Category: Journal Entry

Bruce stopped in to visit and pick up empty cans. What a great way to recycle guest leftovers. After usual topics of discussion, like sports, family, friends, fishing, and food, Don interrupts and looks at me.  Don: When you die, where do I find my food? Bruce and I both look at Don with the…

Don has cycled through falling incidents on and off since his stroke. This past week was another trip-and-fall streak, taking a tumble almost every day. Today I find him between his bed and recliner. He is on his back, camping out on the floor with pillows and blankets. I give him instructions on how to…

Saturday morning means college football. I find Don half-in and half-out of bed. He has removed his pajamas and underwear and found a pair of Levi jeans to replace both. No underwear. He appears to be agitated.  Kristy: Now, you know, old man, you can’t wear those Levi jeans because you cannot zip, unzip, button…

Kristy: Do you want another cup of coffee with Cool Whip?   Don: That would be wonderful. He turns and looks out the window.  I see 4 cars parked across the street at the neighbor’s house.   Don: How many people are staying at Hunter’s house across the street?  Kristy: When have you ever lived across the…

Hunter cooked chili that included everything but the kitchen sink. It is now my all-time favorite. Hunter: Dad, do you want some cheese, onions, and sour cream on your chili? Don: Is it White House chili? Hunter: No, it’s homemade chili that I made this morning. You watched me do it.  Don: No, I’m not…

Football has always been a top subject of discussion in this household for decades. Whether NFL, college, or high school, Don and I have missed very few opportunities to observe more than a couple of games every weekend.  High school football for Kevin, Greg, and Derrick was great family fun and worth the travel time.…

Here’s a snapshot of a man I had logical discussions with for 2 weeks about hurricanes, tornadoes, global warming and weather-related disasters. He stayed glued to the TV throughout Hurricanes Helene and Milton. One full day, he was watching nothing but the weather station.  Feeling the chill from vivid TV coverage, he cranks the thermostat…

Sometime in the last 4-6 weeks, my blog email service was interrupted and eliminated. WordPress and BlueHost work hard to protect our accounts from bad things on the internet worldwide, which includes unwanted contact from many people or organizations. I wasn’t aware it happened, so I kept posting. Therefore, you didn’t get all the most…

Besides rain in my laundry room and a refrigerator leaking water from the ice maker tubing, the smoke detectors go on strike and start that annoying beeping in two different rooms. My house has gone bonkers, and it’s only 9:00 am. Mice bit through the kitchen refrigerator water tubing. The cats keep bringing mice in…

The day is warm enough to open windows and doors. In the Don chamber, however, he is wearing shorts with socks, a shirt and a zipped-up hoodie with the hoodie over his head. He had turned both the thermostats in the bedroom and bathroom up to 80. I snapped this photo after he ate dinner. …