Chores Abound In and Around Home

 The day is winding down. Bible study at church and a quick trip to Ingles. Leftover BBQ for lunch and a few household chores to knock off the list. Then a quick nap, well mine was quick because Baxter jumped on top of me and woke me up. Now, Roy is doing online Bible study with Community Bible Study. They are in the Psalms this year. This summer Roy fell in love with the Psalms and I couldn't be more happy about that. He is listening to scripture songs from the Psalms and that is new. Music has never interested him too much. 

Speaking of music, we changed choir from 7:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. Tell me that most in the choir are retired without telling me. Delighted though with a change in time. At least even with the time change it won't be late night darkness. The river road is one dark spot on the route home. Nothing lights it up since any homes that were close by were probably destroyed by Helene. As I was backing into the driveway and Roy was out there helping me because the bright lights, especially brake lights distort my vision. While backing in our neighbors above us came up the road. Nancy texted us immediately, asking if everything was okay. We weren't usually out late...in the world view it was not late. Anyway, I texted back that we are good I was coming home from choir rehearsal. 

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Since we rearranged our summer we have also created new pathways in our brains. We are learning new things and new names. New ministries and such. Saying Ah-men instead of AAAAAmen at the end of corporate prayer or at the end of certain songs. Forgive us our trespasses is now forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  This is the kind of stuff that keeps your brain semi young, learning things. Like I have written before Roy's Sunday dress is totally different now. In some ways mine is too, no longer wearing jeans on Sunday morning with long jackets and such. No one has said anything to us, just our observations and a heart tuned more to reverence of God in church. I picked up an article in the church office on the history of the church and the theme over and over is giving and being generous. You've got to love the DNA of this church. 

With all these new paths in the brain, a few memories of the long, long ago surfaced. So, this was a strange one. My mom had a twin brother. We were back visiting relatives and my mom's twin and his wife were coming out to Grandma's to visit us. Only thing, my aunt had just had a miscarriage and my parents told my brother and me to stay outside and play. Our aunt would be too disturbed by seeing us, that we were born and lived. Outside, there was all kinds of stuff to get involved with only we had been restricted from going in the garage where all kinds of treasures, at least to us, were stored. We couldn't play in the side yard because we could be viewed from the living room windows. We stayed in the back part of the large continuous yard that led straight to the abandoned apple orchard of my grandparents. Other than the fact that we told our aunt and uncle goodbye when they left, I don't remember anything else about the evening. Was that the truth or was it so the adults could discuss things, probably about my grandmother living alone. Who knows, but kind of an odd remembrance. After thinking about it, I doubt the conversation was about my grandmother staying in her home. 

We dead-headed zinnias and pulled out the rest of the plants out of the raised flowerbed. Roy took care of the raised bed where the plum trees are. We both worked on the bed where the greasy beans and purple peas grew. I have tulip and daffodil bulbs to put in that bed. Roy stained the deck on Monday and a little touch up work on Tuesday. The center of the decks needs another coat but we are going to do the railings first. We found this spray deck stain and the paint guy at Lowe's said it was really good. He wasn't kidding. Our plans just to get it covered before winter and then let the professionals take over in the spring, but we might not need to do that. We also began painting our gate. Got a fourth of it taken care of and should finish up this afternoon. 

In our chore induced stupor I cleaned the baseboards and the wood trim on the stairway. Roy put a bunch of stuff away that has been holding meetings on the dining room table. Almost cleared. We are now looking at closets, uh Roy, to see what can be given away or thrown away or kept. I admit I buy too many clothes, long story, not interesting, but I also part ways quickly. 

Habit and Hope

 By all standards I have lived a very ordinary life but the opportunities came to participate in some extraordinary things. Many times the extraordinary came from friend's invites or the favor of friends falling on me unexpectedly. Nothing came to me because I was beautiful or even cute, but my sense of humor sometimes made an entrance for me. guess very John the Baptist, prepare ye the way. I only say that cause we studied him in Bible study this week. Thankful for a good sense of humor but always aware of those off the cuff remarks. 

