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.