Tuesday and Wednesday...A Okay

 Tuesday evening. The kittos are up, the boys have settled in and Roy is busy in the bonus room working on something. A quiet evening. Since I tried my hand at getting out and about yesterday I stuck pretty close to home. Got some things accomplished and thankful that this cough is finally settling down. 

One thing about yesterday, I saw the French Broad River for the first time and the scenes of destruction were a bit overwhelming. We voted early then gave Sam's a little bit of a try and I did okay but at the end, started coughing so I went to the truck. 

I feel like I am slowly returning to normal and believe me, that is something I had doubts over. Please do not laugh. Anyway, anything whether it was texting or moving or whatever seemed overwhelming and wouldn't and couldn't be done. Then slowly but surely I didn't need to take a nap to take a shower and then take a nap after a shower. For a couple of weeks I didn't change jammies too often cause it was overwhelming to even consider. There are some wonderful miracles that have happened during all of this and I am anxious to get them written out. Before Helene, we had every week scheduled with the ASPCA for getting the feral fam in as well as the kittos. My sickness stopped progress on getting them acclimated to the house and the boys. Anyway, they were scheduled because little Chubola is becoming a young female cat with two brothers. Last week Roy emailed with his contact there asking if we could get on a waiting list for cancellations. She responded we could bring in all three on the 4th. I tell you that is a miracle. People are vying and we are so thankful for this favor from them. 

Today, Roy was going to take the Mustang into Weaverville. Mustang Sam would not start. We have had Triple A for years and never used it until today. A bad cell in the battery and low on antifreeze. They got the car started and Roy took it over to the mechanics. Changed things out and Roy said the car is running like it is brand new. For this we also give thanks. 

I think we got our electricity and internet back around the 8th. Roy woke me up to let me know we were off the generator but I was fitful and couldn't get my mind around anything. I have often told Roy that I have a good track record coming back from health issues that should have taken me out but I also know that day is coming when it is time for me to go to Jesus and no amount of fighting can change that. The 8th I had told the Lord that if this was my time to go, I would not fight. That night after finally falling asleep my mom came to me in a dream. I rarely dream about my mom, only have those bad dreams with my father in them. In my dream I could see my mom walking toward me. She had on her favorite pair of shorts and this white short sleeve top that kept her cool in the summer. She was about 35 years old. It was as if she came to the very edge where she is in heaven and I am on the other side, here on earth. She knelt down to talk to me. She said, this is not your time to go. It is not your time to come to heaven but it is your time to fight. You have to fight this and get well. I woke up halfway expecting my mom to be there but I knew she wasn't there but I felt that this was a message from the Lord. My whole attitude changed from that time forward. Today Judy Carver told me a story about her praying for me...I just wonder if all this was at the same time? Wow! The Lord is so good!

In August I kind of stumbled upon Rowe Casa Organics. Troyer's in TN had a couple of their products. I tried the Magnesium cream first. Wow! Added Lymphatic cream and wow, wow! Since then I have added many more of their products and I credit their products so much that helped me these past few weeks. 

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Wednesday evening and I am exhausted. Another day out and about trying to build back stamina. We went to Haywood County for a couple of things. We made a stop at Barbers Orchard and I think this is the first time that I have not bought apple cider donuts, ever. Pears and apples. Went on over to Publix and first time in five weeks I have gone to the grocery store. I made it almost to the end but did the debit card thing and left Roy and the groceries. I sat in the car and ate 1/2 of an oatmeal cookie. Stopped to pick up BBQ. We were a little later than usual and they had already sold out of the brisket and ribs. I did my regular sides. One thing in these past couple of weeks is discovering Boars Head chicken salad with cranberries. I think I have had that sandwich everyday for a week and a half. Not too much sounds good, but it sure does. When we got home I rested and most probably I will stay around the house tomorrow to keep improving and getting strength back.

I am going to be back in The Joy Class on Sunday. It will kind of be SS light but I think it will be meaningful. I sure have missed the class. 

We just put the kittos to bed, so I need to finish this up or they will just sit here and cry at me. 

Penland's, One of My Favorite Marshall Places and My Friend Georgette

 

*these photos do know belong to me. Top is from USA Today and the bottom pic probably belongs to Ian.*

This is my friend Georgette. If you have ever visited me, for the day or days, we've gone to Marshall and we stopped in her store, Penland's. Her family has owned it for three or four generations. Even the the front displays carry a touch of nostalgia. The displays of modern Carhart, pajamas made in North Carolina, books about the wild stories of Madison County (there are some great stories), homemade products from the artisans in the area and sometimes fresh veggies and fruit. It is the heartbeat of downtown Marshall. 

