My Battle with West Nile Virus

This week marks a year from waking with major chills and fever, followed by what I thought was a 24 hr. virus. I went to dr. after not feeling any better Tuesday. She tested for a few things but they all came out negative. She checked for a stiff neck which is a symptom of West Nile Virus. Negative as well. She told me what I thought all along....virus that aggravated Myasthenia gravis. By Wednesday night I felt better and joined Mark and family for his birthday dinner. Thinking I needed to get back to my normal routine, I continued to take Wayne's brother to work and pick him up. Saturday brought about a Worship team one day conference and try-outs. Just wasn't up to my normal self, I left as soon as it was over.
Sunday morning I got up fully intending to dress for church, instead flopped down on the sofa and was still there when Wayne got up for lunch. (he works nights). Letting me continue to sleep, he grabbed a bag of chips and went back to bed. Again, waking up to get ready for work, I was still lying around but functioning somewhat. Ate pizza with Mary Ann that night.Starting to get concerned, I called Barby and she and Carol came with oils to hopefully help. Went to bed pretty early and after taking Mike to work Monday morning, was back on the sofa before Wayne came home from work. He came in, saw me and asked me if I thought I should go to the hospital. I answered if I did, I wanted to go to Methodist in Houston where my Myasthenia Gravis dr. was. We proceeded with plans to go. Wayne calling Dr. Simpson,alerting her I was on my way and me taking a shower and packing. Mark was already in Houston, so he met us at the ER. The first day, I was in ER the whole day, but they did take me soon after I arrived. Waiting on a bed, was the hold up. I was weak but was able to eat a little something when I got to the room at 7:30 pm. Wayne hadn't slept in over 24 hours, so Mark took him home. I woke up with fever the next morning. Wayne stayed with me every night from then on. 2 weeks he stayed with me, except 1 night Mary Ann stayed. I've been on those make-shift beds and I know he sacrificed to do this. He loves our bed at home. He brought the laptop and noisemaker and settled right in.

My symptoms: 1)Extreme fatigue, needing help in walking to the truck. 2)not being able to take a deep breath which scared me. 3)not much of an appetite, thought of food in my mouth was exhausting. 4)fever. 5)eyes jetting back and forth. 6)nausea, after being in hospital. 7) So weak, I asked for a stretcher to cart me to and fro all the tests. I couldn't even hold my head up. 8)lost almost 20-lbs. Oh, but I found it, slowly but surely. DANG IT!!

Tests done: 1)blood tests, of course 2)x-rays, 3)cat-scans, 4)mri, 5) spinal-tap, finally. 6)some nerve test, very painful and I would not let them finish it. If anyone ever comes toward you with a taser like instrument in their hands, say "NO" very firmly.

Remedies: 1) plasma exchange, routine for Myasthenia Gravis patients, 2)2 different kinds of antibiotics, did nothing for the problem. 3)Infectious disease team was called in to solve the mystery. (how special is that?) 4)Oh, and because I said something that appeared I'd given up, they called in psychiatrist and put me on anti-depressants. 5) Also had a cardiologist put me on some sort of heart meds 6)the most special remedy, my sister drove my parents down from West Monroe, Louisiana, when Wayne told them their presence might encourage me. Now, that was medicine worth taking! 7)Matthew and his family came on the way to Florida to meet Ashleigh's dad and again on their way back to Austin, Labor Day weekend. Mark and Lisa with the kids on the weekends. Mark came during the week to stay with me, to give Wayne a rest. Mary Ann came when she wasn't going to school. These were all home remedies for the weary soul. I had many visitors, cards gifts and flowers. I had friends come and stay with me, oil my feet, search for smoothies after agreeing to try, as I was not eating anything. My mouth (muscles) just could not imagine such a task. I am definitely loved and I don't take this for granted.

