bubba time

I absolutely treasure my daily visits with Bubba as he wraps up the renovation of all time.  We met at the shack yesterday where I met Abbie in person and praised her to high heaven for what she did with the place.  We had talked before and she is one of the folks that will be featured in SHE magazine along with Jessi and a shit ton more.  Women in business have to be smart and tough and I admire that a lot.  

Speaking of talking to people...my poor phone is wore out from recording Downtown Dyersburg businesses for an upcoming feature.  I took a few notes along the way and picked up business cards from the ones who were amenable to that.  The past few days have been devoted to just roaming around and catching people where they are.  You're at lunch?  Fine.  The one thing that really stands out with all of these visits is that the people involved want to help make Downtown Dyersburg a destination.  Much of this was made possible by grants for downtown development.  It looks pretty but nobody much wants to invest in what we need.  Like a freakin' grocery store!  I live in a food desert where I have to drive 5 to 10 miles just to get fast food, much less groceries.

Now, onto other more important matters like AR15 rifles and why people are allowed to buy them.  These guns are killing machines and only suitable for law enforcement or military where defense is the goal.  What is the end game here?   It's all about money and the NRA.  I don't have any problem with you and concealed carry or grandpa's rifle on the wall.  That's a totally different scenario, like hunting for food.  You like duck?  Have at it.  You like squirrel, make you some stew.  It's a throwback to the old days when there was no Kroger or Aldi or online meat.  

When the Sandy Hook massacre took place, I did not have a five year old grandchild, but now I do.  To think that all of those innocents were murdered by someone with access to that type of weaponry makes me quite sad.  I haven't seen dat' baby in a long time and it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.  And that, makes me sadder.

No, I am not moving.  Several friends saw that I mentioned "the move" but that was Lauren's stuff.  She is tucked in nicely over there waiting for the storm. She has a basement but I don't.  I reckon if things look too bad I'll go to my old house on the hill and go downstairs.  Light a candle or something.  Faith ^j^

critter du jour

I have never seen a live armadillo, only the dead ones on the side of the road.  As I was pulling into the driveway today I spotted this slow moving animal in the field nosing around and immediately knew it was a live one!  He meandered around out there and then walked through the yard slowly to crawl under the back deck.  I was too slow with the camera to catch the dude but I can see why they get run over because 'lerd they move slow.  Once Oscar catches sight of him it's on, for sure.

We got Lauren moved yester day and  her house is to die for cute.  It's an older home in a nice neighborhood and easy to get to.  Logan and Simon worked hard and were quick and dependable.  I highly recommend them for all your moving needs.  Their prices are VERY reasonable and they know what they're doing.  We borrowed a dolly from the house where the appliances were and they returned it later.  I want to thank everyone involved with this venture for finally making it happen.  There were a few false starts but I figure it went the way the Lord intended.  Yesterday was a beautiful warm spring day, which was a blessing.

Before that I went to tabernacle and read some scripture including almost an entire chapter from the Gospel of John about Lazarus.  The Old Testament part was about the dry bones in the desert coming back to life.  And yes, I was nervous.  I've done a lot of public speaking in my day but this is different.  All of the services during Lent are leading up to what Easter is all about.  

My yard needs to be mowed but I have to pick up more sticks before then.  Gardening will be limited because of funds which makes me sad but, that's life.  Hopefully I can get some more perennial transplants to fill in the gaps.  

Merry and bright kids!

take a break

As days go, these past two have been glorious.  I mean not like, weather wise but the experiences.  My brother and I bonded with a whole bunch of farmers yesterday at the fairgrounds and enjoyed some really good food.  Our table mates were a small acreage farmer who does beans only and his lovely mother.  From Brownsville, I believe.  I learned a lot that I didn't have a clue about and had Bubba coaching me on questions.  

