to find Irene in hospital with the new babe Kenny. It was too late for visiting hours, so Ken and Dave went to the hospital anyway. Ken wrapped a stethoscope around his neck and the two walked through the hospital with no problems. They gleefully reported to us every fact about the beautiful new baby, Kenny. And of course they said that Irene was fine too. Joyful events. Joyful Chrismas past.

December 25, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Christmas Past.

Today I have enjoyed myself enormously thinking over Christmas Past. Many times, the small insignificant things are what are recalled. But they were all good and gave me much pleasure. Christmas dinner in 1963 was held in our flat in North Toronto. Ken was an Intern and on call so we could not journey to Dave and Irene in Ancaster so everyone came to our house. Two facts from that dinner stand out. Wendy my niece was a baby. She was beautifully dress in a white outfit. And she crawled over the floors. Now the apartment was lovely and appeared clean. The hard wood floors were shining bright. But when Wendy was ready to go home her outfit was no longer white. It was dark gray. I was mortified. Interestingly, Irene does not recall the dirt on Wendy's clothes. But I do. The second fact I recalled were the surgical knots Ken tied on the turkey and the roast beef. Many Canadians prefer turkey for Christmas but we decided to serve both beef and turkey. And Ken used red string for the knots. These fancy knots looked splendid. And that is all I can remember of Christmas 1963.

December 24, 2014. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Christmas 2014.

By anybody's standards, this has been an usual Christmas season for us. I love Christmas but this year I have done nothing to be ready. Not one Christmas card written. No presents sent to family. Not even a gift for Ken. Tomorrow morning we will awaken to find no gifts. And it is all our own fault. Ken had hernia surgery two weeks ago and he has been slow to recover. And I have spent all my time trying to figure out what was the matter with me, so was not really focused on anything but me. All my energy was gone by the time Christmas came to mind. But we are here by ourselves by our choice, thinking that we can recover better in the warmth and sun of Nuevo Vallarta. Many years ago, in Toronto, my Father had a heart attack just before Christmas so he was in the hospital for the Christmas season. My Mother was upset that many items from her list were not completed. I recalled telling her that some things were more important than others and that no one would mind. Today I am giving myself the same advice. And I look forward to being ready when it is time for Christmas 2015.

December 23, 2014. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Living and Dying.

My friend Nancy E.told me of a conversation, where the parents of an 18 year old were upset about college expenses. Nancy said to me, "This child did not get to be 18 over night. Every year the parents should have been saving." Of course, she was correct. The same thing is true of living and dying. We are dying the fist time we begin living. It does not come as a surprise that when folks get old, they die. It is all part of the cycle of living. Now when people die young and can not live out their term of being productive, we are correct to be upset. But when old folks die, we have no right to be upset, other than we will miss them. Rather we celebrate their life. I have a terminal disease. Left without treatment, I would be gone in many months. For some reason, I am not upset about this, merely irritated. But we are seeking treatment which because of new research has the promise of extending life. Ken and our friend Graham say many years, but the Oncologist is not so sure. At least two she says. It is certainly nothing to pine about!!

December 22, 2014. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.Travelling.

I wonder why flying is tiring? After all, most of the time you are sitting. Today the flights were all in order. And we both used wheel chairs to get from one place to another. We were quite a sight. Ken is too slow to get from one gate to another in a timely fashion so we have been using wheel chairs since New Zealand. But today was the first time for me. My treatment on Friday has left me weaker than I would like so we decided to use the wheelchairs. I must say, the young men were extremely helpful. We are here. After a shower each we feel much better. But we will be even better tomorrow. Ken unloaded the locker and has started the laundry. The clothes have been in the locker for two years. The place looks lovely. The warm air is a tonic. And we have something to do!!

December 21, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Organizing Again.

Tomorrow we fly to Puerto Vallarta. My Oncologist thinks it is a fine idea. The warmth and the open air will help with my healing, she thinks. If we can connect with a good oncologist who understands the treatment, my Dr. Sheehan will be happy to oversee the procedures. If not, I will come home to Jackson for my treatment. The disadvantage of going is the complications. I must take the system with me for draining my fluid through the catheter. And I must wear a mask in the airports and on the planes. But on the other hand, the walking is level and easy and never crowded. The restaurants are open to the air so I can avoid infections from other people. The air is warm, at 80 degrees in the day time and 65 at night. A small hospital is right across the street. And the condominium is big enough for friends to visit and help. The view from our balcony is wonderful, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Despite the complications and the risk, we are organized to go and hope all goes well with our journey.

December 20, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Our Plan.

First a change of terminology. Chemotherapy is a nasty word. When the word is used, people shudder. I am using the term Medicine. Form this point on, I will receive my treatment getting Medicine. No chemotherapy for me. The plan is to give me treatment every three weeks, via IV, until the pleural effusion has gone, when the oncologist has determined we would use hormonal medicine by mouth. How my body responds to the medicine will determine the termination of IV treatment. As my disease is treatable but not cured, I expect to be taking these medication forever. Yesterday I had my first bout of Medicine. Much to my horror, it took 4.5 hours to get all the drugs through the IV. Fortunately I could read on my iPhone. And I was entertained by two people. Monday, Ken and I will fly to Puerto Vallarta, returning to Jackson February 25. If we can find an oncologist acceptable to my oncologist I will have my treatment there. If not, I will return to Jackson for treatment. The warmth and the level walking will be a wonderful place for healing for both me and Ken, even if I must return to Jackson every three weeks. Don and Doreen are joining us for January and Rita and Ian will come for February. They will be a huge help. So that is our plan. Finally, my treatment has begun and we have a good plan.

December 19, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. I Found Gold.

While dozing in my treatment room, a young man pushed an old woman in a wheelchair into the room and careful helped her into a treatment chair. She kept complaining. She was cold. She was not hungry. She was not thirsty. The nurse hooked up an IV to the old lady. I was just listening but saying nothing. She was not thriving. In 2010, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and recently her cancer had returned so she again receiving chemotherapy. But she was not doing well. She had lost 16 pounds in 8 days. The staff treated her with a saline solution because the oncologist felt she was dehydrated. When the young man returned with lunch, I started asking questions. The young man was the youngest of three sons, and the only one who was single. He lived in a small city in Tennesse and had a job he liked but when his Mother got sick again, he took a leave of absence to help her in Mississippi. It turned out they had lived for 25 years in Louisiana on the spit of land jutting out south of New Orleans. When her husband died, she returned to Mississippi, where she had been born and brought up. The son took a leave of absence from his management job but after three months, he was let go. It is all so very Mississippian. The family is more important than the job. His plan, after this series of treatments is over, is to take his Mother to live with him and sell her home in Pearl, which south of Jackson. It also turns out that the Mother is 70. Being ill does age a person. I also suspect that she was a smoker. But it was fascinating to talk with these folks. I could not help myself. I gave the lady a short course on staying warm. She was doing everything wrong. The Canadian in me knows the drill. Wear wool socks. Tuck the undershirt into your pants. Wear wool pants. Button the sweater to the top. Wear gloves and a hat outside. Trap that body heat. They seemed to listen but I wonder if they really paid attention. Eventually she stopped complaining and became pleasant. My ulterior motive was to get through to her that she has control of being warm or cool, not the hospital treatment room. We had fun, the three of us. It was my gold for the day during my treatment.

December 18, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. PET Scan.

The test was a very fancy test. Lots of instructions about what to eat the day before and lots of time taking the test. And not really too uncomfortable. Nucleur medicine at it's best. The test was completed at 1:30 and by 4:00 I had a call from the Oncologist giving me a report. The report says that I have cancer cells in my bones, especially the spine and pelvis, along with cancer cells in the lymph nodes. No cancer cells in the liver or kidney. This does not come as a big surprise to me. I have felt for quite awhile that I had a dread disease, so this conforms my suspicions. Tomorrow at 8:00 I will meet with the Oncologist who will determine treatment. Immediately I will begin IV chemotherapy. Ken has always said that we will play the cards we have been dealt, without fussing or complaining, so that is what we will do. And along the way we will look for some gold on the path.

December 17, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Things That Please.

Lillie is expert with a sewing machine and a needle. But the most important part of visiting her is her love for the job. Her shop is small, tucked into a strip mall in Ridgeland, close to our condo. Part of the book "The Help", takes place in Ridgeland, which in 1960 was just beginning to grow. Lillie brought her business to Ridgeland 15 years ago from the Delta. She was born and raised in the Delta and she loved it but her children were getting expensive. She could see they were talking about college, so Lillie moved to Ridgeland so she could allow her business to grow. An investor had set her up. She calls him her boss, although her alteration business is all hers alone. I took two skirts to be altered. Lillie always feels you are special. She admires each object and gives a firm date for pickup. Her work is excellent. Today she is closing for two weeks over Christmas. Her goal during the time off is to walk. She is aware that she sits too long. But in addition, she will be visiting family in the Delta. This month, the local magazine The Ridgeland Line, featured Lillie, which is where I learned about her move from the Delta. Her favorite task is to remake fancy dresses but she is busy with other mundane objects. And she is always smiling. I am pleased when I visit her little shop.

December 16, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Good and Bad.

