December 31, 2015. Madison, Ms. New Years Eve.

I like to stay home on New Years Eve.  When the pictures can be seen on TV of the hoards of people standing in New York waiting for the ball to drop at midnight I remind myself of how pleased I am to be at home.  It is especially nice when the football games are on TV.

But I have been busy today.  On Saturday we fly to Puerto Vallarta so today I organized and packed clothes and medications.   Our life in Mexico is a bit complicated because we will be staying at an all inclusive resort for two weeks, before moving to our own condo so we need clothes for the two weeks. And once again, I am traveling with three months supply of my oral chemotherapy.

This evening I also put away the Christmas decorations and gave the plants to Chantes.  Tomorrow I will put food into the freezer and the rest of the food in bags to give to Christina and the girls.  I seem to have more food in the fridge this time and I am wondering why.   I usually am good at eliminating the food supply by the time we leave, but not this time.  We are almost ready to leave, which pleases us because next week will be cold and raining in Jackson.  Puerto Vallarta on Saturday will be 82 in the daytime and 65 at night.  Perfect weather.

I will not see the New Year strike.  I will be in my cosy bed, dreaming of the happy and healthy new year of 2016.

December 30, 2015. Madison, Ms. A Busy Day.

The children just vanish when we visit the Sutherland's home.  The adults sit in the living room sipping wine by the fire discussing the scenic byways in Mississippi while the children play happily some other place on the property.  I don't even know what the kids are doing but I do know they are happy and content and are having a good time.  Today we were all invited to visit.  I asked to bring lunch.   My offer was accepted which suited everyone just fine.  I of course, kept it simple.  I took left over poppyseed chicken from Monday's party, along with the leftover salad, rolls and desert.  In addition I took 50 pieces of friend chicken from the deli at our local grocery store.  And we brought lemonade, iced tea and wine.  At the end of the Christmas season, the last thing Eleanor, the hostess, wants to do is cook, so we took that task away from her and she was grateful.  We also brought paper plates and plastic forks to ease the clean up but unfortunately, we left with the kitchen not neat and tidy.  Greta Barbour promised she would clear up.

 We had a wonderful time, sitting in the beautiful dining room eating our lunch and talking.  The home is especially lovely at Christmas so I was pleased that the Texas family was able to see the home during the holiday season.  After our late lunch, the men retreated to the top balcony to see if they could spot any deer while the ladies talked by the fire in the living room.  It was a delightful afternoon.

A special treat today was the tour of Eleanor's studio.  She will have a show in March so she allowed us to view the work in progress.  To our eyes, the paintings appear finished,  but not to the artist.  Unfortunately, we will still be in Mexico when the show opens.   The Sutherland's home is a wonderful home and they are unfailingly hospitable and gracious to invite us to visit.  Both children and adults had a fine time.

December 29, 2015. Madison, Ms. Together Again.

There is something very special about having the whole family together.    All day today, we spent time together.  We ate lunch together at Newks.  While they all shopped this afternoon, Ken and I rested.  David and Suzanne and I visited the Mississippi Craft Center, then had a drink at the yacht club, which was unique and pleasant.  Actually, by the time I got to the Craft Center to join them, they were finished so we decided to have a drink.  Everyone gather at our place for a visit before we dined at the Yacht Club, which is just three minutes away.

The girls sat together at one end of our 12 person table while the adults sat together at the other end.  Everyone was happy and enjoyed themselves.  The girls bought sweaters at Renaissance Shopping, also books, the result of spending gift cards.  David and Suzanne and the girls have come a long way to spend time with us and we are enjoying every minute.  There is always a special time when the whole family is together.

December 28, 2015. Madison, Ms. The First Party.

Everything turned out well.    The caterer arrived on time.  The house was prepared with the beverage table set up and ready.  The beer was chilled as was the white wine.  The only question was the house.  Our new home is not huge and we do not have enough chairs to have everyone sit at tables.  Our dining table could accommodate 16 if we add the three leaves but we are limited by chairs.  We have six at the breakfast table and eight in the dining table.  Fortunately, the 10 teenagers took over the living room to eat so with the three younger children at the table and the rest of the adults at the tables we could accommodate everyone comfortably for dinner.

The house worked well too because after dinner, all the children all went downstairs to play games so the adults could take over the living room.  And there was enough open areas of the home for the cocktail hour for people to mingle..  This was the first party in our new home.  30 people fit nicely.

David and Suzanne and the girls arrived this afternoon from New Orleans.  After touring the house, they went through three wooden boxes of pictures I have set out on shelves in the living room.  It was great sport for all.  Christina and the girls arrived and the cousins greeted each other joyfully.  The party was beginning.

December 27, 2015. Madison, Ms. 2 Chairs and a Barstool.

