Christmas Pages From The Past

I thought since I donot put a link back to the Christmas Pages on my website, Rockingham Memories,  after the Christmas season, I would put them here. That way, if you want to refer back to them and read some of the stories contained therein, you will be able to at your convenience.....not just at Christmas.

The following link is to Rockingham Remembered Christmas Pages:

And, the following link is to Rockingham Memories Christmas Pages:

Christmas Memories From You

I received an idea from friend Donna Tuthill for this addition to my blog. 

In the Comment section below, please add any short memories, stories, etc. that you may remember from years gone by. I am sure all remember different events from Christmases of yesterday that could be shared here. I will post a link to this post on Facebook and see if we can get some memories of Christmas flowing.

I Believe in Christmas

I Believe in Christmas

 

I Believe that Jesus is the reason why
There’s Christmas Day.
I Believe the infant Child of Mighty God
Lay on the hay.

 

I Believe that shepherds saw, up in the sky,
The Heavenly Host ~
To praise Him high.
I Believe!  I Believe!

 

I Believe the eastern wise men traced a star
And bowed their knees.
And, I know that, in her heart, His mother knew
He would be King!

 

Time was split, a plan engaged designed to bring
The heart of man
To God again,
With upraised hands.  I Believe!

 

Every time I see the scenes of Christmas Day
Or hear the songs,
I know the Way
Lies in the Child
Of Christmas Day!

 

I Believe!!
I Believe!!!

 

sent to me by Bill Dennis

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Friend Bill Dennis sent this photo to me today....this is the fountain in front of the Hamlet Library.

Mrs Claus' Christmas Cookbook

This was sent by friend Carole Frye. Just in time for Christmas!

 This is so neat!!  A whole cook book.   CLICK ON EACH IMAGE AND YOU WILL GO DIRECTLY TO COOKBOOK.

The Seasons In Life

You will enjoy this presentation - this was sent by Carole Frye. Beautiful.

The Seasons In Life

Hope You Will Join This Board

After I did away with my Rockingham Forums Board, I figured that would be the end of messing with forums. But one of my participants over the years in the Forum Board sent me an email requesting that I join his board.

After viewing it I decided I would add his board to my website. Rev Thurston Hill from Kershaw, SC is the guy I am talking about. His board is called "The Preacher's Christian Board". Now Thurston doesn't care about adding politics, discussions on war or sports on his board....and that is fine with me. I know over the years when you discuss politics, you can get into a lot of heated arguments plus the fact that most of the time you will not change anyone's minds about their political beliefs. 

So, his board is for anyone that wants to have prayer requests, tell stories, poems, light-hearted entertainment. I think he has something here. After all, with all the junk going on in the world today, it is nice to see a board dedicated to the good in people.

I noticed that some from my former board have already joined with us on Thurston's board.

If you want a board that makes you feel good and don't have to worry about others posting vulgar or ugly items, this is the board for you.

It's Sad

As I walk around our humble abode, it can make me sad. Just the little things I notice that my wife used to do or work with around the house. 

The kitchen - the pots and pans she used to use while cooking our meals, they now set idle. I am the one that uses the kitchen now and not too often at that. I am not a cook. So needless to say I usually go out and get us a meal or fix something easy. It is hard to reconcile the fact that my wife probably will never use those cooking utensils again. Oh, she tries to go to the kitchen and do what she used to do. But, most of the time, I am there with her as she attempts to do things she used to do in the kitchen. I have to be - her balance is not good and she will probably fall if I am not there to assist.

The bedroom - she used to get up and make up the bed and clean the room. But now she doesn't do that anymore - I do. It doesn't bother me, I do it out of love for my wife. I know if she could she would be doing her old routine - getting up, getting dressed and going out the door to work. But, that is not to be anymore.

The restrooms - I used to complain about how much time my wife would spend in the bathroom - but, it's different now. I spend the time in there with her as well.  It takes two now to get her dressed and up and going. Lately, she sleeps in to around 9 or 10 and then gets up and hits the couch for a little more rest.

