Nature Songs ~~~~

NOVEMBER, 2001 ~ continued

November 10, 2001 - OUCH! Double ouch! Triple ouch! The whole day has been a gigantic ouch!! Every time I get up from the sitting position to standing is torture supreme. The lower back screams out in rebellion with the tiniest of movements. Giggles was the last of the kids to go to sleep - again! She was the first to wake up this morning. I had to have NascarKid in Morganton by noontime for his tryout for Blast Soccer. That’s a fancy name for indoor soccer which is a much faster game than the traditional. Giggles was asleep in her carseat once we arrived and I sat in the car with her. After she woke up, I let her play beside the car on the slides.

There was no way for me to walk clear across the soccer playing fields to the very last one on the other side. DynoKid had a friend from the past years of playing soccer that he ran around with until Giggles woke up, then he and his friend kept an eye on Giggles for me. I sat for a short time at a table under the shelter beside the small playground area, but soon had to return to the car where my back was supported by the carseat. It was after two when we drove through at the KFC near the soccer complex for more popcorn chicken for the kids lunch. They ate as I drove them back to their house to meet Tbird.

No way could I stay and attend the band concert and see NascarKid perform for the very first time. No way could I attempt to stop at the nursing center and visit even a few moments with Mother. All I wanted to do was make it back home and take some joy pills to ease the pain and spasms attacking even the smallest of movements of my being.

November 11, 2001 - I was looking forward to taking a box of goodies to church this morning for the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Shoe Box Ministry of presents for children. I was not able to go shopping yesterday afternoon as I had planned to fill a box. I will just send a check as I have done for the past several years which can be used on getting them delivered or purchase items for an age group which needs more.. I am having trouble with sitting and standing anyway so I have opted not to attend church this morning. I also had planned to make a trip to Barnes and Noble in Hickory to see if I could exchange my Perl book. They sent me a second edition when I ordered it off Internet instead of the third. I’m not moving well today. I’m not feeling up to my peak performance for going and doing..

It’s early yet, but perhaps I will be able to get up the strength and willpower to get out and spend some time with Mother. She spends so much time alone when I don’t get over to visit. It’s not good for one to stay alone as much as she does.

November 12, 2001 - Sunday recap: No church. Mid afternoon visiting with Mother. She had gone to the dining room for a Halloween Party the last day of October and got several treats. Her choice from treats being offered was three bottles of nail polish - rosy pink, red and clear. Now she sports two coats of the bright glossy red upon her fingernails.

I did drive down to B&N in Hickory after leaving the nursing home. Boy! Is that place busy! It was my first time to enter the doors of the huge book wonderland. The Coffee Shop is almost as large as a few restaurants in the area. I could spend days wandering around just browsing through the rows of mind delights available. There was not a problem with exchanging the Perl, second edition sent to me through the mail for the Third. I had to pay almost five dollars for the difference in price. If I had mailed it back, I would have spent about the same amount on shipping and moreover, waited several weeks Now I can stay abreast with the lessons.

Other than a few calls, Mother was the only one I talked with yesterday. Charlie and Oreo had my undivided attention throughout the day. Last evening was filled with the enjoyment of taking in a two hour television program, Billy Joel: In His Own Words. Along with his ever popular music, there was a hint of some classical piano renditions he has composed. He had invited a Classical Pianist to play several movements and did a two-piano section as well. There is a CD available of the classical pianist doing some of his compositions. The program was repeated at 1 a.m. and I got double enjoyment in one evening. I dosed off and on during the second go-round, but still got a lot of enjoyment

This afternoon, I may be called upon to pick up our Buddy Boy. Allan works today and I have offered to help them out with Buddy Boy since he is older and I don’t have to lift him around, etc. He looks forward to coming here and searching through the Deacon’s Bench. From the outside, it sits under the window and is Charlie’s perch for watching the outside world. Lifting up the seat; inside is a child’s wonderland of assorted toys accumulated throughout the lifetime of my grandchildren. A few school kindergarten items were tossed in which I had purchased when once I taught the little ones.

With any luck at all today, I’ll pick up Bonnie this morning and we will get our water workout done. My back is not as tight as it was Saturday, but I’m still having to walk all bent over when first I rise from the seated position. In Mother’s favorite tune, “The old gray mare ain’t what it used to be!” Perchance some of the stiffness will ease up if I go gently with stretches and bask in the steam room for a while.

