On one of your visits to my apartment during January or February of 1991, you sat
at my desk and wrote me this note. It may not have seemed like much at the time,
but this note occupies a special spot in the middle of my bulletin board.
Everytime I look at it, I am reminded of my faith in the GOOD LORD and that,
one day, we might all serve as vessels through which His power of love and forgiveness
might shine.
Until that time, I will wait patiently on the GOOD LORD and send you my love
and light each and every day. God Bless You!!
June 19, 2011—
Someday
(by Nancy Joie Wilkie)
Today is the day when all is fine
Yesterday is gone and now is mine—
My hopes and dreams have done their chores
My prayers have opened all the doors—
Now is the time I’ve been waiting for,
No more days—without you here—
This is the day I’ve been waiting for,
No more time—without you here—
Someday soon, I’m tellin’ you
Our ship will sail out of view—
The wind and stars have done their chores
My prayers have brought distant shores—
Now is the time I’ve been waiting for,
No more days—without you here—
This is the day I’ve been waiting for,
No more time—without you here—
Today is the day the sun will shine—
Tonight is the night the stars are mine—
Today is the day my GOD will bring—
Tonight is the night my heart will sing—
June 11–13, 2011
Click here to view the lyrics and the chords to "Someday."
June 03, 2011—
My sincerest apologies for not posting any updates on your Web site for the last three weeks. A myriad of obstacles kept popping up every time I sat down to write—the most notable incident being an automobile accident last Saturday. My Mom collided with another car and both cars were totalled. While this might sound bad, Maryland Law now states that if the total estimated damage is greater than or equal to three quarters of the Blue Book value of the vehicle, the insurance company must declare the car a total loss. The two automobiles were a 1999 VW Passat (actually my Dad's car) and a 2002 Mazda.
Both cars not worth much and, therefore, totalled.
Fortunately, no one in the other car was injured. My Mom sustained lots of bumps and bruises and a rather nasty gash across the top of her right hand requiring 20+ stitches. If you have ever been in an automobile accident, you know all of the rig-a-ma-roll and paperwork that follows. And guess who gets to handle all of these chores for my Mom? Yep—me!
So my Mom is getting along okay—but I have had to take the rather extreme action of taking away the keys to her other car. No more driving for her. This was a very difficult decision to make. I would hate to see someone get hurt—or worse—had I not done this. I pray that I give up my car keys gracefully when my time comes! Please keep her in your thoughts and pray for a speedy recovery!
Hope all is well with you and that you had a great Memorial Day weekend!
May 30, 2011—
Quite on the spur of the moment, I bought a ticket via the Internet to go and see the Washington Nationals play the Philadelphia Phillies play at Nationals Stadium on Memorial Day. While it was a bit warm, my usual seats in the first-base club section (where your tickets were) provided ample shade throughout the entire game. While the Nationals did eventual loose, it was a see-saw battle and I got to see Roy Halladay pinch! And I had good connections going in and going out on the Metro!
Wish you and your sister were with me!
May 28, 2011—
Donald and Elayne (my cousin and his wife who live in Columbia, MD) had a big graduation party for their daughter, Michelle (your second cousin) today (Saturday). Lots o' family members, great fun, really good food, and a special guest appearance by my Aunt Betty. My Mom and I had stopped by to visit with Betty on our way to the party—so we got to see her twice.
Michelle didn't actually graduate from High school until Wednesday, June 01, but they decided to have the party a bit early because more folks would be able to attend. One person that was not in attendance was Matthew, her brother (also your second cousin, of course). He is visiting his girlfriend who happens to live just outside Kiev, Russia—not exactly convenient when you think about it!
And, oh yes—Michelle's graduation present is a trip to Hawaii (the big island) and Maui! Her whole family is going! Should be a really nice time!
May 26, 2011—
Your cousin Melodi graduated from Towson University today with her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. She has just three more classes to complete before she can apply for her LCPC certification (licensed clinical psychiatric counselor). She plans to take one class per semester and, with luck, be certified within one year. She was very fortunate to have secured a part-time position (three days per week) at the clinic while she finishes up her course work. My Dad would be so proud of her!
After the ceremony, we headed backed to her apartment—which is just off campus and very nice—for a little refreshment and then it was off to a local "watering hole" for a gathering of her classmates and their family and friends. All and all, a very nice affair!
May 16, 2011—
It is Monday now—my guest here at the beach has gone home and I am here at the beach by myself. Most of the time I am okay with this. But today it is difficult for some reason. I am really missing my Dad.
At about two o'clock in the afternoon, I decided to take a long walk through Bethany Beach and up and down the beach. To help increase the number of calories I would be burning, I loaded up my backpack with weights. After about a mile or so, the weights were digging into my back.
Now understand that when I walk, I am usually saying my prayers. Coincidently, the irritation by the weights came right when I was praying on my Dad. I looked down the path a ways and saw that there was a bench just up ahead. I decided to stop there and re-pack my backpack.
