July Jitters

As I write this wholly writ, we are approaching the last Sunday in July. We have had a hot July but we are coming to August without any hurricane activity. That is small comfort since most of our hurricane beatings seem to come in August or September. We have our generator in place and ready for the next beating. Last summer taught us that not being able to have a cool place set up for an extended power outage was just too tough for old coots like us. That seven day period last time was just too hard; and getting set up for it happening again may keep the storms away for this season. It is a good feeling to know that we have set things up progressionally so that we can manage until the power is restored. All of us were quite surprised that Gustav hit this area so hard and did so much damage. It was a storm that was not given as much respect as the outcome that its winds caused. Many took the hint and have set up generators to manage the next time. That’s enough about the weather; so let’s go to something else.

July got off on a bad start when a dear friend of thirty-three years died quite suddenly with pancreatic cancer. Within three weeks from discovery, it was over and she was gone. It was quite a shock for all of us who knew and loved her and there were many who did. When I was blinded nearly two years ago from poor medical care, she came to visit us every Thursday afternoon from three til four. She always brought us a treat and it was a real treat and help to have her give us some needed help in adjusting to this new world that was forced upon us. What a friend and how we will miss her. Anita helped me handle her funeral and it really hurt to know that she was, for a time, separated from us. But what a joy it was to know her and have her for a friend. There is a real hole in our lives and it put me in a place where I had to struggle with that old black magic called depression. We really miss her on Thursday afternoon, but at three each Thursday we send her our greetings. Remember her with a smile, and send a prayer in her direction; and the direction is up.

I am working on making sure that I am strong and I have decided to make sure that I exercise each day and more than once per day. I have allowed myself to give in a little to depression and regular exercise is a great way to combat that stuff.

Anita and I had a big tussle with one of my computer programs and it took some doing to find out what I was doing incorrectly. Frustration flowed like a river for a time, but I eventually figured it out and am much better for it this morning. I will make sure that computer practice also is scaled up so that those mental lapses are less often and practice always makes that better.

We are approaching the end of July and that is fine with all of us. The summer has been the usual unpleasant combination of heat and humidity. That is a sour combination and fall will be a timely change. It will also mean the beginning of the football season and that is really good for the area.

Since football approaches a religion down here it is only natural that the high priests of football are trotting out their gear and getting ready to make the many cogent and precise comments that all those who have never played the game are so capable of making. Yet it adds flavor and seasoning to the season and I really enjoy the time. This town does so much better when the Tigers are doing well in any sport and it was great that they came home with the baseball trophy.I know that when August comes we will start looking for that first game and praying that the month doesn’t contain a hurricane surprise. Last year we got that storm in very late August and it was a real mess. I hope that we can avoid another weather mess like that.

Casey is coming to mow the yard and I will be going out into the gym to exercise while he is mowing. I am trying to slowly work back up to testing my right hip on the treadmill. I have progressed a long way with that hip. I can walk with a cane, but I want to continue to use that walking motion to make me more steady on my feet. This old age stuff can be a mess and eventually the government may consider me to be too useless to even own a treadmill much less work out on one. My parents went through the depression and it seems that we are working on one too. The daily turmoil going on in the country is most disquieting. I don’t have much for many of our illustrious leaders and it seems that they are working to show us just how irresponsible and greedy a government can be. I hope that we don’t end up in a hole that we are unable to get out of and recenter our priorities.

I am certain now that I am considered expendable, so if I have any observations to share, I best get on with it. I know that I am rambling, but I need the practice. I am waiting for Casey to get here so that I can start messing around in the garage gym. Just to type a few lines now is most helpful because I find myself coming up with too many lame excuses to just sit still and let depression work on me. Any little thing I do helps drive depression away for a day. Kathy just showed up with some home grown figs and I will have a fig fix before I run out and get all worked up on the exercise machines.

July has come to an end. August has finally come and one can hope that the storms stay away from my door. I will now switch over to some August ramblings and see what they have to offer. Come on September.