July 27, 2009
Shortly after I married, my parents purchased a new home. It was never 'home' to me because I had never lived there.
Roughly the same time, my mother's parents' home was leveled so that the Methodist church could have more parking space. This included the destruction of a very old and beautiful magnolia tree and my papaw's rose garden. I did NOT appreciate this.
Now, my father's mother, my only remaining grandparent, has been moved to a nursing/assisted care facility. She is 100% healthier than when she was trying to live at home. This facility is very nice and is exactly where you would want your loved one to be. It also is very expensive, so the children, that would be my Dad and his brothers and sister are having to sell the house in order to help pay. After that, Praise the Lord, each of the children is in sufficiently good enough economic health to chip in and take care of what's left after all the money is gone.
I've told you the story in a nice way. Now I'm about to be selfish and tell what it feels like for me. Forgive me, but I'm having a terrible time with this. You see, that home, my favorite grandmother's home, is the last vestige of my childhood. It was the last place that existed where I lived as a child.
It was where I spent the night and we ate a piece of fruit and pork rinds before bed. It was where I'd be snuggled down under the covers until I heard Mamaw getting out the big cast iron skillet to make breakfast. And I'm talking real breakfast, every morning, even after Papaw died, she made it for herself.
When we came in for vacation from Texas, where I was raised, Mamaw would come and get me and give me a couple of dollars and take me to Mr. Wiggs, a K-Mart type place, and she said I would take forever to get every possible dime out of those couple of dollars she gave me.
There was a desk where I loved to look in the cubby holes and see the pencils and the fold out magnifying glass.
There were pictures in dark blue of sort of Asian looking trees near the water that I suspect Uncle Pat sent back from the Vietnam war. Also, she had a beautiful black enamel jewelry chest that always fascinated me. I suspect it came from the same place. Uncle Pat brought me the most beautiful Geisha doll on a black enamel stand. I had that doll for 35 years before it finally dry rotted from the inside.
My dear friend Raul, when he heard the story, brought me back a similar doll from that area of the world. I will treasure it as I treasured the one Uncle Pat gave me.
Uncle Larry was always my favorite. I would tell Pat he was my second favorite and he acted like it just hurt his feelings. LOL. I remember when he came in after a motorcycle wreck and Mamaw had to pick gravel out of the wound and then she'd put monkey's blood (mercurichrome?) on it and Karen and I blew and blew because I know it stung like the dickens.
When Emily was a baby, I took her to see Mamaw and Papaw 1-2 times a week. When Papaw died, I have never been so glad but that I had those memories. He doted on that child, as did Mamaw. In fact, Emily went to see Mamaw today and took her very first quilt with her. Mamaw was so proud.
Before I got sick, Mamaw and I used to go to craft shows together and I'd take half a booth for ceramics and she'd take half for her needlework. We did that for many years. It was great fun. Then I got too sick to continue.
She went on without me until she couldn't do it anymore either.
I remember going to the garden to pick vegetables. She always had a huge, impressive garden.
She had wagon wheels up the three front steps to the walk to her front door. Papaw used to walk back and forth from the front to the back porch. Now my Dad sort of does the same thing. I'm deathly afraid he'll follow his father to a too early grave because Mom says he isn't eating well. Evidently he's eating everything in sight.
I understand being a stress eater or a food addict, how HARD it is to stick to a stinking diet..........but this is his life.
This week the kids will divide up my grandmother's things. I like this. They decided ahead of time that nothing would come between them and they figured out a way to do it fairly. It's so much better than what happened at Steve's grandmother's. The place was a *wreck* by the time we got there and fortunately Uncle David had pulled out a few things we'd asked for.
But back to the subject at hand. I know it is necessary, but they have taken the last 'safe' house other than my own away from me and I will miss it. I will miss her in it. I will miss clanging cast iron and pieces of fruit and friend pork rinds. But mostly I miss my Mamaw. She isn't the same and neither am I,nor will either of us be.
So we must find a new way to make memories with her because the Lord knows some of my fondest childhood memories are of her.
Shortly after I married, my parents purchased a new home. It was never 'home' to me because I had never lived there.
Roughly the same time, my mother's parents' home was leveled so that the Methodist church could have more parking space. This included the destruction of a very old and beautiful magnolia tree and my papaw's rose garden. I did NOT appreciate this.