It's like anything I guess - if you dwell on things too long, it can get you down. But it makes you yearn for "the way it used to be." 

I have read all about this disease and there are many problems it seems we are yet to encounter. But I just hope and pray that they never come. I encourage my wife that this stuff we see on the internet does not mean that she will go through all of these - because each person is different.

She has good days and bad days. A good day is when she can get dressed and get out in the afternoon for a drive with me and our dog. She likes that. The bad days are when she seems to stay on the couch all day because of her fatigue. 

I encourage everyone to be thankful for what they have and embrace the times you have with your loved ones. We never know what the future holds - but we all can have faith in the man above - because without him, where would we turn?

So, another little tidbit of our journey As Time Goes By.

And Then, It Is Winter

Another good story forwarded to me by Bill Dennis. This story kind of sounds like the way I feel - some of it anyway. See if you have some of the same feelings.

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams... But, here it is..the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well...seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...  But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting gray...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me... but, I see the great change...  Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!  And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory!  Cause if I don't on my own free will..I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over...its over....Yes , I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done ,,,,,things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done.  It's all in a lifetime....

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!  Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for good today and

say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...

and hope that they

appreciate and love you

for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!

This Is Truly A Masterpiece

Melvia Holt forwarded this to me. I think it says a lot. How about you?

So I said to him, "Barack, I know Abe Lincoln, and you ain't Abe Lincoln."

For those who study history --- you recall that despite Obama's continuous attempts to quote Lincoln as a Democrat --- President Lincoln was a Republican President!

 

You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.  
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.  
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

......Abraham Lincoln

Best Poem In The World

Friend Bill Dennis passed this along. Hope you enjoy.

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.

'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

It's About Jobs Stupid!

This piece was written by friend Ray Bryant. He had tried to post it here but had problems and asked if I could do it for him. 

If you want to comment, please do.

What this country needs are jobs so I have been thinking about this for a long time.  There are two main reasons that we don't have enough jobs for the American population.  First, automation of our work processes has put thousands of Americans out of work.  Some of you have seen the video of the new machines that lay railroad tracks using only a few humans and a couple of really cool machines.  This has happened throughout every industry.  When I worked, I was able to reduce the number of employees in our unit from 76 to just 17 in a three year period through the use of new work processes and computers.  Think of the farmer that can now tend hundreds of acres without the use of any outside labor.  We are so smart in America that we have figured out how to gets things done with very little human interaction.

 

The second thing that has killed jobs in the America is the availability of cheap labor in other parts of the world.  America can't put people back to work here as long as there are people in other countries that are willing to work for less pay than the Americans.

 

What can we do?  We have to put people back to work and we have to stop sending all our dollars overseas for goods and services that we need.  Here is my plan:

 

I would begin by taking advantage of the things we have here in America.  First I would put people to work here in the USA looking for oil and natural gas.  I would build more refineries and put Americans to work producing gas for our homes and automobiles.  There are new technologies today (fracturing and horizontal drilling) that makes it very competitive for the US to economically drill for oil here in America and despite what we have been told, there is an abundance of oil/gas here in the good old USA.  In addition to putting Americans to work, we would be able to stop sending cargo ships full of American dollars to other countries.  Think how many people we could put to work in America with the $85.00 per barrel that we produce here in America.  Also think of all the US dollars we could get from China for our oil.  China's need for oil is as big or bigger than America's need for oil.  If you don't think there is oil and gas in America, just ask folks in Louisiana, Alaska, Texas, Pennsylvania, and many many other states.  Don't believe me do some reading.

 

My next step would be to look at the next most expensive item that we import and see how we could produce it here in America even if we had to subsidize that production.  We could recoup some if not all of the subsidies through the collection of taxes from the workers.  When you put someone back to work, you no longer pay unemployment so the cost of that unemployment should also be considered when subsidizing jobs.

