Big girls don't cry!

My eyes go from bone dry to dripping. The latest has been dripping.

For about three weeks, my right eye just watered and watered. My pillow was always wet. I would be wiping it while I was playing the organ. My makeup would run. I was a mess. People thought I was always crying.

I finally called the eye doctor and was able to get in that day. He suspected the tear duct was plugged and proceeded to irrigate it. When I saw what he was going to use, I nearly died. But, I never felt a thing. Finally, when I began to sputter and cough, he smiled. As it turns out, I had a tear duct stone. Apparently, he flushed it through. I had never even heard of one of those things.

Only me.

I have just finished a course of special drops to help in the healing - one eye was wet and one was bone dry. I've been cattywampus.

I had WONDERFUL news this week. I went to see the doctor who performed my back surgery in December. It was time for an x-ray and consultation. It was also the scheduled time to begin physical therapy.

After reviewing the films, seeing me do a few bends and twists, he said he felt I didn't need physical therapy. I assured him I was feeling very good, with just a few aches and pains here and there. It will be another six months or so until I'm completely healed, and my back will certainly let me know what I can and cannot do.

I began my series of classes in Bucyrus last Monday evening. Kerry and I headed over there on a very foggy night. I wondered how many people would actually show up, for rain and fog are not a good combination. But, the room was nearly full. Some were new - some were the same ones that have been coming for years.

The evening really wore me out, for I stood the whole night. I laid pretty low for the next couple of days. I surely don't want to wear out all of the good my doctor has done. Kerry left me a special message in M & M's to help me feel better.


Kerry was surprised by a wonderful breakfast the Post Office had in honor of him. They had called me the day before so that I could be in attendance. It totally surprised him, for they had gone all out in this wonderful spread! He works with the nicest bunch of people. This will be his last week - Saturday is it! Then, he's all mine!

The pink papers are a sort of "countdown" for him. The clerk began on day #40. Soon, it will be down to 0!

This is the "case" where Kerry stood and sorted about 1800-2000 letters every morning. He worked both here in Lexington and in downtown Mansfield after starting out 30 years ago in Cuyahoga Falls (just over an hour north of us). He commuted way back then, and took turns staying with sister Fern, sister Betty, and my parents. When he stayed with Fern, he slept in the basement on her pool table - the only place he's ever slept where his feet didn't hang over the edge.


His Post Office truck. His route was over in the neighborhood close to our church. Quite a few times, I would pack up the kids in the summer and we would go join daddy for a picnic in the shade of the trees at the church.

He and I both worked at the temple on Friday, driving through the snow, and when we returned, we attended the wedding of Miss Bree Mosier. She met a very nice man about a year and a half ago while both have served in the Air Force.


We didn't stay too late, for we had gotten up early. And, on Saturday, Kerry returned to the temple very early to help them with their daytime shift. Theo Venable, a very good friend of Miss Andrea Sampsel, was there for the very first time. Kerry was able to be there to help and talk with him. Andrea was able to come back from the Las Vegas area to be at the temple, too, along with her mom. After completing their work in the temple, Theo proposed to Andrea, and she accepted! There's no date yet, but she's here for a week. I'm sure they'll be talking a lot.

Church was wonderful today. We were able to hear Cameron Coxe and his family speak. He has just returned from a mission from Long Beach, CA. Tre Mosier returned awhile back and gave an excellent talk, too. As I sat there and listened to Cameron, I reflected how I'd had both of these boys in seminary. I taught them the best that I could, and now here they are instructing me. I was truly enriched.

Kerry and I stopped by the house to get Eddie, grab our lunches, and head for Columbus. There was a special temple coordinator's meeting at the temple today. It was wonderful. Unfortunately, while we were in there, one of the worker's car was broken into. It has happened a lot lately, especially in the evening hours. For the last 30 minutes, a temple worker is assigned to walk and keep an eye on the parking lot. There are now security poles and cameras in place at all 131 temples.

I hear we're going to get some spring weather this week!!! We'll see.....

This month of April, we wish a happy birthday to:
Benjamin! - our grandson!!! - April 2
Jacob - son of Kerry's brother, David - April 6
Kristy - wife of Kerry's brother, Chris - April 8
Katelyn - granddaughter of my sister, Betty - April 10
Betty - my sister - April 13
Scott - son-in-law of Kerry's brother, David - April 16
Gay - Kerry's sister, who died in 2000 - April 17
KERRY!!! - you know who you are... - April 18 *age 58
Peter - our son, who died in 2009 - April 23
Justin! - our grandson!!! - April 24
Kelly - Kerry's brother - April 27
David - Kerry's brother - April 28

And a happy anniversary to:
PT & Christie - Betty's son and d-i-l - April 19
Melody & Phillip - daughter and s-i-l of Kerry's sister, Content - April 23
Betty & Pete - my sister and b-i-l ~ April 29

Spring has sprung!

