Monday, December 26, 2005

A BITTERSWEET CHRISTMAS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Son Barry and I enjoyed a delicious Christmas day dinner at the home of my sister, Jeanette. Her six great-grandkids
kept things lively, especially at gift-exchange time.
Barry and I had eaten a Christmas eve dinner at our home.
And, after eating two big meals, we will need to watch our diets this week.

Late Christmas afternoon, we received a phone call that saddened us. My late husband, Ralph's brother, Ray, had died at his Gainesville, GA home. His daughter, Joyce Ann, called to tell us about Ray and she expressed the thought what better day than Christmas to pass away. I agreed and said Ray and Ralph
would have a reunion, too, as well as being with their parents
and kid brother, "Jiggs".

Later, my thoughts turned to the close bond that Ralph and Ray shared over the years. They grew up during the Great Depression and fought and played like brothers usually do when they are children. They were both World War 11 veterans and like most of their generation were strong men. Each of the brothers had their own distinct personalities but they also shared many interests.

Shortly before Ralph died in August, 2002, Ray came by the house to visit him before he kept an appointment in Chatsworth.
Ralph suffered from Parkingsons and mild dementia. That day, when Ray entered the room, Ralph looked up and said softly,
"Hi Buddy." While Ralph's mind grew cloudy, he seemed alert as he thanked Ray for his visit. And, then, later, when Ralph died, Barry and I and family members, went to a funeral home
to receive friends. I remember when Ray stood beside the
casket and gently touched Ralph's hand and said in a soft voice,"Hi Buddy. And I thought that when they first saw each other in Heaven, they would greet each other with a "Hi Buddy."

Still on a somber note-- Ralph's employer and good friend for 32 years died last week. Barry and I went to a funeral home to pay our last respects to Bill Elrod and remembered the
many kindnesses he showed Ralph over the years. He would often say that, "if Ralph can't fix it, it can't be fixed," and he will be greatly missed by his family and host of friends.

On a light note-- Forgive me if I sound like a very proud mother which I am. Barry was stunned last week at his shop's Christmas dinner when he was presented with a gold Seiko watch to mark his tenth anniversary with the company. He says he hasn't been as excited over a gift since he was a kid and got his first bike for Christmas.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

CHRISTMAS IS COMING...READY OR NOT!

By OLIVENE GODFREY

With Christmas almost here, I am not prepared for it yet. In the past, I purchased and wrapped gifts before Thanksgiving.
I decorated the tree and did all the other Christmas things well before the big day. I don't know why I let Christmas slip up on me this year. But, with Barry's help, I am almost on schedule now and should have everything ready by Christmas day.

We are planning to go to my sister, Jeanette's home for a dinner and party on Christmas day. I will have turkey breast and trimmings for our dinner here on Christmas eve. I know, I said I would not do as much as I did Thanksgiving, and I am trying to keep things simple, so maybe I won't be too exhausted
after the holiday. I will take some food to Jeanette's house and all of the family will need to pitch in and help since she recently had surgery.

A nice part of the Christmas season is receiving cards and notes from long-time friends and relatives that we don't see often.
I had a serendipity yesterday when my good friend and neighbor,
Genevelyn Hope, stopped by to deliver a gift from a mutual friend of ours, Ruth Cox. Ruth miraculously recovered a while back from a serious illness. She is a talented crafts person and a former newspaper colleague of mine. With the help of Genevelyn and Barry (unknown to me), Ruth had put a picture
of our house and our crape myrtle in a glass paperweight.
The crape myrtle, in full bloom in the picture, holds a special meaning for me. It was planted in memory of my mother who passed away five years ago. The crape myrtle bush was a gift from my late husband's brother, Ray, and his wife, Joyce. The
paperweight is now a cherished addition to my collection.

On these cold days with the ground often frozen, the flocks
of birds who visit our yard need birdseed put out for them
Barry put some out this week and so far the pesky squirrels
haven't discovered the birdseed. But, we feel sure they will before too long. Meanwhile, we are enjoying watching
the birds feed on the patio.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

See you next time.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

OOPS! I goofed--I AM 78, NOT 79

By OLIVENE GODFREY

After reading last week's column, my sister, Jeanette, called to inform me that I am 78, not 79, as I had written in this space last week. I can't figure out how I made this mistake. It wasn't a typo but I really thought I was going to be 79 on my birthday this week. I am worried now that the men in the little white coats will be coming for me soon. It is nice to know that I am a year younger than I had been thinking I was though. I had a good birthday and Barry took me to the Western Sizzlin for lunch where you can eat free on your birthday.
I ate a delicious meal from their bountiful buffet. The weather was very cold but I dressed warmly and made it fine.

_________________________________________

I read years ago about an elderly woman who was having to leave her home to enter a nursing home. On the day she was to leave the house she loved so much, she stepped outside and collapsed from an apparent heart attack. The woman survived but her friends believed she suffered from a broken heart.

I was fascinated with an article I read a few days ago in
Prevention magazine about a study on broken hearts that was conducted by Johns Hopkins cardiologists. The study was identified as "broken heart syndrome" last February. Poets and writers of fiction have long written about broken hearts bringing on heart attacks, even death. This condition the study found was when sudden emotional stress stuns cardiac muscle and causes temporary heart failure. As the article pointed out, it's a discovery that has changed the way doctors diagnose and treat heart attacks.

Lead researcher, Ilan Wittstein, M.D., discovered the phenomenon
when he treated a woman who had apparently had a massive heart attack. The article went on to say that often the heart muscle never recovers but after a few days the woman's heart was back to normal. Wittstein and his team tracked 19 similar cases over four years in which heart symptoms had occurred following a stressful event. Immediate treatments saved these people's lives but ultimately their hearts healed on their own.

The article which is in the January, 2006 issue goes into more detail of this fascinating subject.

See you next time.