COMING TOGETHER IN NONSENSE, FUN, & THANKFULNESS

The last of the turkey has gone down the disposal and I am truly satiated and nauseated at the thought of any more of the noble bird. We had one prepared in the traditional style, one deep fried, one smoked and, yes, even the Cajun Turduckin! For those of you who have never heard of this delicacy,it is a deboned chicken inside a deboned duck inside a deboned turkey, the whole thing with stuffing between the birds and intact resembling a normal turkey. There were diverse stuffings vegetables, the traditional and the unusual all served buffet style and then the 19 of us sat down to the long linen covered table, set with old family china and silver and were thankful for being able to come together in the company of family and friends where we are free and unoppressed.

We had such a good time...my daughter and family from California...my daughter from here and family...our closest Texas friends. And of course, there is not enough room in my dining room for 19 people. My brother and I cleaned the workshop/partyroom and decorated it with scarecrows and autumn leaves, etc. The movable work tables were covered with linen cloths for the buffet. Parts were removed from the table saw which became a linen-covered table as well. Two long tables were bought for dining. They were put up 25 minutes before dinner. Prior to that the area was a room for visiting. The electronic dart board was set up...also a table with a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle on which everyone worked at one time or another. The picture of a cowboy by a wagon with his horse got finished this morning...but was almost complete when the company left last night. It's to be framed and hung in the workshop.

My brother also wanted to remember this special gathering and he and J wrote a Declaration memorializing the gathering and future gatherings in the workshop known as VFW #245. They wrote it to sound like the Declaration of Independence but with silliness...like "there shall be certain rights including a good time shall be had by all" etc. Ruth wrote it out in calligraphy on a large (20 x 30) piece of parchment and he had it framed and everyone signed it as agreeing with the purpose of the VFW#245 and that they had attended the event on Nov. 23, 2006. Actually he and his friends have named the workshop VFW#245 and have a branding stamp they use on wood projects they make. He put the stamp on the top of the Declaration and it did look quite official!

We also had my birthday celebration on Friday (belated from the 19th) The girls wanted to do it while they were here together. I was truly spoiled -- rotten spoiled. and I thank them one and all. One good thing is that I received some walking suits, hat and a pedometer/heart rate monitor. This will insure that I start my walking program I have been contemplating.

We found plenty of time to just sit around and talk; old times were remembered and laughed over;time to sit in the hot tub and swim in the pool...yes it was COOL outside...but it was fun. My grandson is like a fish and he couldn't get enough swimming. I was able to find time to talk with my quiet granddaughter and hear of her plans for summer and for college next year. And of all that she is doing in school this year. So a bunch of levity and nonsense and good old fashioned fun was had by all.

I look at the two daughters and their families and know that they are well and that I must have done alright in raising them. And I am truly thankful.

MY PDOC -- KUDOS TO HIM

I made an appointment and went to see my pdoc on last Thursday because I was vacillating between panic attacks and depression....I was a mess. He is so good...three days and I'm like a different person. I told him what seemed to help with the panic attacks; asked about one medicine we had tried before; he mentioned a possible interaction between two of my meds; and then we decided what to do.

RESPECT. It's always that way with him...a joint decision. His theory is that it is my illness and I need to understand it and the medications...because he might not always be my doctor. I should know what works and how and with what, etc. And that's why I like my pdoc. He respects me and my right to be in charge of my illness.

MEDICATION. With any medication, he explains what type of medication it is, how it works, possible side effects, and how we are hoping it will affect me. He tells me the strength of dosage he would like to prescribe and what the highest strength is. Then he asks if I want to try it. Likewise, if I am having mood swings, depression or mania he will explain that when "X" happens, sometimes increasing/decreasing medication "Y" is effective to stabilize the mood.
or...if there is an alternative he will mention that;perhaps adding another drug or changing an existing one. In the end, he will discuss the possibilities with me and the decision is a joint decision. I will add a caveat to this, if I am in a state where I am not thinking clearly, he does not ask me but simply prescribes the appropriate medication. That has only happened once!

MANNER. My pdoc is from India, in his mid 40's, impeccably dressed and quite good looking. He is obviously very intelligent; yet, he holds himself with dignity and shows respect for everyone he sees. He is friendly, comes forward to shake your hand and ask how you are and,after we have discussed my medication, he and I often end up having a little discussion about politics or something. He is fascinating in a discussion of current affairs because of his cultural views. His personal experience living in a country with an "Islamic-based" government is intriguing and his understanding of the Middle East and Israel and Palestine is amazing. He has great respect for people and life and I have great respect for him.