The drought condition is playing havoc with my plants put out last Spring. I’m going to try and water them today. Guess I can do the old pull-the-plastic-chair-around-the-yard-and-sit-as-I-water game. Times like this is when I wish I had one of those self-propelled chairs to get out and around. I could do so much more and be a part of more activities. On the other hand, it’s difficult to admit I would actually need such a machine. But ... on the other hand ..... I missed the annual Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte for the second year in a row because Tbird has her own thing to do and I didn’t wish to both her with pushing me around to take part in the event. I have yet to take in all of the Western Carolina Expo and its 250 shops for the same reason. Do I dare get up the nerve to talk with the doctor about getting around? Probably, not! A golf cart would be good here around the house.

Whoa! Who said I was to make any kind of trip out of town today? It certainly was one I wasn’t thinking about ... the phone rang about the same time I entered the house after returning from Quest. “Mom? Oh good, I’m glad I caught you. Did you remember that DynoKid goes to the dentist today for the sealant on his teeth?”

Er,...why would I have cause to remember that? “What time is his appointment?” “I’m not sure. I was sitting here in the office talking to .... and happened to remember today is the day. Let me call the dentist’s office and I’ll call you back.”

Sounds like I’ll be busier today that expected. The phone rings almost as soon as I hang up. “Mom, his appointment is at 12 noon. Can you leave now to pick him up?” Now??? It’s already after 11! “I’ll try to make it over there if you will have him waiting at the office for me.”

A few seconds later the phone rings again. “Mom, my friend is going into Morganton and she will be glad to take DynoKid to the dentist, if you will meet her there and then bring him back to school.” Sure, that’s better than going by the school first. It cuts my distant down to more than half what it could have been. When I arrive at the office, I walked into the waiting room. It is empty all but a bag on the floor with some food in it and a box of juice sitting on the floor beside it. Picking up the bag I mention to the receptionist, “This must be DynoKid’s lunch? I’ll get it up off the floor before someone else comes in.” It was only a few minutes until the next patient did enter.

DynoKid didn’t want his packed lunch because “Dad packs the same thing every day. I want some chicken.” Being the doting Grandmother as many others are, I drove by KFC and got him some popcorn chicken to munch on as I drove him back to school. With him back in class, I headed back to Caldwell County. Since I had to drive right by the nursing home, I stopped to visit a while with Mother.

Mother was not in a happy mood. In fact, she was in a horrible frame of mind. She was in bed. She wanted to stay in bed. She hated the nursing home and was ready to come home. She could walk anywhere she wanted to, do anything she wanted to and needed no help from anybody - including me! All of her talk left me treading across dozens of raw eggs with trepidation for fear of breaking them. Anything I said was wrong. At no point would she admit that she would need any help whatsoever. All she needed was to get home! I finally said, “All right, Mother. That’s fine. Anytime you are ready, get up and walk around here and show everyone how you can do everything. When you walk up to the nurse’s station and back by yourself, we’ll make plans for you to come home.”

November 13, 2001 - Busy, busy day planned. Not that I meant to have such a busy day, but that’s how it’s been going for me lately. Before any other calls today, NascarKid called to say that Mom and Dad both had doctor appointments this afternoon. They needed me to pick up the children for them. That’s getting to be a habit. Seems like it may be eight or nine school days straight.... but who’s counting ...

My talking with Ms. Jay was cut a little short this morning since I was picking up Bonnie and make the eight o’clock class. Ms. Jay had our second water class and the three of us stayed for the special cooking demonstration which took the place of our Weight Management Program. Today was our friends that have the new cookbook out on cooking with herbs. They has some excellent recipes for fixing quick foods for breakfast and for appetizers. It was interesting that Tim’s were all seasoned a little on the “hot” side while Jan’s were much milder. Both were good and I’m sure there was little left after everyone had gone back for seconds - and I’m sure there were some thirds, too.

Dad called shortly before I was to leave to pick up the children. He said that he would be finished up by 4:45 and would be at Valdese Hospital if that would be any help for me. Certainly! It would be right on my way and I was glad to meet him there. So I made the rounds to the two schools, KFC for popcorn chicken (yes, again!!!) and then picked up Giggles. The three of them consumed the chicken in no time at all as I drove back toward Rutherford College. The children had really thought they would be spending time at the house.

After making the change over from one car to another, I proceeded on to Caldwell County - again. This time I stopped at Ingles Grocery Store and bought a few things. Then, again, I stopped by to visit with Mother for a short time. She was out of bed today, but still in a foul mood. In fact, she was sitting with the television on, but the sound was turned off and in the semi-dark silence since her lights had not been turned on. I stayed until after she had her supper and then headed home to get some things done. But, I didn’t do anything this evening. For some reason, I actually sat and listened and watch the Michael Jackson 30th anniversary program. It wasn’t all that bad.

