Monday, November 26, 2007

Thanksgiving took on a new meaning for me this weekend.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving day with many friends at Nancy and Ed's house. The dinner was wonderful and was followed by a lively game of domino's! Jack broke his record for staying at any ones house - 5 hours! I thoroughly enjoyed the day despite my initial disappointment that neither of my son's were going to make it down to Klamath Falls for the day.

We popped up at 4 am Friday to make the 5 am Fred Meyer Sock sale and were amazed at the light turn out this year. It wasn't crowded at all! Makes a worrisome statement on the economy around here. Leaving there we discovered that anyone that was shopping that early was at Big R! We couldn't find the items we want for Christmas presents so we weren't there long. The rest of the day passed with us realizing that there isn't anything that we need or even want to buy! Man, is that something to be Thankful for!

Saturday morning, at Dad's request, we went and looked at the model studio to make sure there would be a window Jake could look out of at the assisted living facility. Dad was visibly pleased when we'd told him his dog could be with him at the assisted living places we were considering and he seemed eager to make the move. We gave Dad the strongest reading glasses we could find in hopes it would allow him to read during the long hospital days (he'd said when he got moved he'd need to see an optometrist again as his prescription glasses weren't working). Reading has been Dad's primary activity for a couple years now and with his inability to hear there wasn't anything to replace it!

Jack and I spent 1 1/2 hours with Dad to make sure we would be there when the doctor made his rounds Saturday morning and discussed the possible time line with him. The fluid retention had to be resolved before the Dr would make any further decisions. He said Monday would be the soonest he thought we'd know.

During my day Christmas shopping that afternoon I came across a large print book and bought it with the idea that between the reading glasses and large print Dad had a good chance of being able to read. It was about 7:30 pm when I took the book up to the hospital and gave it to Dad. The nurse said he'd been sitting in his chair earlier in the afternoon reading so the glasses seemed to make a difference. During my visit Dad told me not to wear the tires off the scooter we were going to get him before he got a chance to use it and told me about setting a breaststroke record at OSU when he was younger - speculating that maybe he could do some water therapy in a pool to get more mobile again. His feet and legs were still very swollen although the nurse said they were actually going down. Nancy had shared Thursday how massaging her mothers feet and ankles helped her swelling so I massaged Dad's feet for a few minutes before wishing him a good nights sleep. Dad smiled and gave me a wink as I left.

At 6:15 am Sunday morning our phone rang. Dad died during the night.

I am thankful I didn't wait until morning to take Dad the book. I am thankful I know that he was cheerful and at peace Saturday evening. Dad had told Jack a few days before that he wished he could just have a heart attack and be done. I am glad that his last wish came true. I'm thankful I KNOW his last day was full of family contact, efforts to make his life as good as possible and an optimistic outlook for the future.

Yesterday and today have been full of taking care of final details but we are not overly sad. We are thankful that Dad got to skip nursing homes and/or assisted living. Friends have called, come by with cards, food and sympathetic words. We feel loved and important because they take the time to do so. We are thankful for their caring actions.

Thanksgiving....Thankful I've given, Thanks for others giving.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving Eve 2007 - So much to be thankful for in just one year! Tomorrow is Jack and I's 1st Wedding Anniversary! This evening Jack came home with a dozen long stem roses of a unique greenish/white color. He is forever impressing me with his thoughtfulness towards me! Even when he has a great deal on his mind concerning his father.

Dad went back in to the hospital on Monday. Fluid is building up in his lungs again. He has not recovered any of his strength since his last hospitalization. The doctor is assessing Dad's level of care needs while he is in the hospital and will advise what kind of assisted living housing he will go to when he leaves the hospital. Jack has been meeting with the local homes and Gary has collected information on the VA options. It is very distressing for Jack to see Dad using a walker to get from his bed to the livingroom, to see him unshaven and disheveld. The only thing he can do is his best to get all the arrangements made for a smooth transition for Dad. So he is working deligently at that.

I have many, many things to be thankful for but most of all I am thankful for our good health! It makes it possible for us to throughly enjoy our new home, traveling, family, friends, scuba diving, and rafting! We've done all that this past year and have more such plans for 2008.

Life continues to unfold in wonderful ways and I am grateful to be here to experience it!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

As the truck made it's way up the hill I jogged as fast as I could until the truck's headlights swung around the corner. Calling Shilo to me I put her on the leash and we moved to the shoulder of the road to let the truck go by. The windows were tinted so I couldn't tell if it was one or more people inside. As it made it's way along the ridge ahead of me I started walking again. There was nothing to do but get back to the car ASAP.

