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Thursday, December 31, 2009

WHAT A DEER...

Baby boy was offered a trip to Mississippi
with Mikie and the gang in hopes of seeing and
possibly shooting a deer.
There is only one thing this boy loves more than
hunting and that is his wife.
Other than that Rod would do anything to
hunt his life away.
So of course even though his Deda and him
had just got back from a quail hunt that they
had a blast at, he headed to Mississippi.
It wasn't even dark out yet when he called his Deda
on his cell still short of breath saying he had just killed
an 8pointer. I tell you the boy could not have been in
the stand long when he called.
Deda was so excited for him and when he hung up
the phone he was laughing for excitement for his baby boy.
I was touched and felt the throat well-up
to know that the first person he called still in
the tree stand, with his deer still running
was his Deda.
They must have had 10 phone calls between the two of them
in the next hour and finally I got to speak to him.
He was still full of excitement and I asked him
if he was shaking when he shot it.
"Shaking? My adrenaline was so pumped up I thought
I was going to throw-up!"
Rod was in his element, everyone should see
their men who love to hunt in this element.
You see another side of them.
Now I don't understand all the fun in it but
I associate their feelings with me going on
a shopping spree, that excites me!
Baby boy even lost his wallet and, for me, this
would have put a damper on my trip.
Not this child of mine,
he was not going to let that stop him from
enjoying his whole trip, enjoying his moment.
Thanks to my BFOB and his extended family for allowing
baby boy to hunt with you all.
He so deserves to feel this happiness and excitement
and I am so thankful that you guys gave him the chance.
I must brag to say my two boys are some awesome shooters,
WHAT A DEER...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Notes left behind

Kd and Rod gave me two books for Christmas.
The first I finished reading in 24 hours.
You may have heard of this book called
NOTES LEFT BEHIND
BY BROOKE AND KEITH DESSERICH
If you have not heard of it, it is a must-read.
It is a blog journal written by these two parents as
their child fought a loosing battle with a brain tumor.
After she passed they found notes written in her
6 year old writings and drawings left all over their home.

Again, I say God sometimes speaks to me in words read in books.
In this wonderful book on page 177 I read this
as it relates to my life:
"...it is called a survivorship mentality...
I have come to understand what being a survivor means.
It is bestowed on those who see a glimmer of light
in a hall of darkness. It is a person who has no
doubts, no fear and only confidence,
who at times seems irrational.
It is a person who believes that he or she
alone can find the solution, and that at the right moment,
it will become evident.
It is confidence that exudes optimism hand in hand with faith...
Being a survivor must be more than an ability
to find solutions; it must also be an ability to cope.
Suddenly I understand what it means and I wonder if
I am up for the challenge..."
Yes, I am a survivor. I will find my way and every day
I have a new understanding a new idea.
Great things will come from this new understanding
of my life, whether it be to speak out to others
or to be someone others look to.
Whatever it is, I am up for the challenge.
I AM A SURVIVOR.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Let your heart be happy...

More Christmas pictures to make your heart happy.
Would you look at Aunt C's face.
This is what Owen does to all of us!
Tedi and Hugh are the bestest of cousins.
They remind me lots of Jesi and Kris when they were young.


Don't let this angel fool you...
It is becoming very obvious that Lucy is her Momma' daughter.




Sunday, December 27, 2009

It was the day of Christmas and all through the house...

