Soldiers/Decoration Day

My Dad was in Korea, in fact he was there when I was born.  He found out about me through a Red Cross Telegram.

My Dad and my Mom  in 1950.

Dad was injured by shrapnel and he has photos taken in Korea that substantiates his injury.  All the records burned in St. Louis so he never received his Purple Heart.  I won’t say he came back unscathed, because he has nightmares often especially in the winter.  From what I have heard he didn’t even have an extra pair of socks or winter clothing yet was sleeping in foxholes in sub zero weather.  He survived conditions that are unimaginable to me.  Dad is 88 years old.

*****

These are my father’s brothers, my uncles;

Uncle Hugo was wounded, sent back to the States, endured surgeries and therapy and lived out his days with bullet fragments in his body.

Uncle Hugo and Mia never had any children together.  Mia had children from a former marriage.  They had a Grandson that they raised as their son.  I take flowers here because no one else does…and because I held his hand many days up in the VA Hospital before he died.  He died of Prostate Cancer.

Uncle Andrew

I had not been to Uncle Andrew’s grave in a few years.  Two of his children are dead now…there are a few children left but I wonder if they visit…perhaps a granddaughter visits.  She would have been the apple of his eye.  He was a wonderful man, I still miss him…he lived with us when I was little.  He died of Bone Cancer and Lung Cancer.

Uncle Arnold in Havana Cuba

My Aunt Sharon is still alive and she will take flowers there. Uncle Arnold was another wonderful Uncle taken from us too soon by a swift heart attack in the night time.  He died in the house where he was born.

Uncle Arthur

Died in the Invasion of Italy in 1944.

*********

On a personal note I want to thank my husband for the 26 years he spent in the service.  My baby brother for the time he served in the Navy and my nephew Ben who is currently serving.

Years ago Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day.

World War II Casualty

I am certain that my Grandmother’s heart was broken when her sixth son Arthur E. was killed during the invasion of Italy.  He died May 20 1944.  He is buried in The American  Sicily-Rome Cemetery in Nettuno Italy.  He was 23 years old when he died.

Arthur E. Yliniemi

My Paternal Grandmother is  a Gold Star Mother.

This Gold Star Mother marker was not in place the last time I visited this cemetery two years ago.

There were letters.  Letters that Arthur wrote home.  They seem to have disappeared, I tried to watch for them the day of my Aunt’s auction sale…I hope they were not thrown away.  I never understood her reluctance to share them… but some relatives share their photos and mementos easily…and others do not.

My Grandmother would see  five of her twelve sons go off to war.   All would return but one.   I cannot imagine her sadness that Arthur was buried so far away. 

I have a whole file of research on Arthur E.  I tried to follow the troop movements and read first hand accounts of soldiers in the vicinity.  I guess it doesn’t matter, he had no children…no one to pass on his story or his letters.

 

There are 10,484 soldiers buried at The American Sicily-Rome Cemetery in Italy.

In the pink

Here is my glass hoarding collection area.   All this glass was bought at garage sales or given to me by friends!

Far Guy gave me an area in his greenhouse/woodshop where I can spread “stuff” out and decide what goes where. 

I wanted to make a few glass towers. 

I made this one and gave it to Jen…that is one of her creations on the left.

It is a fun way to use chipped glassware.  It gives me something to search for at garage sales.

From 3 to 16 just like that

I wonder when it happened.  It seems like just yesterday he was a baby.  Then he grew and grew.  He was a quiet child I didn’t think he would ever talk.   He would sit for hours and open and shut the screen door in the retail part of the greenhouse… it was something he could do all by himself…no assistance needed…we kept saying “Noah watch out for your fingers.”  Then when he was about two he noticed his Grandfather and his Daddy on the roof..and guess what?  There was a ladder…his Mom ran pretty fast that day.

One weekend his parents left him with us and went someplace…not sure where.  His Mom missed him so much she began to cry and they showed up in the middle of the night.

It seemed like all he would eat was mac and cheese and hotdogs…and Mandarin Oranges.

Here he is riding the motorcycle kid ride at the fair.  This was 2002 he was three.

He grew and grew..at their last house we kept track and I would make growth marks on the pantry door.  Now I would need a ladder to make a mark.

I have to remind his parents to measure him now. Six feet what?

A moment before I took this photo his Mother told him to tilt the cake a little and it nearly slid off the tray!

He has plans for the summer.  He had a goal and he has achieved it.  He has an interest in Medicine possibly to become a Doctor.  So what would a 15 year old do in preparation for his 16th birthday?  Can you guess?

We sang Happy Birthday!

I hope all his wishes come true!

Well what did you guess?

If you guessed that he would take the Certified Nursing Assistant Class, pass the exam and gain employment for the summer in a Nursing Facility you would be correct.  He is excited to begin this new adventure!

We are very proud of him! 