My road is the perfect little hidey hole for delivery and service trucks to kill a few minutes while out and about to call their girlfriends/wives/mommas so I am never surprised to see them parked on the road for a bit.  As long as the truck is marked I don't worry.  Occasionally I will run across a shady looking character like the time Lorna and I chased a guy all the way to town who was having sex in the driveway to the dairy barn.  This guy was smooth and when he pulled out had something hanging out of the trunk to cover his license plate.  One of these days I'm gonna' get shot playing citizens' arrest.

I woke up to a monsoon this morning and there is oh so much more in the forecast.  Oscar hates the storms and is right under my butt panting and shaking the whole time.  At night he can't manage to jump on the bed so he just puts his face right in mine and breathes like he's dying.  Poor baby.

Knocking on wood here, all things seem to be on go for Lauren's furniture transport tomorrow.  The dresser is in the back of my car and Logan will handle the rest.  I saw no need to unload that dresser so it's been riding with me for a week now.  I'll miss that little rattle....not.  

Y'all watch out for flash flooding and tornado sirens.  And keep the faith ^j^

hug a social worker

March just happens to be National Social Work awareness month.  And social work just happens to be one my passions.  Back in the 80's I went on a side trip from clinical medicine and started exploring social work in general and hospice in particular.  I helped Lauren write her high school thesis about the hospice philosophy and she later, after trying out nursing, became a BSW at UT Martin.  Her first year was a whirlwind of for-profit mental health and resulted in a quick burnout.  She has now returned to that genre and loves it with a passion.  Making change in people's lives is a huge challenge because of generational issues related to mental health and addiction.  People are homeless and can't help it.  They have mental health issues and cannot get help.  Thank God for charitable agencies that are funded to reach out to these folks.  

Addiction medicine is a whole 'nother animal but is part of the whole scheme of things.  LP went to an event sponsored by the City of Jackson promoting Fentanyl awareness and she said it was packed out.  Fentanyl is the new heroin I hear.  The tragic thing is that so many street drugs are laced with it and users don't realize it.  The opiate addiction has pretty much been crushed by governmental controls on prescriptions to the point that people who really NEED them can't get 'em.  Often they resort to buying on the street which can be deadly.  I was on low dose hydrocodone for about three months following my huge abdominal surgery and, while it helped, I went through the withdrawal process when I no longer had a prescription.  And I survived.  It wasn't fun at all.....chills, night sweats, etc etc.  

I'm proud of all those who do social work either by profession or volunteer efforts.  It takes a village to help with human suffering and turning a blind eye to the needs of others is down right wrong.  To each his own, but it costs nothing to lend a hand to those in need.

Keepin' the faith ^j^

back to plan A

The good Lord did us a solid and things have worked out for the move this Saturday.  Mysterious ways I tell you!  Our original mover has healed enough from his burn that he re-scheduled so all is well at the moment.  I hit the ground running this morning trying to chase down estimates which were absurd and Logan happened to pop up and say he could handle it.  I love it when that happens.

Our community lost a dear friend over the weekend who died way too young.  She was on hospice in a Memphis hospital and surrounded by her three children when she passed.  Teresa is a long time friend of our family along with her brothers, sisters and kids.  The twin boys and  Sissy grew up together and had all kinds of teenage shenanigans at her house when they were at "that" age in middle school.  She always fed them breakfast after a sleepover!

It is much warmer today and headed up for the rest of the week.  I've been such a good steward with the propane that I'm still at 20% to get me started in the fall.  Being a single person and all I have just about decided that eating out is way cheaper than cooking, even though I love to do it.  No mess to clean up.  I've dropped about three more pounds which I didn't need to lose from being on steroids for a week.  There is a blood draw tomorrow and I'm praying that all that prednisone didn't hit my kidneys too hard.  At least it got rid of that rash.  Lawd...that was a nasty one.  

I'll be the liturgist at church next week so I read through the scriptures and they are LONG, especially the one from John.  His tales tend to run that way, ya' know.  My two stories are about dry bones coming back to life and the woman at the well.

And the wheat fertilizing continues.  Spring is a busy time for farmers...heck, all year is except for the dead of winter when they do equipment maintenance.  My least favorite thing is when the crop dusting planes hit the sky early in the morning when I'm still asleep.  I'll be in a corn box again this summer but will at least have wheat and beans from the front view.  That's farm life.

