AND THE BEAT GOES ON................

I wanted to post before the end of the year and it seems like I'm taking it right down to the wire. I feel like I'm living a few pages out of War and Peace or perhaps Les Miserables. Sometimes I just wish I could skip a few chapters but in truth, we have to live it and not hide under the covers. Not that I haven't tried.......but dang, you eventually have to get up, get dressed and get on with life.
Thanksgiving was peaceful with Doc and another friend. After that, it's just all a whirlwind dream. I traveled to Kentucky to visit my Mother and my Brother. My Mom even had decorated for Christmas as I had hoped she would. She didn't over do it....just right. I think she wanted to do it and when she found out I was visiting, she really got into it.
It was a good visit in many ways. We were glad to see each other and we could discuss my brothers condition and talk about things that needed to be dealt with. My brother decided that he did not need a will or a medical and business power of attorney. As much as that disappointed me, I realize that is his decision. I had to back off, which I did. You see my brother still believes he is going to live to be 80. He isn't in denial as much as his brain is not able to function in a good capacity. I know this is very frustrating to my Mother as she tries in vein to get him to understand. Yet other times he will surprise me; like when he came over for dinner and insisted upon making the mac&cheese. Mom did NOT want him in the kitchen as she and I were in there and the two dogs........so I stepped out of the work area and sat down. In a way it was funny to listen to him tell her why he wanted to fix HIS macaroni and cheese. "I've always hated yours!!" is what he said.......not to be mean, just to state the fact that was in his brain. Personally I've always loved it. I read the recipe to him and he was able to tackle it and it make him feel like he had accomplished something that day. His wife joined us for dinner.
So that is the update on my brother. There is more I could say, but I just can't..... not right now.........it's too......well, I can't find all of the right adjetives to explain.
I also visited my friend Vivian, who I have mentioned many times in my journal. She and I were neighbors back in 1980 and have remained friends every since then. She and I have had so many adventures together. She has taught me so many things in life that my Mom should have but she never had the patience to do so. She taught me how to cook, be a better Mom, (LEAVE THEM ALONE......was her good advise) to entertain, to be in community theater, and to drink. I think I taught her to smoke and for 2 years we enjoyed drinking, smoking and tellin' tales, usually about men. OH, and she taught me how to flirt with danger without getting burned. After the 2 years, we had to give up smoking because we couldn't breathe. But yes, we still on special occasion do indeed flirt with danger. However the older we get the more our definition of danger changes.
Anyway on Halloween Vivian had a stroke and the next day she had a few more. It has affected her right side. The only lucky thing is that she is left handed. So, when I was down to visit my Mom and Brother, I stopped in to visit with her and her husband. It was so good to see them and hug her. I didn't want to let go of her. For the next few days, I got to cook for her and do for her. She has always done so much for me. I even got her to get back on the computer for a short period of time. She also wrote some Christmas cards and she helped me prepare some food. She would do cracker crumbs with her right hand and a baggy and rolling pin. By the time I left she could even peel a pear......which is excellent sliced with cranberry relish. Oh, her husband got out the Christmas decorations and I fluffed out the tree and she decorated it.
I know she has a long road ahead of her, but she is really trying. She goes to rehab for speech and physical several days a week. She doesn't want to go and I told her that everybody that goes; doesn't want to go but if she didn't go she wouldn't get better and she could, in fact get worse. So I think she will continue to go.
Thats enough for me. I'm tired and still have to go outside and watch the fireworks. We are in Arizona now......and the weather is just fine. Chilly tonight so I'll wear a coat. Oh, and I need to go kiss Doc for New Years. He's sound asleep and won't even know I've kissed him.....but I'll know.
May you all have a wonderful Happy New Year. Here's to good friends and good health.