We had a mission.  For Christmas, Christina made us each a cake, a cranberry almond cake for me and a chocolate cake for Ken.   They look pretty but they do not store well wrapped in tin foil.    At the farm I had left two containers for holding fancy cakes, one on a pedestal with a glass dome cover and another made for transporting cakes in the car.  Here in Mississippi I had neither.  I wanted to show off the gifts as well as protect them from drying out.  Ken remembered a kitchen supply store across the street from the consignment shop, so off we went.  It was the day before Christmas and we did not want to get into the crowds.

At the kitchen store we bought 3 dozen glasses and one large salad bowl but no cake plate and dome.  Being as we were close, we stopped to see the lady at the Consignment store.   Much to my great surprise, I bought a cake plate with a pedestal and a crystal dome to cover, all for $18.  In addition we bought two leather chairs and one leather bar stool.   The man who helps move furniture loaded the chairs into the truck.  When we got home, we realized that Ken and I could not get them out of the back of the truck, so we were forced to wait on Chandes to unload the truck.  But now everything is in place and we have two new chairs for the breakfast room and another bar stool that matches well with the two that are in place and were purchased by Gloria.  This bar stool has a back, which pleases me.

We purchased half of the objects we set out on our mission but we returned with other objects that we did not need at all.   Tomorrow night will be the first time to have a crowd of people in our new home.  I bet the new chairs and bar stool will be useful.    

December 26, 2015. Madison, Ms. Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is useful  after the hectic activities of the Christmas Season.   For the children, using the new toys is the most important activities.  And the adults have time to delve into their new books.  I don't know if this really true or not but we have always felt that Boxing Day was the day spent with friends while Christmas was devoted to family.   We often spent Christmas with Dave and Irene in Ancaster.  My sister always rented a skating rink on Boxing Day,  and invited family and friends.  Our boys learned to skate with all the relatives helping them along.  It was a pleasant day.

David and Suzanne and the Texas girls drove to New Orleans today on Boxing Day.  Tonight, they ate a delicious dinner in the French Quarter.  Tomorrow they will tour Tulane University, and poke around town.  The next day they will drive to see us in Jackson.   We are looking forward to seeing them and are delighted they are coming for a visit.

Today, our Boxing Day was taken up with stopping by our Jackson friends to say Merry Christmas.  We stayed a short time but we enjoyed our visits.  Our friends in Jackson are loyal and helpful and Ken and I wanted to let them know how much we appreciate their friendship.  We liked our Boxing Day visits.

December 25, 2015. Madison, Ms. Christmas Day.

Christmas Day is an unusual day to do business but this morning Chantes, our handyman, called to ask if he could bring over the estimate for rebuilding and expanding the deck.  And he wanted to say Merry Christmas too.  We invited him over.  Ken was preparing breakfast while I was listening to Christmas music and looking at e mails so we had nothing pressing.  He is a busy man so after they made their Christmas prayers at church, he came over to talk with us.  It was kind of fun to be discussing estimates on Christmas Day.  "The better the day, the better the deed", we used to say.

And I talked on the phone to friends and relatives.  From Texas to Ontario to British Columbia and Maryland, I kept the phone lines busy.  Busy signals  on the line made my life difficult and sometimes I never was able to get calls through.

The girls still enjoy their bags of  Christmas goodies from us.  And Christina too.  We sat and drank a cup of Christmas tea before dining at the chinese restaurant.  The food was excellent, a true feast and we left with several boxes of food which we sent home with Christina.  The girls love to nibble at midnight.  This evening, Ken and I ate a piece of Christina's chocolate cake, given to Ken for Christmas.  It was a fitting end to an excellent Christmas Day in Mississippi.

December 24, 2015. Madison, Ms. Sukura Bana.

Linda is Christina's Mother.   Every Christmas Eve,  Linda invites the Creath family to dinner at Sukura Bana, an excellent Japanese restaurant in Jackson.  Fortunately, we are invited as part of the family.   First Presbyterian Church holds their Christmas Eve service at 4:00 and lasts an hour, so everyone in the family goes to church together, then goes right on to dinner.   Ken and I met everyone at the restaurant.  The food is pre-ordered by Nelson so when we arrive, the food just magically appears.  The cousins have a wonderful time as do the adults.  This tradition of the family gathering together in the restaurant where no one is required to work is excellent.  Hats off to Linda so continuing such a fine tradition.

Christmas Eve is always an anniversary for Ken and me because this was the first time we noticed each other.   I had organized the young people at church to drive in multiple cars to sing to the shut ins.   After we sang at a half dozen older folks homes, we ended up at the Fairbanks for tea and butter tarts.  Ken and I have been a pair ever since.  That was in 1955.  Ken and I have not changed a bit!!

