Giving Thanks, Being Grateful

 Over the course of the last few years on X I have discovered several pastors that are not only enjoyable to follow, not just interesting, but their words and observations have been seeds planted in good soil. One particular pastor is Steve Bezner. Insightful with a good sense of humor. The physical church he pastored was almost destroyed or maybe that is was destroyed in Hurricane Harvey. Last year he announced that he was resigning from the church to be a professor at Truett Seminary, a part of the Baylor family. He wrote some on that journey of the old and the new, but he seemed to fall off the radar or maybe that should be algorithm on my feed. That is until yesterday. He had written on his substack and I just happened to catch it. Or was it a just happened occasion? https://bezner.substack.com/p/gratitude-is-transformative

As most of my fourteen readers know, I resigned teaching Sunday School at the end of summer. First, it was a leave of absence and after a few crucial heart related appointments by summers end, I knew it was a reality. I had a choice to make. Like Steve B, cause you know we are now internet pals, wrote of his heart being attacked by a virus when he was 24. Me too! Except I was 54 and got strep two times one winter and the virus went to the weakest muscle, my heart. He writes about cardiologist appointments through the years until the one in 2024. He had to make a choice of his family or his job. Doing what he loved ended abruptly. There is the process and each one of us process life differently but it comes to this point he makes, gratitude is transformative. No matter the individual processing.  "But I am not sad because I am thankful."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      So, here is where I find myself but only my experience is a little different from his. Once I quit I have never looked back. I was shocked not to miss teaching but began to experience such a sense of well being and freedom. Roy and I did very few daytrips because of various factors, but mainly because of the precautions I had to take until the flutter was corrected as well as BP. But the time...it has been full of wonder as well as hard work. 

I loved teaching Sunday School and I love my friends in The Joy Class. I am so thankful for that experience and to follow such a beloved teacher like Gale Murray. Over those years my study style evolved and in turn I gained more love for the scripture. Almost like back to those early days in college and early marriage when you gots to love the Word to make it through difficult times. This summer and fall gave me time and less stress to take advantage of that window of opportunity. The wisdom of Dr. Seger is not forgotten, you do well when you stay in the parameters. Oh, the other thing he said was, after asking what stressed me out and I said my hair. He patted my back and said hair isn't worth dying for. He's right and I've made the necessary adjustments. Through these years several have said, well now that you are doing better you can do______. Nope, I'll just have to re-work everything if I go back living, eating, well, just stuff that needs to be reworked and redesigned. I'll continue the straight and narrow. 

The years at Newfound for the most part were good and it was just the landing spot I needed when I first got to WNC. Making friends and participating in things was a balm to my soul. It was a good place to learn small, rural church life after coming from a large city church. Our former pastor gave the church a lot to overcome with yet more work to be done. I think everyone involved in those years from both sides might agree, it wasn't a good fit. Then Covid gave the opening for some to leave. Then a trickle process of losing members here and there. A big heart of kindness and joy at the church either moved or died. Those six and a half years were tiresome and made one weary. We stopped attending Christmas Eve services cause frankly, he was just too depressing. The music he picked was the slow paced, not that I don't love a slow Christmas song, but none of those happy and joyous Christmas songs for us. If we sang The Bleak Mid-Winter, I would have had to call CourtneyS. Not a Christmas sermon but just a regular one, he said don't approach the Bible with wonder because you might get disappointed if nothing doesn't jump out for you. What??? The wonder of God's Word, the wonder that God would send His Son for our sins, the wonder of living life to all it can be, the wonder of happy marriages and treasured friendships. I will takes my chances with the wonder approach and the reverence for God's Word verses any of the other approaches. But it looks like their new church they went to is a good fit for them and that makes me happy. It also looks like Newfound has called a pastor is a good fit for them. As for us, we have found a church that is a good fit for us as well.  

A life of gratitude makes us WHOLE, overwhelms us with LOVE, and moves us to LIVE generous lives. Erwin McManus, Stand Against the Wind.

