Monday, December 15, 2014

Tis the Season

We are in the home stretch for Christmas.  I always dread the season.  It's always a conflict on presents and how much to spend.  I seem to be a little blue round about now too.  I have to look back to Christmases past and remember them and who I spent them with.  I think about my family and friends who have passed on.  Who will be gone next Christmas at this time.  I have my sisters and Mom on my mind.  They are in SC.  We are spending Christmas in WV this year.  Winter is in the air and there is a chance of snow by Christmas.  I will like that.  The Grandkids will have gifts to open and I like to see their excitement.  Remember when we couldn't hardly wait til Christmas morning.  There ill be a grand feast.  I really will enjoy that.  I find myself thinking of the service members who are away from families and hope they will be reunited soon.  It is a real heartache to be away at Christmas time.  I wonder what the new year will hold.  I worry about our country in the future.  I hope good men will rise and lead us once again.  God bless all who read this and best wishes for a new year.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

The Worst News You Can Get

My wife and I got the worst news we could get the other day from her doctors.  After running some test they have determined her cancer is back.  It has moved from her breast to her liver.  She will have to start chemo again.  She will have to have a new CT scan to see if the cancer has spread anywhere else.  The port she had before will have to be put back in so that the infusions can be done for the chemo.

The doctor didn't hold back and we are glad we didn't want her to.  She said best case she had 3 to 4 years.  She has multiple other health issues so maybe not that long.  I know she had been getting sicker since about May.  We had been telling her primary care doctor and that's when they ran the first tests that showed something was wrong.

My days are not as bright anymore.  I don't have much joy.  I just feel numb right now.  Don't know how to respond.  I just keep saying just one day at a time and all we have to do is today.  I keep busy as I can.  I do what I can to keep Sherry cheered up. Do the things that need to be done around the house.  Go out and shop.  I really don't feel like doing anything at all.

I don't like to think about how it would be without her.  What an empty place that would be.  I think how selfish am I to think about that.  I have Angie and the grand kids to think about, and my sons.  I don't get off the hook that easy.  Stiff upper lip as the Brits say.  Soldier on.

No one knows about tomorrow, we don't know what happens in the next minute, hour and so on.  I will do the best I can and pray to God because it is all His will, to be done on earth as in Heaven.  If Sherry does go before me  I do know she will go to Heaven, she is a true believer and has been an Angel here on Earth if anyone ever has been one.  Oh she has her humanly faults, sins as we all do don't get me wrong but there isn't a bad bone in her.  She will be waiting for me and we will rejoice with all the others who have gone on to that mansion not made by hands, holy in the heavens.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Is it Hot????

Here we are in the beginnings of summer.  I believe it has been summer for months already.  Hurricane Arthur is ripping up the coast ruining holiday plans for the beach-goers.  We are at home and that is fine for me.  Just plan on doing some grilling.  I enjoy being home more than most realize.

Sherry has been plagued with medical problems which the tests do not answer but leave more questions. She has a liver biopsy to find out if the lesion they found is cancerous.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day West Virginia 2014

Sherry and I have spent the last week and a half at home in WV.  There was plenty to do around the house.  It looks like an impossible task but Sherry's perseverance and drive pushes on and we complete the tasks at hand.  I jokingly referred to her as a "trifling hefer" which she found not so funny but laughed  anyway because she knew I was kidding.  I do have to admit it looks good.  Angel and PinPin love the big back yard and the shade trees to rest under when the sun is hot and the breeze is cool.

The highlight of our visit was Angies graduation from Bluefield State College with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities.  She worked very hard to get that degree and it paid off for her.  Sh e has to decide which way to go now.  Jobs are tight and hard to come by in WV.  I hope she makes the right choices, but I am not worried because I know she will.

No Memorial Day is complete without a cookout and the one we attended at Janet's was excellent.  I made my famous red beans and rice.  There was hot dogs, hamburgers with all the fixin's and cake for desert.  The laughter of the kids running and playing brought back memories of the days when I was a boy and did the same when we had family get-togethers.  Sherry had the chance to catch up with her sister's Violet, and Kathy.  She got to see her brother John and talk a while with him too.

