WELCOME TO MY WORLD

“WHAT’S COOKIN’?”

I have enjoyed this month without a deadline and relaxed a bit. That is not to say I have not been busy, in fact, I don’t know where the time has gone. I am working to get back to a productive schedule by January 2007.

I mentioned my new relationship with a gentleman, who you will know as “Milford Joe.” I got reacquainted with Joe on the very day I lost my second husband, Irwin Curlis to a massive stroke, but a year later. Joe and his buddy, Neil Haynes, stopped a number of times at our Country Kitchen Restaurant, which my first husband, Richard Pollak, and I owned and operated for just shy of thirty years. I lost Richard to ALS after a five years struggle to beat it. It had been about 15 years since I had seen Joe, but we quickly got reacquainted. We are now very close.

Joe is a veteran and was discharged from the Strategic Air Command of the Air Force in 1957 as hearing impaired. That was it. No further instructions. So Joe did the best he could as his hearing diminished until it was no longer there. He is totally deaf and has been seemingly for a very long time. He reads lips and does very well, but he is unable to hear the birds or wind or his grandchildren or me. Soooo I took it to myself to seek help for him.

I work for Otsego County, NY Youth Bureau and share an office with the county Veteran’s Agency. One day I asked Tex Seaman, the director, if he could help Joe get some help and he jumped on board. To make a long story short, we are headed for the Manhattan VA Hospital on Monday Dec.11, which is just days away, to get a Cochlear Implant. We are very excited.

This opportunity did not come easily. Tex put me in touch with the NYU Cochlear Implant Center on 23 and 1st Ave, several blocks from the VA Hospital. We made a number of visits there as well as the VA Clinic in Bainbridge, NY, where Joe’s Prime Care doctor is and the Stratton VA Hospital in Albany. All were in agreement that Joe was stone deaf and would benefit greatly by having an implant. I must say that all the doctors, surgeons and personnel that we have been in contact with have been wonderful and are looking forward to helping Joe once again enter the “World of Hearing.”

My children are all doing well and are happy. My oldest, Andy, is enjoying hunting white tail deer, but has not gotten one yet, which is unusual for him. I have faith that he will before the end of the season. His companion for a number of years, Laura Shute, is his constant companion and shares much of his interest, which included a big garden, pets, raising pigs and fishing among others. They live just up the road from me.

My daughter, Wendy and her hubby Ken Dudeck and their son Kenny live in Rome, NY, just a little over an hour away. Wendy works for MetLife and Ken and Kenny work together in the Dudeck and Son Construction Company. Kenny graduated last year and is going to Herkimer College now. He is a fine student and athlete. He has a very special. girlfriend, with whom he spends a lot of time.

The June our area was hit hard by a flood on the 28th, after weeks of heavy rain. It was a devastating event that caused much damage including the flooding of my basement, which I am just getting taken care of with the help of Joe and my youngest son, Mark, who lives in Oneonta. He is looking forward to another job, which should be real soon

Natures Scene: Joe has bird feeder everywhere now since I introduced him to them. He is diligent is keeping them filled and although he doesn’t hear them now, he will by mid January. There are several families of Blue Jays that monopolize the feeder so he made a special one for them and now the little birds are more comfortable. When deer hunting opened the deer disappeared, but towards the end of December, they will be out again.

Joe has five married grown children, four boys and a girl. He just became a grandpa again as his son, Joe, and his wife, Jessely, just had a baby boy, David, just a week or so ago. He is beautiful and has long, dark hair. Their two year old son, Anthony, loves his little brother.

The Holiday Season is upon us and I am not ready! I probably will be late with everything. My cards will go out just before Christmas. Decorations are sparse. I pray you are doing better then I. Lots of Luck.

Thought for this Month: Do not get too caught up in the business of the season, but thank the GOOD LORD for his every blessings as often as you can. Put yourself last and the blessings will multiply. . .