The oncologist we met with today is willing to direct my treatment, even if I am not in Mississippi. This is a good thing. The only thing she asks is to have a local oncologist wherever we are living. This might be a problem in Liverpool. She also said that my disease is treatable but perhaps not curable. And she thinks that the pleural effusion should disappear with the demise of the cancer mass, but that is not guaranteed. So this is the good part. Today we cancelled our flight to Puerto Vallarta, but just for a bit. This is the bad part. Our old plan was to fly to PV on Thursday and returning February 24. Always, there is another test, so Thursday I will have a PET scan which will determine if the cancer has spread to other origins or bones. Once the oncologist has that information, treatment decisions will be made on Friday morning at 8:00, followed with the beginning of treatment. She suspects I will have chemotherapy plus oral medication. That will not be easy. The good thing is that we will begin treatment on Friday and that will be very good indeed.

December 15, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Southern Christmas.

The outside of the house is elegant but the charm is in the interior, especially at Christmas. The tree is 20 feet tall, tucked in the corner of the large living room. It is perfect for the size of the room. The mantel is loaded with live boughs and holly, with nut crackers poking up here and there. Three new Christmas stockings are hung on either side of the mantel, all made by Eleanor, the lady of the home. The stockings are beautiful and are a new addition for Christmas 2014. Home made chocolates and toffee sit in Christmas bowls on the side table. With the wood in the fireplace giving a rosy glow, the living room was the perfect place to talk and drink coffee. But the best part of the event was lunch in the dining room. More boughs and holly line the center of the 24 ft. table, with small lights surrounding the greens. Eleanor spray painted walnuts and persimmons in a silver color, and they wrap the boughs. Very clever and a wonderful decorative touch. The side board foliage had been spray painted gold so along with more nutcrackers and more greens, the scene jumped out to say "I am beautiful". In a southern Christmas, the people come first. The six folks who gathered for our coffee/lunch Christmas Party were delighted to be together. The food was delightful, as Eleanor is an excellent cook. This was the first time I had seen these good friends since our arrival in Mississippi so we a were pleased to get together…finally. Underneath it all was the reality of my health and the fact that everyone is missing Andrew. Our Christmas Party was festive and fun but we all had to overcome our sense of loss. However, southern Christmas is not to be missed and I feel fortunate to have been invited into a Southern Christmas party.

December 14, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. TV and Internet.

Comcast installed cable TV and Internet in our condominium. Son David ordered it. He also sent a Television set. Until we spent all week in the condo, we did not miss TV but now we have the TV, we realize what we were missing. What were we thinking? The Internet we were using was a fancy MiFi by Verizon but it was not reliable so now with the Comcast Internet signal we are pleased. And the WiFi comes with the Comcast signal too. We are delighted with ourselves…and of course, with Suzanne and David. Right now I am watching Dallas play football. This morning at 7:00, I woke up to a box being opened. I knew exactly what it was so I called down to Ken to remind him not to lift anything heavy. The stand Ken ordered had arrived yesterday and he was anxious to assemble it. He did the easy parts but eventually waited for Christina. After Comcast connected us, we were in a mess with stuff everywhere so Christina drove out to put us in order. And put us in order she did. The TV is in front of the fireplace. You never notice it. And everything fits along the hearth. We look splendid. Everything is in the proper place, just as neat and tidy as I like. Poor Christina came to our condo every day this week. She has set up the whole array. And we are grateful and pleased as punch with our new set up.

December 13, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. My Health.

My health is good except for one major problem. It appears that my old breast cancer has come back. If you were to look at me you would think all is well. I am not fading away. My cheeks are rosy. My finger nails and toe nails grow quickly. But beginning mid summer, I began to lack energy, which is unusual for me. And I was short of breath. I knew something was the matter and suspected it was a dire disease. And I was correct. I was hoping that our stay in Texas could isolate my troubles but it took so long to get action, that by the time we left, we knew only that I had a lymphocytic pleural effusion. At the medical center in Mississippi, through test after test, they determined that I had a mass on my chest, caused by my old breast cancer. The risk for me of a recurrence from my breast cancer was low, down to 2%, but here it is, back in a new form. The good thing is the new research. Treatment is much better now than it was in 2000. The pathology report has isolated the cells so the oncologist should be able to determine a good treatment regimen. Tuesday we meet. We are ready to march down that road.

December 12, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Wet Washcloth.

Wonderful Wendy struck again. She sent me to a You Tube link, describing a wet washcloth in space, done by Christ Hadfield. He is the Canadian member of the Canadian Space Agency, who spent six months at the International Space Center. The agency did a masterful job of publicizing his time in space and they made many videos by him describing what things are like in space. Kids all over Canada sent questions, which he answered in the videos. I had seen a few on TV but not many so I spent a couple of hours listening to his answers. Wendy was in Vancouver recently and with her brother Ken, entered a Borders book store, only to find Chris Hadfield signing copies of his book. Wendy and Ken of course knew nothing about him being there but they met him and purchased his book and reported that he was pleasant and personable, just as in the videos and that his handshake was firm. Wet Washcloth in Space was the one sent to me by Wendy, but there are many more. All are interesting and informative. Hats off to the Canadian Space Agency.

December 11, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. The First Time.

Ken did a great job. It was the first time Ken used the new fancy catheter to withdraw fluid from my chest. All went well. We had observed the pulmonary doctor after he installed the catheter and everything was straight forward and simple. The problem came right at the end. Unfortunately, Ken was just one day after hernia surgery so he was still taking pain pills. And we did the task in the evening when he was tired. The Parkinson's also makes his one hand shake so he is not steady. The last task is to cover up the catheter and the 6"tube with a bandage, which will then allow showering. Unfortunately, when Ken put on the bandage, no part was attached to my skin. The quaze bandage was covering up everything necessary, but we needed to use multiple pieces of tape to keep it in place. It looks and feels very odd. We laughed and decided to do the process early in the morning. We are like the blind leading the blind. You have to laugh. Neither can take care of the other. It is actually very funny. My bandage is almost at my waist when it should be tucked under by left breast.. Every time I feel the bandage I smile.

December 10, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Adenocarcinoma.

The problem in my chest is that I have an Adenocarcinoma. So far, the cell type causing the cancer is still not isolated but the good folks at the lab are continuing to use more stains to try to figure it out. On Tuesday when I meet with the Oncologist, the cell will have been isolated and a treatment plan put in place. We certainly hope so. The Oncologist here wants records from my old breast cancer but our records are in storage, Dr. Alley the breast surgeon has retired and Dr. Hendricks the Oncologist does not keep records for that long. I suspect there will be no luck with the old records. I am told that most people recall vividly the date of the diagnosis for breast cancer but I have ignored it and put it out of my mind. When asked I say, "About 15 years ago", but I really have no clue. Now we want a road map. Gill says that the treatment will not be pleasant but we will see. Whatever that path, we will walk along it together with our family and friends cheering us on. The world of medicine has come a long way with treatment of cancers. We certainly hope that is true.

December 9, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Hernia Repair.

Minor surgery is something that is done on other people. When done on yourself, all surgery is major. Two weeks before we came to Mississippi, Ken developed a small hernia. He wanted it repaired. We met with the surgeon the next day, and December 9 was the first open date. The Resident laughed at Ken when he told her he had had it for two weeks. She said "Most people put up with a hernia for years and finally agree to have it repaired, while you lasted two weeks". We all laughed. But it is typical of Ken. If something is broken, get it fixed properly, and do it now. Ken and I are taking up residence at the Hospital Center. We spent all afternoon getting him attended. The surgeon was pleased and Ken is home resting. He will be sore for a bit but with pain pills and good sense, he will recover. We did laugh. We dropped his prescription for pain at the drug store on the way home. I will pick them up tomorrow. In the meantime, he is using my pain pills from the installation of the catheter. This is definitely the first time that we have both been using pain medication at the same time. Pathetic but true.

December 8, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Cleaning.

Few things in the world are better than having your house cleaned. I have been told by other folks that cleaning a home yourself gives great pleasure but my joy comes when someone else cleans it for me. Angela cleaned our condo today. Her company is called Angels Cleaning Service. Her motto is "Welcome home to Clean". She certainly was an angel to me today. This is the second time she has cleaned for us. The first time was in the Spring. She arrived and we shook hands and we left. When we returned the condo was spotless. This time both Ken and I stayed home while she cleaned, which is not so easy to do in a small one bedroom condo. But we had no real choice. Ken stayed on the other floor to stay out of her way but I just stayed in my spot on the couch. And I watched her do her work. She is thorough with her cleaning. Everything was moved and dusted or vacuumed. Perhaps she did a better job because I was watching but I don't think so. She just wants to do a good job. She sings to herself the whole time and did not chat at all. I believe she actually enjoys doing her job. Three hours it took her to clean. Now it is really and truly clean. When Ken and I clean, Ken does the vacuuming while I clean the kitchen and bathroom. It takes us less than an hour. Thank heavens for Angela. Now I am happy with a clean home.

December 7, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Quilts.

