Going Home

The first day of 2014.Jolene and I ate supper with Mom.Meatloaf,home made mashed potatoes,English peas ,corn bread ,and peach pie-the best meat loaf I 've ever had.She went to spend the night at 406 Robinhood rd and I stayed with Mom in Grandmother's house. I don't go home enough.Mom usually talks and I listen.I got up early and got the paper and looked at the six houses we own and gave thanks to my Dad who built them.What I would give to have a cup of coffee with him today. We read the paper and talked about her blood pressure.I bought her a new bp cuff at Cosco and brought her manual one home with me.I said goodbye and went to Joe and Loraine's .I put a handle on the back door for Joe and nailed down a step.We stopped by to see Karen and Peter before going to the nursing home to see Jimmy.We walked through the halls and saw a lady bent over in her wheel chair ,vacant stares,a lady smiling and waving,and then Jimmy-his room dark and silent.His brain seems sharp his body just doesn't work so well.The result of a lifetime of bad hands-crazy mother,never knew his fatherland guess what when he had kids he was a lousy father as well.He smoked like a smoke stack,drank like a fish,cussed like a sailor,and always was so negative.Any wonder he had a stroke at 51?Visit a nursing home and if you aren't asking God some questions well your a better person than me.Honestly after 5 minutes I'm ready to run out the door.Fortunately Jolene carries the conversation and we stay 15 or 20 minutes. Jolene's Dad has dementia.We both decided after that visit we would do whatever we could to keep Joe out of a nursing home!Loraine fixed some collards,pinto beans and Mexican cornbread,and a sweet potato pie.I had a gutter to replace so I went to my old office in Calhoun.After finishing that I went inside and thought about how it would be to be there again.It needs painting and some flooring but that would be fun.So this year started well.Shared some time with family whose time is drawing near.Worked  at my office again, and we were reminded about how important family is -especially in the hard places of life.It still sounds strange to me to say the year 2000 and now 2014.Each day is a gift .Let's enjoy the ride