Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Decorate for Fall



As September ends, I think hallelujah! The hot, Houston summer is ending. Of course, it won’t cool down here until November, but the idea of fall brings excitement.

I usually put up a fall tree, and then decorate it for Christmas. I can’t do that this year. I threw away the artificial tree last year and haven’t bought a new one. That’s on my to do list, but they are expensive.

 Two Years Ago, I had a lovely tree.

We have traveled to New England several times in the past, and the first visit stands in my memory as the best. We rented a car and drove around Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. 


As we journeyed through neighborhoods, the yard décor impressed me. People had pumpkins, mums, scarecrows, and they were creative with hay and wagons.






The scenery was inspirational. 

I wish more of us did that thing here in my area. We do a bit, but not at 

all like those New Englanders.

We go all out for Christmas, but that’s another subject.

Here's my mantle this year.


I decorated the entire kitchen, but here's part of it.

 


Happy Fall, Y'all


Be sure to read my latest book!







Wednesday, September 4, 2024

A Hot July

 

July is hot in Texas. Very hot, but it is the month of my birth, so I usually celebrate it with joy.

Not July 2024.

My dear friend, Mary Vaeth and I began the month of June with optimism. She is a neighbor, and we met years ago at our monthly book club. We clicked at once. Even though Mary is twelve years or so older than me, we had much in common. She loved reading, visiting and writing. We often met for lunch.


One June morning, a few weeks ago, she invited me to her home for coffee. I arrived and followed her into the kitchen. She opened the fridge, removed her creamer, and added it to a cup of cold coffee sitting on the counter. She then took her mug to the table. She forgot to ask me if I wanted to make my coffee. I didn’t say anything, but we sat and talked.






My sweet friend repeated herself more than once, and I knew something was amiss. Mary’s memory and vocabulary were exceptional. I kept looking for unsafe behavior but found none. After our visit, I assured myself she was secure, and I left.  I’m not always with it early in the day, so I thought Mary might be like me on that morning.

Later, Mary’s daughter texted me to check on her mom. I cautiously related the coffee incident. Her daughter thought her mom should see a doctor. Her daughter cares about her mom, and Mary is fortunate to have her.

The doctor said Mary had health issues, but they weren’t severe. So that’s good, right?

Or so we thought.

Mary had talked about going to a retirement home, and she had found one she liked. It a matter of days, or so it seems now, her wise and sweet daughter moved Mary to a new location where people could oversee her care.

Mary was both happy and sad. A new challenge is like that, don’t you think? We are excited to pounce upon a fresh adventure, but reluctant to leave the old.

I visited Mary in her new home on June 18. We had a marvelous lunch.  She had met a few people there, and she introduced me as her “famous author friend.” These new friends invited us to sit with them, but there wasn’t room, and besides, we wanted to visit by ourselves.



Mary ordered meatloaf, and I ordered shrimp with pasta. We had soup and salad first, and we both had chocolate cake for dessert. The portions were small, but it was a scrumptious meal. Most of the residents were older than me, and I guess their appetites were waning. However, snacks were always available, and they had a happy hour with wine.

I found it was a good choice for Mary, but I knew she missed her neighbors and friends.

Toward the end of June, Mary developed health complications and was admitted to the hospital. She had too much fluid on her body. Mary opted for a procedure that had a better chance of keeping fluid from returning.

On June 24, my friend had the procedure. Mary survived and was on the road to recovery. Or so we thought.

On June 26, she was improving.  She was sedated and talking to someone. We didn’t know who. Sedation does that to a person, but on the other hand, people who are close to eternity often see and hear people we don’t.

Mary was Catholic, and she loved Saint Anthony. She often told me, “We are on a first name basis. I sometimes call him Tony.” She knew I was Baptist, and we compared our views. I’d call her at times, and say, “Ask Tony to help me today.” And of course, she would.

I visited her in the hospital on July 4, and she appeared in good spirits. 


She told me to bring our favorite sandwich and fries the next time I came. She passed four days later.

As Hurricane Beryl blew his way though Houston, and Mary decided to fly away with him.

How do we replace friends? Family? We don’t. We splice our hearts with inadequate band aids and live with broken spirits.

But our lives are better for having known and loved these valued people.





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