Feb. 16-23, 2006

Valentine’s Day brought mixed feelings of sadness and joy. Each year since Richard passing of ALS on this day in 1997, sadness has lessened. I thank GOD that I was able to have spent 43 years with him and make him comfortable during his illness. I can now move on in faith that he approves.

This year I had a special joy! My son, Andy and his lady, Laura Shute, Joe and I went out for Valentine’s Day dinner at Christopher’s. Laura and I combined our gift certificates and treated the men.. We enjoyed a great salad bar and then the strip steak main course, chatting as we ate. The restaurant was full to capacity and everyone seemed to be enjoying this special day with his or her special person/persons. Andy presented me with a beautiful card and Laura gave Joe and I a dish of her chocolate covered strawberries. Joe said he would ration them. . .

There were six of us on the Otsego County Veteran’s Van headed the Stratton VA Hospital in Albany this week. Joe and I meet Alton J. Brisport, Joe’s occupational therapist. He went step by step, telling us that Joe had Overuse/Impingement Tendinitis. He explained it and how he planned to treat it with a series of exercises and ultrasound. Joe will do the exercises at home every day and come back to the VA once a week for ultrasound. In this away Joe would not have to come two or three times a week, although the therapist would have him do so. The therapist walked Joe through the three exercises he wanted him to do ten times and administered ultra sound treatment. If Joe had pain, he was to place COLD pack on his shoulder for 15 minutes. In the following days, this all proved well. We left with renewed faith that Joe would recover.

Gas prices have fluctuated up and down for some time now. I never know how much it will be. Do you remember when you got your windshield cleaned, oil checked and gas pumped without asking, all for free, every time? AND you didn’t have to pay for air? AND, you got trading stamps to boot? It is true. .I do . .

I guess I am giving away my age but, I’m not telling anyway. . A gentleman friend of mine just turned 70 and I remember Bob Hope saying that at that age, a man could still chase women, but only downhill!

Hasn’t the weather been crazy this week? For a couple of days it was like spring and Milford Joe and I took several walks and one day we went twice. The snow had all but melted and we felt truly blessed. Of course, being February, we knew that winter did not go away and would return. The next couple of days proved it.

It rained all Thursday night, pinging on the windows till morning. . . .I call hear the wind outside and it turned out to be a fierce 60 mile an hour, which blew everything that wasn’t nailed down all over, even some shingles from Joe’s roof. Mid morning we heard a loud boom and thunder along with the strong wind. The same sound was heard all over the county. Jessely, Joe’s daughter-in-law, reported that the huge 50’ Blue Spruce in the dooryard blew down, its roots pulled right out of the ground and laying it on its side. Thankfully it did not hit anything on the way down, missing the vehicles and house. The road was covered with the Spruce tree needles as if they were purposely strewn there. The news reported 4 dead and 120,000 homes without power.. It is Saturday afternoon and it has not let up.

We still have not seen the cat/kitty that comes every night for dinner. Joe puts foot out and every morning it is gone. We worry every night when temperature drop, that it finds refuge somewhere under cover. Patchy sniffs every morning and knows there has been a visitor. There were two large dogs fiercely investigating the old barn across the street and we feared for the cat. Joe keeps his many feeders full and has quite an audience of happy birds.

The sounds from the kitchen made me think Joe was cooking and I was right. He got his big soup pot out and began to fill it with veggies and beef. It simmered in water most of the afternoon. He later removed the large chunks of beef and shredded them, placing them in a large skillet with sliced onions and Pepperoncini for sandwiches. This sautéed for a time while poppy seed buns browned on the other burner. You cannot believe how good this is! His Mom taught Joe this delicious soup and sandwich recipe as well as many others.

He always cooked too much so he said he wanted to invite Mark for supper. ”We will go pick him up and bring him back.” Mark was tickled and we all enjoyed his company, even Patchy, Joe’s 13-year-old Jack Russell female dog.

It is a good idea to check your credit report from time to time. In recent days I found out that a loan that had been paid in full some months ago was not reported to the credit agencies and it causes a series of problems that took time to resolve. . . .

Well, Joe and I said goodbye to Nancy, Nancy Bowers of points around the world, Jacksonville, Florida and Schenevus. I am sure you noticed the obit in the Crier last week. In the few short months that I knew her, she knew me. Family told me that they found all my columns she read, cut and in the place for safe keeping. Thank you Nancy. To have someone like you to give me such a boast is rewarding.

The service was held in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Worcester and what a beautiful church it was. Friends and family gathered to say goodbye and then retired to the parish hall for salad, grilled potatoes, Manicotti and London Broil

Thought for the Week: Resist the pleasure of criticism.