A Big Fight

One day we went to a garage sale back in the boonies.  A gentleman was in charge, they weren’t real organized.  Nothing was marked I suppose if you drove a fancy car they charged more or perhaps they were lazy garage salers.  There was a sign that said most things 25 to 50 cents.  Well ok. 

I kept asking him the price of “stuff.”   There were two hat boxes, he said they are 50 cents each.   I told him fine I will take them.   I kept piling stuff on his table…THEN…his wife came out… UFFDA.

She wanted more for her “stuff” she was angry that he quoted the wrong prices…loudly she said “I told you I wanted more for those hat boxes.”  He shook his head and said “I already told her a price.”  She got very angry… God forbid that someone stroke out over hat boxes.   I said “Forget the boxes.”  She grabbed them off the table and marched them back to the shelf. 

You could tell the gentleman was embarrassed…but I just wanted to avoid a knock-down drag-out fight or WW3.   I am certain she gave him the “what for” after we left.  I felt kinda sorry for him.  Far Guy said “She is a piece of work.”

I found this little Homes For Sale sign there…a perfect replacement for the Easter Bunny that has been on this wreath since before Easter.  It was 25 cents.

Wistful Wednesday: Auntie Kathy

I have known my cousin Arthur since I was born.  I met Kathy when he started to date her.  Far Guy knew Kathy because she was a “town kid.”  Her parents owned the best little restaurant on main street in Park Rapids called Wimpy's.  Art and Kathy were married in 1969 three months before Far Guy and I. 

Kathy wanted her ears pierced…being frugal…she decided that I should do it for her.  After a few beers she put ice on both sides of her ear lobes.  I threaded a needle with dental floss and pushed it through her ear…on the other side I pulled out the needle with a pliers and drew the dental floss through.  She soaked the dental floss in alcohol several times a day and kept pulling it through her ear lobe…after about a week we put in earrings.  This was during the winter of 1970. 

Debra was born in 1971….we became Auntie Connie and Uncle Gene.  A second daughter DJ died sometime in utero in 1974 or thereabouts.

When our girls were born they had an honorary Uncle Arthur and Auntie Kathy.

They moved, we moved.  We saw them at family reunions weddings and funerals.  Later they would buy a weekend lake place in preparation for retirement.  They retired and then we retired and lived just a few miles away.

Auntie Kathy and Uncle Arthur…he wanted to kiss everyone…this was the day Debra was married.

Debra and her Mom  October 1993.

Years and years would pass Auntie Kathy and Uncle Art never thought they would be grandparents…but finally they were!  Three times over!  They were so excited!! They loved our grands and having grands of their own was really special!

Thirty Two Days… April 16 Uncle Art called and asked us to stop by.  We did.   Art said “Kathy has cancer.”  She was in terrible pain. I gave her a hug and encouragement that Doctors can do so much with cancer nowadays.  I also told her “What is the worst thing that can happen?  You will die and go to heaven and be out of pain.” She said “Yes no pain would be a good thing.”  The doctors didn’t know where the cancer originated, they did many tests.  Lung, Liver and Bone Cancer.  She endured radiation treatments. Then the first round of chemo on May 7.  She entered the hospital on May 11.  We visited her several times, she was in unbelievable pain. Mostly she was unconscious…I irritated her one day and asked her if she was going to wake up…she told me to “shut up.” Far Guy told her to sit up and slap me….but she didn’t.  She died May 18. It snowed off and on the day she died. I am certain she is having a big old party up there in heaven complete with the most beautiful flowers you can imagine.

Goodbye Auntie Kathy.  I am sad for you husband, daughter, son in law and your beautiful grands.  But I am glad you are no longer in pain.

Gene’s gene

WELL.  Three weeks ago whilst were were sitting in the Pulmonary Specialist’s examination room waiting we read a pamphlet…you know the kind bright purple in a box…fine reading material…about some deficiency you have never heard of.  The Doctor entered the room and noticed we had the pamphlet out….she asked “Do you want to be tested?  I have never had anyone test positive.” We replied “Sure why not?”

The results came last Friday, the print was too small to read in the online test records. The Doctor called yesterday morning.  Yes she said, you have it…a Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Simply as if “gene”  “stuff” is ever simple. It is hereditary.  Your liver produces and sends out a substance that protects your lungs and liver from infections.  If your “gene” is messed up then you have no protection…enzymes produced normally in the liver can run wild through your bloodstream attacking your lungs and liver.

Anyways… Far Guy will be getting weekly IV Infusions for the rest of his life.  The deficiency can be treated, he won’t get better…but the progression of his lung disease should be slowed down. 

The other things recommended are to keep exercising, eat healthy, stay away from germy people and out of smoke, dust, fumes and smells ( perfumes, aftershave, essential oils) that may irritate your lungs.