Now to see how tomorrow goes... Will they call for me to make the 61 mile round trip again? Should I start charging so much per mile for use of my new car? That would help make the payments on it .... Can I make it to workout in the water all five days this week? Do I wear my same red hat on Friday when we meet again? Should I put together a different one? I managed to make some signs to put around Q4L yesterday morning to remind the girls. There is even a bight red hat on it to catch their attention.

November 14, 2001 - Sort of strange today. The phone never rang this morning. No call from my daughter pleading for help today. No call from Ms. Jay touching base with me as usual. The whole day passed without any sound from Tbird or her children. I did wave at Ms. Jay this evening as I was driving out the drive to visit with Mother. Allan called to see how things are going - and to ask if I’d hem some new curtains for the house. As a matter of fact, I believe Allan was the only one to call me all day. Strange; strange indeed.

Bonnie rode with me to workout this morning. I took her home and then came in to rest a bit before finally getting the dishes washed up and the kitchen sink emptied and scrubbed clean. Seems that everyone was tired this morning. Our instructor on Wednesday is expecting her baby next month. She wasn’t feeling well today either. She had brought some Gatorade along with her and kept taking a swig every little bit. That is unusual for her to do and she had a slight cough.

Perhaps the weather is getting to everybody. It is so dry and not the slightest inkling of any rain in the forecast. Here in our area we have had no rain at all this month. With all the dry leaves dancing around with the least little breeze, there is a dangerous fire condition prevailing. North Carolina had 59 recorded fires on Monday - alone! Here in our county have been some and once the spark gets into the leaves, the fire spreads in no time. A truck wrecked and caused one fire up along the Burke-Caldwell county line. Some crews from out of state had to come in and help with it. One fire was started by some beavers. Seems that in gnawing down a tree to dam up more water around his home, he wasn’t very careful about which direction the tree was felled. It came down across a power line, breaking it in two and the sparks from the loose line dancing around was soon a forest fire. Around 125 acres burned before it was brought under control. I really should get out and water some of the plants in my yard because of the lack of rain.

I made my first trip today to the drugstore for picking up my medicines this month. There was a coupon in the paper for buying Cokes at two dollars for twelve cans with a limit of five cases. Lugging them into the shopping cart and going to the ckeckout counter, the man in front of me and I both were surprised to learn that the coupon would not be honored for this area. Apparently, it was for the Charlotte stores only. The checkout girl allowed him to get six packs at the special rate for us which was a limit of three cases. She would only allow me to have the three... makes one wonder ... no, I wasn’t all that interested in going back to get another one anyway.... I left her with two cases of twelve cans to lug back from whence they came.

I went on to Wally World to pick up some bottled Cokes for Mother. She will not drink the ones from cans... That’s a whole story in itself. They were only $2.50 for a six pack, so I got two packs for her. Her stash of candy had dwindled down to nearly zero, so I stocked up on more candy to use in her candy bowl. It’s really sort of a large plastic mixing bowl with a tight fitting lid. While I had nothing particular in the works pushing me to hurry, I walked around to window shop a spell. Christmas items are popping up all over the place and it’s hard to get into a merry mood while it is still warm, dry and trees still have pretty fall colors prevailing.

Fall and Thanksgiving items are already on sell. I noticed that the wreaths were marked down and picked out a cute one to use on the door to Mother’s room. It won’t be there for long this year, but I’ll store it on the top shelf of her closet for use next fall season. It’s got a cute little doll in the center as if it’s looking out a window, and the doll is a little white headed grandmotherly looking lady with her hair up on her head and glasses perched on her nose. Right beside the Fall sale items were poinsettias for Christmas. I chose some pretty pink ones this year to put on Dad’s grave and some sparkly white leaves and berries to mix in with the pink. Dad’s favorite color for flowers was pink. He especially loved pink roses.

The Novice Yoga Class I signed up for online may have given me more help than any one thing has in a very long time. There seems to be quite a few of us in the group with back problems, over weight and other problems. Our instructor knows of a lady who has devised a video and program especially for our concerns. I tried finding the video through Barnes & Noble to no avail, but I did find the Shoosh Cretzer Website which also offers the video for sale online. I’ve ordered it and look forward to when it comes so I can sample what it has to offer. It may be something that may be used at Quest. Working with others is often better than doing the movements at home alone. If something isn’t quite right someone else could possibly give some pointers and help.

Appropriately, an article in the Charlotte newspaper recently addressed the same problem.Disability, Chronic Illness Prevent Millions Who Need It From Exercise,went on to state that “access to exercise for those with special needs is often intertwined with - and as a result, often hindered by - the medical system.” In other words, often the very ones that need the use of Physical Therapy and use of gyms are the ones that are overlooked and misunderstood. There are no suitable programs for those with disabilities or special needs. I’ve been that route way too may times throughout the years of having to deal with my back!

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