Nature Songs ~~~~
JULY, 2002 ~
July 5, 2002 ~ The Day After Review ~~ As with Fourth of July Celebrations in the past and my family, activities were planned on the spur of a moment. Tbird was the instigator for making decisions and contacts for family togetherness and local fireworks. We were to meet early in the parking lot out front of Quest 4 Life to insure a good spot for observing fireworks and make an easy escape to avoid the mad rush once the display ended. One would have to live in this county to experience how some drive and take chances. The comment most often used, “only in Caldwell County,” is vividly demonstrated when a large group of cars have only three accesses to the main road. Even last night and our being parked close to the exit we experienced some of it. A lady next to us wanted out. Allan kept motioning for her to go ahead of us while he blocked the traffic, but she was too timid to attempt moving. Someone behind her was more than ready to make a mad dash and - zoom! - life in hand for him and those that might be in his way, he veered quickly around her, cutting in front of a truck and pedal to the metal traveling way too fast headed out - only to have to slam on his brakes to keep from rear-ending the cars ahead stopped for passing cars on the roadway. There had to be a bunch more driving the same way throughout the parking lot, for that’s the way they drive. No, I don’t drive that way and my children don’t either. The boys have both been to many a wreck since they have been driving to pick up the pieces when cars collide with other objects and other cars since they have both been in the rescue squad and had their EMT training when still teenagers.
Back to yesterday, I’m not sure how all that first paragraph happened. I intended to write about other things.
After making arrangements for the fireworks, Tbird wanted me to drive up to Powder Horn Resort with her and two of the Grandkids. She wanted to check out the house where her family and her best friend and his family will spend their vacation together this year. It has been over twenty years since they started the tradition of spending a week each summer on vacation together and so far they have covered the area from Canada, Florida and Nevada and other points within. No summer has been skipped, surprisingly. This time they will have the six children all in one house which will be interesting, I’m sure.
Riding to the resort, we rode down highway 268 which follows along side the Yadkin River. This is one area of the county that has not become infested with housing developments and businesses other that nurseries. The large plots of new trees and bushes add to the pristine land along the way. Just across the Wilkes County Line we took a turn left on to Elk Creek Road and followed it about a dozen miles before making a right turn onto an even more remote area. Trees formed a canopy which provided shade from the hot sun. We were following along side yet another creek and most of the road was unpaved. All the cars coming toward us were riding the middle of the road and had to move over as we passed.
The house was about six or seven turns off the road once we arrived at the resort. I’d have a problem finding it again. Everything was clean and in order. Stuff was left in the frig and had froze, so Tbird empty it out. She placed some plates with baking soda on them around to help take away the closed up musty smell and turned on the dehumidifier, and we headed back to Lenoir.
As we arrived home, so did a warning for severe thunderstorms and there was some concern about how we would carry out the plans for the evening. All of us figured it would not rain much, if at all. There was a light rain, but no storm and as we had planned to have a tailgate supper together as we waited for the fireworks to begin, we had to eat in our cars. Three cars lined up side by side with room to move around a bit between two of them to give the children a safe place to move about. Tbird and Hubby decided they wanted Japanese food while Wes made a trip to KFC for the rest of us. We saved him a place until he arrived. Of course since he brought the food, he was the one to carry it back and forth dishing out helpings of chicken, potato wedges and biscuits.
Before the light rain stopped, the sun came out and gave us a beautiful rainbow crossing completely across the sky with both ends showing. Within the rainbow the sky was a beautiful hue of pinkish, purplish red adding a hint of an entrance of some sort. The middle of the rainbow remained that way the whole time and the colors of the rainbow intensified as darkness began to slip in and overtake it and its mysterious entrance.