Oh, my goodness! It just feels so good!!! I love the feeling of the sun warming my shoulders as Mr. Eddie and I take our walks. Sometimes I'm up walking him just as night is ending and right before morning has begun. It's a tender time of day - the earth is just waking up around me while it's going to sleep on the other side of the world. This morning, the tree frogs were still singing their nighttime song, but they stopped just as soon as a mourning dove gave her first coo. Soon, turkeys began to gobble and a few other birds joined in.

So tender.

This week was an easy week - and also one that I looked forward to. The temple opened up this week after being closed for a couple of weeks. This happens twice a year to work on maintenance. Because of some break-ins that have happened during the evenings, they have had some of the men who work that shift out patrolling the parking lot. Now, there are security cameras being installed.

And because it was our first week being opened, we were extremely busy. Matt Breedlove was married on Friday, and it was good to see Michael Abbott there in attendance. I love seeing the young people I have known through the years as they come to the temple for various reasons - to learn, to pray, to receive inspiration, to make covenants with God, and to marry. I have great hope and faith in our youth - I have worked with them and see the things that are important in their lives.

Saturday, I went shopping. I don't know why. I just never go out to the mall or spend a day engaged in shopping. But, I did. It will probably be awhile before I do again. I just don't enjoy being out there and seeing all of the things that are just really not needed. Every now and then I may drop into Kohl's, but even that is rare.

Church was good today, though there may be quite a few on spring break. Many people have drawn out their colorful spring clothing and abandoned their winter ones. We could still get a bit of snow, but I don't think it would last long. The ground has begun to warm up and bulbs are peeping through.

Tomorrow begins my 15th year teaching genealogy classes in Bucyrus. I can't believe they have sponsored me for that long! Some of the people have never missed a one of my classes. And, there's always a new crop that is there to begin their research. I believe with the NBC show on Friday nights, "Who Do You Think You Are?", that a new crop of people has surely begun to get interested. The ancestry.com web site has been very slow lately, due to the high amount of traffic.

I enjoyed talking with both Jordan and Erik this week. Erik seemed relieved to have a bit of spring break this week. He has worked hard in school, and should be finished by next spring. He will be the first in our family to complete college. Jordan sounded really good, as well. I can hardly wait to see the grandboys again. We are all gathering for Easter.

I haven't talked with Harmony. One night last week, I tried to call her on my cell phone, but I had an old number. When I got home, she had left me a message. We were both thinking of each other at the same time.

As for Mr. Kerry - he is down to less than two weeks!!!!! He has a few aches and pains. As he was going downstairs last night, he groaned a bit. I asked him if he was alright. He said, "There comes a time when you just can't do it anymore. I just can't do it anymore."

He's done. He even received a retirement card in the mail this week! Thank you, Miss Evelyn.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Miss P

Cardinals ahead 5-4

I love the coming forth of birds during this time of year. We have no snow on the ground now, but when we did, I would find myself in utter amazement at seeing the brightness of a cardinal against the snow. When I was upstairs getting dressed, I would see a brilliant flash of red out of the corner of my eye. As I would gently part the curtain, I would see this beautiful cardinal on a limb just a few feet away from me.

Time would stand still.

So far, there have been more cardinals than other birds in my yard - except for the stupid crows.

I didn't write last week. I just didn't have anything to say. Imagine that!

Mr. Kerry wasn't able to go to church last week. On Saturday evening, he was starting to get a head cold. Sunday morning, he decided he just didn't feel like going, and that he shouldn't risk giving it to anyone else. He also missed work for the next two days. In the past, it was all I could do to get him to call in sick. Even though he's just 21 DAYS FROM RETIREMENT, he still feels the need to be there with a good work record.

Mr. Eddie was mad at me this week. It was time for his yearly tune-up, so I dragged him over to the vet. He was pronounced in good health, even though he had gained 3 lbs. Who cares? We all gained at least 3 lbs. this winter! But, it's taken a bit more seriously when one usually weighs only 8 lbs.

He got his shots, came home, and immediately parked himself under an upstairs bed. He stayed there for two days. He just did not feel good. At one point, I went up, knelt down, and crawled under the bed to make sure he was still alive. He was. He just had no kick. Kerry cradled him in his arms and carried him outside to do his business.

By the third day, it was time for him to go to the spa. We were immensely tired of his toenails being so long. So, he was mad at me again. I don't care. He's just a dog. And...he smelled better.

