Tuesday

Managed to get up again & look at the eclipse of the moon. A perfectly clear night here & the full moon was vivid as ever. Went on a long walk that ended up being 6 miles long. Also had an after midnight call from Virgil who was currently at Hallowell and soon home from his eastern trip. The eclipse started at 3:30AM & the moon was slowly covered from top to bottom and had an orange glow when it was completely covered about 4:30AM. Went to bed soon after that & slept solid till 2PM.

Went to TRG for payroll about 2:30PM and that went well. Carl was changing light bulbs in the office.

Then went home & continued on tax returns & went over some info for a family Redden Brothers LLC meeting held at our house at 7:30PM tonight. Went over some things and got them clarified and an oral agreement which will need signatures at a later date to be put in the official books.

My mother had a 4th episode of severe allergic reaction with upper chest swelling this tims, so that meant once again…another trip to the ER for evaluation and more meds. She’s hoping to see an allergy specialist soon.

After the meeting I went to MP to take Jim to WalMart to get some new clothes for the funeral Thursday and some other items. Seems to be having a fairly good day. His friend, Jim Navrat, and his girlfriend were there to offer condolences. It’s strange how these once “young” people who did a lot of running around are now doing old people things, such as visiting in the living room and having tame times.

Need to get to bed. A big day tomorrow

mikey

Monday

Slept in till about 2PM, so I felt fairly well rested. Several calls came in which I ignored until I got up. Nothing major. Then I went for my decompression treatment and that went well as usual. Only a few more to go & I think I can say it will be a complete recovery the way things are going. Very pleased with how things are turning out.

A few calls back and forth to Jim. One thing I am VERY grateful for is that Richard didn’t have a lot of shortness of breath like some lung cancer pts have. COPD pts can be SO hard to keep comfortable since more oxygen is usually NOT the best option as this can cause the person to stop breathing.

Jim is having some ups and downs today. Several short phone calls seem to be better than one long conversation. OK with me.

Stopped at the PO to mail a sales tax form and then drove to Office Max to get a new copier toner cartridge and 2 printer toner cartridges since they were offering a $15 discount for the purch of 2 cartridges. Glad for this opportunity.

Then I went on home for a bit before going to Hillsboro for EMT continuing education at 7PM. Good to see some of the EMT class at Florence (now certificed) on the crew and at the meetings. Tonight’s session was on code black (death) and when is it appropriate for an intervention or to just let the deceased be left alone. Saw pics of decomposed bodies, for educational and law enforcement purposes only. Sometimes bodies are not discovered for several days and this brings to mind the “corruption” spoken of in the Bible in Psalms 16:10. This horror is even more significant when these are persons we have known all our lives in small KS communites.

Felt kind of washed out and drained as I left. Got a bite to eat at Subway and saw Clarence Giesbrecht and his children. Also met a “Jacob” who is a Freshman football player for Tabor. He is from Waco TX and in the midst of grueling football practice which can be discouraging at times.

Home and to bed about midnight.

mikey

Sunday-Richard’s Homecoming

Went to Church as usual. SS on Rev 10. Next Sunday there will be new SS assignments. Good job with the SS teaching Josh. Well done!!

Merle Yoder of Lincoln, MO had the sermon on the heart of man/men. He is the father of Andy Yoder who is working for our local Merle Yoder.

Got to talk with Josh Nisly a bit. Today is their KS wedding reception, which I will miss due to work. Wish you all the best!

Also good to talk shop with Mark Nisly who is here for the weekend. All kinds of amazing stories to share. Also of interest is the bed alarm invention which is a blessing/major annoyance all wrapped together in one unit.

Work was quiet again and no ER’s tonight, at least while I was there. Jim said Sheila had called at 2PM to come right away & Kim took him there to the hospital. Richard had taken a turn for the worse, but was starting to stabilize again. So he went on back home again.

Then, at 8:32PM Richard took his final breath on this earth. Expected, but not expected at that very moment, so it was a bit of a surprise. Jim called me at 8:50 with the news after he heard it. My gracious co-workers sent me on my way, even with a pt still needing to go to bed. They are the best!!

Made it to MP in record time & picked up Jim for the final trek to Moundridge. There was a huge, beautiful full moon right over us as we traveled SE to Moundridge along Old 81. The only thing Jim said during this trip was that his last words to his father are “I love you” and Richard responded by saying the same thing back to Jim. Otherwise Richard was not awake or responding.

Several people on the lawn of Mercy Hospital in Moundridge & Jim & I finally went in to Richard’s room (117). Jim didn’t have much to say, but stroked his father’s forehead and arms several times. I remember my mother doing this when her father died. There simply is nothing to say at such a time, but Jim asked me to be with him which I was happy to comply.

Soon it was time to leave & Jim requested to be present as his father’s body was taken out. The others had left already. That seemed to be therapeutic as Jim has done a lot of post mortem care and seemed very appropriate in this case.

Back to MP and went to Walmart for a few items. Then we went to see Patty to tell her the news. Also made a few other connections and I just stayed with Jim until he was ready to be alone and was wanting to take a walk by himself before he went to bed. It’s good to be able to communicate without saying words and it’s very much the case with my and my friend Jim.

