SENTIMENTAL HOE, BABY BIRDS TAKE FLIGHT, NEW SHOES & HAIRCUT....

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Part of the handle of an old hoe that my late husband, Ralph, used in his vegetable gardens over the years is now a part of the side handle of my recliner. After I fell last April and injured my right shoulder and arm, I couldn't lift the handle to lift up the foot rest, on my recliner. So, son Barry used part of the old hoe handle to extend the handle on the recliner to make it easier for me to use. I use it many times during the day and part of the handle Ralph held in his hands in the garden is used in the recliner handle now and it has sentimental meaning to me.

I think earlier this summer, I told you that a tiny bird had built a nest in my huge Christmas cactus plant on the patio. The little eggs hatched out and tiny baby birds were left in the nest while the mama bird gathered food for them. And a few days ago, we noticed the nest is empty, so we assume the little birds took flight.

Despite being under the weather yesterday (Sunday) I had a busy and enjoyable day and accomplished all I had planned to do. During intervals of rain showers, we went to Chatsworth to eat lunch at the Village cafeteria. We came home for a while and then in a lull in the showers, Barry drove us to the mall in nearby Dalton. Since we were there early in the afternoon, the crowds weren't bad, and I walked right in the Mastercuts hair salon and ten minutes later, I left with a short, very good haircut which costs a fraction of what I had been paying.
At Mastercuts web sit, they say the chain salons offer casual upbeat haircuts for the whole family, all at practical prices.
So, it isn't a status place so who cares? As long as I get a good haircut at a low price, I don't care who cuts my hair.

We went to the Sears store in the mall, and I tried on several pairs of athletic shoes and winded up buying the Reebok's classic style which I had worn before and liked. A pair of New Balance shoes felt pretty good but the Reeboks was a little better for me. I am wearing the new shoes today and so far haven't any problems with them.

Since this past Friday, I have been wearing my pull over clothing and it feels great. The physical therapist came that

THIS & THAT FROM MY MEMO PAD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Today is the first day of summer and the temperature outside here was 57 degrees when we got up this morning. It is supposed to get up into the 80s today and warmer rest of week. But, so far we have had very little of extremely hot weather this year.
Late yesterday afternoon we had a humdinger of a storm. The lightning flashed, thunder boomed and torrential rain came down which we needed here. After the rain, the greenery outside of the house was fresh and so pretty.

I'm hoping for good weather this weekend as Barry is planning to take me to the mall in Dalton to get a much needed haircut and to buy a "sensible pair of shoes." I am afraid that pretty high heels and other dressy shoes are things of the past for me now. Since I was wearing a dressy pair of shoes when I fell April 10 and injured my shoulder and arm, Barry has been trying to get me to buy a pair of shoes that are safer. I cleaned out my shoe rack and so did Barry his closet and he took the shoes to the Salvation Army thrift store recently.

I have also decided to give up driving. I couldn't drive now anyway with my arm not completely strong yet but I had already decided that it wasn't safe for me to drive anymore. I am not as alert as I need to be when driving and I don't want to continue until I have a bad accident. It doesn't bother me now and actually, I feel relieved, knowing I don't have to fight traffic, etc...., anymore. I never did like to drive unless I had a destination. Barry loves to drive and doesn't think anything about driving everywhere he wants to go. That was how my late husband, Ralph, felt about driving and when he had give it up, he lost interest in life.

Last Saturday morning, for the first time since I had my accident, I went shopping with Barry to Ingle's big grocery store in Chatsworth, GA. I enjoyed the trip and was tired when we got home but I need to get out more now. I bought a delicious slice of chilled, sweet watermelon and a carton of orange sherbet, the two things I always do first of summer.
The watermelon upset my gut but I guess I will buy more anyway.

I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and got a good report about my shoulder and arm. I will have four more weeks of therapy and then hope my arm will be up to par. I still can't wear my pullover clothing garments and will work on that in upcoming therapy sessions. I also got some more good news. According to the scales in the doctor's office, I have lost a total of 30 pounds since last September. I still want to lose ten more pounds and then should be a perfect weight for my height.


I fell again a week or so ago but my injuries weren't serious. I discussed the fallings with my doctor and she decided to reduce the dosages of a couple of my prescription medicines that can cause drowsiness. She said, and I have read, that older people need smaller dosages of some medications. i hope that solves the problem of frequent falls for me.

See you next time.

