Elizabeth Wilder's Blog

"Coulda Been Sumthin Worse"

Reflecting on my Aug 6 blog - yes, things are subject to change without notice. 

In my last blog, my schedule for our 6 days in Maine seemed chipped in granite.  Then the  sudden change.  I had my reconnect lunch with my son, then later my reconnect ice cream with my friend.  I decided to stop by a local discount store to look at fabric to make table napkins.  I took my choice to the cashier, told her I needed to sit down as I didn't feel well and next thing remembered was laying on the floor with the EMT's coming in.  Seems as though I passed out.  Now that is change without notice.

Obviously dehydrated, I went through a full bag of IV liquids half way on the 24 mile jog to the hospital.  It felt like a jog as I think we hit every bump which in turn jogged my stomach - for sure.  The ER crew was great.  I was saying that I have never experienced this before to which one member said, "It coulda been sumthin worse" (aka "it could have been something worse) finished by "You're still breathing".

I had that part figured out by the racket the monitor was making.  After another bag of fluids including meds to settle my stomach, I was feeling better yet found myself being scoped, x-rayed and cat scanned. When the ER Doc returned I was ready to jump up and get out of there.  Was shocked when he said he wanted to admit me for overnight monitoring.  Even more shocked when the next day, the doctor wanted me for another night. I keep hearing about folks being discharged too soon - with me, not soon enough.  Figures.

It seems I may have experienced a medical PREFECT STORM where just the right things happened at the same time to cause my heart rate to slow and blood pressure to drop.  This in turn caused me to drop.  I have a couple more recommended tests my PA doctor might want BUT I will concentrate on keeping myself well hydrated, my blood sugar steady and rushing around to a minimum - the last being the hardest.  We are staying an extra day in Maine where converse to the unusual rainy cold June is now unusually hot and humid BUT the sun is out!

KUDOS TO:  The 2 EMTs that finally convinced me to get off the floor and brought me safely to York.  Thx Sanford guys - you know who you are.

TO:  The caring ER professionals.

TO:  Jackie and Jill (night shift) and Cathy and Alexeus (day shift) on the 2nd floor (STRATA) of the York Maine Hospital. They were so caring.

TO:  Debbie, a lab technician that actually drew blood without making my arms look like they were in battle.  I tried to convince her to come to PA as no one else seems to have the knack of finding a way.

TO:  My family.

As for me - I plan to keep on  breathing.

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Disconnect in order to Reconnect

We are now in the middle of our latest get away to (or back to) Maine.  Alleluia!  The sun is out!  We had our doubts when driving north.  Just about all the way had bright blue sky and fluffy white creature clouds - you know the kind of clouds that are seen as animals, usually different ones for everyone),  As we reached the end of Rt 495 where you turn north on I95 and the coast is directly east, There was what looked like a ever growing cloud, only dingy in yellowish gray.  At first I thought there must be a good size fire but soon my NE roots took hold and I realized we heading straight into a fog bank.  When my children were young and the fog horn went off, this was the clue to run quickly and take the diapers (cloth) of the line or have a mess of soggy diapers that would have  to dry on a rack inside.  As we crossed the line into NH from MA we were in the soup with our low beams on - high beans in fog and pretty useless. NH only has a fourteen mile coastline so even creeping we were soon going over the Piscataqua River Bridge into Maine - at least we must have but none of the spectacular view was visible - just an occasional shadow of beams but no sight the Welcome to Maine sign half way over.  So my poor husband had no idea when to take a deep breath and exclaim, "Ah, smell that wonderful Maine air!"

As we approached our exit to Wells, the fog let up and just to make sure we didn't get too sure of ourselves, a lightening bolt zigged its way down in front of us as we started up Rt 109 to Sanford.  Within a minute we were surrounded by night rather than day and the heavens opened up with a torrent.  The winding road through the woods to our son's house is always fun as we dodge holes but being full of water, it was a challenge.  We know where to be careful but that only counts when you can see the road.

