Tag: struggles

So much to say, but …

Never could have seen or imagined things occurring here, and now. It was just yesterday. Maybe this past weekend. Time just blurred.

I have worked for many employers over many years. From a local grocery store, newspaper delivery, fast food chains, local restaurants I have seen many jobs come and go. Some were short-term and others were longer; employment depended at times on the bosses, scheduling and personal goals.

Serving my country a Soldier in the United States Army helped me understand and serve with duty and honor. Living overseas gave me opportunities to learn, immerse in local cultures, holidays, food and appreciate differences rather than denounce them. I served with a wide swath of American society. No one was better than anyone. No assignment or task was assigned by some nefarious means. We served together.

We all took the same oath. to serve the country, and follow the orders of an office, and not a party or person. This was the start of learning how to serve. And this soon became a part of me.

Being employed in universities affirmed the role of service. Lastly as Dean of the University Library service was keenly a part of my tenure. As I served on several organizations I found more comments as I encouraged others in their employment. Helping and simply listening were commonplace with me and were important for so much.

And that brings me to the current topic. I have never asked political stance, religious affiliation or loyalty to a person. I am not comfortable being asked nor will I answer the same. This day loyalty, or more specifically fealty, is infused in the news of the day.

Let me state that I am a Christian, knowing that judgment belongs to God alone. Not choosing to sound off-putting, I have friends who have been marginalized or dismissed and persecuted for their beliefs, parents, social status, orientation and any petty distinction.

Some of the connections to the hostile, the decisive, and the marginalized must be re-examined. This may be a time to make a disconnect and connect elsewhere.

Books to read

I am about halfway through Megan Kate Nelson’s “The Three-Cornered War”. A wonderfully written history of the Union Army, the Confederate Army, and Native Tribes in the Southwest, and the battles to claim the West. Exceptional and detailed primary sources, endnotes all linking the past together.

After setting through Oklahoma History in the 1970’s and later learning how the history taught in High School omitted events, it would not surprise me to learn the same happened in New Mexico.

Far too often in recent and current times some seek to revise history, and erase historical events and people. It is the story of time, place and people.

Juggling Parkinson’s: Health Updates, Culinary Ventures, and Household Responsibilities

So, you might wonder if I have been and what’s going wrong. Well, let me tell you a little story. 

Medical updates

This month has been a month of medical appointments. I have a lot of medical appointments, and that’s putting my priorities elsewhere, but only for a bit of time. See, this is the month where I’ve had to deal with more speech issues, an MRI, issues with my right hand, and problems with joints in the right hand. Two group appointments with speech pathology. It is important to remember that as Parkinson’s continues to impact movement, it also softens the volume and distinctness of my voice. Then, on the day of dermatology appointments, I checked on the chunk they took out of my left facial cheek. The biopsy came back with noncancerous carcinoma. However, several spots had to be frozen and will be monitored. I was given a new prescription to add to my regimen. Then, I’m meeting with the surgeons to look at the issues with the left hand. I’m sorry, the right hand will be up soon after that talk with the podiatry. I have some problems with my feet, so it’s full of medically-related things happening; it’s just how things are. See, Parkinson’s continues to let me know just when I think things are the same change. Never would I have envisioned that Parkinson’s would be so interwoven into life, my life. It will not stop me. It will never define me.

Culinary adventures

In the meantime, I’ve found a couple of exciting recipes. A cherry almond bread, banana bread, zucchini bread, but this time with fresh, dark cherries and toasted almonds. Cedar plank smoked salmon with a ginger sesame glaze served with a fresh cucumber dill salad. It’s pretty good stuff if I do say so myself. I think I probably put up about five batches of pickles so far. My cucumber vines have produced more this year than any other year. I’ve lived here. I’ve done some fermented pickles, some called cucumber slices, with more of a cross between an excellent kosher deal and a crisp dill. I have at least maybe one or two more batches to go. Check this morning; the cucumber vines have at least another batch waiting. The church ice cream social will be this month, requiring a batch from the ice cream maker. Wonder what fruits will be fresh and available next week. Culinary adventures have always been ways for me to focus on something other than Parkinson’s disease.

Conversely, tomatoes are very plentiful, nice-sized, and green. Not a red tomato insight yet. So when those change color, I will be processing a lot of tomatoes; I see I’ll have a lot of tomato sauce for at least a year or so. The hot peppers are probably the most interesting. The ghost peppers are plentiful green, maybe 2 inches long. That will be some hot stuff!

Around the house

In addition to medicine or medical activities and garden activities, there are the wonderful continuing activities of home ownership. I realized I could not mow the grass anymore; someone was cutting the grass for me now. Several other tasks around the house need to be completed, some of which I need to finish and some of which I need to find someone to do. My to-do list grows. My it’s done list needs to be growing. People to make that happen are seemingly overbooked or unavailable it seems. With tenacious persistance this will occur. With that going on in my life, I hope you understand why I’ve been absent. Things will get better soon. And I’ll have time to get back to what I started. I am sharing a story with you and connecting with you as well.