smell

I read one time that the sense of smell was one of the first casualties in the AD jungle.

We were driving back from somewhere a few weeks ago and we came across the very itense smell of a skunk who had probably encountered the farmers dog. I commented on it to Miriam.

She said she could smell noting and I let it go.

This last weekend she made a lemon cake. She likes to make cakes, and since they are out of a box they are easy to make.

When we were eating it more than once she commented that it was amazing that this lemon cake had no lemon flavor. It was too bad they got the labels wrong.

Once again a reminder of where we are going.

spring lettuce

we had a very late spring. Nice the last couple days, cooler today, which begs the question "was that spring and we missed it?

together

We had an invasion.

Some little critters, kinda creepy moved into our kitchen. First time in 50 years. So we took the oldest packaged food and disposed of it, put a of the newer stuff in the freezer, and then into glass jars with tight fitting lids.

A lot of work, but I got to do something I have been wanting to do for a long time.

I reorganized the pantry. We have a 12’ long set of cabinets that work as our pantry. The cabinets are only 12” deep, but that is still a lot of space.

Miriam was a super cook, one who would buy things food items, having a use in mind, but she never pulled it off. So, I got to go through and thin out those things and Miriam was not upset as she helped me.

Then being fully brave, I tackled the food cabinets in the kitchen. There was a lot of jars of food (we buy or grow a lot of food in bulk, and miriam has been using glass jars for a long time, that is good) that I moved to the pantry. The pantry now had space since I moved some of that to the collection of our small town (read that land fill).

Then, being really brash I tackled the spice cabinet. It is a zoo. One can of spice (if you can remember when spices came in a metal can you have had a few birthdays) had the date of 1977 on it. I put all of the old spices and the stuff I know I will never use on the 2nd shelf. I’ll clear that out when I get a chance.

But the lower shelf, really has the spices and flavorings that I will use.

It was good to do all of that, but the really wonderful thing is that she helped me do it all. It was a blessed day. We cleared out a lot of stuff and had a good time doing it!

spring spinach

We have a late spring this year, which is good for the fruit trees. I planted the spinach last fall.

drivers license

I came in the house after working in the garden.

Today is the first 80 degree day we have had in over 6 months, and Miriam met me at the door.

“ I found a piece of paper that says I can’t drive a car any more.” She was not happy.

“No such document exists, what did you find.”

She had found the court papers establishing guardianship, and she was full of question.

“Is this the reason you won't let me have a drivers license?” she asked?

“You have a drivers license, a current one too.” So I opened my wallet and took it out to show her. Expires in 2011, so there is 3 years to go.

“But you won’t let me drive.”

“No reason for you to drive, everywhere I go you go with me.”

The fact that she has a drivers license made her all happy. I have no intention of letting her drive again, but I got it renewed (easy in our state) so we would have a fast form of ID that I can have with me at all times.

I hugged her and told her how much I love her and asked if that was alright with her, if I loved her, and she said yes it was, and she means it.

I never did really explain what the paper was all about. Somehow a few weeks ago she seems to have returned a coupon for a “free” something or other. It arrived along with a bill for $20.

That is not what I got that for, but it is true, she cannot be legally held accountable anymore than a child.

None of this, by the way, makes me happy.

names

I need to tell you about some of the politicians in my state.

Interesting names they have.

Our governor is a chap whose first name is Butch. I am not making this up. His last name is Otter, which once was a very fine seaplane I am told. Butch has been our governor about a year now, he is having trouble with the members of his own party, but that is how it works.

Up to the time he became governor, his biggest claim to fame was to divorce the daughter of the richest man in the state. For a bill or so you would think they could get along.

Our Senator has been in the news a lot lately, so I’l leave that one alone. His name is kind of run of the mill anyway: Larry.

Hmm had a son in law by that name once. Daughter divorced him.

The other Senator, and I am not making this up either, is named Mike Crapo, pronounced with a hard A.

Our representative in congress is just finishing his first term. Someone calculate the influence of each congress person, this guy came out one from the bottom, so he is hardly a powerhouse. Our Larry senator is not too much higher right now.

