To Catch Up

It has been awhile since I made an effort to post anything.  The weather has been so rough here in the Carolina's.  I remember one good day since New Years.  Seems like we would have some bad weather but there would always be a break in a couple of weeks at most where you could do a few things outside, but not this year.   haven't had the Harley out of the building in forever.  Battery is dead I am sure.  we did get a couple of days it was good enough to get out to the range for some target practice.  Wind was up both times and it was difficult shooting at 300 yards.

My wife is pretty sick as of late.  The cancer has been hard on her and the meds are hard on her too.  I know she really has been thru the wringer for a long time now.   It just seems like more appointments more tests and the outcome is not good for the long haul.  The cancer is terminal, metastasized and liable to show up anywhere.  Her Doc said she has a life expectancy of 2 to 3 years.  I am there fighting the fight along with her and we will be strong for one another.

I seem to think a lot before going to sleep.  My mind wanders on everything.  I try to remember my childhood and different parts of it.  I was thinking tonite about the furnace we had,  It was in the floor with a grate over it in the hallway.  The furnace burned oil and at night you could see the glow from the fire on the walls when the lights were off.  I don't remember how the settings on it probably because I wasn't allowed to mess with them.  It kept us warm in the winter and that's what counted I suppose.  I do remember the oil tank behind the bathroom window out back of the house.  we had a gas range and Mommas cooked every meal.  She was a great cook and I didn't appreciate it when I was kid but when I went off to the Army and came back home I did!

They say you cannot live in the past but it's nice to visit from time to time.  I miss the people of those times and wish I could still talk to them.  I miss my loved ones who are gone now and many friends who have gone before me.

I found an old friend and had a great time chatting on facebook.  He's a writer and has a book on Kindle.  I read just about all of it at one sitting as they used to say.  It's good and I hope he writes many more.  Best of luck my friend,

I need to go on to bed its about 230AM.  The good thing about retirement you can stay up as late as you want.  Take a nap during the day if you get tired.  Just an old lazy bones, that's me.

This picture is for my old friend who may enjoy it.  I took it at Ft Moultrie SC.

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.

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.

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.

Rock Island M1911 Wide Body Hi Cap

Rock Island M1911 Wide Body Hi Cap

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

"Gnat" shooting -RC Planes and Shotguns!