                                                

Low Tech and Nerdy

 It is a rejoicing type of weekend. Friday, the cardiologist appointment. Finally, had my first official blood pressure reading back into normal range. This has been one crazy ride because my blood pressure has mostly been low for at least the last fifteen or so years. Like they were worried about that in the rehab hospital after bilateral knee replacements. Then the atrial flutter returned, got that taken care of, had a cyst removed and now I can rejoice being in sync and the low BP. Next year there is a possibility of another ablation. The technology has advanced in heart ablation world that you don't even need to spend the night at the hospital after having it done. The other good news, so much advancement you'll not need another one cause this version is the be all end all of ablations.  

Once again, I am thankful that I made the decision to use that window of opportunity to correct and right the path. I read something today written by a former Houston pastor that has helped me get my thoughts together over major changes this summer. I'll save that for a latter post.

Thanksgiving weekend holds the second blast of winter temps this month. In Houston it was so disappointing to have 80 degree plus temps at Thanksgiving time. Think we have purchased all we need for the Thursday meal. The change of weather begins today with rain. The rain helps me get projects done that I tend to procrastinate. I know I'll be working on my three foot Christmas tree for the fellowship center. Part of the tree I am decorating will have a DIY aspect to it. Let us pray...this is not my strong suite but I am excited about doing it and taking it next week to church. I haven't been this excited for Christmas since maybe 2001 or so. Some years I put up a tree but most years I don't. Hits and misses with outdoors decorations over the years, but I'm thinking we might put out a few lights and our manger scene. I can hear the objections from Roy cause we will have to move quite a few things to get Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus out. I'll make him feel guilty by saying, we don't want to hide Baby Jesus do we? Roy was raised Catholic and I was raised Baptist...both have guilt responses from our religious backgrounds, but different paths and ways used. He'd probably say to me, think of all the children around the world that would love to have a nativity in their garage. Yea, I don't get it either. We are both such nerds. 

This afternoon I have been working on my paperchains for the little Christmas tree I am decorating for the church fellowship hall. I found a little hymnal that I could spare and I have been cutting and putting together the cut paper into a chain of hymns. Going the staple method but still festive with green staples. I'll take a picture of the final result. 

I have spent a lot of time looking at Google Maps of Harvey Illinois. We lived there a brief time when I was a toddler and I believe it was the first house my parents bought. They had always rented. It was a cross the street from an elementary school and down the street from a hospital. The hospital is easy to locate but after all the years of progress and then downfall of Harvey probably the little house has been torn down. Somewhere I think I have a baby book with the address in it but who knows where I have stored that book. The interest in the this came about because I met a woman who is about the same age as me that grew up in the Chicago area. We have laughed about Garfield Goose and Kukla, Fran and Ollie. One memory has me puzzled because, I never asked about it and only remember bits and pieces. My mom and I took the train from Chicago to Decatur where her mama lived and my father's parents. My mother wasn't the "let's take a train" type. I believe my grandparents drove us back. We returned to a surprise party for my mom and my father had made me a wooden scooter using roller skates. The wood was not sanded so I got splinters every time I rode it. Thinking just now all the people invited to the party were all probably relatives on my father's side, who my mom loved. So, I have often wondered if my mom left him for that brief time. That might be the only surprise party he ever threw for her. I haven't a clue cause I don't remember the train ride or how we got there or while we were in Decatur, nothing. Just what I just wrote. It is an intriguing thought that will go no where. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving Eve Morning by going to Lowe's and buying a new washer and dryer. Roy did his research and had his spread sheet with him. We went low tech. Most washing machines and dryers have WIFI and get this, if the WIFI is out, they don't work and you cannot override WIFI. That would have been horrible in the aftermath of Helene where we were without internet for two weeks. Our WIFI can be spotty so yep, low tech that was on sale. They are installing on Friday. Good cause Roy is running out of socks. 

Mugs, Books, Lost MCD and Childhood Friend

 Oh there are stories to tell and just a whole lot of things to write about but if I did, I wouldn't be walking in peace and God's wisdom. Nothing earth shattering but just those observations that somehow get me in trouble from time to time. 

