It's a Small World, After All

 I was wandering around in the dank tunnels where I store my computer files looking for any forgotten writing I could use as a post. There's a lot of junk down there, and I ran across several items I did not remember. At first, I thought they were things I had posted here because they were in a file marked blog posts. They're dated, so I looked them up. Nada. 

That made no sense, but when I checked the dates, I realized I must have posted them on the old Multiply site. It was a social media site in the early 2000s. I thought they had transferred over when the site closed and I did an import, but a search didn't produce them. 

So, I'm going to share them now. You will see when they were first posted. 

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10th August 2006, 2:01 a.m.

We were stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1980, just outside of Fayetteville. We had just come back from a two-year stint in Frankfurt, Germany, with our new baby boy. For a time we lived on the "economy", meaning that we lived in the community, outside the base. After a year, we got base housing.

We found a great church in Fayetteville. The pastor was Jesse Williams. It was a large church but your typical military church. Lots of people from all over, and some locals. We made friends with a couple, Debbie and Bob Bagwell. They were our age, had a child of their own, and lived on the base. We hung out with them for a bit.

One evening we were taking a trip to Raleigh to hear David and the Giants sing. This was a group of Christian young men. During the drive, we got to talking about the guys we had dated. I told them about Johnny, a guy who had joined our church about two years before I met my husband.

In the summer of 1971 or 1972, someone converted Johnny W***** to the Apostolic Pentecostal faith. And he showed up one summer day and joined my church. He was a nice guy, older than me by probably 6-8 years. I was only 15 at the time. And he could sing!

Four girls, myself included, sang together at my church. And Johnny joined us. It was a hit. He was a tenor and a good one and could harmonize, something we four girls had not mastered well. Everyone loved our singing.

During his time with us, he asked me on a date. Why Mama let me date a guy who was probably in his early 20s is beyond me. But I suspect it was because he was a member of the church and she felt comfortable with him. He really was a nice guy. Very respectful and courteous. Everyone liked him.

Now, let me just say, Johnny was not good-looking. He wore glasses that looked like Coke-bottle bottoms. His teeth had spaces, and while they were not rotten, they looked as if he never brushed them. He just didn't have any good looks to speak of. But he was a nice guy. 

So just before school started, he asked me to go skating with him. I said sure. I assure you, I never found him attractive. He was a friend, and we sang together; that’s how I viewed the date. If he had tried to kiss me, I would have balked. Even the thought of it bugged me. We went skating, and on the way home he held my hand, but all I could think of was, no way was I going to let him kiss me.

A few weeks after the date, Johnny just stopped coming to church. I saw a mutual friend at school and asked about him. She said, "He got married two weeks ago." I did a double take and said, "I just went out with him a month ago!" We were shocked. She knew who he had married, and that they had been dating for some time. I guess he forgot to tell me, but hey, we were just friends anyway.

I never saw him again until about two years later, probably in 1973. He had joined the army and was home on leave with his wife. They visited the church one Sunday morning. They had a new baby. I don't think he even spoke to me. Well, he used to be a nice guy, but oh well. I wasn't worried.

So, that was my story to Debbie as we drove toward Raleigh. But then she started asking me questions about where I was from and details about Johnny. Then she told me her story. And what a story!

After leaving Andalusia, Johnny W***** was stationed in Alaska. Her father was the Pastor of the church. Johnny had worked in the church with his wife, had been a really good guy with a good military career. Everyone liked him. But something happened in the late 70s. Johnny W***** received a prison sentence for rape. As of 1980, he was still in prison. Her father still visited him and tried to counsel him. 

I don't know if I can convey my shock. I was stunned. I couldn't believe that the guy I had spent an entire evening alone with in another town, because Andalusia had no skating rink, was arrested for rape.

And what are the odds that I would leave a small Alabama town, travel to Europe for two years, end up in N. Carolina and meet a woman from Alaska who knew someone that I knew! I should have been a gambler back then.

Mama, well, Mama must have been rolling over in her grave. But maybe not; Mama was a firm believer that God took care of us. I suspect she was right. Johnny and I had no spark, and that was probably a good thing.

You know, he was such a nice guy.

