May 6, 2015. Harper, Texas. Loren B.

Loren and his father built the ranch house in 1980. The house was designed by the owner, Mr. O'Sullivan, with no input from his wife so the plan was peculiar, but solidly built. At settlement,when we bought the ranch, we discovered that Loren was still a builder so we hired him to make minor changes and add a screen porch. He also painted the whole interior of the house. He did good work and we got to be good friends with both him and his wife. Naturally, we asked him to build the Top House, which he did. He is an old fashioned German builder. There are lots of them in the Hill Country. They work slowly and precisely. No slap dash in his work life. Ken and I had dinner with Loren and his wife several times over the years but we had not seen him for almost two years. One day after work, and just after Loren had completed all the extensive renovations to his wife's grandparents home outside of Fredericksburg where they were living, he was informed that his wife of 40 years wanted a divorce. He was stunned and very angry. And he stayed angry all through the divorce proceedings. He had no idea what was coming at him and we had no need of his services so we had not spoken to him for almost two years. He said he did not attend our 55th because he was angry and did not feel sociable. We need a second railing installed on the stairs plus grab bars put into the shower, so I called him and he quickly came out to measure after work. Both Ken and I were delighted to see him. He looks great, with his new beard and a bit of extra weight adding dignity to this good builder. Along with us, he has gone through a bit of a rough spot but we were pleased to see he seems content and busy. He is a fine worker and we wish him all best wishes.

May 5, 2015. Fredericksburg, Texas. The Halt and The Lame.

Ken and I decided to avoid the drive back to the ranch today but to stay in one of the many motels for the night in Fredericksburg. We both had appointments with our Internist this afternoon and tomorrow I have an appointment with the new Oncologist in the morning. We have had a pleasant afternoon and evening. The Comfort Inn welcomed us with fresh baked cookies and bottles of water. Ken and I ate two cookies each. But I had to laugh when we arrived. We each brought our walker. We were quite a sight unloading the truck, and then using the walker to carry our stuff. Of course I wear my bright pink scrub hat which always attracts lots of looks. But we just kept our head up and said not a word to anyone. After a bit of a rest, we went out to an early dinner to Andy's, an old diner . Food was good and the waiter charming. Next on our list was a visit to the drug store. The Internist thinks I am using too much Iboprofin and Tylenol so he has given me a prescription for a pain killer that contains codine. And Ken has a long list of items from Walgreens too so after dinner we enjoyed the quiet of the drug store while we went down our lists. Now we are at our temporary home at The Comfort Inn, where we are watching the hockey game. And we will enjoy the neat and tidy room. Tomorrow we will be back at the ranch but tonight we are on vacation, even though we are part of the lame and the halt!!

May 4, 2015. Harper, Texas. The Doctors.

One appointment always leads to another. Ken met Dr. Stotz this morning and by the time we left, Ken had appointments with an orthopedic doctor and an eye doctor, while I made an hour's appointment with the Neurologist, the same Dr. Stotz who looked after me when I lost my words. He thinks that the Oncologists know much about the disease but little about the side effects, so he wishes to evaluate me to see what can be done with my stability and balance. He could see clearly that I was not at my best so he wants to try and help. These appointments are like rabbits in that they just grow and multiply. We will stay at the ranch all of May and not return to the lake or to San Antonio as we normally would do. Too much driving right now. The appointment today was at 10:00 but when we arrived at his office Ken noted the sign on the door that he had moved his office, so it turned out that we were late. After I walked using my walker, I sat on their porch in the fancy seat on my walker. While I sat and watched, a lady came by to tend the plants so we chatted. She was the wife of Dr. Stotz . I asked her all about their new office, which is lovely. The office is actually an old house that they restored and painted a light lilac with white trim. Inside they have 4 times the space of their old office, which is a good thing as their son is entering practice with the father. He has just completed his training and examinations. And they all live within walking distance from the office. So it was a happy conversation especially when a bird flew out of the fern when she was watering the plant. Evidently the bird has a nest in the fern. But the best part of the day was the wild flowers. They were everywhere. We even saw whole fields of bluebonnets. Amazing sight and certainly worth the drive into town.

May 3, 2015. Harper, Texas. The Fall.