Now, my father's mother, my only remaining grandparent, has been moved to a nursing/assisted care facility. She is 100% healthier than when she was trying to live at home. This facility is very nice and is exactly where you would want your loved one to be. It also is very expensive, so the children, that would be my Dad and his brothers and sister are having to sell the house in order to help pay. After that, Praise the Lord, each of the children is in sufficiently good enough economic health to chip in and take care of what's left after all the money is gone.
I've told you the story in a nice way. Now I'm about to be selfish and tell what it feels like for me. Forgive me, but I'm having a terrible time with this. You see, that home, my favorite grandmother's home, is the last vestige of my childhood. It was the last place that existed where I lived as a child.
It was where I spent the night and we ate a piece of fruit and pork rinds before bed. It was where I'd be snuggled down under the covers until I heard Mamaw getting out the big cast iron skillet to make breakfast. And I'm talking real breakfast, every morning, even after Papaw died, she made it for herself.
When we came in for vacation from Texas, where I was raised, Mamaw would come and get me and give me a couple of dollars and take me to Mr. Wiggs, a K-Mart type place, and she said I would take forever to get every possible dime out of those couple of dollars she gave me.
There was a desk where I loved to look in the cubby holes and see the pencils and the fold out magnifying glass.
There were pictures in dark blue of sort of Asian looking trees near the water that I suspect Uncle Pat sent back from the Vietnam war. Also, she had a beautiful black enamel jewelry chest that always fascinated me. I suspect it came from the same place. Uncle Pat brought me the most beautiful Geisha doll on a black enamel stand. I had that doll for 35 years before it finally dry rotted from the inside.
My dear friend Raul, when he heard the story, brought me back a similar doll from that area of the world. I will treasure it as I treasured the one Uncle Pat gave me.
Uncle Larry was always my favorite. I would tell Pat he was my second favorite and he acted like it just hurt his feelings. LOL. I remember when he came in after a motorcycle wreck and Mamaw had to pick gravel out of the wound and then she'd put monkey's blood (mercurichrome?) on it and Karen and I blew and blew because I know it stung like the dickens.
When Emily was a baby, I took her to see Mamaw and Papaw 1-2 times a week. When Papaw died, I have never been so glad but that I had those memories. He doted on that child, as did Mamaw. In fact, Emily went to see Mamaw today and took her very first quilt with her. Mamaw was so proud.
Before I got sick, Mamaw and I used to go to craft shows together and I'd take half a booth for ceramics and she'd take half for her needlework. We did that for many years. It was great fun. Then I got too sick to continue.
She went on without me until she couldn't do it anymore either.
I remember going to the garden to pick vegetables. She always had a huge, impressive garden.
She had wagon wheels up the three front steps to the walk to her front door. Papaw used to walk back and forth from the front to the back porch. Now my Dad sort of does the same thing. I'm deathly afraid he'll follow his father to a too early grave because Mom says he isn't eating well. Evidently he's eating everything in sight.
I understand being a stress eater or a food addict, how HARD it is to stick to a stinking diet..........but this is his life.
This week the kids will divide up my grandmother's things. I like this. They decided ahead of time that nothing would come between them and they figured out a way to do it fairly. It's so much better than what happened at Steve's grandmother's. The place was a *wreck* by the time we got there and fortunately Uncle David had pulled out a few things we'd asked for.
But back to the subject at hand. I know it is necessary, but they have taken the last 'safe' house other than my own away from me and I will miss it. I will miss her in it. I will miss clanging cast iron and pieces of fruit and friend pork rinds. But mostly I miss my Mamaw. She isn't the same and neither am I,nor will either of us be.
So we must find a new way to make memories with her because the Lord knows some of my fondest childhood memories are of her.
July 10, 2009
My Aunt Leslie presented meals worthy of a chef/party planner anyplace. She presented us with fabulous breakfasts, though due to my bucket of meds, I stuck with a bagel.
We usually found a snack midday during our adventures, but then we had these FABULOUS dinners.
Our first night was Japanese night.
As you see, we have Japanese dishes, we ate with chopsticks, and she had darling little Japanese
lanterns that she said she saw on Martha Stewart. For dinner we had sticky rice, chicken and
pineapple stir fry, and spring rolls. I had sake for the first time and learned that it is to be
consumed warm because it becomes bitter if it is cold. I found it interesting but not as strong
as I expected, which is, of course, good for me. Then she had "American" sushi which was
*delicious* and cute. She took a piece of boiled ham, patted it dry, spread cream cheese on it,
and wrapped it around a pickle, rolling it up. She then cut it into rounds and it looked like sushi
but was delicious even though it sounds odd. It was *great*.