About ten miles from the turnpike, we found his drive just as things were letting up, our daughter-in-law was waiting on the back deck with a large umbrella to bring us in.  I couldn't help but think how brave she was for us - there was no way I would stand outside under an umbrella in a lightening storm.  We were bunking with our oldest son and family.

At that point we took a deep breath and disconnected.  Unplugged all the stuff to do in PA, forgot about doctor's appointments and full schedules.

We were here to reconnect.  We we here to surround ourselves with our Maine family and be with second son and his wife for their first wedding anniversary and get lots of hugs from our 7 year old granddaughter.  We reconnected with one of my husband's high school buddies who had married one of my Boston roommates from my single life 50 years ago and had our first fill of fried clams.  Our second son cooked us an early Thanksgiving dinner on the grill - yep right down to the stuffing in foil followed by an evening of laughs at their home.  We drove to Lake Sunapee in NH yesterday to reconnect with two of my high school friends and their spouses.  They came from Georgia and Vermont.  We reconnected with lots of shared memories and parallel life stories while sitting on the dock at the lake and yes, the sun started peeking through.  We ended our reconnecting day with (shall I say it) another fill of fried clams.

After a 2 hour drive home, we stopped by our sons house to watch what was left of the opening pre-season Patriot's in HD (we don't have HD ).  They were playing our new home "town" team -the Eagles.  I'm so glad he Pats won, not only because of my true allegiance but because the Eagles just signed Vick as a back up quarter back.  I will have no problem wearing my red-white and blue in the midst of the midst of all the green at my new home.  (Sorry - I digress.) From there "home" as our son waited for us - had an 11:o'clock curfew :-)

Well that was in just 48 hours and we go from here.  A reconnecting mother/son lunch this afternoon, reconnecting meeting with a friend over ice cream for supper (yes, ice cream IS a good supper) while my husband is running around visiting old neighborhood buddies and there are more that we hope to drop in on before our 6 days is up).

Sunday we will be enjoying the long awaited lobster feed at an outdoor pound at Kittery Point for the anniversary.

You may have noticed that reconnecting for seniors includes lots of eating but I bet we work most of it off with hours of talk and laughter.

I brought some crocheting and reading.  Not sure how much I'll get in but it is still part of the disconnect.

Only once we start south again will I allow myself to plug back in and reconnect with the real world.

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Chocolate Covered -- WHAT!!!!

Just when I thought I had seen it all in food indulgences at country fairs - they came up with something else.  After all - did we really need any more ways to spike the sugar while clogging the veins?  We already have numerous culprits like deep fried snickers bars and twinkies.  The healthy sounding veggie treat the Blooming Onion can come as a shock if you are one that cares about in between meal munchies .  After all you are spending the day walking around and it is just to hold you until you eat. So don't listen while I tell you the numbers from Men's Health Magazine.  Ready - 2,710 calories and 203 grams of fat per onion.  Told you not to listen.

Believe me, I am far from a food snob when it comes to fairs.  After all - isn't that one of the attractions.  Yes we enjoy the skillet tosses, chain saw sculpture, oxen pull and so forth.  But a freshly made hot funnel cake with cinnamon sugar is so much better than having ones senses tossed into oblivion on one of those spinning, racing, upside down rides.  (Or is that my age showing.)  One thing we have learned though is that sharing a special delicacy gives one the treat but leaves room for other favorite fair foods.

Our menu for the day (over and above the obligatory funnel cake or fried dough) always includes a sweet Italian sausage sandwich with loads of fried onions and peppers (with a diet soda or water of course).  If we are lucky enough to find them, the afternoon treat is french fried sweet potatoes.  Sounds healthy.  And before we head home at one of our favorite fairs is sharing a bowl of warm Indian Pudding with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream.  And I would bet that our sharing of all these yummies does not equal one blooming onion.

By the way, Indian pudding has a base of cornmeal and molasses with milk, eggs and butter that is baked like a custard.  Yes, indeed!

