Going Home

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

Debbie and Ed need to leave but were around long enough to help get their dad moved to his apartment. The oxygen is all set up and the day went off without a hitch.

Donnie seems strong but I fear he is doing too much. After his kids leave, he goes out and rummages through his van. He's a bit irritable when I suggest he not do that because he's moving heavier things than he should handle.

Later in the night, he awakens me and wordlessly points to his blood-soaked T-shirt. Of course, then we did the 911 thing and spent most of the rest of the night in the ER.

It could have been so much worse! God is ever good.

Whoa!

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

While we were visiting at the hospital, the nurse came in and announced Donnie was going home, NOW! I protested, no one listened. I finally said quite loudly and firmly that I was not comfortable with him going home PERIOD! I asked about his hematocrit and his low pulse-ox and simple said I would not take him home. It upset him. It upset the nurse. It got results.

All at once, they decided to keep him because his hematocrit was LOW! They ordered two units of packed cells (red blood cells to carry oxygen) STAT (pronto!).

Donnie had expressed his feelings... good. I'm sorry my forwardness upset him, but glad he got the care he needed.

Moving to Floor

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

Donnie was finally moved to a room on the 9th floor. Hooray! He seems so much better this day. Still tires easily, very quickly. That's not a surprise.

Debbie and Ed flew in, but I can't recall which day they came. Probable yesterday. It's wonderful for us all that they are here! What a difference it makes to share with others, whether in joy or sorrow, in health or illness... going through it with loved ones makes it a better blessing.

More ICU

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

More of the same. Donnie was to be moved to a room on the floor but his condition hasn't been that good and they want to monitor him further. I slept in the waiting room last night and will do so again.

Still trying to read. Fatigue has set in, but peace prevails.

ICU

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

Donnie was mostly out of it but awakened from time to time in severe pain. I prayed and noted some relief for him.

My time was spent waiting in the ICU waiting room for the brief allotment of visiting time every few hours. While there, I visited and prayed with others and read a mystery which never made any sense... mostly because I kept losing track of who the characters were and what had been happening... but the reading and trying to follow the story kept my mind occupied.

Open Hearted Brother

Written Later from Memory, Notes and Planner

I got the call after I came home from Bible study. My brother, Don, was to have bypass surgery in less than 24 hours! I packed, repacked and still packed again. The news had sent my brain into overlaod.

I forced myself away from the repetition of rote praying and the frenzied activity I was lost in. What I needed was a REAL audience with Jesus at the throne of GRACE. Packing could wait.
Richard came home from work around midnight and together we got me ready for a trip to Anniston, AL to be with my brother. With such short notice, I would be the only family member there.

I began my drive at about two in the morning, but before I was off the turnpike, I had to stop to sleep. I pulled off on a shoulder within sight of a toll booth... a good, safe place to nap.
When I awakened four hours later, my neck was stiff and my eyes sandy, but I felt a special kind of peace as I talked with the Father about my brother.

I was never going to make it in time, so I called Donnie at about noon and we had a wonderful talk. He said, "I got that taken care off," when I asked him about his standing with Christ. We both knew it was a decision he needed to make now, no more putting off.

The rest of the days details are written in the March 4 journal.

In My Groove

I met and worked out with my personal trainer at the gym yesterday and am due to go back again today. I'll be at the gym four or more days a week. For a person who has eschewed all but neccessary physical activity, I surprazed myself by enjoying my workout of an hour and a half.

I did treadmill for 20 minutes before and after the work with machines and weights, and I expected to be really sore this morning but I'm only slightly uncomfortable. Yep, I'm feeling pretty good about this whole getting in shape thing. I am praying the Lord will keep me fired up about it.

On another extraordinary note, I beat Richard at Rail Baron (a board game based on railroads in the U.S.). Although an old family favorite, we had not played the game since moving here. Actually, I have not found it. I know I saw it since we moved but have no idea where, so we played on one borrowed from Athena.

Next, we went to play Bingo at the clubhouse and to IHOP for pancakes after. It was a fun day of mostly play. Dr. Schutz would have been proud. He thinks I try too hard, struggle too much. It's his opinion that my reactions to my symptoms are more of a problem than the symptoms themselves and makes them worse. He says I need to get some good Motown music and "Get in my groove."