And yes, I did eat my whole dinner with the chopsticks because my son, who spent a year in
Japan, taught me how. It was great.
The second night was American night. This was also the day of the game. Leslie gave everyone an
envelope. Every time we saw a flag, we had to say "Leslie, I am the first to see the flag...." and then
say where. It was a VERY close contest. I beat my mother by four flags.
Of course, the prize was first choice of three GORGEOUS jellyroll throws that Leslie had made
so there were NO losers in this contest.
This night, Doug grilled great hamburgers, Leslie had cole slaw and potato salad and Mimi made the
MOST delicious blackberry cobbler. The last time I'd had it was when Jeanette Simpson made it
when I was a child. I especially liked this because it wasn't too sweet.
Here are Leslie's beautiful American decorations:
This night I had my first Margarita. I discovered that I like Margaritas.
I said "uno mas" but I was cut off quickly. I can't imagine why...except
for maybe that slurring thing...
Then on the third night we had Mexican night. Oh. My. Word. It was
FABULOUS.
Leslie made Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas which were Out Of This World.
She also made homemade salsa.
Aunt Leslie cut me off at 1/2 a Margarita, but it was really good.
Since I don't drink except whatever's free at the Captain's party on
cruises and now when I go to Aunt Leslie's, it was special. We took
some Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale to a neighbor of theirs and one for Doug
who seemed to enjoy it. Aunt Leslie is partial to Chablis as is Oscar, her
dog, who gets a drink from her glass each night. Now before you go
"Ewww, dog germs", I'll remind you that dog germs in their mouth are
FAR cleaner than human.
The next morning, when we left, my uncle fixed me a bagel to take with me
so I could take my medicine.
It may sound silly to you, but because I haven't been able to spend much
time with him in many years, there was something about that kindness, that
bagel wrapped in foil that meant the world to me. He bought everyone an ice
cream during one of our trips out. That ice cream tasted better than any
I've had because my uncle bought it for me.
He and I have a common experience that we don't discuss be it is
something that we both endured. The fact that now we can spend time
together, that I got to have an ice cream from him and that he fixed me
a bagel (I saved it and ate it for dinner that night) just meant a lot to me.
My Aunt Leslie and I have our quilting in common. I enjoy her because
we also have a similar sense of humor.
So if you'll forgive me my sappiness, I'll hold the happiness I have from my
trip to their house close to my heart. People may not understand. But
it's there. We are a family.
My Aunt Leslie presented meals worthy of a chef/party planner anyplace. She presented us with fabulous breakfasts, though due to my bucket of meds, I stuck with a bagel.
We usually found a snack midday during our adventures, but then we had these FABULOUS dinners.
Our first night was Japanese night.
As you see, we have Japanese dishes, we ate with chopsticks, and she had darling little Japanese
lanterns that she said she saw on Martha Stewart. For dinner we had sticky rice, chicken and
pineapple stir fry, and spring rolls. I had sake for the first time and learned that it is to be
consumed warm because it becomes bitter if it is cold. I found it interesting but not as strong
as I expected, which is, of course, good for me. Then she had "American" sushi which was
*delicious* and cute. She took a piece of boiled ham, patted it dry, spread cream cheese on it,
and wrapped it around a pickle, rolling it up. She then cut it into rounds and it looked like sushi
but was delicious even though it sounds odd. It was *great*.
And yes, I did eat my whole dinner with the chopsticks because my son, who spent a year in
Japan, taught me how. It was great.
The second night was American night. This was also the day of the game. Leslie gave everyone an
envelope. Every time we saw a flag, we had to say "Leslie, I am the first to see the flag...." and then
say where. It was a VERY close contest. I beat my mother by four flags.
Of course, the prize was first choice of three GORGEOUS jellyroll throws that Leslie had made
so there were NO losers in this contest.
This night, Doug grilled great hamburgers, Leslie had cole slaw and potato salad and Mimi made the
MOST delicious blackberry cobbler. The last time I'd had it was when Jeanette Simpson made it
when I was a child. I especially liked this because it wasn't too sweet.
Here are Leslie's beautiful American decorations:
This night I had my first Margarita. I discovered that I like Margaritas.
I said "uno mas" but I was cut off quickly. I can't imagine why...except
for maybe that slurring thing...
Then on the third night we had Mexican night. Oh. My. Word. It was
FABULOUS.
Leslie made Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas which were Out Of This World.
She also made homemade salsa.
