Realizing this is for sure ….
Realizing this is for sure the Thanksgiving issue and for sure an early deadline, it is probably time to get at things. Some days go better than others and this is one of those when nothing has gone right yet. On top of everything else today, it became the day to change my television from Direct to Spectrum. Planned as a safety measure to prevent my television from blacking out when it snows, it just seemed like the thing to do.
Plans were all set. Stacy, the local computer wizard, was coming at 8:15 and things would proceed from there. Since I would never hear an alarm clock I just have to rely on dumb luck to get up in time. That went well. I got my breakfast eaten and a couple of quick g-mails sent to the kids and was all set. Settling in my lift chair, I thought things should begin to happen soon. Then I glanced at my watch. It was 7:15 not 8:15. From there on it was all downhill. Stacy came and nothing seemed to go right. It is now past noon and a service rep was due between 11 and 12. It is well past that time, so I’ll just begin another waiting cycle.
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In addition to Thanksgiving, we are also celebrating something called deer season. Years ago I called it deer hunting season but in recent years it seems to have become deer shooting season. No more wandering through the woods hoping to spot a buck. It has become just sitting in a deer shack somewhere up in the trees and just waiting for one to walk by.
As I recall, it was the third day of the season and I decided to walk back out in the woods where I had spotted some deer the day before. I hadn’t even gotten started cooling off from the walk when I spotted the deer. It was so easy, one shot and there it laid. So you might say that ended it for me. Why spoil a good record.
*** Last week I had a problem about which Veterans Day program to attend. Since I knew Mark had something planned for some flags he had sent to be flown over Fort Lewis, Washington, I decided to go to Medford. Had I known what was going to take place at Loyal’s program it would have really been a tough call. That is until the TRG came out on Wednesday and there it was all printed in black and white. The program was dedicated to John Rueth who was killed in action in Vietnam, on March 17, 1969. I remember the day well. It became my duty to go around to all the businesses and suggest to them to be closed for the funeral service when it was held. Remember that was 1969, the TRG had not even been thought of at the time.
While two of my great-grandchildren had speaking parts, a third hung tight to her job as drummer in the band. Good work Raelyn. Now I know what your mother meant when she said, “Good grief, I now have three teenagers”.
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Since it is Thanksgiving, it just seems like I should tell a few of the special things I am so thankful for. Of course a day doesn’t go by that I give thanks for just being here and waiting to see what God has in store for me.
I guess the day when I could really start being thankful came in late May when two good guardian angels, Barb Lucht and Dave Esselman, helped out at the post office when things weren’t going the best. Barb alerted my family and Dave saw to it I got home fine.
Finally, Jackie and son-in-law Bob Loos took me to the hospital where I laid and rested, waiting for the holiday weekend to get over before a Pacemaker could be installed. This was followed by 18 wonderful days at the Clark County Rehab & Living Center where I spent recuperating.
By the time I could get home, Jackie and son Mark, and (I’m sure Bob Loos did his share), things began to take shape. The house was cleared of anything that might be in the way, which you could say was just about everything, Meals on Wheels was ordered and a LifeAlert system installed.
Then I met up with a brick wall. State law grounded me for 90 days which meant I had to sit home for a spell. Finally help arrived when Jackie’s cousin Charlie and his wife Sandy Forss came through with a scooter which Sandy’s Mom had used before she passed away. Minor problems, like replacing the batteries, and I was back on the road. At least I could get my mail, visit Traci’s Beauty Shop, pick up milk and other odds and ends at Kwik Trip and the House of Spirits. The highlight came when I could find a ringside seat for the Corn Festival Parade.
Then there were the neighbors and friends from around town who kept an eye on me and were always ready with a friendly wave while walking past while I enjoyed almost living on the front porch during the recovery period. I should also mention daughter Sue who came nearly every week with some welcome snacks and a get-well-soon smile.
If there was anyone who deserves a special thank you for Thanksgiving it would have to be my son-in-law, Bob Loos. He kept my lawn mowed, kept an eye on things in the basement and always seemed to show up when help was needed.
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And now the good news. Once the new system was installed in the television, I was on the road to Marshfield to pick up my new glasses. I read the bottom line on the chart the lady handed me and I was ready to head home and enjoy the game, including where to find the channels I needed.
Then one final thing. This morning, Domine Auto Center fixed the tire that was giving me trouble, along with replacing a burned out headlight.
Now I’m ready to head out in the morning for New Amsterdam and enjoy some of Sue’s homemade potato pancakes and chicken dumpling soup.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
