Dackel Princess

And Just Like That…

Time goes flying by.

Today is the second anniversary of Jack’s passing. So many things have changed now, and after sharing life with Jack for so many years (35+), I am making my way.

I have completed all the paperwork and begun the remodeling of my home. The biggest was the driveway and master bath.

Slowly, I have made my way, and with the help of Melodie and Ron, I have created a cozy home for Heidi and me.

Ah yes. The two dogs. Poor Lili gave up. She was Jack’s girl, and nothing we did soothed her. She is with him now. Heidi? She has been my savior. I have never had a dog who gave so much love so freely. She calms me, she cuddles me, and we are one. How did I get so lucky?

I have learned to go on. I think of the good times with Jack. We did so many things together. However, I recently recalled something a dear friend said to me.

Before the wedding to Jack, Benn, the best man at our wedding, Jack’s Army buddy and Pan Am roommate, took me out for lunch. At that time, I was hanging out with all the pilots. They were all 20+ years older than I. They all treated me like their kid sister.

berlin

Anyway, Benn told me to think deeply about what I was about to do. He smiled. He said, “I know you are in love, but one day, we will all be gone, and you will be alone.” I was 29, and retirement seemed like a long way off.

Jack and the others filled my world for many years. I remember calling Benn each year on my birthday to announce my age. He would laugh and say, “Oh, it can’t be!”

But here I am, I will be 67 soon, and the guys are all gone. I wonder how the time went by so quickly.

So, rest easy, Jack and all my pilots. We sure had a great time, and I miss you all.

The Friday Five ~ July 4th

Here we are. Already the Fourth of July! Another year is flying by us! Last week was a busy one for me. Here’s what’s going on.

I saw my eye surgeon on Monday. After weeks of trying to get my records from Tufts, he had finally received them—fourteen pages of surgical notes. My inserted lens (following cataract surgery) is still shifting around. Some days, it is folded up like a taco, giving me double vision in the left eye; other days, it’s just sliding around, giving me somewhat distorted vision.
Surgery is set for Monday morning. It is a rather extensive surgery, but afterward, the new lens will provide me with stable vision.
The Puppy Nanny is standing by to take care of Heidi. The best part is that she moves right in, so Heidi’s world isn’t too upset when I am away.
I had ordered a wooden crate for Heidi. It’s a lovely piece, and it gives her a lot more room. I hadn’t counted on the assembly. I got out my trusty Black & Decker drill, and in no time, the new crate was put together.
As you can see, it’s pretty, and best of all, she loves it.
I finally broke down and got a Keurig coffee machine. Since it was just me having coffee, using a 14-cup coffee maker didn’t make sense. I love having the ability to create just what I want. The 14-cup coffee machine went to a good friend, along with the coffee mill and beans.

So that is all from here. I will try to write on the blog when I can. I don’t know how long the left eye will be down and out.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Life…

I have been thinking a lot about life. The beginning is so full of happiness and joy. You look into your child’s perfect face. You see the beauty and the potential for their life.

You watch them grow. Over time, they sit up, crawl, and walk.

You see them going to school. For me, watching their plays was amazing.

Their dancing and singing filled me with such happiness.

And before you know it, they are grown or gone.

I am an empty nester. I adore my grandchildren, but I do not see them often. Distance makes it hard.

And then there is this age thing. I am sixty-six now (67 in November) and have entered the time of life where my body is laughing at me.

My aches and pains have aches and pains.

And I wonder how the time flew by so fast? Twenty-six to sixty-six! It seems like it was just like the snap of the fingers.

Twenty-six on the left and sixty-six on the right

Looking back, I realize my body has been through a lot. Car accidents, infections, and the darn COVID-19 Virus (X4), which left me with type 2 diabetes. I keep trying to get back to some sort of normal life. However, I think my body has given up the ship.

I keep wondering how the last sixty-six years flew by. And I wonder when the good Lord will call me home.

I hope I am here a little longer! There is still so much to do.

Thursday Thirteen June 19th

Since so much has been going on, I will do an honest Thursday Thirteen.

