We have been in our new church building for 2 1/2 years, and not had one funeral there. Our minister has done alot of funerals over the past few years, but all of them have been at the funeral home. One of the big deciding factors of building a new building was the “no stairs” factor. In our old building, you had to go up steps to even get in the building. Once there, you either had to go upstairs (to the sanctuary or classrooms) or go down to the basement. Didn’t matter if you went in the front door or the back door, you had to make that choice. Both involved stairs. And corners. When we had a funeral, the casket was carried down the aisle in the sanctuary, and then they had to turn a 90 degree angle corner, down 5 steps, and then around another 90 degree angle down 5 steps, and then another 90 degree angle out the front door. Not idea, but many many funerals were held there.
In our new building for over 2 years, and not one funeral. Until last week. Not one, but two. The minister was scheduled to go to annual men’s retreat in Oklahoma, with some of the other guys from the church, but needless to say, he didn’t go.
The one man was 98 years old, and hasn’t been in the best of health for awhile. But the other man, he was in his 60’s, I believe, and even though it wasn’t mesothelioma that go him, it was some kind of cancer. I’m not sure what. I can’t believe how many people are on our cancer list. I count my blessings every day that that isn’t something we have had to deal with up close and personal. My cousin died of cancer just recently, but I wasn’t there to witness the destruction of the person he was. I have a “before” and “after” picture — we had attended a family reunion in September 2 years ago, and he was the picture of health. The picture used at the funeral looked nothing like the person I had seen in September. Horrible horrible disease.
The older my cat gets, the more clingy he seems to get. It doesn’t matter where I am at — in bed, sitting on our couch, in the bathroom … there he is. He’s really docile. Well, except for about 10 minutes in the morning. He chases this imaginary mouse, bouncing all over the house, attacking anything and everything. And then he’s out for the rest of the day. Sleeping (and snoring) whenever, wherever. We try to keep Frontline on hand for him. Sometimes he just scratches, scratches, scratches. And we find we are picking fleas off of ourselves. Ewww! But for the most part, he is flea-free, and we are all happy. Now if we could just do something about that snoring. I don’t think they make little cpap machines for cats. {grin}.
Getting ready for Ethan’s graduation and reception afterwards, brings back alot of memories when we were doing this 10 years ago. Jason graduated in 1995, and Matt in 1996. Both knew they were going on to college. As a matter of fact, the path Matt was on, I wasn’t sure that drug rehab wasn’t where he was headed. We had him treated for depression, but the alcohol and drugs were still there. I don’t know to what extent, but DUIs where involved, so I would say it was pretty prevalant.
I am proud to say though, that now, 10 years later, he is a clean cut, level headed adult, has been working at the same place for 5 years, and he is responsible in paying his bills and I just don’t have to worry about him. He may blindside me someday (there will always be that small twinge of doubt), but from what I have seen, he is doing wonderful. He just finished a semester at Flint Hills Technical College in welding. He knows in a specialized field like that, with the right job, he could make more money than he is now. He’s not rushing into anything — like quitting his job to FIND said job. He will keep working where he is at, but will continue submitting his resume. And one of these days, something will fall into place, and the time and money spent going back to school for a semester will pay off.
I’m thinking about calling my doctor tomorrow and getting an appointment. This makes the 3 time in 6 weeks that I seem to have something wrong. It started with a UTI. And then strep throat. Now my feet and ankles are broken out in a rash. I don’t know if I’m lacking something and not able to fight off infections now, so I’m thinking that some kind of diet supplements might help. I know I don’t eat the healthiest, and it wouldn’t be surprising that I am lacking in something that my body needs. Playing this guessing game with myself isn’t going to make me better, so I’m thinking its time to call in the professional now and see what he has to say.