December 23, 2015. Madison, Ms. The King's Singers.

In 1970, when we moved to Maryland, our friends Carolyn and Tom visited us from their home in Hampden Sydney, Virginia.  While they were there, we four attended a concert at The Smithsonian Museum.    The featured artists were The King's Singers.  It was their first tour in The United States.  The group was new to us too.  But they were wonderful and still are today, although the personnel has changed.  I have been listening to them ever since.

Tonight I listened to a new Christmas You Tube video by The King's Singers..  For 53 minutes I heard all the new and old christmas songs sung with great finesse and enthusiasm.  This group is as good as ever.  When we were in New Zealand, a young man from that country had just been hired by The King's Singers, the first time a non British member had joined the group.   The news was all over the television stations, radio and newspapers.  Now I got to hear and see the new young member of the group in action.  They chose well.

After the concert in 1970, we four went to Georgetown for dessert.  While we were walking down Wisconsin  Avenue, we ran into The King's Singers, who were looking like tourists too.  We stopped to chat and told them how much we had enjoyed their concert.  They were so surprised that anyone recognized them.  And they were delighted too.  The group was fairly new and were not used to have people recognize them, especially in the US.  They clearly were pleased to be recognized.  I wonder what they would feel about that today, now they are famous?

The You Tube video is wonderful.  Now I am really ready for Christmas.

December 22, 2015. Madison, Ms. Christmas Nuts.

The little things of Christmas give much pleasure.  Neighborhood visits are one such tradition.  The neighbors here in Roses Bluff have lived here for a long time.   They have a full calendar of social events.  In addition every neighbor spends only part of the year here or else visits their place in the country, so we never see our neighbors.   I decided to take nuts to the immediate neighbors as a way to have a little visit.  It worked.  I am delighted.

When I took the nuts to my immediate neighbor, she invited me in immediately and we had a pleasant visit.  Shortly after they returned from North Carolina, just before Thanksgiving,  the husband fell so they have been spending lots of time in doctor's office.   And she had a bag of cookies which she had baked to bring to me, but I beat her to it.   The neighbor right across the street has no railing on their 6 steps and I was not sure how I would navigate, but fortunately their teen aged son was home and graciously lent me his arm on my back down the stairs.   This evening, the wife and daughter came over to thank me and give me a Christmas goodie so we had a short but pleasant visit.

I have never seen a soul in the house caty corner from us, until I took him the nuts.  He is a widower and still works as a pediatric surgeon full time.  He was delighted to meet me and we had a pleasant chat.  Now the folks on our other side I have not yet met but I intend to knock on their door and introduce myself and give them some nuts.  These Christmas customs have more than one goal.

December 21, 2015. Madison, Ms. Christmas Dinner.

Today, Christina and I selected the food for our Christmas Dinner feast.    At 11:00 this morning, we met at our local Chinese restaurant and we carefully selected our courses.  We want our Christmas dinner to seem like a party, not like we have just gone to a restaurant for dinner, so we have selected three appetizers, plus two plates of food for three courses.  If we have left over food we will bring it home.

Several years ago I read an article telling of the history of the Jews eating Chinese food for Christmas Day.   At first I felt that the story was not true but after asking several Jewish friends what they eat on Christmas Day and being told they eat out for Chinese food I decided the article was correct.   When Christina and I were speaking about Christmas dinner, I told her the customs and asked if the girls would like to go out for a chinese dinner.  Fortunately, the restaurant will be open.  Everyone agreed so this year we will be following the Jewish custom and eat chinese food on Christmas Day.  This is a first for us but it may not be the last.

December 20, 2015. Madison, Ms. Traditions.

Kate thinks it is creepy.  Several weeks ago, I listened to a TV program on PBS called Mississippi Roads.   One segment was about an old parish in Madison County who make their burial arrangements the old fashioned way.  The small chapel was built in the mid 19th century before the era of machines.  At that time, the graves were dug with shovels by family members and members of the church.   That custom has continued to this day.  Yesterday at the committal for Mrs. Greaves, I realized that I was watching the whole process in front of my own eyes.  The Chapel of the Cross was the church of the Greaves family, which was the same church I heard on TV.

The day before the funeral, family members and the church committee folks met to dig the grave for Mrs. Greaves.  Both the men and women took their turns.  It is an exhausting task.   After the grave site service and committal, the casket was lowered all the way to the bottom of the grave.  In fact as the casket was removed from the straps, the casket splashed as it hit the ground.  That was what made Kate feel was creepy and she was right.  But immediately after, the family members picked up shovels and took turns putting dirt on the casket and filling in the grave.   The church members feel it is part of the act of love to see the loved ones in their final resting place.   When we left, the casket was totally covered and the grave was almost level.

