Friday, December 13, 2024

A QUIET RELAXING TIME AT HOME ON A COLD WINTER'S DAY

KELLY AS A LITTLE GIRL
Let me start this post off by thanking everyone for their outpouring of feelings regarding Kelly's passing this past Tuesday.  All the sincere words of support and encouragement, all the wonderful things said about Kelly and the Bayfield Bunch as a whole are sincerely moving.  All the best wishes, the prayers, the heartfelt emotions, the offers of assistance, the uplifting words, and the continuous support.  It has been so encouraging and nice to hear from so many folks near and far.

 KELLY IN THE MIDDLE WITH BROTHER PETER AND SISTER REBECCA (BECKY)
Next, I want to assure readers that I am doing okay.  I cherish this quiet time by myself and it is my way of healing.  Being around or with people now would only make me uncomfortable.  I have been here before and lost loved ones close to me in similar situations (separations) and I know the healing process that will work best for me.  Everyone has their own way of dealing with things.  There are no right or wrong ways, only individual ways that work best for each one of us. I know what I have to do to come out the other side of this sadness into the sunshine.  I have my tears and I have my smiles but above all I have my memories which I hold close.  I am comforted in the belief that Kelly has not only moved on but she has gone home to where we will all one day return.  She is at last free of all the pain and suffering she has so stoically endured these last years.  Her presence remains around me and she has already shown me that she is here with Pheebs and I even as I write this.  

I have decided to include another feature in my blog called 'Kelly's Corner' where I will continue to show a random collection of the many photos I have of her life and times.  The photos will continuously show what a lovely person in all aspects of life she truly was.

 YUP, THAT'S KELLY IN THE BACK ROW STANDING BESIDE HER MOTHER...SISTER KATHY BOTTOM RIGHT
I am into my third week of still dealing with a nasty and persistent head and chest cold so I am avoiding being around people.  I slipped into Bayfield Thursday morning for a haircut on a brutally cold wind-driven morning.  I forgot to wear a hat (but yes I did wear a mask) and when I left the barbershop with my closely cropped military haircut I nearly froze my head off.  I think that just may have driven this cold of mine deeper.  I'm not too smart sometimes you know.

 AT HURON HOSPICE TUESDAY AFTERNOON
With our morning temperature under overcast skies sitting at 17F it was a struggle to convince myself to slip outside, warm up the car, and take Pheebs for a spin through our bleak-looking Siberian landscape this morning.  I had zero interest or ambition in trying to find any stimulating photos and besides, there were snowflakes in the air.  Therefore, Subie never moved, and nor did Pheebs and I.

I have a huge task here ahead of me at the house and I am not, yet I am, looking forward to reorganizing most everything.  When on my own I have been known to run a tight ship and I do not like clutter.  So, I have my work cut out for me and in the coming weeks and months, I shall be keeping myself busy plugging away at this daunting and almost overwhelming task.  

I like these words a friend sent me....{Quote} Remember... When life breaks you, it means you're being prepared to be put back together in a new way. Every piece of you that feels broken will find a new place, a new purpose, and a new meaning. Trust that the cracks are where the light gets in. And sometimes, in our brokenness, we find our greatest wholeness. We find the courage to rebuild, to rethink, and to redefine what it means to be strong in a whole new way. You are not broken; you are paving the way.

Al's Music Box;)) The Shadow Of Your Smile also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", sung by Andy Williams. The music was written by Johnny Mandel with the lyrics written by Paul Francis Webster. The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, with a trumpet solo by Jack Sheldon and later became a minor hit for Tony Bennett (Johnny Mandel arranged and conducted this version as well). It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  In 2004, the song finished at number 77 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs poll of the top tunes in American cinema.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Late one night at the insane asylum, one inmate shouted, "I am Napoleon!"  Another patient asked, "How do you know?"  The first inmate said, "Because God told me!"  Just then, a voice from another room shouted, "I did NOT!"

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"Are you an actress, auntie?"
"No darling, why do you ask?"
"Because Daddy says whenever you come over, we always have a big scene."

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A father is explaining ethics to his son, who is about to go into business..."Suppose a woman comes in and orders a hundred dollars worth of material. You wrap it up, and you give it to her. She pays you with a $100 bill. But as she goes out the door you realize she's given you two $100 bills. Now, here's where the ethics come in: should you or should you not tell your partner?

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Police Quotes....“The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile.”

“If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.”

- “So, you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?”

- “Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket.”

- “The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or dog?”

- “Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.”

- “Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid.”

- “No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want.”

- “Just how big were those two beers?