My good doctor wants me to start my day with Aretha and get in the mood (my Groove, I guess). Okay, so I bought the Best of Aretha Franklin on CD and searched the web for posters of her or pictures I liked. I'm going to "Get Down, Baby!"

Do I think this will make a difference in my recovery? Not in the least. Am I willing to try it anyway? Absolutely! I will try anything not forbidden by God.

I do think I need to lighten up some. In my concern to keep track of what's going on and avoid mistakes, I have become far too grim, a lot less fun and just plain a drag to be with.

Enough already! Have a great day!!

Peanuts 'N' Pepsi

I just got back from my friend's Birthday party. I missed part of it because by the time I got out of church, I was overcome by a need for sleep. A nap was not optional; it was going to happen whether I liked it or not. Weird? Truly!

One of the holdovers from my 1988 brain injury in which I sustained a basilar skull fracture and brain stem injury is that certain things like the need for sleep, food, water, etc. overwhelm me without warning and I MUST respond to them fairly quickly. I didn't connect this to brain injury until Dr. Larry Schutz explained that those things were classic symptoms of the injury I suffered then.

I always carry food in my care and usually something to drink. I am accustomed to having to pull off the road or quit what I am doing at home, etc. to sleep a while. So today's need for a nap was not unusual at all, but it made me late and I missed the outing to the Audubon Society with the birthday group.

The party was to include dinner at Buca di Becco, so drove on over, backed into a spot and took another nap. I awakened as a fire truck parked in front of me. My first though was to wonder if someone had called them thinking I had died in my car. Okay, I know that was silly, but I am only firing on one or two cylinders when I wake up.

The restaurant had had a small fire and would not be able to honor our reservation. They graciously called Olive Garden and made reservations for our party of ten and even paid $50 toward our tab. Nice!

I had never met the other ladies at the party. They were all friends Sasha had known for several years. Delightful women every one! In the conversation one lady, Lisa, said her first memory was of a lady named Iona who poured peanuts in her Pepsi and who was married to a Navy man. Turns out we lived in the same place at the same time and I had a friend with her mother's name who was petite and had a New England accent... just like her mother! There is little doubt I am the woman Lisa remembered. We were both intrigued with that... all these years. Amazing.

I'm sure Lisa and I will get to know one another better... Wonder what God has in mind bringing is together with such an unusual connection...?

Examples of Love

La Nouba at Cirque du Soleil was fantastic! Well worth the rather high price. We had "front and center" seats, just three rows back in the center section. Kim, Athena and I went to the show then Kim treated us at Wolfgang Puck's cafe. It was a wonderful evening I will remember for a lifetime. I so enjoy spending time with them!

The week has caught up with me and I am spent. I got virtually nothing done today except go to the vet for refills of dog meds and to the gym to join. Later, Richard and I went to get my meds and some workout clothes at Wal-Mart. We ate dinner at IHOP and came home full and tired.

Speaking of the gym, I feel like I have enlisted in the military. My "personal trainer" will design an individual program for me and I am committed to sticking with it. Well Care (my health insurance company) is paying for my membership and it would be dishonest for me not to get their money's worth. Besides, I really do want to take better care of my body. As Kim reminded me yesterday, I used to live on Diet Coke, Doritos and cigarettes. I have not taken good care of the body God gave me. He has been patient, but I need to make some real changes.

I am continually amazed and blessed by the gentle wisdom and genuine love of certain friends and family. I am too cognitively drained at the moment to adequately express myself, but let me simply say a public and heartfelt thanks to Jerri and Athena... each of you already know what you said, but I doubt you can even come close to understanding how I feel about it or how much you "made my day." You are living examples of I Corinthians 13. How wonderful that God chose to make you part of my life!

Pettiness

I often get private email comments on my blogs, some from friends, some from fanatics, some funny, some inspirational, some foul... I read them all until I encounter language I care not to see.

Yesterday's blog drew a private comment which touched on things Richard had mentioned and the Holy Spirit had been whispering...