It was interesting to observe and had I not seen the short segment on Mississippi Roads I would not have known what was going on.  It was fascinating.  The Chapel of the Cross is the only Episcopal chapel that continues the old fashioned ritual of digging the grave.  The church members still think it a good idea.  I was fascinated with the tradition.

December 19, 2015. Madison, Ms. Feeling Cold..

Even the wool socks I was wearing that were hand knit in Nova Scotia did not keep me warm today.  When I left for the funeral at 9:00,  the truck was registering 36 degrees.  I was wearing a shirt, a long sleeved sweater and a wool coat, along with a large red scarf.  And I wore my leather gloves.  It took quite a lot of searching to find the gloves.  I finally warmed up in the truck.  A visitation with the family was arranged prior to the funeral, so I drove with Christina and the big girls to meet with the family in the Parish Meeting room.  I never took off my coat.

The chapel in Madison where the funeral was held was charming but has no heat so I was chilled throughout the service.  The committal was in the church yard so we stayed…and got colder.  In the afternoon, Ken and I visited with the family at the farm house.  All five children and the 14 grandchildren were there along with several friends.  The farm house is big and charming but these large old Mississippi homes are meant to keep you cool, not hot so I was cold the whole time I was there, even though I wore a fleece vest and a jacket, which I kept on.  This evening I watched football and hockey in our sun room, the room with the single panes of glass.    Again I was cold.  I think I have gotten thin blood.  I have often told people that Canadians know how to keep themselves warm, which I think is true.  But I seem to have forgotten the rules.

December 18, 2015. Madison, Ms. Our Cuban Cook.

Lourdes came to the US from Cuba so of course she cooks Cuban food.   Ken commented the other day that he never expected at age 79 to be eating Cuban food.   Nor did I.  In addition both she and Chantes are keenly interested in eating healthy food so they want us to eat and drink special foods.  And they want us to drink what we make in the Nutribullet.  Every day I am supposed to mix up my drink consisting of vegetables and fruit and seeds, along with water.  Sometimes Ken will have a drink and sometimes not.  I always drink one while Lourdes is here but I do not make one every day.  But I don't tell her.  She is trying to be helpful and I do not wish to interfere.

This afternoon she came to cook for three hours.   She leaves several dishes for us to eat over the next week.   We like the system.  We eat lots of rice and beans and vegetables and very little meat and fish.  And she always makes a large salad.   We just peck away at the food in the fridge she had left.  Today for lunch we ate soup she had made the last time she was here and for supper we ate fish and salad, again, the fish had been made last week and the salad she made this afternoon.  She enjoys looking after us and we do too.  

When she goes shopping for us she always buys health food stuff, always buying organic fruits and vegetables and meat.  She has not noticed or perhaps has not commented but I just buy regular stuff.  Her English is poor and I can not really tell her what I think about the organic business so she shops and I shop and we do not communicate about it.   She is happy.  So am I.  Ken likes it the best because he no longer needs to cook at all, so he never complains about the Cuban food.

December 17, 2015. Madison, Ms. One Year.

My friend Wendy commented to me in an e mail that I was better now than I was earlier in the year.  I had said that my present chemo therapy has side effects, which it does.  But it is nothing like the initial infusion of medications.  If I consider where I was last year at that time I have made much progress.

One year ago I still had a chest full of fluid plus a large mass, all breast cancer cells.  I had a permanent drain installed in my chest so I could drain the fluid every four days.  We flew to Mexico without any contact with an Oncologist who would give me my chemotherapy.  Don and Doreen came to look after us, followed by Rita and Ian.  Much to everyones surprise,  everything worked out in Mexico.  The Oncologist was excellent and administered the medication.  When I was anemic she gave me a blood transfusion.  I rested and walked and ate good food.

When we returned to Mississippi, my main Oncologist continued the same infusions for two more sessions, but my body was breaking down so she switched me to Ibrance and Letrozole.  But the original chemotherapy had done the job.  My chest fluid disappeared and the drain was removed.   The sojourn in Texas gave me much rest.  We stayed almost the whole time at the ranch and did almost nothing.  And I got stronger.   The Texas Oncologist was also excellent.

 In Nova Scotia I began to get better as the summer wore on.  The combination of modern medicine, good friends and excellent food in addition to clear air and sea breezes did the trick.   When we returned to Mississippi the Oncologist was surprised to see me looking well.  Now I walk every day and I go out into society to attend social events.  I have gained weight and my color is good.  What a difference a year makes.

December 16, 2015. Madison, Ms. Mrs. Greaves.

No matter how old your Mother is when she dies, she is always the same amount older than you.  And you will never have another Mother so the loss of your Mother is difficult.  This morning, Mrs. Greaves died.  She seemed to be in good health, but she died.  I have only been with Mrs. Greaves a few times but I remember her well.  She was a great lady.  Now she has gone.