Be well and happy and humble.  And most of all grateful ^j^

plan c

As we all know, the best laid plans can fail.  We had everything lined up to get Lauren's stuff moved today but, no.  Our friend who was to do the job has been on a welding job in Louisiana all week and something blew up and he got third degree burns on his arm!  So, we are once again looking for a moving crew.  Nothing is open on the weekend so that will have to wait until Monday.  The appliances are paid for but the owner works 8-5 during the week so umm, I don't know.  Once again, we are winging it.  She has an inflatable mattress, a TV and internet.  As my friend Jay said, that's more than some have.

At least she's over the worst of Covid and can go back to work this week.  She got to spend the night with Reaves last night and hear all about the magic of Disney World.  As for me, I have a ton of writing to do on the three interviews that I did last week.  All were very informative and interesting in different ways.  I learned about farming, beer brewing and Vietnam.  Budweiser was one of the staples that got delivered by ambulance to those on the front lines back then.  Gotta' keep those troops happy!

My house is a total wreck but I'm fairly used to that.  As soon as this move is done I plan to re-design the living room with a lot less furniture.  For myself, I'll be looking for a love seat to replace the huge couch that is going to Jackson.  My attic is difficult to get in and out of so the sliding plank that covers it has been open for a few days and Rosie cat is having a ball up there.  I can tell her location from where the sounds come.  I guess I can cover it back up for a bit to save on heat.  One more cold night and that SHOULD be it.  Fingers crossed.  I bought 200 bucks worth of propane to get through this spell and it has served me well.  The thermostat stays on 68 or 69 which suits me because it's easier to breathe.  Don't know if Daddy's transplanted peony is gonna' make it but if it's nature's way she will.

Keep the faith ^j^

life is short

Death is never easy.  We grow up thinking we will live forever and sometimes we go gently into that good night. Sometimes it's kicking and screaming.  My experience with hospice has been positive with what I've witnessed as a hospital employee and with my own parents.  There comes a point in time when medical intervention can't fix it and if we continue to believe that things will get better when there's no way possible, we are being selfish.  Living creatures do not deserve to die in pain if at all possible.  Part of being a healthcare provider is that you are often gifted to be with someone in their last moments on earth to provide peace and hold their hand.  To do unto the least of these like Jesus did.

I interviewed a Vietnam vet who was a young doctor during his time there.  We worked together and worship together.  He is 81 and I was amazed at the running commentary ( from his memory!) that accompanied his slide show presentation.  These guys moved around setting up makeshift aid stations, often in bunkers, to try to save the ones who were wounded in the course of battle.  Think MASH only in the jungles of Vietnam.  As a teenager and hippie wannabe' I was very much against that war and all of the others that followed.  But, I digress.  

Current weather conditions are cold and windy.  Meh to the 100th power I say.  Every year I crave spring temps but they don't last long until it gets blazing hot and humid. That's nature's way I reckon.  I'm sure glad I don't have a Gulf Coast vacay planned because there's a blog of seaweed the size of an asteroid headed that way.  It will be a hard road for tourism this year.  

Be blessed and grateful ^j^

destination trimble

It's been years since I have been to that tiny little town and I headed that way this morning to interview the co-owner of Reelfoot Brewery.  It is a quaint little place right in the heart of downtown within walking distance of of Full Throttle Saloon and a cool little diner called the Trimble Grill and Chill.  I had intended to eat at the diner but they were closed until 12 so I just meandered around until the beer guy showed up.  I had never been into Full Throttle which was built after Michael Ballard's place in Sturgis burned.  It's beautiful of course and a big tourist draw.  All of these businesses combined add to Trimble as a destination.

Before heading north I picked up a brand new dresser for Lauren and a very nice guy loaded it into the back of my car.  Their garage was full of stuff and he said there would be a yard sale soon.  I imagine I'll be visiting a lot of them to replace what's being moved out of Casa Poops.  I am ready for a change and the time is now but it's a process.  Everything is, ya' know.  One day at a time.