Being still has it's benefits. Last week I walked up the stairs at the condo and sat. While I waited until I could catch my breath, I looked carefully at the quilt on the bed, and marveled at the quilting and admired the family that made the quilt. It is a beautiful piece of work, all made with tiny stitches. We must have 100 quilts, all made by the same family, who live near my sisters cottage near McCullough Lake, in Ontario. It all started innocently when Ken and I noticed a sign stuck in the ground that said "Quilts for Sale". The sign was 4"by6". We stopped and, and was invited to look at the quilts. The family was Mennonite and used no machines and their houses are neat and sparse. No comfortable chairs. I asked if my husband could look at the quilts but I really only wanted him to see the inside of the home. We talked and one thing led to another. Mr. Yoder, the grandfather had asthma and when they discovered that Ken was a Pulmonary Doctor they were delighted and asked Ken many questions. Then they discovered that my sister was Carol Barby who bought maple syrup every year. We became fast friends. Every year we stopped over to buy another quilt while Ken answered questions.. Then Mr.Yoder died and Mrs. Yoder did not know what to do with herself so I asked her to make me quilts. And she did. At first I had her chose the colors but when I had six quilts in colors of brown and dark green I asked my sister to select the patterns and the fabric. My son David says that you can tell a Dickie home by the quilts on the bed. Between the old farm house and the Hill house we packed up 35 quilts and we have quilts in every place we own. But I never appreciated the quality of the quilts until last week when I sat and admired the craftsmanship. And old Mrs. Yoder quilts hearts into every quilt. She knew there was love in our homes.

Race on the Rez, Ridgeland, MS

Riviera Maya 14 Family

December 6, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. 77 Years Old Today.

I have had a lovely day. This morning I read e mails from friends and family. It must have been the sympathy vote because I had birthday greetings from lots and lots of folks. I enjoyed every one. Sometimes people even made kind remarks. Lunch was spent with Christina and the girls at their home, which is always a pleasure. And Christina had made my favorite cake, cranberry almond , which we ate while drinking tea and watching football. Now we must survive my 77th year. Ken says that all cells they might find in my mass are treatable, so here we go. We have all started the year on a high note today.

December 5, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Another Procedure.

If it was not on my own body, these procedures would be more interesting. They are still fascinating but they are also irritating. Yesterday, the Pulmonary Specialist installed a permanent catheter, so Ken and I, all by ourselves, will be able to withdraw fluid from my chest. Although not easy to install, my life will be easier. Sonograms are extensively used. Every time I am in the hospital, they do another one. And a good thing too because the good doctor knows where things are inside my chest. So first they decide where to install the tube. Next they numb me up. All I feel is a prick and pressure. What they do is install a four inch tube wrapped around just outside the tube, with two inches of the tube tucked under a slit of skin. The skin grows over the tube to keep it from allowing bacteria into my chest. With a guise bandage over the rolled up tube and a plastic over the whole deal, I will be able to shower and function as it is tucked under my arm and left breast. I have the stitches out next Friday. The whole thing is very high tech. Yesterday, the good doctor showed us to operate the bottles and withdrew 1 liter of fluid. We should be able to do it. He prescribed pain killers and cough syrup with codeine. When I took both, I promptly fell asleep, but had the best sleep in months. So far, no pain killer today, at least until bed time. It was a long day yesterday but productive.

December 4, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. The Waiting Room

Hospitals are fascinating places. Just sitting in a waiting room yesterday gave me a slice of life, some of which was pleasant and some not. The waiting room was small, used only for folks waiting for procedure. Most patients also have a relative to drive them home. The wait was long as the doctors were well behind schedule. Most folks were not happy with the wait. In one corner of the room sat a young man in a wheel chair. He had multiple disabilities. Two women were with him. They did everything that they could to accommodate this youn man. He could not speak but he communicated by grunts. They talked to each other and they talked to him, always with affection. When he got upset with the wait, they explained the problem. It was as fine an example of how to handle a disabled person as I have ever seen. Clearly these two ladies loved that young man and he seemed to return their affection. In the other corner of the waiting room was an older lady in a wheel chair with her daughter sitting on a chair beside her. The daughter was on the phone. After 30 minutes of waiting, the old lady became cross. At first she was speaking quietly but when the daughter tried to tell her why they were waiting, the lady got upset with the hospital. Then she was upset with her daughter. With every sentence, her voice rose in pitch and volume. Both mother and daughter reverted to barnyard talk. The daughter did everything wrong and finally she walked out. The old lady walked back to the treatment area but the staff was not able to settle her down. Eventually, both mother and daughter left, with no procedure. Within a short period of time, I saw the best and worst of people. I had my own little soap opera, right in a waiting room of the hospital.

December 3, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. A Biopsy.

The room is like an operating room, with bright lights overhead and machines everywhere. And of course, all the people were wearing masks. The whole procedure was very high tech. A small grid was placed on my chest. Three or four times the CT scan read my chest and the grid. I was sedated but awake because they needed me to cooperate. Not so many years ago that procedure could not have been done. While the Radiologist watched the CT scan, he took the biopsy. It sounded like a small gun being shot but of course I did not feel anything. The Radiologist was pleased with the amount of the tissue, so evidently the biopsy was a success. I felt like a patient. Immediately after the biopsy, an X-ray was made of my chest. Then I stayed for two hours in bed in a waiting area where the nurses monitored my vital signs. In the meantime, I ate the sandwich they gave me. Finally, Christina brought me home. They told me that I am not really in my own mind but I seem fine to me. Now what we really want is to determine the type of cell causing the pleural effusion, but for that we must wait until Friday or Monday. This biopsy was very fancy.

December 2, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Salut Salon.

Wonderful Wendy, my niece, sent me this You Tube link. I had never even heard of this group. "Wettstreit zu viert" is the name of the piece. I spent all morning listening. The musicians are German, four women who play classical repertoire, but instill a bunch of fun into their performances. They are all four excellent musicians and also beautiful but they are clearly having fun too. They are a little bit like Mozell Brass, but only a little. There must be many many groups I know nothing about but when I find one such as Salut Salon, I seem so surprised and pleased. I am pleased at the level of expertise out there in the world and surprised that I knew nothing about them. My niece is not a musician so I have no clue how she spotted them but they are worth listening to and watching. Maybe the group will even come to the US. But I bet they will not come to Jackson.

December 1, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Distractions.

I need more distractions. If you are feeling a bit under the weather, a bit of a distraction takes away the sick feeling, at least for awhile. When you are really ill, a distraction will remove you from the present to another world. I suspect that the mind assists with the recovery of good health, but of course, I have no clue if this is true. Years ago, my oncologist suggested that it has been her observation that folks going through chemotherapy who are also working seem to have an easier time, although she pointed out that there has never been a study. The distractions of the job made the therapy easier, maybe. My problem is the lack of distractions. In our condo we have no TV. We are not able to make trips around Mississippi. Reading is not always easy. I have a whole host of activities that I can not do easily, such as walk around the grounds or have dinner with the family. Being short of breath is not a killer but it certainly is uncomfortable so I am only active when necessary, as I was told to take it easy. Fortunately, my friends and family e mail me which distracts me a bit. "This soon will pass", I say to myself. With any luck, the biopsy will show a clear cell, a cell that can respond to treatment to clear up my pleural effusion. In the meantime, I need all the distractions I can get.

November 30, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. Planning Ahead.

This is clearly ridiculous. For the first time in my life, I can not even write Christmas cards because I do not know what lies ahead. Ken and I always planned ahead. It was second nature to us, to try to figure out where we wanted to go, with the budget set by our financial resources. We did it when Ken was a medical student and I a teacher. Lots of folks thought we were nuts but I did not care because I knew that if you do not plan for something, that something will never happen and nothing will get done. So we planned for our future. So here I am, almost 77 years old, and do not know what the future will hold. I have always assumed good health for me. I joked to someone this summer that if I survived 77, I would live to be 95. My sister died at age 77 when she had been healthy until she died so I superstitiously commented that I must get through 77 in order to live to a ripe old age. If I did not have a strong stomach, the whole business with my pleural effusion would be unsettling, but I am just awaiting the biopsy on Wednesday so I will know what to say on my Christmas cards. I prefer to make long term plans!!

November 29, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. Home Again.

Molly is a talker. She spent the flights home describing to Christina what she was going to do when she arrived at her home. This week was a bit of a marvel for Molly. She loved every aspect of every day, from swimming from 9:00 to the cocktail parties in our suite. She especially enjoyed getting her own drinks from the swim up bar. And she was outspoken about how much she was enjoying the week. But it was a marvel listening her describe her return home. First she was going to lie on her bed and hug each stuffed animal. Then she was going to walk around the whole house to be sure everything is still in place. Her list was endless. We all love the feeling of returning home after a vacation, but we no longer get excited. Listening to Molly as I eavesdropped from across the isle, I was reminded how special returning home really is. Her joy was consuming. On the way home from the airport, Molly was asking about decorating the house for Christmas. Christina was not specific. As we drove up into the driveway, Molly exclaimed "There is a Christmas tree in our living room". We laughed and thought she was making a joke. But there really was a Christmas tree in the living room. In their absence, Christina's Mother had purchased and installed a tree, all ready to be decorated. It was the best Welcome Home gift anyone ever had. Everyone was thrilled with the tree and thrilled to be home, especially Molly.

November 28, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Romantic Dinner.