Mrs. Greaves is the Mother of our good friends Eleanor, Greta Barbour, Arnie, Sebastian and Henry.  She lived on the family farm in Madison.  When Mr. and Mrs. Greaves moved with their five children to Madison everyone thought them to be nuts.  Madison was not trendy…yet.  And they home schooled their children, way before anyone else was doing it.   When we asked Eleanor about the decision to home school, she thought that her parents, especially her Mother, tended to be ornery about life in general.  Mrs. Greaves was unfailingly gracious but she definitely did not dance to anyone else's tune.   She hated it when people came up to her to tell her their name, thinking that she would not remember.  Until recently, she knew exactly who you were and even what you did.  And she was in her upper 80's.  She was a sharp one and a true southern lady.   We will miss her.

December 15, 2015. Madison, Ms. New Restaurants.

There is something comforting about going to the same old restaurant.   The owners and the waiters greet you like old friends.   It feels similar to sitting in an old comfortable chair.  But Ken and I like to try new restaurants so we are always looking for the new and the unusual.  Ken is excellent about looking up the new places. He checks out the reviews and decides if it is a place worth our time and money.  This past week we hit the jackpot.

Sunday morning we ate at Table 100 in Flowood.   We asked Christina if she knew of any new restaurant for brunch and she mentioned Table 100 in addition to several others.  Ken and I had never even heard of it although it turned out to be one of the best restaurants in town.  Both the food and the service were excellent.  Along with the linen table clothes and the wandering jazz musicians, we all 6 decided that it was a keeper.

On Friday, the weather was excellent so after Ken and I visited the drug store, we decided to drive up Highway 51 to have lunch at The Trace Cafe.  Ken had read about it but we had never dined there because we could not find it, even though we were using the GPS.  But I had gotten directions so this time we were not to be denied and we ate a delicious lunch.  The restaurant advertises itself as being Italian but the menu may be just a bit Italian and the rest southern.  We ate ribs and brought half home.

I suspect Molly prefers to have brunch at the tried and true.  Left to her own devices she often selects The Yacht Club.  We like it too but we prefer to take a chance on the new places.  Fortunately, new restaurants are always opening, which keeps us happy.  We are easily amused.

December 14, 2015. Madison, Ms. Bradley.

Our outside lights were installed a long time ago, probably when the house was built.  Ken has spent a lot of time inspecting the wires and the lights.  The wiring and the lighting was extensive, but today almost none of the lights work.  Of course we do not know what switch works what lights so perhaps the bulbs are merely burnt out, but I doubt it.  Bradley is a young man who installs lights for the outdoors so we asked him to evaluate our old system and to make recommendations.

Bradley is young, perhaps 30.  Both Ken and I think it is a good sign that young men are running their own businesses in Jackson and they are energetic and competent.  We spent an hour with him today and we like him.  He will do an estimate to remove all the old lights and wires attached to the trees and make recommendations to increase the lighting in the front and give minimal lighting in the back.   Our neighbors have lights on almost every tree in the backyard.  We don't like the look so will not install new lights shining up the trees.

Bradley has a wife who is a school teacher.  For Christmas, they will drive to a ski hill in West Virginia, along with 25 of the rest of the in-laws.  Bradley has never been on skis.   He was born and raised in Mississippi and has never lived with snow.  He has borrowed clothes.  He is excited.  We urged him to take lessons.  And he thinks our life style is astonishing, following the weather like the birds.  Now we just hope we can afford his services.  We certainly enjoyed chatting with him today.

December 13, 2015. Madison, Ms. No Electricity.

All of a sudden, we were in the dark,  I in the living room and Ken in the adjacent breakfast room.   The rooms were pitch black.  When you have lived in a house for awhile, you have a pattern of behavior of what to do when the power goes out, but we have never experienced no lights at night in this home.   At first we sat still and hoped the power would be restored quickly, but no such luck.

The wind had been strong all day and had gotten worse in the evening but we had no rain or thunder storms so we took no precautions.    We were smart enough to keep flashlights in both bed side tables, and I knew we had placed two flashlights in a drawer in the kitchen. The problem for me was getting to that drawer.  After a few minutes in the dark, I felt my way to the kitchen to find the flashlights and we were in business.   The house was quiet.  No machines or television or music so we both read by flashlight.

The power company keeps in touch by texting.  They tell you quickly what is the matter and when the power will be restored.   Sure enough, in 60 minutes our house was again bright and we could put away our flashlights.  And the power company asks you to tell them if you are still without power.  I am impressed with their diligence.  And I was grateful when the lights came on again all over the house.   Next time, when the wind is blowing hard, I will keep a small flashlight in my pocket just in case.

