Reminder to self: send trail maintenance to Green Mountain Club, work on Duncan's package, add info from Dawn Harvey. It is also time for asset reallocation, MRD, and AuthorHouse direct deposit.
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| Hudson sent Ron a picture. |
30 Nov: Wednesday: Ron leaves Illinois tomorrow morning. Woo Hoo! 2:30 AM, and Cynthia is wide-eyed awake in Texas, unable to go back to sleep. Yuk! Sciatica is surfacing due to sitting in condo. But, this is an exciting day, she is having lunch with a cousin from Minnesota. Ron slept well, woke up early, exercised (with interruption by a SmoochSmooch phone call), ate oatmeal, and made more DNA notes as he closed some of the 40 windows open on his computer. 10 am and the temperature has risen to 33 degrees with 16 mph winds, Brrrh. Time to get dressed to motorcycle the 20 frigid miles to visit Don & Ann for the day. Ron especially enjoyed his visit today because he beat Don at chess twice. Then Diane came to play Liverpool rummy and won the second game. (Diane's husband rides a K1600GTL and a R1150RT - but he wasn't there. Diane was a nearby neighbor in Trenton but was born the year before Ron left for college.) We finished barely in time for Ron to return to Carlyle before dark. Good-bye November!
29 Nov: Tuesday in a Texas Town, Cynthia was up at the crack of early, oatmealed by 6:30, and prepared for a day of exercise. Well, at least a long walk to the lake was planned, but that did not work out because of rain and trillion percent humidity. Ron rode to Edwardsville, arriving at the crack of 11 am to meet Maxine at Denny's. Maxine had a rough year last year with interminable dentistry, a stroke with miraculously great recovery, perhaps entirely due to hubby Doug's immediate call to fetch an ambulance, a couple of falls, and atrial fibrulation. Wow, lets hope this coming year is much, much better. From there Ron went to Office Max, Batteries Plus, Walmart, recycling, Target, Hallmark, GNC, the credit union, Bussey Bank, and then to Connie's house. Surprise: She was home. We walked and talked for a pleasant hour before it was time to leave
28 Nov: In Texas, a “boil-water” warning was issued to Harris and Montgomery Counties because three water treatment plants had low pressure readings. Walmart sold out of bottled water within an hour, and Cynthia will boil water. She arose at three AM! Yuk. After falling back asleep at seven to eight thirty, she is ready to walk to the lake. She walked three miles and used machines in fitness center. Ron played Liverpool Rummy with Ann and Don. Today was a miracle, he won two of three games!
27 Nov, Sunday: The rain on the lake stopped early, and after the pavement dried, Ron rode over to spend the day with Don & Ann. Due to the late start, we only played one game of Liverpool rummy. Meanwhile, in TX, Cynthia worshipped at Grace Lutheran, and stopped to visit baby Charlotte at Jon’s (She is so cute). Now, she will walk to the Lake Conroe.
26 Nov: Ron packed the bike and rode to Edwardsville to pay his storage locker rent with a credit card. Then he visited "his infamous storage unit" but, after pulling a few things out, decided that it would take too long and be too dusty and dirty to get the items he wanted. Connie was not at home, so Ron left a note on her door and hurried over to Nephew Eric's for a second Turkey dinner with Eric’s family. He left at 4:15 and discovered (again) that it takes longer to ride to Carlyle, meaning that he arrived at the Mariner's Village after 20 miles of riding in the dark. Cynthia (in Texas) is mighty pleased to think about Ron’s return. She walked three miles this morning and used circuit machine in the fitness center. She spent the afternoon with Jon and Tina while they babysat baby Charlotte.
25 Nov: Ron is en route to breakfast at Denny’s Restaurant in Litchfield with Bill and Carol. His clothes are sparkling clean, free from mud and stick tights, for another feast day tomorrow at nephew Eric’s. In Texas, it is drizzly, and Cynthia is crazy bored. Instead of exercise, she spent the afternoon with Jon and Tina. Thanks to Jon, the car windows are sparking and clear. And Jon figured that the orange light on the dash indicates low tire pressure.