I'm still working on formulating a fragrance that is acceptable of Vick's and menthol complete with all the healing properties contained therein. Using the new pain reliever early in getting dressed hopefully for that familiar scent to dissipate and pain relieving action to sink in. Another project I am considering is Christmas decorations. Clearly a tree is out of the picture this year because the trio would not be able to stay out of or on it. We have enough of that kind of stuff to deal with on the regular furnishings. We conceded the top of the book cases to them and the ottoman. I am also trying to think through what a yard nativity would look like if all the references used in Christmas songs would look like. Not Rudolph or Santa, but Jenette Isabella, she's bringing the torch. The three ships sailing. Stuff like that. Seriously, I am loosing interest in that but still something to solve if I find myself wide awake in the middle of the night.

Dena texted me last night asking if I had seen Oscar Wyatt had passed away. He was 101. Now normally, I wouldn't be interested but dang, I spent a lot of time last week reading Texas Monthly back articles and stories from other magazines and journals about his life, including wife Lynn Wyatt. Don't know them, never met them, wouldn't want to be them, but their lives are just so interesting. 

Mr Penurious found Diet Coke with Lime at Publix and bought some for me. Shocked! But thankfully, I have plenty....for now. I actually had my first one this morning and it is just as good as I remember. Always have liked it better than Diet Coke. Which is funny, I don't drink Diet Coke as much, lots of iced tea. Oh, the taste of lime, yes brings back some great Diet Coke memories. 

Thursday morning I attended ladies Bible study and we are in the book of Mark. Great discussion and these ladies who have been friends for quite some time were so welcoming. The pastor's wife made us some pumpkin muffins and they were delicious. After two weeks off due to vacations, we will be back in choir rehearsal this week. 

Once again I am using skills that aren't as necessary as in other times of life. No more jeans, flannel shirts and hiking boots for Roy's Sunday morning attire. Back to dressy type pants and button down shirts. After he was robbed in Mobile and all his dress clothes went with the robber, we added a few pants and shirts for the just in case a month or so after getting here. Now, he needs a few more shirts but dang no one is making it easy. I have noticed in perusing clothing websites, the normal fall/winter choices are limited with many still hawking their spring clothes at deep discounts. I finally found shirts for Roy at Lands End and we are debating shirts from American Tall. Funny, he is considered semi tall there. It was kind of late when I was on the American Tall website, so after putting like 76 pairs of socks in the cart accidently, I decided a fresh start should be advised. Now, I will tell you that the late night hour was probably at 8:00 pm. Hey, we are tackling the retired life with full gusto! 

I have not written too much about The Feral Fam. It is too difficult. Our neighbors thought they saw Fido but I think they saw Beanie. It has been a little over two weeks...we thought Coco might have disappeared as well but this morning she showed up to wolf down food and now she is sound asleep in the garage. She will probably do that till this evening. Other cats here and there are not around much. Rumor has it better food over the hill, who knows. Our tribe is certainly on the small side. We don't know whether it is natural causes or a natural predator or a human one. I cannot even... Roy and I don't talk it about it much because our emotions are right there under the surface but we both look wistfully out that back windows to watch for Fido to run down to the yard. Out of habit and out of prevailing hope. 

Winding Down to Fully Experience Fall

 Since I rejoined the online shopping of Nordstrom my boot collection has grown by a few pairs. The salutation from The Nord when communicating with me is, welcome back. I have ordered over the past ten years a few times but not very much. Nothing like those days in Houston.  A few occasions and my lack of accessories drew me back. I needed to see the offerings. The Nord has changed a lot in the past ten years, maybe even fifteen years. I aged out of the customer focus. The friendly confines of their stores went to a minimalist structure, even more so. I loved not having crowded aisles and loved the selection that didn't look like other places. I missed the piano. The love of boots is reignited in me and this season has not put out the fire and the love of unique boots. Or maybe that should be the love of boots that fit. Also, after a spring and summer of wearing tennis shoes, albeit fashion tennis shoes, I am ready for that boot fun. 

