title explained

Onward and upward! something that you say in order to encourage someone to forget an unpleasant experience or failure and to think about the future instead and move forward.

My e-mail: jjmiller6213@comcast.net

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

I am truly humbled.  The help I have received from you all staggers me.

Thank you Trudy, I did get your card.
Thank you Carol in Ontario, I got your card too.
Jenny, please thank pastor for his prayers, he sure does good ones. LOL
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I have been extremely busy, trying to put my perennial gardens to bed for the winter, finishing up a small genealogy for my neighbor.  A funeral for my Karen's father-in-law.  And my water heater went out twice in 3 days.

PLUS--I got a notice from the DHS--Department of Human Services--Welfare, that as of December 3rd, the State WILL pay my Medicare.  So the paperwork I sent in, even though I was still 2 cents over the limit for income, they must have rolled it up to the nearest dollar amount of $4.00, which put me just under the limit, and took pity on me.

They also lowered my food assistance from $41 to $23.  That's fine.  I will have $$$ for my other bills.

Through the gifts I have received from you blessed people and a grocery gift card from my cousin, I will be able to pay all my November bills.  This just blows my mind and makes me weep.  Help from people I have never met---it is amazing and a godsend.
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I decided to drain my water heater, like I do every six months, because of the heavy rust and lime in the water here.  We do not have city water and are not allowed to have a water softener.  Everything seemed fine when I closed up the unit, the gas was heating up so I put all my clothes back in the bedroom closet--where my wh resides.

The next morning, no hot water.  I called for repair and emptied the closet.

The guy that came was 6'2" and easily weighed 300#.  He had one heck of a time trying to wedge himself in that closet and get down low enough to relit the pilot light.  After half an hour of struggling, all seemed well and he left.  About an hour later, I wanted to wash my hair and I did have warm water, so I ASSUMED the heater was working.  I put all the clothes back in the closet.

The next morning, no hot water.  That was yesterday.  So I called and asked for an appointment for today.  I told the girl about the tight working area and asked if she could send out a smaller guy.

Then, I drove on up to the graveside service for Karen's father-in-law.  I didn't know where the cemetery was, but I knew the road name and the area so I thought I'd have no problem.

I stopped in at the gas station in my home town to use the facilities and get a bottle of Diet Pepsi to tide me over.

Then made my first mis-cue by coming south east, out of town, instead of going north up to another little town.  I knew the cemetery was south-east of that town.


I got on the right road and headed north and then....the road ended--arrow right or left?


I had to ponder for a moment on which way to go. Hm-mm. I hadn't been in that area in 30 years, but......I thought if I went left, I'd go into the little town and then find my way around or stop and ask.


As I got near the town, I veered off to the right and turned onto a street, vaguely remembering that it turned into the road I needed once I got out of town.


Yep--YAY.


Trying to watch for the road I needed to turn on--I didn't know which way I needed to turn, and all of a sudden realized that I was behind four or five cars turning left down a gravel road.

Now--why would four or five cars, on a dreary, cold rainy  Tuesday morning, all be turning down a gravel road? An auction, perhaps. A direct way over to the highway? 


I followed them and there we were, soon pulling over on the side of the road to park. I was the last car in the "procession".

I could see the cemetery off in the distance and wondered how I was going to manage to walk that far. Thankfully, I had my cane to lean on and off I went.


As I got near the cemetery, there was my oldest grand girl quickly coming to me--I leaned on her, and then appeared the other two grand girls and they all led me up the hill to the grave site.


They were the pall bearers, but as they lined up behind their Dad and his siblings, I stood behind the girls and just leaned on them.


My two grandsons weren't there.  One had to work and one, in medical school, had to be on his rotation at the hospital.  Karen also had to teach.  They had all been to the funeral on Monday.

A lot of people recognized me, and I recognized a lot of people but couldn't remember names. It's that way whenever I go where there are people that I haven't seen in the 30 years I've been away.  They recognize me because basically I haven't changed.  I am still tall and slender.  Still wear my hair short, except it is now gray instead of blonde.  Some of those people have changed a lot.  Shorter.  Fatter.  More wrinkled.  

What was really strange, I went up to a "used to be", next door neighbor and she didn't know who I was.  Although, as she talked, I could see that senility was her enemy now, so I filled her in, but by the look in her eyes, even though she "pretended" she then remembered me and all I had relayed to her............she hadn't.

The best part, it was wonderful for me to see my son-in-laws siblings--I've known those kids since my Karen married into the family 37 years ago, so they seem like my own family.

There was much hugging and kissing and I love you's and "so glad to see you", and "thank you for coming."


Well of course I went. This man that was laid to rest, is one.....could very well be...the finest man I have ever known. You can see it in his 5 sons and daughter. Nothing could have kept me from honoring him. Nothing!


I feel sad for his wife though.  She was always spoiled by him.  Four years ago they moved up north to their retirement cabin.  Then last year he got sick.  He had a rare disease called Amyloidosis.