This morning Roy and I both drank our coffee out of the new Christmas teddy bear mugs from Marshall's. They both hold a lot of coffee but the cuteness kind of inhibits easy sipping. I am willing to forgo the ease of sip for more ounces and less trips to the coffee maker. As for Roy he likes the extra ounces but isn't too excited about the cuteness of those mugs. He did it this morning cause he loves me but in the future he will probably only drink out of them if nothing else is available. If Roy is too cranky about the teddy bear mug, I think I will order this one.

In choir last night we worked on Christmas music. Ah, the memories of Pageants and Celebrations and whatever they were called in between. As we sang the familiar carols some traditional and some in new arrangements I remembered those long ago memories. I was talking with CourtneyS, after she won the second year in a row the MCD contest, I'm not bitter, in my ordinary life I have gotten to do some very fun things and many of those from Pageant days. Or maybe even choir days. I wish I had been in choir more for the music but I was in it to spend time with friends and laugh...oh yes and worship the Lord, but that didn't come too much in practice. Now, I am in choir and I am the only one that can't read music, so when Debbie says make note of the, then uses a music term, she'll say for my benefit, make an upside down smiley face. 

My confession is, I have never been an avid fan of Jen Hatmaker. Her books didn't really have too much to do with my life back in the day. Maybe I started one and never finished. I do not know what compelled me to buy her memoir, AWAKE. Read some reviews and thought this will be good cause her short chapters and subject matter will keep my distractions at bay. Well, I was wrong. I didn't like the book but it is one book I didn't like that I finished reading. Well, the last half of the book was skimming. While she is dealt a blow by a cheating spouse from then on it is all about her, her wonderful supportive friends and all that affected her and her family. Guess she deconstructed her faith but she hasn't started repairing and rebuilding. Me thinks there might be a sequel in the works. Her stories reminded me of friends who are walking down that same path of deconstruction of their faith. Not being the same but being the same is a blogger turned author, turned speaker...turned whatever, granted she is funny but my goodness the entitlement and availability of options that more likely than not, most cannot afford. AWAKE seemed to be on that same pattern of luxury whether it be time, places, or people. One reviewer said, no bridge or encouragement is offered, we just learn of their story whose conclusion is more personal than anything. Gee, that's a lot of words for a book I didn't particularly enjoy but read with no prejudice. 

I didn't win the MCD contest this year. CourtneyS heard Merry Christmas Darling before I did, although it came up on a playlist this past summer but I couldn't really count that. 

Our front yard and half of the back received a nice trim and shape. Mike came and cut down two dead trees, shaped up the shrubs and cut back the hybrid hydrangeas. He will be back after the holiday to conclude trimming the rest of the backyard. He also took the decorative pumpkins so that we can begin the minimal Christmas decorations. 

I learned this morning that my first childhood best friend Leah Rae Montgomery passed away several weeks ago. She lived around the corner and down the street. We met in kindergarten and got in trouble usually every week while playing. The time I remember the most is playing in the bayou better known as the ditch and her brother Brian falling in, getting his socks all muddy and we tried to clean them with the insides of a buttercup weed. Leah told me she had heard that this would take the mud out. I was in trouble before I got home cause Mrs. Montgomery called my mom to let her know we had been playing in the forbidden ditch. Then they moved to Ft Worth and came back around junior high time. Leah and I would walk the neighborhood and talk. Her plans were to go to the University of Texas and my plans were as soon as I got my drivers license, I was going to run a car into a big tree on a curve and end it all. I had no plans for the future, not much hope and few options. I knew this in the 9th grade. Thankfully, the Lord stopped all my morbid plans when I truly came to know Him. Still had no clue on my future but I had hope and faith it was all in His hands. Leah got to go out of the zoned school district because she was half Hispanic. She came back to Westbury later and our paths took different paths. She was a cool, smart, popular drug using...I think, person and I was just athletic and goofy. The last time I saw her was in college my freshman year. I stayed a night with her at UT. I don't remember why I was at Texas and I don't remember too much of the short visit. She kept her dorm room dark with only a small lamp shedding any light while we talked. 