Then the truck stopped and turned and backed into a spur - it's headlight (only one was working) shining out across the field. I was going to have to walk past them again. I stuck my chin out determined to look confident and unafraid. That fell away when the engine started up again and the truck started slowly back towards me. As they passed this time the window was rolled down and a man leaned out to ask me how I was doing. I responded with "Fine, just walking my dog." and kept walking the other way. Once they were a ways away I called Signe again. I was scared. Another set of headlights were moving along the upper road - the fork was close and I didn't know if they were going to come down this road too!

The one headlight truck was turning around again behind me. I asked Signe just to stay on the phone with me so they'd see me talking to someone - and I kept walking. The truck ahead of me went back down the paved section and left the area. This time the truck passed me rather quickly and went down the paved road also! I hustled even faster, eager to be done with this walk! Signe said the one eye truck came to the barricades at the start of the road, turned around and was heading back to towards the dirt roads. Thats when I knew Signe was waiting at the head of the road! We continued to talk as I reached the pavement and then realized she was walking to meet me and we had passed each other in the dark! I switched on my flashlight and we found each other! I was almost hysterical. It was not a relaxing walk under the stars!

Tonight we went to the YMCA and worked out for an hour!

And that was the rest of the story!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I've been catching up on Sea-Ami and The Money Pit sites this evening but none of my comments will post! Just want to let you guys know I appreciate the news. S'te, my niece, has a great spread of pictures on their outdoor fence project and TT's kitchen biscuts project!

I loved the sentiment for Veteran's Day that Diane posted on her site. Veteran's Day passed very quietly here. Klamath Falls is constructing a veteran's memorial wall in Veteran's Park and we are purchasing two bricks...one for Jack's father - who received a purple heart and made the Army his career and one for Jack who served in the 101st Airborne Division. We felt it was a neat thing to do on veterans day.

Last night I posted a bunch of pictures to flickr if anyone is interested in seeing the pictures of what we've been doing. Just click on the flickr badge to the left and it'll take you to the site.

During tonight's walk I got a little rattled and will be re-thinking walking for an hour every day. It's dark when I leave for work at 7 am and gets dark very soon after I get home around 5 pm, so I have been walking in the dark for the last couple of weeks. Often my friend Signe joins me but tonight she couldn't so it was just Shilo and I. I walked up what we call "The Road to Nowhere" - a wonderfully landscaped, paved two lane entrance to a housing development that never materialized. The pavement ends within a quarter of a mile but the dirt road continues on - branching in several directions through the sage covered hills. It was 6 pm and I envisioned a stress free walk under the stars along the dirt road where Shilo could run free without fear of traffic or disturbing anyone.

Walking "briskly", as the doctor ordered, I can cover some distance in 30 minutes! I decided to take a left fork in the dirt road that Signe and I had never gone down but had speculated that it would connect with the upper right fork at some point. This streach of road dipped down into a wash then up a small hill and around a couple others by the time I reached my turn around time. As I was walking out I noticed headlights moving along the upper dirt road fork and congradulated myself in picking the "unused" fork. I wondered what they might be doing out here on a Tuesday evening which lead me to thinking of all the weird stuff we see on CSI. If they were out poaching deer a stray bullet could hit me and they wouldn't even know it! The other reasons for being out there in the dark would be drinking, drugging, or seeking mischief.

And then I heard a truck on the road behind me. With the ideas that had just gone through my head I choose to call Shilo and walked in to the sage before they saw us and watch them passby. I still needed to walk "out" 5 more minutes so I returned to the road and marched on. I watched the headlights of the truck as they moved along half a mile ahead of me and felt all was well until the the truck turned around and stopped. My 5 minutes were up.

I turned around and started back the way I'd come a little more briskly than I'd gone out. I walk about 11 minute miles- 30 minutes- I figured I was a little under 3 miles from my car. If I walked very quickly I might be back to the pavement before the truck returned down the road. I was suddenly aware of how dark, quiet, and remote the area was. I flipped open my cell phone to call Signe. She knew the area I was in and would best know where I was. Headlights lit up the sky above me as another truck bounced alongthe rutted road on the ridge above me. I stepped off the road again and stood behind a juniper until they'd passed and gone around the hill I'd just come around. Now there were 2 trucks behind me. Back on the road I dialed Signe. She wasn't home but I gave Leo a rundown of where I was and my concerns - asking him to have Signe call me when she got home.