Everyone was happy, even this little mouse.
I wanted to say rat but it just didn't rhyme.
What a wonderful Christmas day this 2009 day was.
Isn't this what the spirit of Christmas is all about?
Roddie finally got to do pay-back on one of Mikie's kids
for all the swirlies he received as a kid
in the very same toilet that he swirled in.
I don't know about you guys but I do believe
either Owen was enjoying this way too much or
he has some experience in it.
I mean look at his face!
Owen gave it a good fight but never screamed and cried
like Rod used to do.
He grabbed on to any walls he could find but
laughed the whole time and finally just succumbed.
what a good sport he was.
Lucy played beauty shop with the fantastic
hair bead thing-a-ma-jig
For what ever reason when she did Hugh's it really hurt,
hmmmm sibling issues, you think?
Like look at the grip she has on his lock of hair.
He was all for it before she started...
Jesi got much lovin from mikie and Deda,
ummm I know she doesn't look very happy
but her deda didn't shave and she said his beard was rough.
Myself and the BFOB (best friend of blog) had to get in
the picture scene.
Owen and Uncle Ted hit it off and had some good
rumbling time, O loves rumbling and his Uncle Ted.
It's been many Christmases since I have had my two children
and my hubby all together with the added Kd.
I have to say all my gifts were fantastic but the very
best gift was this,
All my loves together.
Got Amanda and the Taunts but not really sure how
Arthur missed the pictures.
We are all counting our blessings with that boy
once again. He was in a bad accident just last week
and aside from a horseshoe-like scar to his forehead,
he seems as though he will be okay.
Yes, we once again have been blessed
and I am not taking advantage of this huge blessing.
Lil Miki and Rosie were also with us this Christmas.
Another family member we are blessed to have with us
this year. lil Miki has had a few rough years but
through hard work and the grace of God,
right now he finds himself the best he has been in years.
Keep up the good work my boy.
The rest of the pictures are self-explanatory from our
opening of our gifts.
Jesi tasting her deda's juice he made with his new juicer,
would have been great since the oranges were grown in
our own back yard, except Ron just couldn't peel the oranges first.
He just put all the peelings in their also.
So basically it tasted just like...
orange peels!
Kd loves opening and giving presents,
She anxiously awaited the whole adventure.
Scrapbook pages ooohhh-hoooo gunna get lost in this today.
Rod and Kd gave Deda a mug with pictures of his
precious pups saying:
"Deda and his tee gagooies"
He loves that mug, has used it every day since getting it.
Even the pups took part in the gift-giving procedures.
Mommee got a new robe to go and eat her morning breakfasts
at the manor. she is the cutest little thing.
So Christmas 2009 is done and I just know that 2010
will be a good year for all.
Good-bye to the old, hello to the new.
Put aside all hostility and make peace with all.
Love and wet Aunt Jeanie kissed to all!

Friday, December 25, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLINGS!

Roddie and Kd decided to come down last night instead
of this morning then convinced me to
open gift last night.
Needless to say we were up way too late.
Once we start talking it's hard to shut it down.
Even when DeDa falls asleep on us at the recliner.
I got awesome gifts, the best are when you want
nothing and get the best!
Jesi got me awesome vintage scrapbook stuff
the newest at Scrapalicious,
Rod and Kd got me all my favorite
"stay home stuff"
two books, a new pj, and a snuggie, yes a snuggie!!!!
and aloe induced-slipper socks.
Can't wait for a rainy day to put all these into use.
And Ron, Ron got me a GPS!!!
Don't know what triggered that, was it a being lost
in Nashville without one or the teasing he
had to hear by my BFOB here on the blog
about not renting one for 6 dollars a day.
Whatever it was, well it was awesome!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

CHRISTMAS EVE IS COMING SOON NOW YOU DEAR OL' MAN

MY FAVORITE SONG EVER OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS
JOLLY OL' SAINT NICHOLAS
It has always reminded me of the excitement of Santa
coming tonight.
There are those at my school who do not believe in Santa.
They say that every year your parents buy presents and
put them under your tree.
Well I say to all these children out there and to those
who may be reading this:
At my house Santa comes.
Every year I hear sleigh bells in the night.
Every year there is an unexpected present under my tree
in which no one claims to have bought.
Every year on this very day that
I call Christmas Eve I remember times past
when I went to bed wondering whether or not
there is a Santa.
The one thing I do know that at my house,
he lives and so does the baby Jesus who
calls tomorrow his birthday.
Let the magic of this nasty weathered Christmas Eve
live forever in your life.
Enjoy the moment when you tuck your little ones
in tonight as they listen for sleigh bells.
Put out the cookies and milk and a nice note for
Santa just in case he is hungry when he gets to
your house. Put reindeer food on the lawn.
Read TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
whether it be the Cajun version or the traditional.
Enjoy the magic of having little ones under your feet.
Be extra patient today and tomorrow so that
all the little ones memories are of wonderful holiday cheer.
Drink some eggnog with your significant other
and while the kids have
VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS DANCING IN THEIR HEADS
share some good memories between the two of you,
make your own adult traditions
and slow down, enjoy the moment
and may all your Christmas dreams come true.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