As ever He uses those I love and respect to shine the Light of reason and wisdom and love on every situation. I wrote in the heat of the moment and while I was "accusing" others of thinking the worst of me, I maligned them with imagined motives less than favorable. How easily vulnerability shows through to express itself in pettiness.

One good thing is I doubt anyone involved was exposed to the raw emotion of that blog. I don't believe anyone in my family reads my blogs any more. Some used to, but they are all busy and I tend to be verbose.

On another note, I found the long lost Valentine. It was in the front pocket of my Bible carrier. Since my Bible is almost always open, I don't see the front pocket much.

We had a sweet, late night Valentine "date." I pan broiled New York strip steaks, nice, thick ones, and we ate left over scalloped potatoes, etc. as we listened to a Jerry Clower CD Richard had bought me. He also had a cute pet themed card and, amazingly remembering I had lost, then run over one of my diamond earrings in California, he bought me a comparably sized CZ pair set in gold. Blew me away!

I also found my phone. It had been lost much of the day. Richard called it but we still couldn't find it. Just before bed, he tried again and there it was in my purse which I had searched at least ten times! Oh well, I'm glad to have it back.

We have an exciting evening ahead. Richard has to work until eleven. Kim, Athena and I are going to Le Cirque du Soleil and then to dinner at Wolfgang Puck's. I'm off to nap a bit in preparation.

Wounded Chicken

Happy Valentine's Day! I invite you to visit my Valentine page - see link at end of blog.

Richard is working late today so we'll celebrate when he gets home about ten. I bought him a great card but can't seem to find it. I bought it early so there would still be a selection and also to be sure I didn't forget. I cleaned the whole house yesterday but don't recall if I saw it or put it somewhere...

As I mentioned yesterday, I have been tired and having a great time getting that way. Problem is, when I tire, my brain becomes less able. I lose more things. People ask questions, even casual ones, and I can't think of answers. It's not that I don't know the answer, I just can't find it in a hurry... oh yes, sometimes I don't remember the answer at all, I must admit. So rather than struggle and maybe "Flood" or "Fish Brain" (terms for when the injured brain becomes overloaded or overwhelmed and processing slows dramaticly) I have a tendency toward escape by giving vague answers, changing the subject or letting people think whatever they are inclined. Sometimes I give the pieces of the answer that easily come to mind even though the pieces really don't stand alone or fit together without the missing parts. Other times, I think I have the answer but am wrong because I don't always recognize how holey my memory is.

We're talking about questions folks ask regarding things I have done, seen, lived or have been told. Things people expect me to know... For a while, I just admitted I couldn't answer right now, but the typical response after I've had to say that a few times is that the person prefers not to be with me or begins to treat me like a half wit. Brain injured folks may not be quick but are usually still as intelligent as they were (or almost). They still have wisdom and thoughts worth sharing... just at a slower pace. My pride gets in the way.

I said all that because I have somehow opened a door of mistrust, disbelief or ridicule in one or more of yesterday's dinner guests... people whose respect and love mean a great deal to me.

I had been thrilled they liked their meal, especially the chicken. They had, as is reasonable asked questions about how I prepared it. I knew it was frozen and I had added capers and artichokes... but I wasn't coming up with much else. Would they understand if I just admitted that I couldn't remember? I doubt it. They asked if it came from a recipe. I didn't really remember that either, but I think I changed the subject. Did it come with sauce? I remembered most frozen chicken is infused with a sodium solution of some sort but had no idea what this frozen chicken had except I could recall breaking apart the pieces. Were the tomatoes fresh or canned? Aha! I knew that one! Fresh. I said I would write down how to make it, hoping to be able to. I could check my trash and dig out the package... unless it was in one of the bags Richard hauled away while we cleaned.

Given time and a quiet environment, I was pretty sure I could sort out what I had done. Plus, there was still some left which I could examine. "Pride goeth before a fall." I should have just said, "I can't answer right now. There's too much going on; I'm too tired, or I may have forgotten temporarily or forever."

So, this morning, I wrote down everything I could recall about making the dish. I did pretty well but couldn't remember the name of the chicken. I went to the trash. One bag in the newly lined trash can. I opened it. There was the chicken container, already sorted out from under leek stalks, potato peels and other garbage. Someone had already gone through my garbage!

