Terminal CRS.

 

Terminal CRS.

 

Well, my brother Sterling called this afternoon and made my day. He mentioned things we both knew and remembered that made us smile or laugh. First, we talked about Granddad Pollard teaching Sterling not to “suck eggs” or otherwise imbibe in Granddad’s stash of brandy out in the feed house. It seems Granddad had figured out that he had been “helped” with his stash somewhat. So, he changed places of hiding. Then he walked out to the sheep pen and took down a big red bottle and turned it up. Sterling watched, of course, and later made a trip out there and turned the bottle up and took a great big swig. SICK as a horse eatin’ bad feed. Years later Sterling saw that big red bottle in the barber shop labeled Baker’s Hair Tonic. Yep, he had definitely been had. But it made us both laugh now.

 

Then Sterling told the story about how he went over to see his BLIND pastor. He called out that he was there, and the pastor yelled that he was “back here.” Sterling went to turning on lights and finally found the pastor in the bathroom with the latest child on the floor where the pastor was trying to put a “onesie” on the kid. The two men wrangled that kid all over the floor before they ever decided it was actually on the kid right side up. Sterling made the comment that a blind man could do stuff better than he could when it came to figuring out which end was up!

 

Sterling then made me feel better about having to hire the work done on the grass and flower beds, the housekeeping, and assorted other tasks that are beyond me at this point. He said he had given up doing any mechanic work because if he took something apart, he could not for the life of him put it back together! He proceeded to tell me that this “new” house was going to end up costing him about $20K because he could no longer do any of that stuff. He hired two young guys who were doing a good job of all that needed to be done. And it was worth it to him.

 

Now, the bad news was that Sterling’s oldest son Danny cut off two fingers today while putting in fans in a big chicken house. He was on his way to the ER when he called to ask his dad to go up to the farm to shut things down and close them up. Could just see Sterling shaking his head. Remember when Sterling wrecked a motorcycle and cut off one of his fingers by smashing it between the handlebars and the back of a truck. He was one miserable guy until they finally gave up trying to save that finger. Will just have to pray for Danny. Know this is going to be a problem for him at least until it stops hurting so badly. He will also have to learn to do without those two fingers. Both our uncle and Granddad Kennedy had lost a pointy finger to oil field accidents. Digits are awfully easy to lose that way.

 

Now, our mother had dementia, and it has occurred to me several times that yours truly is losing the ability to remember things. Sometimes Lance will tell me, “Mom, you already told me that once.” Uh huh. Well, it got told again, so there! Sterling said that we both have terminal CRS. He intended to go to the water office in Gentry and kept right on going until Jacqui reminded him that the office was back the other way. Then they planned to eat lunch at a café, and he just drove right on by until Jacqui asked him where he thought he was going. His comment to her, “Don’t ever assume I know where I am going or why!” So, now my children can expect the worst and settle for what they get. Not quite ready for the nursing home just yet. Just forgetful.

 

JoAnn came over to Jerry’s this morning to load down two more trash bins with crap out of that house. She could tell someone had been there, but had no idea how to stop it. She put up posted signs, but we all know how much good that does. Calling the police may or may not stop some of the traffic in there, but not going to hold my breath. Think it will just irritate the police to get calls from me despite the fact that they have told me to call them. Sigh  Anyway, JoAnn borrowed the water cutoff to turn the water off so that they would stop using her water and running her bill up. She also brought me some more small tomatoes and some squash—my favorite veggie! Just sliced up those little squash in some butter and put them on to cook in my big cast iron pan. Yum! They are delicious!

Have garlic out the kazoo. Sent some home with Connie, but she would not take very much as she thinks it goes bad too quickly. It’s not like there is not plenty here for all of us! She made a very sweet purchase for my dogs—thunder jackets! We tried putting one on each dog. Neither dog minded in the least. Let’s hope that firecrackers and thunder will not be such a problem now. Will have to keep the instructions, however. Those things take some figuring out! Not quite as bad as putting a onesie on a baby in the dark, but close!

 

Waiting for the sun to go behind the house so that watering the new plants won’t cause them to get burned. Hoping that they all live and do well, but not holding my breath. The heat is a bit much right now, even with a good ground soaking. The boys said that they did not know if they would be able to come tomorrow afternoon to mow. They did not say where they would be, and it was none of my business. But it is still too wet to mow in the mornings. Sheep are beginning to look better every day. Brenda Jones has some called “Hair Sheep” that don’t have to be sheared. Hmm. Wonder if they can be hired out.

 

Not going to gripe if it actually rains tonight and tomorrow. At least the temperatures won’t be out of sight for a few days. Sterling said that all the men in his part of Arkansas are having to sit back and wait between storms with all the rain falling up there. Guess if one works in dirt, it is pretty hard to do if it turns to mud. Just sitting here watching the grass grow is hard enough, but at least it does not make a difference in whether or not we can eat. Maybe the City won’t send anyone out to measure my grass for a few days. It’s a cinch this ol’ gal is not going to try to mow again anytime soon. It does not take long to mow, but the bumps and lumps just make life pretty danged hard to bear when the spine has to absorb the bumps.

 

Have not looked at AOL, JP, or any other source of news today. It simply is not worth the stress. When Connie was here today, she said that she did not believe this Covid mess was over. Some of us are happy to stay at home and not think about it. Waving my hand here. She had to go to the doctor’s office today and then to Sam’s to pick up her prescription. Don’t think she even wanted to get out at all. Can understand how she feels. It feels a little scary to think about another wave of this mess. Guess the masks are going to become another accessory in our lives. Sigh

 

Really don’t know much. If Sterling had not called today, would not even have known that much or maybe even thought about much. Growing things and messing with my dogs and hens is about all this ol’ girl does any longer. And if you get tired of hearing about them, just consider the source. We all eventually suffer from CRS whether or not it is terminal.

 

Rest well, my friends, and pray for peace and safety. You are loved.