Just as I sat down, I saw a baseball sitting in the middle of the bench! As I have mentioned more than once in my postingss to you, my Dad and I loved to watch baseball games together. I smiled immediately! The baseball was a reminder that my Dad is still watching over me! He was just reaching out to say "hi" and let me know he is with me! Praise Jesus for such things!
May 13, 2011—
I drove over to Bethany Beach today to spend a few days. A friend of mine will drive over tomorrow (Saturday) to join me and spend the night. I always enjoy having a guest and doing the barbeque thing in the evening and making Belgian waffles the next morning!
Would love to share this with you sometime!
May 15, 2011—
It is hard for me to believe that it was six years ago that I returned from my trip to Scottsdale, AZ! It was the very next week that I started work on my very own Web site—www.mindsights.net. In case you are wondering where I learned how to build Web sites, it was during my two-year stint at The CDM Group where I served as the project manager for the development of the Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS)—a Web-based database for the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Check it out—http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/. You might see a few similarities in the design!
I was so very glad that I was able to unveil the original Mindsights Web Site in August 2005—two months before my Dad's passing. Granted the site did not have everything that it has today. But it had enough—and he was pretty impressed!
So here we are six years later—technology has marched on and much of the code I used to build the site is outdated. And there are many new features available that were not part of a Web developer's pallet then.
I am happy to say that I am 99% complete with an upgrade and re-design of the Mindsights Web presence. Before I officially announce this to the Internet, I thought I would give you an invitation to check out the new Mindsights Web Portal! The address of the portal is the same as the old Mindsights Web Site—www.mindsights.net—
The portal will direct you to one of four new Web Sites—
And, oh yes—take the tour of the entire Mindsights Web Portal and Sites. The first stop is in the lower left hand corner of the portal page. Simply click the logo to start the tour! Also—if you let the Mindsights Web Portal Page sit for about one minute or so, you should start seeing other images come across your screen.
Do enjoy!
May 11, 2011—
A quick note to you about the tickets to the baseball game I sent to you for your birthday. In the note that I sent along with the tickets I said that I would not be there—promise. And I won't. But I also wanted to add that neither will I have any family or friends there checking to see if you show up.
I also wanted to say that I think that it is really important that some sort of trust is established at this point in time. I simply do not want to risk losing what little bit of ground I may have gained with you by trying any funny business. I just want you to enjoy a baseball game, the Washington Nationals, and their new stadium!
As for you—I hope that you take someone special with you! Your sister, a friend, your Mom, or your Grandpa. It doesn't matter to me. Just enjoy your time there! And, oh yes—watch out for fly balls! One missed me by only ten feet last year!
May 10, 2011—
Assuming that you might be checking this Web site every so often, you may have wondered about the lack of postings over the last week and a half. As I mentioned in an earlier posting, I was over at Bethany Beach taking a belated spring break. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the internet connection over there is not very reliable. After starting off with a fairly strong signal, it pretty much went away completely! Salt water in the lines? Who knows?
Any way—I am back home now and trying to catch up on everything—including posting a few notes I collected for you and your sister over the last week! Hope all is well with you!
[You may want to read these chronologically—start at the bottom and read up.]
May 09, 2011—
Six years ago today—It was just another crumby day in Paradise, as my Dad would often say! He was kidding, of course, about it being another crumby day—no, it was another beautiful day! After breakfast, he and I took a two-mile walk down the Indian Basin Wash—neither of had done the southern loop before. Lovely!
It was during this walk that he finally told me that his cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) had returned and that his lymph nodes were causing quite a bit of trouble. He said that when he got back East, he would likely start another round of chemotherapy and radiation. Oh, no—not again. But he made it through that once and was declared cancer free—so he can do it again—right? Had I only know that he would be gone in just over five months.
I flew home that afternoon very concerned, but knowing that I had shared some very special time with my Dad.
Back to the present—This afternoon I headed down to the National Cathedral (Episcopalian—where I was confirmed) to watch a dear friend graduate with her Masters of Divinity degree. I don't know if you have ever been there, but the state flags hang from the rafters on the inside of the church. At one point before the service started I was gazing upward at the stained glass windows and realized that there was no Wyoming flag (my Dad's home state). Curious about this anomaly, I asked one of the tour guides after the service.
She confirmed that the Wyoming was, indeed, not hanging from the rafters. Why? Because it was next to the American flag behind the alter. The guide explained that the cathedral honors one state each week and that this week they were celebrating the Great State of Wyoming!
Upon hearing this, I immediately broke out into a big smile! My day started out with a heavy heart but my Dad had found a way to reach out and touch me on this anniversary of a very special day. Wow! I am shedding a tear as I write this. Thanks, Dad! And God Bless You! I am so terribly grateful for the gift of time that you gave me six years ago!
[For the record—I fly Wyoming state flags both at home and at the beach! I bought these flags in my Dad's hometown of Powell during a visit in June 2006.]