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| One granddaughter, one grandmother |
24 Nov: Thanksgiving is the Word of the day, and We are thankful! Grateful for the gift of life, we thank God for families, health, and our friends! Happy Thanksgiving. Cynthia drove into Houston for dinner with son Paul’s family, running into fierce driving rain on a few occasions. The food was fabulous. The ride home was unnerving as she left their Houston subdivision and maneuvered onto the widest, busiest freeway in the world: Interstate Ten . Once she was a few miles north, the rain slowed its intensity. In Illinois, Carol spent the day cooking and Ron contributed by staying out the of the kitchen. Turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, beans and peas were delicious, especially when followed by wonderful pumpkin pie. Thank you Sistah Carol and Bill. After dinner settled a bit, Ron again walked to the mailbox, a mile in the dark on Carol's driveway each way.
23 Nov: Oatmealed and exercised in Texas, Cynthia is ready for a quieter day than yesterday. The Feb. trip with children to Palm Desert was cancelled due to 92-year-old uncle Bob’s broken femur, and refunds are forthcoming. In Illinois, Ron is off to Mudslide Hill to tackle bush honeysuckle; with any luck he will survive. The day was going well for all until after dinner, when Carol discovered that she had forgotten the persimmon nut bread in the oven and it smelled a bit burned . Ron reminded everyone that he thoroughly enjoys being the devourer of kitchen ctostrophes. (The nut bread was actually delicious.) Ron showered and washed clothes to prepare for Thanksgiving day. First written I love you of the day was won by Cynthia in Texas! and she walked 4.42 miles.
22 Nov: It is 6:32 AM in Montgomery, Texas, and Cynthia is oatmealed and ready to roll. It is time to exercise. After walking four miles, she went to her hand doctor in the Woodlands. He is going to fit her with a brace to immobilize the ring finger and hope that the saggital band will relax back into its proper place. Meanwhile, in Illinois, Ron pulled bush honeysuckle plants despite getting lost trying to find Mudslide Hill and getting his clothing full of sticktights again.
21 Nov: The temperatures in Texas are forecast to be miserably cold and wet. (It is a good day to use the fitness center… Cynthia walked 2.2 miles on a treadmill.) Ron pulled 120 more bush honeysuckle plants and walked two miles at night. Someone, somewhere, should have a wealth-generating idea for this invasive plant with a sweet name.
20 Nov: No plans yet. We will see what Carol & Bill suggest. We drove into town for groceries and lunch at Dennys. Then Ron resumed his attacks on bush honeysuckle and DNA. Cynthia went to worship, shopped at Walmart, and wrote this
SUNDAY OFFERING
She looked up at me with a shy, uncertain smile. She, In her seventies, her feet shuffling, is pushing a Walmart cart next to her spouse, whose hands are on the cart handle beside hers. They are dressed for worship. Of course, it is Sunday. What is wrong with this picture (my curious mind wants to know)? The scenario repeats itself three times in the same Walmart; three couples are dressed in Sunday best. In each case, it is the husband patiently guiding his wife. She clutches the cart handle like it is a life preserver. Yes, it is. And I recognize that she Is his life, and he Is taking his beloved bride, with memory or stroke issues, for a walk in the warmth of this Walmart store. Be thankful for those who walk beside you; be good to each other. Amen.
19 Nov: I love you, my beloved SmoochSmooch (and get points for the first I love you of the day). What more could anyone ask for than being loved? Ron is off to an early start with his packing to leave but is still eating oatmeal at 9:30. The motorcycle was loaded and moving by 11:30. It wasn't that cold, and the wind was much less of a nuisance than feared. After arrival in Mt. Olive, Ron was soon hunting bush honeysuckle. After a delicious salmon & rice dinner, Ron walked to the mailbox & back (a mile each way). Early to bed tonight.
18 Nov: Cynthia has an 8:45 appointment with the allergist for testing and hopes that the years of allergy drops have boosted her system so that there is no more need for daily sublingual drops. Ron was quite amazed at noon, as he rode the motorcycle in 30-degree weather, to see another motorcyclist going in the opposite direction. The next amazement was when he actually went out on the last hand and won a game of Liverpool rummy. He stayed up way too late and walked the length of the dam at midnight, surprised again, this time by a roller skater. It was actually much warmer, merely because the winds had died. Birds were floating on the lake, but they were too far away to decide if they were seagulls or something else.
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| And the artistic shoreline rocks remain |
17 Nov: Cynthia is oatmealed, exercised, and Smooched! At 10:30, she went to the bank, and Ron continued working on James Lea, putting October photographs into their proper places. And that's our final offer. Cynthia hiked 4.25 miles, and added another mile running errands. Ron rode over to play chess in 38-degree chilly weather and lost the Liverpool rummy game by one card when Ann drew the card she needed before Ron drew the card he needed. The return to Mariner's Village was not much warmer than the morning ride, but Ron decided to walk across 3/4 of the dam to get one iota of exercise.
