Betty’s Week
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By Betty Shearer
Last week our Sunday lunch saw a larger family gathering than usual. Great-niece Caroline had arrived for the weekend on Friday, bringing her trusty Nerf gun for Cade’s birthday party. Saw very little of her as she came in with her Uncle David and went straight to the farm where they were getting ready for the party. Report was that the Nerf war got pretty intense – seems the girls had to leave the battle as the boy’s guns were so strong that they hurt.
They went to the shop and entertained themselves until almost bedtime. Caroline came in soaking wet, after one of the water tubs was dumped on her. She just put on dry pajamas and got into bed. She was so worn out that she slept until almost noon Sunday, then played with friends until Pa Bill took her to meet her Dad in Pontotoc for the trip home. When she hugged me goodbye, she assured me she’d see me this coming weekend.
Sunday and Monday were nice spring-like days. Our outing on Monday was a trip to the bath house, getting ready for a doctor’s appointment Tuesday morning. The trip over to Oxford was nice, but coming back the weather really picked up. As we came out of the clinic, Jimmie announced that I was not getting onion rings from Phillips Grocery-– we were going home ahead of the rain storm. Didn’t make it. Just outside the Oxford city limits the rain began and it got harder and harder – we could hardly see the road.
At Christmas Jim had instructed us to put on new wipers. Fortunately just last week Jimmie remembered to tell Bill to take care of this –and had he not we would have been in real trouble. We slowed down and made it okay, even though we drove a lot of the way in water covering the road.
Jody Leonard took care of my blood work and it was fine. Always enjoy our visits. Then we met an intern, Dr. Michael (can’t remember his last name), but he was a delightful young man. His hometown is Montreal, Canada, but his nationally is Egyptian. We really enjoyed visiting with him and were delighted to hear he was interested in staying in our area.
Dr. Yates then arrived with bad news. The maintenance drug I was put on was not working – cancer count was going back up. So now I’m back on another chemo that triggers some rough side effects – and during the first week I’ve experienced most of them. Worst of them being no appetite, diarrhea, painful gas which really hurts, nausea and just no energy. It can also mess up your blood counts. Have another appointment Tuesday to see where we go from here. If the chemo is working, I will tough it out if possible.
My favorite volunteer, Sue Hardy, was with us, and it’s always a joy to visit with her and have her wait on me. We do appreciate all the volunteers – they make the chemo lab so pleasant.
On the farm the grass is growing, as are the calves. Bill has been kept busy keeping cows inside the fences and is still feeding hay. They also had to clean out the shop, getting ready for the birthday party – not an easy chore I heard.
Was glad to hear from Valley friends, Wanda and Bud McCluskey and Betty and Al Davis. Was so sorry to learn of the death of long-time friend, Brent Shirley, who had been a resident in the nursing home for several years. Brent was the late Ludie Appleton’s nephew. Last time I talked to Brent he asked if I remembered when we met. He knew the day and that it was on his Aunt Ludie’s porch. I was sitting on the rail and he thought I was very pretty – that’s a lovely memory for me, as only Ed and my Dad had thought me pretty. Brent was so much like Ludie that when I heard him talk or laugh, I really thought she was back with us. I think Ludie’s older sister was his mom. My memory is not as good as Brent’s.
Wanda and Betty keep me up to date on Valley news and I do appreciate it. As always, thank all of you for your prayers, cards, notes, calls and visits.