May 08, 2011—
Six years ago today—on 05/08/05—I woke up and read a some more of "Angels and Demons." My Dad knocked on my door again and had another cup of hot coffee for me. He came in, sat down, and again immediately started asking me questions about where I was in the book and what was happening! Too funny!
After breakfast, we head off to church—St. Barnabas on the Desert (Episcopalian). Enjoyable sermon about the interplay between science and religion—which ironically is one of the recurring themes in Dan Brown's books.
In the afternoon, I took another amazingly long walk up the bike path in the Indian River Wash. Then back to get ready to take Mom out for an extra special dinner at the Camelback Inn. In all of my life, I have never seen a buffet like this! Our table was next to the window and we had an excellent view of the northside of Camelback Mountain. Wow!
We paid a visit to the gift shop afterward dinner. I bought a set of coffee mugs with wonderful "suns" on them. My Dad bought a CD containing a great compilation of native American Indian music—which I still listen to all the time.
Back to the present day—I do hope that you and your sister did something nice for your Mom today. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that my brother, his family, and I took my Mom out for dinner Sunday afternoon. We went up to Dutches' Daughter in Frederick, MD. It was pretty good!
Mother's Day is always a day I take to honor not only my Mom, but also my aunts, my grandmothers, and my great aunts—all very special people! I hope that you did the same!
May 07, 2011—
Six years ago today—on 05/07/05—I woke up and read a little bit more of "Angels and Demons." Now understand that my Dad had just read this book. Several minutes after I started reading that was a little knock on my door. It was my Dad standing there with a cup of hot coffee for me. He came in, sat down, and immediately started asking me questions about where I was in the book and what was happening. We chatted for quite a while about the plot. I could tell that he couldn't wait for me to get to the next chapter so we could dissect what was going on! It was fun!
After breakfast we headed off to Camelback Mountain—not a big "mountain," mind you—but certainly a landmark visible from downtown Phoenix. About halfway up, my Dad said that he had to stop and rest, but encouraged me to keep going up the trail so that I could look over the ledge and see the scenery on the northern side. In retrospect, he had not yet told me that his cancer had returned and that he was feeling a little weak. Oh, if only I had known.
In the afternoon we went with my Mom to the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park, just north of Phoenix. Very cool cactus plants! Then back to the hotel and another (much shorter) walk for me.
The very best part of the trip came as my Dad and I headed out to secure one of the barbeque pits in the center of the hotel courtyard. We were drinking some really good cabernet, the breeze was causing the leaves in the trees to dance, the sun was sparkling, the steak was sizzling, and we were having an idyllic moment together. Once the steak was cooked to perfection and fully rested, we headed back inside to have dinner with my Mom. After dinner, we watched Giacomo win the Kentucky Derby.
Another incredible day!
May 06, 2011—
Six years ago today—on 05/06/05—I woke up, read a little bit ("Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown), took a shower, and washed my hair. After breakfast, we headed off in the rental car—a PT Cruiser (which my Dad loved)—and drove northwest up Route 87 into the Tonto National Forest to Payson. Absolutely a pristine day!
After losing ten dollars on the slot machines at the Tonto Apache Indian Reservation Casino just south of Payson, we headed back down Route 87 towards Scottsdale. We stopped to have a picnic lunch at the first scenic overlook. It was during this lunch break that I snapped a couple of photos of my Dad and the PT Cruiser and my Dad and Mom. I am so glad that I have these pictures!
After we arrived back at our hotel (Scottsdale Park Suites), I took a really long walk north up the Indian Bend Wash. Our place was about eight blocks south of Camelback Mountain. By the time I turned around to head back, I was about two blocks north of the mountain. Along the way, I passed a skateboard park, a golf course, some pretty cool condominiums, several ponds, and concrete channels (spillways which were dry at the time). What an awesome walk!
We had a quick happy hour and then head north through downtown Scottsdale and up North Scottsdale Road to a really great Mexican restaurant (El Torito). Then back to our place to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks host the Pittsburgh Pirates on television.
Great day!
May 05, 2011—
Six years ago today—on 05/05/05 (which also happened to be a Thursday)—I flew down to meet my folks in Scottsdale, AZ for a long weekend. My Dad was to give a speech at the Annual American College of Prosthodontists Meeting in mid-May. It was quite an honor for him—and, of course, we didn't know that it was to be his final hurrah. He ask me down—so I went. And I am so very glad that I did.
I arrived just when the sun was setting over the mountains in the west. Beautiful! I had never been to Arizona before! My Dad had arranged to rent the hotel room next to theirs—so I had my own room. Thanks for that!
April 30, 2011—
As you might guess from the pictures, I am down at Bethany Beach for a few days doing some writing and recording. As is my custom, I work from the time I get up until about two o'clock in the afternoon. I then eat a light lunch and head out for a long walk (five miles or so).
I usually end my walks along the beach. Having said my daily prayers during the first part of my hike, I like to allow my thoughts time to roam free while on the beach. Yesterday, I was looking at a big batch of seashells that had washed up during high tide. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shark's tooth. But, alas—as I bent down, I quickly realized that it was just a piece of black sea stone.