The resort offers a special dinner for couples, serving steak and lobster, outside on the patio at a remote spot. Only 6 couples are allowed each evening. Champagne is served, roses are given to the ladies and cigars for the men and in general, the four course dinner is beautifully done. Our butler asked if any of us wished to attend one of the romantic lobster dinners. Suzanne and I immediately asked if we all 12 could come at the same time. He was a bit startled, that we wished to include the children in the romantic dinner, but when he checked it out, he was able to make our reservations for our last night, which we thought would be perfect. And it was. We sat outside all by ourselves under a moonlit night and drank champagne and enjoyed our romantic dinner for 12. The girls were served champagne too. The food and the company was top drawer. Tomorrow at 6:30 am, we leave the resort but the romantic dinner will stick in the memories for both young and old.

November 27, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Thanksgiving Day 2014.

We spend them summer in Nova Scotia with Gill but today Gill visited the family at our resort on the Riviera Maya. Gill was attending a wedding at Dreams Tulum, another resort down the shore. The wedding was yesterday so today she took a cab and spent part of the day with us. Gill lives in Toronto so it was an unusual event for us all to be at the same shore in Mexico the same week of November. The rest of the family had not seen Gill for several years so it was a festive day to spend part of the day together. The day was unusual for Thanksgiving. No turkey and no football. Instead, all twelve of us ate lunch together with Gill, then spent the rest of the afternoon sitting by the pool and talking. The girls came and went and talked and read. After Gill left at 4:00 we drifted off one by one, only to congregate again in our suite for cocktails at 6:00. Zen, an Asian restaurant was our choice for Thanksgiving dinner. One of the larger restaurants served a traditional dinner but we decided to save the turkey for another year. We enjoyed the sushi and sashimi and the Pad Tai. And we were grateful to be together with Gill for Thanksgiving, 2014.

November 26, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Basketball.

Some days you just get lucky. Through no efforts on our part we all enjoyed a basketball tournament of Division 1 Schools, held at our own resort. It was great fun. It was the closest we will ever get to Division basketball teams. The tournament was short, just three days. Eight men's teams and eight women's teams, divided into two section. Today we 12 attended the finals of the two men's divisions. The University of Northern Iowa won, beating Northwestern University in the final game tonight. We sat right beside the court, in comfortable chairs supposed to be for the press and the corporate sponsors. We noticed that not all the seats were empty so we just moved in and filled them up. It was exciting sitting at court side. CBS broadcast the tournament. David, Sarah and Samantha were actually on TV. Walking the young men wandering around the resort was impressive too. So many of the players were tall. Kate loved walking by all those tall young men. It is one thing watching the players on TV but when the same players walk by the pool you realize how big these players actually are. None of us knew the tournament was being held at the Hard Rock Resort, but we all enjoyed attending the games and seeing the players. The tournament was an added bonus to our visit.

CancunGirls

November 25, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Getting Old.

Getting old is not for the faint of heart. Today both Ken and I stayed the whole day in our suite, not because the weather was awful but we both felt terrible. I started coughing yesterday and Ken did the same. We suspect that we caught a bug on the plane so today was not our best day. We stayed home and read and rested and called for room service. By the time the family came for cocktail hour, we had showered and dressed and were able to join everyone for dinner. While I continue to huff and puff, my brother Dave is recovering from more cutting and a skin graft for a recurrence of his melanoma. For two weeks he is not able to use his arm or fingers. The good doctors also checked a node but he won't know for a couple of weeks of the result. I have a biopsy appointment on December 3 to try to determine the cell type in the mass in my chest. We hope to know whether I will survive another ten years, or perhaps two years, or maybe six weeks. You just never know when you are getting old, just what is around the corner. But we are grateful. Many folks never get to grow old!!

November 24, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. 7 Years Old.

Molly hugged me at the end of dinner. That in itself was astonishing because Molly is not a hugger. Then she said to me, " Grandma, this was the best Birthday ever". And she hugged me again. Today Molly turned 7. She was fearful of missing her birthday because they were not at home but her special day turned into a wonderful memory. Her day started at the pool at 9:00, where she played with a new friend until 2:00. The Salon has a special Angelina Ballerina program which Suzanne gave her for a gift. The salon folks treated her like a princess. She had a pedicure and a manicure. They fixed her hair and gave her a facial. When she returned to her room there were balloons and banners all over her bedroom, thanks to our butlers. Her birthday dinner we held at the Japanese steak house, where the chefs cook right at the table. She loved it as did the other girls. It was a special dinner for a special occasion. Molly is now 7 years old and she did it in style.

November 23, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Lazy Day.

Everyone needs a break so today we did nothing. The Texas family one by one has had flu so this week is a welcome respite from activities and school and work. Sarah was the last one sick but David and Suzanne are still both coughing so today we luxuriated on the warmth of Mexico while sitting by the pool. All afternoon we sat by the pool. The girls wandered around both pools and took part in various activities but they too enjoyed lounging and talking. Our butler reserved two cabanas along with 8 lounge chairs and two straight back chairs for Ken and me. We had food 30 feet away while the young man brought us any drink we wanted all day. The rest room was 50 feet away and the pool right in front of us. David could not recall a day when he did absolutely nothing. And we all felt better every minute. It was a remarkable, lazy day. Molly of course was busy all day. She must have gone down the slide 100 times. The rest of the time she was in the pool. At dinner tonight I thought she might fall asleep at the table. Tomorrow Molly will turn seven. We will celebrate.

November 22, 2014. Riviera Maya, Mexico. Brizilian Steak House.

We did it. Everyone is here safe and sound. Both families experienced no hassles with travel. The rooms are beautiful overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Everyone is happy and delighted to be together. The Palace Resort changed their name to The Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya, Hacienda. The also changed routines. When we arrived we were taken to the Convention Center, where snacks and drinks were set up. All the paper work took five minutes, then we were taken to our rooms/suites. And the whole place has been refurbished. It is new and fancy. Every evening we 12 will gather in our suite prior to having dinner together. What could be better. This idea we stole from Dave and Irene's cruise. Our meal tonight we enjoyed at the Brazilian Steak House. These girls enjoy good meat and we all ate our fill. Suzanne and five of the girls have gone to the Kareoka Teen Disco. The rest of us will call it a night. It has been a long day, but here we are, together again.

November 21, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Something Good.

Always, something good comes from everything. In my case, I have lost weight, which is all to the good. Sooner or later, I might wear a normal size. And when we are at the resort for Thanksgiving week, I will undoubtedly look better in my bathing suit!! What a treat. The truck is loaded with our cases. Tomorrow early, Ken and I will drive to Christina, where she will drive us to the Jackson airport. The six of us board planes to Cancun, via Atlanta, to spend a week at an all inclusive resort south of Playa Del Carman. Our Texas family are joining us for the week. Two years ago we enjoyed our week together so this year we are doing it again. It is our Christmas gift to the family. Suzanne and Christina have a true vacation with no cooking or cleaning up and the girls can eat where ever they wish. We all dine together in the evenings. The activities for the girls are boundless and they participate in the volleyball and water polo and water volleyball. It is great fun for all. The pulmonary man withdrew another 1300cc's of fluid from my chest so at least for a couple of days I will not huff and puff too badly. No matter what, we will have a wonderful time. But we will all wish that Andrew was with us.

November 20, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. The Lost Day.

November 19 was supposed to be an ordinary day, except for one test early in the day. I assumed I would be home by ten to carry on my normal activities. In reality, I got nothing done of any value, except for the test. The Cardiologist was fitting my test in with all his other chores. Dr. Cotton was on call so my instructions were to report to the hospital at 7:00 but be prepared to wait in the event the he is in an emergency situation. They explained the system, which is that emergencies always come first, with elective procedures wait. For the first time in ages, I became a patient. I was put into a small room where the procedure would be done and the nurses made me ready. My IV and blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor plus oxygen were all in place. I was lying on a gurney wearing a hospital robe and socks and two blankets. By 8:20 I was all ready for Dr. Cotton to take this TEE test. Fist I slept for half and hour, then listened to the nurses conversations for another half an hour. Finally I asked the nurses to remove the cuff and give me my magazine. I had already removed the oxygen and heart rate clip. Finally at 10:30 everyone appeared and promptly put me to sleep. It knocked me out so I could not really function for the rest of the day. Fortunately, Christina both dropped me off and picked me up. The rest of the day I slept. The test went well. The heart is not causing the fluid on my chest. These sedatives knock you out but it certainly makes the testing process easy. But the whole day was wasted.

November 18, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. More Procedures.

One procedure always leads to another procedure. It is as inevitable as day following night. Today I was checked out by our Cardiologist, Dr. Cotton. After examining me, he sent me to have an echo cardiogram. Ken also had the same test today, and also met with Dr. Cotton. All is as well as possible with Ken. All the doctors tell Ken he is doing well, although Ken does not feel that he is well. What the doctors really mean is that Ken is doing as well as possible with his illnesses. In other words, his present situation is Ken's new normal. Dr.Cotton spotted a calcium deposit on my mitral valve and tomorrow he will perform yet another procedure to check it out. The process does not sound like fun. He will insert a tube down my esophagus to look at my heart valve. But it is more modern medicine and one more procedure for me. This afternoon, Ken had an appointment with the Eye Doctor to check out his double vision. All is well with Ken's eyes. No problems with his retina nor his buckle. But now Ken has exercises once a day to get rid of the double vision. I hope it works. Tomorrow, Christina will take me to the hospital at 7:00 because Ken can not drive. Ken not driving is difficult because after my procedure I will not be able to drive so Christina will pick me up. These procedures are getting tiresome.

