THE ARTFUL DODGER

Meet the new love of my life---The Artful Dodger---my new wonderful Golden Retriever!!!! Talk about that line "Good things happen to those who wait." This could not be truer than if it had been staged.

He is a little over one year old and tho he is a male and I wanted a female, he is such a softie and a lover that I love him anyway. He is all trained in all ways, beautifully behaved and beautiful to look at and all he wants is to love you. We have had him only three days and he is like we have had him forever. He is the darling of the resthome. My husband with Alzheimer's loves him.

There were many things against my getting a dog at this stage of my life and I don't know how long Jim will be with me to take care of him. I do not anticipate any problem with that, however. Dodger is a puppy from the owner's dog. His father lives there still and an older brother from previous litter. That he was brought up with love and gentle discipline transfers to make him into a fantastic member of this household.

I figured that it was important to my quality of life to have a dog that I could love now. I have been worrying and taking care of my husband's problems to improve his quality of life and so I decided the other night while talking to my neighbor--What about mine? And then almost the next day this deal falls into our lap. How about that?

TRIBUTE TO FATHERS

Tis Father's Day Me Hearties and

We Must Give Him His Due.

So Lift a Glass of Spirits Now

And Toast Thy Sire Anew.


Yeah. go Dad! Father's Day is a fairly recent designation which was invented purely in response to Mother's Day. Of that, I am certain. You know men. We can't even be pregnant by ourselves anymore. I read the other day that they have now discovered that men who learn they are about to become fathers go through some of the same symtoms as the women. Now give me a break!

Well, let's face it. Dads are important. Many families are without dads and thrive O.K. but not as lucky as the nuclear family. For some of us, our dads had a terrific impact on our lives. For many, especially daughters, dads are the favorite parent. For others, not so much.

If you were born to parents from Sweden, the father was the ruler and big man of the house and his wife was there to serve him and his children. I was raised in such a house. Not only was he the father and man of the house, but a priest as well. {They call them that in Sweden instead of pastors) Someone asked me once if I loved my father. Yes, I did, but I respected and admired him more. What he did in his lifetime as an immigrant coming from Sweden in 1901 is truly amazing . Not speaking English to becoming a public speaker ( and very good at it too), holding positions of consequence in the communities he lived in, being a loved and respected pastor leaves me in awe of him. I cherish his memory.


As for my own children's father, I don't have to wonder what they think of him at all. I believe they all loved him with all their hearts. I picked a good man for them. I believe he is the favorite parent. They always talk about how they could come to him with their problems and he always had help for them. Me, they talk about my cooking!!!!

They all came home for his 75th birthday. Here are a few pictures of the before going-out-to-dinner activities with Julie and her dad. And one picture of the Michigan State basketball game down in San Antonio just a few years ago. That is little Jordan with him in the stands.

So Bless Them All the Blackards
Bless the Strong Bravehearts too
Tis Deep In Our Hearts They lie
Blimey. hand me another brew.

CRAWLING TO THE FINISH LINE

After just three days of training I decided to walk in the 10K Bellin Race. Heretofore I had walked only as far as the corner of my street. I broke my tailbone in Texas and was rather constricted as to my activities. So on Saturday morning at 6:30 I got up. It was dark, cold, and rainy out. I sent a quick e-mail to my kids and asked them whose idea was this anyway? And then I left to join the 17,000 other participants.








The run is like the third largest in the nation I think and it is for cancer. At $25 bucks apiece that is quite a large chunk of change for breast cancer. I think they include leukemia and other cancers too now. Such a teeming mass of humanity is gathered there together with all the onlookers who encourage the runners on. A Kenyan wins every year lately. I guess it has been l4 years since an American has won it. Shucks, he was back and done before many of the rest of us had started! Sort of broke my hopes of winning right there.:)


No, I must confess that I only entered the one mile event for those who had had therapy of one kind or another for knee surgery, hip surgery, heart problems etc. And I barely made it. I had to rest often and almost had to crawl to the finish line. This time I didn't have the police watching over me--I had two physical therapists from the hospital. I don't know how I picked them up but they must have spotted me resting - - -often leaning on the temporary barrier.

And I got mixed up with another group again but regained my straggling group soon enough. Only they weren't straggling. Only I was. Heck, they were not nearly as old either. Anyhow it was fun and very satisfying to finish and not quit. Here are a few more pictures.

Thought I was near the finish line but the lady said, "Oh No, you have to go around this next corner and go several blocks before you get there!" I thought that mile went awfully fast. But after we turned the corner and got to the other street I hadn't counted on such a far far destination. It looked like it was to hell and gone. But we toiled on.

Look kind of beat here and the therapist is right beside me. Kind of cool to have them watch you that well. The last 40 feet my head kept telling my feet to put one in front of the other and I made it!!!!!

LOST PEOPLE AND PLACES

We tell ourselves we must go to see Mary or we must write to Paul or we must call John on the phone. Our intentions are good, but many times we get busy with our own lives and never get around to contacting our old friends or relatives. Time flies by and one day you realize it is too late to talk to them anymore. You missed it. You missed days, months, even years of enjoyment interacting with these people. Why is this? Why do we choose to live with regret and a sense of loss and rue the fact that we didn't keep close to those loved ones?

I'm sure all of you can relate to this feeling, whether young or old. Some folks we would just as soon not see anymore, but then there are the precious ones that we enjoyed but thought we had forever to see. I miss Paul, my brother who could make the fun out of anything. He lived near Chicago. Not that far from us. But visits were few and far between. When I was young and romping through college, I had such a hard time to just go home to visit with my mom even on Mother's Day! She died when I was 23. We take people for granted and do not cultivate our gardens of loved ones.