I had to laugh. The incident reminded of many walks with your Mom along the beach down at Montross, VA. Perhaps you have made some trips down there to visit your great-grandmother, Mormor. I recall that your Mom always seemed to find a dozen or two shark's teeth—almost effortlessly. In all my visits, I probably can count the number of shark's teeth I found on one hand! My mind wonders whether you inherited this amazing talent from her!
Whether you have or you have not, what is important that you stop to appreciate the grandeur of nature—the smell of the salt air, the roar of the waves heard before you ever see the beach, the cool sand and cold water between your toes, and the sight of sky and sand and sea all coming together at once! Ah, yes!
And—April is almost over—where does the time go?
Hope that you have had a great birthday month!
April 29, 2011—
I am thinking that you probably got up way early to watch the royal wedding—as I did! There is one thing that is always special to me when they show Westminster Abbey—we have a distant relative buried there! Yep! It's true!
If you have read the "Heritage" page on this site, you know that we are distantly related to William Thomson—also know as "Lord Kelvin"—the author of the Third Law of Thermodynamics, the discoverer of "absolute zero" (the temperature at which all molecular motion ceases), and the one credited with the laying of the first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. As one enters the front of the church and walks up towards the altar, off to the left is where Isaac Newton is buried. There is diamond-shaped stone in the floor marking his tomb (as described in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code"). Just to the right of Isaac Newton's stone is a second diamond-shaped stone (touching at the corners if memory serves correct) with the enscription "William Thomson—Lord Kelvin." Lord Kelvin was your great-great-great-grandfather's half-brother! I paid a visit there in March 1979.
There you have it! Your little piece of fame and connection with the wedding!
April 27, 2011—
I am not sure if I have written about this before—my apologies if I have—but even since I was young, I have had two favorite months. Wouldn't you know that they were February and April—not necessarily in that order. Yep! It's true! February for obvious reasons—my birthday—and April because that is when warm weather returns and I do not like winter's cold.
Imagine my delight when my two dear wonderful daughters were born—one in each of my two favorite months! Who says the Universe doesn't have a of humour! So this got me thinking lately what might be special about these months.
There are various theories on where the names for these months came from, but I prefer to think that "April" is derived from the Latin word "aperire" meaning "to open”—no dount a reference to the opening or blooming of flowers which occurs in the month of April—and that "February" is derived from the Latin word "februum" meaning "purification" after the purification ritual "Februa" held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar.
One wonders how a youngin' such as myself ends up having a special affinity for the months derived from the words "purification" and "to open"—and ends up sharing these months with one's children! Hmmm ... I am going to have to ponder this some more! Hoping that you have a favorite month—or two!!
April 26, 2011—
I am sending wishes to you for a wonderful "Golden Birthday"! You are turning twenty-six years old on the twenty-sixth! Very cool! A special birthday card is on its way to you—and it contains a couple of birthday presents for you. Your Grandma Connie also sent a birthday card to you. We do hope that the cards and the presents help you to celebrate your special day!
Click here should you wish to revisit my birthday wish to you two years ago (includes the poem "April Flowers"). Click here should you wish to revisit my birthday wish to you one year ago (includes the song "Laura's Lullaby").
Much love to you, birthday girl!
April 24, 2011—
Before I begin my day, I wanted to post a quick note for you!
I am wishing you a very Happy Easter! May the love and peace of the risen Christ fill your heart and mind this day and always! May you be a ray of sunshine in everyone's life that you touch!
Much love to you on this special day!
April 18, 2011—
Finally! All thirteen tax returns are gone and I am so relieved! I do hope that you got your taxes in on time!
I also wanted to say that I have not received any additional updates from my cousins or their kids regarding the progress of their mom and grandmother—that is to say, my Aunt Betty. So I am assuming that no news is good news! My eldest cousin—and Betty's oldest son—Ted and his wife Vera are arriving from Bogota, Columbia tomorrow for a few days. If I have not previously said so, Ted met Vera in the late 1960s while serving in the Peace Corps down in Columbia. While they have spent most of the last forty years in the United States, they recently returned to Columbia as Vera's father is in poor health. Ted found a position teaching at a nearby university. I may have also already told you that Ted previously taught at George Mason University for several years—quite likely while you were there! Anyway—it will be nice for them to participate in Betty's care.
I will keep you posted. Have a great week!
April 17, 2011—
I want to touch on a different sort of topic today. When I started writing these entries I told myself that they should always be positive. I also always wanted to put your feelings ahead of mine. I hope that I have succeeded to some degree. But as the years pass and as the twentieth anniversary of our separation approaches, I am finding it increasingly difficult not to share with you how I am faring. So—I have opted to give you a brief glimpse into my heart and mind.