After seeing nothing on the first 4 tests, Friday, they discontinued my plasma exchange so my blood would clot in order to have the spinal-tap. After 8 days in hospital, Tuesday, I had the spinal-tap. The majority of those tests came up negative, telling us, I probably had an infection of the brain and will just have to wait it out and that the 2 remaining tests coming from the spinal-tap will probably come up negative also. Towards the end of the 2nd week, the test came back positive for West Nile Virus. They told me, there was nothing they could do and would have to ride it out. They said for someone with a normal immune system the virus would have only lasted maybe 3 days. Some don't even realize they have it, before it's gone. The virus exasperated myasthenia gravis, which is a muscle fatigue autoimmune disease. My stay in the hospital lasted 15 days, with a long expected recovery at home. They told me it would take 1-2 years to get back to normal. Hmmph! What do they know. I was back to my normal in 2 months after leaving the hospital.

My Real Remedy: Young Living Essential Oils! Plain and simple!! For 2 weeks,my good friend, Barby, came over every other day and gave me a "raindrop massage" with some powerful healing oils. And then 2 times a week for a month. I put oils on the bottom of my feet, in capsules to swallow and inhaled oils. I was not looking forward to it being maybe 2 years recovery and it wouldn't have surprised me if it did take that long, remembering how weak and sick I was.

Recovery: First of all, what seemed like a bad thing turned out to be the best thing. Let me explain: Mary Ann was laid off right before all of this. It was a blessing for us, because I needed her when I got home. It was a blessing for her, because she got to draw unemployment while caring for me. My friends from church and Bible Study were there to help in the way of food. Mary Ann was taking 15 hours of school to graduate in December and didn't leave her much time to do any major cooking. Although, she's a pretty good cook.
I was loaned a walker with wheels and a seat, sad to say, I needed it the first 2 weeks and often had to sit down to rest. I ate like a bird. Guess my stomach shrunk. It was a the last week of September before I could sit on floor and hang my head backwards in the tub for Mary Ann to wash it. An who has a hairdresser who will come to your home style your hair and then won't take money for it? I do. About the same time for me to put make-up on. That ain't like me, AT ALL, not with all the visitors I had. I have never had to take heart meds or anti-depressants, so I weened myself from those. All I needed was my mg meds and vitamins and Ningxia Red (a healthy tonic loaded with antioxidants. Oh, and I'll never be without my Young Living Essential Oils.

My first outing but in my pjs was to see a master herbalist with Barby. Got on this bed of hers hooked up to some machine and she was able to read what was going on with my body. My 2nd outing was to Sams' Club with Wayne to exchange a coffee maker that had gone ka-put! Neither of those I count as real outing. I mean it's not like I walked around in Sams, I went and sat on the counter while Wayne got another coffee maker. The real first outing..dressed up to see people was to the memorial service we had here in Conroe for a very special friend and mentor from Colorado who passed away on one of his mission trips. He was very special to our family, counseling us thru some pretty rough storms of life. The legacy he left behind will continue to help people all over the world. RIP Michael Wells.

One thing I took away from this is how God has used technology for HIS purpose. Not only were my family, church and Bible Study ladies praying. I expected no less. What I didn't expect was people I didn't even know, praying for me thru facebook and emails. There were friends of friends, Bible study groups and churches all praying for me. LITTLE OLE ME!! All over the world, maybe at the same times. The spiritual realm stretches over all heaven and earth. This was most humbling to realize I was covered literally in prayers.

With 43 people dying in Texas this year of West Nile Virus, and my cousin's husband in Louisiana dying of it, I realize JUST how close I came but was spared. I am so blessed to be alive.
I believe my days are in God's hands and nothing comes to me that doesn't go thru HIS hands first. This was not my time to go, although, I often wondered if it was leaning that way. I didn't want to go but I had a peace about it. I mean, who am I, it happens? Never thought he'd take Jean or Kathy so soon but it happened. I still have some living to do and I will continue to live HIS song. To GOD BE THE GLORY! He delivered me, yet again.

I know this was boring for most but wanted this event recorded. I've been meaning to write this for a year. Seemed fitting to do it near the year anniversary.

I just label as I see it.

