Monday, October 29, 2012

NOTES ON PAST WEEK


October 28,2012

By Olivene Godfrey
We "old-timers" refer to the beautiful, warm, weather we had for several days as "Indian Summer".  As I write this we are having a cold snap with strong wind and the days can only be described as a gray winter day.  Cold weather seems to penetrate my old, arthritic bones, and I understand now why so many old people live in warm climates in the winter.
Barry needs to bring the plants into the garage soon.  The Christmas cactus is loaded with buds and should be in bloom for Thanksgiving or sooner.  We plan to move it into my office so we can enjoy it's spectacular beauty.
One recent day, my friend/neighbor, Genevelyn, came over to visit.  I was in my recliner and she kicked off her shoes and made herself comfortable on the couch.  We spent about an hour of "girl talk".  We discussed clothes for one thing.  I told her I wanted a black turtleneck top.  I had one but "out grew" it.  A few days later, Genevelyn came over with a black turtleneck for me.  I offered to pay for it but she insisted it was a gift, and I should just say, "thank you", which I did.
Later, Tam and I were talking about how fortunate I am to have a friend like her.  I'm very lucky with Barry, Tam and Genevelyn looking out for me.  Thanks so much, Guys!
Last week, Tam drove me over to the beauty salon where her daughter is a hair stylist.  Her name is Carrie and as she cut my hair and dried and curled it, I thought that she had "magic fingers".  So does Tam, who does my hair here at the house.  I'm enjoying the shorter hair this week.
One recent day, Tam made chili for Barry, and he took it to work to eat at lunch.  He thought it was delicious.  She's a good cook.
The home health therapists have been giving me intensive balance therapy which really tires me.  I think I only have one more week of therapy.  Since I am able to do the exercises the therapists tell me I have reached my goal.  They think I should be able to go from one room to another without assistance.  I still can't and Barry thinks my nerves are causing my fear.
See you next time.   (As told to Tam)

Monday, October 22, 2012

SON BARRY'S PRETTY 1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GOT FIRST SCRATCH LAST WEEKEND AND I HAD CHILDHOOD DREAM, OR WAS IT A FORGOTTEN MEMORY?


October 22, 2012

By Olivene Godfrey
Barry bought a pretty, brand new Pontiac Grand Prix Coupe in 1998.  Over the years, he has been very careful where he parks the car, choosing isolated sections of parking lots.  He would be quite upset if he returned to his car, finding another car parked close to his car.
I fully expected that Barry would become hysterical if the car was dented or scratched.  But, when he told me he backed into a pole, getting a small scratch, that, "it's a car, not a person!"  I was sorry to hear of the "scratch" but I'm proud that Barry has over the years, gained some wisdom.
About that dream - my grandparents lived on a large farm in middle Tennessee and I have many memories of visiting them.  I lived with my parents and sisters in Chattanooga and we would travel over the mountains to visit the farm about once a month.  I enjoyed gathering fresh eggs and watching my aunt milk the cows, and all the interesting things for a city child to enjoy.  Often some of my cousins and their parents would visit the grandparents and two spinster aunts while we were there.
I had a special cousin who was my age and we would stroll along the long path to the family "out house".  There was a fence, covered with large juicy purple grapes.  One Sunday, while dressed in pretty little dresses, we "feasted" on the grapes.  When we returned to the house for Sunday dinner, we were covered with grape juice on our faces and pretty dresses.  Our mother's were outraged but our dads tried hard not to laugh at the sight of us.
When we were "cleaned up" we sat at the long dining table covered with a white linen tablecloth, and ate as much as we could.  For Sunday dessert, the aunts helped my grandmother, serve coconut cake and beautiful glasses filled with grape juice!  Needless to say, we didn't drink much of the juice.
My cousins and I may have sometimes "gorged" on the grapes and soiled our clothes and our faces and arms.  I don't remember.  All of the background was true, and not a dream.  Yes, those were good times on the farm year around.  I'm so grateful I have so many memories of a wonderful childhood.
See you next time.
(As told to Tam)