As you may have noted on the Health Web Page of this site, I suffer from depression—and have always done so as long as I can remember. However, the events in the early 1990s brought about recurring bouts of anxiety that have come and gone over the years since then. The professionals from whom I have sought help have told me that it is not uncommon for those suffereing from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to experience such symptoms. It is not surprising that being separated from one's children—or one's parent—is considered stressful.
I am writing to you about this today for two reasons. First—I am in the midst of a particularly bad bout of anxiety and have been so for the last month. As difficult as it is for me to find the strength to deal with this, I wonder how you and your sister have fared and whether you, too, suffer from such things. If, in fact, you do, then know that I am profoundly sorry for whatever part I played in causing you such pain. Life is too short to have to suffer from emotional distress. I pray that you have sought out help and have developed a good support system of friends and professionals to guide you through the tough times.
As I have said many times, may the Good Lord bless you and protect you each and every day of your life.
April 16, 2011—
It is difficult for me to believe that it was exactly six years ago this evening that I took my folks out to a show and treated them to dinner afterwards. I am so thankful that I did this as I had no way of knowing that my Dad would leave this life exactly six months later.
You might ask why I am writing to you about this. An appropriate question. And here's why. The name of the show was "Defending the Caveman." I don't know if you have ever heard of this show, but it is an insightful—and very funny—one-man play about the ways men and women relate. The material is such that we recognize ourselves in the stories being told on stage—and laugh at ourselves about all the ways we fight, laugh, and love with each other.
Just before the show started my Dad leaned over and said to me, "Is there some message that you are trying to deliver to us tonight?" I laughed and replied back, "No, Dad. Just relax and enjoy the show." And enjoy it, he did.
Even though the show is about the differences between the genders and not about "gender identity" (how we perceive ourselves), it did allow us to laugh at a subject that obviously had caused a great deal of pain in our lives. And for that, I was very grateful.
Afterwards, we went to a little Italian restaurant on MacArthur Boulevard that we all like and really enjoyed ourselves. A wonderful evening for all—and a triumph for me as I had worked really hard to help my parents through my "mid-life course correction."
I have no doubt that even if there were no other issues surrounding what brought about the separation that we are experiencing, the issue of my "mid-life course correction" would be enough to keep you away. I know this to be true because it kept my folks away for two years (2001–2003). I marvel at God's power to cause my Dad to finally understand that he might gain something from re-establishing contact with me. But he did, in fact, reach out to me—and during the last two and a half years of his life, we had the kind of relationship that we had both wanted for oh so many years. What a miracle!
I hope that this little blirp helps you in some way should you be struggling with a decision whether to reach out and contact me. In closing—I can only say this—fear not, trust in the Good Lord, and learn to laugh about what has brought us all much pain.
May the Good Lord bless you richly!
April 14, 2011—
My apologies for not posting any family news here over the last few days. Things have been a bit hectic, to say the least. So—before I start my day—I want to bring you up-to-date.
My Mom and I took Aunt Caroline to the airport for her trip home on Monday afternoon. On the way, we stopped at the hospital so Caroline could say her final good-byes to Betty. Pretty difficult on the ol’ emotions. But Caroline did make it home safely to Colorado. I think the trip pretty much convinced her that she should find a nice little place out West and stay there. The East is too much for her.
Aunt Betty continues to recover. Her pneumonia had subsided enough that the hospital released her to the rehabilitation center on Monday evening. Our second string of caregivers has stepped up to the plate now—Betty's grandchildren. Your second cousin Christine (Cousin Ted's youngest) drove up from Charlottesville, VA and spent Sunday afternoon and all day Monday. Your second cousin Andrew (Cousin Ted's middle child) drove up from Richmond, VA and spent a very long Tuesday with Betty.
And speaking of your second cousin Christine, you might be interested in knowing that she was just accepted to begin law school at the University of Virginia this coming fall! Those Breton kids and grandkids are all amazingly intelligent! Remember that you have a standing offer from me for financial assistance should ever decide to go back to school.
Let's see—two other quick notes. First—also remember that you have a standing invitation to go to Easter dinner with us. Second—I am getting ready to purchase my tickets to go and see the Washington Nationals this season! I usually go to four games each year. I am contemplating buying you a pair of tickets so you can go see a game (different game than the ones I pick for myself). They will be great seats on the club level. Boy, did my Dad ever enjoy watching baseball! He would always say—"Ya just never know what's gonna happen!"
Okay—I am off to finish up everyone's taxes, catch up on a zillion emails that have gone unanswered over the last two weeks, and cut the grass in the back yard (did the front last evening).
Please continue to keep your Great Aunt Betty in your thoughts and prayers. Enjoy this beautiful April weather! Savour the day!
April 09, 2011—
Forgive me for not posting any updates on Aunt Betty's recovery this week. I had an unexpected house guest appear Tuersday evening and leave Thursday mid-day. Not great timing, but good to see an old friend! So here is the latest on things ...