when God speaks, you best listen

Have I ever told you that God speaks to me?
Have I ever told you that there are three ways that he does it?
Well, here is my secret.
1) He talks to me while I am reading:
He will put something in print somewhere for me
to read and I know automatically it is from him.
2) He talks to me when I am trying to sleep or just waking up.
He knows my famous words that if something keeps
me up at night, something will be fixed.
3) He talks to me when I am brushing my teeth.
Yep, you heard it right, just when my mouth foams up
with all those bubbles a thought will pop up in my
head and it is clear and precise and I know just what has to happen.
He knows that is the only three times I ever shut up long enough
to hear.
So be with me here as I explain to myself what exactly
my Big Man is saying to me.
You see he knows my heart and thoughts.
He knows that the news I recieved here although
informative and very helpful is not the exact news I wanted.
He loves me but already knew how this would turn out
so he is not surprised by my disappointment.
However he also knows this about me,
that I listen to his messages and I will pick up the pieces
to use this in some type of positive manner.
Right after Ron and I got back from the doctor
I needed some "me" time.
I went into town and walked these little shops,
giving myself some time to absorb the news and
understand what this means for my future.
There I see the most beautiful, unusual piece of
graphic art and I think baby girl would love this.
I then read what it says:
"FAITH IS BELIEVING THAT YOU WILL BE GIVEN EITHER
SOLID GROUND TO STAND ON OR WINGS TO FLY"
Wow, how powerful is that just when I need to see it?
Yes, my God is telling me that I must have faith in him.
Faith is about believing in things you cannot see.
I cannot see the future but He can and he
is giving me this most powerful message,
I say to myself, "Thank you, God"
because I know right away this is him talking to me.
However the power of humaness comes back and forth
in our lives and yesterday while laying in an MRI
bubble for two hours with loud sounds coming through
my nifty orange ear plugs I begin to get scared again
of just what the future will be like.
This is all unusual for me, I am not one to focus on fears
and negativity but I realize while in this bubble that
I have allowed this issue to control my life for too long.
I have to find a way to take control once again of my life.
I get back to the hotel and a hot bath and a good fiction book
is what I want so I go there,
and there in this fiction book that has nothing to do with
anything in my life are these words:
"YOU KNOW THEY DID A STUDY OF PEOPLE
WHO BECAME PARAPLEGICS...AND FOUND THAT
JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER THEIR ACCIDENTS THEY
WERE BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL SELVES.
IF THEY WERE HAPPY PEOPLE BEFORE THEY LOST
THEIR ABILITY TO WALK, THEY EVENTUALLY BECAME
HAPPY PEOPLE AGAIN. IF THEY WERE DEPRESSED BEFORE,
THEY WENT BACK TO THE SAME LEVEL OF DEPRESSION.
WE CAN'T ESCAPE OUR NATURE. WE ARE WHO WE ARE."
julie buxbaum, author
Okay got that God, loud and clear.
I swear to you, I don't make these things up,
it is exactly the way he communicates with me.
So Big Man is telling me I will be okay no matter what.
No matter whether I have pain everyday, no matter if I do
land up crippled in some way, I have always been a happy
and positivie person before and after acceptance of this
issue I will be again.
He promises that. If I do what it is I need to do,
he promises that.
So as I get out the tub firm decisions are being made in my head.
I will seek out a counselor who specializes in what I need
and I will do whatever it takes to be happy.
I will begin physical therapy like suggested here at Vanderbilt
and I will follow through on all they tell me to do.
I will wait for the recommendations of the chronic pain doctor
here and then follow up with my own Dr. Ponder
in Gray and be my own advocate to tell him what I need
and it doesn't consist of shooting me up with steroids in
my back that hasn't seemed to help in the past.
I will do what they told me to do about loosing 10 pounds
(yes, they agreed with me that I need to loose 10 pounds
and the less weight I have on my back the easier it will be:)
I will put some form of exercise back into my life no matter
whether or not it causes pain.
I will begin to eat healthy again and take control of my body.
Yep, Old aunt lil is listening dear God.
... and after all of these deep thoughts I awaken this morning
with a peace I have not felt for some time.
And two thoughts are in my head from God:
"BE STILL AND KNOW I AM HERE "
and
"THAT WHICH DOESN'T KILL YOU WILL ONLY MAKE YOU STRONGER"
So do you want to join my journey?
Make 2010 the year that you be happy, no matter what.
Make 2010 the year that you begin to eat healthy and exercise.
Make 2010 the year that you take control of your life if you have lost it.
2010, what a bright year!
Love and big wet smooches to all!!!!!


