GOOD MEDICAL REPORT & NOTES FROM MEMO PAD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I had a biopsy of the keratosis on my right shoulder recently and two specimens were sent to a pathologist to examine. I'm happy to tell you that the lab report showed "no cancer" The doctor told me this week that if the biopsy wounds have healed in a couple of weeks, I won't need to see her again until my three-month check up which is good news.

When I talked last week on the phone with my sister, Jeanette, who lives in nearby Dalton, she asked how I can still remember so many things about our early years. She says that she can't remember anything of her childhood. And, her daughter, Charlene, will talk of when she was a child about incidents that happened when she was a child that Jeanette doesn't remember either.
She did say that she has a vague memory of riding on a passenger train when she was a child. And, the memory of that weekend during World War II flashed across my mind.

I told her that because of war shortages we didn't have a car and Daddy wanted to visit his folks in Middle Tennessee so he bought train tickets for himself and Mother and Jeanette and her late twin sister, Joan and me. (Our youngest sister, Dianne, wasn't born yet.) I was about sixteen and on that train ride I was sitting on a seat alone and a young U. S.soldier sat beside me and started talking and flirting. I was in a unique situation. Unknown to the young man, my parents were seated directly behind us taking in every word. So, it was hard for me to be natural. But, the young man turned out to be very nice and I enjoyed the train ride.

The green glory of springtime in northwest Georgia surrounds us and son Barry has moved the outdoor plants from the garage to the patio. And, with his tender loving care and Miracle Grow they are looking pretty. From my recliner in the den I can see through the large window the large green asparagus
fern that I started from seed thirty years ago. And, the pink geranium is thriving and is still blooming. The basket of red impatiens that Barry gave me for Mother's day is healthy and promises to grow into a large colorful ball in the summer.
The other plants are also looking good and Barry recently planted flower seed in the large patio container and the little plants are coming up in the soil now. Now, if the sky high pollen count will drop, we'll be able to enjoy all the beauty in our midst.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 5:31 PM

 
WAITING FOR BIOPSY LAB REPORT & LOCAL CHILDREN'S WALK TO SCHOOL EVOKED MEMORIES FROM PAST

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Earlier this week, I had a biopsy of the Actinic keratosis on my right shoulder. The growth is a premalignant condition .
Two specimens were sent to a pathologist to examine. I have an appointment with my doctor in a few days to discuss the lab report. I will keep you posted on what happens next.

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This morning's Dalton newspaper, The Daily Citizen, had a front page article with picture of students and family members and a police escort walking to school to promote healthy living among the youngsters and also better the environment. As I read the article my mind flew back to the first day of school for me when I was five-years-old. My mother had twin babies to care for and my daddy drove our car to work. So, Mother enlisted the aid of an older child who lived next door to walk with me that first day. And, that marked the day, for various reasons, I would start a period in life in which I walked or rode my bike almost everywhere I went.

When I was older, I rode my bike to take piano lessons at my teacher's house on Saturday mornings. She lived on a road that was named Ringgold Road and which is a heavily traveled highway now. But, in those days, I didn't have any problems on my Saturday morning trips. I also rode my bike after school on neighborhood streets. When my family moved to a small town in northwest Georgia, Tunnel Hill, I was 13 and I practically lived on my bike during those early teen years.

It was at that time that the Greyhound buses that traveled U.S. 41 became an important part of my life. If my friends and I needed or just wanted to go to nearby Dalton or any other north Georgia town we caught a Greyhound to take us to our destination. And this was during World War 11 and we had no choice but to walk or ride the trusty Greyhound to go out of town. In those days, the buses would often be filled with U.S. sailors and soldiers and we girls had a great time flirting with these young men. Then, we lived a couple of years in a town, Calhoun, Georgia, south of Dalton, where I graduated from high school and during those years we continued to walk or catch a Greyhound wherever we wanted to go.

We moved to Dalton shortly before World War II ended. Daddy didn't have a car and all of the family still walked. The twins were still in school and walked home for lunch every school day. It was at least a mile from our house to downtown Dalton but we thought nothing of walking to town to shop, attend a movie or just to hang out with friends at the Snack Bar. My cousin, Ernestine, who lives in Chattanooga, recently reminded me of the enjoyable trips I made via Greyhound to visit with her and her family. Then, I went to work and live in Chattanooga for several months before my late husband, Ralph, and I married and I walked everywhere in the Big City. After we married in 1947, I still walked to shop or go to the library to stock up on books. We still walked a lot and it was about 1950 when I got a car and started the trend of riding everywhere I went.

After living in Florida several years, we, with our baby son, Barry, returned to Georgia, and eventually settled in Chatsworth GA where I continued to practically live in my car. And, during those years I launched my writing career and seldom walked.
But, I've made it to 80 so the early walking must have helped.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 5:13 PM

 
CLEANING UP CLUTTER

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I can't say that the clutter on the wooden, butcher-block work island in the kitchen didn't bother me until recently. My late husband, Ralph,built the work island for me about 25 years ago for a Christmas gift. A lot has happened to me since then and I guess I just didn't have time to worry about the clutter.