At first, I was elated. What a blessing not to have to fish around in the trash. Then I thought about it. Brian and Athena had gone out with their dog a while. Kim had gone to the door and looked at them briefly, coming right back in. No one came in and said they found what chicken I had used... because the issue was they obviously thought my evasiveness or lack of specificity was deliberate. And if that be so, I can certainly not blame them since I was so obtuse, though it deeply wounds me nonetheless.

What then? Do they suspect I buy a frozen entree and say I have prepared it in some desperate attempt to convince my children I am now proficient in the kitchen? What a sad, tragic figure they must think I am! Admittedly, they grew up in a house with one who was not a cook and didn't pretend to be. My children were all better culinary artists than I, and and probably still are. But you see it is not cooking that is at issue here. It is trust and respect. It says so much... It makes me feel so estranged from the very people I so long to be close to.

What hurts is that they would think these things and have a joke about it, so willing to assume the worst. Again, who invited this, me alone. None of our children have spent a lot of time near or with us in years. Geography, careers, their growing families... None of us are the same people we were twenty years ago. In many ways they really don't know us all that well.

But God has definitely sent the message and I will just admit when I can't think. I know people look at you in disbelief when you do that, but I have caused myself grief of a deeper kind by trying to pass for normal.

Anyway, the chicken was great and here's how to make it...

Start with frozen Chicken Piccata by Michael Angelo (bought at Sam's) Thaw most the way, then separate the chicken from the other stuff. The artichokes and tomatoes are very mushy and look gross, throw them in the toilet. What's left is watery and flat, but keep it.

Sautee 2 cut up artichoke hearts (or you could use jarred) in butter with a bit of EVOO to keep the butter from scorching. Cook just until slightly tender, don't overcook or they'll come out like what went in the toilet.

Scald 2 tomatoes and peel. Cut into nice chunks. Add the sauce that came with the chicken to skillet along with the tomatoes and their juice. Squirt in a couple squeezes of lemon juice from a plastic or fresh lemon plus a small amount of onion juice (you can buy onion juice, you don't squeeze it from onions).

Add 2 teaspoons capers and some of caper juice. Yes, there are some capers in the original sauce, but not many. Sprinkle liberally with Paula Dean's seasoning (salt, pepper and garlic powder) and add about 2 teaspoons Tony's Creole seasoning. Also, add a nice big pinch of each of these: thyme, rosemary, sage and dill.

Mix a small amount of flour in half a cup of V-8 juice and shake well before stirring into the skillet. Remember, this was a frozen thing so there was some fluid before we started, but not enough. The V-8 adds a tad of flavor and the flour gives the sauce a touch of substance.

Finally, throw in about a quarter cup chopped wide-leaf parsley, and simmer for a few minutes, stirring as you go.

Butter a baking dish and pour small amount of sauce on bottom. Arrange the chicken pieces, and pour the remaining sauce over them. Dot with butter, then sprinkle with red pepper flakes and some of Paula Dean's seasoning.

Bake covered at 375 for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 15 to 25 minutes.

Well, there it is, I think I remember all the ingredients. I hope you enjoy making it, too. I did.

Here's a link to my Valentine page:
http://ionanet.com/press/cards/heart.htm

It's Not Just Age

I'm tired. Richard is tired. Two of our daughters are tired. It's not just age. The girls are much younger than we are and one of them is a military officer and in super shape, while the other can dance all night and roller skates every week. So what's the deal?

Three late nights talking and playing games and just enjoying being together has left us pooped. Tomorrow, they'll all go back to work and I'll rest up. I won't see the girls until Thursday when we'll have dinner and go to Cirque du Soleil. Then Kim will fly back to Colorado on Friday.

Tonight we ate dinner here and played a card game brought over by Athena and Brian who also brought over some very nice wines for dinner and dessert. The game was about beans. I enjoyed it.

It was good to cook for the people I love so much. I was tickled that they seemed to really enjoy the meal. I fixed chicken a new way (I don't have a name for it) and scallopped potatoes (in which I use leeks) along with veggies in cheese sauce I just poured out of the bag and nuked. I wonder if my family knows how much they bless me when they come to my home. It's not a big or fancy home but it's ours and we love it. Having family come is very special.