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

with acknowledgement and understanding comes acceptance

Please bear with me because unlike most of my other
blog entries these next few ones may be jumbled
and lengthy and not so much thought out like my
usual blog ways.
Partly because my head is full of jumbled information
lots in a little bit of time.
The way I sort these things out is by writing
and lots of thinking but I know that all of you out
there are anxious and curious to know how all
of this stuff is turning out,
so I feel like I need to sort out here on my blog
instead of on paper first. So here is my first attempt.
THIS VANDERBILT PLACE IS HUGE AND VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE. RON AND I GOT INTO THE PLACE
AT 10:30 am and didn't leave until 2:00pm
So much stuff was discussed and it is still being absorbed
in my internal computer system I call my brain.
Let me try here to begin to explain some.
All my records from 1968 from Touro hospital
were destroyed in a fire. They received no records
from there.
So what they did is they researched treatments that were used
for Wilms' Tumor back then and summarized my care around that.
The ironic thing is that in 1969 they began a Wilms' Tumor
research and treatment protocol and everyone diagnosed from
that time on is in a history bank and all treatments were followed in
the same way according to this research.
Because I was diagnosed and treated the year before,
basically they could have done essentially what they wanted.
However they do feel that my protocol was probably very close
to what was used at the time.
My name was not in the data bank so no information was
obtained there.
Basically there were only two chemotherapy drugs used on children
back in those days and it was one or the other not both
so they are fairly certain on what type of chemotherapy
I received. Both make you extremely ill and both make you
loose your hair. However because I have no nerve damage or
problems with nerves in my arms or legs they do believe
they know which of the drugs I received.
This is one of the good things I found out.
The other one causes lots of neuropathy issues and since I
suffer from none of that, I probably got the other one.
I would have been given this drug for a total of 15 months.
This also makes sense to me since I have memories of going
into the hospital every few months for a long time.
My teeth problems, ridges and stains are all from the
chemotherapy but besides that it has not had
any long lasting effects on me which is good news, very good news.
They feel that to have a recurrence of cancer from
having received this drug is slim to none since 41 years later,
I would have had it already.
Now for the radiation part:
Basically all my problems from my back to my abdominal issues
I have had in the past, are all caused from the radiation I received.
This has always been speculated in the past by doctors
who just didn't know or had no history to know.
Now I know, no more second guessing whether any problem
I have is from this radiation, it is , pure and simple.
The scoliosis, the sacrolisthesis, the osteoporosis,
the bone fragments floating around in my back,
all from the radiation.
In 1969 radiation was used only after the kidney was removed.
the fact that I received it 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after
means I received twice what another child would have gotten
just one year later.
Basically I was cooked then reheated later.
The good news, They are quite certain that my breasts, heart, and
lungs were protected in some way and that the bout I had
last year with my heart is not related to radiation
nor is my thyroid issue.
Other good news is that they would have radiated everything from the
spine to the right of my body but the kidney on the left
has been protected and is still working wonderfully.
The doctor read the quite extensive surgery notes from
Dr. Faucheaux when he did my hysterectomy and
she said that the mess my abdomen was in can tell
her about just how the bones must have suffered.