Sammy Sosa the Cat (not to be confused with the other guy)

Sammy came into my life in the spring of 2005, as a comfort for me as I grieved the loss of my sweet Sassy, 5 days before. I accepted him from Mark and Lisa. They had him for 2 years, so I already loved him. Sammy was one of a kind. He started out on our screened in porch and I left the door open if he wanted to come in. He gradually checked our home out and appointed himself "Alpha" over Shali (our other Himalayan)and our 100lb. dog, Bear.
His markings were very unique, being black and gray stripes and swirls.
He had beautiful green eyes.
He loved sleeping with us and walking all over us as we tried to sleep.
He liked cuddling in my lap while on the computer but got annoyed if I tried to type
He had unusual, I think, eating and drinking habits.
He would use his paw as a spoon eating one piece at a time.
Drinking water the same way, getting his paw wet, then licking the water off his paw.

For the first few years, he annoyed us, trying to slip out of the house every chance he got. That's one reason Mark and Lisa gave him to us. Several times he almost tripped pregnant Lisa. He was supposed to be an inside only cat, having no front claws. He had a few "accidents" I'll call them, since he's not here to defend himself. I think for the last 3 years, we let him go outside. I was afraid he'd wander off and get into trouble but he stayed fairly close to our home and the three neighbors. If I went to a neighbor's he'd follow me and wait for me to come out of their home. HE WAS SUCH A HAPPY CAT, OUTDOORS! HE LOVED IT!

He'd bring me "presents" from time to time wanting to bring them in. "Nothing doing", I'd say. How he could meow and hold onto his gift, I'll never know but one day, he meowed a little too loud and the bird flew away. I'm sure he spent the rest of the day trying to recover what he thought was his.

A gross but weird thing with Sammy was his taste for plastic bags. No, I mean LITERALLY taste for plastic bags. How did I know this fact about Sammy, you ask? I would find bits of plastic bags in the Cat Genie litter box, wrapped around the mechanical part of the machine. There was only ONE way, it could find it's way to that part of the litter box. Yep, you guessed it, so I don't even have to say the word, do I?

For the last 2 years, Wayne has been regularly feeding squirrels in our front yard. Sammy thought they were fair game but they always outran him. The last 6 months, I've seen him just stretched out on the sidewalk watching the squirrels eat. His ONLY defeat! :) Maybe he thought he was a squirrel since he started eating sunflower seeds also and then throwing them up at any given time...indoors or out.

Sammy, being the curious cat he was, could be seen inside a car,snooping around if the windows were open. We were always afraid that would be the end of him, being locked in a hot car. We were very careful to make sure that never happened. I owned a truck for a few years. I was on an errand one day, got on the feeder close to home, kept hearing this cat sound. I thought it was a stray out off the street somewhere, What I found was Sammy in the bed of my truck going for an unintended ride. I quickly pulled over in a parking lot and grabbed him. I was so afraid, he was going to jump out into the traffic being so frightened.

Another incident was when he was on the hood of my van. I got in the van, he didn't move. I started the engine, he didn't move. I started backing out of the driveway, he didn't move. Started to go forward on our street, he didn't move. All this time, he was all stretched out on top of my wipers, with not a care in the world. Of course, I got out picked him up and put him in our yard.

If he was outside when Wayne was pulling into the drive, to show his delight for Wayne arriving home, He'd stretch out in the path of Wayne trying to back into the drive. Of course, Wayne knowing he does this, he or I would pick him up and move him.

Sammy was also very vocal. Sitting outside our front storm door, he'd wait patiently (as cats do) for someone to let him in. When he was acknowledged and let in, he'd give us a me-e-o-o-w,as if to say "what took you so long?" If I was sitting, I'd pat my leg for him to jump up. If he didn't, then I knew he wanted something else. He'd reach up and paw at my leg, like a child trying to get their parent's attention. Then I knew he wanted out. I'd say "you want out?" And he'd give me the me-e-o-ow and jump in the air running toward the door.

Jumping into our lap or our bed, before settling down, h'd always kneed us. I've heard cats do this when taken from their momma too soon. He loved lying in bed with Wayne as Wayne worked a crossword puzzle or on his laptop. He loved taking an afternoon nap with him. Sometimes Wayne wanted him out. Sammy would watch me, knowing I was about to pick him up, he'd just cry, not wanting to go. Wayne works mostly nights and when I'd go to wake him for work, Sammy would run ahead of me, wanting to lay with Wayne before he got up.