In life if you want, you can hear all kinds of preachers. Over the long haul of Sunday mornings, evenings and Wednesday nights a boatload of preachers have shared their hearts, thoughts, ideas and fear in all kinds of styles. Over the years I have heard a whole lot of Baptist preaching but alas, there in the midst of searching for the deeper Christian life I have listened to liturgical sermons, faith full Gospel sermons and downright Pentecostal. My least favorite to experience is Pentecostal and here in the mountains I would say that mountain style preaching parallels the Pentecostal style. But maybe not any speaking in tongues. As side note, I heard someone say yesterday in response to the idea that all those signs and wonders died out with the last apostle is, God is still Jehovah Rahpa and He didn't die out with the last apostle. He still heals. Like how that was put.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy exuberant worship but sometimes it becomes rote and relying on it being emotionally based styles. The emotions go deeper but not in a good way. Emotionally based music and sermons are never enough. People shedding tears at the altar becomes a standard. I know we are to pray about everything and I try to but every time I'm praying doesn't have to be so demonstrative, at home or at church. Most of the full gospel preachers in Houston and this is my opinion, used a lot of time to see which way the wind was blowing beginning their sermon. You see people getting all worked up, all danced out and the gasps in between each word preached. A friend and I went to a New Year's Eve service many moons ago at Evangelistic Temple. We kind of felt out of our element, but on our row was an frail looking older black woman. As the preaching started and all through the sermon she would yell and bend over from the waist sitting down, "I feel it, I feel it! Somebody help me!" We were a little dumbfounded because at the invitation that this woman went forward to be saved. I thought she was affirming the preacher's words.  

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No fog, but a bright sunrise. Delicious coffee, a new flavor to us from Dunkin Donuts Coffee...caramel. Yesterday, our pastor returned from his sabbatical month. He was happy to be back in the pulpit and we were happy he was. His love of learning is such a blessing. Joy filled stories of  spending time with family as well as being away from his phone. He loves to share the love of Jesus in conversations along the way and his story of the man next to him on the plane arriving to his seat with headphones on and never took them off. With Debbie on vacation our flutist played the organ. She is gifted on both instruments. We met some lovely people visiting from TN and Missouri. 

I just used my first application on my hip of Mountain Ice, like Biofreeze only made with natural ingredients. I was hoping for the non menthol fragrance but it has that but the way it took the pain away, my new fragrance might just be this. Now here is something disturbing, White Linen is now considered old lady perfume. What???!!!!  White Linen was my signature fragrance until I found Opium, then Angel Innocent and now Origins Ginger. No, it can't be! Old lady perfume was Youth Dew. I am sure someone has thought of this before but I think we should mix together that lovely menthol with Vicks Vapo Rub. Menthol and camphor, in a distribution that says my muscles and joints are feeling pretty good. During my ten minutes of research the experts advise women over 50 to stay away from heavy floral perfumes especially those with lilac or violets and jasmine. Lilac makes sense cause that shrub was put around outhouses back in the day. Nothing was said about staying away from Vicks and Mountain Ice pain relief. 

We are getting the tomato plants and all the weeds in the flowerbeds pulled out. Had a good tomato season but not as productive as last years. Over the weekend the bean and pea vines were pulled out but the bell peppers are still producing. 

One last thing for today; Chubola is still going to the bonus room with The Boys at night. She goes willingly except for the other night she was kind of slow about joining. Her brothers, Baxter and Buster are just a little too wild for her anymore. She likes hanging out with Mr Mo and GMoey or a quiet corner away from all the chaos of cat life. 

The Cusp of Autumn

 Here we are on the last day of September and the promise of cooler temps on Thursday makes me giddy. I am in the process of changing out seasonal clothes. As one always looking for the deeply discounted end of season offerings last year, I put stuff away unopened. Now, it feels like summer, no it feels like Christmas opening up these delights after a long spring and summer respite. And joy of joy, I finally found the red sweater jacket I held out for, cheapest price offering. I had left a closet door open and while searching to see if one of the cats had entered and decided on napping, I found the sweater in a bag. Yay! 

Also, Amazon should be delivering a book I have been waiting for since preordering it in the summer, Untamed Prayers 365 devotions in the Psalms written by Chad Bird. I have loved all the books of his I have read. I used his book on Jacob when we studied Genesis and my goodness, his insights helped me so much. 