Aunt Leslie cut me off at 1/2 a Margarita, but it was really good.
Since I don't drink except whatever's free at the Captain's party on
cruises and now when I go to Aunt Leslie's, it was special. We took
some Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale to a neighbor of theirs and one for Doug
who seemed to enjoy it. Aunt Leslie is partial to Chablis as is Oscar, her
dog, who gets a drink from her glass each night. Now before you go
"Ewww, dog germs", I'll remind you that dog germs in their mouth are
FAR cleaner than human.
The next morning, when we left, my uncle fixed me a bagel to take with me
so I could take my medicine.
It may sound silly to you, but because I haven't been able to spend much
time with him in many years, there was something about that kindness, that
bagel wrapped in foil that meant the world to me. He bought everyone an ice
cream during one of our trips out. That ice cream tasted better than any
I've had because my uncle bought it for me.
He and I have a common experience that we don't discuss be it is
something that we both endured. The fact that now we can spend time
together, that I got to have an ice cream from him and that he fixed me
a bagel (I saved it and ate it for dinner that night) just meant a lot to me.
My Aunt Leslie and I have our quilting in common. I enjoy her because
we also have a similar sense of humor.
So if you'll forgive me my sappiness, I'll hold the happiness I have from my
trip to their house close to my heart. People may not understand. But
it's there. We are a family.
July 5, 2009
A mere twenty-four years ago, I was in excruciating labor in an attempt to bring my daughter in to the world. At 9:01 pm, Emily Carroll made her appearance and has been a delight ever since.
Happy Birthday my precious daughter.
But back to my trip to North Carolina.
We visited Chimney Rock and the Lake Lure park. Lake Lure was one of the areas where Dirty Dancing was filmed (Nobody puts Baby in the corner). Also, The Last of The Mohicans was filmed here.
When my Aunt Leslie told me that Chimney Rock "ain't no ordinary rock" she could not have been more correct.
The view from near the top of Chimney Rock.
I can't imagine why they call it Chimney Rock.....
Mom and Mimi spent 51 cents to squish a penny through this machine. Doug and I
stood back and gave each other meaningful looks.
Yes Ma'am. I got four flags in Leslie's flag contest for this particular one.
Can you tell they are brother and sister?
Mimi, Leslie, and Doug, who was Irish this particular day.
Yes. They sang the Davy Crockett song. The whole first verse and chorus.
I studiously looked as though I were not with them...I think they need new
hairdressers, don't you?
Uncle Doug is "King of the World!!!!" or at least NC.
A mere twenty-four years ago, I was in excruciating labor in an attempt to bring my daughter in to the world. At 9:01 pm, Emily Carroll made her appearance and has been a delight ever since.
Happy Birthday my precious daughter.
But back to my trip to North Carolina.
We visited Chimney Rock and the Lake Lure park. Lake Lure was one of the areas where Dirty Dancing was filmed (Nobody puts Baby in the corner). Also, The Last of The Mohicans was filmed here.
When my Aunt Leslie told me that Chimney Rock "ain't no ordinary rock" she could not have been more correct.
The view from near the top of Chimney Rock.
I can't imagine why they call it Chimney Rock.....
Mom and Mimi spent 51 cents to squish a penny through this machine. Doug and I
stood back and gave each other meaningful looks.
Yes Ma'am. I got four flags in Leslie's flag contest for this particular one.
Can you tell they are brother and sister?
Mimi, Leslie, and Doug, who was Irish this particular day.
Yes. They sang the Davy Crockett song. The whole first verse and chorus.
I studiously looked as though I were not with them...I think they need new
hairdressers, don't you?
Uncle Doug is "King of the World!!!!" or at least NC.
July 4, 2009
Though I find that my brother, stationed in Iraq, is forefront in my mind today, I have decided instead of writing a long winded patriotic essay, as is my wont, to introduce you to two of the most remarkable dogs I have ever known. Oscar and Poquito.
This pair of Jack Russells belong to my Aunt Leslie and Uncle Doug, who we visited in North Carolina this week. Oscar and Poquito are, without a doubt, the best behaved Jacks I have ever known. For that matter, they are the best behaved dogs I have ever known.
Poquito has a back left leg that bothers her on occasion, as do I, so I call it my Poquito leg. Interestingly, during our visit, it was Oscar who seemed to attach himself to me, always careful not to get under my feet, but to stay by my side as I slowly navigated the stairs.
Oscar carefully listens to the conversation, in case his services are needed.
Poquito also listens for her name in case someone needs doggie luvs.