Rain is headed our way again and some really freezing nights next week.  My redneck plastic getup on the peach tree got caught in the wind and wound around two other trees so I just picked it all up and threw it away.  It's nature's way of pruning according to Daddy.

Over and out and keeping the faith ^j^

sunrise

It has been a very long time since I saw the sun come up but I had a meeting and interview set up with my brother and Jimmy Hester down at the Junction store known as B&B which is where all the locals hang out.  Especially the farmers.  We were there on "second shift" around 8AM and after Bubba introduced us I climbed (with help) in the truck with Hester and got an up close and personal tour of some of the plots that he and his sons farm.  It's an old family business that was passed on to them through his father and grandfather. As a country girl I've often seen the equipment in operation but have never ridden in any of it.  Jimmy and Reed helped me to climb up into the spray rig and there we went guided by GPS, fertilizing the wheat until the tank ran out.  A refill was on the way from Caruthersville across the river.  More on that later when the story is done!

I'm still itching but the rash is beginning to dry up.  My dance card is pretty full right now but that's okay because, you know.  Idle hands and all that.  I had to scrape frost off the windshield this morning because I forgot to put the car under the carport so it took a minute to thaw before I headed to the Big Boy Junction.  So far the time change hasn't played havoc with my head like it usually does thank the 'lort.  My blooming peach tree is covered all redneck style with rolled plastic.  Bubba told me Daddy always said it's "nature's way of pruning" but....I like to save the living things like plants and animals.  I can really tell that 67 and a half years has slowed me way down.

Looking back, I don't know how I managed anything other than lots of wonky hours at the sawmill and child raising.  My mother was a lot of help with that and Lauren has a special place in her heart for MeMaw.  Reaves has met my parents through pictures and stories since they were gone before she was born.  She adores her Uncle Bubba too.  She's on the last day of her special trip to DisneyWorld and I have kept up through pics and videos.  I'm so grateful that she got to go at just the right age to believe in all things magical.  

Let's carry on with faith and hope ^j^

my day in a nutshell

 I am still trying to get the poison ivy rash cleared up on my face, neck and ears and followed up with my GP today.  Since I'm already on steroids there was nothing he could do but draw a CBC to rule out cellulitis for the puffy area around my eye.  Then I visited Sunflower Health for some special soap and an ointment with some essential oils.  They are fabulous and have a lot of knowledge about holistic products.  

I also got tested for Covid at the doc's office because Lauren found out yesterday that she has it and we were together over the weekend.  Thankfully, that was negative.  I wore a mask for the safety of others.  It seems when it rains it pours.  LP isn't feeling that bad but sounds horrible.  She drove to Bartlett for her job today transferring charts and such but will be using PTO for the next two days, all the while trying to get settled into her new house.  Sunday is moving day for the stuff that is here.  I'll be on the lookout for a smaller couch to go in my house.  That and a recliner are all I need.  This old gal doesn't entertain much, if you know what I mean.  It's usually just me and the critters.  

I have two interviews lined up this week for State Gazette articles, both of which sound interesting.  It's kind of a new chapter in my old life and I intend to embrace it with all I've got.  Life is too short to be stressed out all the time.  I enjoy writing and meeting new people and also setting my own schedule.  That is what retirement should be about.  Money will be tight for a bit but I've been there most of my life so that's nothing new.  As long as Simmons Bank doesn't collapse like the Silicon Valley place, I'm in good shape.  

Y'all be blessed and grateful.  And always remember who you are ^j^

old people and rugs

My co-worker Dr. Algee told me once that having throw rugs is asking for trouble when you ain't steady on your feet.  They are cute and all but can cause somebody to slip and fall.  So there's that bright thought on a gloomy day.  Me and BG went shopping today for her house and didn't buy anything but we're picky like that.  My whole face is still rashed out but not itching so bad.  I had forgotten how bad a benadryl hangover can be!  I believe the name is urticaria but I could be wrong.  Hives!  Along with that there's Poopie acting like a fool on a daily basis stinging and burning.  Note to self : See Ostomy nurse.  In other news I think my phone is about to be not able to hold a charger so we all know what that means.  It was that POS car charger I got at the 'gentral that messed up the port more than it was.

