Fleetingly Carol

Aunt Mildred has new neighbor. And she is sweet on him because he has greens growing in his garden. I just got back from visiting Aunt Mildred. She is doing well, except for her feet. Her skin is so papery thin that when she bumps her toes or shins on something, which she does on a regular basis, she breaks open a new wound. So, she stays in her house puttering around using her scooter chair. She complains about not being able to get out to the local greasy spoon to get some good old Southern Fried Catfish. Because she can't go out to eat, she turned her attention to the neighborhood, which means her new neighbor in a house just across the street. There are no other neighbors in sight. It seems the gentleman was out on his front porch one day when Aunt Mildred went to throw out some leftovers from the refrigerator to the cats that hang around her house waiting for these treats. He offered a friendly wave, which Aunt Mildred thought was very forward of him! After all, she did

I talked to a good friend today. She listened patiently while I talked about how Aunt Mildred's illness is taking it's toll on Old Man and myself. Aunt Mildred is 88 years old and the stroke has affected her mind in a terrible way. She truly believes the kind nurses and aids who are caring for her in the hospital are mean to her. Well, we found out what constitutes "mean" in Aunt Mildred's poor mind. They make her go to bed too early. Anyway, my friend called just as Old Man and I were getting home from visiting with her. I was very stressed and my friend listened, and then she made me laugh. Yes, she did! She burned her beans and she was dealing with the aftermath. Apparently, she put on a pot of black beans to cook and then left the house. I think she should take the bed next to Aunt Mildred. But, I digress. At the time of the phone call, my friend was dealing with the aftermath of burned beans in her beautiful home. She has vaulted ceilings and the odor was l

Sometimes, it just doesn't pay to get out of bed in the morning - or, as in the other day, to come home from work in the afternoon. Old Man and I have a very dear friend in the hospital. We have known this kind lady for years and years. She helped us raise our children. She has none of her own, so she considers Old Man and I her children and our children, she thinks of as her grandchildren. And we think of her as mother and grandmother. She suffered a stroke and is in the hospital recovering. Well, we have made a special effort to see her as often as we can. Old Man works shift hours, so he can't see her as often as he would like. But, I, on the other hand, work more reasonable hours and I am able to visit with her most evenings. The other day, Old Man had the day off. I told him before I left for work that I would stop by the house to get him and the two of us could go and see Aunt Mildred. I told him what time I would be there, I even tried to call him during the day to hel