I knew that eventually one of us would fall to the ground because we are both unstable. Ken fell in the kitchen of our new house in Mississippi but he fell against the refrigerator so he only got a big bruise. And Wonderful Wendy was right beside him to keep him upright He also fell in the shower but only against one wall, and fortunately not the door. Obviously, Wendy could not have helped!! So far I had suffered no falls. I use either a strong arm or the walker to keep me steady when I am outside. On the drive to the ranch from San Antonio we stopped at a rest area just to have a break. My walker was in the back of the truck so I decided to use the cane. Clearly that was a mistake. Coming back to the truck from the toilet, I mapped out a clever plan to cross the road where there was a ramp to avoid the steep curb. I did not wait for Ken, which was my second error. He had already noticed the dog tied up beside the big rig which I only noted as I was walking beside the big truck. When the dog growled, I turned quickly to get away but unfortunately, my feet will not move quickly while my head did. I fell. And I yelled for Ken. It was quite a graceful fall. I was wearing a denim skirt and a long sleeved shirt so I was covered up. No blood and no broken bones. The owner of the rig and his wife hauled me up off the sidewalk and held me up as we walked to our truck. Then I drove home to the ranch. Next time I will wait for Ken before crossing to the truck and next time I will get out the walker. I promise.

May 2, 2015. Harper, Texas. Highway 10 West.

The drive is lovely and when you get past Boerne, the traffic is sparse. I have said it before but it bears repeating. Driving west from San Antonio is one of the prettiest interstate highways in the country. The only one in my memory that beats it for beauty is the highway driving east from Portland, Oregon right along the river. We have driven this road from San Antonio to the ranch many times but I am always impressed. Today everyone was a bit anxious with me driving all the way but we stopped after an hour at a rest stop and all was well. Joyce told me that the ranch was green and she was right. It is almost as green as Nova Scotia. And the grass has grown too. This ranch is looking good. Ken and David were discussing selling the ranch because it is remote and we can not use the ranch much any more. But after seeing it again Ken is inclined to keep it. Of course we know we have stairs and gates and we are a long way from family and friends. Right now Joyce and Robbie are in Nuevo Vallarta so we are really isolated. Tomorrow I will speak to the folks right adjacent to us to be sure they know that we might need help. The phone system is working too which is good. Last time Verizon had no signal at all so we only could communicate via e mail, so progress has been made. Susanne and David sent a large care package of food so our fridge is full. David sent all the rest of the barbecue left over from last evening's dinner. It alone will last us all week so we are set for the week. But tomorrow we will relax and enjoy the ranch. And we will see if our walkers will work down by the ranch house so we can get some exercise. We like this place.

May 1, 2015. San Antonio, Texas. Their House.

Usually we don't stay with them, but last night and tonight, Ken and I are staying with David and Suzanne and the girls. Normally we drive back to the lake for the night, but I am not at my best so Suzanne D. suggested we limit our driving. Today we enjoyed ourselves being lazy. I took three different naps and enjoyed every one. Suzanne R. spent the morning walking the Riverwalk, after staying the night at an airport hotel. Now she is safely back in DC. Her assistance to us was invaluable. Plus we had a good time driving from Mississippi to Texas. The weather has been perfect. Ken sat outside this afternoon and after the girls came home from work I went for a walk with Allison around the circle. Tonight, Abigail is attending a party and a friend has come to get dressed together as her parents are out. David brought barbecue for dinner and was delicious. Sarah is taking the SAT.test tomorrow so will stay home tonight and go to bed early. Suzanne D. is with four other ladies celebrating birthdays at a resort in Houston. The twins will be home tonight too. This is a busy family. Ken and I have enjoyed spending the day in their lovely home. David's roses are in full bloom and are glorious and his bees have been busy. Tomorrow Ken and I will drive to the ranch as next week we have doctor appointments on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then we will rest. As we have said before, something good comes from everything. Staying in the home of David and Suzanne and the girls has definitely been a good thing. My brother just called to remind me that our sister Carol would have turned 80 today but she never made it. May 1st is her birthday. I miss her still.

April 30, 2015. San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs.

I love to watch The Spurs play basketball. Their passing is superb. And mostly they win. But when they play badly everyone in San Antonio mourns. Last evening was one of those nights. They were awful. I saw more air balls during last night's game than I have ever seen at a professional game. Both teams were bad. The Spurs were just worse. They had good reason to win, because had they won the game, they would have won the series 4 to 2, but now the series is tied so it will be a sudden death game. Last year The Spurs won the championship but they are a year older now so perhaps the spring in their legs has gone. They are an older team for sure, but they play like a team and their effort is always at a high level, so it is a pleasure watching them play the game. But not last evening. There were spells when they looked like the Spurs of old but not for a long enough period of time to win the game. They only lost by 5 points which tells you how badly the other team was playing. Saturday will be the final game in the series. Cheer for the Spurs. As an aside, The Caps won their game in the last second. Such fun.