She was quite surprised that I have no stomach or bowel
issues at this time after reading the surgery report
and warned me of the possibilities of future intestinal problems
and the need to see my gastroenterologist with any symptoms
I may get.
I explained that prior to Dr. F. doing the hysterectomy I had
many abdominal issues and was hospitalized a few times
with weird fevers and fluid found in my abdomen but since
that hysterectomy all those problems have subsided.
They have studied all my reports from many doctors and
I must say I was quite impressed with how much
time and studying was spent on my case.
All my MRI's and CT scans show many issues that
are bone related and one of the questions I had was
would back surgery take care of my pain issues.
Unfortunately she said that although on xray most
of it looks like it could be fused by an orthopedist,
what a normal orthopedist does not know is that
the pain would still be there.
It may help some but it may make it worse because
the fact is the majority of the pain is just from
bone damage from radiation and that cannot be surgically fixed.
I have tried to explain to her what the pain feels like and the
best way I can explain it to someone else so you can get an
idea is it's like having a toothache that always hurts.
Sometimes the toothache is bearable and you can go through
your day, it's always there and certain things you eat may make
it hurt more but all in all you can get through your day.
Then there are those days that eventually the toothache gets
so bad that you have to go to the dentist.
Well, these are what I consider my bad days, the days
I can hardly make it out of bed.
So they pain is always there and from the news I
got yesterday will always be there.
There are also many things they still cannot answer for me.
There is no way to know what the future has in store for me,
although every year the cancer survivor ratio increases,
from way back in the 60's treatments were so different and
because we are the oldest surviving groups no one did studies
or even worried about late-effects.
They explained that this is a new field of medicine
soon there will be places everywhere that specialize in late effects
because there are now millions of survivors out there
so the need is finally here.
The questions of will I be able to continue to work until retirement,
will I ever be wheelchair-bound, etc.
Well these are unanswerable because it is individual for each patient.
I know, too much information to understand,
I'm having trouble myself.
So in a nutshell, I must now find a way to stop fighting
and denying that this pain is real and not going anywhere.
There are lots of new things being developed out there and
today I will have an MRI of my whole spine.
This will then go to their chronic pain cancer doctor
and their cancer orthopedist for consultation.
I will probably have to come back to meet with these two specialist
or they will consult with physician's in my area if they
can find some that specialize or can treat me closer to home.
There is a chance that I may be a candidate for a
spinal pump that could be inserted in my spine for pain relief
but they will have to see if there are doctors who are in my
area who could maintain this for me in case of emergencies.
Even if it is not something that I can have now, in the
future it may be achievable because this field of
medicine is just growing.
They will help me to find a counselor who specializes
in cancer survivors in my area to help me
accept the fact that this is my life,
I cannot do what I used to do and I will
have to be on some type of pain regimen.
I have fought this for too long and I have to
come to some type of acceptance of the fact
that I will have to be on some type of drugs.
This is the hardest for me,
many fears come with this realization,
none I'll go into detail about because it is a personal thing
but I will have to find my way.
So I hope this helped some of you be able to understand a little
better, if my thought are jumbled it's because they are jumbled
in my head right now.
Love to all!!!!!!