Snow, Ice and Sunshine

 The lesson isn't just that starting over doesn't have an age limit.

The lesson is that purpose doesn't have an expiration date.

In a world that is so quick to tell us to "rest," to move aside, to become invisible... remember this:

We are not disposable just because our hair turns gray.

We are not liabilities.

We are libraries. Every wrinkle, every memory, every book we've ever read, is a story.

You don't stop growing when you grow old. You just grow wiser.

Don't let anyone close your book before you're finished.

Go out and start the next chapter.

I copied this from one of those FB stories that of course now, cannot find. But the story being told by a 73 year old woman and after her husband died, and the protest of her son, she sold the house and cashed out insurance policies and the like. She didn't like being in a home filled with memories and conversations she wasn't going to have anymore. Long story short, she finds a situation needing help and it was the help she could give. Not easy but after a bit of time the story resolves into being the best thing she could have done. Even her son came around and knew she had done the right thing. She wasn't quite ready yet to give up her talents, abilities and enjoyment of life. She found purpose.

This past summer when reminded of that window of opportunity afforded to me, that I shouldn't waste the time and do what needed to be done became the theme of living. That summer theme has come into fall and should be a winter type theme as well. I'm walking a lot more, my gait is becoming steady and the excruciating sciatic nerve pain is in remission. My heart is staying in rhythm. My diet is more to deal with inflammation. I'm researching the avenues open to dealing with high blood pressure in a more nature or holistic way. Last week was the most social week in a long time, maybe before Covid. All that social interaction just about wore me out, but it was so good. Saturday afternoon, we dead headed more plants for a short time and boom, it was nap time. I've enjoyed spending time by myself in projects and such but a quick return to how life used to be was something I needed. Of course today I am thrilled to be wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, hanging out with Roy and our cats.

Our soon to be former church did pick the interim guy as pastor. He has a good heart as a pastor from what I've seen. We have been praying for the church and the influence it can have in Leicester but our time there is over. I miss friends but we know this is the right decision for us. Since I have quit teaching I cannot say I miss it. Not because of the amount of studying or anything, just the pressure I put on myself. I am on the go more even around the house. I am reminded that I need to do some strengthening exercise and some balance work. We have been half-heartedly looking at or really just thinking about moving to a one story home but several experts and doctors say the stairs help you maintain. They have a point. Although, I will skim Zillow and Realtor to see if anything opens up.

It is a snowy November day. Snow, then sun, snow, then sun and now heavy snow falling that almost looks like fog. This is unusual for this time of year. January and February holds these kinds of days. We officially opened The Garage on the Catmore Estate last night. It was to help those cautious cat members to get over their jitters of coming inside. We got the beds out, the food stocked and water bowl insulated to help their stay be warm or at least warmer and protected from the elements outside.

So last week I went to my first Circle meeting, the joy circle. They meet once a month, work on a Bible study, have a missions emphasis with support and have a lot of fun. It is a little different than Bible study on Thursdays. We are in the book of Mark and it has been such a rich study. Of course I went to choir and then Saturday morning we attended the new member class. Now we have some paperwork to fill out and submit.

I read an article about the song Amazing Grace, especially when bag pipes are utilized. We sang Amazing Grace a couple of weeks ago in the service and it just had a different sound...being sung with assurance of what we sing is true, not just pulling out that tired old hymn once again. There are times that is how I feel about that particular hymn. I have learned several hymns that we don't sing as a Baptist. Who knows?

Roy has been busy outside knowing the weather would be cooler. He painted chairs and got the deck looking pretty spiffy except for a few places that need a bit of attention. He picked the last of the tomatoes Sunday afternoon.