I hadn't seen anything about Second Baptist in Houston for a while and wondered if everything had been settled or were they looking at a court date. Looked it up and the past few days held some articles or notation of what would be happening. The court date is set for February. Second wanted it to be in business court, so that will be interesting. So many volunteers removed from their positions, some in those positions for years because they questioned what had happened. Many have let their feet and offerings do the talking. I've heard that our former church, First Baptist, has picked up quite a new few members. Some disgruntled ones have stayed at Second but they are not giving to the church. It seems to me that a strategy I had never thought of when I was younger would be to do nothing and hope for the best. Answer no one, have a script that is stuck too so that even with enough time you begin to believe the script. For most in the congregation, they are fine until it becomes personal to them that the decision to take away church voting rights and choices for budget, ministries and the like hit them hard. The six people making decisions for the main church and all the campuses are related to or have financial dealings with the Youngs.  Technically, they could sell the church properties and pocket the proceeds now that is the law of the church. Seems strange that a church with so many wealthy business people or those who inherited their wealth and their name carries a lot of clout could have been taken by surprise. I don't have a dog in the show but it is always an interesting study of people and interactions. 

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For some unknown reason I woke up really, really early and couldn't go back to sleep. Have a morning like this about once a week. Last night I was reading The View From Lake Como and made myself stop so that I don't rush through because it is so good. It was tempting to get up and start back in but I know me and I won't get stuff done today. 

It is usually me that acts up at Publix, somewhat. Today, it was Roy's turn. We were checking out and one of the assistant managers or customer service was bagging the groceries. Roy asked him not to put the salad in with the boxed bacon. The guy said, do you want to bag these cause I have other lanes I can help. Roy said no but I said to the young man, we have an ice chest in the truck and things have to be arranged for everything to fit. The guy brushed me off. I said, he isn't trying to be rude and Roy chimed in affirming that...the young man said, yeah, yeah yeah you don't have to say anything else. Oh my, you would think on Wednesdays the guy would remember, yep, there are old people afoot but even more Roy could have been recovering from a stroke or have some ailment where those who have it get so focused on something. Even maybe dementia. We were loading groceries and Roy said I made him mad and that wasn't my intent but the more I thought about it, the guy was just a tad short with us. Oh to be young, in your twenties and think you know everything about everything. His attitude seems contrary to all the Publix culture. Maybe he was just having a bad day. 

We are so addicted to 6 Pigs BBQ and it was looking like we were heading into week 2 without the tasty brisket and pulled chicken. We came home after shopping and had a pitiful lunch. I checked FB and there was the announcement that they were on the River Road selling BBQ. We headed out in a flash to pick up our tasty supper and leftovers for lunch today and maybe even tomorrow. Oh my, it is good to lead such a simple life. 

The house we would love to look at is on the market again. It is too tempting to go look because it seems that we would be totally swayed. It is not the time in life but just knowing it is there and we are resisting is good. The offer deal fell through but now we are happier in our circumstances and Burnsville seems to be too far away, now. 

Today, Thursday, we made our trek to Canton. Lou Lou didn't disappoint with her canned greasy beans, veggie soup and tomato sauce ready to roll for taco soup this fall and winter. We picked up a few different type of apples. Roy really wanted to get out to Barber's Orchard so we went there and got some candy crisp apples. So good. Came back through Canton and went to the Country Vintage Market that opened a little over a month ago. Lots of cute stuff but that visit was cut short due to the traffic back up on I 40 which meant the back roads were backed up as well. Lots of tractor trailer trucks and there were several warning signs about not being able to make a turn in downtown. We were welcomed home by our indoor crew and they were hungry. We missed serving lunch by two hours. Oh my...

The low in the morning will be in the 40s. Our days are warm up morning and evening cool. In fact we had to put the top up on the car cause we were getting too cold. Weather wimps, that's us. 

More Memories But No Imelda For Us

 It's a rainy morning with no definite plans or places to be. The coffee is very good this morning and The Boys and The Trio all seem to be getting along. Of course, that could change at any moment. We welcome the calm. The rain and the cooler temps to come might just be what the remaining tomato plants need to push through for one more harvest. We actually had to buy tomatoes for our tacos this past weekend. 

I was deleting emails yesterday when I came across the Garden and Gun magazine's fall reading list. While my reading is half in present or current fiction and half of biographies of people in the twentieth century. I am looking forward to my Texas book that Dena sent. I also need to finish up my waiting room book since not many anticipated appointments in the near future and the story is finally getting more interesting. One of the books on the Garden and Gun list, Lynn Wyatt. If you don't run in social circles, upper echelon social circles, you have no idea who she is but because she ran those social circles out of a swankienda, term used by Maxine Messenger social and gossip columnist for the Houston Chronicle back in the day, in Houston, I know her name. Her husband is Oscar Wyatt, who has a whole history of his own in the oil and gas industry. I have just spent most of the morning reading Texas Monthly articles from back in the day. I kind of remember some of this but I was mostly, like any other eventful news, worried about my hair. 

