I love Basketball

Go Kentucky  or maybe Go Ohio State!
The NCAA championship is this weekend.
Can't wait to see who will win!

Why I went to Georgetown.

I spent a 10 days in Georgetown so that Jo Ann could go to Honduras as a missionary with group that brought free health care. She worked in Bible camps singing and sharing Jesus with little children. Jo Ann had always wanted to be a missionary and because of health issues had never been accepted by the mission board, but as part of this project she was able to go. I am thankful that I was able to be a part of it even in a small way.

Thoughts on Aging

Well, I am back. I spent 10 days in Kentucky taking care of my friend Jo Ann's mother in law and husband. Spring was lovely and restful. Lots of cows, horses, and flowers. Someone asked me, "Why can't her son take care of her?" It is complicated, but I will tell you that Jo Ann is the most able bodied one of the Gano family and she has braces on her legs from childhood polio. Sam was in a car accident and he does well to care for himself. His sister had a brain tumor and was operated on and lived. Though she is sweet, communication is a problem, and she has a husband who is having mental problems and she must keep an eye on him. His brother has had throat cancer and can't talk and his wife has back problems and can't stand up right. Mom law's grand children are not people with integrity. When I was there one of them came over and wanted to take her to a funeral. This woman is 93 and she can't walk to the kitchen from the bedroom quickly. How would she be from the car to the church? Or the car to the grave site? Some people don't think. Jo Ann thought he might come by and want to take her some place, but ultimately it would be to the bank.
While I was there I read two books, watched a little basketball, cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner, and played cards. This is in addition to taking care of Mom law. I discovered how beautiful spring can be. The tiny flowers were so lovely. The white flowering trees were too, but they didn't last long.
This is what I thought about as I cared for Mom law. Everything goes in slow motion and there is time to reflect and carefully get things right.  When you are old your skin becomes transluecent and your bones become brittle. You can even see your blood vessels.Your hair becomes gray and your skin gets spots.Those are really ugly. It is a challenge to get to the bathroom and even dressing takes a long time. It is hard to walk, talk, see and hear. It is hard to know if people want to be with you because they are there for money or because they genuinely like you.
Being old is part of life. It is good to see life in the old age, but I do not know the advantages of living 93 years. I have a few pictures and one day will post them.

Where Are They Now?

 Tonight as I took a break from basketball~OSU did beat Michigan and hockey~ Miami University did beat Michigan State~ I was watching t.v. and saw John Schneider advertising a 10 c.d. country  music collection. This former Duke of Hazard star, country music singer and Father of Clark Kent on Smallville got me thinking. Where are all the other characters now? Well mostly I wondered where Tom Welling was now, but I did look up some of my favorite characters to see what they were actually doing. 
Chloe is acting on stage in New York on an off Broadway play.
Green Arrow was a boyfriend on Heart of Dixie for a while and soon will have a Dr. Kildare sort of role on a new medical show First Out.
Lois played Wonder Woman, right after the Time Life ad for country music. She was in an episode of "Harry's Law" as a a formerly abused wife. She became the vigilanty who helped other abused women. As Wonder Women complete with the crown no  bracelets or lasso though, she helped by by beating up their husbands when the police couldn't protect them. 
Is this a step up from being the Blurs sidekick?
And Clark? What has he been doing? Well, he is still married to Jamie and she threw and unemployment party for him. He directed the series, "Hellcats". I never watched it because I don't get CW and the idea of  a cheerleaders  show didn't appeal to me. Other than that he hasn't been in any movies or t.v. shows that I could find out.  He has done some fund raising for charities but as far as I can tell no new shows. I guess once you are Superman all other roles are hard to play.
Now it is back to basketball. Who will win this year?

Things

It is Saturday, but every day is Saturday when you are retired. I have been busy,  but I don't really know what I have been doing. Reading is probably the most popular activity.  Yesterday, or maybe on Thursday, I read a book called The Sugar Queen. I was a very good book, good story, well written, and some of the things the author said made me want to read the book again. It was a romance, but I didn't know that when I picked it out. I just liked the title. The story takes place in the mountains of  North Carolina in the winter. The main character is a spoiled, rich girl who grew up and never left home. There are other characters, one who lives in her closet and that is what makes the book so interesting. But don't take my word for it. Check it out of your local library.

Tornedo Sirens at 3:30 Or why I AM not a Principal

 I was substitute teaching and the siren went off at the end of the day. All the kids were on the bus so the principal; had to decide what to do. Get the kids off the bus or send the buses home. I would have sent them home, but he got all the kids off and into the basement to wait for an all clear sign. Eventually he had an all clear from the Butler County Police.

When the kids got back on the bus many of them were scared. Many of them were crying. Some parents who had come to pick up their children couldn't find them. However one of my students had the right idea.

Earlier in the day I read a chapter from Roxie and the Hooligans where the main character has lots of strange adventures. She is often escaping bullies and She says repeatedly, "Do not panic!" One of my students, Ethan Zhou said to me as he got back onto the bus, "Do not panic." And I had to laugh.  His words made some of the other children brave and leave with smiles on their faces.

I really miss teaching.