As soon as I hung up my cell rang and it was Signe! Just checking in as she left work! Speaking somewhat breathlessly, as I was covering ground as quickly as I could in the darkness,and was making my way up a hill, I told her my fears and that I just wanted someone to know where I was just in case something occurred - which at this point was most likely going to be a sprained ankle. The road was cut into the side of the hill at this point and fell away into the wash I'd just come up from on the far side so when I heard the third truck moving along the ridge just above me I felt trapped in plain sight. As soon as they came around the switchback I would be in thier headlights. Then it dawned on me if they came around the corner quickly they could hit me or Shilo - no one would expect that someone would be walking out here in the dark! Still talking to Signe I switched on my flashlight and flashed it around in the air so the driver would see it. We were coming to the turn at very nearly the same time. The driver stopped and waited until I'd made my way past then continued in the other direction.

Now I really wanted to get back to the car and figured I still had 1.5 to go so I told Signe I'd call her as soon as I got the car but wanted to hang up and really cover some ground while the vehicles were all still behind me. Signe offered to come and walk towards me so we could meet up and then there would be two of us out in the dark! She is the best of friends! I told her "No", and that this was all just imagined stuff so far and to go on home, if I didn't call in 40 minutes send the guys out for me. We hung up.

I broke into a semi-jog. Shilo romped in the road ahead of me... thoroughly enjoying the outing!
Behind me I heard the truck that I'd just passed turn around and start up the hill again!

Jack just came out and pointed out that it is 11:40 pm. I've got to go to bed. I'll continue the story tomorrow night...

Monday, November 12, 2007

I've been very, very negligent of the blog - I was surprized though to see Sept 20th as the last post! We have be extremely busy and are glad we did everything when we did... winter is closing in with wet, dark days!


The shed is completed!From cement pad to finished product! We brought everything from the storage unit and have unpacked the last box - as of this weekend! We are moved in!

The south side yard is planted and the sod is in around the patio and forms a path to the south side gate. Everything will get rooted with the rains and snow and be ready really grow come spring!
In addition to that we celebrated Mom Judy's birthday here in September and Signe and Jack's birthdays last weekend. It was a wonderful sunny fall Sunday afternoon for the party and we made good use of our patio and barbaque. The party had a "Octoberfest" feel due to the menu of a variety of sausages and sauerquart. When the temperature dropped we lit our first fire in the the brass patio fire pit that Caleb gave us as a wedding present!


Jack's Dad has had a rough fall. He was in and out of the hospital several times in three weeks. After a week in ICU the doctors did a procedure to stop the leaks in his lungs and he was able to go home. The fluid seems to be staying out of his lungs now. It's a slow road to getting his strength back but he is very happy to be home.

Last month we adopted Shilo - an 11 month old lab/austrailian shepard mix. She is very bright and loves to fetch... anything...but she is esspecially fond of balls. Mr. Mike still rules as the #1 best dog in the world but he can't walk very far without having really stiff joints. I don't run anymore but do try to walk an hour three or four times a week and like to have a dog with me so Shilo gets the chore. She seems to like it. We call her our Camo Lab - she is a sweet girl! She is smaller than Mike but she has the same calm nature - except when a ball is involved... then she is a pest!

Finally Jack and I felt we had a "free" weekend and we took a Saturday to go to Lake of the Woods and try out our new scuba gear. Shilo enjoyed the water. My computer registered the water temperature at 47 degrees. We were in the water for 25 minutes. We found the kinks in our systems - my hood is too big and I got a smashing "ice cream headache". Jack found that with his wetsuit being new he needs more weight to sink...he couldn't get off the surface! We were freezing and ready to give it up after 25 minutes. The packing the gear from the dock back up to the truck finished us off for Saturday. It's 50 stairs plus the path to the foot of the stairs! I think I prefer shore dives! And I don't want to dive again this winter in a high mountain lake!

Our next dive will be in Monterey over Thanksgiving weekend! The ocean is warmer! The house/dog sitter is set up, time off arranged, and reservations made. We'll work on getting me a different hood and Jack additional wieghts this coming weekend.

Caleb and Mike have said they'll come for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday so Jack is happily gathering reciepes for the event. He is really looking forward to making his first company T-day dinner. It will be small - the boys, Jack's Dad, and us - but that will be nice, for a change! Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!