This morning's realization

 As I was showering and getting dressed I had a remarkable thought.

"I'm not the man I used to be," was the thought.

Truth is, I've probably never been the man I think I used to be.

I was not as strong and active and witty as I think I was, most likely.

But I have so many issues to deal with right now that I'm a tad depressed.

    1. bad knees

    2. strange urinary tract stuff

    3. a sore on my face that won't heal

    4. short of breath after walking up our 13 stairs to the upstairs

    5. ringing in my ears

    6. needing a cane

I realized this morning, maybe for the first time, I'm an 'old man'!

I don't like being old but there's nothing I can do about it except be glad I'm still alive.

Old Man Jim, get used to it....

 

Finally over...

 I've been spending more time in dental chairs lately than I have been in church!

An implant that took over a year was finished, but right before that I chipped a front tooth.

Now that is repaired and I don't see a dentist again until December for a cleaning.

That is, of course, if I don't do something stupid and chip another tooth.

Doing stupid stuff is right up my alley....

SHE'S HOME!!!

 At 7:10 p.m. Bern got home....

Brigit and I am so happy.

Bern may even be happier.

It seems like weeks but has only been days.

It was so hot in Florida she was glad to get back to 45 degree weather.

Even colder during the early hours of Tuesday.

I hate the chill but I'll put up with it for her.

Welcome Home, My Love!

One more night....

 Sunday with no church. Once a month I'm off from Trinity.

Tomorrow is what I'm waiting on--just one more night with just me and Brigit.

Tomorrow, Bern comes home!

She won't get here until nearly 7 but that is ok.

I've missed her so and Brigit has missed her more, but she's been a better dog the last two days.

She comes down to go out without me putting a leash on her...

Brigit will go crazy when her 'woman' gets home.

(You see, Bern and I don't 'have a dog'; our dog has her 'woman' and her 'man'. That's the balance of power in our house....

A fond farewell....

 Anne's funeral was today.

The church was packed--people in the balcony and lots standing.

The service went well and communion was given.

The recessional Michael played was "Lady in Red" because Anne loved to  wear red.

The grave yard was 20 miles further north--barely still in CT!

That also went well.

Our Jr. warden and Anne's son spoke during the funeral and the son's friend spoke at the graveyard.

I missed the reception to get home to Brigit with Bern gone.

She was downstairs waiting for me.

Seeing her lifted my sadness a great deal.

May God receive Anne into paradise with a host of angels singing her praise....

Bern leaves today....

 She's flying to Florida to see her favorite first cousin, who's her age, for three or four days.

She's clearly worried about me and how I'll do without her.

But she's more worried about our dog, Brigit, who she doesn't think I can take care of while she's gone!

I'm pretty sure that Brigit and I will be fine--but Berm doesn't trust my 'pretty sure' attitude.

We will miss her a lot. I have a funeral on Friday but no Sunday service this week. We'll be fine.

But not having Bern here leaves a gaping hole in my life....

Stupid again

 I went to CVS drive-through to refill a prescription and was told the refill was overdue and I'd have to call the Dr. I'm not sure I remember where he/she was, so I'll have to look on line.

So, I went in and got Covid and Flu shots and picked up something to buy on the way out.

When it was rung up, I realized I didn't have my most used credit card, paid in cash and looked all over the store, including the vaccination room and was near panic.

The guy who rang me up told me it was probably in the car but I didn't believe him.

But I went outside and there it was, on the passenger seat.

I'd taken it out to pay in the drive through and when I didn't I must not have put it back in my wallet.

I sat and took deep breaths.

I am an idiot that was stupid again.

But, in the end, my stupidity didn't matter....