VETERANS DAY

Today is Veterans Day, and I encourage all who read these words to pause in prayer and gratitude for those brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. This day was once designated as Armistice Day in homage to the more than 100,000 Americans who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I, but was later changed to Veterans Day to honor all our service personal in all wars.
My keen interest, and support, for our military forces has been shaped by the past, and present, involvement of many of my relatives ---- from the Civil War on down to Iraq, and most likely will include Afghanistan before our grandsons come home.
I was named after my great-grandfather Francis Marion Yarbrough, a Civil War veteran. Although he died before I was born, his experiences were well known to us all. The fact that he was mustered out in Virginia and then walked all the way home to SC made a huge impression on me. Grandpa Frank built the old Yarbough Place after the war, and personally carved the date over the front door of the house. My Daddy proudly pointed the inscription out to Loyd on our first trip there after my marriage. Daddy and all of his siblings were born in that home, as well as his own father before him. Later on that house became our refuge during much of World War II.
Loyd's father, Robert Lee Tysinger, served in World War I, mostly in France. We still have his old trunk with his uniform jacket, plus several letters that he wrote during that time. Also my Uncle Mott Yarbrough, teacher, lawyer and historian, served in World War I.
World War II brought sorrow to my Mother's family. Uncle Seth, her youngest brother was lost on Leyte, the Phillipines , leaving a young wife, no children, his grief stricken parents and family. My grandfather, Daddy George Scurry, personally escorted his remains home after the war for proper burial at Butler Methodist Church.
Three of Daddy's brothers, William, Ansel and Capers (Junior) served in World War II, along with three brothers-inlaw. His sister, Annie Rose served in the Army Nurse Corps. However, tragedy struck Daddy's family with the loss of his nephew, Donald Yarbrough, and 98 others when the Submarine USS Scorpion disappeared on May 21, 1968 in the Atlantic Ocean, south of The Azores Islands, and was never found.
Loyd joined the Marines in 1946 for a two year enlistment, and was discharged from active service in May 1947, followed by Sterling's service in the Marine Corp. Reserves. Another grandson, Seth, enlisted in the Army and has been in Iraq since Dec. 2007, and Philip was deployed to Iraq on Oct 18, 2008.
Our military personal come from all walks of life, and today volunteer their services. Even though the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not yet over those men and women in uniform are still heroes in every sense of the word. Let us remember them not only on Veterans Day but every day until they all come home again.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving Day will soon be here,and since Marianne and Jenni have advocated expressing thanks with various GRATITUDE LISTS recently, I decided to join in with my thoughts about both the Thanksgiving celebration and "thanks-living".
When I was growing up Thanksgiving was an important day in my family. My Mother's menu included all of the traditional dishes. Her baked chicken and dressing were delicious, along with perfect rice, giblet gravy, green beans, potato salad, candied sweet potatoes, turnip greens, pumpkin pies, and her homemade biscuits! We usually ate around 12:00 noon --- then spent almost as much time doing dishes and cleaning up the kitchen as she and my older sisters had spent cooking! Our traditions made a lasting impression on me, and after my marriage I continued this tradition in our own home.
Well, perhaps I should say that I did keep Thanksgiving in the manner that my Mother had also been taught, but I didn't inherit the "cooking gene" !! My husband was always generous with his thanks,but cooking wasn't always easy for me. Loyd was very willing to give me a helping hand, washing up pots and pans before meal time, or taking care of our babies. And in time I did become a better cook, with the exception of cooking perfect rice or baking. We usually remained at home for this special day and enjoyed a family meal with Grandmother Tysinger as our beloved guest. Bless her for providing her delicious pies and cakes ! Who will ever forget her pound cake with chocolate icing or her wonderful coconut or sweet potato pies.
The males in my family usually went hunting on Thanksgiving Day morning if we were living in the country or in Saluda. Daddy and my brothers enjoyed their own tradition in this manner, and at times were quite successful. Like all farm families of that day the squirrels, rabbits, or an occasional wild turkey helped feed large families. And need I even say that my Mama made even the toughest critter tasty good? When Robbie and David were in high school they became interested in hunting --- but--- none of us really enjoyed eating little rabbits or squirrels,so that tradition fell by the wayside.
I am thankful for the memory of my parents, grandparents, other relatives, and my siblings, and for the traditions we shared. I am thankful for the memory of my husband's parents and sister. I am most thankful for my husband, our children, grandchildren and spouses of two generation. And our three great-granddaughters are icing on "the cake of life"!!
If this isn't "thanks-living" then I don't know what is.