 

Another thing we could start doing is charging other countries a fair price for the food that we export.  We are currently selling food items to other countries at a discount and subsidizing the farmers for growing their crops.  Time to stop these stupid practices.  We have to get a fair price for all our exports and those rich middle eastern countries should be charged for our goods just like we have to pay for their oil.

 

I believe we should also enforce immigration laws and privatize public schools.  Both of these items are a drain on our tax system.

 

I think it's time that we put together some real plans to fix our economy and stop bowing to the wishes of the special interest groups.  The politicians need to understand that if they don't start fixing things they are out of office anyway so they should do what's right for the country and stop worrying about getting re-elected.

 

That's may opinion.  Anyone else have any ideas that will get America moving again?

A Friend

A friend of mine sent this to me and thought I would share it with everyone.

A FRIEND IS ONE WHO KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU AND STILL RESPECTS YOU

A true friend is a priceless gift. When we reveal our hopes, our dreams, and our deepest secrets to others, and they still like and respect us, such people are to be cherished. All too often, the only reason others wish to spend time with us-to be our friends-is because of what they perceive we can do for them, not the other way around. A real friendship is reciprocal, one in which each friend benefits equally. You can earn the friendship of others by being the kind of person who deserves respect from friends. When others look up to you, it should make you even more conscious of the responsibility you have to treat them with the same respect you would like them to afford you. 

No More Teenagers

Well we celebrated my youngest daughter Crystal's 20th Birthday today. I am 62 now and it seems I have had kids all my life. When your youngest leaves the teenage years, you tend to realize that there will never be any more teens in your house that are yours. Yes, I have grandkids that are in their teens but it is not the same as one of your kids. I had three - the last one, Crystal, was born a year after I had my first heart attack. Don't ask me if that first heart attack had anything to do with it, I don't know. 

I got married right out of high school and started a family the following year. As my other two kids, Sandi and Shannon, grew up and we moved to Florida, they were still close by. In fact Shannon lived with us there for a number of years. We kind of figured after the first two, that no more would come along. But lo and behold, Crystal was our surprise child.

Just thought I would jot this down while I am sitting at the computer and we have arrived back home after a night out at the Mellow Mushroom in Raleigh celebrating. My wife is asleep - exhausted because of the PSP she has.

Sometimes you have to stop and - like they say - smell the roses. My little girl is no longer a kid anymore and it just kind of makes you sad to know that those years are behind you now - never to return.

Just another tidbit of info As Time Goes By.

Flooding in Rockingham

Good friend Carole Frye sent these photos to me. Seems Rockingham is getting hit hard also with all the rain. These photos are of Highway 74.

O Brother - Where Was Your Compassion?

You hate to air family laundry, so to speak, but sometimes it is the best way to get it off your chest, especially when it involves your spouse that you have been married to for 43 years and has this disease called progressive supranuclear palsy. So, here goes.

August 5 of this year, as noted on Facebook with photos I added  recently, we traveled to Asheville, Knoxville and Cherokee/Maggie Valley for our vacation. My oldest daughter Sandi did all the planning for this trip and I will always be indebted to her for helping me take care of  Sandra during this excursion.

We had not been to Knoxville since her younger brother Howard had moved there approximately 15 years ago. So, Sandra was anxious to see her brother and his family and his new home.

Howard and Rhetta, his wife, knew that Sandra had anticipated seeing them and their new home. And knew also of her disease. Now, I don’t know if he has ever researched PSP to find out what she goes through or not, but I hope he has.

It is just so hard for me to comprehend how people can be so callous. Especially when it is your brother! I’m a Christian and I know you are supposed to forgive people of their shortcomings but sometimes it is just hard to do. I guess it is like the Bible says, we all fall short of the glory of God – maybe if her brother ever calls to apologize, then I can forgive him. But, I’m not holding my breath.