Mumsie's birthday gift


Before I can even begin to untangle and try
to explain what all has happened since I have
been in Houston,
I have to tell the story of Mumsie's birthday gift.
For those of you who do not know the story behind
Mumsie's 89th birthday gift,
Well to put it simply instead of gifts
C came up with the idea and Mumsie thought
it was great that instead of giving her gifts
a donation should be made to this teaching/cancer
hospital that I have been at for the last few days.
The donation was a whopping 250 dollars!
So I decide that the best person to give this gift
to was the social worker Ron and I met with first.
After an hour of her just telling me what she has read about me,
studied all the paperwork I returned to her,
listening to my fears and Ronnie's concerns,
I decide that she will be the one to make sure
this donation gets where it needs to go.
So I kind of tell her what decision our family and Mumsie
had made and hand her the card I made to house the check.
She is looking at me and I think she wants to cry.
She says "I am speechless"
So I begin to tell her our family's story of
how way back when in 1968 I was the baby
of a big family born to parents who were in
their mid 40's who were struggling already.
I explain that there is 23 years between the oldest child
and myself and some of my siblings had already married
and were having their own children.
That when given my diagnosis they didn't know what to do,
where to turn and this doctor, who we all knew as Dr. Fisherman
told them that he didn't think he could save me
but he was going to try his hardest and if
they signed me over to him, he would never send them a bill.
I can only imagine what this was like for my parents
yet they trusted, made the signature
and because of this leap of faith, I am alive.
This doctor was true to his word never billed my parents.
This man followed me throughout my life,
even wrote the letter of recommendation for me to
enter nursing school.
I explain to her that the very least my Mother, her children,
and her extended family who all made donations can
do is to give back to a facility that helps people like me
and their families like ours.
She was so touched by the whole thing.
When I said I need to write a book, she agreed that I should.
She then gets our address and Mumsie's full name and
promises me that this money will get used in
a way that honors all of our lives that we have lived.
she ends with such a good statement:
"THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS JOB, TO COME TO WORK
ON ANY ORDINARY MONDAY AND HEAR THIS
EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF A FAMILY,
IT IS WHY I DO THIS JOB"
So thanks to all of you who have made a
contribution to the wonderful teaching hospital.
Thank you for allowing me to be the one to hand deliver
the extraordinary gift and story...
and most importantly thanks for all the love
and support you have all given me over the years.
There were a very few rocky years for a little while
but I do understand that even that was about
the fierce love and overprotection you guys
all feel for me.
Love to all!!!!!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

what gets me...

As I sit here reading the comments about the Saints
it gets me that I can blog about
death, life, little children starving,
I can blog about my feelings and beliefs about life
and many read but no one comments
except of course, my bbff.
But ooohh let me blog about the Saints
and everyone comes out for an opinion!
hahahahaha
Today is my big day,
many thoughts in my head of this appt.
today but will hold my thought
to myself until I sort them out myself.
Missing my house and my baby girl
even though she doesn't believe me.
She says she is enjoying having the house to herself.
I really believe she thinks that house is hers hahahaha.
Can't wait to see you guys on Christmas day.
Have decided that we will go down to Aunt Ronnie's
for lunch myself, Ron, Jesi, Mom, Kd and Rod
hope to see lots of y'all there.
I love it when Aunt Ronnie has us over.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

NO SAINTS GAME FOR US

Imagine how happy I was when Ron and I get settled into our
cozy, nice Holiday Inn room to find out that
Saints vs. Dallas is just not a big deal in Nashville.
You would think that due to the fact that the
Saints is one of the only teams undefeated
this season and playing the only NFL game
on Saturday night that somewhere in the 100 or so
channels this hotel has that we would be able to
watch the game!!
Wasn't gunna happen and now I am convinced that
they lost because I couldn't watch the game.
My brod-in-law, Uncle Jay
who has been a fan of the Saints when people
were wearing bags over their heads and
you could buy a ticket to watch them for about
10 dollars because no one went to watch them
has told me many times this season that it is rigged.
Now I know he doesn't say this lightly
this man wore black and gold when no one even
knew the Saints was an NFL team.
Yet last night he had me believing
not in the Saints but in the chance that maybe
these football games are rigged.
Like who misses a 23 yard field goal in a closed dome?
A highschool kicker could have made that,
heck I probably could have made that.
We lost in the end but it came close to a tying game.
13 and 1, yes that does still sound good
but Saints are going to have to play a better game
if they want to find themselves in the superdome.
Yet if Uncle Jay's predictions are right,
my betting money is on the Saints.
What for greater stories than a team
to have never won a superbowl to win this year?
Like Aunt Ronnie said,
"As long as we are on the side of winnig, who cares if it's rigged?"

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Funny mikie should ask for a Ronald story...