Friday, we went to Marshall to shop at Penland. Helene totally destroyed the bottom floor but with lots of hard work by professionals, church groups and family it is back. It was so good to see Georgette and visit a bit with her. The selection of merchandise is awesome! Roy got a coat and we also bought a handmade basket, wooden basket. The store still has that familiar feel with the old mixed in with the new. And they take credit and debit cards now. Love it! Then several other items. Other shops in Marshall are opening and even the tag office is back in business.

Looks like the sand and salt trucks were out last night. Still not a lot of traffic on our busy road. The sun is out and it is melting snow and ice in our front yard. Most of the back is in shade so it might take till tonight or in the morning for everything to melt. The Feral Fam is getting along in The Garage at the Catmore Estate but Roy wants to terminate reservations beginning tonight. We shall see.

Matically and Nario Along With a Statement Sweater

 I will have to say that cyst-o-matically, the report from the doctor's office...benign. Seems like this cyst-nario has played before. Hysterectomy for quality of life soon turns to we found a tumor and we won't know until surgery if it is benign or malignant. Date of surgery changed due to the oncologist the doctor liked to work with was unavailable. My doctor told me afterwards all the signs were there and he didn't expect it to be benign, but it was. Same thing happened when I fell and broke my hip, it opened the doors for bilateral knee replacement but my knees were almost too far gone but then the last x-ray before surgery showed a whole different scenario. So this cyst who had made its home for about fifteen years on my neck changed, became hard and inflamed, weird shape with irregular margins. There was some concern about it being a sign of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma because of the location and the recent changes. BUT, it wasn't and PTL! 

Love the study we are doing on Thursday mornings. We are in the book of Mark which is just about one of my favorites. Such great discussion and such wonderful fellowship with a few laughs mixed in for good measure. 

Today after Bible study I went to the nearby Urgent Care to get the stitches removed. Not a long wait but the whole situation was a bit concerning. Chaotic in the waiting room but soon enough my name was called. I did not anticipate taking vitals, just want the stitches removed. Dang, BP higher than I want it to be but the conditions were not optimal and my arm wasn't arranged correctly. Did a great job getting everything taken care and said the incision looked good. I am so relieved to have that taken care of and not needing to drive back out to the dermatologist office. 

I learned yesterday that I need a statement sweater. What??? Yes, I was told in an advertisement this is something I definitely need to have. I have sweaters but nothing that is statement making. I don't even know what statement to make. JJill is saying that my life will be so wonderful if I have a pair of coffee brown pants. Good news, I already have some both dressy and then a pair of coffee bean jeans. I don't know if this is a statement or not but we ordered some new shirts for Roy. Guess the statement would be he owns more than the same two shirts or something like that. Roy took several boxes of clothes to Goodwill today. Guess he gave up on gray jeans, not wanting making a statement about that either. 

In the spirt of fall festival day I only have to make it through today and this is the first year that I can recall, eating no candy corn. None! That's unusual because I love candy corn especially with French burnt peanuts. Around here at the house we call that snackage. 

I am happy for our soon to be former church as they will probably vote on Sunday for their new pastor. Only, he is not new to them because he has been the interim guy. He and his wife seem genuinely concerned for the congregation. Believe me, that church needs that assurance of love and pastoring after six years or so of a less than desirable match between the church and the former pastor.  Oh and the wife. The good news for them is, they seem to have found the church to serve with. Both their family and their congregation seem to be a good fit. The families that left in June from our former church have all, pretty much, found a good landing and are serving in those landing churches. New beginnings all the way around. New mercies every morning. 

In 2014, we had closed on our house here and my friend Dena came with me to pick up the keys to the home Roy and I bought. Kate, was still in the house and she needed the extra time due to her daughter getting married and a huge work project. She had been so generous to us with some of the furnishings and such, we extended back to her. We agreed she would be out before the week of Thanksgiving. What I remember from that trip is, it snowed in the mountains. We had to take the freeway from Chattanooga instead of the back scenic way. Fall colors set to brilliant with the backdrop of snow. Of course, we had made our reservations at The Inn on The Biltmore Estate and low and behold to our surprise, we were there for the bringing in of the Christmas tree. Horse drawn with Santa directing the horses. Mrs. Claus at the front door. We were there early cause we took the shuttle from the Inn and got a front row seat which included discounts on shopping and the like. Yes, all in all a wonderful memory. 