We had a van for the trip and we all were riding around and Howard was showing us the neighborhood he lived in and telling us all about the people that lived there – lawyers, doctors, etc – you get the picture. And those homes were large, to say the least. I didn’t really care about seeing his home or going inside but his sister Sandra, my wife, thought for sure that she would get to visit with her brother inside their home. Not to be.

Now Howard had told me earlier something about the rescue squad requiring a fee for the residents of this community and he had declined to pay it. But to me that doesn’t constitute a reason to treat your sister as he did.

As we were taking the tour, my wife asked her brother why we just rode by his house instead of getting out and going inside. Stone silence. She told him again that she had come to Knoxville – the first time since he had lived there – and wanted to see his house. By this time, Sandra was in TEARS but her brother refused to acknowledge her plea and his wife was sitting right beside me at the time. She was completely quiet. 

I told Howard that we had plenty of people that could help her up the steps at his house and it wouldn’t be a problem. Also, she would only go to the first floor. But, nope, he wouldn’t budge! I was stunned that my wife’s own brother could be this cold-hearted as his sister was crying and upset. I mean, this will probably be the last time she gets to Knoxville to visit her brother. And, now, I know it will be the last time.

It really got to me that he could be this way with Sandra during her bout with this disease. Needless to say, the rest of the visit with Howard and his wife was not pleasant. We all headed to a mall, where I refused to speak to them the whole time we were there. And when we went back to the hotel, Sandra and I went to the bedroom and stayed there – they got the picture and left shortly thereafter.

It is now September 28 and Sandra has not heard from her brother to this day – no apology, no phone call, nothing. All I can say is I hope this plays on his conscience for a long time but then again, with cold-hearted people such as this, who knows.

Childhood Friends Meet Again

Me and the wife were visiting her mom and dad at Shallotte this weekend, so I figured I would look up two of my childhood buddies from Old Ellerbe Road at Five Points. So, I tweaked the Yellow Pages on my IPhone and lo and behold, I found their addresses and phone numbers in a matter of seconds. Don't know what I did before I got this phone. Anyway, I knew they lived in Shallotte but seemed I was always too busy to look them up when I had been there before. 

Called them up and arranged to meet them at the Sunrise Pancake House Saturday morning. It was great to see a couple of the guys I grew up with many years ago. They were getting ready to head up to Leland NC to check out the Italian festival for some great food. We had fun reminiscing about the childhood years around our neighborhood. 

Oh yeah - the guys I am talking about are Jerry Wayne and Woody Jenkins. Brothers that lived right up the street from me. Jerry had moved to Shallotte about 10 years ago and talked his older brother Woody into doing the same thing about 5 years ago. They live about 2 miles apart. When we were kids, I had a crush on their sister Jenny Sue. She is now married to Billy Lear.

My wife worked with Woody's wife Carol years ago in Hamlet at Hardison and Hardison. And, I worked with Woody at the railroad but didn't get to see him much as I worked as a clerk and he was an electrician. 

Jerry, Woody and I did a lot of hunting when we were kids. But I haven't done that in years.  Woody and Jerry and their wives now mostly fish instead of hunt. But it was really great to get to relive some of those memories.

I took a few photos and thought I would share them here.

Jerry Jenkins and wife Vicky, Carol Jenkins and husband Woody

 Jerry and Vicky

 Carol and Woody

 Sandra's Parents Billie & John Watson

 Me and Sandra

She Calls Me Dad, and, Everyone Else, She Calls Honey

Ever since my wife has been diagnosed with this disease, PSP, her personality has changed a little. This is directly attributed to the disease. It’s not a necessarily a bad thing – just different.

As I have said in my earlier description of what she is going through, her actions are slower than they were previously. When I ask her a question, it takes longer before she answers. She is not as quick as in the past. When she gets tired – and that is usually about an hour and an half of being up – she becomes exhausted. Sometimes it takes longer and sometimes it hits quicker. When she is really exhausted, you can barely hear her talk. I have to get right next to her to understand her sentence because she talks in a whisper. Her eyes also tell the story.

