Smoke Signals

Returning home after a full month in Georgia is bittersweet. With the exception of living in Arkansas for one year and Memphis for one year, this was the longest I have spent anywhere beyond a few miles of my childhood home.

It was a blessing to spend quality time with my daughter and her family—helping drive Olivia and occasionally Landon where they needed to go, attending their sports activities, reminding them to do their chores, and watching them mature. One night I stayed home with Olivia while Mom and Dad were at Landon’s football game. She had an early softball game the next morning and needed to be in bed at a reasonable hour. I had not been feeling well for a couple of days, and she decided to take care of Grammie. She made dinner and made sure I was settled for the night before heading to bed.

I was able to take Olivia to her first tennis match on Thursday while Ellen went to Landon’s football game. It was obvious the other team had much more experience, but she still played well in doubles. She has a beautiful serve and is steadily improving her return. She is also the only sixth grader who made the team.

Olivia looked lovely at homecoming as she walked onto the field with her proud father. Her school has 17 sixth grade homerooms, 17 seventh grade homerooms, and about that many eighth grade homerooms. That made for a large court of young ladies and their escorts on the football field.

Charlie decided to come down with an ear infection while we were in Georgia. Although prone to them, he had not had one since January. That meant finding a veterinarian willing to see him and administer the medication his regular vet prescribes. We were fortunate to find a clinic that had recently opened near Ellen’s house. The staff and veterinarian were wonderful with him; Charlie gladly offered paw shakes, behaved during treatment, and eagerly accepted his treat.

Each time I make the 600-mile drive to Georgia, I remind myself not to drive straight through. After nine hours behind the wheel, I was tired of driving, but I did not realize the full extent of my exhaustion until I began unpacking the car. My brother arrived at the perfect time to carry in the essentials, along with the grocery delivery I had scheduled to coincide with my arrival. He returned Saturday to bring in the rest. I went straight to sleep, slept through the night, and rested the entire next day. If I make the trip again, I hope I take my own advice and divide the drive over two days. Charlie crashed right along with me--he was more than ready to be back home.

This week brings open-heart surgery for my 4-year-old great-grandson. That was the deciding factor in my return. I cannot imagine not being in the waiting room during such a lengthy procedure. Ellen will fly in, and Emily took time off work to be there. Again, your prayers are deeply appreciated. The surgeon assured us he has performed hundreds of these procedures and expects a full recovery, but we know the ultimate outcome rests in God’s hands.

I would love to share your community news. You can reach me by phone or text at 901-246-8843, or by email at jchwagg@gmail.com.