GOODBYE TO ARM SLING & HELLO AGAIN TO OLD PANTS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Ten days ago, I removed my arm sling that had been my companion since April 10 when I fell and dislocated my shoulder and broke my arm. The sling had made my arm feel better and I was reluctant to give it up. But, as my right shoulder and arm began to feel stronger, I realized I didn't need the sling any longer so late one afternoon, I removed it and haven't had it on since and feel better without it as it was confining and also beginning to make me feel too warm these hot summer days. I was grateful to have had the sling but now it's time to move on. I have five more weeks therapy scheduled and hope I will be back to normal at the end of that period. I go back to my doctor June 20 for a checkup and x-rays and hope I get a good report.

Yesterday (Sunday), son, Barry and I were getting ready to go to the Village cafeteria in town for an early lunch when I had a delightful surprise. I was slender for most of my life and then a number of years ago, I began to gain weight for no apparent reason. This time last year, I felt fat and my face was puffy, and I had to buy some large long pants. I have a closet of pants in various sizes. Yesterday, when I put on my white pants in the larger size, they fell off of me! I dashed to the closet and got out a pair of white pants in a smaller size and they fit perfectly which thrilled me.

I have been on my diet since September 4th, 2004 and while I have lost only 25 pounds, I have lost in inches and am slowly losing more weight. Barry says my face has slimmed down and that I look more like the old me. I need to lose at least ten more pounds and lose more inches so I can get into a smaller pair of pants.

While on the subject of diets, I think it gives one a lift to eat a small portion of a forbidden food now and then. Last year, Barry gave me a small crock pot that cooks just enough for two or three people. I had been buying good cuts of beef roasts, such as sirloin tips, when it was on sale. Barry has been buying groceries since I had my accident. And recently he bought a chuck roast. I told him it would probably be tough but cooked it in crock pot anyway. It had a lot of marbled fat so I thought it might have a good flavor anyway but would play havoc with our cholesterol. To our surprise, it was tender after cooking 12 hours in the crock pot and tasted delicious. This past weekend Barry bought groceries and came home with a large chuck roast. Using the electric knife, he cut it into three small roasts and I am cooking one right now in the crock pot. So, maybe if we only eat it occasionally, it won’t hurt us and gives us a lift as we enjoy the roast for supper.


See you next time.

STOMACH VIRUS STRIKES HERE, CHILD BECOMES PARENT, ETC....

By OLIVENE GODFREY

When son, Barry, became ill with the stomach virus that is going around in these parts, I was afraid I would catch the germ from him. And sure enough, it struck me with a vengeance while Barry was recuperating. (Somehow he continued to work but he is healthy and can handle those things better than I can at this time of my life.) I had felt bad for several days and hadn't slept much and then this past weekend, it hit me and I was really under the weather for a while. And then Sunday night, I felt better and went to bed early and slept for ten hours. I still feel weak and my stomach is a bit queasy but I feel a lot better than I did over the weekend. I had read those things can cause serious complications in a diabetic which I am so I worried about that, too. I got up early this morning and felt almost normal and hope we are going to be all right now.

The physical therapist gave me a good work out yesterday which left my arm and shoulder a little sore and I am wondering how I will be able to do the exercises today but somehow I will. While thinking about my broken bones, I recalled an item Barry read somewhere once about the description of growing old. An elderly man was asked by a young man how it felt to be old. The old man replied that it felt like being a young man with something terrible wrong with him. I think that description is priceless as it is so true.

I thought how wonderful it would be if we could grow new body parts when we get old. And then it dawned on me that I am taking medicine now that is supposed to grow, healthy new bones, especially in elderly women who are proned to fall and break bones. The prescription medicine is Actonel which is taken once a week. My doctor gave me a prescription several years ago which I didn't take as the directions were so complicated. Besides, I told myself, I had fallen half a dozen times and hadn't broken any bones.

When the doctor gave me a prescription and a bunch of samples to take, Barry informed me that I was going to take the medicine, period! I was reminded as I often am these days that Barry and I realize and accept that in time the child becomes the parent.
I am fortunate to have such a caring second parent.

Summer seems to have arrived in northwest Georgia finally with hot weather here this week. The AC on our new heat pump has been working fine and so far we are well pleased with it. My plants on the patio are thriving in the hot humid weather. And a tiny bird has built a tiny nest which contains eggs in my huge Christmas cactus plant. And, a toad has taken up residence in my purple plant and the lizards consider my asparagus plant their home. I guess that is what happens when you live in the country.

On a sadder note. My former newspaper colleague and dear friend, Ruth Cox, is very ill in a Dalton hospital. An e-mail from my friend, Genevelyn Hope, last night asked me to pray for her and I have been and ask all of you to say a prayer for this very good person.

My sister, Jeanette, who lives in nearby Dalton, is going to have surgery soon on her arm. She has been a caregiver for her husband for 21 years and has had a number of surgeries. So, say a prayer for her, too.

See you next week.