Arthritis

My father had arthritis -- bad! I have arthritis -- bad!

I was thinking about my father's attempts to get up in the morning. I was thinking about this because I was sitting on the edge of the bed this morning, just as my father did every day of his later life.

Daddy always got up on the same side of the bed, even after mom had been put in her hospital bed a couple of years before she went to be with Jesus. Th

He would sit there and moan (as I do), knowing what was coming as soon as he tried to stand up (as I do).

I couldn't figure it out then. I would just watch him wondering why he was pondering getting off the bed.

Then, as he lifted himself from the side of the bed, after sitting there for about 10 minutes, getting up the courage, I suppose to face the pain, he would moan and groan all the way to the bathroom (as I do). By the time he had a warm shower, however, his moans were fewer and he was ready to face the day (as I am, most of the time).

My dad could still outwalk me (speedy as he was) when I was 50 and he was 82. He could beat me at tennis when he was 70 and I was, well, I'll let you do the math. In other words, he seemed to handle arthritis a lot better than I'm handling it.

He complained that his hands hurt all the time, and to keep his fingers "limber" he played the piano (pictured above) or he'd type out some notes for his Bible school students.

I play the piano only when I visit my son (he -- my son -- has my mom's/my piano), but I notice that my typing has slowed down a lot recently because of the constant pain in my own hands, which until about a month ago, I didn't have.

I'm not complaining, believe me. I know it could be worse. But I now know what my dear dad was going through all those years of moaning and groaning, and in which, I'm sure, I laughed at his discomfort, or made fun of him.

I've learned a lesson from my disrespect of his suffering, that is: laugh then, cry now. I do a bit of the latter now.

were in the same bed. That would be for 50 years plus.

Family pictures

Back row: Alan, Quinn Ford (Becky's husband), Becky, Toria Stamper (Cyndi's daughter) holding Ellie (Cyndi's daughter), Amy (Phil's wife) holding Matthew (Phil's youngest), Phil Hahn, Shandon Stamper, Jr. (Cyndi's oldest); Shandon, Sr. (Cyndi's husband), Cyndi Stamper holding Jack (her youngest).
Middle row: Dan Ford, Jonah Stamper, Adam Stamper, David Hahn
Front Row: Judi, Annie Ford, Rachel Hahn, Grace Ford, Rose Hahn
NOTE: Last names tell to which parent the children belong.

Why is it that children take such awful pictures? They are supposed to smile and they stick out their tongue, or they move, or they wiggle (thus blurring even a digital picture). This is the best of several pictures taken of our family (Alan's and mine).

Only my own children (and my oldest grandchild) have ever visited Runnemede. And Shandon, Jr., my dear grandson, was only two months old when he visited my father, so I know he doesn't remember it.

Anyway, this is a picture of the family. And I've listed who everyone is.

Memorial Day Present

This is Cyndi (my youngest) and her youngest daughter, Ellie May. This is my son, Phil's, oldest, Rosie.

This is my oldest grandchild -- he's now 15. He rarely smiles, so this picture is a real treat.

This is Jonah, Cyndi's middle child. He's 7.

This is our newest grandchild (Cyndi's). He's 2 months old. Isn't he the cutest thing?

Our present Memorial Day -- in fact Memorial Days for the past 33 years -- did not occur in Runnemede, sad to say. Although new memories are being developed, the past ones hopefully will not be forgotten.

So, I've posted some pictures from our family Memorial Day picnic at a local playfield -- children's park -- which was, as far as I could tell, was enjoyed by everyone. And, all of my children and grandchildren were able to attend. While I took some pictures, I didn't get pictures of everyone.

I did have more "professional" pictures taken, but I haven't gotten them back from the photographer yet. When I do, perhaps I'll post a few of those, at least the one taken of the entire bunch.

And yes, this picnic was just as noisy as those from times past.

Memorial Days past

Taking a note from my niece, Lori, who publishes her "Flashback Friday" on her BLOG most Fridays, I'm posting some pictures from our past Memorial Day family get togethers. They were always fun.

