I'm gettin' there!

I'm gettin' there - slowly, but surely I'm on the mend. I actually went to church today and didn't use either my walker or my cane! But, I did have my walker in the back of the car and my cane folded up in my purse - just in case! A couple of times, I had a few twinges of pain, but nothing unbearable.

I also began driving this week. We had to get new tires on our jeep, so I followed Kerry to get them. I have to sit a bit differently, and it hurts if I turn around to see over my shoulder when I back up. But, I had to try sometime. This Tuesday, it will be six weeks since surgery. With my other surgeries, I was pretty much back together at six weeks. But, I was told this would take longer. So far, they're right.

I had to order a new pair of glasses this week. For the past few years, the doctor has simply said there wasn't enough of a change to get new glasses - but this year there was. I've had trouble seeing the music on the organ, so I broke down and bought some.

I'm still continually amazed at the amount of sympathy cards that pour in daily. One day last week, I got six! When Content was here, she helped to compile them into a memory book that I had begun for Peter. I am adding to it each day. Last evening, I read back through those cards, and could feel a wave of healing begin to sweep over me. Don't ever think that a simple card will ever go unnoticed or not do its job. The message of the card, added to the sweet words that have been written, will continue to do a healing job long after this year is gone.

Tomorrow begins a new month, which means it won't be long until spring. It's been a cold and brutal winter. Our snowfall has not been remarkable, but the cold has just been unbearable. Just this morning, I was walking Mr. Eddie when it was below zero. I feel bad for his little feet, and many times I'll pick him up so he doesn't have to walk in that frozen snow. He already has a fleece sweatshirt that he wears. But as cold as it was, it was crisp and beautiful, too. The sun was coming up over the hill across from us and the moon was as big and as round as I've ever seen it. I believe they call it a "wolf moon".

Next month, we wish a happy anniversary to:
Chester & Ida - my parents, who would have been married 78 years tomorrow - Feb 1

And a happy birthday to:
Charm - Kerry's sister - Feb 9
Dave - Jean's son - Feb 12
Charisma - Charm's daughter - Feb 18
Isaac - son of Kerry's brother, David - Feb 23

Love to y'all
Miss P

Erik's Russian pancakes:
Beat 2-3 eggs, 1 T. sugar and 1/2 t. salt until frothy. Add 2 cups milk. Add flour to make a very thin batter. Add 2 T. oil quickly. Pour into a hot oiled pan. Cook on both sides.


Southern women
Southern women know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:
The beach
The rivuh
The crick

Southern women know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Chawl'stn
S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food

More Suthen-ism's: Only a Southerner knows the difference
between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you
don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.
_____

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip
greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess." _____

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general
direction of"yonder." _____

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in:
"Going to town, be back directly."
_____

Even Southern babies know that"Gimme some sugar" is not a
request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a
pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. _____

All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might
not use the term, but they know the concept well.
_____

Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of
solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried
chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's
trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana
puddin! _____

Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right
near" and "a right far piece." They also know that"just down
the road" can be 1 mile or 20
_____

Only a Southerner, both knows and understands, the difference
between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash. _____

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the
flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
_____

A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb,
or an adverb.
_____

Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... and
when we're "in line,"... we talk to everybody! _____

Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover
they're related, even if only by marriage.
_____

In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural.
_____

Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
_____

Every Southerner knows tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and
coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a
breakfast food; and that fried green tomatoes are not a
breakfast food. _____

When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you
know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
_____

Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet
tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not
like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want
buttermilk. _____

And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at
little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just
say,"Bless her heart" ... and go your own way.
_____

To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your
Southerness, Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy
and call me in the morning. Bless your heart!
_____
And to those of you who are still having a hard time
understanding all this Southern stuff, ... bless your hearts, I
hear they are fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a
second language! _____

And for those that are not from the South but have lived here
for a long time, all y'all need is a sign to hang on y'alls
front porch that reads "I ain't from the South, but I got here
as fast as I could."

Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fahevah !