Amyloidosis (am-uh-loi-DO-sis) is a rare disease that occurs when a substance called amyloid builds up in your organs. Amyloid is an abnormal protein that is produced in your bone marrow and can be deposited in any tissue or organ.
Amyloidosis can affect different organs in different people, and there are different types of amyloid. Amyloidosis frequently affects the heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system.
His affected his heart and lungs.  He even tried a new treatment using chemotherapy.  He was sick for a year.

She found it difficult to cope because he had always done everything (I used to be jealous of her) and then, she was the one that had to set up doctor's visits, staying with him in hospital and caring for him at home, and she wasn't well equipped for that.

Now, I worry how she is going to cope.  Always one to have a glass of wine at her elbow, I fear now she is alone............................well, you know.
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This morning, I emptied the bedroom closet again and the repair man came.  A thin, short little guy who scrambled back into that closet like a little monkey, relit the pilot light and was done in 7 minutes.

I have done a load of laundry and a full dishwasher cycle.  Lots of hot water.

We shall see.  I know I need a new heater, but am going to coax this one along as long as I can.
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Michigan had the highest turnout of voters for the mid-terms, than they have had in 56 years.  Want to know why?

Proposal 1 was to legalize recreational marijuana.  People from ages 20-50 that had never voted in their lives, came out to vote, and being the Liberal little scamps most of them are, filled in the square for the Democrat running for governor.  Even parts of our State that are normally Red--were Blue yesterday.

I saw some interviews of those voters on TV--even the repair guy this morning--I asked if he had voted yesterday.  He said, "Yep.  Got registered and voted....for the first time."  (He was in his 30's)

I said, "How did you know the judges and Senators to vote for."

"Oh.  I didn't even mark them.  Just the governor and........I wanna get my pot."

ARGGH!

14 comments:

  1. So pleased things are looking up for you. Great to read all about your "doings" Not so good about the water heater though. Must have been so frustrating. Hopefully it will be fine now. Carry on..as you always do.
    Cheers, C

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    1. Thank you. I will carry on--I might even get a bit slap-happy now that my finances are covered for this month.

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  2. I think Michigan's turn out for governor was the more important vote for Liberals. The way the Republicans handled the Flint water crisis was a huge issue on this side of the state and them selling off our Great Lakes water. I voted against the legalize recreational marijuana but it was obviously very popular. I hope we don't regret it.

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    1. A recent report shows that Owosso and Saginaw's water is worse than Flint's! I voted against Prop #1 also. From what I heard on the Detroit news tonight, it isn't going to be as much fun and games as the "kids" think it will be. BTW--the Flint water problem started way before Snyder was gov. When I worked there in the early 1990's, they knew there was a problem. Everyone I knew credited their long line of Democratic Mayors of not doing a thing about it for so long. It is not a recent problem.

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  3. So glad you've had people helping you out, Judy.

    xoxo

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  4. Onward and upward! You always go about with your chin held high. Voter turnout in Oregon was the highest ever as well. I think people are just so sick and tired of BOTH sides whining and being negative, they finally took the time to put in their two cents worth.

    Voting is a GOOD thing ... despite the fact my thinking is in the minority!

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    1. I would be in the minority in Oregon too.
      I used to think I was liberal in my thinking, but by today's definition and standards--I'm just a stodgy, old racist, homophobic, anti-feminist, Nazi--or so I've been called. LOL

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  5. things always seem to work out, don't they. i enjoy your tenancy judy and how you stay busy and always seem to work things out!!

    i am so happy that election day is over. no more stuff in the mail and no more phone calls!!

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  6. It is so good to hear things are a bit better for you and I hope it lasts awhile!! Sorry about Karen's father-in-law.
    I've never had a good sense of direction! Neither does the Hubby. Whew--not a good thing at all!
    xos!!

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    1. Hot water heater working again. How nice to step into a nice warm shower. I just stood and let the water cascade from the top of my head, down to my toes.
      Thank you again, Trudy.

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  7. Yep. people are easily led. The leftists count on it.

    I don't know how you keep your patience with that hot water heater, haaahahaha!

    I see it's cold and spitting snow in your neck of the woods. Things are getting real! Even cooling down here, which is YUGE. It's been too hot for too long this year.

    I love the way funerals -- inherently sad occasions -- turn into, in many cases, happy family reunions, and times when one gets re-acquainted with friends one hasn't seen in decades. That's why I like funeral photography; the moments should be documented because they'll never come again.

    I am a wife whose husband does so much for me, I guess I'll be helpless for awhile if he predeceases me, which, God knows, I pray every day will not happen. My children will be there for me in that event. But I hope that, just as folks have helped you in your time of need, this good man's widow will be helped along by friends and family who love her, and maybe she won't turn to drink.

    While there's life, there's hope.

    Hugs from afar to you my friend! xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Yes you are lucky to have such a wonderful hubby.
      The widow has a lot of children and business friends where she lives. I think that will help her.

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