When she asks me a question, she now ends it with “dad”, instead of maybe honey or baby, like she used to. Example – “What time is it, dad?” And, most anybody she encounters, she ends the sentence with “honey” or “baby” on the end. Even her parents get this added affection on the end of her sentences. There is nothing wrong with this, in fact, it actually adds a little more feeling to the sentence. But, it is different from the Sandra I used to know.

She wants to do what she used to do. Like any of us, she will get up and having done this particular activity many times in the past, she just simply forgets that she cannot perform this task like she used to. And, if I am not close by, she will eventually lose her balance and fall. She gets so frustrated because she has limits now as to what she can do.

Like today, she wants to go to a movie tonight and maybe a meal afterward. But she will probably give out after the movie and we will have to come home. All the wants and normal feelings are there but the body is not willing a lot of the time.

Well, I will conclude this part of our journey and ask for all to continue to keep Sandra in your prayers.

Joel Bailey

A Dog's Life - Can You Figure 'em Out?

I have had dogs all my life. When I was a kid, we had all kinds - Labs, Chows, German Shephards and the all time favorite, All American Dogs. Of course, back then they would run free. We never used a leash on them, it was unheard of. Neighbors always complained about them getting into their trash, etc. And hardly ever did we keep them inside, unless it was an extremely cold winter, then they might get to come in.

Their food intake was a great variety. I don't remember Dad ever going out and buying dog food or dog treats. Our dogs were fed from the table scraps. So they never had to worry about eating the same every day - a variety made in heaven, with love of course.

Most dogs today live in - like the Bucky Covington song - A Different World. They get special food, special treats, live indoors with air conditioning and heat - so you would think they wouldn't have a care in the world. Just eat, sleep, potty and play. If they only knew how their ancestors lived, I am sure they would be a little more appreciative.

I know over the years when I lived at home, we hunted a lot. Dad and us boys would go out hunting for squirrels and rabbits. My dad was a no holes barred, plain spoken kind of guy. While hunting one afternoon, we happened upon a den of wild puppies - with no mother in sight. Now Dad wasn't about to leave these pups out there in the wild to defend themselves but he also knew he could not take them home because we already had plenty there. So, he did - in his mind - the only humane thing to do.....he took them each one and slapped them up against a tree - to put them out of the misery they were sure to encounter if left there alone. Needless to say, this was not something a young boy needed to witness, but, then again, I guess Dad felt he was doing the right thing, so that was that.

But, getting back to the story of dogs, over the years I have had to put dogs down when it seems they were at death's door - but I did it the way most would do today, take them to the vet and let them charge you 100 bucks or so and do it for you.

The last one I put down was our dog Charlie - a little black toy poodle we had had since Florida. He used to go walking with me here in Cary about every day but we found out that he had anal cancer and I had to go through that process once again. It is a heartbreaking thing for a person to have to do. Because that little dog depends on you for everything in their lives - and it is so sad when you look into their eyes right before the vet sends him to dog heaven and realizing your little friend will not be able to walk with you anymore. This will indeed make a grown man cry.

We have a Lab now - a pretty big dog named Dilly, actually, it is my daughter Crystal's dog but of course I end up taking care of it most of the time. She is a lovable dog but hard to understand. She will growl at my wife but not at me - unless I am playing with her. She hates motorcycles and when I walk her, I never know how she will react to other dogs, so I kind of have to keep my distance. 

Living in a complex where you have to pick up their mess - of course, reverting back to my childhood, this would have been unheard of - I carry the little bags with me everywhere. There have been times when I am trying to gather up her droppings and she sees another dog and will take off, just about dragging me down. Thank goodness for a strong leash, but sometimes I wonder if I want get literally dragged down the road one of these times. I wonder why, at times when she gets through with her business, she keeps kicking and digging the grass. I know she is probably trying to cover her stuff up but lordy, she will walk 30 feet or more and still scratching the grass. Go figure. 