Oh my, the reports are coming in with all the uncertainty of a tropical storm/system/hurricane making landfall in the Carolinas. Ugh! I was looking at FB memories in-between all my TM reading and a year ago today, we cleaned out the gutters on the back porch. Roy brought up cleaning out the gutters Tuesday as he and Mike looked at some things we would like him to do in the back. We now have a company that comes and cleans out our gutters once a year, after fall is over but since we just began fall, this week, they won't be here till November. So as we keep our eyes on the Lord and happy we stocked up on Pop Tarts, which we never eat unless there is a threat of bad weather, our eyes and ears are attune to weather updates.  

Along with last years memory, I read about September 25, 2008- the electricity came back on after being without it for twelve days because of hurricane Ike, as I was recovering from the heart thing that had been diagnosed on September 11th. The quest was to find cool air. In hindsight the "have to" adjust made me stronger and more determined. The electricity came back two days after my first follow up cardiologist appointment, where each nurse, tech and Dr said, we thought you had probably died over the first weekend of Ike. Nope, but a few months later I moved on, a cardiologist in the Med Center, one of the best. 

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Monday morning, last Monday of September, foggy now with rain chances later. The good news is the storm is being pulled out to sea by the bigger hurricane Humberto. Thank you, Lord! We joined with thousands of others for this outcome. My heart felt so heavy thinking about enduring lots of rain and wind. The rain would not be like last year, but it doesn't help with those feelings for people who lost everything including loved ones. For us, we didn't have much damage of note but it was the start of that long six weeks of being so sick. 

There is much rejoicing from the weekend, but I'm carrying a bit of sadness too or reflections I have put away for a while. The good news of the storm, wonderful for WNC. On Saturday afternoon we attended a much anticipated and joyful wedding out in beautiful Burnsville. For the families there were many obstacles to overcome, adjustments and much to give to God arriving at the ceremony. There were so many unique things but don't want to say until the family releases pics and such. After the ceremony we hightailed it out of Burnsville trying to get to Marshall for our friend's stores grand reopening. A year to the date of Helene. The town was full of people thus full of cars and we could not find a parking spot to run in for the last 15 minutes before closing for the day. It was my first time back in Marshall because I could not bear to see it so destroyed. The town has come back but there is so many building and places that are gone.  We are also coming to the conclusion that Fido might be gone. This is the longest time he has not returned for his special meals and garage sleeping. We hold a good thought but I am feeling such sadness if this is reality. He was good at sensing danger and staying away from it. He was not tempted by the road and rarely went down the gravel road. There will be such a hole in our hearts if this is true. On several occasions we tried to bring him in to live but he didn't like it. He wanted to be outside. Roy just went out with brunch and Fido still a no show. Roy had put that line in his mind if he didn't show up this time, the inevitable thought is, he is gone. I am fighting back tears. He has been a fixture for Roy since 2022. 

The Reels Have It, Info, Comedy and Everything In-Between

 Nothing like the sound, the regretful sound of your husband discovering "clean up on aisle 9" in the hallway at 4:00 am. He closes the door when he gets up thus the agonizing sound took me out of my restful slumber I opened the bedroom door to come help but when I saw that it was a fur ball, I left Roy in the silence of paper towel retrieval to get that fur up. Willie did not go into the bonus room last night and most nights he regrets his decision before we go to sleep. His timing was off. Chubola has ditched her brothers to hang out 𝅗𝅥𝅗𝅥 where the boys are 𝅗𝅥𝅗𝅥. So that is the latest news here with the The Trio and The Boys. Being awake since 4:00 am might mean a nap at 11:00 am.

