LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I seem to be recovering very well from my cataract surgery a week ago. I am still using three different eye drops four time a day. The drops help prevent infection, pain and swelling and I haven't complained about them as I can see so well. I am really enjoying watching my large, flat television with the vivid colors now that I have two good eyes.

We're having a cold winter here in northwest Georgia but my jonquils are coming up in the soil and that always gives me hope that spring with all its glory will be here soon.

With Valentine day coming up soon, our thoughts turn to love. Poets write about it. Authors write novels about it. Movies are made about it. Hearts sing with happiness about it and are sometimes broken by it. And, it does make the world go around. So, for the romantic quotation collectors, here are some words on love.

"Love ever gives- forgives- outlives and ever stands with open hands and while it lives it gives. For this is love's give." Anon.

"Love is not an emotion that can be turned on and off at will. It comes unbidden, and rents space in the human heart forever."
Jim Bishop

"lovers quarrels are the renewal of love", Terence.

"Footfalls echo in the memory- Down the passage we did not take Towards the door we never opened-into the rose garden" T.S. Eliot.

"Oh tender yearning, sweet hoping!--The golden time of first love!--The eyes see the open heaven--The heart is intoxicated with bliss--O that the beautiful of young love--Could remain green forever." The Song of the Bell--Schiller.

"Heaven has no rage like to hatred turn. Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned". William Congreve.

See you next time.

SO GRATEFUL FOR TWO GOOD EYES AGAIN!

By OLIVENE GODFREY

A couple of days ago, I had cataract surgery on my right eye, which was legally blind. And, with a skilled surgeon operating on my eye, and many prayers, I now have near perfect vision which is a medical miracle to me.

The day after my surgery, son Barry who has been his usual wonderful self, drove me to the office of the eye doctor for an exam. I was given a test by a technician who said the results were "beautiful". Then a young doctor examined my eye with his machine and said, "wonderful". I return to the office to see the eye surgeon in two weeks for a follow-up exam and for a new prescription for reading glasses.

I am still using eye drops I started with two days prior to the surgery. I hope to be feeling chipper soon and to be able to read all I want to. And, thanks to all who prayed for me this week.

See you next time.

EYE SURGERY DATE IS SET & MUSINGS ON THE MOVIES
By Olivene Godfrey
I recently had a complete eye exam and the diagnosis was that I needed cataract surgery on my right eye. I had the same surgery on my left eye about two years ago so I know what to expect when I have the same surgery in a few days. The eye surgeon said my right eye is healthy and he doesn't expect any problems with the upcoming surgery. But, he said that the procedure is surgery and it isn't without possible risks.
I was given a list of pre-surgery instructions . I'm not nervous (so far) about the surgery but will be glad when it's over.
I have stacks of magazines and books to be read when I have two good eyes and I look forward to that. Please pray that all will go well for me.

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Before my late husband,Ralph, and I had a television and before Barry was born, we went to the movies several nights a week. And, when I was a child my cousin who we called Brother and I went to the movies on Saturdays .Then, when I was a teenager my girlfriends and I went to the movies often . When we had a date with boys we usually went to a movies.

And then there were fewer movies that Ralph and I wanted to see. Someone wrote that the "action" movies with car chases and excessive violence were made for teenage boys. We did see one movie in a theater years ago, Coal Miners Daughter, which was about country music star, Loretta Lynn, and was one of the best movies I've ever seen. Then we have seen several good movies here at the house. I can stop the movie when I need a bathroom break and can relax in my recliner while I watch the movie.
I guess it's the only way I'll see a movie in the future, too.

I have been seeing a TV commercial for a new movie, "The Wrestler". I'm not a wrestling fan but the commercial tugged at my heart strings. And, I asked Barry , who keeps up with such things, about the movie and he said it"s "a character study of an aging wrestler." He added that the movie and actor, Mickey Rourke, have been receiving good reviews and I read in the paper this week that Rourke had won a Golden Globe award as best drama actor for his role in "The Wrestler." Barry said as soon as the movie is available, he will buy it and I look forward to that.

See you next time.

NOTES FROM MEMO PAD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Heavy rain here in northwest Georgia is causing flash flooding in low lying areas. As I write this, we're having a clear lull before another round of rain moves in, according to T.V. forecasters. Since the temperature has been dropping rapidly all day, the forecasters say we may have a wintry mix in the next round. It is supposed to be over tomorrow with a clear
sunny day. We need the rain as we're still in a statewide drought.

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During the Christmas and New Year's holidays, I received cards with notes and some phone calls from friends and relatives I hadn't heard from in a while. One call was from my long-time friend, Jeannette, who seems to have about as many ailments as I do and we compared notes about our health and shared a few laughs. We both agreed that old age is a bummer. Jeannette asked, "When we were young, did you ever think we would end up like this? And, of course, I didn't. I was so busy living an active life, I didn't give old age a thought. Jeannette and I wondered who came up with the description of being old as The Golden Years. I still think the best description of old age is one I've told you about before and it goes that a young man asked an old man how it felt to be old. The old man replied that he felt like a young man who had something terrible wrong with him. That's how I often feel. At the same time, I am grateful that my mind still works, at least, part of the time, and that I am able to do the things I still do for myself.

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I've just read in USA Weekend, (January 2-4, 2009) that hard beds are often prescribed for back pain sufferers but new research finds soft is better. In a Danish study, people with chronic back pain who slept on a body-conforming foam mattress reported less pain and nearly an hour more of sleep at night. than those who sleep on a hard futon mattress. Last summer, I bought a body-conforming foam mattress and I feel as if I am floating on a cloud when I lay on it. Barry has a hard mattress and he's considering buying one like mine.

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During Barry's long holiday break, he began to feel bored and he began to clean house and by the time he returned to his job yesterday, he had the kitchen and bathrooms shiny and clean.
I think it is a form of therapy for him as he also cleans if he is worried, too.

See you next time.

HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Son Barry and I enjoyed the bountiful Christmas dinner at the
beautifully decorated Dalton home of my sister, Jeanette.
Following the meal, we exchanged gifts. I received a gift card that's burning a hole in my pocket and I hope I can get to Dalton soon to shop. We hadn't seen the grandkids since last year and they have all grown so much we hardly recognized them.
Before Barry and I headed back home, Jeanette loaded us down with left-over goodies which we continued to enjoy for several more meals. Jeanette gave Barry a tin of her delectable chocolate fudge. I couldn't resist eating a couple of pieces of the candy.
I have eaten more sweets than I normally do during the holidays but my blood sugar has remained normal and I haven't gained any weight. I confess it took all the will-power I could muster not to pig-out on that chocolate fudge. I think eating tiny portions of the forbidden foods is the secret.

Jeanette's husband, Charles, was enjoying their new flat large T.V. while we were there on Christmas day. We know several people who have recently bought the popular flat televisions
including Barry who also bought one for his den. He installed his two year old large flat screen T. V. in our den where I watch television. And I enjoy it. I also like that these televisions don't take up much room.

One day during the holiday week, Barry and I had lunch at an interesting buffet restaurant in Dalton. It is appropriately named, The Filling Station", and is located in the Historical Downtown Dalton Revitalization Area. The restaurant occupies a completely renovated turn-of-the -century gasoline station.
If you like southern food with a taste of nostalgia, you would like this buffet. We enjoyed looking at all of the old road signs on the brick walls.

Barry and I still have whatever our cold-like symptoms and coughing has been with us about six weeks. We have talked to several people who also have this condition. For a day or two, we feel fine and then the symptoms strike again. Some people think it is caused by the very cold weather alternating with spring like days we have been having here in northwest Georgia

See you next time.