What you can't see, is that there was a ping-pong table in the basement of Aunt Anne's house, and believe me it was well used by the cousins -- AFTER we ate! Uncle Joe also had a horse-shoe game set up in the back yard, and further down in the hollow out back, they had set up crocket, so we did have things to do besides talk. But we Italians are known for our chatting -- and getting caught up each other's lives was another big part of that day in May. Back then Memorial Day was on the 30th of May (my son, Phil's birthday, by the way); not the last Monday in the month.

So, enjoy the pictures. And no, I'm not starting my own "Flashback Friday."

Aviary

Well, I discovered that I live attached to an aviary. This morning as I was sitting on my sun porch I could heard the chirping of the birds, and then I looked out and there was a plethora of bird species flitting from tree to tree. I know this pictures doesn't show you which species, and don't be confused by the pine cones in the tree. There are three birds at the top, and one near the bottom.

These birds are small birds, so I am assuming they are babies just getting their wings, and I also base that assumption on the fact that they would only flit from tree to tree, a very little space to go because the trees in the yard are very close together.

Why am I bringing this up and what has this to do with Runnemede?

My mother loved birds, second to her flowers. And while I thought this was just another one of her "things" I didn't really connect with it as my brother did. In fact, my brother was so connected to the love of birds, that several years ago while on a bird hunt in a wooded area near his home in Indiana, he saw a bird he hadn't seen in, well, forever. And to get a better view, he decided to climb a tree. At that time he was over 50 years old. Fifty-year-old men do NOT climb trees. But up the tree he when, and then down the tree he fell. He got hurt quite badly, and still suffers from that fall. However his love of birds, which he got from my mother hasn't dwindled.

Mom used to take us to the woods and as she would point out plants, she would also point out birds to us, naming them. She had several bird identification books in her small bookcase in the dining room and would peruse them frequently. BecauseI was able to identify several of the birds I saw today, I'm glad my mom took me and my brothers and sister to woods and taught us the names of the birds.

Finally, for my brother's information, this morning I saw the following birds: cardinal, red-winged blackbird, wren, morning dove, woodpecker, blue bird, blue jay, oriole, swift, and tanager. I did not see any robins. But we don't see many robins around here.

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Mother's birthday

Today would have been my mother's 100th birthday. Quite a landmark if she had lived this long.

Unfortuntely for we who survived her, but fortunately for her she went to be with her Lord about 20 years ago.

I recall her birthday celebrations. Dad was in charge. Does that tell you anything? Celebrations consisted of mom doing all the work. Getting her own dinner (and breakfast and lunch). And then after dinner she would open her gifts. Dad always gave her something really nice -- a very pretty dress, a new hat, a piece of "good" jewelry, etc. She always told him he spent way too much. We children usually gave her a handmade card, or a hankie (again with the hankies?), or a home-made pot holder. Sometimes two of us would put together and get her a new bottle of perfume. Some "rose" scent. She, of course, over-reacted as a good mother would, as she opened her children's gifts.

Now she's gone and I can't talk to her any more. Someday I shall.

Happy birthday, mom.

Don't you just love...

...the smell of the outdoors after a good, heavy, soaking rain in late spring? I do. Always have. I have to admit that the smells in Runnemede were a lot different than the aromas here in N. Ky. For one thing, my mom had flowers all over the place and the smell of all those plants mixed together was, well, heavenly. The roses would be just blooming now, the lilacs finishing, the lilies of the valley in full bloom, and her irises would be almost open. Mom's herbs would be putting forth from their remains from last year -- her basil, chives, oregano, etc.

Here in N. KY the only plants in bloom right now are azaleas and after the hard rains of the past day and a half, there are very few blossoms left. Add to that the fact that today the lawn people mulched -- mulch isn't a particularly nice smell.

Mom's mulch wasn't too bad. She kept her leafy greens and coffee grains and other vegetarian left overs in a pile behind the garage and used that to "aid" her plantings from time to time. The pile was started with leaves from the Autumn raking of the yard. So, I guess her mulch really smelled mostly like a walk in the forest. Mulch, at least the brand used here, smells like -- well, you know. It stinks, but it works.

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