This morning, like really early morning, I caught a few Reels on FB. In three straight reels, were three different types of preachers. The first one, older, crustier with words preacher, grabbed your attention by saying something that stirs you up until he begins to expand on his thoughts and you see the truth of his preaching. The next preacher was probably in his late 40s and really super buff. Tight tennis polo shirt, tight jeans (not because they don't fit anymore, and with a very immaculate trimmed beard. He had a display that was part of his sermon but he noticeably stood sideways almost like a body builder does for a contest. This preacher wasn't oiled up though. The last picture was a man in a blue t-shirt surrounded by five men in suits. A trucker asked if he could park his truck in the church parking lot, pastor said yes, if he would attend Sunday service. Trucker did and got saved. We were at Pig and Grits for lunch several months ago and four men in suits assembled at a table nearby. Roy thought they were business men, I said preachers. If we had bet I would have won. Each one of those men said grace over their meals. Out loud and loud, each one trying to out do the others in being grateful. While kind of funny it is kind of refreshing. 

We had a guest preacher Sunday and he was very good, really good. He preached from John 10, Jesus the Good Shepherd, and I could see Roy taking copious notes. I was in the choir loft. I took notes as well. Yep, second Sunday in the loft. We were few in number but big in enthusiasm as we sang out. The loud of the world is subdued in the silence of coming to worship. Reading God's Word together, singing and studying with a good bit of laugher before, even some during and after the service. The preacher, Daniel Beck of Morganton, told a story about his dog, a chi-weenie with a huge underbite, needing to be on a leash at all times while out of the house comparing to the Jack Russell they had who could be trusted to run about and come in when called. It was a great example to illustrate John 10.

Sunday was September 21st and I didn't wish my friend a Happy EWF Day. She is celebrating in heaven and has probably a better tune to dance with, but Do You Remember is always a good song. 

We are coming up to the year anniversary of Helene. It is so encouraging to see homes rebuilt, churches open, businesses returning and the progress made this past year. On a personal note I am remembering the illness and recovery from a year ago when I got the double barrel shot of pneumonia and Covid.

There are all kinds of info laden Facebook reels filled with helpful stuff and there is quite some good comedy to watch or in many cases remember. One type of reel that gives me some trouble are the ones that are too long or it takes forever to get to the main point. The other day I watched part of one about 13 things older people should quit doing if you want to remain social and have people talk to you. In the amount of time they had, only 5 were covered and they were the obvious ones and the build up was way too much. 

No choir practice tonight. We are the weary and the wounded. Kind of relieved cause it was looking like rain and with the detour...I was getting just a little bitty taddy nervous. Guess all my energy went into the excitement that the creamer we use is on sale at both Publix and Ingles. As well as the cold foam. Yehaw! 

Well, it looks like the Reels have had the most attention in my limited attention span. 

Moments, Memories, Mmmmmm

A long time ago my niece Erin and I had a bit we did and  much to the less than patient people, got on nerves, but not to us. We called it Moments, Memories, Mmmm.....  So say that we heard a song in the car. A few minutes later, one of would say, remember that song we heard. Yes, yes, I do. Okay, picture that moment, do you see it? What colors of the moments would you color them? Okay now, put it in your memory. Is it there? Can you picture it? Now, think of the moment, cherish the memory and give a satisfactory hmmmmm. Thus I present to you, moment, memory, mmmmmm. Everyone hated it but we loved it. That is what this post feels like. I am thinking of moments, it's a memory....mmmmmmm.

 Four years ago today, the 16th, I took Buddy to the vet and Buddy crossed the rainbow bridge. Ugh, thank you FB memories. She rescued me when I needed rescuing in 2005. She stayed beside me through all the heart issues that began right before Ike in 2008. She flew more than I had in years coming and going between Texas and home. I love these rescues we have now but none of them are like Buddy. Guess as things go you get a chance just ever so often to have a pet that is just the best. Our group now are fun and friendly. Baxter has way too much energy but all the others are settling down and taking more naps, which is very good. In hindsight, I think Buddy was in a lot of pain toward the end and maybe we should have let her cross the bridge before she did, but I got that time. The last night we stayed up together. We didn't leave each other's side except for bathroom breaks. 

Roy has ordered a new computer for me. This one has been on its last legs for quite sometime. I will leave him alone with it after it arrives cause my belief, though oh so wrong, is plug it in and turn it on. Happy that he knows what and how to on computers. He is excited about the speed and ram and I have no other clue, but I shake my head and say wow! Usually, after all the buildup I ask something like, will I still be able to write my blog? So just in case I have prescheduled several bills and responses needed just in case it takes more time than what he thinks it will. 