Poquito (red collar) is capable of listening with one ear. She is quite brilliant.
Poquito poses for her calendar shot.
Twice each day, Oscar and Poquito go outside to exercise their human by playing
bubbles with him. Poor human. If not for Oscar and Poquito, who knows when
he might get up from his computer chair.
Watch Oscar and Poquito get their human to do tricks. They can make him hold
two treats at the same time!
Though I find that my brother, stationed in Iraq, is forefront in my mind today, I have decided instead of writing a long winded patriotic essay, as is my wont, to introduce you to two of the most remarkable dogs I have ever known. Oscar and Poquito.
This pair of Jack Russells belong to my Aunt Leslie and Uncle Doug, who we visited in North Carolina this week. Oscar and Poquito are, without a doubt, the best behaved Jacks I have ever known. For that matter, they are the best behaved dogs I have ever known.
Poquito has a back left leg that bothers her on occasion, as do I, so I call it my Poquito leg. Interestingly, during our visit, it was Oscar who seemed to attach himself to me, always careful not to get under my feet, but to stay by my side as I slowly navigated the stairs.
Oscar carefully listens to the conversation, in case his services are needed.
Poquito also listens for her name in case someone needs doggie luvs.
Poquito (red collar) is capable of listening with one ear. She is quite brilliant.
Poquito poses for her calendar shot.
Twice each day, Oscar and Poquito go outside to exercise their human by playing
bubbles with him. Poor human. If not for Oscar and Poquito, who knows when
he might get up from his computer chair.
Watch Oscar and Poquito get their human to do tricks. They can make him hold
two treats at the same time!
July 2, 2009
I have just returned from one of the best adventures of my life. I have many photos, and will share them as time passes. But I need to update my Bucket List. First of all, here was my original post concerning the Bucket List. Oh how it has changed!
June 1, 2008
Not long ago, a movie was released called The Bucket List. The premise was evidently these two older fellows making a list of the things they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket.
This has been on my mind, particularly as things come up that are on my Bucket List that maybe I didn't realize.
I'm very fortunate that some things that would be on my bucket list I have already had the good fortune to be able to check off.
Here are a few examples:
Get all three kids baptized. No matter what else I do for them, seeing that they get their basic grounding for their eternal salvation is by far the most important.
Attend a space shuttle launch.
Swim with dolphins
See the whales...three times and it never gets old. (Now four)
See lava pouring from an erupting volcano.
Learn to play blackjack
Then there are things I've experienced that I didn't even realize were on my bucket list until I had the good fortune to experience them.
Go on a cruise...now looking forward to number 7 (9). This time, however, I'm going with a dear friend. I'm not anyone's mom or anyone's daughter. I'm just me. I look forward to it.
Swimming in the ocean in the Bahamas.
Then there are the things still on the Bucket List:
Panning for gold...Aunt Leslie is taking me in July!!!!! I can hardly wait!
Walking with ease for long distances again. Like to walk Disney instead of the wheelchair.
Be cured of lupus and all health related problems.
Get my writing career back.
Learn to ballroom dance.
Fly in an F-16 (?) with an experienced pilot and land on an aircraft carrier.
Allow somehow, my husband to know and appreciate how much love, admire and respect him as a man, a husband and a father.
Then there are things that are NOT on my Bucket List.
Swimming with sharks
Swimming with stingrays
Riding in a hot air balloon
Parachuting
Bungee jumping
Anything to do with reptiles.
Back to July 3, 2009 now.
I think I might be ready to take that bungee jumping off the NOT Bucket List. I'll give it some thought.
I can take panning for gold off the list. Aunt Leslie took me and we had the BEST fun ever! YES I have a vial with 3.2 grains (wt) of gold, but we'd have stayed longer except I had to get to my next Bucket List thing.
This is the trough. The round white thing has a name that has escaped me
(I remembered...classifier) but it pulls out the bigger rocks, then the black
or green pans are what you use to get rid of all the superfluous dirt and
stuff until suddenly you see, shining as brightly as a star....
GOLD.
I was privileged to get a lesson in how to shoot a handgun from a 70 year old Marine who is a friend and neighbor of my Aunt Leslie's. I shot a Smith and Wesson 38 special. It was a revolver and he was meticulously careful with it and with me. But by golly, I hit the target three times. We policed our brass (nod to Gibbs, NCIS) and I have the casings sitting on a little shelf in my room.
I am observing while Bob shows me how it's done.