November 17, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. The Cold.

Ken does not like the cold. Right now, the temperature in Jackson, Mississippi is 33 degrees, which means it is cold. During the night it will get below freezing. In the morning, Ken has an appointment at 8:30, which means we must walk out the door at 7:30 in order to arrive on time. It will be cold and Ken will not be pleased. He is not a wimp. Breathing is easier for him when the air is warm and moist and clean. Jackson air is clean and usually it is warm and moist but right now the air is cold and dry which is not good for Ken's lungs. Ken was advised in 1963 to take residency training in a warm climate. "It will be easier for your lungs", said the surgeon. So we moved to Texas where it was warm. For 40 years we lived in Bethesda, Maryland where the winters are short and not bitter but as we aged, the temperature became more important. Now we follow 75 degrees, just like the birds. We were not anticipating freezing weather in Mississippi. At least I have one pair of wool socks but Ken must suffer. Surely it will get warm soon.

November 16, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. Rain.

In the middle of the night the rain started. All day today it has rained and the forecast is for the rain to continue all night too. Perhaps tomorrow the sun will shine. The only saving grace is the temperature which was 59 today. Here everyone owns raincoats and the restaurants have clothes hooks. The expectation amongst the Mississippi folks is that the rains will fall so no one ever mentions the rain. For a Texan, this is unusual. When you see the foliage, it is obvious. The trees are tall and the foliage is lush, even in mid November. The rivers are never dry. Even the creeks flow freely with plenty of water. Annual rainfall is 52 inches. No one complains about the rain. It is ignored. I often mention to the family about the blessing of the temperature. Below freezing would mean frozen streets or snow, so we never complain about the rain either. We just enjoy the sound while reading in our cosy condominium.

November 15, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. The University of Mississippi.

The Hospital Center of the University of Mississippi has done itself proud. Both Ken and I were treated quickly and competently on Thursday and Friday. We arrived in Jackson on Wednesday at lunch time. That afternoon we spoke to our Internist, Dr. Gregg. Both Ken and I had issues that needed attention. She arranged to meet with us on Thursday at 1:00. Previously, Christina had alerted Dr. Gregg about my pleural effusion and the Fredericksburg Internist sent a report for her. She had spoken to the Pulmonary specialist, Dr. Abraham, and arranged to draw fluid from me on Friday at 12:15. In addition she ordered a CT scan for Friday at 11:45. By the time Dr. Abraham was ready to draw the fluid, he had already seen the scan so knew I had a mass in the middle of my chest. He showed both Ken and me the scan. He hand carried the 1300cc's of fluid to the lab and we hope it works it's magic and will tell us the cells in the mass. If not, he will take a biopsy of the mass. So progress has been made. Ken's experience is ever more impressive. Two weeks ago, Ken got a small hernia and wanted it repaired. He mentioned it to Dr. Gregg, who requested an appointment with a surgeon. Immediately, Ken was given an appointment for Friday at 9:00. We both met with Dr. Vick, who is another 20 year old doctor. He explained all the procedure and Ken agreed to have it done on December 9. While we were waiting for my CT scan, Ken completed the four steps of his pre op process. He had no waiting at all as he want from one area to the next. We were home in time for a late lunch at 2:00 and were impressed with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Neither of us had seen anything quite like it.

November 14, 2014. Ridgeland, MS. My Sample.

The instructions given to me were precise and stern. I was to take this round bottle into the bathroom, use the wipe to clean myself and in mid flow, fill the bottle full to the top. The nurse giving me instructions had lived all her life in Mississippi so it was difficult for me to understand her words. It took me three times for me to figure out what I was supposed to do with the little bottle. Finally, I gave up and figured out I would just leave it in the bathroom on the sink. She thought I was demented but I thought it was funny. Now this nurse was pleasant but she was also over six feet tall and weighed about 225 pounds. She was not one to mess with, especially by an elderly lady wearing sneakers and jeans. I knew what to do. The problem was with the execution. It had been three hours since a bathroom break for me. I needed to urinate. What with the opened bottle in my one hand and the wipe in the other hand while trying to pull down my jeans, and trying to fill the bottle mid stream, my hand slipped and the sample bottle fell into the toilet. I knew this was not good but I started to giggle, which made things worse. I rescued the bottle, filled it partly to the top, placed it carefully in the metal cabinet, and crept out. I did not breathe a word to the efficient nurse. I can not imagine what those results will be like, when my urine is mixed with water from the toilet bowl. But I will never tell a soul, until I am required to confess. Then I will probably be told to repeat the whole process, except now I know the drill. Perhaps I will perform better.

November 13, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. Test and Scans.

Modern Medicine is wonderful. But it is more interesting in someone else. Today began the search for the needle in the hay stack, the needle being, "what is the matter with Ruth?" I look perfectly normal. As Ken says, "You are not fading away". My cheeks are rosy and my skin is pink. My only symptoms are shortness of breath and a bad taste in my mouth. I also have a cough, but I am inclined to think the cough is coming from allergies. Both the Internist and Ken disagree. And of course, they discovered that I have a large amount of fluid in my chest. Today we met for two hours with Dr. Gregg, our Internist who is a specialist of Geriatrics. She asked me every question known to man about my health and my symptoms. And we made a plan. Tomorrow I will have a CT scan on my chest and after lunch more fluid removed from my chest, this time by a Pulmonary specialist. First thing Tuesday morning I meet with Dr. Cotton, the Cardiologist to do a cardiac evaluation. Wednesday morning I will have a Mammogram. After further evaluation of the fluid and the other tests, something should be found that is causing the build up of fluid. If nothing is found, they will continue more scans of the abdomen and bowel. Eventually the culprit will be found. Being a test subject holds no charm for me. My druthers are to forget about my health and get on with the job at hand but I have no choice but to pay attention. So I remove myself about three feet from the test and try to pretend this task is actually interesting. At least I laugh as I pretend that this is all being done on someone else!!

November 12, 2014. Ridgeland, Mississippi. Arrival.

We did it. The drive went well and we arrived in time for lunch with Christina. The big girls went to piano lessons while Molly was still at school. I tired myself out talking all afternoon, first with Christina, then Molly when we picked her up from school and finally with Kate and Mary Frances. But it is lovely to catch up on the latest activities. I can report that Molly loves her first grade class. School begins at 8:30 but at 7:30 the school conducts a Gorilla Program of activities for anyone who wishes to come. It is a class of activities of various sorts. Molly is unhappy if they are late for the 7:30 class. Kate, in addition to her regular school at home is taking a math class at a local university. The course will transfer to her first year of college at Mississippi College next year. Mary Frances has painted her bedroom. Her art looks spectacular and she is pleased with the new look. I have not seen her own work yet but she is drawing and drawing and drawing. As always, arriving home is comforting. I remind myself every day of the many blessings we have with our family and friends in Mississippi. Tomorrow I begin my tests and scans. Someday it will end, but not yet.

November 11, 2014. Minden, Louisiana. Diners.

Our Diner today had everything we expect to find in a real Diner. It was old, not a new Diner built to look like an old Diner. It was so old that the table tops had formica worn off from repeated washings. Every patron arrived and was spoken to my name by the workers. In other words, this Diner had a regular clientele. The staff were friendly to us and called us Hon. The place was almost full even though it was 1:00. The sole cook was working as quickly as a set of hands could work. And even though there was a full counter of 14 seats plus 8 tables of four, only one waitress worked the Diner. She was efficient and capable and enthusiastic. And she had three different tattoos. But what this Diner reminded us about Diners from the past was the food. It was great. And it was inexpensive. We ordered their special which were pork chops plus two sides. We were served enough food for two meals. Now we have a box in the car ready for our first meal in the condo. Ken and I almost drove right past this run down looking place but we saw all the cars outside so we look a chance. We were glad we did.

November 10, 2014. Franklin, Texas. On the Road.

The weather was perfect today. 75 degrees and sunny so it was a wonderful day to be driving east. Ken's appointment with the Neurologist was at 10:00 so by 11:00 we were past dealing with the sun in our eyes as we began our drive to Mississippi. Our family in Texas is anxious about us driving right now, and for good reason. Ken is seeing double in one eye so is not driving much at all and I have my pleural effusion, but when I am sitting, I feel almost normal. Of course, when I am driving, I am sitting so it does not really tax my abilities. Today we did fine. We have 7.5 hours until our arrival in Jackson but we will not arrive tomorrow. We will sleep in and hit the road at 10:00 Every hour or two we will stop for a break and a walk and we will stop for the day by 3 or 4. And we will stop for lunch. Today when we stopped for the day, I had a thirty minute nap so I feel fine. I expect to do the same thing tomorrow. Shortly we will walk to the Mexican restaurant and have dinner. And we will watch the football game when we are home in our lovely spacious room at the Best Western. Our day has been pleasant. It seems that as we get older we are also getting smarter at enjoying ourselves. It is a 12 hour drive from the ranch to our condo and we will take two nights on the road to get it done. 50 years ago that would have been a one day drive. But we are getting smarter…and slower too!!