One more thing - dogs are never satisfied with the room they have. In Florida, we had a large fenced in backyard - all kind of room for our dog to roam in, but no, that wasn't big enough. She was always digging out. So, finally I got one of those so called electric fences and that did pretty good. Until I would forget to turn it on.

Anyway, just a few thoughts about dogs. They are lovable creatures - and at least you can train them a few things - nothing like cats. Don't get me started on cats. A story for another time.

Thanks To Everyone In Response to My Recent Post About My Wife Sandra

Words cannot describe the feeling you get when so many friends respond to a post. I even had a call from one of my childhood buddies, Murphy Comer, today inquiring on Sandra. First time I had talked to him in probably 40 years. 

The people below made comments on Facebook and I just wanted to thank them all with this post.

LaWanda Goodwin - I am glad to see that this post I made was so gladly received and is a help to you and yours. Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Wendi Bailey and Shannon - My daughter in law and son - along with my daughters Sandi and Crystal have made this journey more bearable and have really helped the old man out. Words cannot describe the feelings I have for all my kids - and grandkids.

Barbara Mozingo - thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.

Tess Ann Jones - thanks you for the kind comments you made and your prayers.

Floyd (Butch) Spencer - thanks, Butch, for your prayers and thoughts. I know you have your cross to bear also and I keep you in my prayers.

Annie Ruth Hammond - I appreciate very much the comments Annie from a friend from long ago and thanks for your prayers.

Phyllis Davis Gibson - better know to me as "El Roo's" sister. Rodney will never be forgotten. Thanks for your comments and prayers Phyllis.

Sherry Inman - Sandra does remember you Sherry and I thank you for your prayers and comments. I remember Rev Kirby - years ago.

Gary Bell - best friend from St Pete Fl - Gary and your family were the greatest when we lived there. Thank you for your prayers.

A Disease Called PSP - My Wife Has It

September 5, 2010

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – Dudley Moore had this disease.

I have thought about putting this story in writing for a long time. And have had doubts about writing it. But, I have decided that as Sandra and I go through this journey, maybe it should be shared so others that might get this disease will have a better understanding of where they are headed.

This is not written for pity on me as the caregiver to my wife but just to let others know what she is going through. And for others to have compassion for people that have this disease and remember them in their prayers daily….unlike two members of my wife’s family recently that have no compassion at all.

Sandra was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in January of 2008. I and family members had noticed a change in Sandra back in 2007 but only as the symptoms became more evident did we decide to go to a neurologist. We had read on the internet about Parkinsons because her symptoms had a lot in commom. Shuffling, hard to move your feet, bad posture – leaning forward, slumping, falling, vision problems and fatigue. Out of the eight symptoms for Parkinsons, we counted five that she had. So, when we got the diagnosis in January we really weren’t surprised but of course devastated that at her age, she had this disease.

During the middle of 2008, her vision and fatigue problems had gotten so bad, she could not do her job…and her boss had noticed. So, in June of 2008, she quit her job and applied for and received disability.

She has been through a lot with this disease but thought that she would live for 25 years or so as many patients with Parkinsons did. While we lived at our previous address, which was a tri-level, she fell many times, one time breaking her foot. So, we left that house and decided to move to a location that I had no yard work to do because I could not handle that plus take care of her. We found a place that was one level and that is where we are at now.

But in February of this year, 2010, her regular neurologist and I were alarmed at how fast her balance problems had progressed. He suggested she see a specialist in Chapel Hill, which we did. That is when she was diagnosed with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy). This disease is rare – only 20000 Americans – 1 in 100000 over the age of 60, have this disease. The prognosis with this disease is 5 to 7 years. The brain cells degenerate and there is no known cure or what causes this disease. It is often mistaken as Parkinsons, as Sandra’s was. The most frequent first symptom of PSP is a loss of balance while walking.