Well, I just saw a fair food on a sign at a fair here in PA (would love to see if they have it in Maine).  Are you ready for our next sugar and fat delight.  Are you really ready??

                                          ****  CHOCOLATE DIPPED BACON ****  

Sorry - but my stomach just flipped again.  They have the bacon on a stick (cooked I hope) and then dip it in the chocolate for you.  I know, I really do know that some of you are saying - Wow, that sounds good!  Would that be a breakfast treat at the start of the day - before the blooming onion?

I think I'd rather see bacon in its earliest stages.  I love watching the baby pigs.  Ever see a greased pig contest.  Lots of fun and no calories and fat grams.

A stolen Aphorism  -   Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind.  The ones that do mind - don't matter!   

  

ZIGGY

 I was taken aback this morning by the cartoon ZIGGY in the morning paper.  It shows him in his usual line drawing self looking up a a sign that read "BASICALLY, EVERYTHING, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE".  How true - how very true.

The older I get, the more I realize how precious each day becomes.  Each day is a gift (I was told once that is why is it call "the present".) 

 Recently a couple from our senior neighborhood left for a few days vacation.  One took a bad fall and was hospitalized for several days.  Only one spouse returned to suddenly begin a new life.  Another resident suddenly lost two great nephews in a tragic multicar accident.  They were in their early twenties and already quite successful.  Here the make up of an extended family was suddenly changed without notice.  In our family we've also had unexpected loss of a loved one as have most families.  We've had job layoffs change future plans in an instant.  Change without notice ranges from the molehill to the mountain.

Last Sunday in church, our minister asked prayers for a sister church in the Pocanos.  It seemed that the previous Sunday a storm broke out during services.  They looked out the window and saw  the funnel headed straight for them.  They do not have a basement so the minister had the congregation lay on the floor.  At the very last minute the funnel suddenly changed course and as the members watched, some of their homes and farms were leveled.  Possible change without notice that was changed without notice.

Before the end of the prayer, we heard our first clap of thunder. Never saw so many heads suddenly snap to attention.  No one said a word but the general climate in the sanctuary was totally different.  Then more claps of thunder and it began to get darker outside.  We began to sing a hymn and the organ lost power.  There was a momentary silence and the organist said keep going and we sang our little hearts out and miracle of miracles, when the organ started up again we were on key.  How about that!  As the storm got closer the environment got darker and the lightening became more visible and thunder snappier.  Then the heavens opened and the deluge began - one of those where you think we should all be building an ark rather than just sitting there.  As it began to move over us, the minister continued his sermon in a steady non-plussed way but I'm sure his peripheral vision got the same workout mine did.  As my mind tends to work in its own weird way, I was wondering if we were ordered to hit the floor, would I be able to get down between the pews and if I did, would I ever get up again.

Soon we heard the storm wind its way over us and head away.  It was lighter by the time we headed home and the rain had dramatically subsided.  The only consequence to those of us who live close - we walked to church and sloshed home.

So - one never truly knows from one minute to the next what is coming our way.  This is why I "try" harder not to get caught up in the stuff of life so I can live it with less clutter.  This morning was particularly beautiful.  It led me to compose the following poem that I share with you.                              

                                                    To Start the Day

I took a minute this morning to stand

by the window and gaze

at two bunnies munching through clover as

part of their morning graze.

 

 The hedge of butterfly bush was alive

 causing a fluttering sight

 of wings dancing in a swirling ballet

 of yellow, black, orange and white.

 

A hummingbird lady enjoyed my sweet brew.

Thanks, said she with a dive

past a big bumblebee gathering pollen as he

 worked his way home to the hive.

 

A pair of cardinals perched at the window

 picking the safflower seed

while chick-a-dees and finches shared the

 fruit of the thistle weed.

 

Just think what I’d miss in the mornings if

in a rush I hurried along

and didn’t peek through the window or

 listen to wake up songs.

                                            Elizabeth Egerton Wilder  ~  August 2009