My nieces - Sophie, Livia, and Mama Christy
... the girls were wrestling over who got to sit in the front seat

March 24, 2017 - Friday

57 degrees/partly cloudy/breezy

Terre Haute, Indiana

You know, there are people in this world who make you feel good, those who cause a person to laugh, to want to hug them, and who you never get to see enough.

Let me introduce you to my nieces.

Christy was widowed at a very young age and with some help from my sister and brother in law and her husband's parents, not only raised two beautiful girls, but also earned a nursing degree. 

Christy is now a nurse working in Indianapolis. I probably respect her more than any student, high school or at the university level, that I've ever known. She truly earned her degree.

Sophie will graduate from high school this spring and plans to become an art therapist. Livia will be a freshman in high school next fall and though she won't admit it, I'm told she's quite a good fiddle player. 

It's rare to find two teenage girls who don't mind spending time with their great grandma and their great uncle. They are full of "yes pleases," and "no thank you's," and aren't slow to say, "I love you."

I wish they lived about five-hundred and fifty miles closer so Uncle Tom and Aunt Sargie could spoil each. Though their mother might occasionally disagree, truly, they are a gift from God. 

Thanks for a wonderful visit last night, ladies. I love you very much.

Mom threw us a positive curve ball yesterday. Her heart "flipped" at three AM Thursday morning and returned to a normal rhythm. When I arrived at the hospital around nine, I found Mom walking down the hall with the assistance of two nurses! Twelve hours earlier, with a heart fluttering out of control, she had all the energy of a wet washrag.

Sitting up and feasting on ice chips, Mom held court from her chair until early afternoon on Thursday.

I bopped in and out of Mom's room all day. Walking to the hospital, I almost had PTSD when I saw this:

Though my marching bands often exceeded a hundred forty members, we never could afford a large trailer(s) in which to tote our equipment. Still, it took four large commercial buses to carry us when we traveled.

High School marching band... seems like another lifetime. Come to think of it, it was. Can't really say I miss it.

I snapped the next picture for those who live in the more northern climes.

Uh huh, people are mowing and raking their lawns. There are spring flowers everywhere and the grass is a lush, plush, green.

 Right now, it sounds as though an entire flock of ducks are quacking in the small garden pond outside my window.

Guessing, I would estimate Terre Haute is at least six weeks ahead of the UP heading into the summer months. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit envious. If brother-in-law, Boyd lived here, he'd be busy planting his garden. 

Come to think of it, so would I. I'm getting the itch.

I ventured to a local garage to have the headlight changed on the Kia yesterday. They told me it would be a day or two before they could get to it so I ended up driving to the automotive department at Walmart. It was an hour and a half wait, but in the end, the Kia now has two functional headlights.

While dallying, I decided to part with $7 and purchase a pair of shorts. I won't have to worry about any cars hitting me while I stroll around town. These white, Big Bird, legs of mine will serve as a beacon to all that I'm in the area.

Meanwhile, back in the Upper Peninsula, Grandma Sargie had the day off and was enjoying some quality Grady time. 

Hambone informed me yesterday afternoon that he was doing Pawpaw's job and cleaning the drive and patio.

 

It appears his best buddy, Brutus, was helping.

Grady stayed overnight Tuesday and met Macrea late Wednesday afternoon for a Grady exchange. Sargie's back to the Vision Center today.

I hope Hambone still has the same zeal for moving snow ten or fifteen years from now when Pawpaw could really use his help.

Mom was tired, but in great spirits last night. We're still waiting for that colon of her's to wake up and do whatever it is colons do. I even did a cheer in her hospital room in an attempt to awaken the lower half of her abdomen. It made my nieces laugh, but I'm not certain the colon paid any attention. 

I'll be with Mom all day today. My sister and her husband have work to do, so with a talking Kindle in hand, Mom and I will do our thing.

At some point, I may wander over to the Gander Mountain store and see if there are any outdoor man goodies on clearance. I also know there's a Harbor Freight Tool Store in town, but I'm trying to keep away. Seems I always find some tool I can't live without each time I visit.

With that being said, it's time to go see Mom. I've developed quite the walking route.

I'll walk across the parking lot, through a neighbor's yard, hop the golf course fence and hike along fairway #2, stroll alongside the football field of a neighboring high school, and after navigating a fairly large ditch, cross a busy intersection and arrive at the hospital. 

Boom.

Time to go visit my mama.

After all, a man's work is never done.

From Terre Haute, Indiana, so are the tales from Pentoga Road...