December 12, 2015. Madison, Ms. Leaves.

The leaves on the trees in Mississippi stay on the tree for a long time after they have turned color.  The first day we arrived in mid October, the yard maintenance company were here blowing away the leaves.  They have been here each week doing the same thing.  And the trees are still full of leaves.  Ken and I don't know if this is normal.  In the condominium we did not notice but now that we look at the lake through the trees, we watch the leaves falling…but very slowly.

Today,  Mr. Albritton came to evaluate our trees.  We have 23 on the property.  Specifically, we think some of the limbs need cutting back from the house.  We do not like tree limbs overhanging the roof.  In fact, we really prefer the trees be planted well away from the house. But several beautiful big old trees are fairly close so several limbs need trimming.  Also vines have grown up the trunks which we do not like either, so he will cut the vines off too.  He will do the work in the new year but we are on his schedule.

I asked him about the leaves.  His response seemed reasonable.  It is common in Mississippi to have a frost of two in the Fall, so the leaves turn color and fall in a normal pattern.  But this year this autumn we had lots of rain and no cold weather so he said that the leaves just stayed on the trees even after they are dead.  He told me that he is not blowing his leaves until they are all down.  He is still waiting.  Ken and I are still learning about Mississippi horticulture.

December 11, 2015. Madison, Ms. Wave Sound Touch.

We have been without any music in our house until yesterday.  A box addressed for me arrived at our front door.  Ken told me it was my birthday gift.  For years, we have not exchanged birthday gifts as it is impossible to find appropriate gifts for each other, so instead we buy what we want for ourselves.  Then tell the other it is for them.  My gift was a new Bose Wave Sound Touch music system, something that Ken has wanted since we moved here.

All today I have been listening to Christmas music.  Ken turned it on before we got out of bed.  The system is fancy.  We listen to internet music and can get stations all over the world.   I have no idea how it happens but I know I like it.  I can change the music or the volume from my iPad or phone.  But the most important thing is the great sound and the size, which is small.

Our old system at the farm was old, purchased when we owned our house on Old Spring Road, so we left them and were sold at the auction.  Now we have a new, better sound system.  I feel modern  listening music which is streaming to me on the internet.  This is a wonderful world.  Now I am listening to one of several classical stations.  I like my birthday gift.

December 10, 2015, Madison, Ms. Carols at Christmas.

Jackson Prep, the school that Mary Frances attends, presented their six choral groups tonight.  The event was thrilling.    I loved every minute of the hour long event.   The school wisely started the evening at an early time, and on time, at 6:30.  The choirs left the stage to one side while the next choir was entering on the other side so there was no dead time.  And there was no talking between items on the program, so we were in our car to leave at 7:30.  The whole evening was a delight.

The most important part was of course the singing.  The choirs were excellent.   I had only heard Mary Frances' group once, outside,  but when I heard them in the theater, which has excellent acoustics, I was even more impressed.  They are a small group, with no accompaniment.   They sing with a pure sweet tone.  And they sing in tune and sing joyfully.

The show choir sings with a big sound, as you would expect from a group of 100.  When they first entered the auditorium, the lights were off and they came in holding a candle.  The room was surrounded by the singers, as they sang the Carol of the Bells.   The sound was astonishing and beautiful.  They sing with no sign of strain even though they sing at a high volume.  The lady in charge of the Performing Arts Choir knows her stuff.  She was responsible for putting on the whole event.  It was a task done well.  Now I look forward to the next event from the Performing Arts Department.

December 9, 2015. Madison, Ms. Showers.

Taking a shower pleases me.  My age is such that when young,  we used the bathtub to get clean. No showers in my house growing up, so I appreciate taking a shower, especially when all the parts of the shower works well.   When we first moved into this house, the master bedroom shower was in bad shape.   Wonderful Wendy's shower down stairs was worse so once she used ours.  She declined the second time.  The water pressure was weak and the taps were difficult to use.   And there was no hand held spray.    Very soon the plumber fixed everything.  He actually spent two full days making plumbing repairs in the house, but now all is well.  Our shower is perfect as are all other sinks and showers.

 Ken, David and I went to Japan to visit Andrew.   Every time you showered or used the hot baths,  you used a hand held spray.  We liked them so upon our return, we installed them in our bathroom and in all subsequent bathrooms.   The water pressure is too weak in the Top House in Texas but we have them everywhere.  I have learned that the little things in life bring great pleasures so every time I shower in our new home in Mississippi, I am pleased.  Everything in our shower works perfectly to our satisfaction.

When Ken was in medical school, we lived over Gray's hardware store.  We had a bathtub.  Every Saturday night, Ken and I visited Don and Doreen's apartment to watch the hockey game.  They had a shower,  so in between periods, Ken took a shower.  No wonder we are still good friends.

