Final Entry
This is Emschin's daughter Cindy. My mother passed away last night at the Lawlis Hospice. I was with her until 8pm and then went home to sleep. Shortly after 10pm, the nurse came in to check on her. She was sleeping comfortably. The nurse went to check another patient. When she came back to Mom's room a few minutes later, Mom had passed. Peacefully.

She died of melanoma. It started with a tumor on her right heel back in 2012. It was removed but the cancer continued to advance despite all the chemo and radiation. It had spread to her liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes by June, 2014. The doctor recommended hospice.

We took care of her at home as long as we could. On July 10th, we moved her to inpatient hospice where she received excellent care with a very compassionate and talented nursing staff until her passing last night.

Thank you to all her friends here. She loved being part of this community and making friends all over the world.

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Hello!
I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! I know I've answered some posts, but I've been lazy about doing them myself.

Cyn and I just got back from having pie "and" for my March birthday--a tradition. She passed on the key chain that has been making the rounds. I love it!

I've actually been well. I just putz along. I read a lot, watch some TV, and play with the computer. I'm so glad I live in a time with a computer. What would I do without it.

I go to a group at the Senior Citizen's Center every Monday and Wednesday where we socialize, walk, "maybe" learn something, and laugh a lot. It surprises me that there are more men than women in the group. Usually, in things like that it's the other way around. They're all nice.

The other people go on a longer walk than I'm able to do with my walker. However, one of the staff people walks with me a 'ways' (maybe about a block) and so I get some exercise, too.

My family keeps tabs on me. And, I certainly keep tabs on all of you through the computer. Life is good, I am healthy and I look forward to a long time with all of you,..

Love, Marge

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Piano
I haven't had the piano "out and operational" for a long time. This week I got everything out and Melissa helped me set it up. She said "Do you have music? I showed her the two foot tall stack of music in a bookcase. I think that should hold me.

Am I every rusty!!! I went back to something very easy to get back in shape--an easy version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. I'm doing that more than just exercises. More fun.

Current Mood: cheerful

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Summer Cold
I'm finally getting over my summer cold, tho my nose is still runny. I'm so sick of it!!!!
I haven't really been sick--no fever and I can take care of myself--but the Kleenex box and I are almost constant companions.

I read a lot--watch TV--use the computer.

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This and That
Not a lot going on. But--I've just enjoyed reading everyone's entries and decided I'd better put in my 2cents worth--or whatever.

My sister, Joyce, called and we had a good long talk. She had been ill--and then hospitalized --and we just hadn't had a chance to catch up. I asked her how she was and she said "OK" and I could tell from her voice that was about all it was. She'd been in Michigan with her daughter, Pam, but is home again now. Now that she's home, I need to call her more often.

The icon with my entry describes exactly what I've been up to.

Current Mood: calm

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!!
This noon I had lunch with two friends I've known for more than 30 years--we worked together at IRS. Eve was telling me the story of her heart attack last February--when I was out of touch taking care of my foot.

A kind of strange story, in a way. She said that she went in to the emergency room, they told her it was a heart attack. They told her she said "oh, my" in the mild way she has. I can just hear her.

Then they said "We're going to do everything we can to keep you alive. Is that what you want?"
ISN'T THAT A STRANGE QUESTION?? She doesn't remember answering, but they did keep her alive, while her daughter was rushing in from Madison. When she opened her eyes the next morning, her family was all there. What would they have told the family if she'd said "No, let me go".
Would they admit that to the family?

Maybe I'll have someone tattoo "HELL YES!" On my chest.

Current Mood: contemplative

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Some Old Andy Griffith----
I haven't seen some of the specials since I have limited cable, but I saw a couple of hours of re-runs of the old Andy Griffith show. I think one was the first one shown. Pleasant.

Current Mood: satisfied

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What Do You Think?
Tonight I was watching the TV show where people bring in some possession and have appraisers tell them what it's "worth" on the market. A question came to me--as it often does when I see the show:

Sometimes the items turn out to be more valuable, money-wise, than the owners suspected. What do you think their thought process is, as they go home with this knowledge. Is it "more valuable" to them? Do they think of selling it because of the price? Some people announce right away that they would never sell--it will stay in the family and be passed down through generations. Other are just quite surprised.

If they keep the item, knowing, now, of it's value, does that change their attitude toward it?
If they keep it, will they let friends know of the new "price tag" their possession has?

What do you think you would do? Do you think yours is a typical response?

Current Mood: thoughtful

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Hiding From the Heat
I know that "hot!" in Wisconsin at this time of year doesn't compare to "REALLY HOT" in other places, but I don't do heat well. So--I was glad to stay inside where it was very pleasant, even without the air conditioner.

I think I benefit, some, from the fact that Melissa (upstairs) has the AC on. I ought to help share her cost, since I'm sharing benefit. After all, she's so good to me--what kind of mother am I, ANYWAY??

Please don't write me up in LJ under the headline "Semi-worthless Mother, Exposed". I'll try to reform.

Current Mood: bouncy

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Sunday
On Sunday, Cyn & I went down to the Milwaukee Public Museum and saw a presentation about Wisconsin Indian tribes. Very interesting.

It was a special event for senior citizens and/or people with some memory problems so there were only about twenty or so of us. That meant we could all handle the materials they were showing us. More fun than walking through exhibits. At the same time as the presentation, there was a revolving display behind her, just a little "up" on a stage with very life-like, full size models of Native Americans in various kinds of native dress, dancing in a circle. A woman sitting next to me was quite well read on the subject and she asked excellent questions.

Then we came back, talked a bit, decided that since Cyn was going out to eat I'd go to. A nice day.

Current Mood: cheerful

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"It Takes a Worried Man, to Sing a worried song.....
Or--it takes a worried sister. Like me.