As most cats, he checked out the clean sheets to our bed while the bed was being changed. Tucked him in and he would lay there for what seemed forever, before he'd slither out of the fitted sheet, coming out inch by inch onto the floor.

His paw would stroke my face in an affectionate way. Or my arm if he couldn't reach my face. He liked being with me while I put make-up on.

He was a very social creature, never knowing a stranger and assumed everyone was a catlover. Well, at least loved him. I mean who wouldn't, if you met him??

Even though Beka is allergic to cats, she would take a benadryl and love on him and cuddle with him. This was supposed to be her cat. Sammy would let her play with him as one of her toys, when she owned him.

He could be found in the oddest places to sleep. A few of the places come to mind:
baby bed (I don't know why I had it, the babies never slept in it)
He loved sleeping next to Alex, Maya and Phoenix, while I was laying with them.
baby stroller
baby carseat
Wayne's closet on top of hunting clothes
bathroom cabinets, if left opened
the dirty clothes hamper
basket of clean clothes
any inviting lap

And then it happened. I pulled into the driveway to my usual spot. Sammy was coming across the driveway to greet me, as always(but not seeing him, I just know) In haste, I remembered somewhere else I needed to go. Not seeing Sammy, or rather not looking for him, I put the van in reverse. Once I heard and felt the bump, I knew the unthinkable had happened. I ran over my poor sweet, just wanting to greet me, Sammy. I rushed to pick him up and drive to the Emergency clinic, only to find out they don't open til 6p.m. Not time to go anywhere else and seeing it was hopeless as constant expelling of blood, ear bleeding and his eye pushed out, I drove back home and just wailed. My gut screaming out in horror at what I had done. The whole time holding my baby. For almost 24 hours, except for taking a sleeping pill, I could not quit crying with the guilt of not taking care of my pet. Hating myself for being in a rush, as usual. I just kept reliving the whole thing and hearing and feeling the crush. My head hurt, my face hurt from crying so much. I've never have experienced this before. I've put animals to sleep but never killed one.

One thing I won't miss, is the misery he put himself and others thru, when going to the vet. He would literally go the "wild animal" act. The vet I've used for 38 years, just gives him the most needed shots and calls it quits on him. It's really been sad to watch because I know he's just scared to death. Well not anymore, poor Sammy, you never have to go again. I love you, Sammy Sosa. You were a very enjoyable pet.

This is for me. It's been good for me to write this, labeling as I see it!

Mom's 85th Birthday

February is a busy month for our family. First of all, my parents 68th anniversary and my sister and husband's 44th anniversary falls on February 2nd. February 10, '68 is when Wayne and I met. Valentine's Day is special to me because Wayne, after just knowing me 4 days, ran thru pouring freezing rain to hand deliver a valentine to me. I cherish that memory. Then there's 16th, which is my mom's birthday followed closely with our grandson, Phoenix's 2nd birthday, on the 19th. And even though she's not with us in body, Wayne's mother's birthday is the 21st. She would have been 78, I believe. She passed away of lung cancer October of '95. She always had something good to say about everyone. We used to joke, saying she'd probably have something good to say about Ted Bundy. She just couldn't believe O.J. Simpson could do such an awful thing. Now THAT's seeing the glass not just half full, but overflowing. ha!

Wednesday, the 15th, I traveled to West Monroe for my mom's upcoming birthday. In a get well card she had sent me in September, she mentioned her favorite songs were: It Is Well, Peace In The Valley and He Touched Me. I decided then, if I could get the keys lowered enough for me to sing melody, I would team up with my sister who is an alto and we would sing these for her birthday. I have a sweet friend, Mary Fowler, who was delighted to take part in this. She recorded the songs on piano for our accompanying music to sing by. It was not an easy task, as I am an alto also. Getting too low would make it hard to sing the very lowest notes and also make the harmony too low. We compromised on a certain key and she completed the task.

Thursday, we met other family at the local Cracker Barrel (at mom's insistence)for the birthday lunch. Suspicions of wanting to use up her gift cards from there, were spot on. They paid for everyone's meal. She's sneaky like that. We argued it was her birthday and she argued back, "that's right, I'll do what I want." How do you argue with that?