December 8, 2015. Madison, Ms. Birthday Lunch.

And the beat goes on.   Today Linda, Christina's Mother, took Ken and me for a birthday lunch.  Christina came too to help celebrate.   Linda selected Lou's Cafe, a new restaurant in Fondren.  I love going to new restaurants, especially when I discover the ample parking and the quiet atmosphere.   The place is popular so Linda suggested we meet at 11:30, which was smart.  By the time we left at 1:00, the place was full with folks waiting for a table.

There is something special about being taken out for lunch.  I never understand why because we go out for lunch often, but when a friend makes a date with you and pays the bill, the whole world seems brighter.  Of course we had a good time and the food was excellent but the whole event had a special glow.  I loved every minute.

Years ago, Peppy took me out for afternoon tea for my birthday.  It had the same rosy glow.  Peppy always chose fancy places  which lent an additional level of elegance.  But the feeling was the same as today.   Being taken out for my birthday makes me feel like the cat's meow.  But I believe the celebrations for my birthday are over.  Now we will move along to Christmas.

December 7, 2015. Madison, Ms. Bud and Mary.

Bud and Mary are old friends but I lost them…temporarily.   I was delighted the other night when I was able to contact them on the phone.  We talked for ages.  Ken talked with Bud for so long that he could not talk any more and turned the phone back to me.  I of course can talk for ever.

Bud went to school with Ken in Parry Sound.  And Ken was Best Man at Bud's wedding to Mary.  We married the same summer and we have been in touch ever since.  Every summer, when we visited Parry Sound to see Ken's Mother, we camped at Bud and Mary's summer place at Otter Lake.   It was great fun.  A candid picture of our family, taken by Bud on their dock,  hangs in our house in Mississippi.  I am wearing an unmatched 2 piece bathing suit washing clothes in a tub, while both boys are beside me and Ken just behind.  I almost fit my bathing suit while Ken had lots of hair.  We look like hippies.

Last year I was unable to send Christmas cards.  The year before, their card to us was returned.  We had moved.  For a year and a half we did not communicate, so during the phone conversation, Ken told Bud that Andrew had died, I had a recurrence of my breast cancer and he, Ken,  had a type of Parkinson's Disease.   It had been quite an 18 months.  But we were able to report that we were still walking and talking…and having a good time.   I am so pleased to have talked with them.   Now I must do a better job of keeping in touch.

December 6, 2015. Madison, Ms. My Birthday.

When we arrived home from my birthday brunch, flowers were waiting by the front door.  They were special for me from David, Suzanne and the girls in Texas.  And they sent me a video singing me happy birthday and sending love.  Each girl sang a different line.  By the end, they were convulsed with laughter.  It was very funny and very sweet.  And the flowers are beautiful.

Christina and the girls met us for a birthday brunch.  Ken found us a new restaurant, Dragos, on County Line, right beside the Hilton where the family stayed.  It is a New Orleans style sea food restaurant which we all enjoyed.  It was worthy of a special event.  The food was excellent and of course the conversation was spirited.  I enjoyed the food and the company.  All six of us ate dessert to celebrate.

The weather today in Jackson has been perfect with full sun and 65 degrees.  The rest of the afternoon I spent reading and responding to birthday greetings on Facebook and e mail.  It by itself was a treat.  I have decided that I am pleased to be 78 years old.  I have survived and thrived my 77th year.  This day has been a memorable day for me.

MS Back Yard after Ruth's Birthday Brunch Dec 6, 2015

December 5, 2015. Madison, Ms. The Party.

Once upon a time, many years ago, I went through the whole day without anyone remembering it was my birthday.  I decided that it was no fun so I changed tactics and  began to plan a party around my birthday, which is December 6.  I did not make it a birthday party for me.  It was just organized as an event to begin the holiday season.   Sometimes we would have a dinner party at home and sometimes we would have a party at a restaurant.  They were always festive and fun.   Even though I might be the only one who knew I was celebrating my birthday, I was still happy.

Since living in Jackson,  we have been inviting our friends and their children for dinner to a Mexican restaurant.  Last evening we celebrated at Sombro.  We served fajitas so the children could help themselves whenever they were hungry, which they liked.  The evening was relaxed and enjoyable. Both adults and children seemed to get into the spirit of the holiday season.  It is always interesting to watch the children sit together.  Immediately as they arrive, they take up their tables and without anyone saying anything, the newly arrived children join in the children's tables, even though no one has said a word.  The food was excellent and the company top drawer, which makes for a good party.  And the best part was that Ken and I had no clean up at the end.   We both enjoyed the company and the food.  And I celebrated my birthday in style.

December 4, 2015. Madison, Ms. The Baby Jesus.

