A Year in Review-2016

Wow what a year! I have been trying to get here and write this mastiff of the past year for the past couple of weeks, but well life, as usual, gets in the way. After 56 years on this planet, you would think I could control, or at least predict when obstacles would impede progress. Alas, I am still learning that skill.

Now just a little about me, of course we all know this whole letter is my perception of the year gone by. I think the most significant gift I was given for Christmas was a nasty, nasty cold. It has ruled my life for the past week and I am only now beginning to feel a little better…read more energy here.

So here goes the year in review.

Last year, Christmas ’15 came too soon as usual, but we managed to enjoy it in our own way. Then came New Years and the Runtyun went out while I stayed home playing with my camera. I don't think anything real good came out of that session, but I enjoyed the time any how. As we all know, I am trying to learn how to take a good picture and as a result, my benefactors sent me cash for photog equipment. I combined it all and got a really nice lens.

The Runtyun is doing well in school this year, but she was seeing this boy who was a little sketchy in my opinion, she seemed to like him, so I did not interfere. After a few months they broke up and I had to try and make sense of it all. I threw up my hands and said, “Teens!”

About this time in early spring, I made the mistake of walking into Ball Photo and saw the camera body I wanted. It was a Canon 7D, a little old school, but a better camera than I am a photographer. With a little help from my  good friend Charlie, I was set to take a few pictures of my fav model Ashley.

That photo session was really long, too long really. We did get a few shots that were pretty nice. Then her boyfriend pulled out this old .22 revolver. What a beautiful piece it is—-with so much character.  So, after we finished with the portrait shots I got a hold of the pistol and got a fantastic shot.

                                  

Around about this time Mom had a little fall and ended up at a fantastic rehab facility called Stone Creek. Stone Creek is a mighty fine facility, one that fit the physical needs of my mother, but it was not home. Soon she got frustrated with the place and we had to bring her home. Dad was missing her too. I did take a picture of this flower, an amaryllis to help brighten up her room.

                                                                  

                                               

About this time, I found some of my old Corgi and Matchbox cars from days gone by and decided I wanted to learn about close up and macro photography. I thought this may help me to understand a little about lighting and how to control it.

The last day of school came and we had a bonfire and sleep over. We pitched a couple of tents in the yard and burnt the old pallets I had gathered throughout the year and had a grand time. A little while later, she broke up with her dweeb BF, I was happy.

The Cathedral at All Souls and Kyle Ritter and Milly Morrow in particular is a very wonderful out fit. Kyle asked Lauren if she would be interested in helping out with the summer camp and Lauren was thrilled. So we had one week taken care of. Then Milly asked Lauren if she wanted to go on a mission trip to Memphis TN. She jumped on that. I may not be religious, but I sure do appreciate the community that is All Souls.

About this time I realized that there was almost no circumstance in which either one of them, Mom or Dad, could  move to any facility, other than the one we call home. None could meet their emotional needs. I also realized that they could not do it on their own any more, so I pulled the Runtyun aside and asked her what she thought about moving back into their house. Basically she said, "What took you so long?"

A little while into the project, Mom fell again and had to go to the hospital. She spent a couple of days there and ended up at the Black Mountain VA rehab. Now this is a mighty fine place to go and get over ones' ailments. Mom liked it and the food was OK and  they took good care of her. They worked on her mobility and cognitive abilities. Alas again, it was time for her to come home. Again, Dad wanted her home too.

So my summer was tied up cleaning out the basement, building a room for her to sleep in and finally filling up the basement with our stuff. After finding out that buying and building a storage unit on the property would cost in excess of $2500-$3000, what with building permits and foundation work, we decided to rent a unit for the stuff we could not jam into the basement. We hope in a bit, to get a building on site, but that project is on the back burner for a bit.

Part of the deal I made with the Runtyun was to get a cat. And she did. She found a family which had too many cats and made a deal for Nova. Nova the cat, came into our lives a month before we actually moved into 2 Ridgefield Place, so we had to make some kind of arrangement to take care of her. Lauren followed through with her side of the bargain. But Dad, that “Hard assed” “My way or the highway,” guy stated that he did not want the cat upstairs until we moved in. He did not want to be bothered by the thing and let us know that he would bare the burden in stoic Turner fashion.

Well, that lasted about...a day.

I came into the house one day and there she was plopped right there curled all around herself with one foot stuck straight up in the air, licking herself clean. I asked Dad what was going on and he said Nova was setting at the stairs when he opened the door and she bounded in. "You know Dad, we can put her back down stairs if you want." 

"No, it's OK," he said as he reached out to scratch her ear. She curled into his finger, purring. "But she needs to go down stairs when I go to bed," grumbled the old man.

"Right, Dad."