I've been working on a wedding portrait for Kim and Steve for months. I finished it night before last. Well, not really. Kim and Athena helped me see the vaque "not quite right" parts and work out ways might fix that. I'll give that a try. I hope the picture blesses them.

As for me, I think bed might bless me pretty well right now, Will write more tomorrow.

Family Time

We just returned from a visit with two of our daughters. Kim arrived in town today and we met her at her hotel. Athena, like us, lives here. She met us in Kim's room and the four of us had a wonderful caught up on each other's lives.

I had just returned from an outing with the Red Hat Society and was still wearing my purple outfit and large red hat. Athena was on her way to a friend's birthday party and was dressed in black leather pants, a red top with a black spider web lace, see-through pullover on top of the top. She also had the accessories to make the outfit truly stunning. Heads were turning when we left the hotel to go home.

Kim and Richard were casually dressed... like normal people. They didn't turn any heads... but I doubt they really wanted to.

We made arrangements to spend quite a bit of time together all week. It's been a while since we've spent much time with Kim. And even though Athena and Brian live in the area, we don't get together all that often. Life sometimes gets too busy. Time sometimes passes too quickly. So, I am really looking forward to sharing this family time.

As I mentioned. I went out with the ladies of the crimson hat persuasion today. We went to a theatrical production of Cheaper by the Dozen at the Osceola Center for the Arts. I was pleasantly surprised at the professional level of the performances, the setting and the entire production. I will most certainly attend future plays there!

After the play, we descended on Chili's in St. Cloud. Notwithstanding two previous phone calls from our Queen Mother, they were not prepared for our group. It was busy for a weekday afternoon, but the manager came on the scene and made things happen fast. In no time, they had moved tables and chairs and had us happily seated, thereupon providing us with perhaps the best service I have ever received in a like establishment. The food was great as expected, but the service was outstanding. I will absolutely drive out of my way to go there again.

So, I've had a splendid day and praise God for every minute of it. I got no work done, but then I really hadn't expected to.

Testimony of a Butterfly

Yesterday was more than a full day! I picked up my self therapy partner at noon and drove her to one of her appointments across town. She had prepared a "Bug bungalow" with two Monarch butterflies about to make their debut in the miraculous transformation from voracious caterpillar to winged art. They hung batlike, upside down with developing wings folded across the fronts of their bodies, suspended from twigs with filament cords of their own making.

We picked up bulging pita sandwiches on the way and ate them on the cement benches in front of the building, watching as our dangling charges turned from opaque jade green to translucent olive, ever deeper, ever darker. Amazingly, God has chosen to gild these lovelies with a transverse line of brilliant gold toward the top and several golden buttons in the lower quadrant. The gold is bright and yellow, shining in the light, literally dazzling the observer. An insect form more lovely than any jewelry man could form.

After this appointment, we headed back across town for another, all the while anticipating the emergence of new life from the darker of our metomorphing pendants. We could see its unmistakable Monarch wing pattern as if through a dark beer bottle. Still, when my friend had finished her last appointment at half past five, the butterfly stayed put.

It was getting late and we needed to eat something before going to Giveback, so we headed to a place called Moe's Mexican Grill. The food was quite good, but the staff were not too concerned with customer service and were actually rude to my friend. Add to that the fact that we were late and tired and rushed.... it can all add up to a brain injury moment. I had mine after the Giveback meeting.

We had left early, but I forgot my planner, then had to go back and get it. By the time we did all that, we could just as well have stayed rather than disrupt everyone and my train of thought by leaving early.

Still no butterflies.

I was really tired by the time I got my friend back to her house and I imagine she was exhausted. At least I had had a chance to rest when she was in her various appointments. Next time, I will suggest we not cram so much in one day. I need to be fresher for Giveback and I need to be there the whole time.

When I finally got home it was after ten. I brought the budding butterflies home with me and Richard was enthralled by them, too. Still they shyly waited, holding back, reluctant to break free... so I readied for bed. Then just one more look before snuggling down for a well needed snooze, and lo!

A butterfly!

