The holidays are upon us and the lights are spectacular! If some of you haven't been to Ballinger at this time of year, you may not have seen the beautiful lights on the Runnels County Courthouse. A sorority in town has been doing this for several years. Irene Piel Batts' daughter Amy is on the committee of young women (and some of their husbands) that actually climbs to the roof of the courthouse and lowers each individual strand of lights every year. This year the weather was very warm as they were installing them, but the weather does not always cooperate in Texas and sometimes Irene worries when Amy is climbing around up there in cold rain or worse.
Driving down the hill on Broadway, the view almost takes one's breath away. I wanted to capture that photo, too, but strung across the front of the courthouse lawn is a huge sign that says, "Welcome Hunters". Somehow that did not seem in the spirit of things.
The bottom two photos are from the San Angelo "Tour of Lights" along the Concho River. Santa Claus fishing on the Concho... he even catches a huge fish. Then there is Santa Claus arriving in a small airplane near the Santa Fe Depot. I know children must be delighted to take this two and a half mile tour of over a million Christmas lights on display. There is even a living nativity, complete with llamas (camels?) and sheep. I know this "big kid" really loved every minute of it.
Good news to report. Last Monday, Pat Smith Mullins, Glenn Smith, and I helped Peggy Virden Sharp celebrate with lunch the excellent report she got on her latest checkup. She got a clean bill of health, and the doctor even took her off three medications she had been taking. The heart valve repair has been successful, her heart rhythm is regular now, and the only thing to slow her down is the wait for the bones in her rib cage to heal.
I was very pleased to get a response from Gene Routh. I had inquired about his foot, and began to worry when I did not get a reply. Nearly two weeks ago, he wrote me the following email:
"Sorry I haven't answered before now. I have been going to Physical Therapy twice a week trying to loosen the ankle up and regain some strength. Seems to be helping, but recovery is a lot slower than I had hoped. I suppose I'm just impatient for things to be back to normal. I'm still so sorry I didn't get to come for the 50th reunion, but that's the breaks (no pun intended) I guess." "...Please tell all that you see hello and Merry Christmas for me. I hope to see everyone at the next school reunion." ...Gene
Nydah Ellet successfully underwent total knee replacement surgery December 3rd in Ohio. I've been getting updates on her progress this week. Two days after surgery, they had her get out of bed three times. She was on a lot of pain medication at first, but was finally able to relay some information. She had blood clots in both lower legs, so she's on anticoagulants now and this is slowing her physical therapy down some. She will go to a rehabilitation hospital shortly, depending on the blood clots. She "prepped" herself well before this surgery, and the dancing she has done has helped a lot with her therapy so far.
The Sunday before her surgery was Nydah's birthday, and she also sang in a Christmas cantata with the Kent State choir. This is one active, talented lady. I know she will be back on her feet soon and showing those young dance students she takes lessons with how to stay young.
Rosalyn Urbantke Hoelscher called me this week to inquire about the heart attack I had. We talked a good while, and she was to go for a checkup the following day. She was a little concerned about a weight gain. I'm hoping no news is good news. If you remember, Rosalyn was in the hospital during the 50th Reunion with heart problems -- much to her dismay. She also was hospitalized since then with more problems. She told me that she was grateful for every morning she wakes up and there is not a paramedic or nurse staring her in the face. Here's wishing you the best of health for the upcoming holidays, Rosalyn.
Rosalyn asked me questions about how a heart attack feels. I realized a lot of folks who have had cardiac problems... even bypass surgeries, have never had a heart attack. I felt a steady crushing pain in my chest that would not let up when I tried to get in a comfortable position. I thought it might be a really bad case of indigestion or heartburn, so I took Tums. When it continued longer than five minutes, I took two regular 325 mg. aspirin. That didn't help the pain, either, and I began to feel numbness and tingling in both arms -- especially from the elbows down. When I began to experience a blurry tunnel vision of sorts, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I could not drive myself to the hospital -- only four blocks away! While I waited for Nancy to arrive and whisk me off to the hospital, I remembered hearing somewhere that you should force yourself to cough deeply if you suspected a heart attack. I kept doing that on the way to the hospital.
I don't mean this to be a dreary, depressing tale, but rather a really uplifting story of overcoming some of the effects of ill health and hopefully, passing on information that might assist you in saving your own life or the life of someone you love.
Rosalyn asked me questions about how a heart attack feels. I realized a lot of folks who have had cardiac problems... even bypass surgeries, have never had a heart attack. I felt a steady crushing pain in my chest that would not let up when I tried to get in a comfortable position. I thought it might be a really bad case of indigestion or heartburn, so I took Tums. When it continued longer than five minutes, I took two regular 325 mg. aspirin. That didn't help the pain, either, and I began to feel numbness and tingling in both arms -- especially from the elbows down. When I began to experience a blurry tunnel vision of sorts, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I could not drive myself to the hospital -- only four blocks away! While I waited for Nancy to arrive and whisk me off to the hospital, I remembered hearing somewhere that you should force yourself to cough deeply if you suspected a heart attack. I kept doing that on the way to the hospital.
I don't mean this to be a dreary, depressing tale, but rather a really uplifting story of overcoming some of the effects of ill health and hopefully, passing on information that might assist you in saving your own life or the life of someone you love.
My own health is very, very good. I don't go in for my first checkup (and a stress test) until December 17th. However, except for more shortness of breath than usual (I think the medication causes it), I am able to do most of what I've always done in the past. My house now has Christmas decorations up, even though I decided to go with the tiny Gatlinburg pine Christmas tree this year rather than a big one. The two little munchkins that will be here for one night on their way to Aunt Carrie's in Amarillo are so little anyway, it will be eye level for them. The homemade Kahlua is curing in the jar, and I've gone so far as to get the gingerbread man (and woman) cookie cutters out. I'm really in the mood for the holidays.
The story of Mary giving birth reminds me that this time of year is pregnant with possibilities. Think how creative we all get when we decorate our homes and yards.. and presents. I don't know about you, but my mind is filled with many, many ideas I want to see come to fruition! I want to make gifts, candies, cookies... I think of all the things I wish to tell the people I love when I send them letters or emails or Christmas cards. I am filled to overflowing with the spirit of the season. May all this joy and wonder be a part of all your lives, too. Let me hear about it.
If you wish to send a comment, just double click on the "Comments" at the bottom of this message. If you'd rather, you may send me an email and I will post it for you. I'll have more photos and news to share again shortly!
Marilyn
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