Darkness fell around us, and the fireworks began. A wonderful array of colors, shapes and actions which included three smiley faces. This year seemed to have more fireworks than last year and some new ones were included. It did seem strange for me to be sitting in my own car since Allan drove me and three of the Grandchildren for the viewing. This was the first time I wasn’t in Wes’ car with Busy Kid - windows rolled up and music playing to keep him from being scared by the loud bangs. Luckily, the noise was less with only about three or four of the loud booms and word was that Busy Kid did better and watch more.
Another Fourth of July has slipped past but not to be forgotten.
July 8, 2002 ~ More Bear-In-Minds Recalled! ~~ The usual greeting used by many was “Howdy!” when passing on the street or in a store or church many years ago. When asked how you were doing the answer many times would be, “Fair t’a middl’n.” Along with the invention of the refrigerator and the electric wires run along the ceiling paired together in order to work and a porcelain separator keeping them from touching together, the metal ice cube trays made an appearance. In order to get the ice out of the trays, first the metal lever had to be lifted to loosen the cubes and break them apart. Camera’s were a black clumsy box until the Brownie camera’s made an appearance making it easier to carry around. The first flash bulbs (blue, no less) had to be placed one at a time on the camera and could only be used once. Then came the cube with four flashes on it. What an improvement. We marveled at all this newfangled stuff.
Want to eat out or meet up with friends? The corner cafe had parking lot service with covered rows of parking spaces to drive up to and order from the menu beside the car. Music blared out from the speakers mounted up along the edge of the cover. What could be better! Movie? Several drive-ins were around to chose from. Usually one price per car regardless of how many could be jammed behind its doors. Rows of speakers hung from poles and all you had to do was drive up to one of them and if you wanted to, the speaker could be hung on the window of the car. Snacks were served from the same building housing the film projectors and often, a boy would make rounds selling snacks much like the baseball games.
I have a not-to-fond memory of the washtub wringer. Generally a well worn stick was kept near the machine to use for jabbing clothing through the wringer. One had to be real chancy to attempt starting a piece of clothing through without the stick. I was the one taking the chance and one day my arm got stuck in the wringer up to my elbow. Mother was there and hit the release button which loosened the two rollers a bit, but my arm was still stuck and she had to turn of the machine. It took some tugging to finally get my tingling hand and arm out. It felt as if needles were running all up and down the affected area, and this did not go away in a day ...
Dad would climb in his two-door blue Studebaker and make his door-to-door rounds selling Fuller Brush items. He had regular customers looking for his return each month and often sold more cosmetics than brushes and accessories. He had a good eye for what looked good and how the cosmetics should be applied and the ladies relied on him for advice. It was Dad that taught me how to apply my own makeup. In his words, it was best to not wear too much and always work to make what you wore look natural. He worked his way up to manager of the region and moved to Asheville to train new workers. One of them loved to tell about an older lady working out in the garden when he arrived. She called for him to come out into the garden - no bother to her that he was in dress clothes. Once out in the middle of the field, he was more than miffed when all she desired was the free item always given at each visit. He was very careful as he made tracks back to the edge of the garden: he stepped on every cabbage plant as he retreated!
The blue Studebaker had one redeeming feature unlike any other car. It happened that the very first new car Dad bought was one of those that failed to run properly. After many trips to have it worked on without success, he drew a large yellow lemon on each door. The car became well known throughout town and on hot summer evenings when the racetrack was open, it could be found out in front of the bevy of race car drivers as the pace car.
Dad moved on to the Pontiac for his next car purchase and enjoyed the style so much that from then on that was the only car he would consider to replace the older versions. Another of the oldies that faded away like the Studebaker was the Packard. There used to be a lot of them seem on the narrow roadways. All of these earlier models had other things in common such as a dimmer switch for the head lamps on the floorboard, no power steering, no turn signals and even a choke button for helping to start the car when you pushed the start button and the engine was sluggish. The button for the windshield wipers was also on the dash. (I generally paid about 30 cents a week for gas.)