Aunt Betty is recovering reasonably well. She has been up every day doing short bouts of physical therapy and is now able to get to the bathroom by herself. The only real problem is that she has developed a slight case of pneumonia. The doctors will not release her to the rehabilitation center until that clears up. Prayfully, that will be soon. My cousin Beverly returned to Boston on Thursday evening. My cousin Tom and his wife Sherry are driving down from West Chester, PA for the weekend. With Aunt Caroline heading home to Colorado on Monday and cousin Donald and his wife Elayne having both returned to their jobs this past week (understandly so), this leaves a skelton crew to stay with Aunt Betty during the days this coming week. My Mom and I (separately) will likely trade off days until Aunt Betty gets to the rehabilitation center. As my Dad would say—this getting old stuff is no fun!
Click here to see a photograph of Aunt Caroline, my Mom, and my Mom's neighbor and dear friend, Terry. This photograph was taken at Terry's house after dinner Tuesday evening (April 05). By the way—I have been taking these photographs to send to my cousins Karl, Lars, and Suzi so that they know their Mom is enjoying herself—and to show off Caroline's new glasses that she bought while back here.
Aunt Caroline's time back East is rapidly drawing to a close. I am praying that you still might wish to meet her. I know that it is a bit of a drive down to Manassas and Marshall—but I am willing to drive my aunt down to see you—I just need to know when and where. Send me a quick note. As always, I need not be a part of any meeting. It would most certainly be the highlight of her trip!
Please continue to keep your Great Aunt Betty in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers. Have a wonderful weekend! Much love!
April 03, 2011—
I wanted to post an update on Aunt Betty's surgery and how she is recovering—this update written by my cousin Tom.
[Aunt Betty] fell Friday morning around 4:00 A.M. and broke her hip badly enough that she had to have a half hip replacement on her left side. At the top of her femur, the ball shaped section that goes into the socket part of the pelvis broke off and so they had to insert a rod into the femur with a ball attached to it to replace the part that broke. The surgery was not optional as she would be completely immobilized without it. So after much research into doctors in the Baltimore area, a fine doctor was settled upon and the surgery was performed Saturday afternoon at 3:00 P.M.
There has been a support system for her since early Friday morning when [cousin] Donald went to Howard County General Hospital at 5:00 A.M. and stayed with her until just about 8:00 P.M. [Tom and Sherry] arrived a few minutes later and stayed with her until 10:00 P.M. [Betty] was in good spirits and in no pain unless she moved her leg—which would illicit a reaction from her that was similar to inserting your finger into an electric outlet!
[Betty] slept well Friday night. [Tom and Sherry] returned to the hospital at about 11:00 A.M. and were joined shortly thereafter by Aunt Caroline, [my Mom], and [me]. [Betty] was in pretty good spirits again, but in the hour before going into surgery was slightly agitated and would say about every five minutes, "Well, I guess I'll get up now." When Tom would ask her why she was in the hospital bed, she would think for a moment and then come back with "I fell." Her short term memory seemed to be at an all time low—possibly because of the very small amounts of morphine she had been given since the accident.
Click here to see a photograph of Aunt Caroline and my cousin Tom—and click here to see a photograph of Aunt Caroline, Tom’s wife (Sherry), and my cousin Tom—both photographs taken after lunch in the hospital cafeteria
The surgeon came out of the operating room at about 5:00 P.M. and said that [Betty] had come through the operation well, that her socket was indeed fine, and that he had inserted the rod and ball piece. Barring any unforeseen complications, she should be up Sunday morning doing physical therapy. [Betty] would then be moved to a rehabilation facility in three to five days. The surgeon said that her bones were thin due to osteoporosis and her muscle tone was ok but of course not all that strong due to her relatively inactive lifestyle.
Elayne (cousin Donald’s wife—who is a registered nurse) then joined us and we all went in to visit [Betty]. [Betty] was groggy but happy to see us. After a few minor drops in her oxygen levels, she was moved to her room at about 6:30 P.M. We all left at about 7:00 P.M. to let her sleep. Cousin Beverly arrived (from Boston) at the hospital at 8:30 P.M. Beverly stayed until around 11:30 P.M. Elayne checked in on Betty at 1:00 A.M. [Betty] made it through the night okay, but had low blood pressure and a raised heart beat. She was also experiencing some pain, but because of the low blood pressure, they could not give her morphine. The staff was searching for alternative pain medication.
Please continue to keep Great Aunt Betty in your thoughts and send prayers for strength during her recovery and rehabilation. I hope that you will have a great week!
April 01, 2011—
First day of April! Your birthday month!
I wanted to give you an update on Aunt Caroline's trip back east. She arrived safely Monday afternoon. My Mom and I went to pick her up at BWI Airport. We then went to Cousin Donald's and his wife Elayne's place just outside of Columbia for dinner. Click here to see a photograph that Donald's daughter, Michelle (your second cousin), took of us after dinner.
Tuesday afternoon I drove Aunt Caroline and my Mom out to Dayton, MD to see Aunt Betty at the nursing home (look this up on MapQuest). Click here to see a photograph that I took of three of the four sisters.