November 9, 2014. Harper, Texas. Honey Harvest.

David keeps bees. Once a year he harvests the honey that the bees have been working so hard manufacturing. The event was exciting. He and Suzanne invite friends to help. This afternoon, three couples and their children along with Ken and me gathered in David's garage/office to share in the task. It is not a simple operation. David had already removed the frames of honey from the hives. Of course, the bees are not happy so David wore his beekeeper outfit. Today we had 20 frames full of honey, ready to harvest. Everyone helped and seemed to enjoy doing the various activity. First using a hot knife, the honey is removed from the frame and set in the centrifuge. After 4 frames are loaded, the strong folks took turns turning the handle so the honey will separate from the beeswax. Finally, when all the frames are separated, the 80 empty jars were filled with the honey. We were a group of 20, sharing in the fun and ready to depart for home with the a jar of honey. But first, a delicious barbeque dinner was served in their home. By the time the job was done, the garage was a bit of a mess, but all the effort was worth it. The honey should last all year. David says that keeping bees is the most interesting hobby he has ever had. It certainly is the most productive.

November 8, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. An Empty Lot.

We turned the corner to the lake house and could not figure out where we were. The lot adjacent to us was empty. There were no trees, They had all been taken down and removed. And the house was gone too. Everything looked different. What a surprise. For the past 18 years, the house next to us sat empty. The owner was an old lady, who was in a nursing home. Her only relative was a nephew who lived in Houston and visited the house once a year to bring the new license for the boat. He stayed for only the day, then returned to Houston but did no work on the house or the grounds. The trees were overgrown and the grasses high. In fact you could not see the house from the street. Five years ago, the old lady died and the nephew inherited the house but still nothing happened, until now. When we arrived at the lake house October 9, I spotted a for sale sign on the property and promptly called the listing agent who told me that the house had sold and would settle in two weeks. There were multiple offers and the house sold for over the asking price. But he told me that the new owner was not demolishing the house. Well he was wrong. That old tacky house is gone and in it's place will be a lovely modern home that will raise the value of our home. It certainly looks odd right now to see the lot totally empty, but it is definitely progress!!

November 7, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. Tests and More Tests.

Nothing is definitive so more testing must be done. Ken suspected as much. I have lymphocytic pleural effusion, whatever that is, and at the moment, more tests must be done in order to find the source of the fluid filling my chest. The good doctor has made a package to take with us to Mississippi so Dr. Gregg can proceed to order the tests. I picked it up this morning on the way to the lake. It will be like solving a puzzle to try to figure out what is happening with my body. Ken says that sometimes they are never able to find the source of the problem, but usually it becomes obvious. In the meantime, I am carrying on with my life. This situation has been with me for quite a long time, before it became incapacitating. Now I will just slow down a bit. It does seem that as we get older, many more parts of the body require attention. My friend Gill is just in the process of checking her annual physical. It turns out there lots of little things are the matter such as hands that show arthritis and feet that hurt, both of which require a separate test and then treatment. Getting old is definitely not for wimps. The tests just keep going on and on. First up for me will be a Mammogram, which I hate. They are for sure going to need more chest fluid. And of course they must draw blood. And they will want a CAT scan of my abdomen. Eventually, the answer will be found, I hope!!

November 6, 2014. Harper, Texas. Rain.

Most Texas when given one wish, will wish for rain. East Texas has ample rain but the rest of the state is always short of rain. This year, Dallas has had 12 inches less rain than is normal and normal is not much. Very often, the rain comes down in buckets so is quickly washed away, thus depriving the soaking to the ground. But for the past two days, everyone in the Hill Country is smiling. A steady rain fell for almost two days. It was a perfect rain, all due to the storm that came into Mexico from the Pacific. The rain turns everything green. It is almost like magic. When we turn onto 433 from 385, usually we see brown. Our friends have too many animals on their fields so nothing grows. But today, we could see green in every direction. It was a lovely sight. We arrived at the Top House to smell burning trees. We had contracted for the cedar trees to be cut and the dead trees to be piled. After two days of rain, the decision was made to burn the piles. After dark, we could see smoldering red coals dotted around the pastures. The fields look much better now, especially as everything is green. In Nova Scotia, folks are sick of the rain, but not in Texas. Bring it on, they say.

November 5, 2014. Fredericksburg, Texas. So Clever.

The back roads in Texas are designed to have rain water run across the low areas. In many places, a rain gauge is installed beside the road, so the driver can tell how much water is covering the low spots. When we first moved to Texas in 1964, we thought it was joke as most rivers which we could see on the maps were actually dry. But then it rained and we realized that several roads in Galveston were closed due to the high water. We decided that as it had rained already for 24 hours and the forecast was for more rain. Tomorrow morning I would be driving to my Doctor's appointment in the dark, which would be difficult. I suggested to Ken that we drive to Fredericksburg this afternoon in the daylight and stay overnight, which we did. Ken found an excellent restaurant too so we are feeling smug. Several times during the road today the water covered the roads so I was pleased to be driving when I could see the water ahead of time. It is not often that we are so clever at planning ahead, but today we did well. We are all set for my appointment tomorrow.

November 4, 2014. Harper, Texas. Elections.

Watching the election results is always fun, especially when the good guys win. I have spent the past year reading and listening to the various races around the country and finally it is over. As usual, many good people won and many good people lost. It must be a terrible feeling when the race is over and you as a candidate has lost. But like everything else, life goes on. Now the next two years will be even more interesting. I love the political world and keep track of what is going on but I never write about politics in my wee web log. My friend Joyce writes about the political world in her blog and we have great discussions but the political life of the country is not central to my life so I ignore politics in my blog. Today was an exception as this was election day. It is also the only time in our lives that we have not voted. The state of Texas has survived without our vote but next time we will do better. I believe in the ballot. Ken wrote asking for absentee ballots but it did not come and we were not up to the drive to Junction. Next time!!

November 3, 2014. Harper, Texas. Another Book.

This book is worth reading. Each chapter has food for thought and discussion. Many conversations arise from reading this book even if your points of view do not agree with the writer. The book is "What's so Great About America?" by Dinesh D'Souza. I am enjoying every minute. I emigrated to the US in 1964 and I view America with different eyes than those born here. The same is true for the author. As I came from Canada where the society and culture is similar, you could think that the habits and attitudes are the same in both countries but they are not, so I spent time trying to figure out how the place works. This is basically what this book does too, which is probably why I am enjoying it so much. Also I dislike the bashing America theme so this book is refreshing. His writing style is easy and the information readily available. One good aspect of not being perfectly well is that I have more time to read. Something good comes from everything. I have been wanting to read "What's So Great About America?" ever since it was published. Now I am finally doing it. You will enjoy it too.

November 2, 2014. Harper, Texas. Patience.

Patience is supposed to be a virtue. In my opinion, it is overvalued. When something is broken, I want it fixed right now. If an idea for a trip is discussed, we tend to plan it. Only once in my life have we ever waited at a restaurant. I never get in a line for anything. I am not patient. Ken and I did not take the boys to Disney World because we were told that there were lines for everything. As long as we are working toward an end, I am happy but I am not patient if no progress is being accomplished. Right now I am not pleased with progress on my pleural effusion. I know what is happening but I do not know what has been the cause. My goal is to get it fixed, sooner than later. I know the procedure was only done on Thursday but in my mind, the lab results should be faster. I do not know if I should exercise and push myself or to continue to be a slug. Today I took a short walk but as I was still short of breath I walked slowly. Ken looked up information about pleural effusion and discovered that radiation can impact the lung. We already know that my radiation already clipped my carotid artery, at least it probably did, so perhaps that is the cause. I know, that I need to be patient, and understand that "This too shall Pass", but I do not enjoy waiting and doing nothing. I am not a patient person, even though I am almost always polite.

November 1, 2014. Harper, Texas. The Fish Fry.

Today, from 11 to 2, the Harper Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department held a Fish Fry. The event is held in their building and grounds. This event was amazing. Only once a year do they hold a fund raiser and this was it. Ken and I had forgotten about it but fortunately Joyce called last evening to see if we wanted a ride, which of course, we did. I don't know how many attended but when we arrived shortly after 11, the large building was full of people, all eating fish with all the trimmings. Now Harper is a small town but this was not a small event. They can seat 500 people at a time. A five piece band played Texas tunes the whole time. And the organization was superb. No waiting at all. Tents had been set up on the grounds selling T shirts and raffle tickets. At any time, folks were standing outside and visiting, in addition to the folks eating lunch. The payment is by donation. Most people we know in Harper we saw at the Fish Fry. There were old people and young people and lots of babies. They must have come from everywhere within fifty miles in order for all those folks to be together at one time in Harper. I was reminded of the dinners held in Artemas at the farm, where funds were raised for the ball field or the church, except this event was ten times bigger in size and organization. I hope they made a lot of money. We certainly enjoyed it.

October 31, 2014. Harper, Texas. Immigration.