Family who joined us were my cousin, Gwen and husband, Charles; my cousin, Marilyn; my Aunt June and my Aunt Bernice. And of course, my sister Deby. We enjoyed a good time together but one missing was my favorite Uncle Henry, Marilyn's dad. He passed away last summer at 96 yrs. old. It is this family I spent so many of my summers with, growing up. He called me- Wibby and I called him- Slim.

So we get home with just our parents and prepare to sing the 3 songs. I was getting over a sinus infection, so on top of being an alto, my part of the mission was a bit to be desired. Hard to reach notes and being emotional didn't help my cause at all but Hey- it was just the 4 of us, so no critics were present to pass judgement. She was sweet to thank us and started discussing how we would present these songs at her funeral service. So we assured her we would take care of it.

I have to mention, we had Johnny's Pizza, Wednesday night when I arrived. And leftover pizza, Thursday night.

Friday, I woke up at 6 a.m. to be back Conroe by 12. Mary Ann and I were leaving for Austin for Phoenix's party the next day. He's usually real shy with us because he doesn't see us very often. In his own surrounding, he was quite the friendly guy, letting me hold him, running around the den, throwing himself on us and babbling on about all he knew. The next day at noon was a "Cars" theme party with a cars cake Lisa made and pizza galore! Soon after the party cleanup, Ashleigh, the kids and I were on the road to Conroe. I kept the kids while Ashleigh went to the benefit Matthew was playing at. We had some play time the next day before their little family were back to Austin. I opted not to go to church, exhausted after such a busy week.

This past week has been emotionally exhausting for reasons I will not go into.I am praying God's will and God's best.

So there you have it...labeling as I see it, once again.

Just My Memories

Mother's Day night, my dad checked in the hospital with pneumonia. I left Monday to stay for the week. We brought him home Wednesday night. There was a surprise birthday party for one of my cousins 70th (J.E.) the following Sunday, so I stayed for it, headed home from there.That was my dad's first day out. We went to church, then to the party in Ball, La. just north of Pineville. Shocked that no one else from the family went to this. We were the only family that showed up. This could have served as a family reunion as well.

About a month later, I was back in Monroe for the Girod Reunion. I love going to reunions and catching up on all their lives, reminiscing old times. We were missing quite a few, this year. Thankfully we are able to rent the air-conditioned fellowship hall at the community's Bethany Baptist Church. Same price as renting a pavilion outdoors at Kiroli Park in hot hot weather.

I have very fond memories of the reunions being held at Bernstein Park and Zoo. In those days, all of us cousins would run free over to the zoo and the playground. Older cousins watching the younger cousins. It must have been hot then too, but it never slowed us down. Many years, I would go home with an aunt and family for a 2 week stay. If VBS was not over yet, then I'd have to wait to go. The zoo had an elephant that made the national news a few years back. Now, see if I had been blogging then, I would have written about it, but as it is, I don't remember. I know she was old and she was being moved somewhere else to be cared for. As I've said before, the blogs are more for my memory bank.

As I write this, being July 4th, our Wilks reunions have always been held on this date. The cousin who took these over was very sick last year at this time and passed away not long after. Needless to say, no one has picked up the responsiblity of holding it since. I miss seeing my family from that side. There's another one on my dad's mother's side on the first Sunday of June held at an old country church and cemetery, but my parents are the only ones I know that go. Don't know all the distant kinfolk. Wayne and I make a day-trip sometimes and go, mostly for my parents. The church members give up the church for the day. When I was a child, most of the Wilks family went to this, so us cousins would have a good time together. The dinner was always held outside under the trees with make-shift tables nailed to the trees. Literally it was the old fashioned "Dinner on the Ground".

I am so grateful I grew up in a family oriented environment. There is history from all of these families documented and still being gathered today. My sister is enjoying researching our family's past.

Father's Day was the next Sunday, so more family time was enjoyed. Otherwise, it's been a rather lazy hot dry month.