As much as I do not want to do this, I need to look into getting hearing aids or something. Sunday morning in the choir loft, I struggled to understand the preacher. Now, it was the associate preacher and he had an accent, so I'll give it another go cause there is a different speaker the next two Sundays. The pastor is on a month sabbatical. The scripture the associate preached from was Zechariah 1. I only remember him talking about myrtle trees and that intrigued me. I didn't know if he was saying water or warrior...remember I am getting a little more hearing impaired. Gonna have to do something because Roy is tired of me misunderstanding him or the constant, on both of our parts, yelling, what? What? WHAT? I saw a cartoon a couple of months ago that said, 80% of marriage is yelling "what" back and forth with your spouse. It is our new hobby. 

Well, it happens. I read one post on narcissistic families and now my FB timeline has a veritable pou-pourri  of articles pertaining to narcissists. Most of the posts I read and concur with the realizations and the revelations. I read one the other day that stopped me short because even knowing what I know now and how hard those days of being accused with delusions that danced in my father's head, his intent was clearly destruction. A burnt earth policy. When I think about how my mother was dying in the hospital but he told those close to him, family, not to tell me. I found out right after a cardiologist appointment. My brother got around telling by putting a prayer request on FB for my mom. My sister in law called that night because she could not go through with what my father had asked her to do. After talking to my father during the immediate time of the incident, I thought we had made the necessary amends to get her the best care. Of course, I was wrong and things went downhill and came to a conclusion in April when he had his lawyer serve me with papers that he was breaking all contact with us and under no circumstances could we make any decision when it came to him. When we did not take the bait or respond by asking him why and giving him a sense of power that we had come back for more abuse , he made his last stand. He didn't plan on that happening thus he had to go scorched earth calling in Adult Protective Services, Police and Constables. He rallied whatever friends he had left and began that campaign. He could have destroyed us with his lies. Roy worked in SEC compliance and he could have been fired if anyone had learned of the lies or a hint of wrong.. Each agency that contacted us said after fruitless investigations my father was the most convincing liar they had ever met. He did make a mistake and left several horrible messages on our phone. The things he said were hate filled with lots of cussing, sadistic and mean. The agencies shut him down for a bit and he revamped his assault about a year later only now I was here and his "witnesses" backed him up, which just amounts to lying for him. My brother made some phone calls and intercepted a letter with all the accusations that my father made, written from his yard lady, that now his daughter was harassing her at her home and job sites. Some of his most trusted friends had several things of his, SS Card and jewelry. He was going crazy frantic looking for those items. I was turning on his stove or leaving water to run, but alas, being here, several states away the timeline didn't work. Some of his friends began to realize his stories were not true, not feasible. I think when he went into assisted living he only had one friend that helped out with him. Things started to go missing there at the ol' assisted living and it was all traced back to him. Roy has always said as people age, they cannot hide who they really are. When it all came down to it, his life of accusing people of stealing from him, it was to cover his own penchant of theft. As a kid he found a quarter at a church VBS. He knew it was for the mission offering but he kept it. Probably about fifty years later he had figured out to the penny with interest what he owed that church. He wrote them a check and a letter. I think he anticipated a warm response with some attention. The young pastor of that church thanked him and that was about it. My father was livid that he wasn't rewarded with attention of theft and then making it right.  

One can look back better with hindsight and see how it was all a part of a plan or a game or for his amusement. I am happy to look forward. I am also happy to make a way to not have excessive dealings with those who have strong or even covert narcissistic traits and tendencies.  

I went to choir practice last night. We sang a few songs that brought back great memories of singing at HFBC. That helps because the alto parts come back to me. I think I am the only one that can't read music. For the first time in my choir life I asked to hear the alto line on a couple of measures. What? Who is this person? At the end of October we have a guest Steinway artist coming to give a concert with a huge evangelistic message. Classical music composers who shared the message of God. In our services coming up to the event we are singing some classics, People Need the Lord etc... But what is really interesting is for the offering time we are singing some of the memorable hymns from days gone by, We'll Work Till Jesus Comes, Bring Them In and maybe even Bringing in the Sheaves. It is so much fun and the long time Presbyterians are hearing hymns that are so Baptist. I think they enjoyed the songs. Bring Them In back in my day was a Sunday night church song because it is lively and fun to sing. The congregation will hopefully join in with enthusiastic singing. Oh my, what a joy!