At any rate, I finished the room and she painted it. Finally we moved in and settled a little. I took the room Mom was using as an office and left the other open for Dad and I to use for what ever paper or office work we needed. Also, I use that room as an ad hoc Photo studio on the weekends. I am still taking pictures of the Corgi cars and other miniature tableauxs. 

I made the mistake of going into a store which had a used macro lens for a really great price. The dude and I talked a bit and I got him down about 30% off the asking price. Now, I have a really good macro lens in my collection. It has opened a whole new range of photographic possibilities, it also works as a nice portrait lens at 90mm telephoto.

When I first got my camera I joined an on line photo club called The Ugly Hedge Hog. It looked like a place I could show my pictures and get an honest critique for improving the craft. It truly was that, but with the good always goes the bad. I did get some really good advice, but there were a bunch of frustrated people who vented their rage and I did not like that. I left and tried to find another site which could show me the light in photography. But had no luck. All the while I was taking pictures of things in my make-shift studio, but getting no feed back for improvement. I ended up rejoining UHH and look forward  to building a better understanding of photography and building friendships.

About this time the Grinner, my motorcycle, broke down. I am going to fix it soon, but right now I have other priorities.

Life goes on and we kept getting more comfortable in our new living space. The Runtyun had started seeing a new guy a while ago and their romance seems to be going well. She smiles and giggles more than I have seen in a long time. Ian seems to be OK. 

Halloween and Thanksgiving came and went. And Christmas reared its joyous head. We finally got the tree up and decorated. I got us a Charlie Brown tree and just like in the show it filled out nicely and added some nice colour to the house. I was surprised that Nova did not try and attack the tree, we hear all these of cat stories about Christmas trees, but she barely took notice of it.

The daughter got her a bunch of stuff for Christmas and I got a cold. And oh boy what a cold it is. I am finally getting over it but there were a few days there when it was an effort to even get out of bed.

The other night Mom needed help getting to bed. Dad and I got her into bed OK, but we were both worried. The next morning came along and she did not want to get moving. Again this is unusual for her. Luckily, Thursday is a day when the CNA is scheduled to come into the house. She saw there was more to this than merely being tired. Mom ended up in the ER and finally the ICU for a couple of days. It turns out she has a number of embolisms in her lungs and other blood clots in her legs. One Doctor said we had a 30-40% chance of recovery. They ended up using an aggressive treatment to break up the clots. 

Right now she is doing well and we plan on transferring her to the VA Rehab facility in Black Mountain. Soon we hope to get her home, but there is no set date as of yet.

And finally

I took the Christmas tree down the other day. As I was doing so a couple of ornaments called out to me. One of them is a felt angel. Last night, I started to set up the table for my portable studio. I rigged a stand to hang the angel from and will try and create an image for Mom's room. I'll mount it and bring it to her at the VA. I hope the Angel will look over her shoulder and help her to feel better soon.

Happy New Year! and Let’s hope this one is even better than last!!!

Neil.

olc

P.S. Well as of this sitting , Mom is doing well. Dad has gone up to visit her many times and is happy when he gets home. Friday night we had a little snow storm and the roads were a little sketchy, so I drove us both up to see Mom. She looked pretty good and is in high spirits.

Sunday, Dad got up and tried to go to the 7:45 service at All Souls and ended up at Brueggers instead. After a cup, he drove himself up to see Mom in Black Mountain. When he came home he said she was doing well. I saw that he was too.

P.P.S One more thing: of the two Angels above, which one would be a better choice for Mom’s room at the VA?

Later Y’all!!

P.P.S. Martha came to help out with various details in life, you know to guys with no clue!,  She spent a week here and we ended up ended up having a wonderful dinner over at the VA with Mom. 

Thanks Martha!

Here are a couple of snaps. People who know about photography will lambast me about the tech issues with these pics but I like them and know what to do in the future!.

                                  

                                  

                                  

                                   

olc

And the Road Continues

     My wonderful Runtyun has been helping Kyle out at the Cathedral during Music Camp for the past week. What a great way for her to start off her summer vacation! It has been a bit of a challenge getting her to and from Camp, mostly where to go after each day is complete. Her grandfather has been a tremendous amount of help. Thanks Dad.

     However, yesterday at 2:45 he called me and said he would not be able pick her up due to Mom's falling and not feeling so well. Well as you might expect, this bit of information started a whole bunch of balls rolling.

     As it turns out, Mom is OK. She was discharged from the ER around 10 last night. Being 92 we all were concerned for her health and safety, but it turns out we all overreacted.

     And now the complexity of our road to recovery and quality of life for Mother's remaining days is becoming more interesting.

olc

Mom's Journey

Wow, I have been focusing my energies on this new project recently and completely ignoring ones which were already going on!

