The Last Appointment.

 The Last Appointment.

 

Went to see the PA at Dr. Kern’s office this morning at 8:30. That’s a great time to give them $50 for a co-pay—well, that is the co-pay for my insurance. Some folks have a much cheaper co-pay. Anyway, it was worth it to know that everything was just like it was supposed to be. Kinda knew that already, but this was just like the official seal of approval or whatever. Or it could be considered a waste of $50. Then there’s being able to walk into the office and get weighed. Argh! Nope, not losing even a little bit. Pretty well knew that, but such is life.

 

It has been a hazy day with a forecast for the possibility for rain tomorrow. It’s that time of year when it is not exactly winter feeling, but could get there in a heartbeat. Seems the mist has kept the sounds muffled from the highway except for the dipsticks who find it necessary to screech out of the hospital grounds at the highest speeds possible. Sometimes it makes me wish those particular people would be stopped by the highway patrol. One such person does this stuff quite often when it is later in the evening. Why? What does this do for the psyche of such a person? Are these grown adults or teenagers with problems? Oh well. Eventually the vehicles will either crater or find a fence post to wrap around.

 

Some of the things seen today on FB include the generosity of Elvis Presley when he helped to finance the renewal of the Arizona monument in Pearl Harbor. Another picture showed the wreck of a truck that killed three and sent a couple of other illegal immigrants to the hospital down in the Laredo area (think that is the correct location—on the Texas border at any rate). Then there was a really neat video showing how the Panama Canal began and has been expanded over the years to accommodate the really large ships. Such things are truly interesting even if a person is not an engineer. And then there are some of the most beautiful photos on FB that can be saved and used as background on the computer. Right now, have two very lovely ones saved and employed as either background or screen saver.

 

Some of these photographers are very talented. Think it would be difficult to choose between some of the pictures by Diann Dennis and others who appreciate nature in all its glory. Yes, the sunsets and sunrises can be inspiring, but the land and streams with flowers—well, it is just difficult to get much better than that. Diann Dennis is somewhat of an expert on the flowers of her part of Arkansas. Then there is Judi Ellis who walks along the banks of some of the loveliest places. She finds mushrooms on old logs, snakes in the grass, critters in the water, and paths to dreams in her way along the land. Some of these women in the Wilderness experience—Rewilders—inspire me to get out and look around me. One problem there is seeing the same ol’ same ol’ every freaking day. Yes, the weather changes and the lake level rises or falls, but the really inspiring pictures usually involve the birds that come by to visit—even if it is only a duck couple who used to borrow the kiddie pool. Riding down to the cemetery at Center Point reminded me of why we loved that part of the country so much. The grasses change colors with the seasons, the trees change colors and scents as the air warms or cools, and the smoke from the few fireplaces makes the entire countryside seem welcoming. Memories shared with my husband and children make it even more precious.

 

Sometimes it seems that we pick the worst possible times of the year to get together—cold, snowy, wet, frozen, or just windy and miserable. We used to get together in the Pollard family at Easter—about the time the tornadoes started sprouting out of the clouds. Remember one year we drove in from church in our decent clothes and went straight to the cellar. The ground around the cellar was red clay. My suit was white linen. Well, WAS is the appropriate term after the water from the top of the cellar ran down my back. Sigh. Mom could not take that stain out either. Then there were meals in Mom and Dad’s house where we were all pretty well elbow to elbow with each other. But it was nice with all the grandparents there. Mom had patience beyond what anyone could ask for. And the house always smelled so very good. The only time she ever really rebelled was the time Daddy brought home ducks he had shot out in the wet fields and expected Mom to dress and cook them. She stood over the sink and gagged a few times before she told him what he could do with those ducks. Thinking back now, that makes me laugh. Someone else said the birdshot was pretty hard to digest.

 

Do you like to eat fish? Some folks in this part of the country think that catfish is the greatest. Not me. We used to get catfish from our stock tanks and Mom would cook it. Tasted like mud to me. She could get me to eat tuna anytime, but they could keep that fried mud stuff. Now Grandmother Pollard fried up some crawdad tails for us once. They were ok. Not my bag, but Sterling thought they were great. But he liked shrimp. Bleah. To each his own, right?

 

Saw something else on FB that made me wonder what folks are using for common sense. Some people are being mean to the UPS and FedEx guys and gals because of the death of that poor little girl who was kidnapped and killed by a contract worker who was a driver for one of those services. Honestly, let’s just all get out our radar guns and see who comes up on the screen that might be a dangerous dipstick. SURELY that radar gun could tell us who might or might not be a bad guy! Let’s first aim the danged gun at ourselves if we are going to be that judgmental! Common sense is really hiding its head lately.

 

Two dogs have been rather lazy and disinterested today. Not sure if it is the weather or something else. Neither is hungry after they had a few pieces of pork butt (shoulder) and neither has asked for treats. Strange. Not much going on in the neighborhood has interested them. Chased one stinking squirrel up the tree and came back inside. Think they caught on that it was not coming down to play!

 

Could not sleep last night and stayed up and read. Finished the book this morning and was surprised at the ending. Not the greatest book, but the setting was interesting. It seems strange that houses can have so many bedrooms in those old mansions in England. They really had to have a work crew to keep things clean, too. It would be about the equivalent of running a hotel if you had guests or many family members gathered. And to put on a major party would have cost a fortune! England is definitely a different kind of place in the areas where the older mansions remain inhabited. Even the cemeteries are different. Come to think of it, we have cemeteries here where the stones are not readable because they were made of sandstone. Marble was expensive and hard to come by around here in the early part of our history. Guess our cemeteries would seem strange to the English, wouldn’t they.

 

Well, know next to nothing worth telling since staying away from the “news” has been one of my best decisions lately. Saw that the biggest part of some Southern Methodists decided to disband or disassociate themselves from the major branch of that church. Seems religion and social acceptance are pretty well at odds with just finding the “love thy neighbor” part of Christianity. But what would an old woman know? Don’t take my word for it, but if you are kind to others, it normally comes back around as further kindnesses shown to you or others. No matter how we believe, if our actions show kindness, even the neighbors’ dogs will accept us.

 

Let us remember where love originated. May God bless you and yours this day as you turn to Him. Rest well, in peace, my friends. You are loved.