Now my new, revised Bucket List is going to include the following:
Learning to shoot a 9 millimeter an a sniper rifle. When I say learning, I
mean to do it one time. LOL
I want to fly in an F 16 and land on an aircraft carrier.
I want to pan for more gold.
I want to ballroom dance.
I want to walk like a normal person for long distances.
I want my lupus to go into permanent remission.
I *might* want to bungee jump.
I want to learn to blow glass...the kind that makes large pieces, not
the little bitty pieces.
I want to go back to Alaska.
I want to visit the Vatican and Florence and see the art.
I want to go to the Louvre.
I want to go on the cruise that rounds the cape and allows you to step foot on
Antarctica.
I want to visit New Zealand.
I want to get off some of this prednisone so my eye pressure will go down.
I can go on, but I'll leave it there for now.
Tomorrow...more photos.
I have just returned from one of the best adventures of my life. I have many photos, and will share them as time passes. But I need to update my Bucket List. First of all, here was my original post concerning the Bucket List. Oh how it has changed!
June 1, 2008
Not long ago, a movie was released called The Bucket List. The premise was evidently these two older fellows making a list of the things they wanted to do before they kicked the bucket.
This has been on my mind, particularly as things come up that are on my Bucket List that maybe I didn't realize.
I'm very fortunate that some things that would be on my bucket list I have already had the good fortune to be able to check off.
Here are a few examples:
Get all three kids baptized. No matter what else I do for them, seeing that they get their basic grounding for their eternal salvation is by far the most important.
Attend a space shuttle launch.
Swim with dolphins
See the whales...three times and it never gets old. (Now four)
See lava pouring from an erupting volcano.
Learn to play blackjack
Then there are things I've experienced that I didn't even realize were on my bucket list until I had the good fortune to experience them.
Go on a cruise...now looking forward to number 7 (9). This time, however, I'm going with a dear friend. I'm not anyone's mom or anyone's daughter. I'm just me. I look forward to it.
Swimming in the ocean in the Bahamas.
Then there are the things still on the Bucket List:
Panning for gold...Aunt Leslie is taking me in July!!!!! I can hardly wait!
Walking with ease for long distances again. Like to walk Disney instead of the wheelchair.
Be cured of lupus and all health related problems.
Get my writing career back.
Learn to ballroom dance.
Fly in an F-16 (?) with an experienced pilot and land on an aircraft carrier.
Allow somehow, my husband to know and appreciate how much love, admire and respect him as a man, a husband and a father.
Then there are things that are NOT on my Bucket List.
Swimming with sharks
Swimming with stingrays
Riding in a hot air balloon
Parachuting
Bungee jumping
Anything to do with reptiles.
Back to July 3, 2009 now.
I think I might be ready to take that bungee jumping off the NOT Bucket List. I'll give it some thought.
I can take panning for gold off the list. Aunt Leslie took me and we had the BEST fun ever! YES I have a vial with 3.2 grains (wt) of gold, but we'd have stayed longer except I had to get to my next Bucket List thing.
This is the trough. The round white thing has a name that has escaped me
(I remembered...classifier) but it pulls out the bigger rocks, then the black
or green pans are what you use to get rid of all the superfluous dirt and
stuff until suddenly you see, shining as brightly as a star....
GOLD.
I was privileged to get a lesson in how to shoot a handgun from a 70 year old Marine who is a friend and neighbor of my Aunt Leslie's. I shot a Smith and Wesson 38 special. It was a revolver and he was meticulously careful with it and with me. But by golly, I hit the target three times. We policed our brass (nod to Gibbs, NCIS) and I have the casings sitting on a little shelf in my room.
I am observing while Bob shows me how it's done.
Now my new, revised Bucket List is going to include the following:
Learning to shoot a 9 millimeter an a sniper rifle. When I say learning, I
mean to do it one time. LOL
I want to fly in an F 16 and land on an aircraft carrier.
I want to pan for more gold.
I want to ballroom dance.
I want to walk like a normal person for long distances.
I want my lupus to go into permanent remission.
I *might* want to bungee jump.
I want to learn to blow glass...the kind that makes large pieces, not
the little bitty pieces.
I want to go back to Alaska.
I want to visit the Vatican and Florence and see the art.
I want to go to the Louvre.
I want to go on the cruise that rounds the cape and allows you to step foot on
Antarctica.
I want to visit New Zealand.
I want to get off some of this prednisone so my eye pressure will go down.
I can go on, but I'll leave it there for now.
Tomorrow...more photos.