I first met Georgette when friends took me to her store and introduced us. It was part of their Madison County tour because my friends grew up there and have a deep abiding love for that county. Cuman, Inez's husband, has some great stories and he knows the history, good, bad, legal and maybe some illegal. He has some of the best stories of moonshine days. He wasn't with us that day but he asked Inez not to take the river road to Madison. We swore secrecy not to tell Cuman we did. Oops! Anyway... Several weeks later I went back to Penland's and reintroduced myself. Her friendship took me right in. I'll forever be grateful for that. Since I was here by myself then and didn't really visit with people much, she was so patient as I talked and talked and talked to her. Then before leaving I'd always apologize that I had taken so much of her time. She was always gracious saying, I enjoyed visiting. When locals came in to shoot the breeze or pick up a few things, Georgette would introduce me just like I was from around there. Not too long after meeting her, she gave me her cell number and home phone number. She said no matter what time, day or night, call if you need help or anything. We are not that far from you and we will be there in a jiffy. I still have that note in my project desk room attached to a wall hanging so I would never lose it. In exchange I always shared oil and gas related news to her. Roy called one day and said it hasn't hit the news yet, but Colonial Pipeline is shut down. It is the pipeline supplier to our area of the country. I texted friends but one of the first I told was Georgette. Fill up your cars, your family members cars before the news hits and lines start forming at the gas stations. Over the years I sent her that alert several times. 

Downtown Marshall began a resurgence several years ago and Penland's was an anchor to that. Then Hurricane Helene came a calling and changed everything. Half of downtown, gone. Buildings that had survived the flood of 1916, gone. Six feet of water got into her store. Her family lost everything in that store, including 100 year old red oak floor and sub floor, the old display cases. Only the antiques on the very top made it, including Pee Wee Herman. Now they are trying to put it all back together. Mud removed and waiting on estimates for HVAC and other things. If anyone deserves our support right now it is Georgette. 

I am hoping that any Houston friends that stopped and shopped at her store might want to make a contribution of any size to the rebuilding of a business but so much more than that. If you come in the future, invest so that we can make a stop there. Georgette always takes care of everyone, now is the time to help take care of she and her husband and extended family to make a go of this again. Mountain Strong! Madison Strong!

If you would like to make a monetary gift to them, message me and I will send you her mailing address. So worthy of time and consideration. 

Just A Quick Yet Incomplete Update

 Howdy! It has been a while since I have posted on my blog. For the first time ever writing on Monablog, there was no fire within me to write. Didn't want to write and if I did have something to say, it was a little snippet on Facebook. Then at the end of September Hurricane Helene came rolling through but even before Helene, we had some kind of front stall out and we had 8 inches of rain the day before Helene. I will say I have never ever been through something like this. I wasn't in Houston for Harvey or Beryl but nothing like wind and rain and wind. The week before Roy and I did prep work, just like in Houston. Gutter cleaners punted on us so Roy and I did the best we could cleaning out the gutters on the back porch. We shopped, got laundry done cause we felt for certain we would lose power. Filled up the truck and the car. Like every good Houstonian, we had our hurricane prep box ready, complete with Pop Tarts. Every preparation brochure has the box and right on top, Pop Tarts. I didn't go get rain or snow donuts which is so unlike me. Many times I don't eat them but if they are in the house I am not craving them. I know now there was a reason why. 

As the storm came in Thursday afternoon, Roy stood on the back porch and read storm verses out loud to the wind. He must have been out there for about an hour until I finally called him in. The mountains were hit hard, very hard. I'll write more on that later on another post. Our little post office by the French Broad River had three feet of water in it. Houses gone. Buildings gone and the Alexander Bridge was one foot away by being over taken and probably destroyed. 

The strange thing is this, I kept asking friends about the aftermath but no one knew what that was really. Before, when tropical storms come though it is a rain event. Lots of people were making plans for Friday afternoon and night. I think now, everyone knows about aftermath. 

As the storm came and went, along came a virus or cold that attached itself to me. At first, I didn't give it a thought until I became very ill. I now would bet money I had Covid, really, really bad Covid. I wasn't ever stopped up or ran much of a fever but the coughing was killing me. I was supposed to have a Dr appointment on Sept 30th, but it had to be cancelled...no water and no clear way to get to the office. On the 9th of October we called EMS and they made a stop. With all the storm, death and chaos normally they would have taken me to the hospital, but it would take 6-8 hours for one to come and pick me up. Then most probably due to more serious and immediate emergencies, I would have probably been there a lot longer and really never seen. We all decided I had a better chance at home for now. After that and until we had to call EMS back because I had fallen and couldn't get up, I don't remember much. Not eating much, coughing up junk and no stamina, no strength. My eyes stuck together, my arms and legs would not or could not do the things I was asking of them. Roy took such good care of me. It wasn't until the 13th or 14th, that I began to believe I was going to make it. Slowly but surely I am getting better. Yesterday I had a setback but today I feel like once again I am on the road to recovery.

Next week I am going to get some bloodwork done to see if I have currently long Covid. 

Well, that is about it for now. I will try to be better with updates.

PS- Roy is taking good care of all the kitties