Yesterday, while leaving the urgent care place which now seems to be more like appointment and drop in medical services, there was a penny right outside the front door. I thought of Carole Lewis and the why she picks up the penny. Just a great reminder that it is in God we trust and He sees us. I was so very, very happy to get out that door and that great reminder. 

Reading, Window, Stamina, and The Week

 Another golden sunrise with a hint of frost, but it doesn't look like it got cold enough for that to happen this morning. 

I started the just published Harper Lee book, The Land of Sweet Forever. My goodness the introduction hooked me in and I read the first short story in the book yesterday. Very few books anymore grab my attention. I read them but if I put a book down for a couple of weeks I'm very, meh.... My attention span, though never that good, is even more distracted here in the recent past.  

The past week or so I have been thinking about one of the medical admonitions from this summer, you have a window of opportunity and take advantage of it. Now all these sit and be fit videos are popping up in my FB feed as well as pay for info that will change your life. Most say it is nothing new after subscribing. Something got my attention though that has nothing to do with this subject on the surface but yet it does. A young woman who didn't get into the school of her choice is told, don't worry, you have the rest of your life. Hmm...now the term rest of your life seems different seeing this through my eyes. Because, rest of my life is shorter than the start of my life. Yep, the ol' window of opportunity again. I also am thinking, yes, that would be nice...the rest of my life, taking it easy resting along the way. I do that now anyway. In that rest needs to be some structure. Roy told me the other day he had been concerned when I was teaching that my activity level was really low. It was. With an upcoming cardiologist appointment I hope that my numbers tell the story of recovery and making strides. 

Yep, got to get that stamina up a bit. Worked out in the yard more specifically the flowerbed that Roy cleaned out. It is a larger raised bed but got one half of it planted with tulips. We have another flowerbed that I have tulip bulbs for and will wait for the opportunity to get those put in the bed. We are supposed to have a lot of rain this week. I think Roy did a little too much outside. He finished up his deck staining and getting the chairs out in the yard painted. We should have done that much earlier this year but the thought is to help them through cold months and do more touch ups when spring hits. 

The main road has opened after several months of road repair. The road kind of broke down as the retaining pieces had been compromised when a double wide had been placed there below the road. Thursday morning it was so wonderful to make that straightish shot down the road, especially because I was running late. The detour roads are beautiful but I am sure the people that live along them are glad for the reduction of traffic. This weekend the road noise is louder here because all the big trucks have returned. 

This Monday morning feels just a bit lighter, BK no longer coaches at LSU. We read the headlines last night. Last season and so far this season Roy really hasn't watched the games. I haven't because it worked out better with the team winning if I didn't watch. Ha! We talk about the BK news and rumors. It is kind of fun. Roy is waiting for LSU Women's Basketball. One of the nurses at our dermatologist office is from Louisiana, big fan of LSU. Get this, her niece is Kim Mulkey's security and I couldn't wait to tell Roy. He found her the other night on a You Tube wrap up of the game and saw her. He said she looks shorter than Kim.  Wow! 

We had planned on going to the concert at church yesterday afternoon but Sunday morning Roy felt more tired than he usually does. He decided to go to church Sunday morning but felt it would be best if he stayed home instead of attending the concert. I decided to stay home as well because Roy is hardly ever sick or very tired. He has worked so hard this past week getting the deck painted and painting the chairs and table we have out in the yard. I had started that project then we had a bit of a heatwave and didn't get back to it. The deck turned out so well that I don't think we will have to hire a professional in the spring. 