Monday, October 15, 2012

OH, MY ACHING LITTLE TOE, AND ELECTRICAL TREATMENT FOR MY SHOULDER AND KNEES


October 13, 2012

By Olivene Godfrey
I woke up one recent night with a horrific pain in my left little toe.  I went to my bathroom and examined my little toe and it looked real red but, otherwise normal.  I returned to bed and I suddenly couldn't bear to have the bed sheet touch my little toe.  So, I spent the rest of the night with my left foot outside of my bed covers.  I wondered how a small toe could cause such intense pain.  I wasn't able to get back to sleep.  The following day, I showed my toe to the home health nurse.  She examined it and said the stubby toe nail I was born with had come loose.  She applied neosporin and a band-aid on the toe.  She told me to keep a band-aid on the toe until the toenail falls off.  The pain soon stopped and I'm free of pain.  I hope the nail falls off soon.  Why do these things happen to me?
The home health agency has arranged for me to have a trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine to stimulate the nerves in my left shoulder where I have bursitis   TENS is a non-invasive, low risk nerve stimulation intended to reduce pain, both acute and chronic.  Controversy exists as to its effectiveness in the treatment of pain, but it might be useful for knee osteoarthritis which I have.  The treatments so far, gives some relief to my left shoulder and both knees.
Electrical stimulation for pain control was used in ancient Rome (63 A.D.).  It was reported that pain was relieved by standing on an electrical fish at the seashore.
I hope the TENS treatments continue to reduce my pain.  I'm also suffering from my allergy to the ragweed that grows in profusion here.
See you next time.
(As told to Tam)

Monday, October 08, 2012

GENEVELYN'S ILLNESS AND A LOVELY ROSE AND THOUGHTS ON ROSES AND BURSITIS IN MY LEFT SHOULDER


October 7, 2012

By Olivene Godfrey
Genevelyn, my friend and neighbor, has been ill with a severe allergy attack, caused by the hated ragweed in full bloom here now.  Genevelyn called Tam and told her she was coming over to pick up two printed blogs I had for her.  She told Tam not to let me greet her in case she was contagious.  I was typing in my office, a grocery list for Barry while Genevelyn was here.  Shortly, Tam came to the office with an exquisite delicate pink rose that Genevelyn had brought me from her yard.  The rose is so lovely, I feel a warm glow when I look at it.
Roses are my favorite flower.  I like all colors.  I remember when my late husband, Ralph, sent a dozen red roses for me when Barry was born.  (Ralph had waited 12 years for a son and was busting with pride and joy!)
I have been suffering with bursitis, an inflammation of a bursa  in my left shoulder.  The home health occupational therapist has been treating my shoulder with a pain management instrument for chronic pain.  She has ordered one for me and says I can use it on my arthritic knees, too.  The instrument doesn't stop the pain permanently, but brings relief for a while.  It can also be used as often as needed.
I have slept on my left side for years.  The therapist told me not to sleep on my left side with the bursitis in my left shoulder.  Several times, I have woke up with severe pain in my left shoulder at night and realize I had turned over in my sleep.  The therapist and Tam suggested that I put a pillow behind my back to prevent this, and it is working so far.
Several years ago, I fell and broke my right shoulder and arm.  I wore a sling while my bones healed and got used to using my left arm for everything.  Now, I still use my left arm for a lot of things.  I'm right handed and I think I may be sending mixed signals to my brain since I can't use my left shoulder and arm without pain.
Oh, well, as my late mother used to say, "Don't worry so much.  Things have a way of working out some way."
See you next time
(As told to Tam)

Monday, October 01, 2012

SON BARRY SAYS, "A LITTLE FALL DOESN'T MEAN BEING OLD AND CREAKY"


October 1, 2012

By Olivene Godfrey

Barry was upset when I wrote about his recent fall in the kitchen.  He said readers will think he's "old and creaky."  I assured him that with his busy schedule at his shop and at home nobody would think such a thing.
Barry thinks he fell because he was wearing an old pair of house shoes that had stretched and caused him to stumble.  He has a new pair of house shoes now that fit better so he shouldn't have any more falls.
We've been having gorgeous fall weather and a couple of days last week, my physical therapist took me outside.  In the sunshine, I did my daily walking.  Then one day we sat in patio chairs and I did leg excercises.  It was a pleasant experience.
I am writing this on a rainy Monday morning.  Yesterday, my poor old arthritic knees nearly killed me and I knew rain was coming.  We had tenative plans to eat an early lunch at Dalton's Western Sizzlin.  I really didn't feel like going out but decided to get dressed and make the trip to Dalton.
The lunch was delicious and I enjoyed it but was glad when we returned home.  More rain in the forecast for today.  But as the poet said "into each life some rain will fall."  And we need the rain.
See you next time.
(As told to Tam)