Fasting but Who's Praying

 The visit to my endocrinologist on Monday went well. No problems with the adrenal glands, but my thyroid is low. I don't have a problem with the thyroid at this time, but he said I may unless we can head it off. I don't know if he realizes just how old I am.

So, he wants me to try intermittent fasting with a six hr window when I can eat. I'll do18 hours when I can have no food at all, not even a popsicle. The window is from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. or I can do 12 noon - 6 p.m. It didn't matter to him, but he said the second one would mean I wouldn't be hungry when I went to bed. How little he knows.

My only concern is that when I've fasted in the past, sometimes I get sick. I think medication causes it. And I can't stop taking these. 

I began this trip today. Well, technically, after supper last night. I wasn't starving this morning. I didn't feel great, but I got to eleven before I had breakfast. A piece of sausage, a slice of bread, and a glass of milk. It was delicious. I've been drinking more milk because some meds still irritate my stomach, and it helps. Tonight, I'd love a cup of cocoa. 

The good news is that during the six-hour window, I can eat anything I want. I suppose it needs to be healthy. Before COVID, I lost 20 lbs doing intermittent fasting with exercise. I don't know whether I'll be able to exercise. I'm having a terrible time with the fatigue. In the last two days, I've averaged 11 hrs a day sleeping. I am always tired. Always.

David moved back home this weekend. He's working on knocking out some bills and helping me. I am blessed to have sons who look out for me.

Mike is still having stomach problems. They've stopped one of his medications to see if it's causing the problem. The doctor said they've run every test and can't find anything else. It's something he's taking or IBS. I'm guessing IBS. But I'm praying it's medication. 

So, that's the week past. I hope for a better one this week for you and me. 

 

The Long Way Around

I'm sitting in my den trying to come up with a post for this blog tonight. I've written so little in the last year that I've forgotten how. 

That was two days ago. I don't know what happened. Either the phone rang, The door bell may have rung. I could have gotten a text message. And there's always the chance a cat puked on the carpet. I don't know what to tell you except something happened.  

Yesterday I went outside to get in my car and run an errand, only to find I had a flat tire. This is the second flat tire in less than six months. There's not a blog post here about that and I don't know if I posted on Facebook. 

Anyway, Mike came over late in the afternoon and used his air pump on it and we got it over to Quality Automotive and Tire. This is the best place to get your car worked on here. I usually need an appointment, but in my stress to get the car there, I forgot to make one. They were immensely kind. I got there just before 5:30, their closing time. About 6 fellas were in the office and said they'd just been talking about leaving for the day. They agreed to let me leave the car without an appointment. I said to do their usual work and not worry about mine until they had time to do it. They've worked on my car about five times now and I've never had an issue with either the service or their work. They're very professional. And they didn't tell me to get lost and come back when I made an appointment. Twenty hours later, they were done.  

I have two new tires on the back. They put two new ones on the front with my last visit in May. I could have saved us a lot of trouble if I'd just put all four on initially, but money was a bigger problem. 

My test with Endocrinology turned out well. I didn't blog about either, but today I added as a post prior to this one. I don't have a problem with my adrenal function. However, I'm scheduled for Monday to meet with my Endocrinologist. I suspect he'll schedule me for an MRI to check for any pituitary problems ... like a tumor. He mentioned that at my first appointment. My aunt Phillis would be beside herself. I miss her so much. 

And now, a couple of hours later, I just got back from getting my car and taking a drive. The rain cooled the air, making the outing pleasant. I picked up Becca and Sarah and we just rode around for a bit. The rain also trapped them inside. Now I'm home and will get a shower and maybe finish a book I've been reading.

This is one of those posts that just goes the long way around. I hope the trip was worth it. 

Endocrinology Visit

Medical Update: 

Endocrinologist visit today. I have to go for MORE bloodwork. And I have to take an ACTH test. They're checking for adrenal insufficiency. That's Addison's disease. I don't know who Addison was or is. I just know that his messing around in my body means a 2 hour test at the hospital! 

Incidentally, about 20 yrs ago I told my then doctor that I thought I had adrenal fatigue. My comment went nowhere. No test, no questions. Nothing. 

Today, I learned that the actual term is adrenal insufficiency. And it is not a good thing to have. In fact can be life threatening. And if I get sick with anything, I can get sicker than anyone else. I could have told him that because that is what already happens, but most people don't notice because well, because. 