The month ends with Wayne's birthday (the 30th) turning him over to the big 60. We went over the following Saturday at Mark and Lisa's for swimming and grilling steaks. We pitched in together to give him a grillmaster grill for his own. Hoping this will spur some good cookouts at home like we used to have.

So today, July 4th has not been anything to shout about as far as activity around here. Wayne got called out to work b/c of an oil-spill and is still out as I write. Mary Ann and I went to Tailgators and shared a super good hamburger and fries.

My 59th Birthday & My Dad's 87th Birthday & More

It seems so long ago, my memory is failing. Ha! My birthday was April 15th, on a Friday. I met Barb at Vernon's Katfish for lunch. Matthew, Ashleigh, Maya and Phoenix arrived around 6 that evening. It was great to see them again. Last time had been 2 months ago. The next evening, Saturday, we all met Mark, Lisa, Rebekah and Alex at Pappasitos for my birthday dinner. Wayne was at work, (he's too tired to go out on work days) so we ordered fajitas to go for him. We had a great time and even saw friends from church there. Got home to have ice cream cake and open gifts. Great cat gifts (no surprise). Sunday was singing at church and heading over to Incredible Pizza for eats and kids playing. I missed being with my bestie, this year. I got some wonderful birthday cards and bookoos of birthday greetings on facebook.

My Dad's Birthday

Wayne had another week of training in Mississippi the next week, which Daddy's birthday was in. So after lunch with Mary Ann, Monday, I headed up to spend the week with my parents. My mom, sister and I did some running around like always. We took Mom to visit one of their close friends in a nursing home, while we waited to pick up Johnny's Pizza. We soon discovered she was back in the hospital with pneumonia, but visited with her husband.

Wednesday I bought a couple of shirts from Academy for Daddy's gift, then a little later we met the "usual suspects" for birthday dinner, which he wore one of his new shirts to. Those present were Debby, Ralph, Gary, June, Charles, Gwen, Cheryl, Bruce and me.

Thursday, I had plans to meet with my high school class valedictorian. Alice had been on my mind for a few months. She has cerebral palsy. She has been in a wheelchair for as long as we all have known her. I was once put in a group with her for a project. We met at her home after school. We neither one can remember what the project was about, but I remember just laying low, being so intimidated by her. (my problem, not hers)

Back to the visit---she is bed-ridden now, but still looks for ways to be productive whether it be tutoring, a spokesman for challenged people or working from her bed on the internet. She is in much pain as she lays there. I have no complaints anymore. She has a wonderful optimistic attitude. Her parents have passed away and is cared for by rotating home-health aids. She wanted to know all about my life and family and I, hers. We visited for a couple of hours. I was hoping to convince her to get on facebook. I am willing to help her. She's a bit hesitate, but said she'd think about it. I hope to see her again in June when I'm back in town.

And of course, while at home, I enjoyed watching westerns with my dad, Wheel of Fortune, Dr. Oz, and The Doctors with both of them, then late evening tv with my mom, while flipping thru magazines and doing crossword puzzles.

Friday morning my parents, my sister and I set out west on I20. Just north of Minden is where my dad's oldest brother lives. He's 92 and is suffering from colon cancer, choosing not to do chemo. This is the uncle who lost his only daughter (my age) just 2 days after his 92nd birthday in February of this year. It was very unexpected, and I hurt my back the day before the funeral and did not get to go. So seeing my aunt and uncle was two fold. We visited about an hour and left. Me going on to Conroe and they back to Monroe.

Thank you Father God, for blessing me thru Alice and for my heritage. I am so thankful for my parents and their thumbprints on my life.

It was a very fun, busy and surreal week, all in one. And that's how I label it.

HE IS RISEN, HE IS ALIVE

Because He is risen, because He lives---I can sing-

"What a day, that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.

When I look upon His face and see the wonder of His grace.

When He takes me by the hand and leads me to the promised land.

WHAT A DAY, GLORIOUS DAY, THAT WILL BE"

and

"Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.

Heir of salvation, purchased by God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long,

this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long."