Because just before I got settled in our comfortable
Holiday Inn in Nashville Tennessee,
I was teasing Ronnie that I was going to be blogging
about the wild hotel adventure he put us on today.
Then I see Mikie's request.
Well, get a good cold beer and sit back and listen to this one:
I LEFT THE PLANNING OF THIS TRIP ALL UP
TO THE RONALD RIERA HIMSELF.
HE IS GOOD AT BOOKING FLIGHTS
HE LIKES LOOKING UP ALL THE INFORMATION
NEEDED ABOUT A CERTAIN AREA
AND SO I TRUSTED HIM.
I DON'T NEED A FANCY HOTEL SO I AM NOT
REALLY PARTICULAR ON WHERE WE STAY
SO I NEVER QUESTIONED WHERE WE MIGHT BE STAYING.
HOWEVER I SHOULD HAVE, FROM HISTORY
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HIS FAMOUS WORDS"
"DE PITURE LOOKED GOOD ON DE COMPUTER"
SO WE STOP TO ASK DIRECTIONS TO THE HOTEL
BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE CAN'T OWN A GORMAN...
THEY GENTLEMAN WHO WE ASK DIRECTIONS FROM
ASKS US WHERE WE ARE FROM, WE TELL HIM,
AND HE TELLS US THAT IS A ROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD.
WELL, THE ROOM IS ALREADY BOOKED AND RONALD,
WELL HE WON'T BACK DOWN FROM HIS 40 DOLLAR
NIGHT ROOMS.
WE PULL UP INTO THE MOTEL RIGHT BEHIND THE LIQUOR
STORE. THE ARABIAN MANAGER IS OH, SO NICE
AND LOOKS VERY EXCITED TO SEE US.
PROBABLY BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY.
WE DRIVE RIGHT UP TO OUR DOOR,
JUST LIKE A CUTE LITTLE BUNGALOW,
THAT SMELLS LIKE A BAR ROOM THAT GOT DOUSED
IN PERFUME TO COVER THE SMELL.
I AM TRYING TO KEEP MY THOUGHTS TO MYSELF
WHICH WERE:
THERE AIN'T NO WAY IN HELL I AM SPENDING THE NIGHT HERE.
HOWEVER, THE WAY WITH RONALD IS YOU HAVE
TO LET HIM COME TO THIS CONCLUSION HIMSELF.
"THIS ROOM IS NOT SO BAD" HE SAYS.
I SAY, "RONNIE, THERE IS NO TUB!!!!"
THERE IS NO BLOW DRYER AND THE BLANKET HAS
MARIJUANA SEED BURN HOLES IN IT.
I FIND THE REMOTE CONTROL FOR THE TV
BUT YOU REALLY DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE
IF YOU JUST SIT UP IN BED, THE TV IS RIGHT THERE.
NO NEED FOR BOOKS SINCE THERE IS NO READING LIGHT...
RON GOES OUTSIDE TO CHECK THE CAR
AND I CAN TELL HIS FEELINGS ABOUT THE ROOM HAS CHANGED.
WE LEAVE TO GO EAT AND HE SAYS TO ME
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY THERE WE CAN FIND
ANOTHER PLACE"
I TELL HIM I'M GLAD HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THERE
WAS NO WAY I WAS SLEEPING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
YES, HE HAS CHANGED HIS MIND BECAUSE
THE MANAGER SEES HIM OUTSIDE AND BEGINS
TELLING HIM HOW THE ECONOMY IS SO BAD THAT
HE JUST GOT THIS JOB MANAGING BUT THAT
WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE PLACE NEXT DOOR
BECAUSE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
HE THEN DECIDES TO CHECK THE WRITE-UPS ON
THE HOTEL AND SEES THAT PEOPLE SAY IT
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO BAD IF IT WEREN'T
FOR THE BULLET HOLES IN THE WINDOWS....
YES, WE MUST LEAVE.
THE NICE MANAGER IS SORRY TO SEE US GO
BUT OF COURSE HE UNDERSTANDS WHEN
I TELL HIM THAT THEY WERE EXCEPTIONALLY NICE
BUT I AM AFRAID FOR THE AREA, NEED A BATHTUB
AND A BLOW DRYER.
HIS PARTNER THEN INFORMS US THAT HE UNDERSTANDS,
THEIR PARKING LOT IS SAFE BUT EVERYTHING
ELSE IS PRETTY DANGEROUS.
YES, THIS WONDERFUL BARGAIN PLACE FROM A MAN
WHO DIDN'T HESITATE TO DUMP 300 DOLLARS
AT THE CASINO LAST NIGHT.
Now you know I always tease Ronnie on being so cheap
but really I think it is more so he can tell people
what a deal he made, this one won't be one he brags about
I can assure you that!!!!
So, now we are at the most wonderful Holiday Inn express,
comfortable and waiting
to watch the Saints game.
The Ronald Riera has lost his rights on finding hotel rooms
from now on!!!!
Always a story to tell when hanging out with this
man of mines.

