Smoke Signals and other news
The adventures of my mini vacation continued through last week. Son-in-law Matt returned from his visit with his grandfather. As always, the meals he prepared were healthy and delicious. He grew up in Texas and prepares many foods that were never on our menus in Mississippi, but I never turn them down!
We did somewhat forget healthy eating on our trip into Savannah. Stopping at the famous Leopold’s Ice Cream, even I had blueberry cheesecake ice cream. The line, normally long, was short, and we got a close enough parking space that I could walk to it. It was well worth venturing from my very low sugar habits. Olivia had no idea what the vintage phone booth was but finally went in and picked up the receiver.
The grandkids continued to attend practices for football and softball. We worked puzzles, read a few chapters from books each day, picked out and ordered school supplies, completed chores, played card games, especially during the two thunderstorms that occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, the storms taking with them television and internet services. I climbed the stairs to their rooms, a feat I had been unable to accomplish on previous visits. I considered it part of my continued physical therapy!
Somehow Ellen injured her leg, possibly playing softball with the kids in the front yard, and now her doctor is certain she has a torn meniscus. She is in a brace and on crutches until a her MRI on Wednesday. It’s going to be a challenge for her trying to be wife, mother, softball coach and run three businesses.
On Wednesday, my school friend, Beth Rosales, her husband Val, and their little dog Sophie came to visit. Sophie, Charlie, and Bentley stayed at the house while we had a great lunch at Central Station in Springfield. We took them to visit Ellen’s shop, Bloom Nutrition, and Beth, Ellen, and Olivia visited a couple of local shops. I was able to give Beth a painting by someone she was very close to when her family lived in Byhalia. While I knew and loved the artist, Beth’s family was much closer, and I knew it would be treasured by her family. How I ended up with it is a story all its own and one of those coincidences that you know was meant to be.
Thursday, Charlie and I began our 600-mile journey home, with family checking on us frequently. We only had one mishap. Getting out of the car in a Love’s Parking lot onto very hot concrete, I tripped on the step up to the sidewalk and fell hard onto the pavement. I was more concerned about Charlie not being able to get off the hot surface than the pain I was enduring. Although I called out to several people, no one stopped. With the recent knee surgery, getting up was going to be a challenge but I was on my own. With no chance of getting to my knees, I was able to scoot to the edge of the curb and pull myself up by holding onto the wheel cover and rear door handle of the car. It was not an easy task and I’m sure not a pretty sight. One of my readers called during this event. I could hear the phone but couldn’t find it. It either fell from my hand or my pocket and was still on the sidewalk. Now this reader may figure out why I didn’t answer and returned the call after I was back on the road. We completed our mission at the stop, and I took something for the pain I knew was inevitable. Charlie seemed to be fine. I knew I would need to drive all the way home as I wasn’t sure how sore I would be by morning. It was the right choice. Traffic was a nightmare in Montgomery but amazingly we got into Birmingham at just the right time and eased right through.
Saturday night I attended the Kudzu Playhouse production of “Oklahoma” where granddaughter Mary Claire was a featured dancer. She poured her heart and soul into every scene. In one scene she “rolled” her ankle and heard and felt the dreaded pop. Trooper that she is, she iced, elevated, and taped it between scenes and finished the show. X-rays Sunday morning revealed a bad sprain and, with doctor’s permission, she wrapped it and went on stage Sunday afternoon. The show continues at the Hernando Performing Arts Center next weekend and, if you are looking for entertainment from a cast of characters who have put in long hard hours all summer, you should attend. If the knee permits, I will go again next weekend!
On Thursday this week I face a “closed manipulation” of my stubborn knee as it still refuses to bend properly. I am not looking forward to this procedure and even less so after a machine was delivered to my house on Friday for me to use three times a day for 90 minutes for three weeks after the procedure. I may catch up on some reading. Prayers are appreciated.
Please share your news with me either at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901 246-8843. You can message me on Facebook as Clair Wagg.