AND many more...I could go on and on. I love to sing about my God and

what He's done and is doing and will do in my life;

of His mercy and grace, His provision, His peace and comfort,

His deep unchanging love, His compassion and understanding,

His patience and forgiveness, His faithfulness in my unfaithfulness.

And I'll close with this taken from a favorite song--

"He is Holy, Marvelous, Strong Tower, Righteous, He's my Living Word,

Sacrifice, Restorer of my broken life, faithful, All Mighty King, Omnipotent, He is Everything;

The ONE who WAS and IS and IS to come---The bridge from earth to Heaven.

BEHOLD THE LAMB, BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD..

BEHOLD THE LAMB"

There's a saying I love----Those who sing, pray twice. The worship service for Easter was awesome this morning. I was still basking in the love of our MOST HIGH GOD!! So this is me just putting a label on it!!

If I had to work to get to heaven, how much would be enough? Who would measure my worth? Jesus Christ measured my worth by stretching his arms out on the cross. And He said "IT IS FINISHED!" Thank you Jesus.

Visiting Betty Boobs

This is a couple of weeks late, but just couldn't muster up blogging time, as I've heard it could appear one being narcissistic. I think twice about it now before blogging. I just want to document my times that are important to me. Maybe I should make this a private blog. Still thinking. Made it public to begin with to document my best friend dying of cancer, for other friends to stay updated with the latest. That's over now...so now what??

Wayne had some training to do in Mississippi last month. Traveling would take him just north of Slidell, La., where my friend Betty lives now. So the plan was to be dropped off in Slidell. As it turned out, she was closing on sale of her house in Walden the Friday before the training. So I was able to ride back to Slidell with her, Monday morning. (she loves having me drive and I love doing the driving) Didn't have to put up with 8 guys on the road or wait while they toured the plant in Denham Springs.

By default, we stopped in Lafayette to eat a little lunch. Ended up downtown at Don's Seafood. There was a couple seated near us. She looked really familiar, so much that I followed them exiting the place and asked her if she was Phyllis Foster. (a girl we went to school with in Monroe) Why yes, it was!!! We had a great little visit. It was really a big coincidence to meet her there as we had missed our original place to eat in a previous town and they up from Morgan City for a follow-up visit from cataract surgery. And I had forgotten also they she married Harvey Hammonds, an older brother of a schoolmate of mine from elementary.

On with the trip, Slidell bound. We just rested that night, eating take -home red beans and rice with sausage and chicken. Oh, and bread pudding, all from Don's. That night was the first night of Dancing With the Stars and we both love it.

The next morning, we were at a clinic for her 2nd mammogram. Fun times indeed, I tell you!! ha! Afterwards we scoped out "old Town Slidell", ate lunch at a great place, can't remember the name. (see that's why I want to blog, I forget things!!) After lunch, we visited the Who Dat store, followed by antique and consignment stores.

Pretty much the same thing the next couple of days. She had her sights on furniture while I had my eye on "cat things" and shelf to display cat salt & pepper sets. I specifically did not want to eat at chain places. I wanted to feast on the cajun specialties. Well, Vera's place took care of that notion. I had Seafood Gumbo and OMG! Well, never mind.

All in all, I had a wonderful relaxing time with my friend Betty. We wore ourselves out in the daytime, all we had energy for at night was a bite to eat in front of the tv. She has a wonderful townhome on a bayou off Lake Pontchartrain. Think that's how it's spelled?? She has settled in quite nicely and I'm happy for her. I've known Betty for a long time and have taken many trips to New Orleans with her. We have many memories and she still puts up with me.

It all came to an end, Friday afternoon when we met Wayne and the guys on Interstate 12 headed back to Conroe. I should also mention Wayne's boss is originally from Houma, Louisiana, and he had us stop in Lake Charles at Steamboat Bill's Seafood. Mind you, this was on a Friday night. This place is so busy, they have parking attendants directing the parking. A most unusual place, one I suggest anyone going thru to try.

Although I missed not seeing my cats and dogs, husband and daughter, it was a nice weird just taking care of me. Thank you Father God for great Christian friendship, and give Kathy a hug for me. I do miss her terribly. She's still the first person I wanted to call and yakadeeyak about my visit with Betty. Labeling as I see it.