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::


Kelly's Corner
OH HOW WE LOVED BOONDOCKING IN THE DESERT

 A MORNING DESERT WALK NEAR OUR HOUSE IN CONGRESS ARIZONA
 WITH HER BROTHER-IN-LAW NORM
 AT HER MOM'S HOUSE IN SPENCERPORT NEW YORK
Al's Art Gallery













Wednesday, December 11, 2024

WINTERTIME AND TRAVELIN' ON

I didn't feel up to writing anything today but I will leave you with a couple of songs this evening from Hagood Hardy.  Wintertime and Travelin' On.  These songs remind me of Kelly and our life together.  I'm hoping to be back into blog mode in a few days.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

KELLY PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY TODAY

Kelly, with her daughter Sabra, son Ben, and myself by her side, slipped peacefully away at 12:35 p.m. today.  I'm exhausted and short of words tonight but I will leave you all with our favorite song from the first day Kelly and I met back in the summer of 1993......It's Neil Young's Harvest Moon

Monday, December 09, 2024

KELLY IS GROWING WEAKER

FROM THE GOOD FOLKS AT THE BAYFIELD PINES
Looking out the window first thing this morning I noticed right away how much the snow pack had gone down with yesterday's and last night's milder temperatures.  An emotional boost for sure.  While warming up the car, Richard popped in for a couple minutes before I took Pheebs for a short car ride.  I think it was nearly a week since I had last taken Pheebs for a car ride around the block.

 THE VIEW FROM KELLY'S WINDOW IS A LITTLE BIT LIKE HOME WITH ALL THE PINE TREES
I headed off to the Huron Hospice House around 10:30 raining all the way.  Sabra said they didn't have the best night with Kelly being very restless.  Being on a lot of pain medication she kind of drifted in and out all the time I was there.  A nice potted plant and card from the folks at our Bayfield Pines Park rolled in about 12:45.  I big thank you to all you kind folks here in the Park.  Kelly had been sleeping but as soon as she heard me unwrapping the plant she opened her eyes and wanted to hold it.

 A CARD LEFT IN OUR DOOR FROM GOOD FRIENDS CARIN AND CHRIS
I came home about 1:30 to let Pheebs out and fix myself up a veggie shake.  A nice card in the door from our friends Carin and Chris in the Park.  I must have dozed off for a couple minutes in my recliner when the phone rang.  It was Sabra saying a doctor would be in to see Kelly in about 30 minutes so I quickly headed myself back to Hospice.  It is a Clinton doctor who does rounds at Huron Hospice and he came in shortly after 4 p.m.  Although under pain medication, Kelly was able to talk with the doctor and it was agreed to increase her pain meds. Her bouts of consciousness are becoming less and her breathing has slowed.  I returned home for a short period of time and then went back to Hospice after supper through a pea souper of a fog.  I was again reminded of a late Spring night in March.  We met with a second doctor regarding Kelly's care and this doctor even had his dog with him.  I stayed until about 8:30 before heading home.  Sabra is again staying with her Mother for the night on a fold-out couch in Kelly's room.  I'm so thankful for Sabra being there.  Tonight, I am totally drained.......

 SAYING GOODNIGHT 

Al's Music Box:)) The Homecoming is a 1975 album by Canadian composer, pianist, and vibraphonist Hagood Hardy. Six of the tracks were composed by Hardy. The album also contained fellow Canadian musician Gordon Lightfoot's song "Cold on the Shoulder" and five songs by other songwriters. It reached the RPM Magazine Top Albums chart in October, 1975.  The Homecoming", started out as music to a 1972 TV commercial for Salada tea.  After being included in this album, it was released as a single in 1975 on the Isis label through the Toronto company, Hagood Hardy Productions. It rose to #14 on the Canadian charts, and to #41 on the pop and #6 on the easy listening US charts. It was certified Gold in Canada.    

GROANER'S CORNER:(( And your opinion would be::?? - I started out with nothing & still have most of it left.

- If I want to hear the pitter patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my cats.

- Does your train of thought have a caboose?
- Suburbia: where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.
- Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.
- See no evil, hear no evil, date no evil.
- Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.
- Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
- Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.
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An English man, French, Italian, and German are standing at the side of a street watching a street performer.  The street performer noticed that they all have poor eyesight so he asked them whether they can see him and they responded: "Yes" "Oui" "Sì" "Ja"

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Baby 1: I'm a boy.
Baby 2: prove it.
Baby 1: Not in front of the nurse.
Baby 2: Okay The nurse leaves
Baby 2: Prove it.
Baby 1: Look, blue socks...

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Al's Doggy World 

Meanings::

 THIS IS NOW MY WAY
Al's Art Gallery