thinking of stephen king


Every time I fly I am reminded of one of my
favorite authors, Stephen King and
one of his short novella's called Langoliers.
If you are a reader it is one of those you should
read even if you are a big chicken....Mikie.
So the whole story is about a plane flight
where some of the passengers fall asleep only to awaken
to find many of their fellow passengers have disappeared.
As they land any many different airports they find the places
empty and lands disappearing before their eyes.
They must place themselves back into the sky to
find the crack in the airspace that they traveled through.
Long story short,
as Ron and I board our flight in New Orleans to head to Houston,
It is still dark and I imagine what if we landed in Texas and
the place was null and void of all....
Well, I would just freak!!!
Does make me want to read the story and even maybe
watch the movie once again.
Now we are in Houston awaiting our flight to Nashville Tennessee.
Weather is beautiful here in Houston
they give possible snow in Nashville.
Ron wakes up this morning and tells me he can't wait for the snow.
Now to most of you this must be a crazy statement from a man
who works in Alaska and just left 2 feet of snow on Thursday.
But for me it is endearing because I realize it is not for him
he wishes the snow but for me,
now that is sweet isn't it?

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

TIME TO SHARE MY NEW ADVENTURE








Well, it's time to put it out there.
If this blog will be a lil bit of my world
then I need to share a lil bit honesty when it
comes to Ron and I's trip we are about to take
to Nashville Tennessee.
Most of my family has heard bits and pieces of this story
but it is now time for me to explain my reasons
for this adventure.
I will be going to Monroe Carell, Jr.
Children's Hospital to take part in a program called
REACH FOR SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM.
(you can google it if you are interested in exactly what they do there)
Here I will be involved in testing and studies
to help other adult survivors of childhood cancers.
They have been reviewing all my records
from many years and doctors and will
devise a plan of action to be followed by
my local doctors here.
I am hopeful that I can help others and even
more hopeful that they will be able to answer
some of the questions I have about my own health.
For many years I have had weird medical issues
that either doctors are puzzled by, can't help me with,
or want to treat in a way that has helped others but
not one of these doctors have had any history
with childhood cancer survivors especially like
myself who received chemotherapy and
radiation in the late 60's and early 70's.
Here in the REACH program I will meet with
a team of doctors who do only this,
work with adults who have survived the battle
to find themselves with many medical issues.
To say that I am hopeful and optimistic is one part,
to say that I am scared and nervous about the whole trip,
well I am that also.
However, in no way do I expect or want sympathy.
I have no bitterness when it comes to the
fact that today I am alive because of the
wonderful treatment and doctors that
took my case and made it their own.
Frustrated sometimes, yes but never bitter.
I have this wonderful life that I want to live in one way
but my body sometimes won't allow me to do it.
This causes my frustration.
I know and am grateful of just how lucky I have been.
To have had 41 years of remission
and to have two beautiful children, well
I understand none of this was promised,
it has been "icing on the cake".
However I do also have to come to the
realization that the very same treatment that
has saved my life is the very cause of the
problems I face today and in my future.
To be able to take part in a study that
will help myself and others after me gives
me wonderful hope.
Someone there will have seen similar cases like mine
and be able to give me answers to the future
I face.
To have someone be able to acknowledge that
these problems do exist and they know why
will be enough to get me where I need to be
to continue on this road less traveled.
So the very supportive hubby and I
leave on Saturday and will watch the
Saints beat the Dallas Cowboys in our hotel room.
We will see the sights on the Sunday
and the Monday my adventure will start.
We should be back by the 23rd just
in time to finish up our Christmas plans with the
family I love so much.
So pray for me and my hubby that we have a safe trip.
That I am a brave Aunt Lil and that
here I will not be the unusual one but
the one they see each and every day.
I will keep all of you posted as I find
out new things about myself for isn't this what I call my blog?
LILBITOFMYWORLD