Then, after I started taking iron pills for my anemia and had more energy, I found myself worrying about things that needed to be done around the house. Recently, I cleaned and polished my brass collection which I had put off for a long time
And, then I concentrated on the work island.

About a fourth of the island was covered with medications and supplements and odds and ends. I talked to son Barry about a solution and we decided that the grocery pantry in the kitchen needed to be re-organized and a shelf cleared for the bottles of medicines and supplements on the island.

As I write this, I am feeling pleased with myself as I have completed the project and the work island is free of clutter and looks great. It is old enough now to have an antique appearance. It may take a while for me to remember where I put all the clutter. But, we are proud of the appearance of the work island and will try to keep it neat.

When I was seeing doctors and having medical tests last year I saw a couple of interesting signs in medical offices.
One of the signs asked patients not to use fragrances, such as cologne, before coming to the offices as staff was highly allergic to them. Since Barry and I had stopped by the office for printed instructions for a test,I had sprayed a little Charlie, on the back of my ears. As a rule,I don't wear fragrances to doctor offices but we were going to make some more stops. The nurse who gave me the instructions appeared to be okay so I don't think I caused any allergies.

Another sign is in the offices of my new dentist. The electronic sign reads that if the patient has been waiting longer than 20 minutes to tell the receptionist. I have been to the office twice and didn't have to wait but a few minutes before a hygienist called my name.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 4:33 PM

 
IT'S A PRETTY SPRING HERE IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Spring in all its glory has arrived here in Northwest Georgia. Unfortunately, for some of us the new green growth on the trees is keeping the pollen count between 600 to over a thousand which plays havoc with allergy victims, like son Barry and me. We're both taking allergy medicines which brings us some relief.

In spite of our allergy discomfort, we are glad to see the beauty of spring and the warm weather. We're especially pleased that, unlike last year's dry, hot weather, we're having more rainfall and the trees and foliage are a lush green. Last fall, Barry brought our huge Ficus or Weeping Fig plant inside and placed it in the dining room in front of a window, blocking our beautiful view of the lake and mountains just beyond. But, the plant flourished with morning sunshine and the humidifier next to it. It took up so much room though that Barry started calling the dining room the Jungle Room. A few days ago Barry took the fiscus tree outside and trimmed it to a more manageable size. He attached the tree to the outside wall so the winds wouldn't blow it over. The dining room now looks bright and airy with the tree not blocking the window.

I reminded Barry that while Dogwood winter has come and gone, we still have Blackberry winter coming up in May which will last a couple of days or so. Barry says if that happens he will bring the fiscus tree inside the garage.

Then, a few days ago, on a warm, pretty day,Barry planted wildflower seed in a large patio container. He planted the wildflower seed also last spring. and the flowers were a glorious sight until the first frost in the fall. He said today that he is going to move the houseplants in the garage outside in a few days. He said if another frost is forecast he will cover the plants. Our two new shrubs in the front yard are thriving with the rains and sunny days.

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I'm still enjoying watching Crook and Chase's new show and Ralph Emory's live show on RFD-TV, as well as some of the other musical shows. I particularly liked a performance by Bobby Bare,country music singer and song writer, in which he sang his novelty song, "Marie Laveau" which reached the top of the country chart in 1974 and is my favorite of his many recorded songs.

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I haven't consciously been worried about my upcoming biopsy on the growth on my right shoulder. But, I haven't been sleeping well so I may be unconsciously worried. I tell myself there will be plenty of time to worry if the biopsy brings bad news so no need to do it now.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 5:34 PM

 
SAY A PRAYER FOR ME , "JUST TO MAKE SURE...."

By OLIVENE GODFREY

The growth started out as a flat, scaly area on my right shoulder years ago and later grew into a tough wart-like bump. Some time ago, I noticed that the bump was feeling sensitive and made a note to have my doctor look at it on my next visit.
I noted that it was looking ragged around the edges. And, a couple of weeks ago, it fell off, revealing a rough, red inflamed surface.

When I saw the doctor a few days later for my three month checkup,I showed her the bump. She examined the spot and told me it was Actinic keratosis which is a premalignant condition.
It's most common in fair-skinned people (like me) who are exposed
to the sun because their pigment isn't very protective. It is usually sun damage. Since some of these pre-cancers progress to Squamous Carcinoma, they should be treated.

My doctor knows I am a "worry wart" and she told me she didn't think my AK was anything serious. But, she ordered a biopsy since its large "to make sure that the bump is a keratosis and not skin cancer." I will have the biopsy in about two weeks. Since I know what the growth is now I haven't been overly worried. But,I will probably be nervous about the biopsy as the day draws near because it's an unknown which is what does worry me.

I haven't been in the sun frequently in a number of years. But, in my younger days. I often sun bathed and during the years when we lived in Florida I had a tan. The preventive measures recommended for AK are similar for those for skin cancers.

On the positive side, the doctor was pleased that the iron pills are giving me more energy. I told her that I have cleaned and polished my brass collection recently which is a chore I had put off for ages. She gave me a new prescription for a six month supply of the iron pills so I should feel better during that period if I don't get too fat from the increase in my appetite. I had gained a few pounds which wasn't surprising but I have got to lose those pounds.