For the record, I want to commend John & Sheila & Jim for their EXCELLENT care of their father. He was cared for at his home up until the last 4 days of his life and never was admitted to a nursing home. May God bless you all and feel close at this time.

Went on home & got to bed about 4AM.

mikey

Saturday

Happy Birthday Matthew!! Age 18 today. 

Slept in as late as possible. Up at Noon for some more hamburgers. Then did some sales tax calculations & started on some payrolls for next week.

Went to Hillsboro for my usual shift & that went well with 3 pts & a return ER that was here last night already. He ended up being admitted. Then helped him make several calls to neighbors to take care of his things at home. He lives by himself so this becomes even more important.

A very routine day. Heard from Jim & no change with his father at the hospital. He seems to be doing well considering everything.

Out at midnight & home & to bed shortly thereafter.

mikey

Friday

We had hamburgers today here at Noon. A good start to my day. Made a few phone calls here & there & left for the day at 12:30PM. Stopped by MP to see Jim for a bit. Kim is planning to pick him up at 7PM & take him to see his father who was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Moundridge late Wed. He isn’t eating much anymore.

Dark clouds bringing periods of rain for most of the day here. Rained during most of my travels. Went to Buhler to pick up sales tax info from Becky. Delayed quite a long time by a very slow moving UP train at Inman. No train on my way back thankfully. Got to Hillsboro just in time for my 3P-3A shift. 3 pts & a fairly quiet day there. 2 minor ER’s.

Heard from Mark Nisly that he’s planning to be in Reno Co this weekend which will be good.

Big news of the day is the sale of the Praire Rose facility and there are plans to reopen some time in the future. Had an enjoyable time there with my SS class about a year ago.

mikey

Thursday

A routine day and not as hot. Went to TRG for a small task & came back home to continue on some new smaller tax returns. A relief to do some simpler ones again.

Then went for another decompression treatment at 2:15PM & those seem to be going better again. Most of the pain is gone and now its more tightness I’m dealing with. Always have a good going-over with the snapper instrument over my neck and back.

Back home to continue on my tax returns and waiting for some acks on recently efiled returns. Then I started watering everything, a 6 hour task & by the time I was done at 1AM the rains FINALLY came. About a half inch I think.

Virgil called just as the rain started and he was currently at Centerville IN travelling east to a SMBI reunion in NY state. Replaced an alternator at Effingham IL and survived that distraction. Good to enjoy the storm and talk with Virgil at the same time.

Forgot to mention that yesterday my mother woke up with a severly swollen face, lips, etc. Went to the ER and has a diagnosis of angioedema. 3 severe allergic reactions in a short period of time, so plans are for her to see an allergist. Swelling still not down completely as of tonight.

mikey

Wednesday

Up bright and early at 7:50AM. Drove myself to Center for Mary Martha Miller’s funeral & arrived at 9:20 & the cars were already coming in at a fast rate. Joe Yoder is the foreman of the parking task & asked me to just be around and hang out if any questions come up…..as if I had any answers!!!????  

Went out at starting time 10AM & went over a few more items. We did talk last night, but more questions & issues came up. A large group assembled for this task today: Daniel & Jonnie Yoder, James & Steph Yoder & MJ & Jordan Nisly. All very ambitious & energetic for the job.

A nice funeral with speakers: Paul Nisly (young brother 24 yrs her junior), son Harold Dean Miller, obit by DLM & Samuel Nisly (nephew). Ervin & Mary Martha were privileged to celebrate 65 years together & as I looked at grandson John’s pic of them looking at each other in his blog I DO see the love that only 65 yrs together can generate. Mentioned that she had both traits of Mary and Martha from the town of Bethany in the Bible.

Gary had the message at the cemetery. People were asked to stand to the south to break the wind from the sorth (oh…I mean to prevent the strong KS wind from blowing KS soil onto persons located directly N of the gravesite).

I transported a large energetic group of parkers in my small Civic & then on the way back to the Church we jump started Steve & Evelyn’s van. Only in a situation like this can one appreciate how dirty & dusty my car really is. EVERYONE was coated with dust when this task was successfully completed.

A delicious meal of funeral potatoes (as they have come to be known) – an all time favorite of mine at Center & other goodies.

Changed clothes & hurried back to Moundridge to pick up Jim who by the time we left had put in a non-stop 24 shift with his father. Forgot to pick up Steve’s sales tax info at Buhler (groan). The hospice nurse was there & they are trying to get Richard admitted to the local hospital, but they say they are too full (angry thots in my mind at this comment). Also hard to find hospice staff to stay with Richard so family members can get a break. Both aspects I find quite disappointing, but this particular nurse said she would stay UNTIL she could successfully find someone to stay with Richard OR get him admitted to the hospital-he has 5 hospital days he can use which are covered by his insurance. Drove Jim home so he can get the rest he so greatly deserves. Also hope John & Sheila can get a break. Sheila has really been on call 24/7 this entire time and feels like she has to sleep with one eye open. They have ALL been an inspiration to me in their care & love for their sick father.