Compared to its confining cocoon, it is huge. It clings to its broken and now empty chrysalis with wings together and down as if they are too heavy to lift... and they are. The wings are inflated by a pool of blood stored in the abdomen and must "dry out" and become parchment firm before they will be of any use. If the butterfly is moved from its upside down pose, the wings will flop to one side dragging the insect with them. This is a very vulnerable time. By morning, the wings will be ready for a freedom flight.

By morning, I was greeted by the second butterfly. Both had coyly held their coming out parties in private. Nonetheless, seeing the before and after of these two stages of insect life was thrilling. How awesome is our God! How can anyone contemplate the beauty and intricacy of nature and think it all a great cosmic accident? Such complex design speaks clearly of a cogent designer. And if such a One created, He would also communicate with His creation... ergo, God! Nothing else make sense.

Here's what I did not see... the emergence of the Monarch: http://adver-net.com/Monemerg.html

Interesting Monarch facts:
Scientific genus and species: Danaus plexippus
Diet: Milkweed which causes all stages to be poisonous to preditors.
Monarch pass in Colorado was named for this lovely insect.
Monarchs are migratory.

Hour by Hour

As planned, we went to Tampa yesterday. We had considered that area before we decided to settle in the Orlando area. Housing was cheaper, but many of the perks we sought were to be found in here... especially daughter Athena. All in all, we are very pleased to be where we are. Tampa os okay, but there was little there to draw us back.

As for today, I got quite a bit done and have been diligently using my planner and timer. My repeating timer and our new chiming clock announce every hour on the hour. When they do, I am to check my planner during waking hours and switch to the task assigned to that hour, unless common sense would preclude doing so, for example, I am 5 minutes away from finishing the previous duty, or I'm in the middle of something I cannot easily leave.

The idea is not to fall so far behind and to become better at time allotment. I am improving steadily and am pleased with the amount of order it's bringing into my days. I need to get a handle on just keeping the house, getting food on the table, etc. so I can do some genealogy and scan in photos and keepsakes. I also want to do some graphics projects and play around with art a bit.

I am reading more, too, spending at least an hour a day in scripture and now also reading a novel. I lose track of the details a lot, but I am generally following the story, I think.

So, life is good, and I am blessed beyond the telling... praying the same is true fro you.

Double Days

Church was wonderful yesterday. The Sunday School lesson was on Baptism (second week in a row, but well needed to cover everything) and the sermon was on prayer. Both were presented with such straightforward simplicity I felt even a child would understand. Yet they were such vital lessons. I loved them. They were having a church wide Super Bowl party that afternoon, but I am not into football so opted out of that.

I did some shopping after church and was tired when I got home. After everything was put away, I watched The Closer on TV. TNT was showing episodes of the show all day. So, there I sat, show after show. Perseverance. Dr. Shutz calls it "Fly Paper Brain." What I call "Flooding," (being cognitively overwhelmed and unable to process) he calls "Fish Brain." Very descriptive.

I wasted the rest of my day in front of the tube. Richard and half the folks in the known world were engrossed in the Super Bowl. At least they had planned to spend their time thus occupied. I just sort of slid into zombihood.

Today, however, was a very productive day as was Saturday. Had three good long prayer times since I drove about an hour and a half of my day. I am now able to pray while I drive. Early on, after the injury, I was afraid to do that for fear of not being attentive enough on the road and traffic.

Our daughter Kim will be here from Denver next Sunday and I am really getting excited. I need to call her as well as Athena to coordinate what we all want to do and when. I am also looking forward to our family reunion. Athena is the coordinator this year.

We're going to Tampa to sightsee tomorrow so I will probably not do a blog.

Meeting Goals

I'm feeling pretty good about myself tonight, even if I am tired. This was the first day in a long while that I actually got pretty much everything in my planner done. I have a tendency to make empty promises to my planner and myself, listing way too many tasks, then poorly prioritizing (on the fly) which ones will actually get done.

That isn't planning at all, it's wishful thinking.

I have timed myself at some regular tasks so I could do a better job of allotting time, but I am not consistent. One time, it takes me 20 minutes to vacuum; the next time, I may be at it an hour.