I found the baby Jesus in my jewelry box.   What a surprise.  Up until tonight,  The Baby Jesus in our small nativity set was a rolled up tissue made by Kate many years ago.  It has been years since the Baby Jesus has been part of the nativity set, but now the whole set is complete.

We moved to Texas in 1964.  Our Christmas decorations did not exist and our funds were limited but I bought a very small nativity set, made of plastic.  Each figure was about one and a half inches tall but it was a full set complete with sheep and shepherds and wise men along with Mary and Joseph and the Baby.  Over the years, each Christmas, I kept the original nativity in a place on honor, even though we owned larger sets.   One year when setting out our decorations the Baby Jesus was missing.  Kate made a substitute, which included eyes and ears.  We were happy with our nativity set and have been using the substitute ever since.

Once when I was organizing for a move, I found the baby Jesus and put him in a safe place but I have not seen him since. This morning,  Christina asked about it when she saw the nativity setting on a table and I told her that I remembered putting the Baby Jesus in a jewelry box many years ago but I did not recall which box.  Tonight, I made a thorough check here in Mississippi and to my great surprise, I found the Baby Jesus tucked in a corner along with some old rings.  Now our tiny old Nativity set is perfect.

December 3, 2015. Madison, Ms. Our Neighborhood.

Most every day I walk around our new neighborhood, but I never see a soul.  There are never any signs of life at the houses.  No children are ever seen in the yards.   Each home is different so it is interesting to look at each house, but it appears to be a neighborhood devoid of people.  I know that is not true because I see cars coming and going and I see cars parked in the driveways but if I depended on my neighbors for my social life I would be out of luck.

We are only living in our home part of the year and we think many other people are in the same situation.  Our immediate neighbors spend 6 months in North Carolina and it is obvious many others have similar patterns.  Most homes were built 25 years ago so many of the original owners will still be here and will be old, so don't work around their yard.  The younger folks both work so are gone all day.  When we moved here in the Spring, our across the street neighbors sent over a full dinner to welcome us to the neighborhood, which was a lovely gesture.  I have not seen any of them since.  Even though they are very pleasant and friendly, their social calendar is full.

One really good aspect of living in Roses Bluff is the quiet.  No dogs are ever in the road. and there are few cars.  The only sound we hear is the companies doing maintenance on the yards.  Nobody and I mean nobody does their own yard, including us, so I see workmen when I walk but I never see anyone who lives here.  Sunday evening there is a party for the neighborhood folks but Ken is not at his best in the evening and walking in the dark is difficult for both of us, so we probably will not attend.  The others will think we are unfriendly.  We like our home and we like our neighborhood but it is the most unusual place we have ever lived.

December 2, 2015. Madison, Ms. The Eye Doctor.

Dr. Kosek is young.  And he is unfailingly optimistic and enthusiastic.  The Eye Doctor in Fredericksburg was also young but he was a hand wringer.  The sky was always falling, and specifically, my eyes were not doing right.  Dr. Cone thought my glaucoma was getting worse and I needed surgery, which I could not have,  due to my blood counts.

Then we moved back to Mississippi.  Dr. Kosek told me to switch to a brand new eye drop twice a day.  The medication was newly approved for the market.  He first gave me three trial bottles to be sure it would help my pressures.  Much to my great surprise, when I was examined by Dr. Kosek today to check my pressures, my levels were 14, which is as low as they ever get.  A miracle has occurred.  A modern medical miracle.  Now a prescription is waiting for me at the drug store which I will use for the next four months, when I will once again visit the good doctor in Mississippi.

My drill is two types of eye drops twice each day, making it four drops plus a different drop for bedtime.  I can do this!!

December 1, 2015. Madison, Ms. Christmas Cards.

I like sending and receiving Christmas cards.  Many folks will say it is old fashioned, or that it is a silly custom  that is also expensive.  But I disagree.  For me, it is a time of the year when I can stop by and say hello to someone who was once a big part of my life and now lives a long way away.  I do the same as if I would stop by for a cup of Christmas tea.

My cards are always written long before Christmas because I do not wish to be rushed.  In the years when I was very busy I often sent cards after the new year because I did not want to be pressured to write the cards.  I enjoy writing a brief note to say hello.  Of course, my writing is so bad the recipient may not be able to decipher the note but they will recognize the signature and they will smile to receive the card.

Last year was the first time in my life since I was married when I was unable to get out cards,  so this year brings me special pleasure as I write the notes and envelopes.  I did notice when I received our first Christmas card from Canada that the stamp cost $1.20.   Whew.  Poor Canadians.  No wonder people have stopped sending Christmas cards.  But not me.  We will send them out even if I must eat beans.  I like sending and receiving Christmas cards.  I am definitely old fashioned.