We had a marvelous THANKSGIVING day. Daughter Melanie and husband Paul, my sister Charlotte and husband Glenn prepared all the food, brought to our house, and the six of us feasted. Earlier I prepared our Phlegar (my grand father’s tradition) breakfast – oyster stew for June and me. We put up a fellowship hall type table in the den so June could be part of the dinner. A little extra work but it was worth it. Also Paul and Melanie put up my big Christmas tree in the living room, and a cyber optic tree in the den. It is getting too much for me to lift and move these things. I am waiting for my yard man to clear and mulch the leaves, and then I will put up the outdoor Nativity scene. I am so tired. I want to quit my job as SANTA at River Ridge Mall but I suspect they are dependent upon me, and the schedule is more demanding now as we get closer to Christmas. The extra money helps. It is pathetic how parents and grand parents try to get a four month old to SMILE for their photo….as if the child understands.
My book about caregiving continues to sell good, and if you know someone dealing with dementia, it would make an excellent Christmas gift. It is easy to order online by clicking https://www.createspace.com/3699557 and choose ordinary postage. The company is quick in filling orders. The book is only $12.99 plus shipping.
June has continued to have good days. She sleeps good at night, and sleeps most mornings in her lift chair following bath and breakfast. Most afternoons she is awake, talking, singing.
Today is called “Black Friday” in America because it is the major shopping day of the year with tremendous sales that will boost merchants out of the “red” into the “black” economy. And I have to work as Santa from two to five o’clock in the afternoon. Hopefully by then the major shopping fever will have subsided. Have a blessed weekend, and may all be thankful for the blessings we do have.
Yvette Simmer said,
November 28, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I thought of you & June several times Thanksgiving weekend. It warmed my heart to know that you both have been blessed by family & spent Thanksgiving with them in your home. As I mentioned in my phone call to you, Bill & I spent it in the hospital, Bill being taken to the Hospital Wednesday night with pneumonia, for the third time this year. We had been thinking prior to Thanksgiving what we would be doing for that day since family seems not to be an option at this point. Not being able to make a decision, I guess it was best we had not made any plans. Symptoms came on very, very suddenely….within hours. But, I’ve come to realize that with CHF, Bill’s heart does not function very well & pneumonia sets in very quickly. While I sat in the hospital with Bill, I finished reading your book that I had started reading the day after our visit with you & June.. Your book and your loving caregiving of your precious wife touched my heart so much. You inspire me and give me hope for what I face in the future with Bill’s Alzheimer’s. I am realizing how God is preparing me, strenghtening me, and providing me with a much needed support group. I count it a real blessing to have met you and shared a pleasant afternoon visiting you and June.
Connie said,
November 28, 2011 at 8:40 pm
Philip, I enjoyed your book. Read it during the Thanksgiving holiday while at the beach with my family. It was good to share and I am thankful that you and June had a sharing time with your family. My daughter will read it and see if any part can be used in her teachings with her LPN students. She is sure she can use some of it. Thanks for sharing with us.