The very first McDonald’s in our area was in Asheville. My aunt drove us up the mountain one Sunday afternoon and pulled into the tiny business which was filled with eager buyers of the new burgers. The choice for what you bought was not like it is today. In the beginning it was the burger, a drink and fries. The first burgers were only fifteen cents. A short time later, the cheese burger was added for only twenty cents. What a highlight this was for all of us!
Life fifty years ago was a time when ...
** Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, “Do over!” If it were not done in the classroom that meant staying after school until the work was done correctly.
** “Race issue” meant arguing about who ran the fastest or rode their bike faster.
** It wasn’t odd to have two or three “best” friends.
** The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
** Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.
** A foot of snow was a dream come true.
** Children came to school in the dead of winter barefoot because they couldn’t afford shoes.
** The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
** War was a card game.
** Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
** Doctors made house calls regularly.
**Recess time at school often was spent turning flings around a metal bar to see how many times you could do it without stopping.
** Going to play a game of basketball meant climbing into the principal’s car (who also was the coach) to get to the opposing team’s school.
** Rabbit ears were used in order to get (hopefully) a not too fuzzy picture on the black and white TV. Often metal was added to one or both ears to help with improving the reception as they were rotated in search of the evasive beam.
** A promise made was a promise kept ... no matter what. A simple handshake would seal a deal.
A life of simple people living simple lives was evident. Along with the simplicity there was contentment and acceptance. Would it ever be possible to return to a time of less stress and toil?
July 10, 2002 ~
So early - 3 a.m. - when a car chugs up the drive in total darkness
Muffler resounding loudly as it brings the morning paper
All too soon the alarm clock emits its music as the daylight awakens
Announcing the start of another hot day ahead for one and all
Recycling day, but the truck has yet to show and collect its quarry
Breakfast followed by the hoard of medicines prescribed each day
An extremely hot drought stricken day is confirmed by weathermen
Lazy, hazy, sultry hot and humid; only a chance of thunderstorms
Hopes of feeling cooling water of a scattered shower seem slim
Grass turns browner; moisture-starved red clay sport even larger
Spreading, deepening cracks networking along the ground.
Ozone slips throw the weakening natural barrier in the sky
Making life more miserable as it reaches the orange level of dangers
No Grandkids around all this week; they are off on quests of their own
Three are in the mountains seeking a breeze of cool vacation air.
One chose to attend Summer Band Camp improving his percussion
Sharing a dorm room with three other boys and making new friends
Two remaining home are as usual in daycare each day
The morning progresses with the usual daily events
Next door neighbor calls to check in with me and chat awhile
Medicine by the handful gulped down ensuring better health
Craft and quilting programs on TV are watched to learn new ideas
Computer beckons; email checking, journal entry and more
Clean dishes emptied from dishwasher stored for later use
Clean clothes emptied from dryer are folded or hung and dispersed
Another load of dirty clothes is dumped in to wash and spin dry
Some things need to be rearranged before the housekeeper arrives
Yes, housekeepers hate to see an unnecessary piles of clothes and such
As I venture out in the heat, for the daily visit to the nursing center
This also is the day for a stop by the grocery; watermelon heads the list
Perchance the meal of the day I’ll choose from a drive-through source
Mailbox checked and mail brought in along with both daily papers
The best page of the newspaper being the crossword puzzle and Wuzzle
A surprise visit from one of my sons would be greatly appreciated
Meanwhile Oreo and Charlie demand equal rights and attention one-on-one
Dilly and dallying intertwined; food for body and soul not neglected
The day all too soon signals a time to close and prepare for the day ahead
July 14, 2002 ~ Disappoint and Disquietude ~~ Life has its own little quirks here and there with the passing days. There is no guarantee that things will be as we may wish. Those times come all too often when the opposite rings out loud and clear. Exuberance causes bright smiles and feelings of well-being when all is right with the world around us. Excruciating disappointment is felt with all hopes and dreams are dashed about on the huge boulders tossed about to pound in the harrowing experiences. Not knowing how the storm cast upon me may end leaves me with apprehension and dread of what may lie ahead.