The topic is controversial. Everyone agrees that the border should be protected. No one knows what to do with the millions of illegals who have lived and worked in the US for many years. But everyone knows someone who deserves the opportunity to be a legal resident. I certainly do. For the past year, our property at the lake is being tended to by a man who speaks little English. Without being called, he drives by and trims the bushes both front and back. He is energetic and enthusiastic and hard working. David found him after the last two companies Ken and I had hired failed to show up. They were too busy. David responded to a flyer left at the house. Ken can no longer trim or cut and David has little time so this man was a blessing to all of us. We all suspect he is not a legal resident but we have not asked. But we certainly want this man to get his papers and he would be a model citizen. He works hard. His wife works hard. His children are all born here. This business of the illegal immigration is complicated.

October 30. 2014. Harper, Texas. Fredericksburg Memorial Hospital.

The volunteers greet you with a big smile. After you register, which is done immediately, the volunteers walk with you to your first appointment, chatting all the way. When they leave you, they take your arm and give you a squeeze and wish you well. Of course, they have already given your paperwork to the working folks. This introduction is a forecast of what will come. Every person was competent. Every person was careful. And everyone seemed to care very much with my welfare. It was really quite astonishing. Today I arrived at 9:45 and left at noon. During that time I had blood drawn. Then they withdrew 1500 cc's of fluid from my chest, followed by an ekg. The whole procedure surprised me in that I was sitting on the side of a stretcher the whole time, the radiologist telling me what was happening every step of the way. I assumed I would feel better when the fluid had been removed but that was not the case. Evidently my left lung has been deflated so long that it must inflate at it's own time. Now with any luck I will never have that procedure done again, but as I have no idea how I developed this pleural effusion, I will not be able to prevent it happening again. This does not please me. But if you need a procedure, the Fredericksburg Memorial Hospital would be the right place to have it done.

October 29, 2014. Harper, Texas. Loading the Truck.

Watching us would have been like observing the halt and the lame. It took us a long time, but we did it. Fortunately, we both have a good sense of humor. The first thing I said to myself this morning was "Ruth. Do not be a wimp. You can do this". Today we drove to the ranch. Normally we only load everything in the truck when we drive to Mississippi but my procedure tomorrow is supposed to determine what is the matter with me. Presumably, the next step is to fix what is broken, but we do not know what we will face, so I suggested we load up all our stuff. I suggested that we might get stuck at the ranch. We carry a file box and a container of technology along with stuff going to Mississippi. I was not looking forward to loading the truck, especially as I am so short of breath. We took our time. Ken helped me carry the heavy boxes and bit by bit we got the job done. But I will tell you that the picture was not pretty!!

October 28, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. A Barber Shop.

Ken was looking like a mad scientist. His hair was sticking straight up in every direction. His new barber in Nova Scotia, Mr. Payzant, left his hair too long on the top so Ken was in need of a haircut. He looked up in the computer to find a barber close by. It seems there are fewer barbers around these days but he found one in Startsville. Yesterday it was closed so this afternoon we tried our luck again. Have you ever seen a lady barber? I never had. And the barber shop was decorated for Halloween. Along with the lady barber there was also a six year old granddaughter, who promptly blew up a balloon for me. The barber was efficient and quick and Ken was soon finished. Outside is a sign saying "under new management". A young man came in while I was waiting for Ken so she must be building up her customer base. I wish her well and hope she stays in business a long time. Ken's new barber is very nice and she is cheap but I wonder if a lady barber will be popular? We are going to find out.

October 27, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. Birthday Dinner.

Sarah's birthday has stretched out for 12 days and she has enjoyed every celebration. Last evening was the last event, where the family gathered to dine on hamburgers and salad, followed by two birthday cakes. Of course, we sang Happy Birthday. One cake was fancy, with fruit and cream while the other was plain American cheese cake. All eight of us had a piece of each cakes with enough left over for another meal. Sarah is 17 years old. It has been such fun watching her grow up. Right now, she is ready to take charge of her life. Starting in the summer, they will visit colleges. She does not want to attend college in Texas and she is determined to make the list of school visits be hers. Right now, she told me that she is too busy trying to get good grades to think about school visits. And I could not interest her in studying in Canada. I brought her a set of worry beads from Nova Scotia which she keeps in her backpack. I certainly do not want my wonderful Sarah worrying, even though this is a tough age not to worry. Sarah is 17 and energetic and enthusiastic. As the grandmother, I can say that Sarah is a pleasure to be with. I was delighted to be a part of her birthday celebrations.

October 26, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. Pleural Effusion.

Well who knew? Not Ken and not me. The good doctor in Fredericksburg along with the chest Xray decided that I have Pleural Effusion, which means fluid in the chest. We all have a bit but I have a lot. Next week they will perform a Thoracentesis which is a fancy word that means sticking a needle into my chest to withdraw the fluid. Next will be the biopsy of the fluid to try to figure out what on earth is causing the fluid in my chest. Normally, I ignore ill health and take Iboprofen and water until I feel better, but my cough was persisting. And I was short of breath. When I walked upstairs at the Top House I was forced to sit down to catch my breath, so I knew that something was not right. And I was not getting any better. I must be off blood thinner for five days before the procedure can be done, which means late this week. David and Suzanne are installing TV at the lake for us. The last time we were here for an extended time was when I went loopy. They ordered TV for me that time too. David thinks we may be in for a long siege but I hope not. The moral of the story is that you just never know what is just around the corner!!

October 25, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. Listening In.

It was perfect. I was sitting on the deck all by myself, enjoying the beautiful evening and the lake, minding my own business, when my neighbor Sharon and a friend came out on their new deck. Ken was inside preparing dinner. He wisely planted a tree 18 years ago that has grown quickly and now totally occludes our deck from their home, so I was hidden from view. Now I could have gotten up and called a hello to them but I stayed quiet as a mouse and listened in on their conversation. It was just like listening into an old fashioned telephone party line, when you could hear but no one knew you were there. The two ladies were discussing interior decorating. It was a fascinating discussion. The husbands were in the house. Sharon and Tim are in the midst of a large outdoor project to add a large deck and a lower level for the hot tub. Sharon was describing the furniture that will come, also the plantings. I think the second lady is the interior designer because she made many suggestions, some of which Sharon approved and some she did not. Sharon said nothing about the unfinished mess in the yard. Soon the men come out and they all four joke about the construction. Tim laughed and proceeded to tell the story of their problem with the permits, which is why the job has not been completed. Their builder told Tim that permits would not be a problem so much construction was done, including installing the hot tub on a large lower deck. But they can not get the plan approved. Tim thinks it is funny. Sharon does not. Our neighbors are very nice people and are excellent neighbors. They take in our trash cans and keep a car in the driveway regularly. And I loved listening into their conversations tonight. Nosy Rosie, that was me tonight.

October 24, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. Commentary.

Finally, I have it all straight. Now I am able to read Commentary magazine on my iPad. Somehow or other, the subscription department thought we lived in Canada full time, which meant I should be sending them more money. Why magazines and lots of other things cost more in Canada I do not know. It makes no sense to me. But for almost a year, I was not able to read full articles on my iPad. I could read excerpts and I could read 8 articles a month, but even though I was a subscriber I was unable to down load the full article. I thought it was all cleared up six months ago, but nothing happened. In order to deal with a subscription department you require two qualities, which are time and patience. Last week I had both, so I screwed up my courage and phoned. E mailing was impossible. Now everything works as it should, but it took an hour. The magazine is excellent and controversial and I missed reading the full texts of the articles. One aspect of the periodical leaves me cold. Every month, Joseph Epstein tells a Jewish joke. Readers respond and send comments telling why the joke is funny. But I never think the jokes are funny at all and I can not figure out why Joseph thinks they are funny. I just don't get it, I suppose because I am not Jewish. Who would have thought there is such a difference.

October 23, 2014. Canyon Lake, Texas. The New Doctor.

I am sure he is not yet 20, but after all, he has completed College, Medical school and Internal Medicine Residency, which totals 11 years. If you assume graduation from high school at 18, he must be at least 29 nine. To me he looks to be 20. I liked him. He is serious and efficient and he listened to my symptoms carefully. He did not tell me that I looked well. Because I have rosy checks, most doctors think I am perfectly fine. He did everything right. He ordered blood work and a chest x ray. He set up a pulmonary function chest. And he listened to my chest. My allergies are out of control so he prescribed medications. He suspects from listening that I have fluid in my chest. The radiologist said the same thing. Evidently, this shortness of breath is not lack of conditioning. The Medical community in Fredericksburg is excellent. Except for the pulmonary function test, everything was completed this morning and I was home at the ranch by 12:30. We are delighted to have found an excellent young doctor at the Fredericksburg Clinic. Not only is he competent and efficient but he did not waste a minute in small talk. Some days you just get lucky.

October 22, 2014. Harper, Texas. The Texas White House.

For years, Ken and I have driven past the entrance to the Lyndon Johnson National Historic Park. Instead, we stopped to use the facilities at the LBJ Rest Stop on Highway 290, and we swore that the next visit to the Hill Country we would promise to visit the Johnson ranch. But we never did, until now that is. Joyce, Robbie, Ken and I visited the Texas White House today. It was a splendid trip. The setting is beautiful. The ranch owned by the Johnsons had 2800 acres, so the drive around the ranch and along the Pedernalas River is lovely, The visit includes the site of LBJ's birth, the graveyard of the family and a tour of the first level of the ranch house. We were able to get all our questions answered. One thing for sure is that neither the President or his wife were interested in fancy furniture. The setting is lovely but the rooms in the Texas White House are small and the furniture ordinary. The four of us enjoyed the visit. Then we followed up by having lunch in Johnson City, the town where Lyndon was brought up. The Hill Country still reveres Lyndon Johnson, because as a young congressman, he brought electricity to the whole Hill Country. His energy and expertise was just beginning.