Say a prayer for me, "just to make sure" the biopsy shows good news for me.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 2:58 PM

 
SHIRLEY TEMPLE CURLS VIA EARLY,SCARY PERMANENT WAVE APPARATUS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

It all started when I was six or seven years old and was selected to play a Shirley Temple doll in a school play that was set in a toy store. I had blonde hair, like Shirley Temple, the popular child movie star, but my hair was straight and I had a "boyish bob". My teacher told my mother that I could wear a blonde, curly wig. But, Mother always had a project going until her death at the age of 92 and she decided that transforming me into a Shirley Temple doll would be her new project. My twin sisters were toddlers and Mother arranged a sitter for them on a Saturday and she told me we were going to get me some curls. I was puzzled but intrigued as I had always wanted curls.

Mother drove us to a beauty shop in Chattanooga and when we entered the shop my eyes went to a scary, complex of rollers which was suspended from the ceiling. Since I was so young, I don't recall the procedure of getting a permanent wave in those days but I do remember that it seemed to last forever.
But, I had pretty Shirley Temple curls when we left the shop.
I found out the next few days that Mother's project included sewing a pink Shirley Temple dress for me to wear in the play.
To complete the project, Mother had a studio portrait made of me dressed as the Shirley Temple doll with a pink ribbon in my blonde, curly hair. The picture hangs now in my home office.

While thinking of this episode, I asked Barry to do some research on the permanent wave and I found the info fascinating. I'll share the high lights with you now. The first permanent wave machine was invented in 1928, the year after I was born, by Marjorie Joyner. the first African American to receive a patent. The first chemical treatment for curling hair that was suitable for use on people was invented in the year 1906 by the German hairdresser, Karl Nessler. He used a mixture of cow urine and water. His method, called the "spiral heat method" was on long hair. His first experiment was on his wife, Katharina Laible. The first two attempts resulted in completely burning her hair off and some scalp burning.
But the method was perfected and his electric wave machine was patented in 1909. It subsequently went into widespread use.

A method for short hair was invented in 1924 by a Czech hairdresser. Josef Mayer. In 1931, at the Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago, Ralph I. Evans and Everett E. McDonough showed a heat less system for the first time. Then, in 1938. Arnold F. Wiillatt invented the cold wave, the precursor to the modern perm. It used no machine and no heat. The entire process took six to eight hours at room temperature. Perms today use this method with different chemicals and this method takes only 15to 30 minutes until the neutralizer is applied to bring down the pH and rebond the hair.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 1:21 PM

 
SPRING WEATHER EVOKES MEMORIES OF THE PAST

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Here in Northwest Georgia, we are having our usual spring time pattern of a few days of warm and sunny days with "cold snaps" which have names like, Dogwood Winter, Blackberry winter, and so forth. We seem to be back in our old pattern of this being our rainy season. Since April is almost here some people may think the "cold snaps" are over. Not likely. Somewhere in one of our many photograph albums there is a picture I made around April 4 a number of years ago. The picture shows my red tulips heads sticking up in the snowfall.

And, I remember back in 1947 a lovely, warm, sunny day in late April. My late husband, Ralph, and I were engaged and our wedding date was set for May 1 of that year. Ralph and I and his sister, Agnes, and her boyfriend, drove from Dalton to a mountain creek not far from where son Barry and I live now.
We had planned to roast hot dogs in the picnic area until we discovered we had forgotten to bring the hot dogs. (Hey, it was spring and we were young and had other things on our minds.)
I have some pictures that were made that day and one of them shows Ralph and I walking across the river on huge rocks.
I was wearing a summer dress with a bare midriff and my long hair was in two braids.(That dress must have seemed daring back in 1947.) It was a nice day to remember.

Now, the scene changes and Ralph and I were married in a Dalton church which was packed with relatives and friends. We borrowed Ralph's dad's new Chevy and we drove to Atlanta where we had reservations at the old Henry Grady Hotel. The weather was warm and nice when we arrived at the hotel. The next day, a "cold snap" moved in. We hadn't brought coats with us and when we went out to eat at restaurants and one day went to the elegant Fox Theater we nearly froze. When we returned to Dalton, the weather had changed back to warm and sunny spring weather and stayed that way until fall of that year .

So that is how the weather goes. The pear trees this year have been so pretty with their snow white blooms Our pear tree bears fruit and sits atop our foothill in a little clearing. The tree was so small when we moved here 30 years ago that Ralph covered it with a plastic garbage bag when a frost was predicted. The tree has never been pruned and grows ever which way and I think it's crooked limbs give it character and I love the tree just as it is.

Our Incredible Poinsettia is still pretty with its scarlet leaves and tiny yellow blooms defying the odds that it would bloom again. And, the pink geranium knows it's spring even though it sits beside the poinsettia on the den floor inside the house as it blooms it's heart out. The two new shrubs which the landscapers planted to replace old ones killed during last summer's drought conditions are looking good with nourishment of the recent heavy rains here.

See you next time.
- posted by Olivene @ 11:36 AM