Symptoms include severe fatigue, muscle, bone, and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, back pain, HAIR LOSS! You can lose all your body hair. I haven't shaved my legs in over 30 yrs.

After he told me it could be life threatening if untreated he asked if I wanted to take the test to see if this was the problem. 🫨 

I said of course I do. 

Then he said he's also decide if I need an MRI of my pituitary gland because this can sometime be the result of damage to that gland. 😮.  But he doubted it and if it was a tumor he was 99% sure it was benign. 

Treatment: Steroids the rest of my life. 

He pointed out that it was probably why I always felt great after they gave me steroids. However, the steroid would be a low dose and a different kind. 

I go next week for that lovely long test. Two hours! Crazy. I hope I can read a book while I wait.

In hindsight, it was an entertaining office visit. And hour later I was on my way to get lunch and I was thinking about all this and what it meant. I started laughing. 

No, not hysterics. Really laughing. All I could think was that my life has been awesome, wonderful and so exciting. Every day a new adventure. I have been so blessed. I know people all over the world and have seen things most people never see and done things most people never do. And I'm so grateful for all that I've lived through. 

So, I'm good. God is good. If tomorrow is bad, he'll still be good. And life will still be exciting.

Follow Up

My test went well but I was sick on my stomach when I got up this morning. I had to fast for this test and for two hours I thought I would throw up. After I got there and settled in my stomach settled but i was still not well all day. I came home and went to bed. I'm a little better but am looking forward to going back to bed. 

Thanks for all your prayers! The results are in but I have no idea yet what they mean. We'll just have to wait until he reviews them.

A Shopping Day

Today was a most excellent day. I had minor pain and enough energy to take my granddaughter-by -choice shopping and to lunch. 

I have two granddaughters. Sarah is my granddaughter by birth. Madilyn is my granddaughter by choice. She is Sarah's half sister but we don't do halfs in my family. Madi once ask if I really was her Mawmaw and I ask her if she wanted me to be. She said yes. I said, "Then I'm your Mawmaw and always will be." 

That's just how I roll. 

Shopping is not my thing. However, for these two girls, I'll do a lot of things that aren't my thing. Shopping is something they both enjoy when they have the funds ... or I do. So I called up their mom and told her I wanted to take Madi out. Madi was ready by noon. 

Our plan was to hit two thrift stores in Washington Square Mall. We both like thrift stores and Madi had $20 to spend. At the first store, she found two items she liked. I found something for their apartment. During our meandering, Madi revealed she was up all night. I had thought she looked tired. She hadn't known I was taking her out. I ask if she was all right, and she assured me she was. However, she was hungry, so we went to lunch. I had to promise we'd come back to the new Goodwill store after lunch. I wasn't sure because she was clearly exhausted.

As we rode along Green River Rd. we just chatted. Suddenly, Madi said, "Mawmaw, what is Hooters?"

I laughed. "Well, it's a restaurant."

"What kind?"

A considered pause followed. Y'all know by now that I just tell the truth. I said, "It's a restaurant where the waitresses wear shorts up to their crack and very tight t-shirts that expose their boobs to everyone."

After a brief pause, Madi said, "But why?"

"Because they're required to dress that way to work there."

"Who goes there?"

I could be mistaken here, but don't think so. I said, "Mostly men but some women go there, too. They say the food is good."

Madi made several false starts at a response. I could see her in the mirror as she put a hand to her forehead and said, "Mawmaw, that is so messed up I don't know what to say."

All I could do was laugh. 

A minute later she said, "Well, they're closing."

She made it sound as if there is a connection. Y'all Madi is eight yrs old. 

I love the brains of children under ten. I'll take them to lunch and pick their brains, ask them questions and let them give me their view of the world. They never disappoint. I promise you it's always fascinating. It's the most fun I could ever ask for. Sarah has kept me in stitches for two decades. You can read about that on this blog. And she still does it at 19. Madi appears to be a lot like her sister in her opinions. 

We did eventually get back to Goodwill, where she bought two items for her bedroom. In the car again, I watched as Madi passed out in the back seat. Well, it was a busy afternoon for her and for me, but I had to drive.