Our bench multiplied…and received dry footing.
16 Nov: We again moved forward to the sixteenth! Cynthia met with Wartburg Seminary reps at nine AM at Grace Lutheran Church. They updated her on the seminary, asked for donations, and got her "No" answer - the economy is too uncertain. At four PM, Doctor's Appointment…Dr. Moran gave her a cortisone injection in the bursa. Ron had his usual luck with Don, Ann, and Liverpool rummy. Ann now takes a nap mid-afternoon, leaving Ron and Don to play chess, with the usual outcome of Don winning.
15 Nov: NO !! Today is now. Wet pavement convinced Ron to stay indoors until 2pm when the pavement looked dry enough to walk over the hills and through the woods to grandmother's house, , , (oops, the Christmas carol overcame me) to cross over the suspension bridge and come back across the dam. It was warmer, with no rain in the forecast or on the color radar as Ron walked. Now he is back to work on DNA, thinking that next time, he needs to read his sister's notes before he does much.
14 Nov: That’s today. Ron is awake, exercised, and oatmealed an hour before the temperature rises above freezing. And tonight in Texas, reflecting on today, Cynthia worked hard; she returned packages and continued work on tax files while the sky was leaking ferociously or just spitting. It is interesting to see Texas male behavior, “Can I help you, ma'am?” Or the cop who pulled her over today… Jesting about whether I had twenty warrants or a trunk full of drugs. In response to my question, “Whaat did I do?” “Ma’am, you ran a red light.” “I can’t make a right turn on a red light?” “Yes, ma'am, but you gotta stop first and then turn.” “Ohhh!” No ticket, no warning! Nice guys in Texas
13 Nov, Sunday: After a visit to the Springfield coin show with nephew Eric, Ron relocated to Lake Carlyle to be able to visit his friends Don & Ann. Lucky Ron, the weather was a balmy 36 degrees when his motorcycle started rolling out of Carol's mile-long driveway. It dropped 34 degrees south of Greenville as the winter wonderland appeared, with snow covering the adjacent fields. Ron loved having a white Christmas, even a few days early. His fingers did not freeze off despite his refusal to wear more effective gloves or to turn on his heated handgrips. When Ron called to confirm plans for tomorrow, Don expressed no desire to come out to play in the snow. Cynthia worshipped at Grace Lutheran and attended the catered congregational dinner. Of course, she could not eat the lasagna, pasta, dinner rolls, delicious-looking carrot cake, and other desserts! But the spinach and zucchini were tasty! She spent two hours working on tax files.
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| Ron's bike looked like this before Cynthia |
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| Storm damage at Scott's Grove |
11 Nov: Ron was back in the bush honeysuckle patch after breakfast at Denny’s in Litchfield with Carol and Bill. Cynthia and Jon attended a funeral for an Elk Horn, Iowa, family friend, and her visit to Scott's grave was a disappointment since recent storm damage made the grave site unapproachable. Cynthia is frustrated that the stock market keeps getting worser and worser.
10 Nov: Texas is cooling off, not a lot, but every little bit helps. Cynthia (successfully) drove to Hempstead to meet with the CPA, and she had a lovely lunch with her friend, Carol. Ron (successfully) kept stickers out of his clothing because he showered, washed his clothes, and stayed out of the woods. He and Carol did DNA, he worked on James Lea, and he walked four miles. Bill is feeling much improved.
9 Nov: Ron harvested bush honeysuckle. The harvest is great; now we need to sell the harvest! Meanwhile, in a Texas town, someone is exercised and oatmealed. Today’s appointment with the retina specialist had to be canceled because it was in the downtown medical center, a location booked by accident. (Cynthia goofed.) By the time she realized her mistake and canceled the appointment, it was too late, too hot to walk in the sultry afternoon temperatures.
8 Nov: Ron, Carol, and Bill ate heartily at Denny's in Litchfield. (Thanks you Jeri.) Well, at least Ron ate a whole lotta food. He laid down to rest his stomach for an hour before heading out to harvest, came back, ate, lay down, pulled more bush honeysuckle, and lay down. In Texas, Cynthia walked after a great night sleep! She danced for six minutes first and then walked 4.4 miles! She is convinced that she won the power ball billions, but something is wrong with Powerball computers. Afterward she cleaned and reorganized the storage unit.
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| Merrilee is remembered on All Saints Sunday |