I was supposed to drive Aunt Caroline and my Mom down to Suffolk, VA on Thursday for a one-night visit with their other sister, Kathryn—or as everyone has always called her, Bobbie—and her husband, Uncle Fred. Unfortunately, Caroline became somewhat ill Wednesday evening and so the trip was canceled. Too bad—it is not often that we get to visit with Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Fred.
Then this morning as I checked my emails I learned that Aunt Betty had fallen during the night and had broken her hip—a very bad break apparently. She is now at a hospital in Baltimore and will undergo hip replacement surgery tomorrow. Needless to say, this has mutzed-up everyone's visiting plans for the weekend. Cousin Tom and his wife Sherry are driving down to Columbia, MD as I write this note. Cousin Beverly (Betty's youngest and only daughter) will catch a flight from Boston to Baltimore this evening—weather permitting.
Please keep your Great Aunt Betty in your thoughts and send prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery—if there is such a thing at 90-years of age! I really miss you and your sister at times like these. Hope you are well. God Bless You!
March 25, 2011—
It occurred to me last night as I was falling asleep that I had forgotten to add one last thought to my previous message ...
I drove to Bethany Beach, DE this past Saturday to check on our beach place and to spend the night. It had been two months since I had paid a visit. I do love the drive over there—especially the section going across the Delmarva Peninsula! There are several churches and small businesses that like to display "messages of the week." It is always great fun to read the bits of wisdom they post. One of them this past weekend was particularly noteworthy—
Do something today worth remembering tomorrow!
I thought about the significance of this advice as I walked along the nearly empty beach Sunday morning. Then I began to recall some of the many days in my life when I did something worthy remembering. I am happy to say that there are quite a few! But one of the more important days was back in the 1990s when I finished reading a book about "abundance." I realized that rather than claiming the abundance that was all around me, I was pushing it away. The reason for this was, no doubt, my amazingly low self-esteem at that point in my life. So I decided there and then to begin claiming the abundance that I believe the GOOD LORD wants me—and all of us—to have. And here I am fifteen years later with pretty much everything I ever wanted—with the exception of you in my life, of course.
Oh, yes ... the name of the book is "You Can Have It All" by David Patent. Great book!
Then I thought of you and your sister and pray that you are claiming the abundance that is all around you! One bit of abundance in particular is the place in Bethany Beach. I just want you to know that you have access to a really nice getaway retreat just a twelve-minute walk from the beach. There are two bicycles, a pool and tennis court, and a guest bedroom and bathroom. I pray that you do not push away this amazing gift too much longer. Your Grandpa would always say to me, "I am so glad that you are enjoying the beach place! That what it is there for!"
So—back to the moral of the story—do something today worth remembering tomorrow! Claim your abundance! It will enhance your life! Much love to you!
March 23, 2011—
I meant to post something here for you on Monday evening regarding my Mom's surgery, but time got away from me—as it did last evening! Ack! Too many pots on the ol' stove, as they say! My apologies!
Anyway—my Mom's surgery (on her right leg) went fine. She was in and out in no time and has experienced very little discomfort since then. So praise Jesus for that! She is home and preparing for the arrival of her sister, Caroline, on Monday.
And one other quick item of some import I am sorry that George Mason University lost its game and did not make into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament! And Georgetown University (my second alma mater as I graduated from there with my Masters Degree in Biochemistry) also lost! C'est la guerre! So—I am just going to have to route for the two ACC teams still left in the tournament—Duke and the University of North Carolina. It just occured to me that this is the men's tournament—perhaps you are following the women's tournament and are going to watch Georgetown University play University of Maryland. Should be a good game!
All for now! Enjoy your day ... and Springtime!
March 17, 2011—
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Before I turn in for the night, I wanted to post a couple of upcoming events for you to contemplate.
On Easter Sunday (April 24), my Mom, my brother and his family (including your cousins Mel and Sami), and I are all going out for dinner at 4:00 P.M. Everyone wanted to make certain that I extend to you an invitation to join us.
Just two short weeks after that (Sunday, May 8), it will be Mother's Day. To celebrate that special day—as well as your Aunt Patty's birthday and my brother's and Patty's anniversary the same bunch is heading out for dinner at a differenet local restaurant. I&know—weird year with Easter being as late as it ever is and Mother's Day as early as it can be! Any way, while I am certain that you will be doing something nice for your Mom then, we all did want to extend to you an invitation for that event, as well. Lemme know if you would like to attend either or both outings! We would love to have you!
My Aunt Caroline's arrival date is still set for Monday, March 28 and her departure is still set for Monday, April 11. The schedule is still pretty much as I reported earlier in a previous posting.
And lastly, my Mom is having some surgery on Monday afternoon (March 21). Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers that day and in the days that follow. Hopefully she will have a speedy recovery and be up and about in time for the arrival of her sister, Caroline.