October 21, 2014. Harper, Texas. The World Series.

Finally, the World Series began tonight. The thrill of another series has been diminished for me because I did not want the Giants to play in yet another World Series. Kansas City playing is good but I will be upset if the Giants win and become champions. And we even have a television at our home so I can watch the games. Unfortunately, we drive to the lake on Thursday where we have no TV. We can't visit David and Suzanne every day so I bet I will miss some games. Such a life I lead. There is something nostalgic for me watching the World Series. It does not really make much sense because I never watch baseball though out the regular season but at Series time I am reminded of my 7th and 8th grade classes at Edith Cavell School in Vancouver. And I recall my Father's interest in The World Series. It was a happy time and I suspect that watching the series brings back those days. For whatever reasons, I am ready to watch some baseball!!

October 20, 2014. Harper, Texas. Recluse.

Right across the street from us in Nova Scotia lives a couple. We never see them. They live there all year but they never come outside. When we first moved, I stopped over to say hello and to invite them to a party. They were both pleasant and friendly. They came to the party and stayed for thirty minutes. The wife has difficulty walking. As I was accompanying them to their car, she thanked me for inviting them but asked me not to invite them again, as she said "We do not do anything social". I have not seen them since. They are much younger than us and they both work for their living as writers. It is still amazing to me that these good folks live directly across the street from me, both living as a recluse. Several days this week I have lived as a recluse. Today I never left the Top House. I read and e mailed and I was happy as a clam. Perhaps when I get older, I too will become a recluse and stay home all the time. This concept for myself never crossed my mind, until now. My cough is still with me and my energy has not returned. Perhaps that has turned me into a recluse. I can see that some time in the future I will just want to stay home. It will be interesting.

Old Folks, New Zealand

October 19, 2014. Harper, Texas. Carpets.

Some things I do make me look nuts. This afternoon, I loaded 8 Persian rugs into the back of the truck. The rugs had been on the floor of our Top House, piled one on top of the other at each end of the dining table. But Joyce and Robbie were coming for supper so the rugs needed to be moved. Ken had already tripped. The carpets had travelled from the farm in the back of the truck. Rather than put the rugs into storage, I decided to keep them with us. Rita and Wendy rolled the carpets and Joe loaded them onto the truck. The belongings going to Mississippi were packed onto the back seat, while the goods for Texas were in the back of the truck. It was impossible to get at the rugs when we got to Mississippi, even though some of them were to stay. When we got to Texas, the girls unloaded some of the carpets. Several were to be used in David and Suzanne's home. The rest stayed in the truck but I did not wish to keep the rugs rolled up all summer in a hot truck so I unloaded the carpets myself and put them on the floor of the Top House. Now these rugs will travel back to Mississippi with us. When we arrive, I will ask Kate and Mary Frances to bring the carpets into our small condo, where I will once again stack them on the floor. If, as and well the farm is sold and we purchase a larger home, the carpets will be transferred by the moving company. I am not moving those rugs again!!

October 18. 2014. Harper, Texas. Foresight.

The main street through the center of Fredericksburg is very wide. Four lanes of traffic plus an angled lane for parking on each side allows the traffic to flow. What interest me is that the good folks who laid out the town in the mid 19th century planned for the width. The old buildings on either side of the street have not been moved since they were built. I always wonder what the founding fathers were thinking. Did they think their town would become a city so the wide streets would be needed for heavy traffic? Winnipeg, Manitoba is the only city I have seen that originally, had their downtown streets made wide enough to allow a modern traffic flow. The streets are so wide that you must hustle to walk across with the change of the lights, but it has also allowed the city planners to avoid bulldozing buildings to allow for wider streets. The down town streets were always 8 lanes wide. Their city fathers knew that Winnipeg would one day become a major city and a gateway to the west. Actually, when Fredericksburg was first started in 1846, right in the center of their wide street they built their church so folks coming from either directions would not miss the church. The church stayed in place until the 60's when it was moved to a park area which houses all the festivals. It is still astonishing to me at the foresight of these good folks, all those years ago.

October 17, 2014. Harper, Texas. Facebook.

When I retired, Ken signed us both up with a Facebook account. It lasted two weeks, then he cancelled Facebook for himself. Four years later, I still have my page and receive messages every day from my Facebook friends. But probably not for long. Ken disapproves of putting pictures and information about yourself on the Internet. Although only your own friends are supposed to be able to access your information, in real life, Ken knows that clever people can get at your information. Until now, it has not been a problem. Yesterday, someone hacked into my account and contacted lots of my friends. Fortunately, my friends were able to figure it out and let me know, but not before this person was advocating investments and sending money. For a time, there were two F.Ruth Dickie Facebook pages. But I think it has gone away, thanks to so many folks complaining. I am stupid with Facebook and computers. Yesterday, when my friend Maureen told me to change my password immediately, I could not even recall my password, let alone figure out how to change it. My blog mentor, Sarah T., sent me direction in an article telling me what to do to get rid of the impostor, but I could not even access the proper screen. I was hopeless. Then the Internet went down for repairs so I was really lost. Now I think I should cancel my Facebook association. The only problem is that I don't know how to do it. Where is Regina when I need her??

October 16, 2014. Harper, Texas. The Ranch.

All day today a machine could be heard down the hill from our Top House. The dead trees and the cedar trees are being removed from the ranch. Two families purchased the adjacent ranch: a couple our age and their son and his wife and two children. They sold their construction business in Corpus Christie and retired here, bringing with them big machines. They have done a masterful job of fixing up their ranch. In one huge shed they built an apartment for the elder couple and at the ranch house they built a large deck overlooking their pastures. But the most impressive thing they did was to upgrade their fields. We overlook one of their hills. There is not a cedar tree in sight, nor any dead trees. The fields look wonderful. In addition they built three dams and dug holes so now they have water tanks on their property. Yesterday, the son, who is about 50, came by to say hello. As their tasks on their ranch are complete, he is able to take jobs for other folks, so we quickly hired him for the week. Ken and I had just decided to find about someone to get rid of the cedar trees. Actually, the trees we want gone are Juniper and are not native to Texas but in Texas they are called Cedar trees. They also take over the oak trees, so everyone wants them removed. He will work for a week and then we will see how far he gets. It was perfect timing when he came by yesterday. The ranch is getting better.

October 15, 2014. Harper, Texas. The Heir Apparent.

Once again, I am reading a book about one of the so called Royals. I really hate the system of inherited positions so perhaps it gives me secret pleasure when the people involved behave so badly. I am enjoying this book, which is a new biography. It tells the story of the future king who is given no authority or position, until the death of his mother, Queen Victoria. This author paints a far different picture of Albert that I read in the latest biography of him, who treats him as a paragon of virtue in every sense of the word. The full title is "The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, The Playboy Prince", written by Jane Ridley. The book is well written but long. As the book goes along and the future King gets older, I surprised myself by getting to like him. He grew on me which I suspect happened to the author too. Anyway, it fills in a gap to my knowledge of the history of british life after Queen Victoria. But I still think that inherited positions are ridiculous.

October 14, 2014. Harper, Texas. Joyce.

Joyce lives down the street from us at the ranch. She is quite a lady. Not only does she clean her own house but she also invites us over for delicious dinners. Several years ago she became interested in my wee web log. I told her all about mine, and encouraged her do write one herself, so she did. The main difference is our goals. I am not trying to make political points. Rather, I am wanting to allow the grandchildren to know us after we are dead and gone. Joyce is more interested in the world of politics and cares deeply about this country, so on her blog she speaks her mind about the ways of the world, the USA and Texas. Her blog can be found at www.kommonsentsjane.com either on Google or Yahoo. She takes great care with her work and it shows. Everyday she has responses to her latest blog as her writing is interesting and controversial. This evening we were invited for dinner with Joyce and Robbie in their home. The dinner was delicious and the conversation lively. It is always a pleasure spending time with our friends at the ranch.

October 13, 2014. Harper, Texas. Connie Myers.

Connie fought a long battle with cancer. Two days ago she died. She and her husband had moved to Liverpool in 2000, just after we did, except they moved permanently when they retired from Frederickton, New Brunswick. Connie was a nurse and Ross a doctor. They built a wonderful home overlooking the bold Atlantic, just down the shore from us. We new folks all dined in each other's homes. Connie was energetic and talented. She played the piano well and also the fiddle while Ross played the bagpipes. They often held kitchen parties in their home. Two years before their retirement, Connie had breast cancer. She and I discussed the process and the probabilities. She was upbeat and positive but two summers ago, her cancer returned. Her chemotherapy treatments began, one after the other. She was not expected to survive the summer of 2013 but she did, although on a restricted routine. Now she has gone. Her attitude was to fight against the disease with every tool in her arsenal and to stay alive as long as possible. She did fight the good fight and lived longer than anyone dreamed she would. Now we say Rest In Peace friend Connie. We will miss her.