I was due to have surgery on my left eye on Monday. It was postponed. Here’s why.
On Thursday, Heidi got sick. She was limping and not acting like herself, which made me worry. This was difficult because I still had double vision.
On Thursday, I prayed that God would restore my vision enough to allow me to drive.
Then Heidi and I sat down to watch some TV. I think the show had been on for about half an hour, and suddenly my double vision was gone!
I think of all the prayers for chocolate candy bars that never were fulfilled as a child. And God granted me my vision, the one time I truly prayed for something outside myself.
I twisted and turned and did everything but stand on my head. I was shocked. It was fixed!
A miracle had occurred. The only exception was that the pressure began to rise in the left eye, but eye drops and tablets brought it down.
The surgery has been postponed. We’re trying to get the surgical notes from Tufts. I learned today that all medical records are kept offshore without the patient’s consent. My advice to one and all is to start collecting your medical files.
Heidi is a bit better, although she is still not running around.
Then there was the fox. He arrived in the night, and when I got up and passed the window, he was sleeping in my driveway.
I saw him at 4:30 AM, as he lounged away on the driveway until noon.
My weekend will be a quiet one. I need sleep, rest, and the ability to do laundry.
So, I wish you all a very happy weekend! I hope the weather is good and your spirit is filled with happiness, no matter where you are.

Father’s Day ~ The Men In My Life

Here are the five men who shaped my life. In their own ways, they were my father or a father figure to me. They have all passed from this life to the next, but their memory and the love they gave me live on in my heart.

My dad was an amazingly talented musician who passed along his love of music to me. Dad was devoted to our community and played the organ at both the Congregational Church and the Catholic Church in North Falmouth.

He was the Music Director at Highfield Theater for many years. He was also a summer police officer in our town. And when we went to local parks for cookouts, Dad was the burger meister! He has been gone a long time now, but I still think of him often and miss his wry sense of humor.

My Uncle George was the father who taught me everything growing up: how to swim, dive, bowl, hike, play cards, and love unconditionally.

When I was about 5 years old, I cut my toe badly at Surf Drive Beach, and he carried me all the way home—and helped Mom drive me to the doctor’s office for stitches. He was not a loud man, but in his quiet, loving way, I knew I was one of his special kids.

Uncle George and I were at my wedding with Jack.

When Jack and I married, Uncle George walked me down the aisle. I miss this sweet, loving, wonderful man!

My Uncle Bob was fun to be with, but he also required that I act like a mini-adult. That was fine. I adored him and just wanted to spend quiet time with him.

I did a lot of things with him and his wife, Aunt Cynthia. I remember being on his boat, or when they took me to their Quincy home and museums. And I recall my Uncle once getting a monkey. It was cute, but it didn’t last for long.

My Papa Fred was another quiet man. He was quite old when I lived with him and Grandma, but he showed me something important.

What real love between a man and a woman is all about. I would watch Papa and Grandma sitting on their sofa watching Lawrence Welk. Papa would hold Grandma’s feet in his lap and stroke them gently. He adored Grandma all his life. He no longer had the will to live when she died, and passed eight months later.

My Papa Sam, my Dad’s Dad. I didn’t know him as well, but I remember him taking me to the Prudential Building in the summer to listen to the Barbershop Quartets sing.

I remember sitting on his lap and listening to him sing along. He had such a beautiful voice.

These 5 men helped to shape the woman I grew up to become. Each is special in their own way, and now, each is greatly missed.

Happy Father’s Day! I remember you all with love and many memories that make me smile!

Kathleen Alynne

11/8/78 – 6/19/85

I had a lovely daughter, named Kathleen “Katie” Alynne. She was my youngest daughter and quite amazing. She was six and a half years old when she died after a car accident that occurred on June 13th. She lived until June 19th, but she never regained consciousness after the paramedics pulled her from the car. So in my mind and my heart, the 13th is the day that she left us.

People have wondered and said to me that after 40 years, I should be over losing her. What I know is, you never get over losing a child. But you learn to go on and to make a new life for yourself. But on days like today, I like to remind everyone that once long ago, a beautiful little girl named Katie lived!

***************

This is so beautiful. I was crying by the second line. Henry Scott Holland (27 January 1847 – 17 March 1918) was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

A few years ago, an old friend was sorting through his pictures when he found this one of Katie. I’d never seen it before, and it was such a wonderful gift!

Most days, I do well. I don’t dwell, and I can look at her lovely face in pictures and smile. Then there are days that it hits me all over again, and I am overwhelmed by grief. I don’t stay there long. Katie wouldn’t want that.

I miss you each day, Katie.

And The Eye Has It…

Last Saturday night, after slaving over a hot crockpot for 8 hours I served up a delicious meal. All was going well when I noticed blurry vision in my left eye.

I refused to overreact, believing it was the cooking that had caused this. I decided to sleep on it and allow my body to reboot.