Then I hurried on to Hillsboro to drop off a tax return & that went well. Glad to make my way home & went to bed at 8PM.

mikey

Tuesday

Enjoyed a big thunderstorm late last night. Lots of lightning & thunder to the west & north, it did bring a few raindrops here.

Most of the day on another big tax return and going fairly well, but kinda slow. Then a call from Jim that his father has taken a turn for the worse. Sheila said he needs to get there now and can’t even let him out of her eyesight now. Picked Jim up at MP & dropped him off at Moundridge. Richard has a lot of edema (water swelling) in his feet & can’t seem to cough everything up in his lungs. Suggested maybe lasix would be helpful & to mention this to the hospice nurse who comes tomorrow. Richard is more restless than ever and has a strange expression on his face & his eyes seem more white than usual. (just some of my personal observations).

Then I went back to Salina for the Farm Bureau annual meeting & meal. Sat with 2 delightful ladies. One is named Melvina Gack (pronounced Jake) and is the mother of an acquaintance of mine who happens to be the director of the NE Wichita YMCA currently. Learned that Donald Trump owns a large portion of land between Medicine Lodge & Coldwater & is welcome by his neighbors. The stretch between these 2 towns is designated a scenic road & has every land formation that can be imagined. Want to go see that area sometime.

Marjorie Chamberlin from Chapman was the speaker & told stories only a farm wife can experience. Trucks with no floorboards OR brakes, hand signals during wheat harvest, etc  etc. Then we heard the classic-boys who captured pigeons alive in a net & then soaked them with gasoline, lit their tail feathers & let them go. This one has been around awhile & the old timers all remembered it………………..and they say boys are naughty NOW????

Oh…..I also won a door prize…a $10 gift certicate to IHOP. And yes I will turn that in as income for 2007 next spring.

Went home & finished the large & overwhelming tax return. Got it printed, assembled and ready to deliver tomorrow. Then hurried to bed as fast as I could since I need to get up early tomorrow.

mikey

Monday

Up a bit earlier than usual & got right to work. Going over a very large tax return & dotting the i’s & crossing the t’s. Doing my last run & hope to get it done today.

Went for another decompression treatment at 3PM. Didn’t see Shelly at the desk as usual, so that was a deviation from my normal experience there. Still working on the space between C6 & C7 which as far down the neck as they can go. This means tilting my head and chin down to my chest & then being locked in the head brace before the pulling starts. A sensation of being in a rocket with all the machines & dials and computer screens, etc. They turn off the lights so I can snooze. That happens often, but if I’m wide awake I get the sensation of being trapped, which really I am. Hope to get on top of that next time.

A stop at the post office & it seems the lines are longer than usual. Observed AND heard several unruly children who seem out of control. Also enjoyed conversations with strangers while waiting in line & several had no reserve in stating how they feel unruly children should be “handled”. Glad to finally get out of that place.

Home & finished my last run on the tax return & got it printed. The client folder is just over a half inch thick of paper. Got that delivered & the conference went quite well & they sent a watermelon home with me.

Then…on to the next tax return & went thru a batch of Quickbooks transactions, several hundred worth & got those reports all printed.

Quite tired, but feel it was a productive day when I hit the bed rather early for me…2AM.

mikey

Sunday

My deepest sympathy to the family of Mary Martha Miller who passed away appx 5AM today. She was a kind-hearted caring person and I could see the joy of the Lord in her always present smile. Many of her descendents are close personal friends of mine that I cherish deeply. I trust the joy she is experiencing will comfort each one.

SS was on Rev 9 and led by Joe Yoder. Interesting discussions of the “locusts”. Real-symbolic, what did they look like, how big, how many…..

Oren had the sermon on “what manner of persons ought ye to be” & focused on many aspects of II Peter ch 3. A comment made that the most important things in life are not things. Very true.

Counted with Harold & Titus stopped by casually and mentioned I have a new teaching assignment coming up. Of course I said yes, esp when learning who I would be privileged to spend the time with.

Ate dinner as usual with Willard & Fannie & also present was Eli’s older sister, Mattie Otto from Kokomo IN. I soon remembered her, not by appearance, but by her fun-loving witty tongue. A quick comeback to any comment sent her direction and much entertainment as she and Willard tried to have the last word    

Had a good long chat with Willard later & good Sunday afternoon nap. Slept more soundly than I expected, all very good.

Went to the singing at Gary Millers. I think the last singing I attended was a Dec event at Maxwell. Enjoyed getting acquainted with Taylor Hollingsworth and his family from west Texas who is here with Software Builders connections. Possibly related to my Dad’s good buddy, Gene Hollingsworth from Lindsborg. A great evening in my opinion.

Then headed off to Moundridge via Dutch Ave. Jim spent the day with his father & Sheila sleeping on the couch for her night shift. Richard is as alert as ever, but seems a bit more tired. Hope both he and Sheila have a good nights rest.

Dropped Jim off at Mc on my way home. When asked how he’s doing, he says he is tired. Very understandable. May God grant strength to each one.

mikey