Anyway, the first name of our congressman is Bill, which is fine enough. His last is pronounced Sally, but is spelled Sali.

I am not sure about the congress person, but the others two are decent guys, though I don’t think I voted for either of them, oh well.

Names aren’t really funny in the classical make fun of the dumb kid in 2nd grade sort of a thing, but unusual names are a kick.

Just ask Jay Leno!

ps. There is a minor pol who is running for something or other in my state and he legally had his name changed to Prochoice so it would show on the ballot. Of course, I wonder, will he change it back later?

I guess that is how life works: Pay Here.

homecoming

Miriam and I went to high school together.

It was and is a rather quaint school in many ways. Owned and operated by a church that takes education quite seriously, it had less than a hundred students when we were there in the ’50’s. The school accommodated students who lived in or near the school, or those who lived away, with a dormitory. Miriam’s family lived 165 miles up the road, so she lived in the dorm, while I lived in what we called “the village.”

My family, and to a lesser degree Miriam’s, have been involved with the school for generations. My aunts and uncles all went to school here, as did most of Miriam’s siblings. Our daughters are graduates, but it looks like that is the end of our family’s involvement. Our grandkids go to other good schools (or home school).

This weekend is homecoming for the alumni, and the school is celebrating it’s 90th year. Graduates and former students come from a good ways to spend a weekend with friends remembering the old times. The Alumni group spend a lot of time finding and encouraging the classes who graduated 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago to attend. For church tomorrow, we will have 600 people.

It is a minor big deal. Since the school is located in the town we live in, we attend every year. I have been secretary, vice president and for the last two years president of the association.

So it was particularly relaxing last night, to go and not be in charge, to not have the be concerned about much of anything, but enjoying the program and friends.

Miriam saw a few old friends, but they seemed to confuse her a bit. It was the first time I have seen her just plain mixed up on that level. Her friends know of her disease, and were wonderful to her. Lots of hugs and “how are you Miriam”.

When we left, it was way after dark, and as we walked along I noticed her having trouble judging cracks in the side walk, of not handling curbs as well, and of the usual questions about where the car was.

Times like that are hard on the old guy.

This evening, the program was mercifully short (some of mine were way too long), and very interesting.

Once again I was reminded of friends and of how important they are, and to you Miriam, thanks for being my friend for all of these years. I love you.

hmm

damocles

Remember the story Damocles and the sword?

Hero Damocles was the courier of a very rich and fortunate Greek ruler/tyrant named
Dionysius. Dionysius offered to trade places with Damocles for one day just to show him how it was to be the ruler. In the evening they had this huge feast, Damocles enjoyed himself as he ate and drank.

Then he looked up and there was a large very sharp sword hanging over his head, held up by a single horse hair. Damocles lost his appetite. The ruler had conveyed the message of how, as ruler, their lives are shadowed by constant fear.

Well I am not a ruler, but there is a certain dread in my life.

For a long long time I have had this rather unsettling feeling. It is hard to describe, sort of like the lights being turned down a notch, or having a fish net thrown over your head.

It might well be part of this Az thing. We know the first chapter in the book, but not the last ones. We would gladly read ahead, but that is not allowed. We have to do this thing, literally, a day at a time.

One week Miriam is working at the job she loved, and the next she is unemployed, retired and soon she was diagnosed with Early Alz. It was the sentence of death, and we both knew it.

In a way when we are born we are sentenced to death. The end is part of the beginning, in ways we don’t find comfortable.

And even if I can’t describe it accurately, I have come to understand the courier Damocles.

Emily last month

bring down the flag, Emily has gone home

It is a bit quieter here now, and more than a bit lonely.
We love you Emily, come back soon.
And thanks Linda for sending Emily.

Grandkids are all special. We have eleven (maybe even 13, depending on the method of counting). Time with each of them is special.

None of them come to visit as often as I might like.

But when they come here or when we go to their houses, it is so good to be in their company.

As you can tell, I am very fond of each of my grandkids.

my brother

Ben is an expert skier, has been for much of his life. This picture was taken last week when he was skiing with his daughter here in Idaho.
I wasn't there and didn't take the picture, but Ben is obviously enjoying the moment.