Yeah, like that was going to fix anything!

On Sunday I went to the Emergency Room. All I knew was to see an Ophthalmologist first thing on Monday.

Which I did, only to discover my intraoccular lens had folded in half like a taco!

I will see the special surgeon today. My corrective surgery will be on Monday.

I asked how common this problem is in the world of cataract-land lenses. I was told it is a highly unique problem.

Ah, but of course it is, which is why I have it!

And Just Like That…

People have often told me that I have the weirdest things happen to me. I tend to agree, as many of the things that have happened to me (healthwise) are beyond what most people would see in their lifetime.

Over the weekend, I started having double vision in my left eye. This was odd, as it came on suddenly. I am always sensitive about my eyes because I have not only had cataracts removed from both eyes but also surgery to reattach the retinas in both eyes. So on Saturday, I was quite frantic when the vision in my left eye became too distorted.

The retinal surgeon who had performed all of my surgeries on my retina has returned to my area. I got a quick appointment on Monday to see him, fearing another retinal detachment.

You can call me surprised when they discovered that the implanted lens from my cataract surgery had folded in half. This has caused all the visual problems.

Now I will be facing surgery to replace the lens.

An implanted intraocular lens (IOL) can be replaced if it dislocates or folds over. This is a rare but manageable situation, often requiring a secondary surgical procedure called an IOL exchange.

Lens Folding:

Sometimes, the IOL itself may fold or wrinkle, affecting vision.
Causes:

Dislocation can be caused by factors during the original surgery, trauma to the eye, or diseases affecting the eye’s structures.
IOL Exchange:

If the lens is dislocated or severely damaged, it can be surgically removed and replaced with a new one.
Prompt Treatment:

It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect any issues with your IOL, as untreated dislocation can lead to vision loss and other complications.

So, now I need to get the surgery lined up and all planned. The Puppy Nanny is set up to care for Heidi and will stay with me if necessary. But getting from New Hampshire to Boston concerns me the most.

If all of this isn’t enough, I got a call. Yes, folks, today they will start digging up my driveway!

Life was settling into a routine, and just like that…everything changed!

And Just Like That…

I am constantly amazed at how quickly time flies by us. With my enforced slowdown, due to the vertigo, I sit, and it’s like being in a tornado in The Wizard of Oz. Everything is spinning around me. (No pun intended with the vertigo!)

We have had a lot of rain, wind, and cold. However, we expect warmer and drier weather this week. It’s June, after all!

Now, back to my reflections on Life.

Two years ago, I bought a new phone, a Galaxy S23. At first, it seemed incredible. But within a month, I knew this phone was a mistake!

Fast-forward to 2025. During Memorial Day Weekend, my Galaxy 23 received an update that wreaked havoc on the phone. I walked into Verizon, and I was not happy about the phone.

They were very kind, and once they looked up my phone, they found that I was suitable for an upgrade! I have used Samsung forever, but I was so unhappy that I thought perhaps I would switch to an Apple. But after looking at the new Samsung S25 Ultra and the newest Apple, I decided to stay with the Galaxy.

The guys were invaluable in moving my things from one phone to another and teaching me how to download my files onto my laptop. I took all the games off the phone, and now it is pristine!

I was sitting here this morning when Heidi came up and sat down. I immediately smelled something. I checked her left ear. That was fine. But when I flipped her right ear… eww! She has a yeasty ear!

Lili got one a year before she died, and they tried a new FDA medication. It worked wonders for a dog who had long suffered from the problem.

Betamethasone acetate is a glucocorticosteroid with anti-inflammatory activity.

The otic gel dissolves in earwax and is slowly eliminated from the ear. It also fights yeast infections for up to 45 days. I will call and get her in tomorrow.

During my vertigo (it’s been over two months now), Heidi has been the very best thing that could have happened to me. What a sweet, faithful dog. Just by being with me each day, she puts a smile on my face.

Heidi’s breeder sure knows how to raise the sweetest pups. Heidi is among the best dogs I have ever had.

Happy Birthday, Savannah!

Today, my sweet Savannah Rose turns 13! Wow, I can’t believe how quickly she has grown and changed. I can’t believe how quickly the last 13 years have gone, and in many ways, I feel like I have always known Savi as if she has always been a part of my world.

I’m holding Savi the day she was born!

As she has grown and changed, I have marveled at her kindness, gentleness, and caring nature, and Matt and Mandy have done an excellent job as her parents.

Happy Birthday, my darling Savannah!