A RATHER UNTRADITIONAL JULY 4TH CELEBRATION

Well, our traditional 4th of July celebration began as usual, with the Knights and Dragons gathering at Neena and Ron's house.  Snacks were laid out, beers, and sissy girly drinks opened, and we assumed our usual opposite corners of the screened-porch to enjoy each other and, best of all, laugh!  In the back of our minds we all greatly anticipated the eating of the "low country boil"!

Not two libations into my Fourth, the sisters began calling my name.  At first I was irritated that they would interrupt me mid-conversation, but as I turned and looked in their direction I saw Judy's head bobbling and her sisters trying to attend to her!

My first thought was stroke..."oh please God...no"...and I rushed to her side.  Gary swooped in beside me and we tried helping her up, but it was obvious she couldn't stand...let alone walk. 

 

Gary and I then lifted her, with Gary (blue shirt nearest the camera) holding most of the weight, and we made it to the couch.  Gary hoisted her up over the back and dropped her on the couch.

The other sisters came running with cold wet cloths and an icepack from the freezer.  She would respond with "yeah" and shake her head, but nothing was flowing from her easily or clearly.  Finally after someone asked her where she was she said "Tokyo"!

This was the first time we all breathed easier, but we collectively decided to call 911.  She had gotten weak and had to be helped before, but this was really the first time she had gone completely out.  So, we called and the Roane County EMTs came in short order.

In the meantime we rubbed her with the cold cloth and icepack, and took her blood pressure. Her pressure was 53/40...although her pressure normally runs low, this was extremely low for her.

The EMTs came and they took her vitals and her blood sugar which was 93...fine.

Judy still didn't think she could stand, so they brought in the gurney and out the door they went with her.  I followed in our car, praying just about the whole time.  I lost them at a red light and so I made it to the hospital in Knoxville a few minutes after the ambulance.

Outside one of the EMTs said she was fine and inside being checked out.  The other EMT met me at registration and reassured me that she was fine.

I did the normal paperwork, using her Medicare card for the first time since we hit the magic age in May, and was then allowed in the back to see her.

Judy was fine...talking and making jokes about being a party pooper, and that we couldn't run with the big dogs anymore!  I was so relieved!

Her vital signs, the x-rays, the CT, and all the 6 vials of blood all checked out negative for anything.  The doctor said he could tell us what went wrong...just what wasn't wrong.  He released her and we made our way home.

We have both lost weight recently and our bodies haven't adjusted to it.  Therefore, the blood pressure medications we take are apparently pushing the pressure too low.  Like me, she will have to start monitoring her pressure and decide then whether or not she needs medication for the day.

The doctor said her pressure was probably low and the heat and laughter, which are both stressers he said, pushed it too low and she went out.  She had also had two teeth pulled last week and had been on pain meds.  All in all, it was just a combination of things, but she needs more tests.

By then it was nearly 10PM, so we stopped at Steak & Shake for a bite to eat.  It was the first we had since breakfast, besides a chip or two at the earlier gathering.

I just returned from meeting Ron in Kingston, about half way between our homes, and picking up our share of the "boil" from yesterday.  Judy is sleeping well, but when she wakes up I will heat up the food and we will celebrate the 4th quietly at home...thanking God that everything is okay again!

Come tomorrow...I will insist she go see our family doctor and try and make sure this doesn't happen again anytime soon.

Love you all...Mushy!

LONG MAY IT WAVE!

JULY 4TH 2008

As tradition has it, the “Knights & Dragons” (minus 3) gathered at Charlotte and Gary’s to celebrate this particular holiday.

Charlotte and Gary recently purchased a great travel home, and Gary and Steve have been busy building an extension on Gary’s outbuilding to protect the “home” when not on the road. Gary teased Steve about drinking one beer per nail, post, or cross-piece the day before, and telling about him saying, “One nail…one beer!”

I’m sure they will get it done within the next few days, but supervisor Gary has his hands full! They start back to work tomorrow.

The travel home is the perfect size for a couple, about 30 to 35 feet long, one large bedroom, separate shower and toilet areas, extendable dinning and living room area, gas stove and refrigerator, microwave, stereo system, rear view video camera, 75 gallon tank, and many other features. The two will have a ball visiting parks and campgrounds across the country.

A walk back to the house took us by Gary’s muscadine vineyard. It’s from these lush vines that he gets the main ingredient for his tasty wine! The vines are full and watered by his drip-system. We can’t wait for the harvest!

Inside the Dragons were trying to catch their breath from all the laughing. When we left them they were lounging on the porch, but the heat drove them inside, again separating us into Knight and Dragon factions! We enjoyed music, beer, and cigars in relative peace!

Gary had already dry rubbed and prepared the ribs inside before we arrived, so all that remained was lathering them up with sauce and heating them on the grill. Talk about good…and with the corn-on-the-cob, green beans, potato salad, and rolls, it was wonderful! Of course we followed that up with banana pudding, or cake and ice cream! It’s not wonder we look the way we do…happy!

Around 7:30 Steve ran out of beer, so we naturally had to break it up!

Sure hope you and yours had an enjoyable 4^th of July too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Luckily we tend overlook, or at least forget, that Lady Liberty came from France!
She’s just All-American to most of us!

Hope she is as proud of me as I am of her.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY FROM ALL OF US!

HAPPY POST 4TH OF JULY!

Wow, sure hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July I know we did! The only downer was that one of the Dragons could not make it due to back and leg problems, which meant we were shot a Knight as well. Bummer…maybe things will be back to normal after the end of July for all of us.

I could not get in the water, due to shoulder wounds from the second surgery, but I cheered them on from the shaded comfort of a canopy tent on the bank. We have found a wonderful little cove that is shielded from the frantic boat and wave-runners of the main Tennessee River channel. The little cove and surrounding forest has all the conveniences of home (see Gary off in the woods doing what a man has to do).

However, there is no air conditioning like we enjoyed on the houseboat, but there was a steady little breeze and those that did get wet said it was chilly before drying off.

The hotdogs, slaw, sour kraut, onions, and mustard were delicious hot off the camping stove. Steve complained the entire time about not have any ketchup…says you cannot enjoy a hotdog without it! Where’s he from…Georgia?

If you looked around for something to eat, you had to look for Judy…she always had everything in her lap! Oh, those cookies sure were good – had not had any sweets in a long time!

The beer was cold and the Macanudos (and one Ashton) were very relaxing, while thinking about Bruno. I just sat back and listened to the banter of my wonderfully funny family. As Steve excused himself between my wife’s and my chair he said, “Watch your koozie.” Without hesitation my wife replies, “Oh, I didn’t know it was showing!”

Then there was the moment Gary thought he saw lightning, but it was my camera flash! I asked where he thought the best place to be was if a storm did come. After taking another hit off his beer, he replied, “I’m staying right here next to the water. If I get hit, I can just roll over into the water and put myself out!”

It goes on like this most of the time, but we did miss the antics of Neena who was home resting. She is the maharishi of puns and ribs when she is around.

Well, happy 4th again and for those of you that have to work the rest of the week…sorry!