Oh, yes—please keep the people of Japan in your prayers. I don't know if you remember that I lived on Okinawa from 1962 to 1964 as a youngster. I developed a profound respect for the Japanese people. Please consider making a small donation to the Red Cross to help the relief efforts.
All for now, dear one! Sleep well, sweet dreams!
March 10, 2011—
A quick note before turning in tonight—I took my Mom to the Olney Theatre this evening to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." As you may or may not know, it was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice several years before they wrote "Jesus Christ Superstar." If you listen closely, you can hear little bits of "Superstar" in "Dreamcoat." Anyway—really a great show! I know that it's a long drive for you, but it just might be worth it!
Many years ago, I actually played bass guitar in a production of this show at my church. Click here for a picture of our pastor playing Pharoah!
March 06, 2011—
I received a telephone call from my cousin Suzi earlier this evening. She told me that my Aunt Caroline (your great aunt) will be traveling East on Monday, March 21 (two weeks from tomorrow). She will be staying for two weeks—and probably will be staying most of the time with my mother—and perhaps part of the time with me. We will be paying several visits to my Aunt Betty up in Clarksville, MD (at the assisted living facility). And we hope to make a trip down to Suffolk, VA at some point to visit my Aunt Bobbie (who's now 88 years old) and my Uncle Fred (who's now 90 years old)—as well my cousin Bonnie (their daughter) who lives in Norfolk, VA. Other visits will likely include my cousin Tom and his wife Sherry (who will drive down from West Chester, PA) and my cousin Donald and his wife Elayne (who live in Clarksville, MD). Tom and Donald are my Aunt Betty's #2 and #3 sons.
Right now, Aunt Caroline is scheduled to return home to Parachute, CO on Monday, April 04. As I have mentioned in prior notes to you, Aunt Caroline would so dearly love to meet you. I pray to the GOOD LORD that you will avail yourself of this opportunity—as it may well be the last time she ever travels back East. I would hate for you to one day regret not having met her.
Please, please pray about this. I need not be involved. I just want you to have this chance. I understand this will be difficult for you—but most things in life worth having require hard work or facing down your fears. Much love to you as you think about this!
February 28, 2011—
Hope that Carolyn had a really wonderful day—even though the weather was not too great! Been thinking on y'all today!
Today also happens to be the eleventh anniversay of me moving into my house! Wow! That's twenty percent of my life spent here! Where does the time go?!? And it is also the birthday of my cousin Craig's wife, Cathy (they live just north of Denver).
Wishing her the happiest of birthdays!
February 27, 2011—
To help me celebrate my BIG day, I was out with some friends from NIH on Saturday evening. We went out to dinner and to listen to the NIH Symphonic Orchestra. They played "St. Paul: Overture" (Opus 36) by Mendelssohn, "Suite Algerienne" (Opus 60) by Saint-Saens, and "Symphony No. Two" (Opus 17) by Tchaikovsky. Very enjoyable! Thought of Carolyn!
Then on Sunday, I went down to Arlington National Cemetery to visit with my Dad and take a nice long walk—out of the cemetery, down to the Potomac River, and then up to and around Roosevelt Island (five miles). Then it was out to dinner with my Mom at Black Market Bistro. All very nice!
Much love to ya!
January 29, 2011—
As promised, I stopped by the Manassas Mall this afternoon and sat in the Food Court for
about an hour to see if you might swing by to meet me. That, of course,
didn't happen—but that is okay. This trying to figure out how to reconnect
after so many years is not an easy thing. I have to admit that
I was pretty nervous as I drove down Route 234 and pulled into the mall
parking lot. So—any fear or anxiety that you might feel is completely
understandable! I will let you know when I'm down your way again.
At least this time I know where I'm going and I know that there really is
a food court!
Hope to see ya soon!
January 27, 2011—
Your Great Aunt Caroline turned eighty-two years old today! Still no word on when
she might fly back East from Colorado and pay us all a visit.
Happy Birthday, Great Aunt Caroline!
January 12, 2011—
Your cousin Melodi turns twenty-four years old today! Melodi is now in her fourth
and final semester at Towson University. She will graduate in May 2011 with
a Masters Degree in Psychology. She will still have some course work to do and
will have to build up a certain number of hours in the clinic before she can take
an examination that, should she pass, will make her an "LCPC" ... a Licensed
Clinical Psychiatric Counselor. Pretty awesome! Happy Birthday, Melodi!
Click here for an index of special
holiday messages and yearly blogs.
As you might guess from the pictures, I am down at Bethany Beach for a few days doing some writing and recording. As is my custom, I work from the time I get up until about two o'clock in the afternoon. I then eat a light lunch and head out for a long walk (five miles or so).
I had to laugh. The incident reminded of many walks with your Mom along the beach down at Montross, VA. Perhaps you have made some trips down there to visit your great-grandmother, Mormor. I recall that your Mom always seemed to find a dozen or two shark's teeth—almost effortlessly. In all my visits, I probably can count the number of shark's teeth I found on one hand! My mind wonders whether you inherited this amazing talent from her!