As you know, because you the reader are so loyal to this blog, I have been working on a new blog centered around the Greenhouse Moto Cafe, go on over and have a look. Also, my mother took a fall awhile ago and had to spend a long time at Stone Creek Rehab.

She is a tough old bird, I only hope I am as strong as her when I get there. When she was admitted to Stone Creek, she was awake and could hold a conversation. However, we all knew something was not quite right with her ability to think a thought through to its logical end. Also physically, the bruise on her left temple was still pretty profound and her left arm and shoulder were and are still incredibly weak.

When Mom was released from Stone Creek, both her and Dad were emotionally ready for it. I wonder if their need to "get home where she belongs," may have been premature from a physical therapy point of view. She is so weak.

At any rate though, she is at home and seems to be happier. Their church community brings dinner over for the next little bit, thus letting the two of them get settled into a routine. And there are lots of people coming and going, trying to establish a health program to help maintain Mom's (wait for it!)...Health! 

However, Mom and Dad want to live a quiet life with little distraction. For the moment though, this is not happening.

Dad and I talked a little about his concerns. If the conversation had a title it would have been, Concerns of the Primary Care Giver. Mostly I think, he just needed to let off some steam. He let me know that the invasion of their house was taking a toll on him. I could see it on his face, feel it in his body. After we had talked it through some, a light bulb lit over my head.

The truth is, I was not sure if he just needed to vent, or if he was looking for solutions for his angst. Being a fixer, I took a leap and tried to help him to ease into the new life style they are shifting into. Dad has a number of concerns which he mentioned, but the most important seemed to be the constant, almost revolving door-like, flow of new people who need to come in and help Mom. The perceived demands of the care-givers; when could they come by and help; the fact that these care-givers were giving both Mom and Dad directions on how to live and so forth, was taking a severe  toll on Dad.

After some more conversation, I realized that maybe they needed one day off from the physical therapy, the constant visits from car-givers, the woman, Carol is her name, who is helping Mom with her day to day routine and so forth. They need a day off from it all. They need some predictability in their daily life. I suggested they tell the world that Thursday would be their day, no appointments, no visits, no nothing.

I'm hoping Dad will be able to enforce this.

I wish I was able to say all is well in House Turner. There have been some profound changes in their life, ones which will forever impact them and their style of life. Mom is weaker than I have ever seen her. And Dad will have to learn how to compensate. Saying that, Dad is not 70 any more and is beginning to feel the limitations of nearly 90 years of living on this Earth. It is hard for them to accept help from anyone. After all, they have been doing fine over these many years, right?

I will play my role, as will Martha, and assist in every way I can.

I love you Mom and respect your fortitude. Dad, your quiet strength is so understated that sometimes we just accept it without understanding the toll it takes on you.


olc

Our next step

"We" moved Mom to Stone Creek and she seems to be doing well.

But before I start with that part of the saga, I want to talk about her stay at St. Joseph's.

Last Monday, when she got hurt-fell down-we were confident that everything would work itself out and life would return to our version of normal the next day. Reality began to set in on Tuesday.

When I was finally able to get to the hospital, I found out that she had been moved to another room and floor. The staff on the 8th floor handled my confusion well, I guess they had experience in this sort of thing. I found the 9th floor nursing station and made my way to Mom's room, she was struggling to get out of her bed. This is of course, was a bad thing.

About the time I got there Nancy Harrison, a very good friend of Mom and Dad's came 'a visitin'. Nancy and I were able to calm her down while I explained that maybe she should relax and let her body heal.

I tried explaining that she had been hurt recently and needed to get repaired. However, my mother is a very stubborn person and persisted in trying to get out of her bed. I did not want to force her stay in bed, so I struggled to convince her that very smart people thought she should remain in bed. It is difficult to convince some one to remain some place which they do not want to be and to them is not really.

With Nancy's help, Mom began to relax and we were able to get her settled again.

After all the excitement of getting her settled, Nancy had to go. It was nice to see her, and she was invaluable with her help. 

Mom and I talked some, though it was hard to follow her thread. She was very interested in letting me know her opinion on the coming election. She is not too fond of Donald Trump. And to my surprise she was very critical of President Obama. The points she was making all tracked in a logical way.

I had been there for a long time and needed to get home to my kid and feed her. I felt very fortunate when I saw Dad coming into the room. He and I talked a minute. I let him know about Mom's need to get out of bed. I also said that she was having a hard time realizing where she was.

Both Dad and I were concerned about this. It turns out that our fears were unfounded.

The reality of the situation was beginning to make itself know to me. This is not going to be a couple of days and back to status quo. We may never get back to our normal. 

Though she is struggling to understand what has happened, every day I see improvement. Mom is significantly stronger than Tuesday and Wednesday, both physically and mentally. Our road to recovery will be a long one, maybe to the end, but my mother is doing well. She is an emotionally strong person and an example which I hope to follow. 

olc