Today was a wonderful day at church. It was a day to bid farewell to young Joseph Kennedy as he departs on his mission to the Arizona Tempe Mission. He was just a pup when they moved here - just three years old. These young people just keep getting older. I know his parents are really proud of him. And, he'll be a fine missionary - just like they were.

We had a wonderful talk with little Baby Angel last week. She turned four years old earlier this month, and she called to thank us for her birthday presents.

We gave her several items, but the most important was the above doll. When Miss Harmony was just a young girl, many of us in Relief Society made dolls for our little girls. This is the one I made for Harmony. She played with it, pulled out some of the hair, and put her own clothes on it.

I found the doll a few months ago. Waunita Wharton repaired it for me, adjusted the clothes to fit a little better, and I sent it off. Angel's favorite color is yellow, and when she saw the hair she just exploded!

It's fun talking with her. She talks very well. Ben is not quite two, so he doesn't talk on the phone very well, but we can hear him grinning on the other end.

For those that have been asking about Mr. Jordan, he hasn't had any more episodes of tachycardia, and is awaiting the date for his heart catheterization. Thank you all for caring so much about my little family.

This week, I will be preparing for my annual pilgrimage to Bucyrus to teach genealogy classes. I can't remember if this is the 14th or 15th year I've been doing it, but for some reason they keep asking me back. And, I'm happy to do it. This year, I'm happy to be able to do it. Mr. Kerry will be going with me to carry my equipment. He LOVES spending time in the libraries I go to.

Last time I wrote, I inadvertently left two people off my birthday list:
Steve - Kerry's brother - March 31
Brennan - son of Kerry's brother, Kelly - March 31

I don't know how I forgot them, for they're written right on my calendar! =;>)

Springtime will arrive this week - at least by the calendar. It's much anticipated this year, for it's been a rough winter everywhere. Enjoy your week - no matter the weather...

Love to y'all...
Miss P

In like a lion...

Snow. That's all I can say. Snow.

I was all ready to go to the temple this week, but when I went out to walk Mr. Eddie, I couldn't even find the road. It wasn't there! Once again, the snow was keeping me at home. I called the temple and made the necessary arrangements.

Each day or night has brought us just a bit more. But, I am so grateful that we have not lost power. Some of my genealogy friends in the northeast have truly been hammered this year. Plus, who am I to whine? There are so many that are truly suffering throughout the world due to earthquakes, tsunami threats, disease, etc. I called Harmony and told her not to get swept away on the Oregon coast. Even the cows go to higher ground.

And, speaking of earthquakes - we had two here in Ohio this week! Oh, they were just itty-bitty ones, but they were still called earthquakes. In Ohio!

So, Kerry and I stay hunkered in the house. We've always said that even if we were housebound for a long, long time, we would never run out of things to do. We always have projects we are working on. Always.

We are certainly offering prayers in behalf of Vaughn Mullet - a former member of our ward. While on a business trip, he became quite ill on the last day. He and his wife, Nancy, were able to get back home to Atlanta, where he went right on into the hospital. He had double bacteria pneumonia, blood clots in his lungs, and the possibility of H1N1 virus (which has now been confirmed as positive). He is being sedated, but does respond a bit when family is there. Nancy is now sick at home, and daughter Jen is sick (bronchitis). I feel so bad for them. We now hear he is just a bit better.

Both Vaughn and Nancy were always asking me about Peter. When Peter had his head-on collision 12 years ago, Vaughn was there practically around the clock with us.

Good people. Good, good people.

Well, we will see what this week brings. Perhaps it will be a bit milder. The temple is closed for a couple of weeks for maintenance, so I may start some things that need to get done. I am just feeling so much better, but I still have to be careful. I don't begin physical therapy until the end of this month - and every now and then I can tell when I've done too much. I'm listening to my body. I don't want a repeat...

This month, we wish a happy birthday to:
Baby Angel ~ she's 4 years old!!! ~ Mar 1
Keri ~ Jean's d-i-l ~ Mar 9
Jeanie-girl ~ my sister ~ Mar 11
Martha ~ md. to Kerry's brother, David ~ Mar 12
Emma ~ Betty's granddaughter ~ Mar 12
Joan ~ Jean's d-i-l ~ Mar 18
Brad ~ son of Kerry's brother, Steve ~ Mar 21
Becca ~ dau of Kerry's brother, David ~ Mar 25
Rachael ~ dau of Kerry's brother, David ~ Mar 26
Alberto ~ s-i-l of Kerry's sister, Content ~ Mar 26
Christie ~ Betty's d-i-l ~ Mar 30

And a happy anniversary to:
MerryNoelle and Alberto ~ dau and s-i-l of Kerry's sister, Content ~ Mar 12

And a fond remembrance of:
Chester ~ my dad, who died 24 Mar 2002 at the age of almost 90 (2 months short!)