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.