’Tis Autumn

All of a sudden the temperature has dropped. Today’s high temperature predicted to be 72º. Last week we had 90s. The feel in the air is definitely autumnal. The trees are, for the most part, bright green. There are a very few who are just beginning to show a bit of color. You’ll have to look hard to see that.

¶ Last weekend was not pleasant as I explained previously. I wanted to watch Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and the attendant pomp and circumstance. So I arose at 4:30 on Monday morning. It thoroughly amazes me that she was queen longer than any one in history. She was laid to rest with great dignity with crowds of people respectfully paying their respects to someone they obviously loved. Then they promptly sang “God Save our Gracious King.” There was no massive attack on the Halls of Westminster. There were no mindless mobs proclaiming that the whole thing was fake. There was simply respect for a gracious queen and the new king. ¶ The whole thing brought back memories from long, long ago. I remember from my late grade school days that I was obsessed with the Coronation happening in far off England. This was long before the days of television transmission from other countries. In Rapid City we were lucky to have transmission at all. Remember the days of the nightly sign-off with the National Anthem, etc.? My vigil was not concluded until the film of the Coronation had been flown across the pond and was able to be broadcast in Western South Dakota. It sounds like another era, and it was. ¶ Following my extended coverage of Monday’s events my mild problems continued. I was sure that the stomach problems were being caused by an antibiotic the doctor had prescribed to boost my sodium. Thursday, I had labs and a doctor’s appointment. The oncologist proclaimed that my sodium was way high off the chart. He reduced some medications, took me off the suspected cause of distress, provided a stomach acid reducer and things have been fine since. For the first time in weeks I’ve been able to actually cook and then eat a meal. What a treat! Consequently my mood is considerably better and I’m getting some exercise. ¶ The exercise thing is important. I find that if I don’t get out and walk I lose ground very rapidly. Simply walking my route twice a day improves my mood ever so much, as well as increasing my strength which is necessary if I’m going to fight the cells anxious to take over my being. ¶ While walking today a very sweet thing happened. There is a Ukrainian family down the street and I pass their home everyday on my walk. Today, as my father would say, the Mrs. crossed the street to bring me a bag of apples. She’d been to the orchard and wanted to share.

¶ Herself, Miss Sophia, gets a little put out when I don’t spend the requisite hours at home at her beck and call. Her attitude is obvious when she is not particularly pleased with me. This was “the look” I was granted last night. ¶ Thank you for your prayers, thoughts and support. Everything you do is appreciated.