My self therapy partner and I set goals each week and I have not made them all yet, but I am pleased with the progress I am making and expect more success as we go along. One stumbling block for me is scheduling free time. By the time I plan out all the things needing to be done, there's no time for free time. What usually happens as the day wears on is I get fed up with the list and go off and do whatever, sometimes work, sometimes play.

Oh well, my house is nice and clean tonight and I got several other long overdue things done, so I feel it was a great day. I made broiled chicken for dinner, broiling it in a skillet rather than a broiler pan. I made up a seasoned coating for it that was really good. Then Richard and I worked on a puzzle after dinner and later we started our study of Revelation.

This was a day the Lord has made and I am rejoicing in it!

Tornado!

Early this morning tornados ripped through central Florida, bringing death and destruction. They were not too far from our area which had some pretty intense thunderstorms. I didn't know that because I was sound asleep in our glassed in Florida room where I had gone to cool off. I can sleep through anything.

My daughter Tami called from Colorado to see if we were all right. That was when I learned of the tornadoes devastation. Coloradoans know first hand the havoc a tornado can cause.

Some years ago tornados struck the small towns of Rush and Limon, Colorado on the same day. Richard was in the Pizza Hut at Limon with several other school superintendents. They had gathered for a meeting and were on lunch break. Looking out the window, they saw the tornado. It flipped the hood on Richard's car and wrecked over half the town.

At almost the same time, I was at home trying to batten down the hatches because of the storm. My mother, who grew up in Nebraska and was all too familiar with tornadic activity, said, "The sky looks tornado green."

I ran out to our motor home to close the windows. I didn't notice the roar at first, then all at once it seemed to surround and flatten me. The sound was more intense than anything I've ever heard. The motor home rocked wildly and I heard what sounded like a gunshot. I later learned it was a tree breaking in half across the road.

I huddled on the floor, not remembering I should seek shelter in a closet or other enclosure. The motor home careened and lurched and bounced up and down, then was suddenly back on all its wheels. Within moments, the roar gave way to the sound of heavy rain, and I raced to the house to check on Mama.

The tornado had come close enough to terrify me but not close enough to do any real damage to our house. I can only imagine how these Floridians felt being awakened at three in the morning by a tornado! My heart breaks for them.

Goodbye, Maureen

Today, I was saddened by news that a friend lost her battle with cancer.

We met Maureen, a Bulldog Club of Amerca rescue worker, when she rehomed one of her "problem" dogs with us, one the vet suggested they put down. She wanted to give Baby Snooks (as we call her) a chance and so did we. We drove across three states to get her. She was our third rescue bulldog with major problems. Maureen said, "You ought to be in rescue." So it began....

We became part of the rescue network, too, rehabilitating and rehoming bulldogs who came from backgrounds of abuse, or whose owners gave them up due to illness or other issues. Every dog's story differed, but all were wonderful dogs deserving more than they had gotten. One common thread ran through most of these bulldog surrenders; the owners often did not know of the bulldog's special needs for proper skin fold care, eye care, etc. And the owners usually thought of the dogs as property.

Baby Snooks came from a background of neglect. She was removed by the Louisiana authorities and Maureen took her in. The poor dog had been kept in a fenced area with no shelter. Food and water were provided but very little human contact and no physical care. She was so covered with demodactic mange that her skin had thickened yet oozed with a foul drainage and she had almost no hair. She had cherry eye, heartworms and intestinal worms. Covered with fleas, ears full of gook and infected. I can only imagine how miserable she was. The vet felt there was little hope for her. Maureen called us... I think God whispered in her ear.

Maureen and I talked often about Baby Snooks, who has a permanent home with us, and the dogs we each were trying to rehome. She taught us about rescue. Mareen was such a tenderhearted, yet wise woman. Some folks would say taking in a termially ill dog is unwise. Well, dear ones, Baby Snooks is well and happy right here at my side and we brought her home to us six years ago.

She almost died during her heartworm treatment and again as she became toxic during the four month long dosing to rid her of the ingrained demodex mange mites. Her cherry eye was resolved with medication and hygiene as was her ear infection.

God gave man dominion over the animals of the earth. With dominion comes responsibility. We can't do animal rescue now because of where we live, but we can help in other ways. So can you.

I am thankful God brought us in contact with Maureen and pray she is in His presence right now.