The Be and The Wanna-Be

 This morning GMoey and Baxter are sitting together on the back of the couch viewing the sights of the front yard and road. It is a peaceful existence, for now. The quiet and stately GMoey confident in his authority and subdued personality and Baxter hyper, messing with stuff and coming back to his perch next to the one in charge, GMoey. Baxter has been challenging him the past few weeks but GMoey takes care of him quickly and quietly. Baxter retreats for another day but in the meantime he takes his frustrations out on his brother Buster. It wasn't that long ago that GMoey asserted his dominance over Mr Mo, I wonder if Mr Mo regrets all his aggressive playing when they were kittens, and Willie. Willie just like playing and getting on Mr Mo and GMoey's nerves. Not to worry, GMoey let him get the sillies out and then smacked Willie. GMoey is the alpha cat...the rest are wanna-bes. 

We had the most beautiful sunrise yesterday. Oh my, everything outside bathed in a pinkish/golden tone. Everything from the trees, the skies and the fields were touched and for these brief moments immersed in the magical shimmer. God must have made that sunrise beautiful everywhere. Local and across the country people share those golden tones. The trees in our backyard shimmered but I wasn't fast enough to catch a picture. After the sunrise it clouded up and we got some rain. We needed the rain. 

All of the sudden just like back in the day clothes washing instructions are complicated. When manufactures of dresses and such weren't too sure about their clothes and the wear and tear of daily wearing they put dry clean only tags on everything. I returned a flannel shirt to Nordstrom because it said to dry clean it. What??? Now all the instructions are handwash and lay flat to dry. There are not enough flat spaces in this house to do that. That's the reason there are handwash cycles on washing machines now. Use that and hang to dry. So far so good. Even if there were enough flat places in the house, our six kitties would think the items were their new bed.

It is 35 degrees this fine Tuesday morning. Roy turned on the heater downstairs this morning, our first of this season. I am also wearing the flannel jammies for the first time this season. That Roy, he is a lucky man. It keeps me from stealing the covers and that is what it is all about now. 

In Houston you could hear some of the best conversations at Buffalo Grill. The business deals, social gossip and everything in-between. While reading a book while eating breakfast, I heard about the soon to be fired from companies and a minister, why he chose such a vocal place, telling staff members his struggles staying faithful to his wife. If you are thinking about the Buffalo Grill on Woodway, the pastor was not from the huge sister church in the area. I only knew this guy was a minister cause he spoke at one of our church staff retreats...some of this came through in his aside comments then. Now, if I am going to hear anything it is at the Publix. People standing around visiting in the produce section or over by the bread and yogurt. Two of the busiest parts of the store. So while there aren't business news flashes there, there is a lot of family business discussed. So, these two ladies talked about the upcoming holidays with the extended family. The story and worries of Thanksgiving was a cliff-hanger. Granted these women were older but maybe younger than me. So, her older brother and younger sister and their families are coming in for the holidays and the political spectrum of these two siblings is at opposite ends. The younger sister fights against invisible foes and causes. They're not hers in reality but she joins in with the rhetoric of the cause. Loved that the friend, now named lady #2 for this post, reminded her friend, lady #1, when the younger sister took up a cause, wanted family and friends to donate to it but the younger sister never gave to these causes personally, Hey, aren't Instagram and FB posts enough? Uh that is my commentary. I looked at disgusting brussel sprouts to hear the rest of the convo. The brother is described as a chunky bantam rooster type. Knows everything, doesn't give any time to discussion, and a hot head. He sounded like a real likeable guy, a scared mousy wife comes along with children with bad posture. Hopefully, there will be a peaceful Thanksgiving, but somehow I doubt it for them. I headed over to the coffee aisle thinking about those two ladies visiting together in the store. There are probably hundreds more. A conversation that lasted a minute or two can say a lot. 

I have given up wearing a bandage over the incision made on my neck Tuesday. Sometime along the way, I have developed a reaction to bandage adhesive. Now to find someone who will help with removing the stiches next week. She gave me a kit and Roy refuses to do it. Ugh! 

The good news this week is this, our road is opened to traffic. I know the detour route people are happy not to have so much traffic. The volume both in numbers and noise has increased for us. Big trucks keep on turning...but it is okay, it is a shorter drive without so many twists and turns.