Friends

I've had a good time the past few weeks looking up friends I haven't seen for years. Of course they all have changed-but I've stayed the same. Really , they all look very good in my old eyeballs. None have become fat and sloppy-all are still kicking and best of all they all remained good friends

We have kept in touch at Christmas , but there is something about seeing them first hand. Some we went out to lunch, had coffee on their deck or just visited. All have had their share of hardship along the way--good and bad Dr. reports--some widows--but making the best of the daily routine.

Today I even got to meet the person who bought our old home in Bella Vista. A very nice man--goes to the Judson Baptist church where we used to go and a retired Postal worker. They remodeled the whole basement. Now a large library in the workshop. Tore out a whole wall and made a huge bedroom where the walk out door was. Added a sun room by the walk in door--redid the kitchen etc.

Must go see dad now. He is doing well and getting settled in nicely.

AFV

I should have had my camera ready to roll yesterday, but I didn't. Cindy came to town to get mulch and mow my lawn. The weather was nice ,but they predicted rain latter that afternoon and for the next couple of days. She asked if I wanted to come out and help her plant a few small free evergreens she got from a friend and help plant the garden before the rain came. Sounded good to me, so I went.

Got the trees set out--the garden planted--Rain clouds coming closer--spread most of the mulch--RAIN CLOUDS GETTING VERY HEAVY. The mulch was on Rich's truck and it had a large tire in the front of the bed, covered with mulch. Cindy got it uncovered and lifted it over the side of the truck and dropped it, but it didn't land flat. It rolled--rolled--rolled and then took a turn and started straight for the chicken coop. This is where the funny part took place. The door of the coop was open and the tire rolled right through the opened door and came to a stop when it hit the roost and shattered them. Cindy just laughed and (so did I). This would have made a good AFV shot.

She finished the mulch--took the truck and picked up the tire. There were a few sprinkles--she took in all the patio cushions--shut the windows--I left--got to the second curve on 127 and it just down poured. I stopped at the Reddick church where the cemetery is and waited until I could see again-got to the 73 turn off and the road was dry. We didn't get any rain in Rogers either, but at least Cindy's work was not in vain.

May it never happen again!!!!

Yesterday was not my day. In fact , it was one of the worst that ever happened to me. But nothing serious--not due to my senility--just queer.

After I had visited dad in the morning I decided to wash the car. I pulled in and decided I would just do my own washing instead of going through the automatic. I could save some money. I saw I needed quarters. I took the keys out of the ignition--laid them on the front seat--got out $3.00 from my billfold. Laid the billfold on the front seat on top of the keys. My cell phone was also in it--went around the corner -got $2.00 worth of quarters and went back to the car. Yep! It was locked.

Looked for the manager--no where. So I went up to a nice man two stalls down from me and asked him how I should handle this. "Do you know your kids cell # ?. No --it's all on the cell phone. Well, he was finished washing his old antique car , had some groceries in it, but he said "I'll take these home and then I'll take you to your friend who has your house key." Well--Debbie wasn't home, so he took me to ER where Cindy was working. He came in with me and stayed by me tell all was ok.

Cindy called Rich and fortunately he was in Rogers getting a hair cut. He came--took me home--unlocked the house door--I got the extra car key--He drove me back to the car wash, and all was well. By this time I had missed lunch and it was time to get back to dad and watch the MASTERS.

Rich suggested I get another car key --a magnetic box and put it under the car someplace. So I did. Got a new car key and house key. So when I got home I tried the house key--it worked. Tried the car key--it worked---BUT set off the panic whistle. I stopped, so I thought all was well. WRONG.

I opened the car door to go to dad--the PANIC whistle went off again. I tried everything. Couldn't do a thing. Called Rich--he didn't know exactly what to say. Called Gt. He told me to get out my manual and it would walk me through it. RIGHT. Thanks Gt. I might have been bald by now if it wasn't for you.

Looking Good

Just got one of those urgent e-mails that had to be sent off to seven other friends as soon as possible and not to break the chain. Then at exactly 11.29 tomorrow morning someone would call me with something very important that I wanted to hear , so I didn't.

The flowering trees are all just beautiful now. In a week the dogwoods should be also. The red buds are already this week. Rich mowed the lawn Sat. for me. It wasn't that long, but shaggy.

Sunday, being EASTER, I took dad out to church. He enjoyed that very much. We went to a Ref. church that has started in Bentonville. After church they had Brunch and they asked us to stay , so we did. It was very nice. Someone had taken french toast. It was good. It had been baked , then sliced and a frosting like stuff was layered on it and the top layer then returned. They had used thick Texas toast.

Dad has been a little more confused this past week. You know how he likes to repair stuff-well, he didn't. One day he fiddled with the wall heater and broke off the knob to regulate it. Then the stool needed attention and he broke the plastic arm that goes from the handle to the float release. He has packed his walker seat full , I don't know how many times, but he is depressed now, because his job is finished there and now he has to pay for the room to stay living there and he doesn't have any money.

I still have devotions with him each morning. Then each afternoon I play golf with him, which means playing my hand and his and seeing to it he wins a lot. He really enjoys doing that. At night I watch Wheel of Fortune and get him to bed about 7. One day I got some filled doughnuts and had lunch with him. Also I make nibble mix for him, and he eats a lot of that. I use about 6 different kids colored cereals--white chips--m and m's--butterscotch chips-- 3 kinds of yogurt balls--raisin's--dried cherries--dried raspberry's--sunflower seed--marshmallow's and all that kind of good stuff.

Brother Wally flew home from Az. by Air VAC. They are moving him to Pleasant Acres in Hull today. He did walk a ways yesterday with a walker, but his heart is very poor. He is a WONDER BOY.

GOD IS GOOD.