She and I visited the family cemetery to place flowers on the graves of her daughter, Chastity, husband Rex, her Mom and Dad and her brother in law Mike.  I looked at those gravestones of veterans and thought about their service and how they must have had to endure those dark days of WWII.  Mike was a Marine, I took a moment to spend at his grave and give a silent prayer and salute to him.  Rex, he was Army, like me and served in the !st Armored Div maybe while I served in the 2nd Armored Div.  I always felt like I had met him before.  Lots of faces and memories come back to me during these days of remembrance.  I remember my Dad who served.  I remember neighbors and Uncles, other family members and ancestors who heeded the call to arms.

We head back to NC soon.  I'll miss being here.  Till next time.  Good bye my West Virginia Home

Monday, February 24, 2014

My Aunt Roberta

I have the sweetest aunt there ever was.  Her name is Roberta.  She is the youngest of Mom's family.  She grew up on a farm, married a soldier and raised a family.  Her husband has since passed and left her to live alone.  Her pets as her companions.  She has a daughter, Robin and son in law Charles who is close by.  It's funny that we live our lives and even though we may live close to someone we are far away more so than someone who is separated by miles.  That's just the way life is now a days.

My Aunt Roberta has a rare blood disease and if it weren't for Mom she may have been gone by now.  The Dr's got to her in time and diagnosed the sickness.  She is undergoing treatment and hopefully will feel better soon.  She doesn't feel good now though.  I ask all who read this to pray for her.  She is sweet and good and if you know her or ever meet her you will know I speak the truth.  I wish there was more I could do to help but prayer is strong and I lift her up and ask all I know to do the same everywhere.  This will be seen all over the world.  Help my Aunt Roberta.

I Am A Pilgrim (+playlist)


The Passing of the Train (+playlist)


Monday, January 27, 2014

My Family

My Mom Ester is sitting, I am left, then my sisters Brenda, Susan Cathy Donna and Sharon

Family Ties

I found out my Aunt Roberta is in the hospital in Charleston SC.  Mom and my sister went to Fayetteville where she lives and took here back home to help here get well.  She had been sick since Christmas.  The doctors said her kidneys had stopped working and she has had to go on dialysis.  This is very bad news and worries me.  I like her and pray that she gets well soon.  My Mom will see to it that she takes the right course for treatment and stays the course to wellness.  Mom has a lot on her shoulders with our family.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Starting off A New Year

Here I am starting off a new year.  Some of my friends have past on last year.  I thought back to the times I spent with them.  The thoughts were like watching old newsreels.  I had old memories and places in my mind I hadn't seen in years.  I once tried to write a book about my life but when I started it was too painful.

I don't do New Year resolutions.  I think they are kind of silly.  How many people really keep them?  I have never know of any.  If you are going to stop doing something or start doing something you will.  Most of the time it is about changing your lifestyle.  Nuff  said on that.

I hope to make new friends and to enjoy my life more.  There is a song that says if I could go back in time the first thing I'd change is me.  That hit me hard.  I love my family so very much.  First there is my wife, Sherry.  I love my sons.  I love my step daughter and grand children.  I found my Mom and sisters this past year and I love them oh so very much.  I got Aunts and Uncles that I can't remember their names yet but I'm working on that one.  I hope I can spend more time with Momma.

I hope to get out and do some of the things I did in the past that gave me joy like fishing and target shooting.  I can't ride a motorcycle much anymore but I can go short distances.  I hurt though.  I like to get out and work in the yard and tinker with stuff.  I got an old 76 Chevy truck that I like.  It's fun to drive but looks bad.

I tell ya, for someone who doesn't like New Years resolutions I have been hitting the nail on the head mighty close.  I might be writing a doable bucket list.

Writings of Irish Joe Harrison: You're Really Surprised???

Writings of Irish Joe Harrison: You're Really Surprised???: You’re Really Surprised??? By Joe Harrison Yesterday I was watching a CNN reporter interviewing a former marine on the issue of g...