A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
We work up and attacked the latest puzzle with vigor…on and off all day we looked, moved, fitted, examined and sometimes cussed at these little pieces of colored cardboard. Enough, let’s have brunch!
Brunch it was..an international meal. We had Mexican, Indian, American, and Greek today… delicious! we did our normal post-brunch dessert… ice cream and fresh berries!
I decided a nap was required so I crashed about 2:00 PM and woke up at 4:00 PM to begin work onthe puzzle…seeing it with fresh eyes.
Random Memories: I guess puzzles were one the thing to do as I remember growing up there would always be a puzzle in progress on the dining room tale at Aunt Opal’s and Aunt Edith’s. Sue’s Mom usually had a puzzle going and it was protocol to admire it and work on it for a few minutes with every visit.
Jigsaw puzzles were originally created by painting a picture on a flat, rectangular piece of wood, and then cutting that picture into small pieces with a jigsaw, hence the name. John Spilsbury, a London cartographer and engraver, is credited with commercializing jigsaw puzzles around 1760. Jigsaw puzzles have since come to be made primarily of cardboard
In the afternoon we continued working on the puzzle and about 5:00 PM we declared success! This was a lot harder that it looks, especially the skies! Sue would say the hardest piece was the dogs nose! I think the hardest piece was the center of the front bicycle tire.
We got cleaned up and headed to the Phoenix Club. We sat with Bob & Donna and Nancy & Vince.
Then we where hit with bad news:
Don Bailey is not doing well and may have a short time remaining as he was diagnosed with small cell cancer…same thing Sue had 21 years ago. Don is probably 80 years old and we are so sad… great guy. Our prayers go out to Don and Marilyn! NOTE: Don passed 2:33 PM on Sunday the 27th at home. RIP Don!
We also discussed Devi Bellows as David, her husband, gave us a dire prediction as to her health because of the cancer returning. We are so sad to see someone so full of life have this kind of thing happen to them. Devi was a stewardess for United Airlines for many years and then in management for quite some time. we knew some of the same frequent flyers from Rockwell including Sam Icabellis. Our prayers to David and Devi!
A few minute late, Ron Reekers showed up unannounced. We were shocked to find out Nancy had a serious bout with ovarian cancer and underwent a serious surgery to remove damaged tissue and organs in that area. She is beginning radiation/chemo treatments but the cancer was stage three, not good. Now we know why we did not hear from them for the New Years Eve party!
It’s difficult when many of your friends are up in years but we look at each other and, we are up in years! Damn, it’s tough when morality is staring you in the face!
We also shared our thoughts about Conrad being a “standup guy” taking care of his estranged wife, CArol, after her stroke. He has not left her side for months taking care of her every hours of every day. Carol is doing OK but it will be a long recovery. It’s Conrad’s birthday this week…84 years young! He is a good man!
If that were not bad enough, when we got home, we had a call from Donnis who reported that Mickey Ajuai had a major stroke and is not doing well. Mickey is 95 was until recently danced with us at Topper’s for 20+ years! Our hearts go out to Al during this terrible time.and Mickey
Random Thoughts: I was the son of an older couple as Mom and Dad had been married 20 years before I came along. I was thinking about “death” and remembered I was witness to the effects early in my childhood since my grandparents could have easily been my great grandparents. I remember mid 1950’s, I was mid-teens, Dad was not doing well and his mother passed in Arkansas. He was not able to make the trip and I remember him and his sadness.
A few years later, early 1960’s we lost Mom parents…they were both in their 90’s but cancer got to them. Grandpa was a pipe smoker…never saw a picture of him without that pipe in his mouth going full blast.
I was newly married when I lost my father at the ripe age of 65…just a few months after retiring, his health deteriorated due to heart and lung issues…no cancer. Mom passed twenty years later but she was a three pack-a-day Camel smoker so throat cancer got her in 1990.
Now I see loss of family and friends on a regular basis and I can see my own mortality, it’s spooky! I was blessed with great genes as all my aunts and uncles lived well into their 90’s and I have an uncle and aunt, Mom’s side, in their mid 90’s and going strong.
So, what does it all mean? I don’t lnow but I think about it more and more every day, especially after today with all the bad news hitting us at once.
We shook ourselves off, got ready for bed, turned on the “tookie maker” and headed to the front room to watch two episodes of Eureka. We crashed at 11:55 PM. All the bad news took the wind our of our sails. Tomorrow will be better!