We have tried walkers for Sandra but she just trips over them and therefore we have now had to confine her to a wheelchair, for her safety. But she still falls from time to time – in fact, she probably falls an average of two times a day because she will forget and get up and start to walk and then lose her balance and fall. I try my best to stay close to her all the time but sometimes that is hard to do. A person with this disease requires constant attention or else they are apt to fall and hit their head and get a concussion or worse.

I love my wife and it is hard to watch as this progresses. She has ups and downs. Most of the time she is tired and lays around a lot. She will get dressed in the mornings but then has to lay down and rest. I have to help dress her, take her to the restroom and feed her a times because her sight is so bad and the fatigue is also bad. She can be walking normally for a bit and then will just fall over. The sad thing is she knows what is going on – from day to day she breaks down and cries and I try to console her. When the fatigue is really bad, I can see it in her eyes. My heart goes out to her and I wish it were me that had this disease. She hums quite a bit plus stays cold quite a bit. She has bruises all over where she has fallen previously. When she gets tired, her speech is so low, I can barely hear her. I have to get up close to hear what she is saying. Plus, she has sleep apnea. She is wearing the mask but not very much because it aggravates her.

Needless to say, this takes a lot of caregiving and I have had to stay off the computer more, so if you do not see more updates, you will understand. All I ask is that you keep Sandra in your prayers and your thoughts as she continues this journey.

I will try to update this story as we continue and hopefully she will not get any worse.

Joel Bailey

A Day At The Beach.....in China!

I have two questions.....Where in the heck are the restrooms and how in the world do they get a tan?
(These were sent to me by Sally McDonald, Bob McDonald's wife.)

Grandma's Hands

Bill Dennis forwarded this to me....thought I would share it here.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands.

When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear voice strong.

'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her.

'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked.. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

'Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

'They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor..
They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.
'They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special.

They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

'They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand.

They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

'These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life.

But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when He leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.'

I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.

Why I Chose This Name For My Blog

The wife and I watch these British comedies on Saturday nights alot......Are You Being Served, Waiting For God, Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. The last one is one of our favorites and I thought this title says alot since it is pretty much the way things move.....As Time Goes By. Heck - that applies to everyone. Plus it instills memories of past happenings in the title - kind of like my websites and what they are all about.

Jay Hudson of Jay's Musings sent me a message today referring to this new blog and was intrigued by the name I chose and wondered why. So, there's the answer above.

A Small Cross - A Powerful Message

 Keith Dennis passed this along....

When driving to, from, and through Frankenmuth , Michigan , I'm always intrigued with the many small simple crosses in the front yards of the homes we pass by.

Those crosses are a statement of support for Frankenmuth's Christian foundation.

Two years ago an atheist living there complained about two crosses on a bridge in town. He requested that they be removed and the town removed them.

He then decided that, since he was so successful with that, the city shield should also be changed since it had on it, along with other symbols, a heart with a cross inside signifying the city's Lutheran beginnings.

At that point, the residents decided they had had enough. Hundreds of residents made their opinions known by placing small crosses in their front yards.

Seeing this quiet but powerful statement from the community, the man removed his complaint. Those simple crosses remain in those front yards today.

After passing those crosses for two years, it finally hit me that a small cross in millions of front yards across our country could provide a powerful and inspiring message for all Americans passing them every day.

First Try at Blogging

Well I am going to give this a shot. Don't know how much time I will have to contribute to this blog because most of my time is taken up with taking care of my wife Sandra. More on that later.

I have two websites - RockinghamRemembered and RockinghamMemories. So, in your spare time, check them out and see what you think. They are mostly about growing up in Rockingham, NC during the 50s and 60s...plus more.

Just want to see if I get any responses to this blog, as I am putting a link to it on my websites above. 

Drop me a line and discuss anything you want. Be glad to hear from you.