We are a bit bummed out that someone didn’t think this might be a possibility before now.   The a$$ whole Doctors that used to say “We don’t just give out antibiotics for anything.” or “You will get better after a few more weeks, these colds have to run their course”    I have to remind myself that they are still just practicing medicine.

1% to 3 % of people have a Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AT).  Coupled with his Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) 1 person out of 15,000…Far Guy  is really special.  I told him to buy a lottery ticket.

Bottom line is this, if you or someone you love is diagnosed with Emphysema they should be tested for the deficiency…as with anything else IF they catch it early it can be treated before huge irreparable damage has occurred. 

We have heard through the grapevine that Infusions are $8,000 to 20,000 a month.  I guess we will find out how good our insurance and Medicare are.

 

Moo

We had a pair of Brown-Headed Cowbirds stop by.  First the male came in and checked things out…then the female showed up. 

The male Brown-Headed Cowbird.

The female Brown-Headed Cowbird.

Here you can see that the male has  some iridescent feathers.

The female is just a basic brown…no sparkly feathers for her.  The bird books calls her color gray.

The pair.

This is the first year I can recall that they have stopped by.  They have been here two days eating suet off the ground that the huge Crow slops all over with his big beak.  If Chance is outside he chases the Crow out of the yard.

The first Chippy ( Chipmunk) showed up on Sunday.  He is living on borrowed time because a certain Border Collie who will remain nameless will herd them aggressively.  Perhaps they die of fright before they succumb to the bite wounds …either way dead is dead.

Colorful Birds and a Missouri Death

Yesterday the first of the Baltimore Orioles showed up.  I am not sure if he found the feeder…he sang a song…very loudly. Perhaps he was announcing his find!

Isn’t he a beauty!

 

The male Indigo Bunting strutted around on the patio so I took his photo through the window.

It rained really hard last evening…thundered and lightening…Chance headed for the safety of the bathroom.

We got some sad news yesterday afternoon.  Far Guy’s cousin Nickie’s husband Jim died  in Missouri.  He had Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma and has been in treatment since last August, since Christmas the cancer has been out of control, the Doctors gave him two weeks to eight weeks to live three weeks ago.  Jim sought out the best specialists at the University of Nebraska and The Kansas Cancer Treatment Center.  Sometimes it just doesn’t matter when your time is up…it is up.  Thankfully through Facebook we were able to send him words of encouragement during his illness.

Colorful Visitors

It stopped raining and we got some visitors!

Scarlet Tanagers and Indigo Buntings

I wonder if they migrate together since they showed up on the same day.

We decided that the Baltimore Orioles cannot be far behind so we put up the renovated feeder.  It is a tad bright!

We put out grape jelly and just one orange for now.

Here is a great photo of a male and female Scarlet Tanager. She got the short end of the stick in the color department.  They like suet…and I have seen them suck down some grape jelly.

If they are true to form they will be here just a few days before they move on.  My bird book says they like Oak forests…I wish they would stay.  As you can see the oaks are just beginning to pop out.

Chance and I can be entertained for hours just watching the birds.

Spring Snow

My cousin Chuckie was telling us yesterday that his Tuesday morning fishing  time was interrupted by two hours of snow…it melted as it hit the ground.

It turned cold enough to snow.  One morning on the way into town there were chunks of snow on the roadway.  Far Guy and I looked at each other to confirm that we weren’t both crazy seeing things.  It was SNOW. Dropped off by trucks or cars passing through from North Dakota or South Dakota.

Then we had this…

Don’t get too excited.  These are flower petals.

Malus X ‘Spring Snow’  A sterile flowering Crabapple.  It only has flowers no fruit.  It has a real strong fragrance…Far Guy noticed it right away.

Then there is this kinda fluff.

Aspen/Populus species/ Piss Popple/Cottonwood fluff.  The fluff carries the tiny seeds all over.  Chance carts them all over and into the house.  The fluff lays in snow drifts over the lawn…and we only have a few trees.  When the wind comes from the North it looks like it is snowing.

Our grass is turning green…finally!  It rained all day yesterday…not enough but it is a start to help out with the drought.

“To me an ancient Cottonwood is the greatest of trees because in his youth he shaded the buffalo and wore a halo of pigeons, and I like a young cottonwood because he may some day become ancient. But the farmer’s wife (and hence the farmer) despises all cottonwoods because in June the female tree clogs the screens with cotton. The modern dogma is comfort at any cost” Aldo Leopold

How did the duck get to the other side of the road?

Well they found a crosswalk and a couple of very duck friendly people from Burger King to act as crossing guards. I stopped for them and grabbed my camera on the front seat. I took these photos through the windshield with my small camera.

There was another duck friendly fellow off to the right that stayed at the edge of the road.

It looks like there were twelve ducklings.

All in all it was a nice moment in a rather hectic day.

Traffic in town is getting bad.  I think all the snow birds have returned. We have entered the season of left turns only at the stoplights…any other left turn in town and you will wait forever or get yourself in an accident.