Losing Touch

My back is expressing it’s displeasure with me again today so here goes.

The subject is losing touch with friends and family.

I recently got a message to call a cousin in Texas who I hadn’t talked to in years.

I remember going to his folks house a couple of times when I was young. Dad’s cousin, whom he always called Junior, put me on a half broke horse. It would run around and throw me off. The area he had it in had soft material to land in so I thought it was great fun and kept wanting to go again. I was around five and Dad was okay with it but Mom not so much.

June 19, 2024

Characters With Character

Okay back to business.

The doctor drained 30 cc’s of fluid from my left knee. This involved numerous jabs into the knee with a long needle while kneading it like bread dough. All with no deadening. It most definitely got my attention so here come some of the characters in my life.

I’ve already mentioned my Uncle Gale or Gingo. Most wisdom imparted to us from him came on Sunday nights when we took a bath at his place(we just had a shower)or outside working or hunting. He might teach us a song he learned at the tavern that we would repeat but not always understand or give us a sip of beer if he was feeling brave. He either had a death wish or enjoyed my Mom running over and hollering “Gale!”.

June 17, 2024

People Watching

I’m in the hospital so haven’t put any stories out in a while but here goes.

The characters I’ve met here guarantee this story will be about the characters we meet, even if they’re us.

The first neighbor I had here was a sweet guy but had enough family visit to raise the roof. Kids would be peeking through the curtains at me until Abuela (his wife) laid down the law.

June 7, 2024

For the Birds

Animals are today’s topic.

I will start out by saying mourning doves are attractive birds with a beautiful call. On the other hand I detest eurasion collared-doves with all my heart. In my opinion they are not doves but pigeons in disguise. These flying rats are an invasive species that basically just squawk, crap, and reproduce. They make deposits on our cars and basically annoy the hell out of me. They have almost replaced starlings on my hit list. I’m tempted to start committing mass birdicide.

June 7, 2024

Venting

I hate not knowing when my legs will stop working. I hate hurting all of the time. I hate not being able to work anymore. I hate not being able to fix my own car. I hate not driving due to nerve spasms. I hate not being able to walk where I want. I hate having to depend on others. I hate when family doesn’t understand what I’m going through but don’t want them to feel it. I hate being dependent on others. I hate having to use a wheelchair. I hate not being able to walk in the mountains. I hate the thought of going back to a hospital. I hate feeling helpless. I hate people having to accommodate me. I hate feeling bound to the house. I hate a trip to town or the Y being a big deal. I hate a lot of things about the new me.

May 28, 2024

Memorial Day

I would like to touch on the meaning behind Memorial Day.

Sadly, to many it has just become the start of the camping or vacation season. Maybe that’s not all bad. I kind of like the idea of being remembered by the act of friends and family having a good time. Much better than tearful moping about.

Back to the subject before I take off on another tangent. Memorial Day started as a remembrance for those killed in war but expanded to all our loved ones who have passed.

May 28, 2024

Nautical Adventures

It’s almost June and that brings back summertime memories.

I have one acquaintance who spent summers cruising around Lake Washington on a 40 foot boat, which to me at the time would classify as a yacht.

My Dad’s older sister, Joyce and family lived on the river in Pasco. They had a ski boat docked at the house and a cabin cruiser at a Richland marina. Prior to them moving down there, we met them at Rimrock to spend time on the smaller cruiser they had then. It became stormy and the water was rough and it was raining so hard that we were told to keep inside. It was a quick turnaround to the dock.

May 28, 2024

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom!

She would have been 92 today.

I got to spend 60 birthday’s with her and am very grateful.

Mom wasn’t the kind to want much for her birthday. Maybe a few dahlia bulbs or a rose or two.

My Dad was not able to cook very well and damned sure didn’t understand how to buy for Mom. One year he bought her this awful one piece lounging suit at Mode o Day. It was shiny blue, quilted, had bell bottom legs, and a neck to crotch zipper. The day she tried it on is the only time I think she ever wore it.