The past seven months have been difficult and scary, but manageable as the infection in my finger so quickly turned into an abscess. The redness, soreness, swelling and discomfort experienced seemed to be within my control and acceptance. After all, it was only a finger that got mysteriously infected and it would heal. Months passed and it did heal to some degree. The leader controlling the end digit was gone, it no longer responded and hung there. However, inflammation kept it swelling whenever I attempted to use it. Where the infection erupted on the top of the finger had healed, but the skin remained quite tender and a soft place was under it. Not to worry, though; surely with time, it would get better.
Finally, it was evident that the end digit would have to be stabilized by fusing it to the next joint. Again, it didn’t seem to be such a big deal because I’d already had one toe fused and knew the procedure. There would be a pin inserted with the handy-dandy Black & Decker drill, throw on a piece of metal and tape it down with some trusty silver duct tape for good measure to hold all in place and healing would take place. OOPS! Somewhere along the way, the finger didn’t get the message of what was expected of it.
The office visit two weeks after the surgery went well, or so I thought. Some dead skin was evident, but it cleaned up quickly with some peroxide and a Band-Aid quickly covered the nasty looking incision. All that skin was around the same spot where the original abscess perched. An appointment was made to come back in three weeks and I left for home with some coban tape for holding the splint securely in place when I changed the dressing.
Next day, while Allan was here, I changed the dressing on my finger so he could rewrap it for me. Yuck! The band-aid was filled up where the open wound was draining. That didn’t look good, but not thinking too much about it, the peroxide was poured on several times to cleanse it and Allan proceeded to wrap it for me. He wrapped it tightly causing it to hurt and bother me, so I loosen the coban. About 2 a.m., I was up and unwrapping my finger. It was hurting way too much to be ignored. The band-aid was once again overflowing. I spent a while at the computer and gave the wound time to air out some before re-wrapping the finger. This time I decided I needed to soak it in a betadine solution before allowing it to dry some. A gnawing feeling was beginning to slip in the backdoor of my mind.
I waited until going to visit Mother at the nursing center before opening the bandage the next day. It hurt like everything. I had been so cold after going back to bed last night, I folded my blanket over me to get warm. Apparently, I was running a fever as I look back at the events taking place. The floor nurse took a look at the finger and announced it looked like cellulitis was setting it what with the swelling. The deep red color left no doubt about an infection. She quickly told me I needed to call my doctor. I called him from Mother’s phone and as the modern day service works this day and age, I had to leave a message on the answering machine for his nurse since she was busy ...
The drugstore phoned a message they had filled a prescription for me. It had to be an antibiotic phoned in for my finger! The nurse at the doctor’s office is new and she failed to return my call. So, guess I’ll see how things progress until Monday and phone again if the finger isn’t greatly improved. Tuesday when the doctor changed the dressing, the problem was already beginning. I began the medicine Thursday evening. Saturday, it appeared that perhaps the area was cleared of all the dead skin since I’ve been soaking it with the betadine each day and trying to work out the bad areas. The huge hole is larger than ever, stitches have not dissolved completely across the incision made and a huge black area is at the base of the nail that will have to peel off at some time - and the pin sticks out the end of the finger ...
Throughout the seven months, I’ve had confidence that all will be well with the finger. So what if it looks different! That has not been a concern up until now. Here in the eighth month, I have a stabbing fear. All is not well. All is not going as it should. I have to wonder why now? What is causing the problem? What is going to happen next? Will the finger heal? I am tired. I don’t feel well. That nagging twinge will not leave ... will it or will it not? Yes, disappointment fills my intermost being and prayer is all that I can rely on for strength to carry me on.
Sign Guestbook ~ ~ View Guestbook
Lenoir,NC 28645
United States
©2002 by Stormy Jeanne
