Betty’s Week
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The week began as the week before had ended – house decorating inside and outdoors. Bill and Jimmie worked on the decorating and I watched, hoping I would not have to referee a disagreement. Next week it will be time take the decorations down – hope that goes smoother than the installation.
Bill and I have decided to decorate our own tree next year, using a Charlie Brown tree with my collection of Hallmark ornaments. Ours is going to be placed in the foyer, just as you enter the living room. We’re hoping that guests will be so interested in the ornament collection that Jimmie’s huge beautiful tree will be neglected.
What I’m really hoping is that I’ll be well, at home, and decorating my own tree – sorry Bill, hope you’re on your own.
Wednesday our week really began with several necessary errands following shower day for me. We drove up in the van, which seemed to be in perfect condition. When we came out to continue on our journey the thing would not crank. Bo was summoned and confirmed my diagnosis of a dead battery. Bo got a mechanic and they installed a new battery while Carolyn took us on to Batesville, where I received my Covid booster shot. It was very easy – did not feel anything but a pin prick, then we waited a few minutes in the shot room. I was fine, but she instructed us to wait in our van in the parking lot for 15 minutes as they had many patients coming for shots.
However, she says to Jimmie, “If there is any sign of a reaction, run to the front door and yell help.”
Fortunately this was not necessary. As a matter of fact I never felt any pain at all – kept squeezing my arm during the night and never even felt a twinge of pain nor any change in my health at all. I still urge all of you to get all your Covid shots. I believe this is the best way to stamp out this disease. And even if you’re not as fortunate as me with the amount of pain, it’s still better than being really sick, maybe hospitalized, or even death. Also, it could save a loved one, a neighbor, your co-worker, or just a passerby the trauma of the illness.
After the parking lot wait we continued on to the Valley to pick up refills at Turnage Drug Store and check on the house. It was almost dark when we arrived home, so Bill was sent for supper.
Bill picked Jim up at the Memphis Airport shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday. Jim reported a smooth flight, arriving on time as Christmas really began for us. Jimmie and I had stayed home and she made us a supper of chicken and sausage gumbo. Carolyn and Bo Joined us and we enjoyed catching up on the time we’d been apart, along with lots of reminiscing.
We were sorry Celeste could not come, but she needed to stay behind in Las Cruces with her Aunt Nancy, who lives just five doors down. Nancy has retired from her career in Miami, Fla. and moved to Las Cruces. Jim and Celeste are her only relatives in the area.
Christmas brought most of the family together. Breakfast is the meal of the day and Jimmie and Jim cooked enough food for most of the area. Sandwiches and snacks were fuel for the rest of the day. Present were four of the original Kilgore siblings (Bo, Jimmie, Don and myself) along with the three living spouses (Carolyn, Bill, and Gina); five grands (Jim, William, Michael, Misty, and Madison); and seven great-grands (Harris, Ian, Jack, Briley, Caroline, Wallis and Ellis). Presents were plentiful and the day was very enjoyable.
When everyone left late Christmas evening, Jim remarked, “Boy, it sure has gotten quite around here!” and he was correct. When you lose children ages 11 months (so cute) to 10 years, along with all the adults who think they’re still kids, it does lessen the noise level considerably. Bill, Jimmie, Jim, and I watched two of Jim’s favorite teams get handily defeated. One was the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team he and Celeste will watch in their home stadium later this week. He will leave us Tuesday morning and Celeste will leave Las Cruces to join him for a few days vacation before both have to return to their classrooms.
A strange thing about this Christmas holiday was that I do not ever remember enjoying the day when it felt like you should have been on a Fourth of July picnic. We had doors open and the air on and about half were outside. Was a great day for years-ago toys when we got bikes, wagons and other outside toys. Now the gifts are iPhone, computers and other electronics – all for inside.
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and here’s wishing you a Happy New Year.