Whenever we went on a road trip somewhere, there would always be places of special attraction such as a horse farm in Kentucky or the Grand Canyon in Arizona or the Chicoteaque horses in Virginia. These are just a few of the places that we were close to, or right there but Bill who had a penchant for "making time" would pass up and say that we would go there when we came back some day. Well, some day never came and we never went back except to the horse farm. We were as close as Lexington, Flagstaff, and (I need a map) for the island. So my daughter learned from this and when she takes a road trip, she looks up all the points of interest and takes detours to find them and experience them.

So this post is about gathering rosebuds while ye may or making hay while the sun shines. I hope you all will pay attention and write to that old friend today and don't skip the special things there are to see as you travel. The motel will be there when you get there and maybe the light will even be on for you!

GRANDDAUGHTERS ARE DIFFERENT

Yesterday Jim and I went down to surprise Lori, my daughter-in-law, on her birthday. We did indeed surprise them and had a great time. Matilda (Miranda) continues to display loads of affection for me which puzzles me no end because she hardly ever sees me. (Maybe this is why she does) I have only experienced grandsons before so maybe this is how granddaughters work. At any rate it is most cherished and enjoyed. She is a sweetheart.

Here are some pictures of the occasion.

This is when we first arrived and she was anticipating her first kiss.

Cute little button nose.

Her beautiful Mom with the cake that Jim made.

Mmmm. Tastes pretty good!

Miranda doesn't like sweets, but she got a few crumbs off of the spatula and I think she may change her mind soon.

I also thought you might like to see my garden this year. I think it is beautiful.

FASCINATING BLOGS

OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO

With my new computer I am writing to bloggers that I have neglected for so long. I hope I can reach most of you that have written me soon. What a wonderful world it is! Now it is so much easier. Before it always took me forever to go to each one. I had to wait for it to come on and then I would get this "windows not responding" thing. Now it is zip and it is there. It is great. Only thing is I get so interested I go on and read previous posts too.

I have been amazed anew at the places we can go without Dr. Seuss, and the things we can learn through this medium. People are fantastic and so much talent is out there. Talk about authors writing about the human condition, in blogging, we have the epitome of that. I have learned all about kangaroos from one. I have one blogger with so much talent and such a love for words that she can almost make my heart melt just like the violin solo in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake does. Her writing is gorgeous and she writes sentences that are like poetry in and of themselves. She writes of a walk in which she encounters a fledgling owl. "We stood in each other's company for a very long time. Long enough that I could see his eyes glowing ebony in liquid gold. Those eyes recalled to me that light will always be offered in the darkness, even when my heart is too hurt to search. " I hope Deb of Cactus Scout does not mind my quoting her but I admire her so much.

And then there are the really funny ones like the hilarious story of this goony soon to be mother-in-law shopping with her friends for a wedding dress. We who are women can relate so well to her references to her trials with a mammogram whether blessed with a little or a lot.

There are a lot of grandmas out there that care for and love their grandchildren and love to show pictures of them. They are fun to look at and hear about. One of my bloggers always refers to her husband as "the farmer", never his name. I love to go to the people who live on farms. I am entranced with farm life and I love cows and horses. Pigs not so much.

Younger readers find tales of my youth an interesting insight into history! And one's feels the pain when you read stories about a nephew dying of leukemia who asks for prayers. Curiosity is stirred when you read about this gal in Australia who is really into nature and saving animals that are endangered. Did you know that a gorilla is required to make your cell phone? She advises not to throw them away--recycle. Saves more gorillas. I always find it fascinating that those folks in Australia and the Philippines are talking about summer when it is winter here and visa versa.

Yes, blogging is a most wonderful thing. It means a great deal to me. If I ever have to go to a rest home you can bet my computer will be under my arm--to heck with clothes and such.

BITCHING DAY--WARNING

There are a lot of things that disappoint me on the political scene but I won't go into that. I would like to express my opinion about the Supreme Court which is (supposed to be) apolitical. I am in complete disagreement with the make-up of the court today. They all are from the Eastern part of the country and they have no idea what goes on in the Midwest, the South, or the West, and I think they should also be represented on the highest court in the land. I also think that a lot of universities besides Yale and Harvard can produce judges just as well as they can. Everyone is a graduate of Yale or Harvard. Ridiculous! And if one wants to go there, they are leaving out representation from the largest religious group in America. How did this court end up being so undiverse? Have we been so into making sure we have racial and sexual representation that we have forgotten these other factors which are very important also? I have nothing against the current candidate but she is of the same mold also. I think it is time for a change in the way our judges are chosen. Certainly the criteria should change. And politics should not enter into in any way.

Well, that is the important thing I wanted to get off my chest this morning.

I also wanted you to know that I have bought a new computer and a printer as well . Jim and I went to get it at Office Max . We got it home and Jim set it up and it didn't work. The something wasn't talking to the hard drive. Some of you might know what I am talking about because I sure don't. Anyhow we packed it up and Jim brought it back. We had decided to get another brand and Office Max did not carry that brand and so they would not take it back without charging us 15% of the total bill, a charge for restocking it, and it amounted to quite a bit. We refused to pay it and took the computer back and brought it to another Office Max on the other side of town and he was most sympathetic and gave us a new one even without the receipt! All of which proves different owners have better customer relations. And don't take this crap about paying to return a defective computer.

This is a bad post. But I did want to see if anyone out there agrees with me about the Supreme Court and I did want to let you know I am up and running with a new and fast computer. It is heaven not to have to wait 30 minutes for it to boot up in the morning and also to constantly not get "windows not responding" every two minutes whenever I tried to do something.

And I hope you all have a good day today even after reading my gripes.