LIFE HAPPENS

I was so elated that my surgery at Duke Medical Center was successful back in January, and equally elated at the success of my eye surgery in June. My summer was enjoyable even though it was necessary for us to stay at home until my ophthalmologist said we could travel to Cherry Grove.We also managed to visit David, Terry and family the 3rd week in August.
All was well with me until about mid September. A good nights sleep eluded me because of nerve pain from peripheral neuropathy. My muscles were all tender, my face and eyes were swollen and painful, and I felt like I was being shocked by electricity. My energy level was zero.
Early in October I couldn't read the eye chart during a routine visit with Dr. Moya. I described this as seeing a dense cloud of smoke between my eye and the chart on the wall. I WAS SCARED!!
The CT Scan he ordered for me was normal, the blood tests for levels for

inflammation in my arteries was normal. But, I didn't feel normal !!
Two weeks later I saw my PCP. He ordered a Doppler Arterial Ultra Sound test to check for circulation problems in my extremities. Thank goodness that test was also normal. Dr. Arnold also took me off of the statin drug that I had been taking for 8 years or so. Now I do feel more normal again !! I am no longer fighting fatigue, my legs are less painful, and the swelling in my face and eyelids has subsided. I even look more normal !! We still don't know what caused my problems, but hey I'll take normal any time. So I am grateful for:

A. Good doctors
B. Improved health
C. My husband
D. Our family, especially our daughter for all that she does for us.
E. For "normal"

ROUTINES and HABITS

September 29, 2008

Mornings in our household are very low-key these days. Unless we have guests , or an early doctor's appointment , or are getting dressed for church services, we follow a more relaxed routine.
My husband, Loyd, is still gets up early, makes coffee, and weather permitting, goes to Grimes Park for his morning walk or run. He then brings the newspaper home and gets an early start working one of the crossword puzzles.
I don't "do mornings " well most days. On a typical day I get up about 9:00 AM, mosey to the kitchen for my fix of coffee, cereal, and crossword puzzles. Sometimes Loyd gets breakfast biscuits, or we have muffins or whole wheat bagels with more coffee. About mid-morning I eat a high protein snack, for energy.
My exercise routine is 30 minutes on a stationary bicycle five or six days a week. I tune the TV to a talk show and pedal as fast as possible, hoping to numb my senses enough to tolerate this boring routine. The mirror over the dresser does reflect the world outside though, and if I concentrate enough, then I can imagine that I am zipping all over the neighborhood!
Our "fix" of coffee, cereal, and crosswords jump start our days, and our exercise routines keep us going. Come to think of it, our more relaxed mornings aren't too bad either!

Reply to Mariannes S A D

THIS IS A GUEST COLOMIST==FREEWAY==
I AGREE THAT FALL OF THE YEAR IS THE START OF S.A.D SEASON. I ALSO SUFFER FROM IT. THIS PAST THURSDAY WAS EQUINOX,THERE WAS ONLY 11HRS AND 59 MINUTES OF SUNSHINE AND THERE WAS 12HRS AND 1 MIN OF NO SUNSHINE, PLUS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A NOR'EASTER ON THE N.C. COAST. CAUSING THE WEATHER TO BE CLOUDY,COOL,WINDY, DARK,AND RAINNY AND WET, IF YOU SUFFER FROM S.A.D.THAT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL VERY BLUE, WHEN I AMRUNNING/WALKING MY JOINTS AND MUSCLES DO NOT MOVE AS FREELYAND EASY AS THEY DO IN HOT SUNNY WEATHER FROM NOW TILL DECEMBER THAT WILL BE TRUE ,STIFF AND SLOW ACTIONS AND LOW VITALITY,BUT BY JANUARY 15 THINGS WILL PERK UP,YOU WILL HEAR A BIRD CHIRP ,YOU WILL GET A WHIFF OF SPRING ONE MORNING AND THE BLUENESS WILL BEGIN TO LIFT.YOU WILL BEGIN TO FEEL HYPER. YOU WILL LOOK FOWARD TO GETTING OUT OF BED AND START RUNNING INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TALK YOURSELF INTO GETTING OUT OF BED AND GO WALKING
BY MArch I WILL BE EAGERLY CHECKING MY RUNNIN TIMES AGAIN AND CHECKING THE SUNTIME AND DARKNESS AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE BUDDING AND UNFOLDING OF THE LEAVES ON THE TREES.
IHAD A DR,S APPOINTMENT RECENTLY FOR AN ANUAL CHECK UP,ALL WAS WELL , NO PROBLEMS .HE IS AWARE OF MY S.A.D AND AS I WENT OUT THE DOOR,HE SAID HAVE A GOOD WINTER, I WILL

How I Got My Blog

For some time now I have enjoyed reading my granddaughter Jenni's blog that she created as a newlywed. It gave me insight into her new life with husband Ben, and their activities. To tell the truth, I felt like I was spying on her at times, and the recipes she posted inspired me.
Recently my daughter, Marianne created her own blog, so now I get to spy on her too. They both lead very busy lives, combining the responsibilities of marriage, home, family ties, and careers with poise and self-confidence. I am excited about my new blog.!! My hope is that my activities and postings will not be boring to them.
Two cliches come to mind as I type this --- One is " you can't teach an old dog new tricks", and the other one is "you are never too old to learn". Hopefully, I will fall somewhere in the middle of these old sayings. And by the way, "old age doesn't matter unless you are cheese".!!