My sister, Joyce, wasn't doing well and I wasn't getting any news. She was in the hospital last week, and I was afraid she was back. I tried to contact someone--nothing--so I contacted Cyn who contacted her cousins and her two daughters each contacted me.

She had fallen at home and was back in the hospital. They hope the doctor will keep her there a couple more days, and then she can go to rehab for three weeks. Lots of tests on her brain--no problem. We'll see. Her back really bothers her.

Before her youngest daughter (Cyn's age) hung up she told me, twice. "We won't leave her by herself." I guess I knew they'd take good care of her, but it helped to hear that. Sometimes Joyce can be stubborn about letting herself be taken care of.

She's four years older than I am, so she's no spring chicken.

Current Mood: nervous

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"Memorial Day" - USA
When I was a child--oh, those many decades ago--we used to call it "Decoration Day". We went to the cemetery and left flowers on graves of loved ones. I remember it because my twin sister, Marjorie, had died as a young child and that's where we went. We picked the flowers from our own garden.

My parents (as I've mentioned before) were part of a Brethren "sect" that not only dressed in their own specific clothes, but were totally removed from any military life. Later on, my brother and a sister were military. I remember there was an article in the local newspaper when my sister joined the Waves, showing Dad with his Brethren clothes and beard, going with Hazel when she joined. My brother was already in the Navy. He enlisted, rather than being drafted, because that meant he could be in the Navy and not the army. WWII days.

Current Mood: contemplative

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Just Musing
My lunch this week made the second contact in two weeks with people I worked with in the 1980s.
I've been thinking about how those friendships 'stuck'. At one point we used to say we had to keep IRS friends because other people were a little suspicious of us, as IRS people. I don't really think that was why. We just really "Liked" those people, and the contact has stayed with us.

Also, we had quite constant and deep contact with them. There are some I haven't seen in a long time, but these few are special.

Current Mood: thoughtful

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Iris Weather
I love most of the flowers as they bloom, but I ESPECIALLY love iris. A few blooms, just the color of my icon, are lovely in the bed beside the garage.

I went to the neurologist this week and was happy to tell him I felt quite good. He upped the dosage of my medication, slightly, and told me to come back in 5 months. That sounds good to me.

This week I had lunch with a couple of friends I used to work with--Eve and Kathy. It's hard to believe it was more than 30 years ago that we first met. They're still special.

Current Mood: cheerful

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An Old Friend
Today I had a call from someone I used to know at IRS--and have kept up with now and then through the years. His name is Hilary (not THAT one) altho he lives in the D.C area. He was driving home from a doctor's appointment and,as he sometimes does, decides the hour or so drive would be a good time to chat.

I was one of the people who interviewed him more than thirty years ago when he applied for a seasonal job with the IRS--answering tax questions. Then I taught the five week beginner's class he was in, and from then on we were friends. Over the years he moved to D.C, taking a chance on a Grade 5 job. Pretty tough sledding in an expensive area. He did well, kept moving up 'the ranks' and ended up in an executive position. But he's the same 'Hilary'. Very bright--funny--thoughtful--irreverent.

It was a nice touch to the day.

Current Mood: cheerful

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Family
I had a great Mother's Day with my family. Lots of conversation and laughing in the living room. Then Dev &her family left, Melissa and John went to John's Mother's and Cyn and I went out for pie and coffee (a tradition).

When we came back Melissa came down again and talked awhile since she'd missed Cyn before. If I knew how to purr, I would have.

Current Mood: content

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Supper Clubs in the upper Midwest
Tonight Channel 10, (Public Broadcasting) re-ran a piece about Supper Clubs in the Midwest.
The following is a description from Wikipedia, of just what they are:

"In the U.S., a supper club is a dining establishment generally found in the Upper Midwestern states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Michigan. These establishments typically are located on the edge of town in rural areas.[1] They were traditionally thought of as a "destination" where patrons would go to spend the whole evening, from cocktail hour to enjoying night club style entertainment after dinner.[2] They feature a casual and relaxed atmosphere.

Supper clubs generally feature "simple" menus with somewhat limited offerings featuring "American" cuisine.[2] Menus included dishes such as prime rib, steaks, chicken, and fish. An "all you can eat" Friday fish fry was particularly common at supper clubs in Wisconsin.

Relish trays featuring items such as crackers, carrots, pickles, radishes, and celery are typically served at the table on Lazy Susans.

Supper clubs can still be found in the Upper Midwest but they are now simply restaurants rather than the all-night entertainment destinations of the past."

I was amazed at what HUGE portions of meat they showed being served. 24oz or 36 oz steaks were not uncommon. Somewhere, in another article, it was mentioned that "value" was part of what patrons looked for, and everyone expected to take a lot home with them.

I found a little article from the Chicago Tribune, talking about visiting one with a Wisconsin relative. I guess they're pretty much fading into the past.

When we moved here (I was from Iowa, and had gone to school in Chicago) they were an unknown commodity. I guess they'll soon be "unknown" again.

Current Mood: amused

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Happy Birthday Cyn!
I hope it's been a good one. I'm so glad you called me this afternoon.

On THE DAY I drove Chuck to his car pool, came home, went back to bed for awhile, and realized that this was THE DAY. I remember that every May 5.

I love you so much!

Current Mood: happy

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Good Visitors
I just spent several hours with two of my daughters. Melissa had come down and we had a good long talk. Just as she was getting ready to leave, Dev called and wanted to know if I was open for company. Since I saw Cyn earlier this week, it was a nice catch-up.

Current Mood: cheerful

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Movie
I saw the movie, "Forest Gump" on tv last night. I'd seen it in the theater, before, but there were parts I didn't remember very well. It was one of those things I sat and "watched"--not "listened to, mostly, and watched some." A good movie!

Current Mood: contemplative

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