I've been itching nine ways to Jesus since Wednesday.  I was second in line at Hometown Urgent Care at 12 today and got out within an hour with a steroid shot.  It took awhile for it to kick in but I'm pretty itch tolerant right now.  Benadryl works with steroids to calm the whole down.  When I had my surgery where Poopie was created all I had for sleep was Benadryl.  I begged for it just to rest.  The whole point of that was "we gotta' get her up and moving."  Like quick.  I was walking the halls by week two when Gary Hager found me looking like an almost dead friend.  Some of his family were there so it was a twofer.  Jo Kee. 

Regina Harris. Patsye and Larry Thurmon.  Mary Beth and Dell.  God knew that I needed those folks  I was scared but out of it and they prayed over me in the ICU, holding hands.  I do remember that part.  Lauren was there and scared to death.  When I was on the vent I was trying to ask her what was wrong and they had to give me the Michael Jackson drug to get me settled down.  

It wasn't my time to die and I realize that God knew I had more faith in me.  I hate having a bag and really don't want to eat because  that means having to empty.  It's  a new normal.  I would not survive the two surgeries for reversal and I know that.  Besides, my anus ain't been used in three years.  Plus there are there are those pesky 'roids.  

I'm just thankful not to be itching and on fire right now.  Grateful and blessed ^j^

the dance

Reaves danced with her daddy last night and looked totally adorable doing it. She is five and that's a big deal for a little girl.  We didn't have such back in my day but I always danced with my daddy  Sometimes it was in the living room listening to old records on their player.  In later years, it was us dancing across Kroger while we shopped.  He could still cut a rug! My daddy was a tenor who never gave up on choir until he became homebound.  Mama, however, couldn't carry a tune in a bucket but she made a joyful noise. She converted him from Baptist to Methodist when I was about two.  And that is where I grew up.  There was not a lot of youth activities back then other than little old ladies teaching SS and leading MYF.  I talked recently to the first guy who gave a damn about the teenagers and formed a group council for us.  Larry Tubb still serves one church or another filling in at 81 years old.  

I did a very stupid thing the other day and picked up a transplant without gloves on.  My neighbor dug it up and it's still in a pot out back with plentiful poison ivy around the root ball.  Live and learn and use benadryl  plus aloe vera with lidocaine.    And hydrocortisone cream!  Dry that shit up girl.  

It's Friday so I'm up late,   See y'all tomorrow ^j^

in the dark

New beginnings usually happen when you hit rock bottom.  And of course it is the Lenten season and we are all in the desert for 40 days.  Friday during the whatever the heck it was with 60 mph straight line wind I lost power at around 1PM and it didn't come back on until 24 hours later.  I had the best.shower.ever on Sunday morning and headed on up to church at FUMC.  There's been a lot of drama there lately.  After the power came back on the internet was out for a day but those trusty Forked Deer people got it all done in a couple of days which is remarkable.  There's something about guys in bucket trucks that fascinates me.  Our little community here on Samaria Bend thought it would take DAYS.  

I have two perennials up at my old house that must be moved.  Me and Joy went up there today (with Oscar hanging out the window) to see if I could dig 'em up and transplant down here.  One is Daddy's burgandy peony bush that I moved up there after he died and am now wanting it to be back from whence it came.  The other is a tree peony with frilly pink blooms that I bought from Randy Burns when he had a nursery in South Dyersburg.  That place was the ultimate perennial garden with so many interesting plants.  He is also a well respected artist.

My focus has changed quite a bit.  Everywhere I go I see a story waiting to be told.  And you know what?  People like to read that stuff.  Human interest and history including somebody they know and respect.  I am grateful for that opportunity and it's kind of fun meeting new folks and sharing stories about current events.  I am seriously at a crossroads in my golden years but I reckon everybody is.  

I am prayerful ^j^